Blog
The Key To Rebecca by Ken Follett a book review by Endre Barath,Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor
Well, I finally dusted off another great book from my home library, The Key To Rebecca by Ken Follett. I so enjoy picking up and reading a hardcover book that has been collecting dust on my bookshelves simply because of lack of time. Reading has always been a passion of mine, and I’m happy to back reading in earnest. The Key to Rebecca is an historical fiction spy thriller centering around World War II. It was published in 1980, and I am the proud owner of a first edition autographed book; I still remember how thrilled I was to attend an in-person author reading, discussion and signing with Ken Follett in downtown Los Angeles when he was promoting The Hammer of Eden and how gracious he was to sign all of my books that I touted to the event. The Key to Rebecca is yet another a page turner where you feel as if you are a participant in the drama and not only a reader. I was transported to Cairo in my mind as the German spy is sending critical information via secret code to the Erwin Rommell’s German Army (aka the Nazis) about the British Forces. I’ve always been intrigued how German spies and British Intelligence sent coded messages during World War II. In this particular story, it was done via a book called ‘Rebecca’, a much loved classic novel by none other than the late great Daphne du Maurier. Having been a realtor for many years and the stress of needing to conduct business and timely communications well before cell phones existed brought back some fond (or not so fond) memories for me. I am forever grateful for the improvements over beepers, pagers, and suit case phones, which ultimately led us to today’s smart phones. Hence my fascination with the challenges that spies had to contend with to get their messages across enemy lines. Of course, Ken Follet is also a master at writing historical details. As with his spy, Alex Wolff, there was a real-life spy at the time who also grew up in Egypt thus having mixed German and Arab cultural upbringing just like Ken Follet’s spy. The similarities were amazing. The young Anwar Sadat also played an important role in the novel’s plot. According to Wikipedia, Sadat even mentions this arrest of the actual spy (not Wolff) in his own autobiography. And Sadat’s arrest by the British is largely derived from Sadat’s own autobiography (check it out). Finally, the motor cycle chase scenes in Cairo will take your breath away, at least they did mine. All of this inspired me to check see if there was a movie made. Well, it turns out that there was a TV movie in 1985 starring Cliff Robertson. I am now on a quest to find the movie and watch it. The only downside to that is it would take me away from reading another one Ken Follett’s great books. 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...
read moreJust Sold!!! 3930 Topanga Canyon Blvd Malibu CA 90265 another vacant lot!
Directions: Take Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon Blvd approximately five hundred feet from the corner on the north side of the street is the land (across and past Oasis Imports) Remarks: Price Reduced! Seller wants it SOLD NOW! This is one of the least expensive vacant lots in Malibu and in such close proximity to the ocean. Lots like this don’t last long in this market! Buyer to verify all information and rely on their own investigations. Ask listing agent for a plat map and go direct. Alternatively great investment to hold for future appreciation. Sold AS IS & WHERE IS. Drive by and MAKE OFFER. Keep in mind 500 ft from PCH is an amazing opportunity to build an Ocean View Home! Private Remarks: never got to do a video, since the Palisades Fires shut the area down. Now I am receiving many inquiries. Please reach out to me for a plat map and go on your own to the property. 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 Gentlemen of 16 July by Rene Louis Maurice and Ken Follett : a book review by Endre Barath, a Beverly Hills Realtor
The Gentlemen of 16 July by Rene Louis Maurice and Ken Follett a book review by Endre Barath, a Beverly Hills Realtor Yet another book that has been on my bookshelf for decades, a small hardcover book just patiently waiting for me to pick up; interestingly enough, it is a nonfiction, published in 1978. I am a proud owner of a first edition, signed by none other than Ken Follett. As with any of Ken Follett’s books, this one is also a page turner. It is the story of the French criminal bank robber, Albert Spaggiari, who spent a couple of months digging a tunnel underneath the “impregnable” vault of the Societe General Bank of Nice in France. The year is 1976, and Albert Spaggiari did end up getting arrested after he and his gang of thieves stole about 100 million francs worth of valuables from the bank. If you can imagine, however, during his trial he somehow distracted the judge and jumped out of a window and fled on a waiting motorcycle. Spaggiari was never again caught and thus