Discover Lake Balboa: The Japanese Garden "Suiho-en' ''Garden of Water and Fragrance'' The Japanese Garden at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant 6100 Woodley Ave Lake Balboa, CA 91406 www.thejapanesegarden.com Open Mondays through Thursdays 11am-4pm and Sundays 11am-4pm. Call (818)756-8166 for information and tour reservations.   Join me for my Sunday afternoon visit. This is how the garden looks in October. ''The beauty of the "garden of water and fragrance" (Suiho En) creates for the visitor a world of meditative calm where it is possible to focus on the simple and beautiful things in nature, and our lives.'' This Japanese Garden is a cultural showplace of Los Angeles. It was created by world renowned garden designer Dr. Koichi Dawana. In designing Suiho-en, he balanced the positive ... 10/15/2013

Lake Balboa Market Report September 2013   You probably don't know, but Lake Balboa city was officially recognized as a community by the City of Los Angeles only in 2006. It is primarily a residential district, bordered by Encino, Van Nuys, Northridge, and Reseda. If you'd live here, you'd be very close to 405 and 101 freeways ,  and if no traffic it will take you 20-30 min to drive to Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica, about 40 min to Malibu. Lake Balboa city has a nice recreational vibe: it is one of the very few communities in Los Angeles county that you can walk or bike to a huge park: Sepulveda Dam Decreation Area/Lake Balboa/ Wooodley Park. Lots of young families and couple starting out live here, along with older families who have lived here for years. I'd say, it is safe, solid, af... 10/02/2013

What is happening in Lake Balboa CA ( 5/13) Whether you live in Lake Balboa  neighborhood or just looking for a nice city to move into, this charming stable community has lots to offer. There are a huge Lake Balboa Park, Woodley Park( think: great places to spend time with the family or a nice bike ride, golf, tennis, etc.), many businesses, restaurants, and many more. With the Lake Balboa area being a 'moderate range price point' in the San Fernando Valley( Located between Van Nuys and Encino), the area is attracting a lot of buyers.The first quarter of the year in Rel Estate hs done close to expections.  We continue to see very low inventory of homes and rising prices.There are only 19 houses  for sale in Lake Balboa( 5/10)~ Active listings, not condos, 6 are looking for Backup, 1 on ... 05/10/2013

Lake Balboa Cherry Blossoms 2013 If you visit our Lake Balboa Park before sunset during March, you'll probably enjoy a similar view:Many..... over 2,000 Cherry Blossom trees!  Tip: Pack a picnic bag and have a nice lunch with your date or family under one of the large trees or under a cherry tree. You'll see a lot of couples, families, and groups having picnics by and under the blooming Cherry Blossom trees.   Beautiful!Likely it is going to be 80-90F these sunny spring days. Enjoy!There are also paddle boats for rent, many picnic areas and a very nice playground for kids.  Bring your dog! ( This park is pet friendly)In fact, the Balboa Park is huge and has something for everyone. You can play sports in the fields ( golf is very popular here!, ride a bike, jog, and skate around the damn... 03/17/2013

Creepy Happy Halloween!     '''Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.""   Halloween is one of my kids favorite holidays each year. So much fun to decorate your own house and watch your neighborhood houses creepy  transformation.   There are few pictures of  Lake Balboa neighborhood these days:     Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!   Tonight kids are  going to  'hunt' for  candies and treats! ''Trick-or-treat'' neighbors, kids are coming! Thank you dear neighbors for adding  Halloween spirit to your home or yard!     p.s. it is a red light, not a photoshop:)     How does your neighborhood look like these days? Post a picture! Share:) 10/30/2012

Lloyd Cullen Real Estate is a local Lake Balboa Short Sale Realtor. As a Lake Balboa Short Sale Company that specializes in short sales, you are assured the highest standard of professionalism and can always count on our Lake Balboa Short Sale Realtor to help answer any questions you have in regards to Lake Balboa Short Sales. Lake Balboa Short Sale Realtor Lloyd Cullen is a local Lake Balboa Short Sale Expert with experienced Lake Balboa Short Sale Agents here to assist you.   Lake Balboa Short Sale Realtor We specialize in Short Sales for Lake Balboa and Surrounding Areas You don’t need the extra headache of setting up a Lake Balboa short sale while looking for a new job or recovering for a major life event. At Lloyd Cullen Real Estate, our Lake Balboa Short Sale Company can take the ... 05/30/2012

