Happy Friday everyone! Here is today's wet and soggy breakdown... Westside Weather Santa Monica, CA 53°F Current: CloudyWind: NE at 6 mphHumidity: 86% Beverly Hills, CA 51°F Current: CloudyWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 88% Pacific Palisades, CA 53°F Current: CloudyWind: NE at 6 mphHumidity: 86% Malibu, CA 49°F Current: FogWind: E at 8 mphHumidity: 93% Brentwood, CA 52°F Current: CloudyWind: E at 6 mphHumidity: 86% How to of the Day 6 Warm, Cozy Drinks to Celebrate the Holidays How to Manage Facebook Privacy Options Top Stories - via Google News Analysis: Obama's case for war in support of peace - The Associated Press Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen - shame about the climate change art - guardian.co.uk Sanford's Wife Files for Divorce - New York Times Places to see - Aspen, Colorado A ski re... 12/11/2009

Happy Thursday everyone! Here is today's breakdown... Weather Santa Monica, CA 44°F Current: SunnyWind: E at 3 mphHumidity: 55% Beverly Hills, CA 41°F Current: SunnyWind: NE at 1 mphHumidity: 62% Pacific Palisades, CA 44°F Current: SunnyWind: E at 3 mphHumidity: 55% Malibu, CA 37°F Current: Partly CloudyWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 70% Brentwood, CA 44°F Current: Partly CloudyWind: E at 1 mphHumidity: 73% How To of the Day How to Begin Glacier Climbing How to Carve a Crochet Hook Top Stories - via Google News Obama defends war at Nobel Peace Prize ceremony - AFP US Environment Agency Chief Urges Action Now On Climate Change - AllAfrica.com Obama: 5 reported Americans arrested in Pakistan to be investigated - CNN Places to See - Bali Indonesia Known as the Island of the Gods, Bali is a land... 12/10/2009

Closing Costs There are certain standard costs associated with closing the sale of a house. These fees are split between the buyer and the seller, as spelled out in the sales contract. As I negotiate the sales contract for you, I will not only work to get the sales price you want, I will also work to limit the number of closing costs for which you will be responsible. I will walk you through the closing costs, answering any questions you may have explaining which costs are decreed by law to be yours and which are negotiable. Good Faith Estimate Buyers will receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs at the time the loan application is submitted to the lender. The estimate is based on the loan officer's past experience and may not include all the closing costs. I will be glad to rev... 11/30/2009

Market Analysis Report   # of Listings Average DOM Low Price $ Median Price $ High Price $ Average Price Total $ *Avg. Price w/ Sq.Ft. $ *Average Sq. Ft. *Avg. Price/Sq.Ft. $ ***Avg. Price w/ LSZ $ ***Average LSZ ***Average Price/LSZ $ Average SP/Average LP Active 41 47 2,500 30,000 6,250,000 805,456 748,935 2,765.09 270.85 859,856 41,702.28 20.62 -- Backup 4 158 1,599,000 3,397,000 8,995,000 4,347,000 4,347,000 5,253.50 827.45 4,347,000 13,041.75 333.31 -- Hold 1 302 1,090,000 1,090,000 1,090,000 1,090,000 1,090,000 1,928 565.35 1,090,000 5,000 218.00 -- Pending 7 84 4,200 1,100,000 2,895,000 1,129,600 1,129,600 1,545.86 730.73 1,258,033 10,465.17 120.21 -- Sold LP 8 49 4,500 734,000 2,149,000 845,363 845,363 2,708.75 312.09 882,483 13,878.67 63.59 -- Sold SP ** 8 49 4,000 729,500 2,00... 11/16/2009

Market Conditions - Is it a Buyer's Market or a Seller's Market? A CMA often includes a Days on the Market (DOM) value for each comparable house sold. When real estate is booming and prices are rising, houses may sell in a few days. Conversely, when the market slows down, average DOM can run into many months. Your REALTOR® can tell you whether your area is currently in a buyer's market or a seller's market. In a seller's market, you can price a bit beyond what you really expect, just to see what the reaction will be. In a buyer's market, if you really need to sell promptly, offer an attractive bargain price. If You Price High, Set a Schedule for Lowering the Price Some sellers list at the rock-bottom price they'd really take, because they hate bargaining. Others add on thousands to the ... 11/15/2009