died a free man – or should I say a rich fugitive! As I previously mentioned, the authors wrote the book so it read as a page turner fiction novel. Without giving away the secret in the Epilogue, the authors do mention that in April 1977 they received a postcard from Spaggiari that read simply: Bien le bonjour d’Albert! In spite of there having been a rumor floating around that Spaggiari had been murdered, the postcard included a picture of himself wearing a coat and a beret to hide his appearance. By the way, the co-author name Rene Louis Maurice is a pseudonym for three French journalists who did not want their names identified; Ken Follett, of course, was an already established author of three previous books at the time this book was published (The Eye of the Needle, Triple and The Key to Rebecca). As a postscript, I read that Albert Spaggiari died on June 10th, 1989 due to lung cancer at the age of 56. Sadly, his body was found by his mother in front of her home in France as he would clandestinely visit her while mainly living out his life in Argentina. If you’re looking for a fun fast-paced read for a summer weekend, this one fits the bill and comes in at under 170 pages. 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 Great Elephant Migration arrives in Beverly Hills – A Time Sensitive Blog Post!
The Great Elephant Migration arrives in Beverly Hills – A Time Sensitive Blog Post! Have you heard (or herd!) of the Great Elephant Migration? If not, I’m about to fill you in, and if you live anywhere in the vicinity of Beverly Hills, CA, you can see it for FREE (although donations for the worthy cause would be appreciated) up until August 1, 2025. The Great Elephant Migration (From India With Love) arrived in Newport, Rhode Island on the Fourth of July 2024. Their 5000-mile journey is at its conclusion in Beverly Hills, CA until August 1. This amazing herd of 100 life-sized elephants and their calves have spent the past year traveling all over the United States, making stops in New York City, Miami Beach, Houston and Jackson Hole, Wyoming just to name a few. I was thrilled to learn about this exhibit and the wonderful opportunity to see them thanks to one of our friends. Obviously, the herd are not live elephants. These gorgeous replicas are made from lantana camara, one of the world’s top invasive weeds. This fast growing, noxious shrub has covered over 300,00 sq kilometers of India’s Protected Areas and limits the wild roaming elephant’s freedom. Hence, I find it extra special that each elephant has been created and constructed by “The Real Elephant Collective”, a community of 200 indigenous artisans from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu. These artisans not only bring attention to this problem but also help remove lantana camara by their herd construction, thus helping the animals roam more freely. It also brings to light the ability of elephants and humans to be able to co-exist. I am posting just a few photos to give you a mere glimpse of the quality of the artwork that went into creating these magnificent pieces. If you would like to learn more about this interesting cause, visit the attached link (About Us | The Great Elephant Migration). You can even purchase your own elephant as these remarkable pieces are for sale with prices ranging from $8,000 – $ 22,000. As I mentioned above, donations of any amount are appreciated if the purchase price is a bit out of your reach or if you simply don’t have the room for one. The exhibit is free at Beverly Gardens Park on Santa Monica Boulevard (9439 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 to be exact) and encompasses 4 blocks. There is ample parking in the surrounding Beverly Hills parking structures (I parked at Santa Monica and Roxbury). It’s available for viewing between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm so if you are a morning, afternoon or evening person you can enjoy the herd at your convenience. 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 more3930 Topanga Canyon Blvd Malibu CA 90265 Accepting Backup Offers!!
Directions: Take Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon Blvd approximately five hundred feet from the corner on the north side of the street is the land (across and past Oasis Imports) Remarks: Price Reduced! Seller wants it SOLD NOW! This is one of the least expensive vacant lots in Malibu and in such close proximity to the ocean. Lots like this don’t last long in this market! Buyer to verify all information and rely on their own investigations. Ask listing agent for a plat map and go direct. Alternatively great investment to hold for future appreciation. Sold AS IS & WHERE IS. Drive by and MAKE OFFER. Seller is open to seller financing as well. More photos to be posted tomorrow and a video is also in the works. 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 https://www.endrebarath.com....
read moreMaking a Case for : Why not build your home? by Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Land Specialist.