 Do you know that: The blooms of cherry trees appear in many colors, usually ranging from white to pink. Flowering cherry trees are beautiful and fragrant. Surrounded in lovely blossoms  flowering cherry trees are extremely beautiful:)One of the most popular flowering cherry trees is the cherry blossom tree, also called Sakura.It is very popular in Japan. It is the official flower of Japan and has been celebrated for hundreds of years.There is nothing as beautiful as a fully bloomed cherry blossom trees.....you can find many of them in Balboa Park, Encino CA: March-April.  Balboa Park, Encino CA: April cherry blossoms. I like walking around Lake Balboa, there are always beutiful pictures opportunities.  04/16/2012

Weekly Market Conditions Report for Lake Balboa, CA - Dec 05, 2011 What are homes in Lake Balboa like? Lake Balboa is made up of homes with 2-4 bedrooms and 1-2 bathrooms.  Many of them were built in the late 40s, early 50s and have hardwood floors, tile counters and detached garages.  Over the past several decades, homeowners have made improvements to the properties including additions and new kitchens. THIS WEEK: Only small changes since last week in the market in Lake Balboa. The best one is the median listing price is up another $10,000.  Two weeks ago it was $309,900.  The market action index went down slightly from 19 to 18.3. The index measures how fast things sell verses how many houses are up for sale. Below 30, it’s a buyers market, above 30 and it’s a seller’s market. The mar... 12/07/2011

Weekly Market Conditions Report for Lake Balboa, CA - Nov 28, 2011 THIS WEEK: Only small changes since last week in the market in Lake Balboa.  The best one is the average listing price is up by about $10,000.  Median prices have gone up slightly in every price range!  It may not seem noticeable on some graphs that show data from the “great fall” in 2007, but it’s happening, prices are slowly moving in the upward direction!  The market action index (the wha?) went up slightly from 18.81 to 19. The index measures how fast things sell verses how many houses are up for sale.  Below 30, it’s a buyers market, above 30 and it’s a seller’s market. Why am I exclaiming that prices are going up?  Well, if you’re a seller, you’re probably thinking, great, I can raise my listing price.  Not so fast... 11/30/2011

When you're buying or selling a home, national news and statistics are really not relevant.  Whay should you care what someone payed for a house in Arkansas when the houses here in Los Angeles, and more specifically, in Lake Balboa are going for a completely different price?  Even within Los Angeles, we have price differences from one neighborhood to the next.  This is the second a weekly series to publish the market conditions for the Lake Balboa neighborhood.  I hope to expand my areas eventually, but I'm going to start here first and then grow slowly, possible to include market conditions for Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Tarzana.  Please feel free to let me know if there's an area you'd like to see. This report for the week of November 21st includes the following: Current Real Estate Ma... 11/23/2011

When you're buying or selling a home, national news and statistics are really not relevant.  Whay should you care what someone payed for a house in Arkansas when the houses here in Los Angeles, and more specifically, in Lake Balboa are going for a completely different price?  Even within Los Angeles, we have price differences from one neighborhood to the next.  I am starting a weekly series to publish the market conditions for the Lake Balboa neighborhood.  I hope to expand my areas eventually, but I'm going to start here first and then grow slowly, possible to include market conditions for Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Tarzana.  Let's get started! This report for the week of November 14th includes the following: Current Real Estate Market Conditions for Single Family Homes Trends in Pricin... 11/16/2011

  Looking for a home in the San Fernando Valley?  Check out Lake Balboa!   If you’re looking for homes for sale in the San Fernando Valley and you’re confused about all the different neighborhoods, take a peek at my Neighborhood Guide for Lake Balboa.  The guide has info about parks, shopping, restaurants and more. Lake Balboa is a centrally located suburb in the San Fernando Valley filled with families, young couples and retirees.  Many of the properties in Lake Balboa were built in the late 40s and early 50s and carry the charm of that era with them.  It’s easily accessible to the 101 and 405 freeways and close to the Sherman Oaks Galleria and the Encino Commons.   One of the things I’ve noticed about homes for sale in Lake Balboa is that many of them have been renovated.  It seems in... 11/02/2011

Lake Balboa is a great place to call home for many first time homebuyers, young couples and families for many reasons.  The proximity to the 101 and 405 are very important for those who work on the Westside or in downtown Los Angeles.  The commute is already a daily drudge and challenge, but the proximity to the 101/405 interchange make this a great affordable market for first time buyers. The history of the area dates back to the World War II era.  The homes were built originally for the burgeoning demand for starter homes for returning GI's from Europe and the Pacific.  Many of the homes were built by the Army Corps of Engineers in the area.  Birmingham Charter and the adjacent schools were a military hospital back then.  Most of the homes were built with 2" white oak flooring that wa... 09/21/2011

