Blog
Fall of the Giants by Ken Follett: a must read for all!
Fall of the Giants by Ken Follet: a must read for all! Especially it should be required reading in High School! First I must say most people would be daunted with tackling a book that is around 1000 pages. Needless to say, those of us who have read Ken Follett understand and look forward to his larger booksJ he is a Story Teller par excellence. Writers who are great story tellers are fun to read and the pages become unimportant. If you are not familiar with Ken Follett check out my blog that I wrote a while back http://actvra.in/NnD The only reason it took me this long to finish his book was, because I am first and foremost a Full Time Realtor, second I cook almost every night without bragging mostly from scratch…. Now about my observations: If you are like me, then you will agree that most of us are more familiar with the period that follows this book, hence it was refreshing to read Follett’s historical fiction giving me a refresher course on the end of the Tsar’s regime, the end of the Kaiser’s regime, the beginning of Communism in Europe and what the causes of World War II were. Of course it was interesting seeing and living this period through the eyes of the various participants from the Russian Peasant’s to the Aristocracy in Europe: particularly Germany, England and the United States. Follett gives a descent perspective of what occurred during this period and he stays loyal to the historical facts. I found it at times, somewhat having a rosier view of President Wilson’s position as well as that of the lower classes. Never the less I would make this book required reading in high school for all students and have open discussions comparing the events with Follett’s perspectiveJ Most importantly I found the Characters fascinating, some with their strengths others with their weaknesses never the less I could not wait to read how their lives were developing, changing and meandering due to the historical events that were taking place. Now I will look forward to reading the next one which I call Volume Two : The Winter of the World. If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations...
read moreHolidays are for giving & receiving. Some people say it is better to..
Holidays are for giving & receiving. Some people say it is better to give… Well when I got home there was a delivery in front of our door. Once I opened it my attitude changed from it is better to give than to receive. I was thrilled that we were on the receiving end of this giftJ. Look at these pictures and tell me what your position would beJ ? http://www.berries.com/Sweet20 Diane is still out of town and I started reading the instructions and discovered that this is a gift all for me. I called up and thanked Mark & Janet for the nice giftJ I promised them that I would take pictures so Diane could see themJ. If you like these feel free to call 877.318.2195 for your self or your friends! So here you go. Hope you like the pictures and just so that you know the pictures do not convey the taste! I do not need an excuse, I could inhale the entire box…but I will try to behaveJ If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations ...
read moreDark Chocolate Brownie Wednesday: I mean wordless Wednesday:)
Dark Chocolate Brownie Wednesday: I mean wordless WednesdayJ Those of you who know me, I have a hard time with “Wordless Anything” so with that said, you tell me what you think! If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations...
read moreA VACANT LOT WITH POST CARD VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. JUST SOLD!
A VACANT LOT WITH POST CARD VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. JUST SOLD!! THIS LOT HAS IT ALL, FANTASTIC PANORAMIC VIEWS. TRULY THE BEST PRICED VIEW LOT IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. SELLER HAS RELOCATED AND WANTS TO SELL IT FAST. JUST A GREAT VALUE FOR DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO BUILD THEIR DREAM HOME OR JUST INVESTORS WHO WANT TO MAKE A PROFIT. THIS LOT IS IN A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BUYER AS WELL AS THE SELLER! If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations...
read moreHudson Book Sellers @ Logan Airport Boston MA: the Holiday Book Tree!
Hudson Book Sellers: Logan Airport in Boston, MA the Holiday BOOK TREE As most of you know book stores are few and far in between now days. Every time we travel we try to support all the Booksellers around the country. Needless to say we love the Hudson Book Store at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). Diane had to fly back to Boston, MA and on her way out of the Terminal she saw the Hudson Book Store and it was not a small little satellite store, rather it was a full size Book Store. She snapped this picture and wanted to share with meJ and of course in turn I had to share with you. At the same time I would like to wish you all the warmest of Holiday Season and hope your life will be full of joy and laughter now and in the future! If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations ...
read moreThe Dorian in Playa Vista, CA during the Holidays
The Dorian in Playa Vista CA during the Holidays! As most of you know I have been marketing a fantastic property at the Dorian in Playa Vista, CA! The unit is a townhouse style condominium on the top floor. Unit #415 is move- in ready. I have been so impressed with the Home Owners’ Association you have to check it out! More importantly you should purchase this great Condominium! Check out the Holiday Festive Decorations. This is truly the most luxurious building in Playa Vista, CA Planned Urban Development Community! I for some reason you missed some of my previous blog posts about the Dorian, then please check them out below and Happy Holidays to all who are reading this blog post! http://actvra.in/DtL http://actvra.in/KRr http://actvra.in/HqR http://actvra.in/DYV How many Home Owner Associations do you know that decorate their complex?? If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations ...
read moreRay Kurzweil & Google Inc: Life imitating Art or Art imitating life?
