Beverly Hills, CA Real Estate News

By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
Observations from a Beverly Hills Realtor Endre Barath, Jr. and why I have a great many growing concerns over artificial intelligence (AI)This post was inspired by an Active Rain Challenge by Kat Palmiotti I'll start out by saying that I am not against the principle of technology (and will take it a step further by saying how much online shopping I do). When the Internet and the advent of email first came about and people got comfortable with it, my life as a Realtor became incredibly easier.  I'm sure those that have been Realtors as long as I have will agree.  Who remembers trudging from one real estate office to another, notepad in hand to get the inventory from agents?  How about when the "big book” was introduced and listings were printed with the agent’s name and phone number. Hen...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
For new home builders…or window shoppers! Many of us love looking at houses...even if we aren't going to buy any time soon. And some of us like to take that one step further, ooh-ing and ah-ing over homes that only exist on paper. That makes Houseplans.com both a great resource for those who want to build their own home, AND a fun way to spend a couple of hours. With plans for nearly 30,000 different homes online, surely your own dream home is up there somewhere. Plus, many of the plans come in a variety of sizes and configurations, and they've even got a module to let you "draw" your own changes and edits onscreen. Styles run the whole gamut from quaint cottages to Greek revival to Spanish to architectural (like this one we love -- sleek design, and a clever way to work with steeply sl...
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
In case you did not know this, I would like to share this with you. I just found out last night. UNICEF is having what is called the Tap Project. Many local restaurants are participating in this event. This has started on March 22nd and it is continuing until March 28th 2009.  Customarily when you go to a restaurant, they bring a glass of Tap Water to your table, usually this water in free. The UNICEF's Tap Project is asking every patron to give $1 or more for the tap water. For every dollar raised, a child without access to safe water will have clean, drinkable water for 40 days. All funds raised support UNICEF's efforts to bring clean and potable water to millions of children around the world.  These Restaurants are participating in this worth while cause in Beverly Hills.   Gyu-Kaku ...
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By JB Brookman, High School Senior Portrait Photographer
(JB Brookman Photography)
Question: How many afternoons do you get to exercise, hang out with Hollywood Stars on Rodeo Drive and have a cupcake at Crumb's??? Answer: You get to do them all when you call Off 'N Running Tours and take their running tour of Beverly Hills on the "Running From The Paparazzi" 4 mile run! As a former runner and 7-time Marathon finisher, this unique tour caught my eye! From Wilshire Boulevard to Rodeo Drive and through Hollywood, this tour takes you through Beverly Hills and allows you to see celebrities, window shop and burn some calories at the same time!  For 60 bucks a person, you get a Running From the Paparazzi TShirt, bottled water, fresh fruit and a frosted cupcake from the famous Crumb's on Santa Monica Boulevard.  Be sure to call in advance to make reservations. Off 'N Running...