Making A Case for why not build your home? by Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Land Specialist. After recently reading an article by WalletHub, https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-first-time-home-buyers/5564 they made a list of the best and worst places for affordability for a first-time home buyer. Sadly, out of the 300 cities, Inglewood, CA came in at #276, followed by Los Angeles at #295 with Santa Monica pulling up the rear at #299 – all 3 cities making it into the top 300 worst affordability. With these statistics, may I humbly suggest investing in vacant land in the Greater Los Angeles area. Sure, there are challenges with building approvals, permits and the like, but in the long-run the benefits outweigh the difficulties. Let’s start with the price. If you are a first-time home buyer, there are two big challenges you immediately face – one is having the downpayment and the second is being able to afford the monthly carrying costs. The price of most vacant lots is the price of the downpayment for a house. As one might expect, there are land loans available from lenders. Reach out to me and I’d be happy to give you the list. Depending upon where the land is located, the home approval process can take a couple of years, but the good news is while you are meandering through the approval process, you are paying down the land if you’ve taken a loan. Subsequently, the value of the land increases as time goes by hence, as you approach the finish line for approvals to build, the value of the land has increased dramatically. Should your situation change, there are many buyers who do not want to go through the approval process but are willing to pay top dollar to buy vacant land with Ready To Issue permits (RTI). So you just might be able to sell the land to someone else, thus using the proceeds for other opportunities, possibly even enough to put down for an already built home. Alternatively, if your plan to build moves forward the lender that gave you the land loan is generally open to converting your land loan into a construction loan. Now with that said, add an additional 6 months to a year and you built your home, clearly at a fraction of what you would have paid had you bought your first home. Another thing to keep in mind is there is a huge demand for new construction homes in the greater Los Angeles area that you can sell for top dollar should you decide not to live in your newly constructed home. If you take those proceeds and buy an existing home for less, you are well ahead of the game and avoided the huge dilemma of being a first-time home buyer in places such as Los Angeles, Inglewood and Santa Monica. Being a vacant land specialist in the greater Los Angeles area, reach out to me to help you achieve your goal of being a first-time homeowner. 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...
read moreBlack Sunday by Thomas Harris A book review by Endre Barath, a Beverly Hills Realtor and avid reader
Black Sunday by Thomas Harris A book review by Endre Barath, a Beverly Hills Realtor and avid reader My latest read and book review and a novel that was published in 1975, and I am the proud owner of a First Ed. hard cover. Thomas Harris penned this book after he watched the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre. As I was an Interpreter at the Munich Olympics Press Center for these Games, sadly I could relate to much of this novel; because of this, as you might imagine, this book holds extra meaning for me. The novel’s plot is about terrorists attempting to create mass murder at the Super Bowl in New Orleans. We have a Vietnam veteran battling personal demons (think marital issues and thoughts of suicide) who flies a blimp over the Stadium for the networks to cover the game and wants to take as many people as possible ‘out’ with him. Enter a female character who is part of Black September (yes, the same group that was involved with the Olympics Massacre) who offers him the opportunity to potentially kill close to 80,000 people in the Stadium; as an added ‘bonus’ the President of the United States is planning to attend the game as well. Now you’ve got the general idea of the story, one that is filled with American Intelligence and FBI agents, Israeli Mossad agents and Palestinian terrorists to name a few key players. Not wanting to give away the ending, I will say that I had a hard time at night to stop reading the novel. Once you get going with it, you just want to keep reading to get to the finish line. I’m glad that I finally read Thomas Harris’ first novel. The parallels of Munich for me were very eerie as I could truly relate and appreciate the plot; I felt as if I was living in the moment. Word has it this book was not a big blockbuster hit until Harris ended up selling it to Hollywood and it was made into a movie in 1977. If the author’s name rings a bell, yes, Thomas Harris is also the creator of Hanibal Lecter and The Silence of the Lambs. As I say in most of my book reviews, if you have not read this one and love a page turner, this one’s for you. 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 moreObservations about Real Estate Headlines, by a Beverly Hills, CA Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr.
