Bree Long's (breelong) Blog

I have fallen behind on my normal blog schedule! This week, I am publishing an article I wrote for the Urban Land Institute of Los Angeles, highlighting smart growth in Hollywood. In the harsh light of recent economic conditions and an accelerating barrel wave of population growth, threats to our...

There is strong evidence that the wave of the future in real estate and development will take a switch back turn in an entirely different direction during the next decade of recovery and progress. Project Staff and Senior Resident Fellow for the Urban Land Institute, John Mc Ilwain, reports in Ho...

It's been over a week since my last blog post and it'd be easy for me to chalk it up to writer's block, but the real reason is more due to lack of motivation, distractions, excuses, etc. If I'm to be brutally honest, I just got lazy. Despite my efforts to crack it out of the park, sometimes the b...

Recently and again, I've been faced with the challenge of balancing my energy, establishing priorities, and defending boundaries in my life. This week, specifically, I set off to re-work my business plan, tie up an abundance of loose ends, and otherwise make time for a social life without becomin...

Per the usual, I've been chatting it up with a number of REO agents, commercial brokers, and investors as we all swap information and opinions about where this never ending financial free fall will finally land us. Nothing new really, but a penchant for positive thinking and the slightest of posi...

I am a Foodie. I love good food and always have, so you have to understand that I am also a stickler for the 'total dining experience' when it comes to eating out. Anyone who has ever shared a meal with me knows that I am the Queen of Special Orders and delight in requesting 'this' on the side wi...

I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't prone to moodiness, volatility, and bouts of eccentric behavior. But then again, who among us isn't? The truth of the matter is that the source of our wavering and fluctuating attitudes is primarily due to our inability to live in the present moment and percei...

A few new updates around town...The new Hollywood Trader Joe's on Selma and Vine St. just opened its doors! Upon my inaugural visit after a particularly self-indulgent evening the night before, the coffee sample guy took one look at me and proclaimed, 'Wow! You look like you need coffee more than...

I hope you've been frequenting spin class at the gym because this week is Bike Week LA- time to hit the streets! In honor of Bike-to-Work Day, the L.A. Metro Transportation Authority will be offering free bus and train rides to bikers on Thursday. Metro has also announced that they are removing t...

  I'm probably overdue for a meaty, real estate related post, but the last week seems to be a carbon copy of the week before: local and national consumer confidence is gradually returning (despite last week's stock market glitch), unemployment numbers are still high, and consumers still aren't s...