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Happy 250th Birthday to the U.S. Army. Go Army!
Happy 250th Birthday to the U.S. Army. Go Army! By the action of the Continental Congress, the U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775. To share some historical information, the U.S. Army Infantry was and is the oldest of all the combat Arms Branches, not only in the U.S. Army but going back through history. As most history buffs will recall, the Ancient Greeks were the first to create the Infantry by introducing a tactic that was called “The Greek Phalanx” (i.e., flexible battle formation). Until the Romans improved on it, this tactic was dominant for centuries. Needless to say, both the Infantry and the U.S. Army have come a long way since the Greek & Roman Days. Today’s modern Infantry can move by land, by sea and by air. Since my focus is on celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army, I thought it would be nice to give some historical perspective. Now I will share the Mission of the US Army: Preserving the peace and security and providing for the defense of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States. Supporting the national policies. Implementing the national objectives; and Overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States The short version is: “To Fight and Win the Nation’s Wars”. Clearly this has been accomplished well over the centuries and still holds true today. Let me just share a quote from former President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” So, with all that said, I again say “Happy 250th Birthday U.S. Army”. On a personal note, I had the privilege of being a member of this great Army of ours as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Captain, so this day is extra special for me. I’m also proudly flying the American flag, not only to commemorate this special birthday, but also to recognize Flag Day 2025. The U.S. Flag was adopted on June 14, 1777, also by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. And this, my friends, concludes today’s history lesson! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit my website at...
read moreTriple a book review of yet another Ken Follet book by Endre Barath Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor
Triple a book review of yet another Ken Follet book by Endre Barath Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor First off, Ken Follet is one my all-time favorite authors. How often have you read a book and just thought “Wow I knew it! This is how it really happened”. Ken Follett’s books generally leave me with this impression whenever I finish one of his books. Needless to say, Triple left me with the same impression. My most recent reads have been of the 1960’s-1970’s Middle Eastern genre, books covering Egypt, Israel, the Fedayeen, the Palestinians and others. Ironically, the last three books I’ve read by Frederick Forsyth and Ken Follett read exactly as I remembered reading about the events in the news during those days. So, with that lead-in, let me start my book review of Triple by quoting the Postscript from the book: A quote from the London Daily Telegraph written on May 7th, 1977 “Israel suspected of hijacking ship with uranium” by Henry Miller. The book was first published in 1979, and I am the proud owner of an autographed first edition book! (As a book nerd, I am excited over that.) Our cast of characters include a Mossad top level agent, a Russian KGB agent, and Palestinian terrorists, some who are best known as active players of the 1972 Olympic Massacre. Ironically, thanks to my German and English language skills I happened to be working as an Interpreter in the Press Center for the Olympic Committee in those days. Hence the connection was extremely uncanny for me. To give you an idea of the plot, it is about the fact that Egypt is getting close to developing a nuclear bomb and in the 1960’s. The Mossad’s star agent is tasked with the challenge to beat the Arabs in the nuclear arms race. His job is to find and steal 200 tons of uranium without getting caught and exposing the Israeli connection to this event. Indeed, the book was another page turner; needless to say, no one outside of a few people who were in the top-secret government levels knew the answer or suspected the answer outside of the few of us such as Henry Miller from the London Daily Telegraph and of course author Ken Follett. Clearly this is a true story, historical fiction you’d say, and after you read the book you will agree with me that it is a great historical reflection of what was happening in the late sixties through the late seventies in the Middle East. If you have not read it, I highly recommend that you read it if you are a fan of that particular period of history, current events and the background to the Middle Eastern crisis. If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit my website...
read moreJune 2025 hard to believe in a few weeks 2025 will be half over!