Here we are, six days into July 2025 in other words we are well into the second half of 2025 with less than six months left in the year. Not fully grasping how this happened, I can only conclude that we are all very busy day-to-day, making the days go by quickly, hence the weeks and the months as well. No matter, there’s nothing we can do about it, time marches on as the saying goes. Real Estate headlines are all over the map, and often I wonder who is writing these headlines and from where do they get their information? A few examples: 1. The Jobs Report: The U.S. employment numbers for June surprised the experts! The economy added jobs, and the unemployment rate ticked down. Wages are still climbing, month over month and year over year. Simply stated, the job market isn’t falling off the cliff any time soon. Nevertheless, it surprised “experts”? 2. The Los Angeles Housing Market: Depending upon which headline you read: (a) The Los Angeles housing market shows signs of cooling since May2025; and (b) Are Home Prices dropping in Los Angeles? If you asked me, I would tell you that the Los Angeles housing market continues to show resilience. The median sales price for June 2025 was $876,067 up 3.8% year over year, while June inventory was up and an increase from May by 9%. You get the idea. Here in Los Angeles, prices remain elevated, inventory increased, and sales slowed down. This means that buyers have more options from which to choose and can negotiate more than in previous years. What headlines fail to mention is that Real Estate is very localized even within city or neighborhood limits. If you are considering buying or selling, you need to focus on a .5-.75-mile radius of the property you are considering buying or selling to obtain an accurate value. If you have any questions or want to talk about real estate, please reach out to me directly and get the real scoop, not the misleading headlines. In the meantime, I hope all of you had a safe July 4th holiday. 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 moreHappy Independence Day better known as Happy 4th of July!
Independence Day, perhaps better known as the 4th of July, represents the independence of the United States from British rulers. Over time, this holiday morphed in many directions and this year, for many, it represents a long weekend and a kickoff to summer. Many people will be barbequing in their backyards, patios, balconies or parks. Others will see it as a day of heavy alcohol consumption and of course, be prepared for lots of “illegal fireworks” no matter where you live. Being from Los Angeles, I find it appalling given the recent Palisades and Altadena fires that we can still count on an abundance of them particularly since it’s impossible to get through to your local police department to report anyone. In addition to the fire risks, there are many fireworks personal injuries as well. All of this makes you wonder why people still partake, doesn’t it? Conscientious pet owners dread this time of year and likely have pet medications on hand from their veterinarians. Sadly there’s no one to make it easier for wildlife and stray or feral cats. We will keep our windows closed, air conditioning on and play calming music to help keep our pets calm and safe. Local shelters, already overflowing with unwanted animals, will take in even more dogs and cats that may accidentally run away from home. So be smart – if you have pets, keep them indoors. As an added safety tip, if you live in a warm, dry climate consider watering your vegetation the morning of the 4th (or in any event before it gets dark) in case you have neighbors who you know will be shooting off illegal fireworks. In spite of the hazards brought on by those that are inconsiderate, Independence Day is a national holiday that should and will be marked with parades in the local communities as well as legal fireworks displays coordinated and supervised by the professionals. To this I say, enjoy the celebrations! I’ll end by sharing a bit of historical trivia: In 1903 in Cleveland Ohio an explosion took place at the Thor Mfg. Co., a maker of fireworks. The explosion demolished 12 buildings and killed 3 people. At a later time, there was a sparkler-ignited fireworks explosion at a Kresge store causing many patrons to be burned and others to be trampled in an attempt to escape. These incidents led to the Cleveland Congress of Mothers to advocate for change. In 1908, an ordinance was passed prohibiting fireworks within the city of Cleveland, thus making Cleveland the first “safe and sane” city in America. With all this said, I wish all of my clients and friends reading this post a happy and safe Independence Day! 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 moreHappy 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 more