Pasadena Real Estate Views

Palisades Townhome for Sale - Beach and Hiking Trails Await

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:15:40 -0500

The Highlands - It's a Lifestyle!

1750 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 View Map

Set in a tranquil and peaceful environment with winding pathways, lush greenery, pool & spa, sauna, gym, and tennis courts. This oasis is just minutes from the beach, 3rd Street Promenade and hiking trails.

Light and bright, this home offers a living room with cathedral ceilings, a fireplace and balcony where you can enjoy mountain views. A formal dining room leads to the kitchen with its own breakfast area and a slider opening to a private patio. A huge master bedroom suite with a cedar lined walk-in closet, full bath and a sitting area. A wonderful patio connects the Master Suite with the second bedroom serviced by a 3/4 bath.

Incredible views and modern architecture! This corner unit is 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, perfect for enjoying California living with over-size patio and balcony.

Details

Asking Price:

$625,000

MLS:

22129972

Sq. Feet:

1568

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

2.5

# of Floors:

HOA/Maintenance Fees:

$431

Garage Size:

Year Built:

1978

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Sierra Madre Land for Sale - Incredible Views!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:16:50 -0500

PRICE REDUCTION - $475,000!!!!

An incredible opportunity to own a parcel of land overlooking San Gabriel Valley! Over 1/2 an acre with city views. For additional information, please visit Sierra Madre Land for Sale.

Sierra Madre Land with Spectacular Views

Oak Crest Drive, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 View Map

What an incredible opportunity to build your dream home at the top of Sierra Madre with incredible views!

This exceptional property in the foothills of Sierra Madre has breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and city lights in the valleys below on the east, south and west. A south facing hidden Sierra Madre treasure, abundant w/ lush vegetation, panoramic views and a pervasive sense of peace, privacy & serenity.

This R1 property totals approximately .54 acres (23,610 sq. ft.) offering a variety of residential use potential. There are gated entrances on the east and west boundaries with private roads leading to the property, perfect for grand private estate.

Utilities run up the road providing easy access.

Seller had spent approximately $200,000 on Geo Reports, Soils Report, and an Environmental Impact Report.Architectural plans for a 5,000 Sq. Ft. estate and grading plans are available for review.

This lot is surrounded by wilderness land owned by The Friends of Sierra Madre Wilderness. Check with the City regarding all existing approvals & development possibilities.

Whether you are planning your retirement in a serene and beautiful setting or are looking to build an entertainer’s paradise, do not miss this very rare opprotunity.

Get started on your gated view estate today!

For more photos and information, please visit http://pasadenaviews.com/sierra-madre-city-guide/sierra-madre-land-build-a-gated-estate/

Details

Asking Price:

$788,000

MLS:

22127079

Lot Size:

23,633

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Pacific Palisades Townhome for Lease - Minutes from the Beach

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:14:52 -0500

Take a look at this beautiful townhome in Pacific Palisades. It is available for lease for only $3,300 per month. This is a corner unit with extra windows, cathedral ceilings and guest parking spaces right next to it. Step out of your front door and relax at the sparkling pool and spa. The gym has all the equipment to keep you in shape and there's a men's and women's sauna to relax after the work out.

Pacific Palisades Townhome - Minutes from the Beach!

1750 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 View Map

Recently remodeled, this lovely townhome is available for lease in one of the most beautiful and hidden spots in Pacific Palisades.

Set in a tranquil and peaceful environment with winding pathways, lush greenery, pool & spa, sauna, gym, and tennis courts, this oasis is just minutes from the beach and hiking trails.

A corner unit, light and bright, with cathedral ceilings, this home offers a living room with a fireplace and balcony. A formal dining room leads to the kitchen with its own breakfast area and a patio. A huge master bedroom with a cedar lined walk-in closet. Updated fixtures throughout. A wonderful patio connects the Master Suite with the second bedroom. An attached two-car garage with an enclosed washer & dryer area.

Recently painted, new bamboo flooring and carpeting, a new central A/C unit, DirecTV dish already installed, new garage door and much more.

A wonderful opportunity to live in one of the most desirable areas in town.

Details

Asking Price:

$3,300

MLS:

22124191

Sq. Feet:

1568

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

2.5

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

Year Built:

1978

Property Amenities

Community Amenities

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

An Amazing Opportunity to Own A Pasadena Condo Next To CalTech Institute

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:53:34 -0500

If you are looking for CalTech housing, look no further.