Is it me, or are you also wondering how we’ve gotten to the 6th month of 2025 already? Ready or not, in just over 3 weeks 2025 will be half over. Depending on what day you see the headlines or real estate postings, no doubt you continue to see news about inventory shortages, lack of sales, increase of inventory, and interest rates going up and down. What is my take? The same as always, buying a house, a condominium or even vacant land you cannot go wrong no matter what the market is like. For example, my father bought his Connecticut home in the early 1970’s as home prices and interest rates were increasing in double digits. He paid top dollar for his home. Twenty years later, he sold his house at the bottom of the market and still tripled his purchase price and was able to pay cash for his next home. Fast forward to the more recent past 10 to 11 years when we bought our house, just as home prices and interest rates started to rise. Here we are in 2025 with our home’s value having nearly doubled while we have been living comfortably knowing our house is almost free and clear. Perhaps it’s time to downsize or upsize or sell and relocate out of the area. As needs change, any of these options could be right for you. Depending on the situation, money from a sale can be invested into the next home with an option of investing in other areas, such as stocks. My message always remains the same, no matter what the market or the interest rates, real estate in the long term is a safe investment with one of the best perks being you do not have to worry about a landlord increasing your rent. Will inflation keep up and will you be able to afford to rent in areas you like? All these concerns and more fall to the wayside when you buy your home. Reach out to me, and let’s discuss your situation. Do not be confused with the daily headlines, instead talk to a seasoned Realtor that you can trust to give you straight advice. Until then, enjoy this month’s newsletter. Notable Dates in June: Pride Month; Father’s Day (June 15); Juneteenth (June 19); First Day of Summer/Summer Solstice (June 20) If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit my website...
read moreThe Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth a Book Review by Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor
The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth a Book Review by Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor As my regulars know, I ceased being a member of a real estate social media group a fairly short while ago which has opened up my time to getting back to my passion of reading books at night vs. social media blogging. It is truly refreshing and I realize how much I have missed my reading world. Ironically, I am at the point where I am reading books faster than I write book reviews. Needless to say, I have been catching up on books that I had for decades, books that have literally been collecting dust! As I attempt to catch up on reviews, I am already another book review behind. With all that said, this was the second book published by Frederick Forsyth. For those of you who are not familiar with Frederick Forsyth’s background, he used to be a Reuters Investigative reporter, and this novel is very much the result of his investigations albeit fictionalized to protect the people with whom he came in contact and shared their experiences. His first book, The Day of the Jackal, you should find the movie and if you missed my review, check it out. Peter Miller, a freelance journalist and main character in The Odess File, receives a packet with a diary of someone who survived a Nazi Concentration Camp and committed suicide. Miller discovers that one of the Concentration Camp Commandants, better known as “The Butcher of Riga”, is out and about working on a bomb manufacturing goal with the Egyptians to rain bombs on Israel. Keep in mind, this book was written in 1971 and published in 1972; the novel covers the early 1960’s. Having lived in Austria from 1964-1967, I recognized some of the names and can confirm that the book is a very factual historical novel. There are contacts with Simon Wiesenthal, the world renown Nazi hunter, referenced in the book. In another interesting part of the novel, Miller gets questioned “why a German non-Jewish reporter” would be going after the Nazi criminals who were mostly Germans. This again was very factual; the Germans wanted to put Nazi History behind them in the 1960’s, not bringing up old wounds for all to relive. Not to give any spoilers, be sure to read all the way to the end. One of the reasons I love Frederick Forsyth’s style of writing is that he saves the biggest thrill for the end. On a side note, in 1974 there was a movie made based on the book with John Voit and Maximilian Schell starring. While I did not see the movie, nevertheless, I am confident you would enjoy the movie as well knowing the stars and what the plot is all about. This book is a page turner, not only enjoyable, but it has inspired me to continue reading more of this genre. If you have not read this book, you must put it on your to-be-read (TBR) list. I’ll close this review by saying I am so glad I read this book. If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or...
read moreInglewood, California is hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026!
