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Happy Birthday United States Army & Happy Flag day
I would be remiss if I did not post about the 251st Birthday of the United States Army. Hard to believe 51 years ago I was celebrating the 200th Birthday of the US Army as I joined the United States Military Academy as a Cadet at West Point, NY. Having left as an Airborne Ranger Infantry CPT in 1983 I was celebrating the 208th Birthday of the US Army. Here we are many years later, I proudly put my flag out as I have over the decades, celebrating both Flag Day and the Army’s Birthday. Not wanting to complain, retired teachers, retired principals of the Los Angeles School system cannot put their flags out. Really? This is part of the reason we have future generations not growing up Patriotic or understanding the History of the United States. Now let me focus on this great day. On a side note, did you know that it is also President Donald J. Trump’s Birthday? Well with that said Happy Birthday Mr. President. Hope you had a great celebration. A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last...
read moreThoughts about the history and the pleasure of Gourmet Cooking by Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor
Those of you who know me, know that I love to cook and indulge in gourmet foods. My home library has over 200 cookbooks offering a variety of ethnic cuisines and recipes varying from elaborate to casual, holidays and everything in between. My reasoning for buying a cookbook is if I cook just one recipe out of the cookbook, the cookbook paid for itself. Not only do I read the recipes, but a cookbook that shares fun, historical moments for me is really the best cookbook of all. To give you an example, the other day I opened Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food cookbook. As I was reading over the recipes, I found this great section on James Beard. As you may or may not know, the James Beard Awards come around annually in May and are presented to the best Chefs; think of the Academy Awards, the Emmys or the Tony Awards. With that said, I had no idea that James Beard moved to New York City York from Portland Oregon a few years after Prohibition. I always thought he was a native New Yorker. Nor did I know that he published his first cookbook in 1940. Being the proud owner of Menus For Entertaining by James Beard (published in 1963) by that time, he was already a contributor to Gourmet Magazine and undoubtedly a well-established Chef. By 1955, he had his own cooking school. Obviously, you get the idea how much I enjoyed learning more about this culinary giant all because I was searching through a cookbook for a recipe. After coming across this information quite by surprise, I felt inclined to pull my James Beard cookbook off the shelf and read his Introduction; when I did, this quote really resonated with me: “…whether you are entertaining at…. or dinner, you must plan carefully and make sure that most elementary chores are done in advance. Shop for food….as far ahead as possible…if you are lucky enough to have several hours before guests arrive, clean vegetable, set the table and arrange the centerpiece…” Although I had never read this before, I’m pleased to say that this is how I prepare whether I am entertaining or simply preparing a meal for the two us. Needless to say, I also enjoyed some of the photos of him focused on preparing the meal and the cocktails. If you love good food and are looking for a Realtor to help you buy or sell and then plan that celebratory meal post-closing, please reach out to...
read moreHonoring the men and women who gave their lives for this nation!
As we are midway through Memorial Day Weekend, here is my annual reminder that Memorial Day (celebrated on the last Monday of May) is set aside to remember and honor all who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their life – for this country. I would like to take the liberty to share some eloquent quotes that can state the holiday meaning much more eloquently than me: “This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” –Tamra Bolton “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.” –George S. Patton (Note to self, I should go back to my older posts and see how many times I shared his message.) “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt “This solemn holiday is dedicated to honoring the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation. Their extraordinary sacrifice secured the freedoms we enjoy and reflects the highest ideals of duty, courage, and selflessness.” -Brent Consedine, President, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices This Memorial Day, as you are home relaxing or spending time outdoors barbecuing with friends and family, I hope you will join me in remembering and thanking the many men and women who gave their lives so that we can enjoy this day. A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last...
read moreWord of caution post from your Realtor Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor!