 Jeanie Buss, executive vice president of business operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, will be the guest speaker at the annual Palisades Chamber of Commerce general membership breakfast on Friday, November 20, at the Riviera Country Club.The public is invited to attend the 8 a.m. breakfast at a cost of $35 per person.  Buss' appearance will mark the 30-year anniversary of her being crowned Miss Palisades in 1979, the year she graduated from Palisades High. She then went on to earn her business degree from USC.  Entering her sixth season as the Lakers' executive VP, Buss is responsible for overseeing the team's relationships with its broadcast partners, FOX Sports Net West, KCAL-TV and KLAC Radio. Working closely with general manager Mitch Kupchak and assistant general managers Ronnie... 11/15/2009

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that: Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010. Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040. Westside Properties is a full-service real estate ... 11/11/2009

Market Analysis Report     # of Listings Average DOM Low Price $ Median Price $ High Price $ Average Price Total $ *Avg. Price w/ Sq.Ft. $ *Average Sq. Ft. *Avg. Price/Sq.Ft. $ ***Avg. Price w/ LSZ $ ***Average LSZ ***Average Price/LSZ $ Average SP/Average LP Active 45 91 2,000 1,279,000 10,950,000 1,774,871 1,368,707 3,114.33 439.49 1,906,933 14,030.54 135.91 -- Backup 13 110 14,500 1,750,000 4,995,000 2,120,423 2,120,423 3,593.31 590.10 2,215,875 13,111.25 169.01 -- Hold -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Pending 3 52 719,000 1,790,000 2,875,000 1,794,667 1,794,667 3,400.33 527.79 2,332,500 10,238 227.83 -- Sold LP 7 101 4,950 639,000 1,845,000 709,621 709,621 2,399.29 295.76 721,392 7,053.33 102.28 -- Sold SP ** 7 101 4,500 630,000 1,765,000 662,657 662,657 2,399.29 276.19 668,10... 11/09/2009

Appraisals and CMAs Appraisals are primarily used to protect the lender's interest in the property. Just like lenders can be hesitant to issue a mortgage to credit-risky borrowers, they don't like to underwrite properties for more than they're worth. Appraisals also are used when other factors have made it difficult to assess your property's value, such as a lack of real estate activity in your area. REALTORS® stress the importance of understanding that an appraisal is just the opinion of a trained professional: Five different appraisers could attach five different price tags to your home. Appraisals are based on past sales data, the location of the home, the size of the lot and the condition of the home. If the buyer's mortgage is insured through the FHA, the appraiser must disclose po... 11/01/2009

RES-SFR:   746 ALMA REAL DR , PACIFIC PALISADES ,CA 90272 MLS#: 09-337933 AREA:  (15) Pacific Palisades STATUS:   A LP:  $4,695,000 STYLE:  Traditional MAP:   631/B6 APN:  4411-009-023 GST HSE:  None ZONING:  R1 VIEW:  No BR:  6   BA:  7.00 FOR LSE:  No LSE OPT:  No POOL:  Yes APX SF:  5,817/AS P.U.D:  No H.O.D:  $0.00 STORIES:  2 APX LSZ:  10,105/AS PKG TOT:  2 PKG CVD:  2 YR BLT:  2005 APX LDM:   OH DATE:  10/31/2009 (1:00PM-4:00PM) : Review DOM:  298 OLP:  $5,995,000 DIRECTIONS:  Huntington Palisades REMARKS:  Fabulous newer construction in the Huntington Palisades. 2-story traditional 5,817 square feet on a 10,105 square foot lot. The house consists of 5 bedrooms plus a maid's room, and 6.5 bathrooms plus a powder room. Fabulous master bedroom and bath, large formal dining room, se... 10/30/2009

