Where exactly is the real estate market going? Owners of Palos Verdes real estate as well homeowners across the country would love to know the answer. In addition to the "in your face" reporting about real estate (which can be pro or con depending on the reporter and which forecast he is looking at) there are other subtle indicators. Recently Newsweek had an article buried on page 61 entitled...

I wish I had a crystal ball to tell sellers of real estate in Palos Verdes what price their home will sell for. There are the obvious variables - location, condition, amenities like views, etc. and the "forgotten" variables like the market perception of the buyers. As we have experienced, the media also plays a large part in the buyer's mood. As more and more buyers begin their home search on...

There were 22 homes on Broker's Tour yesterday. We currently have 256 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $849,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes ($589,000 in Eastview) to $23,000,000 in Rolling Hills. My favorites today were all in Palos Verdes Estates: Bobbie Owen's 2 El Portal, Palos Verdes Estates, (above left) is a 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 4391 square foot home for...

"Palos Verdes Estates City Council recently reviewed completed reports on the slow, yet consistent, land movement at the north end of Bluff Cove, located at Palos Verdes Drive West near Via Montemar" reported the June 12th Peninsula News. I have noticed the red pylons decorating the road for months. During his presentation at an April Board of Realtors Meeting, Joe Hoefgen, City Manager for Palos...

Statistics for the month of May for Palos Verdes real estate are available and indicate our market is holding. Average price for single family homes sold in the month of May was $1,677,000 vs $1,667,000 in April. Number of homes reported sold (closed escrow) for the month of May was 43 which was the same for April. Number of homes pending for the month of May was 39 vs 40 in April. Inventory of...

Are open houses an efficient sales tool for sellers? I am up front with my clients selling Palos Verdes real estate. I tell them that I will hold occasional public open houses for them; statistics show that only 3% of homes are sold to buyers walking into an open house. Plus there is the security issue. I cannot be in every room at every minute and we receive periodic notices from other Realtors...

Friday's mortgage rates are up slightly compared to our last Morgage Update two weeks ago. At that time a 30 year fixed rate mortgage was 5.75% conforming and 6.75% jumbo. As you can see from the chart above, today a borrower will pay 6.125% conforming and 6.875% jumbo. Friday's mortgage rates for Palos Verdes homes are provided by Jim Kurata, Peninsula Mortgage/Chase...

This is a buyer's market, right? What happens when a buyer has read and listened to all the media reports about how the buyer is king now? The buyer may feel empowered to offer considerably less than the asking price and considerably less than all recent sold comps. Some sellers are so insulted that they won't even counter the offer. Here is an idea for those considering Palos Verdes real...

Today there were 26 homes on Broker's Tour. We currently have 253 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $599,000 (in Eastview) to $23,000,000. My favorites today were: Joan Zirkel's 6739 Vallon Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes (above left), is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 3177 square foot home for $1,650,000. This remodeled home has an ocean view, 3 car garage and backs to...

Yesterday, I went to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana to view the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Guardians of China's First Emperor. It was fabulous! I highly recommend it. It was very well organized. We had tickets for 10:00 am, only stood in line for a few minutes and then were given an audio phone to help guide us through history. This is the largest exhibit of the Terra Cotta Army ever seen outside...