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southern california: Sun Dried Tomato Café in San Juan Capistrano - 09/21/10 08:52 PM
Sun Dried Tomato Café in San Juan Capistrano is a great little restaurant. It is walking distance to the Mission in San Juan Capistrano.   As some of you know I went to the Mission the other day. Well before we took a stroll, we decided to have Lunch prior to it.
It was such a great experience, that next time we will go for a day trip to Laguna Beach, we plan on having lunch at their Laguna Beach Restaurant. If you have never been you must go.
The salad is out of this world according to Diane and everyone I … (5 comments)

southern california: The Reverse Offer is that a buyer motivator or is it just a bad strategy? - 07/28/10 03:11 AM
The Reverse Offer is that a buyer motivator or is it just a bad strategy?Is this for desperate home sellers a poor strategy?
Have you heard of the Reverse Offer? This is where a seller writes an offer to the buyer. This Strategy has been considered controversial at best. I have heard agent using it n a case by case basis, where the interested buyer is dragging their feet on writing an offer and this would prompt them to negotiate.
I find this negotiating against the seller's best interest from a financial perspective. What are your thoughts?
It would only make … (64 comments)

southern california: Speechless Sundays: Dougy" I will guard the wine with my life" - 07/18/10 02:26 PM
 As most of you know me I am an Animal Caretaker and supporter of Animal Rescue Groups and also a wine connoisseur. This shipment was sent from  an Austrian  Winery via Hungary. Who said" four legged children"  are not like their "two legged parents". Look for your self.

 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 (USA) or email me at homes@endrebarath.com  or visit one … (10 comments)

southern california: The Blue Water Grill, Redondo Beach, CA - 06/21/10 04:04 PM
The Blue Water Grill, Redondo Beach CA, is a must visit eating destination for seafood lovers.  Those of you, who know me,  Diane and I live in Marina Del Rey, CA and love seafood. As an east coast transplant, going on too many years to remember (14+) Diane and I love to eat seafood, and it is our main source for Dinner. Lately I stopped going to Santa Monica to get my seafood supplies and started going to King Harbor, Redondo Beach, CA. Time wise it takes me just as long as if I went to Santa Monica.
The place is … (8 comments)

southern california: Le Belvedere Sold! How exiting! - 06/13/10 02:33 AM
Le Belvedere Sold! How exiting, this home was built for spec. The owner's intention was to build and make a profit. Originally this property was listed for $85,000,000.00 February 2009, then due to lack of activity reduced to $72,000,000.00 and now it has an owner.
Many people are just amazed at the stratospheric prices (and they should).  This market is not affected by the everyday economic turns one would say. (I humbly disagree)There are rumblings on the street, that the seller owed some money and yes it was a "sale", but.... Even if it is false rumors, you have to have … (3 comments)

southern california: Changes are coming to FHA loans. Do you think it would be wise for Home buyers to use the FHA loans? - 06/11/10 06:42 PM
Changes are coming to FHA loans (Federal Housing Administration Loans).Let me ask you:  Do you think it would be wise for Home buyers to use the FHA loans?
Congress is expected to approve House Resolution 5072 or better known as the FHA Reform Act of 2010. Many lenders of the mortgage finance industry are concerned that HR 5072 part of the provision of this law is geared towards, cracking down on lenders who are approved by FHA. These lenders are concerned that the law would do more harm than good. What are your thoughts?
I am all for regulations if they … (8 comments)

southern california: The Question is should I wait for Prices to drop? What if rates go up? - 06/05/10 08:38 PM
The question is should I wait for Prices to drop? What if rates go up? As a Southern California Realtor I monitor the Real Estate Market very closely as well as the economic indicators. I feel like I should  just scream, when I hear Respected  Economists,  members of the Federal Reserve Board and Politicians speak and creating misinformation to potential buyers and creating potential future economic problems for us, as well as the rest of the world.
Many buyers are listening and hearing that there is another wave of price drops in the works due to more Loans Re-setting.  So is … (56 comments)