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California to host the FIFA World cup in 2026! This iconic event inspired me to write this post and include some historical trivia of the sport (“soccer “) as well as a bit of personal reflection which includes my own connection with the sport and with some of its historically world-famous players. If you can imagine, before the 1970’s soccer was not a big deal in the United States and was even looked at as a secondary sport, being compared to football. Ironically, in Europe and around the globe soccer was viewed as the exact opposite. It’s also worth noting that around the world it was not called “soccer” rather it was called “football”. This can be a bit confusing, right? By the early 1980’s, soccer started to pick up momentum and interest in the United States thanks in large part to the 1984 Olympics that were hosted in Los Angeles, CA. (On a side note, I find it equally interesting that the Olympics are going to be hosted again in Los Angeles in 2028. Needless to say, that is food for another future post.) For this particular post, I am only focusing on the men’s soccer history, since that is where my own personal connection was and I’m not looking to write a book or even a chapter here. As some of my regular readers know, I was born in Communist Hungary prior to legally immigrating to the United States (thanks to my late father) and calling the U.S. my home. Interestingly enough, Hungary became the talk of ‘world soccer’, since they managed to defeat England in the early 1950’s. England was considered by all as the king of the sport of soccer until then, so it was no small win for Hungary. In the early 1950’s, the Hungarian National Soccer Team had been affectionately nicknamed “The Golden Team”. Not only did they beat England, but in the 1952 Olympics, they won the Gold Medal. Hence in 1954, everyone in Hungary was listening to the radio broadcast of the World Cup, but were sadly disappointed when Hungry lost to West Germany 3-2. Rather than celebrating Hungary’s win of the Silver medal, the loss was followed by a huge public protest in Budapest, Hungary. The public had a hard time coming to terms with this defeat. Some thought it was a “fix”. Keep in mind that rioting (or even protesting) in Communist Hungary was totally unheard of. Can you imagine shop windows being smashed in Budapest in 1954? It took three days for the authorities to calm down and quelch the riots of the angry football fans. There was no celebration for winning the Silver medal, rather it only angered the fans. Nevertheless, after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution the team members who remained in Hungary were well respected and treated kindly by the politicians as well as their loyal fans. Nandor Hidegkuti, Sandor Kocsis and Ferenc Puskas are three names that were part of the Golden Team. Hidegkuti was the real star of the game, although the other two received more accolades and credit, only because they immigrated to the West and received more international publicity. Just to be clear Hidegkuti coached and managed a number of teams in Hungary as well as later on in the Globe after many years. He was instrumental in winning the Hungarian League Championship with...
read moreHard to believe here we are and it is May 2025 already
I’m not sure how we’ve already gotten to May, are you? Home inventory has increased, and I’m still consistently asked “Is this a good time to invest in real estate?” Having been a Realtor for over 27 years in the greater Los Angeles area, I will just give two examples to make my point. I relocated from Boston (where I was also a Realtor) to Los Angeles. At that time there was a home in the Hollywood Hills Sunset Strip area priced at approximately $350,000. The seller was ready to move, and the property had been sitting on the market for a while. At that time we were just emerging from a slow market (similar to the current day market). I suggested to my other half that we buy it; but that is another story, as we did not. In today’s market, that same property is now worth approximately $4,000,000 – $4,500,000. Had you bought vacant land in the Hollywood Hills 27+ years ago, I would have represented you in purchasing the land for anywhere between $35,000 to $40,000. The same land today would be worth $350,000 to $400,000. Had you built a home on it, the value would be as stated in my first point. Real Estate is worth the investment/purchase in spite of interest rates or market conditions. Why? First, you will not be at a landlord’s mercy, and the value of your home will increase as you pay down your mortgage. The key is that Real Estate is a good long-term investment, so do not try to “time” the market. No matter when you buy it is a good time, provided you hold for the long term. And if it’s your home, make sure you enjoy every day you live in it, and tailor it to your own personal taste! Wishing all my clients and friends a happy Cinco De Mayo (May 5) and Mother’s Day (May 11, if you have children); and on Memorial Day (May 26) let us remember and honor those U.S. military personnel who died while serving their...
read moreThe Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth; a book review by Endre Barath, Jr.