It has been a while since I posted so with that said it is well overdue, and May is a favorite month of mine. If you missed the Full Moon on Friday the 1st, you are in luck – there will be another (better known as Blue Moon) on Sunday, May 31st. On the subject of real estate, those who regularly read my Blog Posts have heard me say: do not focus on the misleading headlines on various media platforms regarding real estate news. This extends to Real Estate Mergers and Acquisitions and the assorted legal battles between different real estate platforms. All of these are just distractions. If you are contemplating buying or selling, you must focus on that particular local real estate market. In my estimation, the ideal approach is to look at a one-mile radius of where you are interested in buying or selling. Assess what that real estate activity has been over the past three to six months. This formula gives you a very realistic and knowledgeable picture to determine what your property is worth for selling and what the ‘true’ purchase price should be if you are considering buying. (As an example, a recent media headline that came across my emails touted “Home Prices Dropped in Dozens of Big U.S. Cities This Year”. While this may be accurate, it means nothing unless it’s a city where you are buying or selling.) In closing, a word of caution. Scammers/Bad Actors/Impersonators also affect real estate. Should you get an email or a phone call from someone purporting to be a Realtor and that person asks you to deposit funds, do not fall for it. In a legitimate real estate transaction, funds are deposited into Escrow. Should you fall victim to real estate fraud, you can report it to:1. DRE, at: http://www.dre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html2. The California Attorney General, at: http://oag.ca.gov/consumers3. The District Attorney, Sheriff, local police and local prosecutor in your community. More information about law enforcement agencies is available at: https://oag.ca.gov/government/about4. The Federal Trade Commission, at: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft5. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), at: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety6. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/As always, feel free to reach out with any real estate questions or advice. A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last 50Important Dates for May: May 5 Cinco De Mayo; May 10 Mother’s Day (U.S.); May 18 (Victoria Day); May...
read moreDid you notice that fixed-rate mortgage has dipped below 6%?
Anyone wondering (like me) how we can be in the final month of the first quarter of the year already? And while the East Coast got hammered with an official blizzard on the heels of a major snowstorm, in the greater Los Angeles area, we enjoyed summer in February. Real Estate activity has been just as hot and cold. Depending on when you asked me, I was either super busy or catching up on the ‘to do’ list. You’ve likely seen the news that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped below 6%, a level it’s not seen since the mid-2022. Clearly, this encouraging news improves buyer purchasing power yet nevertheless we are still facing huge inflationary increases. Platforms that focus on Consumer Confidence report what you and I see whenever we go to the grocery store or the gas pumps. So in spite of the positive news of the drop in fixed-rate mortgages, the buying power of first time and repeat buyers is still affected. Next week could be different! Generally speaking, the first week of any given month offers several top tier economic reports culminating in jobs reports and that has the potential to cause volatility in the rates. As a point of awareness, anyone considering selling their property needs to be cognizant of these factors and position your property to sell by pricing it correctly. Do not exaggerate the list price only to ultimately chase down the price; there are still less buyers out there and they are well aware of real estate inventory and market activity. There are also still those buyers that are ‘sitting on the fence’. I also recommend listing a property not only in the MLS but on all platforms; do not fall for the “private listing” gimmick. The more eyes that see your property, the more likely it will sell faster. Keep in mind that here in the greater Los Angeles area, we are being viewed by international buyers as well as local buyers. Here’s some important dates to keep in mind for March – and enjoy my newsletter! March 8 – International Women’s Day, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS (Spring Ahead), LA Marathon March 15 – Mother’s Day in the UK March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day March 20 – FIRST DAY OF SPRING If you are looking for a focused 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 in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com. Berkshire Hathaway Beverly Hills A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last...
