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Thanksgiving is right around the corner: 20 days and counting!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner: 20 days and counting! To most of us, Thanksgiving is one of the most favorite holidays of the year. Family and friends get together and pleasantly over indulge in eating and drinking. As most of you know, cooking is a hobby, an obsession and a pleasure for me. There is something very special about making everyone feel good with food. Diane has invited a very good friend of ours over for dinner. She is a New York Transplant and we are Boston Transplants to Los Angeles and none of our family is near us. On a side note outside of our favorite Baseball Teams rivalries, we actually get along. I will be in Red Sox Garb and she will be in Yankee GarbJ Diane has no idea about what it takes to cook a fantastic Thanksgiving Dinner. I do and that is part of the fun and the challenge. Two days before Thanksgiving, I must get a Grad A, extremely flavorful, very juicy and of course fresh turkey. Now where will I get it?? I like going to Trader Joes and meeting this very important requirement. I do not want to disparage Super Market Turkeys, but if you want good food you must get good ingredients. I do not have the luxury of going to a local farm and getting a fresh free range Turkey, but Trader Joes comes close to it! I also do not have the budget of ordering from Top Chefs to deliver us a Thanksgiving Meal. Take my word that would be the easy solution, but the most expensive one too. Then again what would I do? Keep in mind we live in Marina Del Rey, CA and there are some super star Chefs, that could cook for us: Wolfgang Puck of Spago’s fame and the Oscar Parties and he has quite a few restaurants in Beverly Hills, Thomas Keller of the French Laundry and Bouchon’s fame has a place in Beverly Hills as well, and I could go on and on, but that would be another blog post and it would be: the who is who of Chefs in the greater Los Angeles area. So if you do not want to cook and create a memorable meal and day on your own, you know you can reach out to these super star chefs. I on the other hand need to start planning now between all the increased real estate activities! Making a thanksgiving meal reminds me of, like buying a home: you need to get organized, plan, research, investigate and get the best value for your money and work hard and you will get great results! 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 moreHuge Price Adjustment at 6241 Crescent Park West #415,Playa Vista,CA!
Huge Price Adjustment at 6241 Crescent Park West #415, Playa Vista,CA 90294 and we will be holding an Open House this Sunday from 1pm -4pm! Come by and check this great home out! This is a picture of the Open Kitchen with the Dinning area! immage of the second bathroom! immage of the Master bath This home is move in ready! Look forward to your questions! 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 moreDo you know where the World’s Largest Halloween Party was this year?
Do you know where the World’s Largest Halloween Party was this year? Yes, year after year the World’s Largest Halloween party has been in West Hollywood, CA. It is considered Los Angeles’ biggest party, an estimated 500,000 people were partying last night in West Hollywood, CA. According to the historians, about 20 years ago the politicians decided to close Santa Monica Blvd down from the Border of Beverly Hills to La Cienega Boulevard. Initially it was due to safety reasons. Now it is just tradition and the party keeps growing. Halloween in WEHO (West Hollywood) is probably the biggest profit day for Restaurants & Pubs. All the revelers eat and drink to the point, that everyone can be assured that they pleasantly over ate and drank! Photo by Rick Loomis Los Angeles Times Can you imagine there were about six stages, but the main stage was the Halloween Drag Hotel of Horrors Stage, followed by the Dungeon of Sins Stage where various bands entertained the crowds? As far as I am concerned the real attraction is the costumed spectators or should I say participants of the Halloween Party Crowd and their objective has always been to have the most provocative costumes. Anyway , I am sure you can imagine many of the reveler’s outfits could not be posted hereJ If you want wild and crazy, than you need to put the West Hollywood Halloween Party on your must visit destination at least once in your life time. Photo by Rick Loomis Los Angeles Times Now if you want a tamer night then do not go to the WEHO Halloween Party J to give you an idea what a big geographical party this is, I am going to show you what streets are closed for the majority of the day! · San Vicente Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica was closed all day · Santa Monica between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard, including all side streets, closed at noon! · Robertson Boulevard between Melrose and Santa Monica closed at noon! · Almont Drive and La Peer Drive closed from Santa Monica to Melrose at noon · San Vicente between Cynthia Street and Santa Monica closed at noon · Santa Monica between La Cienega Boulevard and Holloway Drive/Croft Avenue closed at 4 p.m. · La Cienega between Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica closed at 4 p.m. · The Sunset east and westbound turn lanes onto La Cienega closed at 4 p.m. So with that said hope you understood why there was such a large traffic jam all over town todayJ! 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 moreAre you familiar with the New Gas Pipeline Disclosure Law in CA?