The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth; a book review by Endre Barath, Jr. Those of you who regularly read my posts already know that over the past couple of months now, my evening routine has significantly changed. Instead of being on social media, I’m now back to reading books, many of which have been in my possession for decades on my To Be Read shelf – otherwise known as TBR, at least on Goodreads. Hence, having just finished reading The Dogs of War, Frederick Forsyth’s third novel, I was inspired to immediately read The Day of the Jackal. Keep in mind, this book was published in 1971 and I am a proud owner of a first edition of this book. Interestingly, I saw the movie of the same name when it was first released, around the 1973/1974-time frame. The scene that was etched in my memory was the moment of the assassination attempt on then President Charles de Gaulle, there was nothing else I could recall from the movie as it was very many years ago. Hence reading the book it was still a page turner as I kept waiting for the end without expecting a different result. Without giving any spoiler away, everyone knows that de Gaulle survived the assassination attempt and died instead from old age. Even knowing that, it was still a great read. The eerie similarity of this even reminded me of the more recent assassination attempt on President Trump, it was Deja Vu for me. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering was it coincidence or was it just an eerie similarity? The book is a page turner, and Frederick Forsyth writes as if the events were historically transposed word-for-word; one easily forgets that this is his first novel and pretty accurate to the events he described. If you have not read this book and love action-packed fiction, this one is for you. I am now halfway through Forsyth’s second novel (The Odessa File) as I write this book review. If you have never read a book by Frederick Forsyth, it is not too late to start one now. Any that I have mentioned here would be a great choice! Happy reading! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit my website...
read moreA book review of ‘The Dogs of War’, by Frederick Forsyth
As most of my readers know, thanks to my no longer being “active” on a real estate social media platform has ‘opened up’ the time for me to ‘open up’ a book at night rather than being on the Internet blogging. I must say, I’m very happy to be back in the world of being a reader again and not just a book collector. Now, I am not sure if you have been keeping up with the daily World & US News, but if you have you know that there has been much discussion about the metals and minerals deal that the US and Ukraine are negotiating; add China and the European Union to the mix and obviously it is not only about wealth, it is also about resources that are essential not only to the economy but to national security. Obviously, these materials are also needed for military equipment, computers and batteries. With this bit of political and historical background, let me also share with you that I bought Frederick Forsyth’s third book, The Dogs of War, over fifteen years ago. My copy is a British first edition and talk about inflation, the book was published in 1974 and it was for sale for 2.5 British Pounds. I paid $20 dollars for my copy, used, and in great condition. With that said, you can find a copy nowadays on eBay anywhere from $16 to $488 US Dollars. I digress as I bring a bit of economic background into the mix. You probably guessed that for my latest read, I decided on The Dogs of War since I have always been a loyal fan of Frederick Forsyth. This was not a re-read for me, nor had I watched the movie that was made after the book was published. This book was a page turner for me. It is about the world of the mercenary soldiers and their involvement with a ruthless head of a London-based mining company. The object, or should I say the assignment, is to overthrow the Government of a remote African republic and get rid of its dictator. Clearly the story is all about wealth, distribution, power and corruption. The plot gets more convoluted when the Russians discover that the firm found minerals that would be beneficial for Russia as well. Not wanting to give away too much of the story, it involves gun smuggling, planning of the coup-d’état and the various European, Middle Eastern and other countries and their contribution to the black market of arms dealing. Needless to say, the result does not turn out the way the plotters planned it. As with any great read, there is a huge twist at the end! I loved this book; it kept me up and entertained into the wee hours. I’m only sorry that it took me this long to read it. Now with that said, I plan to head to my bookshelves and pull out another Frederick Forsyth book as my next read. If you look at the big picture of the novel, you may wonder, as I did, has anything changed since the story’s plot which takes place in the mid- to late 1960’s. My take is, the names and the actors/players may have changed, but the plot, story and the motivation remain the...
read moreHow much does it cost to build a new home in Los Angeles?