read morePrivate Listings! Looking for thoughts and input
There’s no lack of debate over various things in the news nowadays, but for now I’d like to address Real Estate media and “Private Listings”. Having been a Realtor for over 30 years in Boston and the greater Los Angeles area, I find it fascinating how various platforms twist and turn the phrase and how it should be used. Personally, is this approach as in ‘private marketing’ the best option for the seller? What exactly are the benefits and drawbacks? In my personal experience over the years, I have found that what benefits my sellers best is the more eyes that see a listing make the best odds that a property will be sold faster and for the highest dollar amount. If a property is listed as ‘private’ the exposure is extremely limited, hence limiting the sales potential. There is a real estate adage that the longer a property is on the market the more buyers will be suspicious that there is something underlying or wrong with the property giving buyers an opportunity to negotiate an offer on the listing price to a lower number. To present both sides, let’s examine one argument people will use in support of a private listing of a property. There are buyers who are only focused on listings not in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or not on the public platforms (Zillow, Realtor.com and individual Brokerage platforms to name a few.) In my observation, this is a small pool of potential buyers hence ultimately not worth keeping the listing out of the view of the much larger pool of buyers. I compare this to not using a Yard Sign to let buyers know that a property is for sale. Let’s face it, in spite of today’s online capabilities, there are still potential buyers who drive ‘old school’ style into various areas seeking “For Sale Signs” who may miss out on a property if there is no sign. (Isn’t one of the best ways to determine if you want to live in a neighborhood is to see what it’s like before you live there?) If not you personally, locals might notice a For Sale or Open House sign and share with their friends, relatives or coworkers who they know are looking for a property. With all that said, my observation is that one should expose the property to as many eyes and platforms as they can. To do otherwise, in my opinion, is more of a political power play by the big websites; Zillow would not exist if they did not get all their listings from the MLS. Yet now they play hardball because over the past ten years buyers and sellers have reached out to Zillow to get the listings rather than their local MLS. Again, in my opinion, they are not focused on the best interest of the sellers, rather they are looking out for their investors. What are your thoughts? If you are looking for a focused 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 in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free...
read moreThe Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth a book review by Endre Barath, Jr. Beverly Hills Realtor
The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth A book review by Endre Barath, Jr. Beverly Hills Realtor I had a hard time with this book because once I started reading, I did not want to stop. As most can relate, generally we have other obligations and it’s not often possible to read a book in just one sitting. Consider yourself warned that if you do read this book, you very well may have the same reaction. If you are not familiar with the title, The Fourth Protocol, it is referencing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1968. This was a signed treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union with the purpose being the prohibition of smuggling atomic bombs or their materials into other countries. The idea was to prevent the spreading of nuclear weapons all over the globe. While the objective was good, France and China (who also possessed nuclear weapons) refused to sign the treaty; other countries that did not possess nuclear weapons at the time also refused to sign. A primary character of the novel, Kim Philby, is living in the Soviet Union. Kim was previously a British Intelligence Officer who defected to Russia in 1963 when he was discovered spying for the KGB, i.e., a traitor to England. The novel is based on the real-life traitor who conspired with the General Secretary of the Soviet Union to change the results of the 1987 British General Election in favor of the Labor Party. This would allow the hard left to take over and create the First Marxist-Leninist Government in Britain. Keep in mind the book was published in 1984. All of the characters are well developed and written with a believable hand. They are hard driven in their goal by sending various bomb parts via multiple couriers and bringing it to the United States with the intent of blowing up a small atom bomb near a U.S. Air Base. If you’ve read other book reviews of mine, no doubt you will notice that this is a typical Frederick Forsythe book. It is hard to tell historical facts from fiction in any of Forsythe’s novels. In this particular book, I would be hard pressed to believe the story unfolded other than how Forsythe wrote it. Hence, Frederick Forsythe remains one of my favorite authors. While I hate finishing his books, I’m happy to know that I have another one of his novels waiting for me to read on my bookshelf. If you are looking for a focused 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 in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com. Berkshire Hathaway Beverly Hills A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last 50....
read moreHonoring those who served in all branches of the United States Military: Veterans Day!