southern california: Did you know that more than half of the homes sold in 2009 were Short Sales or REO's? - 04/02/10 10:31 PM
Recently I was reading about a very telling statistic. The California Association of Realtors has published that more than 50% of all first-time homebuyers sales were either short sales or foreclosure transactions.
These short sales presented many first time buyers with great opportunities. To be able to step into the market which a few years ago looked like an impossible event? The buyers see many benefits to purchase a short sale. (As a Realtor who is in Escrow now for ten months on a short sale, I have a different perspective). Patience is an absolute necessity, for all parties, buyers, sellers, … (63 comments)

southern california: Playa Vista, CA.,Condominium Market Report for January 2010 - 02/04/10 03:06 PM
Playa Vista,CA., Condominium Market Report for January 2010. It is a New Year, so I will not look back how we did to the previous months.
Hard to believe, how quickly the month of January went by. I was so busy, had two 9 day Escrows to keep together amongst two others, hence the month went by much faster for me.
Now, let us look at the Results. I am not sure if it is my imagination, the inventory is almost non existant.
There are only 23 Active Listings as of January 31,2010.
There are 9 properties which are accepting back-up … (2 comments)

southern california: Being Frugal in back in fashion Now! - 12/30/09 04:11 PM
Being Frugal is back in fashion, I was reading a couple of weeks ago in the LA Times Business Section. This made me think, not too long ago I used to enjoy Non Vintage Krug Champaign at a silvery price.
 Now in today's frugal times I thought I share some of my favorite wines under $15 dollars instead. Oh the good old days of Chateau Margoux Margoux, Where are they now?
 As you know trying to find a good Pinot Noir under $15 is very hard to do, So let me pass on to you a  couple great ones :
 Castle … (8 comments)

southern california: Earthquake Myth #2 "...The Earth Opened....there was a ten inch wide gap..." - 12/27/09 08:10 PM
Earthquake Myth #2 "...The Earth Opened....there was a ten inch wide gap..."
 As I promised earlier, I will try to debunk some of the earthquake myths. So without further delay let us address Myth #2....the earth opened up..."
 When you read a fiction book describing an earthquake or watch a movie simulating an earthquake and they show a fault opening and the earth swallows up cities, towns, and bad people. That is pure fiction.
 Faults like that only exist in novels and the movies. If the earth could open, there would be not Friction and without Friction, there would be no … (3 comments)

southern california: Wells Fargo doesn't want to play nice with ....... Wells Fargo - 12/18/09 12:20 AM
This post is via Ken Crotts a Certified Short Sale Specialist. IF you were not in the Real Estate bussiness or market you would think this is an episode from Laurel & Hardy "who is on first?"
I am in a shortsale transaction with an Attorney, who has been pre-paid by the seller. So let's see how many months has it been since May? It is not fair to anyone, buyers,sellers, agents nor tax payers.

Via Ken Crotts (Windermere Real Estate):
We are currently in the process of completing a short sale with one of the lending industries giants, Wells Fargo. … (4 comments)

southern california: Have you heard Southern California is Earthquake Country? Dispelling Myth #1 Earthquake happens in the morning! - 12/17/09 02:43 AM
Have you heard Southern California is Earthquake Country? Dispelling Myth #1 Earthquake happens in the morning!
 As an East Coast transplant, I have to share with you some misconceptions which concern some people who have never lived in Southern California. Local Angelinos do not understand, nor can they relate to the fears of people, who have never lived here before.
 I will write a series of posts to dispel myths and give a dose of  reality to people considering Relocating to Southern California.(we have lived here now for over 14+years and will plan on living here for many more) What they … (6 comments)