Lake Balboa-Neighborhood Boundary Map   Lake Balboa is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. It is bordered by the following Los Angeles communities: Encino to the south, Van Nuys to the east, Reseda to the west, and Northridge and North Hills to the north. There was debate about the official recognition of Lake Balboa as a community by the city of Los Angeles. In January 2006, that the city of Los Angeles adopted a formal community naming process (City of Los Angeles Council File Number 02-0196). This debate had important implications for the official existence of many other Los Angeles communities that were created prior to January 2006. These communities include Arleta, North Hills, Porter Ranch, Valley Glen, Valley Village, West Hills, ... 08/11/2011

A recent trend is starting to emerge for single family homes for lease in the San Fernando Valley area.  The starting rate for a 3 bedroom 2 bath in Van Nuys and Lake Balboa has come up to about $2000. The reasonably priced rentals that are tidy and not pending foreclosure pitfalls are going quick.  The price to rent ratios are improving for investors looking to buy and hold single family homes.  Renting vs. buying poses a serious analysis.  A recent couple I sat down with the other day has been living in the same apartment complex for nearly six years.  Along the way they have been growing their family.  They have two sons, ages 5 and 2.  They moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in the same complex and have been patiently saving and paying off debt to qualify for a home.  Currently they a... 06/29/2011

Lake Balboa Short Sale Are you behind on your mortgage payments and have already tapped your credit cards, friends and family? Getting out from the weight on your shoulders can seem impossible, but moving on is exactly what you are going to need to do. If you are considering a short sale then call Simon Mills of Mills Realty who will guide you through your Lake Balboa Short Sale. Mills Realty will show you how you can relieve yourself from the debt of your home without any out of pocket expenses. Your lender will pay our fees, so our program will truly cost you nothing out of pocket. It makes no difference who your lender is or how many loans you have on your property Simon Mills of Mills Realty will guide you through your Lake Balboa Short Sale. Our goal is to make the process as stres... 05/12/2011

Lake Balboa REO & Bank Owned Homes Condos Townhouses Income Properties For Sale. Lake Balboa is a district in San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. CASAS EN VENTA en Lake Balboa, CA (Hablo Espanol)    ALL LAKE BALBOA HOMES & CONDOS TOWNHOUSES FOR SALE, click hereincluding REO bank owned short sales regular sales fixer uppersLake Balboa, CA 91406 We specialize in Pool Homes For Sale in Lake Balboa & all San Fernando Valley    FREE MLS HOME SEARCH - any area - any price - anytime     CONTACT LUPE REALTOR click here or call Lupe now for fast service!   ABOUT LAKE BALBOA, CA 91406:  Lake Balboa is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. It is bordered by Encino to the south, Van Nuys to the east, Reseda to the west, and Northridge and North ... 01/15/2011

Lake Balboa Real Estate The monthly supply of inventory for Lake Balboa is down 58% from January '09 to January '10.  At this current level, demands outstrips supply with most homes selling over asking and with multiple offers. There are currently 32 single family homes for sale and 9 condos for sale in Lake Balboa.  Of these, 2 are bank owned and 13 are short sale homes. New Lake Balboa homes are listed daily on http://www.estates.la .  The lowest priced home for sale in Lake Balboa is $79,900.  The most expensive home is priced at $584,900.  Lake Balboa is just west of the 405 freeway and centrally located in the San Fernando Valley.   02/28/2010

I hope so,  I just posted it last week.  Remember?  It was making us Sing the Blues?   Yep - It's SOLD!  This home is already in escrow! Just 9 short days on the market! Congratulations to Kelly Pesis of White House Properties and the KOR Group Development Co. for pricing it right and recognizing the power of Professional Home Staging!     ************************************************************************************ With Hundreds of Homes on the Market in Your Area, How Does Your Home Compete? In Today's Market, Sellers Should Not Assume Anything  Platinum Home Staging, Inc. (805) 553-9952 Serving Ventura County and Greater Los Angeles Areas: Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark... 12/26/2009

 Platinum Home Staging, Inc. was called in by the Listing Realtor to assist in Staging this flip-home in the Lake Balboa area of the San Fernando Valley, CA.  Just three short weeks ago, it looked like this: Our Staging Professionals assisted in choosing paint colors, flooring options, tile for the bathrooms, addition of windows, recessed lighting & fixture placement as well as the addition of architectural features...  Here are the results, which made us kind of "Sing the Blues",  but the call we received today from the Listing Realtor and Developer were "Singing Our Praises."        The addition of a 2nd window in the dining area brought in lots of natural light         Yes, this IS the SAME room!  (See the coffered ceiling) - Again we added another window          To schedule your FR... 12/15/2009