Are you familiar with the: New Gas Pipeline Disclosure Law in California? If you are a seller or a buyer in California you need to be familiar. This new Disclosure law makes it clear, that if you are buying a property, than during the transaction there will be a disclosure which will address information about pipelines of gas and hazardous liquid transmission pipeline. This is encouraging buyers to view the National Pipeline Mapping System also known as the “NPMS” website on their own. The NPMS Internet Website is maintained by the United States Department of Transportation at http://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov . The website encourages the potential buyer to seek further information about possible transmission pipelines near the property they are considering by contacting the local gas utility or other pipeline operators in the area. This disclosure law has been brought about by AB 1511 (Assembly Bill 1511) and it will go into effect after July 1, 2013. I suspect this law went into effect because in 2010 in San Bruno a San Francisco suburb there was a pipeline explosion which killed eight people and destroyed 58 homes. There are various Disclosure Companies who generally provide the natural gas transmission pipeline disclosure to their clients, check out the disclosure company that you use and make sure they are in compliance so you do not pick up a potential problem down the road when it is too late. 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 morePacific Palisades Fixer Upper Listing Presentation!
Pacific Paisades Fixer Upper Listing Presentation! Many people wonder what life is like in the day of a Realtor. Well let me tell you something, during my time of being a Realtor with many co-workers, I found that there were numerous Realtors wanted to write books, plays and comedy shows to let the general public know what our day to day activity consist of. Every time I heard this, I started to laugh, and commented that no one would appreciate it, nor no one would want to hear it. So here comes Active Rain and wants us to share our most strange, our weirdest or out of the ordinary incident we had as a Realtor. Being a Realtor for over 15+ years, let me tell you it is a large array of choices and events that I could share. The question is what would you like to hear about? Is it my own naivety? Or the most unusual incident trying to show a home, or is it the strangest occurrence? Needless to say I had a lot to choose from. So as I am racking my brain out, what do my readers want to hear about? Is it the time I called Diane to make sure if she does not hear from me in two hours, please call the police and send them to this address (a weird listing appointment)? Or when I walked in with a potential buyer in the San Fernando Valley to a home and there was a movie being made, FYI in case you did not know the San Fernando Valley is the home of the Porn Capital of the world? Or is it when my buyer and I got stuck inside a Garage of a Condominium Complex? Needless to say the hardest part is to choose the story. So with that said. I will tell you about my car’s malfunction storyJ It was 2005 and I just got a New Lexus RX 330 I was very proud of it and enjoyed driving it. Next thing I know it is 2007 and I have a Listing Appointment in Pacific Palisades, I present my case as to why I should be the listing agent of this great fixer home… I leave and get in my car… next thing you know is I cannot start the car, the long and short of it. For some reason I had a faulty battery, lucky for me I did not park in the drive way of my listing appointment, rather parked five homes away on the street. I was frantically calling AAA for a jump start. Partial Happy ending, no one noticed my tragedy, so no embarrassment. Sadly the sellers decided not to list with anyone because they did not think $990,000 was a good list price for their fixer inheritance…Instead they leased the house out thru Craig’s list. So sadly no one got to sell or lease their home! And for me it was just a stressful evening with about $200 out of pocket for battery and service call! Oh well day in a live of a Realtor in the Greater Los Angeles area competing for a Fixer home. Now with that said the good news is I still have the same batteryJ If you...
read moreHow to prepare for a Short Sale before you begin the Sales Process?