Why rent, when you can buy this beautiful 1 bedroom and 1 bath condo for only $200,000. Just a few blocks away from the South Lake Avenue District and CalTech, this lush, garden like setting welcomes you home. For additional information, please visit this Pasadena condo's website and enjoy the flyer and flash presentation below.

Pasadena Condo next to CalTech

1115 Cordova #213, Pasadena, CA 91106 View Map

Freshly updated condo next to CalTech and desirable South Lake District. Bright and light, this corner unit has been totally renovated with laminate flooring, new carpeting in the bedroom, beautiful tiles and fixtures in the bathroom. Popcorn ceiling has been removed for a fresh modern look and feel. A huge balcony with Southern exposure and Pasadena city views. Why rent when you can own? Welcome home!

For additional information visit: http://pasadenaviews.com/pasadena-city-guide/pasadena-condo-for-sale-1115-cordova-213/

Learn more about Pasadena at http://pasadenaviews.com/pasadena-city-guide/

Details

Asking Price:

$200,000

MLS:

22122635

Sq. Feet:

753

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

HOA/Maintenance Fees:

290

Garage Size:

Year Built:

1963

Property Amenities

Community Amenities

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

Best Real Estate Agents will Meet at REBarCampLA on April 2nd!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:57:43 -0500

The best Pasadena real estate agents and marketing mavens will be attending REBarCampLA on April 2, 2009 in Pasadena California.

REBarCampLA is an innovative training session and social media conference focusing on the latest home marketing techniques. This conference is not just limited to real estate brokers. Home-stagers, lenders, inspectors, title representatives and others in the real estate industry will be in attendance.

If your real estate agent is not deploying a social media marketing strategy to compliment their other (traditional) marketing efforts, this event is the place to be!

Here, your realtor will gather with other web 2.0 savvy industry professionals in a variety of interactive, hands-on sessions that cover everything from:

Blogging Bascis (how to build a blog, how to market your blog, etc.)

Strategies of Blogging for Business in Real Estate

Best Blogging Platforms

Free Online Tools to Tweak Your Biz

Twitter Tips for Real Estate

FaceBook Marketing

LinkedIn Business & Referral Strategies

YouTube as a Business Builder

Leveraging the Power of Social Networks like Active Rain

Using Trulia to grow your business

Tricks of Marketing on Zillow

What makes up a good Website

Driving traffic to your website

Lead Generation

Click to Closing the Lead

Building an online Community

Marketing Your Inventory the Web 2.0 way

Video Like a Pro

Podcasting For Dummies (Not!)

How Do I Work This @$%@#$ Smart Phone?

Developing a Data Base on a Dime

Short Sales Only Suck If You Let Them!

Here are more REBarCampLA details:

When? Thursday, April 2nd!

Location: Pasadena Hilton
168 South Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101

Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Cost: FREE! But you have to RSVP here

So... if you are currently selling your home with a Realtor, ask him or her, if they are attending REBarCampLA.

And, if you are one of my real estate agent readers, I'll be there, will you? Register and RSVP for REBarCampLA here - it's FREE!

Originally posted on my Pasadena Real Estate website: http://pasadenaviews.com/is-your-pasadena-realtor-attending-rebarcampla/

There is a New Breed of Real Estate Agents!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:52:09 -0500

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. I've been getting multiple phone calls from home buyers finding my real estate websites and contacting me for more information on homes that they are interested in.

That's great! Except for, most of these home buyers are doing research for their part time real estate agents. The phone call goes something like this:

Scenario #1

Home Buyer: Hi, I wanted to get more information on 1234 Main Street. I saw it on your website and wanted to see if you can show it to me.

Me: That's great. I would love to help. May I ask you, are you currently working with a real estate agent?

Home Buyer: mmm... yes... but, my real estate agent doesn't have time to show me the home. He or she is very busy. Can you please schedule an appointment for me.

Scenario #2

Home Buyer: I was driving through an area and saw a house that I liked. There's a sign for XYZ company, but they're not returning phone calls. I googled the address and your site came up. Can you please give me more information.

Me: Same answer - see above.