southern california: Wells Fargo is following CITI Bank and is in the process of leaving TARP. - 12/16/09 01:28 AM
Wells Fargo is following CITI Bank and is in the process of leaving TARP. 
Wells Fargo in the process of selling $10.4 Billion worth of Shares to repay the $25 Billion of TARP money. This is interesting information and I did not see anything in the Media Outlets about it.
 This should be front page news or the headline during the evening news. If I would not have been a member of one of the Linked In Real Estate Groups I would not have even known about this.
 Stephen D. Frick, President of Titan Asset Group, Inc. wrote a post about … (8 comments)

southern california: Buyers Beware When Considering Buying Foreclosures - 12/13/09 06:06 PM
Buyers Beware When Considering Buying Foreclosures!
  All first time home  buyers should be very cautious when considering buying a Bank Foreclosed Property(REO). Many people get excited that they want to hit the jackpot by buying a Foreclosed home. Needless to say there are some truly great opportunities out there.
  At the same time common sense should prevail. Do the research about the neighborhood, schools and market prices. Do inspect the home; banks are not required to let you know about defects. Have your financing ready.
 Be prepared that the banks have priced the home generally a great deal under market value; hence … (4 comments)

southern california: California National Bank a Los Angeles based bank seized by Regulators - 11/01/09 01:02 AM
  Friday night regulators seized a Los Angeles based bank, California National. No fanfare, almost hidden in the Halloween revelry. I am outraged it is not front page news. This bank is the fourth-largest bank failure this year and no one is talking about it.
 As soon as the regulators seized it, they sold it immediately to US Bancorp a Minneapolis based bank. How could this happen? All the tax payer money could not save this bank? I am outraged, where are the politicians? Where are the banking regulators?
 California National Bank with $7.8 billion in assets and $6.2 billion in deposits, … (8 comments)

southern california: A Sunday Stroll in Marina Del Rey,CA - 10/12/09 10:34 PM
I love writing about Marina Del Rey, CA. I live here and I am passionate about this seaside town that is only 47 years old. Los Angeles is famous for many things, one is the Entertainment industry and the other is Los Angeles loves everything that is new. Hence in the big picture Marina Del Rey is New. A suburb of Los Angeles,CA.
 Thanks to President Eisenhower's signing of the River and Harbor Act in 1954 the building of Marina Del Rey came about. The workers broke ground around 1957 and the rest is history.
 With that introduction let me show … (8 comments)

southern california: If you had $15,000, where would you invest it, General Motors or Bel Air Land? - 09/26/09 04:38 PM
As we all know there is limited amount of Vacant Land left. Particularly in the Greater Los Angeles area there is less and less of it available. I have been selling these investment lots for over 13+ years it takes a long time to sell, it is not as liquid as Stock, nevertheless I never had anyone loose money on it. Every one has increased their net worth over the years. Including in today's economic times, I found it to be a solid investment.
 The value has been solid and not volatile.  Can you build a home on it? It does … (8 comments)

southern california: Marina Del Rey, CA Condominium Market Report for July 2009 - 08/05/09 07:40 PM
Marina Del Rey, CA Condominium Market Report for July 2009. I have been covering three different micro market areas on the West Side of Los Angeles and the trends are very similar. Month over month since January the volume of sales have increased.
 This is interesting news for the over well being of the Real Estate Market. I am particularly interested in the Marina Del Rey Condominium Market, since not only do I sell here, but I live here as well.
 Currently as of July 31st 2009 there are 183 Active Condominiums on the Market 
Accepting Back Up Offers are 26 … (4 comments)

southern california: Light My Fire, the largest collection of hot sauce in LA and the World (not the song) - 06/28/09 08:41 PM
The Farmer's Market in Los Angeles, has been evolving, changing  and reinventig itself over the past seventy five years (75). Millions of people, who have visited this favorite tourist destination consisted of the   the famous, the infamous as well as the ordinary people who have come and gone, they all have left with many fond memories. In the past 17 years one of the most favorite destination places has been "Light My Fire". 6333 W 3rd St Ste 212, Los Angeles, CA  90036. (323)930-2484
This small cubicle of a place holds at least a thousand if not more, different hot sauces from … (4 comments)