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope that you all got to enjoy the beautiful weather in Southern California! It  was a busy weekend for Josh and myself. We were stuck in a video shoot at our new listing in Malibu...which wasn't a bad place to be :) 6360 Cavalleri Road, Malibu 90265 15901 Alcima Avenue, Pacific Palisades 90272 Today we juggled multiple open houses from Malibu to Pacific Palisades. It felt priceless to have Pacific Coast Highway open without traffic. If my career insists of me working weekends, what better place to do it!   This article that The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) released on Friday caught my interest. What's even more interesting is that we have a buyer submitting an offer on an property in Santa Monica who was sad to hear that she wouldn't qualify for... 10/25/2009

  # of Listings Average DOM Low Price $ Median Price $ High Price $ Average Price Total $ *Avg. Price w/ Sq.Ft. $ *Average Sq. Ft. *Avg. Price/Sq.Ft. $ ***Avg. Price w/ LSZ $ ***Average LSZ ***Average Price/LSZ $ Average SP/Average LP Active 60 62 2,400 839,000 9,295,000 1,437,067 1,277,596 2,717.60 470.12 1,678,015 11,322.47 148.20 -- Backup 5 69 15,900 749,000 2,049,000 853,580 853,580 3,189.40 267.63 1,053,300 7,259.67 145.09 -- Hold -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Pending 7 72 195,000 1,275,000 3,750,000 1,450,286 1,450,286 2,528.57 573.56 1,841,600 8,188.40 224.90 -- Sold LP 9 70 3,250 899,900 5,795,000 1,242,983 673,981 2,496.38 269.98 1,226,481 7,864.88 155.94 -- Sold SP ** 9 70 3,290 865,000 5,500,000 1,197,566 659,761 2,496.38 264.29 1,181,011 7,864.88 150.16 96.35% Exp... 10/17/2009

Happy Thursday everyone! Here is the Pacific Palisades hotsheet(past 5 days):   # of Listings Average DOM Low Price $ Median Price $ High Price $ Average Price Total $ *Avg. Price w/ Sq.Ft. $ *Average Sq. Ft. *Avg. Price/Sq.Ft. $ ***Avg. Price w/ LSZ $ ***Average LSZ ***Average Price/LSZ $   Active 27 70 349,500 1,750,000 9,295,000 2,007,863 1,709,532 2,310.52 739.89 2,683,050 10,772.44 249.07 -- Backup 1 31 749,000 749,000 749,000 749,000 749,000 1,529 489.86 N/A N/A N/A --                             Pending 5 28 749,000 1,275,000 1,593,000 1,241,400 1,241,400 2,567 483.60 1,364,500 6,424 212.41 -- Sold LP 3 125 899,900 1,375,000 1,599,000 1,291,300 1,291,300 2,488.33 518.94 1,249,450 3,672.50 340.22 -- Sold SP ** 3 125 865,000 1,330,000 1,549,000 1,248,000 1,248,000 2,488.33 501.54 1... 10/15/2009

Happy hump and rainy/overcast day everyone! I hope you do not have to be on the roads much today. Although it's clear now, we are expected for another rainfall tonight. BUT tomorrow is expected to be back to SoCal normal weather :) So hang in there everyone! Westside Weather Santa Monica, CA 66°F Current: ShowersWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 88% Beverly Hills, CA 66°F Current: ShowersWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 93% Pacific Palisades, CA 66°F Current: ShowersWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 88% Malibu, CA 66°F Current: ShowersWind: S at 5 mphHumidity: 96% Brentwood, CA 65°F Current: CloudyWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 95% Top Stories via Google News THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health cry is tax them, not us - The Associated Press New Jersey governor's race a virtual tie: poll - Reuters Mass. 4th- and 8th-graders... 10/14/2009

Housing Index shows the pace of home prics declines slowed in July..a sign that the market is near bottom! The pace of price declines slowed in July for Los Angeles to -14% compared with the same month one year ago according the the S&P/Case -Shiller US National home price index. These figures support stabilization nationally for Real Estate Values. We still need to remain observant in the coming months to see if the expiration of the first time homebuyers tax credit will effect these figures. In Los Angeles including Orange County the 20 year index is now at 2003 levels, going back to just before home prices made their most dramatic gains in the housing "bubble" Making Sense of the News For first time homebuyers, this remains an ideal time to consider purchasing a home. Interest rates ... 10/12/2009

