Buyer Resources

"The typical monthly mortgage payment for Southern California buyers last month was $1,193, up from $1,052 in May. Adjusted for inflation, current payments are 46% below typical payments in the spring of 1989, the peak of the prior real estate cycle" states the Los Angeles Times on July 16th. I checked and in 1989, the average interest for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 10.32%. That is twice as much...

There were 25 homes on the July 21, 2009, Palos Verdes real estate Broker's Tour. We currently have 295 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $836,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $475,000). There are 50 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $250,000 and $1,500,000. My favorites were: Chris Adlam's 2775...

I have written several articles in the last couple of weeks about the current status of Palos Verdes real estate. We have had better sales numbers in June compared to May. Now Peter Hong of the Los Angeles Times, who is usually ultra conservative, has written an article entitled, "Southern California median home prices surges in June". Could it be that we are finally turning the corner? Hong...

Recently, a client asked me "Exactly when did we start viewing our homes as an investment rather than the place we live with our family?" I didn't have an answer for her. I knew what she meant though. Originally, we purchased a home for shelter and then because we needed more space or wanted our children to go to a particular school or needed to be closer to our job. Now, we have those same needs...

Statistics for single family homes for the month of June for Palos Verdes real estate are now available and as I indicated in my post earlier this week, "Good News for Palos Verdes Real Estate," the numbers are looking better. June 2009 had nearly twice as many closed sales (47) and one additional pending sale compared to May 2009. Months of inventory (months it would take to sell existing...

There were 22 homes on the July 7, 2009, Palos Verdes real estate Broker's Tour. We currently have 293 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $799,000 in Rolling Hills Estates to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $475,000). There are 51 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $250,000 and $950,000. My favorites were: Jack Cummings' 2501...

Preliminary sales figures for Palos Verdes real estate for June 2009 show an upswing in single family homes sales compared to both May 2009 and June 2008 which is significant. That is good news for Palos Verdes real estate! June 2009 has 48 closed sales compared to 24 in May - twice as many sales. And June of 2008 had only 38 closed sales compared to 48 this June. It looks like buyers have moved...

Mortgage rates have been see-sawing up and down a bit for the Palos Verdes real estate market. A 30-year fixed conforming loan is 4.875% which is a quarter percent higher than 2 months ago and a quarter percent lower than last week. A 5/1 Year ARM is 3.875% and a 5/1 Interest Only loan is 4%. 30-year Fixed Jumbo rates are 6.125% for borrowers with FICO scores over 740 and 30% down. A jumbo 5/1 Year...

There were 27 homes on the Palos Verdes real estate Broker's Tour. We currently have 294 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $799,000 in Rolling Hills Estates to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $585,000). There are 55 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $250,000 and $950,000. My favorites were: Nick Peters' 22 Oceanaire Drive,...

After spending last weekend at the new Terranea Resort, I can say that it is fabulous and I recommend it to all, including Palos Verdes residents. The views are spectacular. We took several walks along the trails at the ocean's edge. We walked down to the beach and sat on the rocks and listened to the surf "chatter" as it rolled back out over the stones. There is even a cave near the jetty. We...