Home Buyer: Yes... I'm working with an agent, but your site is so informative and you seem so nice. You wouldn't mind giving me more information about this house, would you?

Scenario #3

Home Buyer: I would like to get more information on a Pasadena home that you have on your website. I called my real estate agent and he said that he didn't have access to the MLS, can you pull this up for him.

Me: SHOCKED... trying to think fast of an answer that will not offend.

Scenario #4:

Home Buyer: Hi, I'm calling to see if you have any short sales in Pasadena, Temple City or Arcadia.

Me: Sure... there are many homes available that are in the "short sale" process. Are you currently working with an agent.

Home Buyer: Well... I'm actually a lender looking for my client.

Me: Okay, no problem. Is your client working with a real estate agent?

Lender on behalf of Home Buyer: Silence... well... I'm doing all the pre work for my client. Just collecting information.

Me: That's great. But, isn't your client working with a real estate agent to help him buy a home?

Lender on behalf of Home Buyer: You see... once we find a home, I will represent him.

Me: Do you have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? All the information on short sales is there.

Lender on behalf of buyer: silence and hang up

Okay, so I'm getting a little frustrated here.

Let me set the record straight. Real estate agents work on commission.

Minimum real estate agent responsibilities:

We explain the home buying process.
We ensure our clients are pre-approved and understand what they can and can not afford.
We find the right homes for our home buyers.
We negotiate the best price and terms.
We oversee all transactional details during the escrow process.
We close escrow.
Home buyer is happy and we get paid.

The best real estate agents will only work with 3 to 4 buyers at one time. Their time is limited because their focus and attention is devoted to their clients.

If you are a home buyer working with a real estate agent that is unable or unwilling to provide you with the attention that you deserve - switch agents. But, please, I beg you, do not call me and ask for information and cut into my time with my clients. It's simply disrespectful.

If you are a lender who is trying to make some extra money on the side dabbling in selling real estate. Let me tell you. It's not easy. If you're not equipped and trained and experienced to do it correctly, just don't. Save yourself and your clients the trouble. Refer your home buyers to a great real estate agent.

And, if you are a part time real estate agent that does not have the time for your clients because you have another full time job or do not have the money to invest in the MLS and other needed tools, well... you know what NOT to do...

This post was originally posted at http://www.irina4realestate.com/a-new-breed-of-real-estate-agents/

State of California is offering $100 million tax credit for new construction home purchases!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:59:18 -0600

$100 million has been allocated and is available on a first come, first served basis. So if you are thinking of buying one of the new Pasadena condo developments like Granite Park or Lake at Walnut, make sure to take the opportunity to apply for this credit.

Here are the California tax credit rules:

It is only available for NEW HOME PURCHASES.

This tax credit is only available for qualified buyers who purchase a qualified residence between March 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010 and only until the tax credit allocated amount lasts.

The property purchase must never have been occupied before, i.e. new construction!

The buyer must reside in the new home for a minimum of two years immediately following the purchase date.

Be eligible for the property tax homeowner's exemption under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 218.

California Tax credit amounts

California allocated $100,000,000 for this tax credit. Buyers must apply for credit allocation from us. Applications will be reviewed and credit allocations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Once $100,000,000 has been allocated, the tax credit will no longer be available.

Total credit allocated to date by California: $0
Remaining credit available: $100,000,000

To check how much Tax Credit Allocation is available, visit the Franchise Tax Board New Tax Credit for New Construction Home Buyers Page.

California allows qualified new home buyers a total tax credit amount equal to either five percent of the purchase price or $10,000, whichever is less. Taxpayers must apply the total tax credit in equal amounts over three successive taxable years (maximum of $3,333 per year) beginning with the taxable year (2009 or 2010) in which the new home is purchased.

How To Apply:

Read the original post for complete information!

REBarCamp Los Angeles on April 2: Calling EVERYONE!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:15:34 -0600

I am so excited to be part of REBarCampLA on April 2nd! It's our very first Los Angeles REBarCamp.

Let's make it a great one! I hope to see a lot of familiar faces and a ton of new ones as well.

Please email or call with any questions!!!

Via Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Associates):

It's only 32 days away and I can't wait. The idea of having a real estate bar camp in our own Southern California region is just too exciting. I've not been able to attend any of the others, but given how popular they are, this one should really be special, given all the talent we have in the area. I'm even giving up going to the SDAR Real Estate Trade Expo on April 2 in San Diego (where we always have a SoCal CRS booth)

We're calling it REBarCamp Los Angeles, although it is not really in LA. Who cares.