Ray Kurzweil & Google Inc: Life imitating Art or Art imitating Life? What will the future hold? First my question is how many of you know that Ray Kurzweil has joined Google Inc, followed up with how many of you know who Ray Kurzweil is? Kurzweil, became Google’s Chief Engineer in laymen’s terms. His mission is: “to work on new projects involving machine learning and language possessing…” before I go into a long biography I am just going to give you a link to read about him (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil ) He has worn many hats and controversy has surrounded him throughout his life. Some of the hats he wore were: Author, Inventor, Entrepreneur Futurist and now Director of Engineering at Google Inc. Now he will bring his Futuristic Ideas to Google Inc. He has for decades discussed, lectured and wrote about the potential of artificial intelligence to increase human capabilities. Now he has elevated it to the next level and wants to create extremely intelligent machines. In laymen’s terms “thinking machines”. I for one believe we are not that far from this technology. How many of you remember when in the 1990’s World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov played against IBM’s Deep Blue and was defeated? This event seems like a hundred years ago. Lot of water has passed from the Hudson River to the Ocean since then. Just as a small example in those days I was getting Real Estate Inventory on Charles St in Boston, MA by going from Real Estate Office to Real Estate Office and writing down the addresses and description in a note pad. Not long ago I read a book called “The Fear Index” by Robert Harris and I blogged about it (http://actvra.in/GP2 ) some of you commented about the plausibility others of you commented about the implausibility of the premise of the book: High finance, sophisticated computer programming, greed and panic and a terrifying future. So with that said: what will the future hold for us thanks to Google Inc., Ray Kurzweil and Robert Harris? Is life imitating art or is art imitating life? If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or emails me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue...
read moreStark Raving White: Did you ever have this wine? If not check it out!
Stark Raving White: did you ever have this wine? This is a great value for about $13 plus or minus depending where you buy a bottle. The alcohol content is about 13.5%- 13.9% and the flavors are rich and full of fruit flavors with a bite of citrus and is a solid good inexpensive white wine. These are not vintage wines they are great blends and depending what year there could be a bit of a flavor variance. I initially bought the wine because the Label caught my AttentionsJ then I discovered what a great wine I was having. Then I did a bit of research and discovered that the Wine Maker is John Kane and it is a blend of Sonoma, Lodi, Central Coast and Napa Wines. If you want a full bodied inexpensive white please try it! Also while you are at it check out their website at http://www.starkravingwines.com If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or emails me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations....
read moreWordless Wednesday: Well not quite:)
Wordless Wednesday: Well not quiteJ If you have pets you will appreciate that they have moods, expressions and just thoughts which they convey by the looks and expressions they give. I love taking pictures and trying to capture those moments. Well tell me what you think? This is Jack the one who knocked on the patio door to be let it! If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or emails me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations. ...
read moreHow to decide which is the ideal site for your dream home?
How to decide which is the ideal site for your dream home? There are about five things to consider. I f you have looked at the homes in Los Angeles and there is not one that meet your needs, wants and expectation, than there is another possible solution. Then to me the answer is clear: you need to buy a Vacant Lot! This solution is going to be a bit longer to achieve, never the less, it will allow you to have your perfect home. 1. First you need to decide what your budget is. This is the most important aspect of the building process. 2. Based on your budget you will be able to choose the Location. If you know your budget you will know where you can afford to buy the home site 3. Then you need to figure out the terrain. If you are buying in the Santa Monica Mountain Range it will be hillside, period. The only way you will buy flat land is if there is a “teardown house” on the property. Otherwise it will be either an upslope and once in a while you might find a down slope vacant lot. 4. Then you need to contact a Land Specialist i.e.: a Realtor who specializes in selling land and is familiar with the inventory based on the above three parameters. 5. Once you have selected the home site based on location, size and orientation than you need to get a good hillside Architect. After all this is done that is when the challenge begins. Most importantly you need patience, time and more patience. The approval process could take anywhere from eight to fifteen months and then after that the building process could take three to six more months. If you are buying in Malibu add nother one two two years to it unless you hire a good expeditor. The end result is that your dream home will be built to your specification. Then you might ask at what cost? If you take into consideration it will be: 1.your investment of time, 2. your investment of your money 3. and of course the testing of your patience. In return you will have your ideal home for about half the cost of the neighboring homes. Hence your taxes will be half of your neighbors too! Now if you are looking for a Land Expert to find your ideal site, look no further just send me an email or call me on my mobile. If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or emails me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue...
read more