It is one month past the official "Earth Day" and here is my personal scorecard. My favorite tip was checking the fruit and vegetable labels in the supermarket. Did you know that a 4 digit number means it was conventionally grown; a 5 digit number beginning with 9 indicates organically grown and a 5 digit number beginning with 8 means genetically modified. I don't know about you, but I am not ready...
The self-fulfilling prophecies are right again according to the LA Times article "At the luxury end, home prices are falling." The upper end of the market is feeling some pain. It appears misery loves company. Statistics are in for the month April and indicate some exclusive neighborhoods show decreased sales prices compared to April 2007. Palos Verdes real estate had mixed reviews. Palos...
Palos Verdes will be a little busier on Saturday, May 17th, as the 42nd Palos Verdes Marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Point Fermin Park, 807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro. The runners follow a beautiful course along the coast to Lunada Bay and back. Click here for a course map to assist your travels around the Peninsula or if you would like to cheer on the participants. Photo courtesy of the Palos...
Interest rates on home loans are down one full percentage point in some categories from April 17, 2008, for example 5.5% for a 30 year fixed loan due in 10 years. Tuesdays, I attend our Office Meeting and then go on to the Palos Verdes Real Estate Broker's Tour. Better loan rates were the pleasant surprise at our Office Meeting. Today's Broker's Tour had 24 properties to view in approximately two...
I believe home buyers of Palos Verdes real estate are finally waking up. Blanche Evans in Realty Times has written that consumers have "been getting bad information" and goes on to explain that Robert Shiller (founder of the Case-Shiller Index) might just have an ulterior motive when he says that housing prices may drop further than 30% (as experienced in the Great Depression). Shiller "makes money...
I have been part of a lively conversation lately regarding the practice of "double ending" transactions -- representing both the buyer and seller in the same real estate transaction. This is an acceptable practice in California and the Palos Verdes/South Bay area. How does this serve the buyer and seller? My personal feeling is that I cannot fairly represent both the buyer and seller. The buyer...
Afternoon Tea at Trump National in Rancho Palos Verdes is a relaxing event and can be followed by a walk on the ocean bluffs.
Buyers may need 5% more down payment to buy homes that are designated to be in a declining market. By the way, the entire state of California (including real estate in Palos Verdes) is considered a "soft market" by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Kenneth R. Harney of the Washington Post wrote an excellent article on April 26, 2008, entitled "Declining Markets and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies(which was...
Rolling Hills Estates is the 3rd largest city on the Peninsula both in size (4.18 miles) and population (7,676) according the the Residence Handbook. Their are 30 neighborhood areas within the community, each with its own special character. Overall, the city has tried to maintain it's rural residential atmosphere and many lots are 1/2 acre or more and many are zoned equestrian. The city has 178...