So here are the deets:

WHEN: April 2, 2009

WHERE: Pasadena Hilton (that's Irina Netchaev's territory, and others' too!)

168 South Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101

TIME: 9:00am to 4:00pm

COST: FREE, now THAT's a deal!!

WHO?: Anyone who wants to be there, but I can tell you that it will be a star-studded line-up, just knowing some of the peeps who will be there, which includes some of my fave bloggers in CA and nearby states.

I'm proud that the Southern California Chapter of CRS will be a sponsor. As a member of the Board of Directors, I presented the sponsorship possibility at our last BOD meeting and it was passed unanimously. So you can look forward to a bunch of us CRS folks there, and if you are interested in learning more about CRS, or want to join our Chapter (modestly, I would say we are one of THE BEST chapters but I'm biased) we will have plenty of information for you.

And our support of REBarCampLA further demonstrates our Chapter's commitment to technology for our membership. You can keep up with the news about our Chapter on the blog I author - SoCalCRSBlog.

TWITTER: If you're a tweeting about this event please use the hashtag #rebcla.

BLOG SITE: Want more information? Visit the official blog site REBarCamp Los Angeles - feel free to link to help spread the word to your friends.

FACEBOOK: Join our group on FB to stay in touch with the latest information.

REBLOG: Yeah, feel free to reblog the heck outta this one.

SPONSOR If you're interested in sponsoring, please get in touch with Ricardo Bueno at 323.572.8322 or ricardo@realestatetomato.com or with Morgan Brown at 925.330.3610 or morganb@gmail.com for more information

Last but not least, here's a badge you can grab to use in your emails, on your AR blog, outside blog or anywhere else it makes sense to get the word out.

And here's the code, to make it easy:

<a href="http://www.rebarcamp.com/losangeles"><img src="http://rebarcamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rebcla_posit.jpg" alt="rebcla_posit" width="160" height="169" border="0" /></a>

So, will YOU be there? Let us know by signing up, and leave your comments below!

You can bet there will be a bunch of AR folks there. Perhaps a separate gathering the night before?

First Time Home Buyer? Get Your $7,500 Tax Credit!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:20:18 -0600

Housing Act helps first time home buyers and real estate agents!

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed by President Bush on July 30, 2008. While the primary intent of the Act was to improve confidence and stability in the housing market by providing mortgage relief by keeping American families in their homes, another area of the Act provides a huge tax break for first-time Pasadena home buyers.

First time home buyers (means any individual who had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of the purchase of the principal residence) may receive a tax credit up to $7,500, and for couples using the standard deduction to receive an additional $1,000 deduction for property taxes ($500 for individuals).

In order to receive this tax credit, the home purchase must take place between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009.

This temporary Act was designed to get home buyers who were thinking of purchasing a home to act now to stimulate home purchases, and help home builders and real estate agents sell more homes.

Here are some key provisions of The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008:

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: TAX BREAK FOR HOME BUYERS for eligibility, inocme limits and payback provisions.

Custom Built Home in North San Gabriel with Temple City Schools

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:37:58 -0600

Custom Built Home with Temple City Schools

6802 Lotus Avenue, San Gabriel, CA 91775 View Map

This beautiful custom built home sits in a peaceful neighborhood of North San Gabriel adjacent to San Marino and Pasadena.

This is a two story Traditional with four bedrooms and four baths, a formal living room, family room with a full bar which opens to a huge kitchen perfect for entertaining.

The living room greets you with plenty of windows, coffered ceilings with recessed lights and a chandelier, marble wood fireplace and access to a lovely side yard.

Family room is more of a “great room” perfect for entertaining with a full bar complete with a mini fridge, wine rack and glass and oak cabinetry. A marble fireplace, french doors leading to a spacious back yard, dining area and an open kitchen complete this entertainer’s dream.

The kitchen features an extra large island, custom built-in appliances, a large eat-in bar perfect for buffets and special occasions. Lots of storage with pull out drawers, three kitchen “appliance garages” for easy access and storage of small appliances.

The front downstairs bedroom is a suite with a full bathroom.