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. Once again, it's gloomy and cold outside. Just another sign of the winter season on it's way. Westside Weather Santa Monica, CA 59°F Current: CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 70% Beverly Hills, CA 58°F Current: CloudyWind: NE at 1 mphHumidity: 71% Pacific Palisades, CA 59°F Current: CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 70% Malibu, CA 55°F Current: CloudyWind: SE at 1 mphHumidity: 85% Brentwood, CA 60°F Current: CloudyWind: E at 2 mphHumidity: 67% Top Stories via Google News Two Americans Share Nobel in Economics - New York Times Media Reacts to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Win - FOXNews Pan Am Hijacker Arrested In JFK After 40 Years In Havana - Gothamist Vacation Spot of the Day - Ganden Tibet China Ganden Monastery is one of the great three... 10/12/2009

With an estimated $290 billion in FHA loans projected for fiscal 2009 FHA now has 25% of the country's mortgage market, up from 3% a few years ago.  The agencyhas an 80% share for first-time homebuyers. FHA insured loans 2008 - 1.5 million loans 2007 - 580,000 loans 2006- 500,000 loans 2005- 523,000 loans FHA borrowers' FICO scores now average 693, up from 633 two years ago. Then, nearly half of FHA borrowers had FICO scores under 620. Now, just 7.5% do. FHA's reverse mortgage program insured 115,000 Home Equity Conversion Mortgages in 2008, a 67% increase from 2005. Some data were taken from an article written by Mark Fogarty in National Mortgage News   10/10/2009

      Housing Index shows the pace of home prics declines slowed in July..a sign that the market is near bottom! The pace of price declines slowed in July for Los Angeles to -14% compared with the same month one year ago according the the S&P/Case -Shiller US National home price index. These figures support stabilization nationally for Real Estate Values. We still need to remain observant in the coming months to see if the expiration of the first time homebuyers tax credit will effect these figures. In Los Angeles including Orange County the 20 year index is now at 2003 levels, going back to just before home prices made their most dramatic gains in the housing "bubble" Making Sense of the News For first time homebuyers, this remains an ideal time to consider purchasing a home. Interest ... 10/08/2009

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the weekend and have lots of interesting stories to share at the office tomorrow. Top Stories via Google News mcchrystal planned to move soldiers killed in Afghan siege - Christian Science Monitor 'Iran has enough info for atom bomb' - Jerusalem Post Samoans flock to churches to mourn tsunami victims - The Associated Press Weather Pacific Palisades, CA 62°F Current: SunnyWind: W at 13 mphHumidity: 62% Beverly Hills, CA 62°F Current: SunnyWind: SW at 5 mphHumidity: 57% Santa Monica, CA 62°F Current: SunnyWind: W at 13 mphHumidity: 62% Malibu, CA 59°F Current: SunnyWind: W at 9 mphHumidity: 60% Brentwood, CA 62°F Current: SunnyWind: S at 2 mphHumidity: 53%  How to of the Day How to Respond When Someone Insults Your Convictions How to Dye Harak... 10/04/2009

Happy Thursday and happy October everyone! Traffic conditions are not great today, but when is it great in L.A.?? Top Stories US, Iran Hold Rare Bilateral Meeting - Voice of America Samoa tsunami lesson: Early warning system too slow - Christian Science Monitor At 60th anniversary parade, China heralds 'new era' with old ... - Christian Science Monitor Weather Pacific Palisades, CA 60°F Current: SunnyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 40% Santa Monica, CA 60°F Current: SunnyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 40% Beverly Hills, CA 59°F Current: SunnyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 30% Malibu, CA 69°F Current: SunnyWind: NE at 11 mphHumidity: 13% Brentwood, CA 61°F Current: SunnyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 34% How to of the Day 5+ Tips for Boiling Water How to Make a Layered Chocolate Fudge Cake   10/01/2009