How to prepare for a Short Sale before you begin the Sales Process? As some of you know, I have written what a Short Sale is from a Seller’s Perspective at the end of August. Just in case you missed it I am enclosing a link to that post (http://actvra.in/GWv ) Now I would like to focus on how to prepare for the Short Sale Process. The First Step: The Realtor & the Seller should have an extensive, truthful discussion about the Seller’s financial status. Honesty and full disclosure are essential to the successful closing of a short sale transaction. The Second Step: The seller & the listing agent need to work together. Now with that said the Seller needs to contact the lender and feel out the Lender how open are they to a Short Pay Off? This is a complex transaction and both Seller & Listing Agent have to work harder to get a successful closing of the transaction. Keep in mind the Process consists of convincing the Lender to reduce the loan balance and close the transaction. This is not that easy and is very challenging. What you need is good negotiation skill from both the Seller and the Listing Agent. The Third Step: This is the hardest part Working with the Lender determine the Lender’s Guidelines. The best thing you can do is anticipate the list of required documents at the begin be prepared at least with the following: 1. The listing agreement 2. The evidence of financial hardship to the Lender (strong evidence is key) 3. Proof of income or the lack of 4. Two years worth of Tax returns & W-2s 5. Latest personal checking account statement 6. Copies of all past due secured and unsecured debt notices 7. Latest mortgage statement 8. Current Tax bill This will put you in the right direction to a successful Closing of a Short Sale. There are a lot of other things to consider. Most of all have a skilled and trustworthy Realtor to help you through the difficult challenges of a short sale. 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 more10453 Sandall Ln Bel Air CA 90077 another great vacant lot w/ flat pad
10453 Sandall Ln, Bel Air, CA 90077 another great vacant lot with a large flat pad. ONE OF THE BEST PRICED VACANT LOTS IN BEL AIR. $279,000. LOCATED INSIDE THE PRESTIGIOUS EAST GATE OF BEL AIR. DIRECTLY OFF BEL AIR ROAD. LIVE AMONG THE WHO IS WHO OF THE WORLD. PREVIOUS FAMOUS RESIDENTS WERE RONALD REGAN, FRANK SINATRA, ELIZABETH TAYLOR. I COULD GO ON AND ON. HUGE FLAT PAD. BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME AND LIVE AMONG THE POWER BROKERS OF TODAY. DEVELOPERS HERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A HOME WITH HUGE UPSIDES 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, Brentwood, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.comor 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 more12376 Laurel Terrace Dr, Studio City, CA 91604 Vacant Land Just Listed
12376 Laurel Terrace Dr, Studio City, CA 91604 (Vacant Land) Just Listed for $169,000.00 This is a fantastic vacant lot south of the Boulevard in this price point. Great for a Developer, Builder or someone who just wants to live in the neighborhood. Hillside Ordinance applies to this lot! This is a great opportunity to design your own home. This is on a paved Road with homes surrounding this lot. Utilities nearby, all you need to do is connect to it. Check out the home directly next to this lot on the left if you are facing this lot. It will give you a good idea what it will take to build on this one. 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, Brentwood, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.comor 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 more3963 Hopevale Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403( Vacant Land)
3963 Hopevale Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Vacant Land. This is such a great price at $89,000.00 it is hard to believe! THIS IS NOT A SHORT SALE, NOT AN REO. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WELL PRICED VACANT LAND ON A PAVED STREET, SOUTH OF THE BLVD. PERFECT FOR A BUILDER, DEVELOPER OR OWNER BUILDER. GREAT LOCATION. HOPEVALE DR IS A CUL-DE-SAC STREET WITH HOMES ON IT. PAVED ROAD WITH UTILITIES NEAR BY ,ALL YOU NEED IS TO CONNECT TO IT. INSIDE HILLSIDE ORDINANCE & MULLHOLLAND DESIGN REVIEW BOARD. ONE OF THE MORE GENTLE UPSLOPES IN THIS AREA. 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, Brentwood, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.comor 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 moreOne of the Best Restaurants in America, “Mare” in Boston, MA !
One of the Best Restaurants in America,” Mare” in Boston, MA As I promised quite a few blogs ago I would highlight a few fantastic Restaurants in Boston, MA. This fantastic Restaurant is located at 135 Richmond St, Boston, Ma 02113 in the North End of Boston, MA. This part of Boston is also known as Little Italy of Boston. www.marenatural.com If you follow Esquire Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, Food and Wine Magazine, Travel and Leisure you will find accolades from all these magazines. This is a fantastic Seafood Restaurant in a coastal Italian style cuisine. It has a very healthy menu comprising mostly of deep water fish, shellfish and seafood. They also have a great Organic Wine list. If you are in Boston, MA you must make this as a go to destination. If you do not go you are doing a disservice to your food palate! 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, Brentwood, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 or email me at homes@endrebarath.comor 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...
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