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
The first annual "Woofstock 90210" is in the history books. Here it was on a perfect sunny 70+ degree weather on Sunday, Bill Crowe of "Pets 90210" and Cindy Brynan & Barbara Rosenman from the Beverly Hills Community Service Department organized a very successful event. The place Roxbury Park's Wiggly Field at 471 South Roxbury Dr. and Olympic Blvd.,Beverly Hills, CA 90212.The time was from 11:00am to 4:00pm.  This event was organized for the dogs, by these three wonderful people for ' your dogs'. Dogs and their "parents" were at the first annual dog event. There was a dog parade. For a small sign up fee the dogs were judged for best costume, cutes, "looks-most-like its-owner" and many other categories.  It would not be Beverly Hills and land of the movie industry, if a talent agency w...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Before You Decide To Lease Your Home… The Washington Post takes a look at the pros (and cons) of leasing out your property in today’s market, rather than selling. The article makes a number of good points about how to find and screen tenants, whether to use a leasing management company, and tax advantages you can gain from an investment property. One thing we’ll take exception to, though, is the idea that you should shelve your plans to sell your existing home and buy something larger (or that otherwise better fits your needs) until prices rise again. For one thing, you can’t know exactly how long it’s going to take for the value of your home to rise above what it was when you purchased it — and why put your life and needs on hold indefinitely? Second, and equally important, is the fact...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Tax Credits for Homeowners Understanding housing tax credits.  It’s that time of year again - tax season.  Here is a useful article that breaks down the details of the housing tax credits .  Please feel free to call me at 310-433-2890 or email me with any further questions. To read the original article, click here  Tax Credits for Homeowners
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Design Walk | May 7-9, 2009 Legends of La Cienega Design Walk, a three day celebration of the galleries and shops of Los Angeles’ legendary design district.  Explore and get inspired!  Take in seminars, book signings, and guided tours.  For details about this special event visit click here. If you go, be sure to email me your review of the event! To read the original article, click here Design Walk | May 7-9, 2009
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
And You Thought Skylights Were Neat… British actuary Ross Russell and his wife Sally decided to leave behind their hectic London lives and move to the countryside. They wanted to build a home that was a little unconventional, but the local planning council was apparently more traditionally-minded. The end result — an interesting fusion contrived by Russell and a childhood friend who grew up to be a successful architect — is a fairly rustic-looking timber-clad shell that slides all the way back to reveal a modern glass and steel structure completely open to the land and the sky above. (The sliding shell, by the way, does have skylights cut out.) We always talk about “bringing the outdoors in,” but a wall of French doors just can’t compete with this. Read the whole story here. To read the...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Help Map Los Angeles Participate in this interactive project with the LA Times as it maps the communities of our ever changing city.  If you have any questions about LA’s neighborhoods call 310 433 2890 or email me   To read the original article, click here: Help Map Los Angeles
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By Endre Barath, Jr., Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties)
What I am about to tell you is  not standard around the country and that is why Beverly Hills, CA and Los Angeles, CA have a" reputation" in this country and around the world.  On the first Tuesday of Every Month the Crescent Hotel in Beverly Hills, http://www.losangeles.com/crescent-hotel ) A classic Rodeo Drive Jewel in Beverly Hills is holding a : are you ready for this "A Pink Slip Martini night". Now what does this mean? People who received the infamous "pink slip" from their employer can come to the Crescent Hotel drink Martini's and mix with "recruiters", "head hunters" and "employers".  Now I do not want to sound skeptical but drinking Martini's and Looking for employment? Somehow I find this not a good Recipe for a job hunt. Call me old fashioned. Call me a not hip, but I just ...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
World’s Most Unusual Hotels Planning on doing any traveling soon? You might want to bypass the big chain hotels and go for something a little more eclectic. The Telegraph highlights 17 curious accommodations around the world, including a bullfighting ring, a cold war-era bunker, an igloo and a converted helicopter.   To read the original article, click here:  World’s Most Unusual Hotels
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Aren’t You Glad You’re Reading This Online? Printed newspapers have been a seemingly untouchable institution for more than a century…but for how much longer? Silicon Alley Insider did the math and figures that the cost of printing and delivering the New York Times for one year costs more than giving every subscriber a free Amazon Kindle. To read the original article, click here:  Aren’t You Glad You’re Reading This Online?
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Tax Time Tip - Track Your Charitable Donations Online! It’s too late for 2008, but this is a great time to check out ItsDeductibleOnline.com — a totally free service from TurboTax that allows you to input and save almost any kind of charitable donation you’ve made, and gives you realistic values for non-cash items. It’s a great way to keep tabs on all those donations you make throughout the year…plus, if you do your taxes with TurboTax, you can easily import all the data you’ve entered when you do your returns. To read the original article, click here: Tax Time Tip - Track Your Charitable Donations Online!
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
The Crisis of Credit — Illustrated! For those of you who’d like a 101 course on the mortgage implosion in order to understand how lending, credit, the subprime market, investment banks and Wall Street are intertwined, media designer Jonathan Jarvis has created “The Crisis of Credit.” This nifty little ten-minute animation does a great job of clearly and engagingly illustrating exactly what happened and why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0zEXdDO5JU To read the original article, click here: The Crisis of Credit — Illustrated!