How much does it cost to build a new home in Los Angeles? As a vacant land specialist in the greater Los Angeles area for the past 28+ years, this question is often posed to me. As you may expect, with the devastations of the recent Palisades and Eaton fires, I am asked this question even more often than before: How much does it cost to build a house in Los Angeles? The answer is not as simple as one might expect, there are quite a few variables that need to be factored in. For example, a great deal depends on the terrain, while location makes a big difference as well. These factors are the main reason I get asked, from developers, investors and potential land buyers who want to build as to how much does it cost to build a home in Los Angeles and vicinity? As most everyone knows, Los Angeles has always been one of the most expensive places to live, hence building a house would be no different. Over my years here and in real estate, I’ve watched as the price of construction costs continued to rise thus further adding to the lack of affordability to build a home. Add to that the increase of interest rates has not helped the situation either. Five years ago, the Pandemic Shutdown negatively impacted not only the income of potential buyers, while further adding to the increased costs of everything else. For example, groceries alone have increased by 28% since 2019. It is no wonder that the cost of building a home has also increased along with existing home prices. As I mentioned above, terrain plays a large role in our scenario. So, let’s start with flat land. To build a home in Los Angeles on flat land generally would cost at the minimum $250 per square foot; nothing fancy or extravagant, just the basics. As to what I would call a mid-range priced home, the cost would be closer to $350 per square foot. For a luxury customized a/k/a high-end build would cost about $450 per square foot or more. The question of course is: what does this include? The dollar per square foot consists of a number of fees, first and foremost building permits and architectural fees. We then need to add in the costs for running utilities to the home, foundations, framing, exterior finishes, roofing and plumbing. Let’s not forget to add to that interior finishes where the costs could run from low to average to very expensive (particularly if you go with custom finishes) particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. Obviously, the more luxurious one makes the kitchen and bathrooms the higher the price per square foot becomes. The good news in all of this is that buying land and building a home from scratch is still less expensive than buying a finished home; plus the house could be designed to your exact tastes and needs. To reiterate, I have only addressed building a home on flat lots. To build a home on a hillside means the costs are much higher. That is something I will address in a future post. If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could,...
read morePhase 2 of the Palisades and Eaton Fires cleanup is underway
Phase 2 of the Palisades and Eaton Fires cleanup is underway If you are not aware, Phase 2 of the cleanup of the Palisades and Eaton fires is currently underway after completion of Phase 1, which began on January 28, and involved the removal of toxic chemicals. Phase 2 includes the clearing of debris such as chimneys, ash, trees, foundations, and “up to six inches of contaminated soil.” The deadline for property owners to submit a right-of-entry (ROE) form in order to opt in for free cleanup is March 31, 2025. If you do not Opt In, the cleanup will be on you. It’s also very important to note that if you choose to opt out, you CANNOT change your mind and opt in. Further deadline and submission information can be found at this link https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/roe/ If you need help filling out your form or have additional questions, please call the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Hotline at 844-347-3332. You may also email PalisadesFire@dpw.lacounty.gov or EatonFire@dpw.lacounty.gov. To learn more about Phase 2 please visit this link https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/phase-2/ If you prefer not to read the link, here is the short answer: A Right of Entry (ROE) form is required if you want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do work free of charge. Those opting out should also submit the form to avoid delaying work in their communities. The US Army Corps of Engineers has established a Debris Call Center to help answer questions regarding Private Property Debris Removal. Hours of operation are from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM; call 213-308-8305 for assistance. If you have additional questions or would like further details, the link is extremely thorough and you should be able to find everything that you need. Thank you to the Army Corps of Engineers for leading these critical cleanup efforts! I have been asked by many clients and out-of-area agents what is going on with insurance issues that they have been reading. That will be a future post with much detail, but I can provide a quick short answer here: State Farm, California’s largest insurer, recently requested permission to instate an “emergency” insurance premium increase of an average of 22% for homeowners. Today, the insurance commissioner rejected this request and asked the company to provide more information at a meeting later this month. “State Farm’s customers need real answers about why they are being asked to pay more and what responsibility the company’s leadership is taking to get its financial house in order,” the commissioner said in a statement. In brief, this is a dynamic situation where things are evolving day-by-day and minute-by-minute. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you need additional help or have questions. If I don’t have the answer, I have contacts with whom I can put you in touch that can help. If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach...
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