Honoring those who served in all branches of the United States Military: Veterans Day! I would like to share a little bit of history of Veterans Day, since I find, that the importance of remembering history is critical for the future of our nation:1918 marked the end of the First World War and it was on November 11,1918 to be exact. Armistice Day was a way of acknowledging the price one paid for peace, not just in the United States but England and the rest of Europe. (Sadly, I have seen in various publications and posts commemorating different years, anywhere from 1919 to 1921 as the beginning of Armistice Day.) Well, in 1926 Congress suggested, that Americans should observe Armistice Day. Finally in 1938 Congress made it officially a National Holiday as in November 11th of every year. Then lets fast forward to 1954, when the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor and recognize all U.S. Veterans. Over the years, I have often written about the history of this day, wanting to educate those who have not understood what Veterans Day stands for. Ironically these postings came about, because I kept seeing many people confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. On a side note, two other dates are just interesting facts about the history of Veterans Day. One of them being 1968, when Congress changed the National commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. Needless to say, many Americans did not approve of this change and conveyed their dissatisfaction and then finally Congress in 1978 returned the National observance of Veterans Day to its traditional date of November 11. Hope you enjoyed this history lesson, and let me leave you with a message from the current President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties: Today, on Veterans Day, we pause to honor and thank all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Your courage, dedication, and sacrifice have helped protect the freedoms and opportunities we all cherish as Americans.To our veterans within our company and across the nation – Thank You – we are deeply grateful for your service and your example of strength and selflessness.I encourage everyone to take a moment to personally thank a veteran — whether a friend, family member, colleague, or neighbor. Brent Consedine If you are looking for a focused 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 in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com. Berkshire Hathaway Beverly Hills A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or cause. Remember this Military Friendly Realtor treats every day as if it’ one of his last 50....
read moreReflecting on life & my own personal actions, observations by a Beverly Hills Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr.
Reflecting on life and my own personal actions is something that I have been doing for many years. Recently, however, I find myself wondering and reflecting more on what really matters in life. If you are wondering what inspired me to be so focused now you may presume that it has to do with recently having another birthday. While that might have a little bit to do with it, the real reason is that I have been watching and observing the comet, 3I/ATLAS, for weeks now. If you are not familiar with this space phenomenon, please do Google it as it might just surprise you. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our daily life, activities and distractions that we often miss out on special events and attractions such as this one, some that may never again occur in our lifetime. Thanks to this focused observation, I was led to ask the question: If you knew that you had 50 days (or less) of life left to live what would you do with that precious, finite amount of time? What would you change in your way of approaching life, obstacles and how would you treat people overall? As far as I am concerned this is as good a time as any to reflect on what really matters. Would you direct your time towards your significant other, your pets or family, friends, coworkers, or clients? Maybe there is someone you’ve parted ways with, and you’ve always deep down wished for a reconciliation. You get where I am headed with this; take a look at your journey on earth. While I am not big on emotions, it’s events like this that make me focus and analyze my own self when it comes to self-discipline, compassion, love, and kindness. I have always possessed strong willpower and perseverance and strongly believe these qualities help you to take on life’s challenges and, ultimately, result in a successful life. Gratitude is equally important – focus on being grateful for what you have rather than what you do not have. And accept the fact that there will always be those that have more than you but remember there are also those who have a great deal less than you as well. Keeping all of this in mind, what would you need to change? There is more to life than what meets the eye. Are you ready for the afterlife or something else if there is one? No matter if you believe in God or the afterlife or not, how would you handle your final 50 days that people would see is another way to pose the question. These philosophical questions should be handled individually by each person. There is no correct answer, rather it’s a personal reflection. When it comes to real estate and my clients, I treat every day as if it may be one of my last 50. I’m always committed and focused on my surroundings, the economy and the direction in which things are headed, meaning inventory, interest rate and the speed of the local market. I keep current with the both the Global and Local Environments and also focus on our own pets, their well-being and my and my partner’s too. In closing, let me leave you with a quote from...
read moreWishing you a Happy Halloween filled with more treats than tricks! Wishes from Endre Barath,Jr. Realtor
Wishing you a HAPPY HALLOWEEN filled with more treats than tricks & more laughs than fright! No need to be scared, if you are considering buying or selling your home or any other real estate. I promise you; I will save you from the horror you might be expecting from a real estate transaction. The process will be all treats and no tricks! Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and spooky Halloween! 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 in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com. Berkshire Hathaway Beverly Hills A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or...
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