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
No More Hybrid Parking Perks for L.A. Drivers! The Los Angeles City Council has “unanimously agreed to eliminate free parking for drivers of Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight or Ford Escape Hybrid models — a privilege in place for four years — on March 1.”  According to NBC4, the move will generate $300,000 in parking fees; hybrid owners who park at meters during February will be given warnings about the end of free parking.   To read the original article, click here:  No More Hybrid Parking Perks for L.A. Drivers!
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By Mike Leznik, Los Angeles Bank Owned Homes
(Whole Sale Supplies)
The are currently 2 Hollywood Hills Bank owned homes for sale. Please request a showing of or more information by following the link below. Hollywood Hills CA Bank owned homes for sale Hollywood Hills Bank Owned Homes The Hollywood Hills Area of Los Angeles is an enclave of homes that  forms the Northern boundry of the Los Angeles Basin. Hollywood Hills neighborhoods stretch from the hills above West Hollywood to the Tips of Beverly Hills and Bel Air. The area includes Mulholland Drive, Beachwood Canyon, Laurel Canyon, Nichols Canyon and Mount Olympus. The Most famous stretches of homes can be found among the winding streets above sunset blvd. With the largest concentration of celebrity homes in the area it is a must stop for most tourists and locals hoping for a glimpse of Lindsey Loha...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
You’re Invited to our Academy Awards Party! Do you want to come to our Academy Awards Party? February 22, 2009 is our 10th Annual Award Celebration & Viewing Dinner, including celebrity hosts, silent & live auctions, and one of the most exclusive after-parties with performances by renowned artists.  To get your tickets, call 310-271-8421, go to www.ChildrenUnitingNations.org, or email me.  Would you like to promote your business?  We are still accepting items and services for our live and silent auctions.  We welcome anything from photography sessions to cooking classes, from your home in Napa to interior design consultations.   Get your name and expertise in front of hundreds of guests. For more information, call 310-271-8421, go to www.ChildrenUnitingNations.org, or email me.  Sponsor...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
  LACMA, Art on Wikipedia, and You! Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia par excellence, loves art….and LACMA invites you to help provide photo illustrations for Wiki’s articles. Throughout February, LACMA and other museums welcome the public to photograph permanent collection objects to help Wikipedia illustrate its articles. To add to the fun, Wiki has set up a Scavenger Hunt — post your shots to the Wiki group on Flickr, score points, and earn prizes! The photographer (or team) who scores the most points will win a collection of five LACMA exhibition catalogues as well as four VIP tickets to the museum. Check out the guidelines, and get going! And if you have a B of A credit or debit card, you can get free admission February 7-8. I’d love to see the pictures you submit to Wikipedia, be...
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
  Cocktails, Art, Architecture, Couture and Blues - You’re Invited! We’re having a nifty event at the new 8-unit condo/loft project at 7917 Willoughby Avenue in West Hollywood, designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy. The event is Thursday, Feb 5 from 6-9pm. We’ll be featuring a selection of works by LA artist Daniel Maltzman, live models wearing Deborah LaFranchi’s innovative bridal couture, and live music by The Bobby Haynes Blues Band…plus cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and valet parking. The event is being held in the penthouse units on the top floors, so space is somewhat limited, and thus an RSVP is necessary. If you’re interested in attending, just email us or call 310-777-6250. to read the original article, click here: Cocktails, Art, Architecture, Couture and Blues - You’re Invited!
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By Valerie Fitzgerald, Luxury Real Estate in Beverly Hills & West LA
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Bad Economy = Good Design?     A New York Times piece draws comparisons between some of this century’s lowest economic points, and the stunningly good design work that came out of them. Michael Cannell postulates that depressions and recessions result in creative problem-solving and striking new ideas in the home and interior design world, as evidenced by some of the most iconic works by To read the entire article, click here:  Bad Economy = Good Design?
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