At the back of the home, a separate bedroom and bath with its own entry and security system is waiting for your in-laws, guests or in-home business area.

Upstairs is a landing with plenty of windows showcasing the beautiful San Gabriel mountains and fruit trees that are on the property. It leads to the Master Suite and another bedroom suite.

The Master Suite is enormous and features a sitting area and a cozy, marble gas operated (just turn the switch on!) fireplace. This is truly a paradise for the ladies with a 22 ft walk in closet and a stand alone walk-in shoe closet. Master bathroom has a stand alone shower with beautiful custom tiles, a step down jet spa, a bidet and double sinks. A fun and very convenient feature is a laundry chute which leads directly to the downstairs laundry room.

Master suite leads out to a large balcony overlooking the back yard and offering spectacular views perfect for that morning cup of coffee.

The fourth bedroom has mirrored closet doors and its own full bathroom with custom tile work.

Throughout the house you will find recessed lighting, ceiling fans, dual pane vinyl windows with custom drapes, valances and shades. Tons of storage throughout the house. This home has even been pre-wired for Christmas lights.

Back yard has an above ground therapeautic spa, vegetable garden and plenty of fruit trees including apricots, figs, avocados, grapefruit and more. Automatic sprinkler system for front, back and side yards. Motion and manual outdoor lights have been installed for evenings out.

A five-car extra deep (4 ft deeper than usual) garage has double doors that open both to the street as well as the interior of the back yard. What an opportunity for entertaining! The garage is separated into two separate, but connecting garages - a 3 car garage and a 2 car garage. Plenty of built-in cabinetry and a loft above for additional storage.

Special care was taken when this home was constructed to reinforce it with sheer paneling for extra earthquake protection, silent floors and a light composite roof.

This home truly has to be seen to be appreciated. A wonderful opportunity to own a house of your dreams!

Visit this home's website at www.6802Lotus.com for more information.

See San Gabriel City Guide at http://pasadenaviews.com/san-gabriel-city-guide/

Details

Asking Price:

818,000

MLS:

22120892

Sq. Feet:

2,898

Lot Size:

7,416

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

5-car

Year Built:

1992

Property Amenities

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

What is the difference between a foreclosure and REO

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:28:19 -0600

This question comes up quite often these days - "What is the difference between a foreclosure property and REO (real estate owned)?

A foreclosure is a legal process in which, against the wishes of the owner, real property is sold to satisfy a public or private debt for which the real property has been pledged as security.

Real Estate Owned (REO) is real property that has been foreclosed by a lender and is now owned by the lender.

There's a lot of confusion between a foreclosure and REOs. When real estate buyers call me asking about foreclosures in most instances, they are really inquiring about REOs and here's why?

READ FULL ARTICLE ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REO AND FORECLOSURE HERE

SEARCH ALL FORECLOSURES AND REOs in San Gabriel Valley

South Pasadena Real Estate Market Report - November 2008

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:55:56 -0600

South Pasadena real estate market statistics for the last 3 months are below. For a full analysis and commentary, please visit the original post at the South Pasadena Real Estate website.

South Pasadena real estate and housing statistics for September through November 2008:

Single Family Residence	Sep-08	Oct-08	Nov-08
New Listings	10	13	9
Total Listings	33	34	35
Sales Pending	9	8	0
Homes Sold	5	5	9
Listings Expired	3	5	6
Average Days on the Market	68	96	77
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$499	$493	$462
Average Median Price	$930,000	$940,000	$1,000,000
Average Selling Price	$1,145,178	$1,037,300	$998,833
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	28.6	29.5	16.9

Condos and Townhomes	Sep-08	Oct-08	Nov-08
New Listings	6	4	5
Total Listings	18	13	15
Sales Pending	5	2	1
Homes Sold	5	4	2
Listings Expired	5	0	3
Average Days on the Market	111	186	18
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$397	$401	$369
Average Median Price	$590,500	$733,500	$482,450
Average Selling Price	$637,200	$647,200	$482,450
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	15.6	14.1	32.5

Posted by Irina Netchaev, Pasadena Real Estate Agent

Social Media Broadcasting Series -- The Next One Is Just Around the Corner!!!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:22:58 -0600

If you are a beginner blogger or an experienced blogger getting ready to take blogging to the next level, you absolutely have to check out this Social Media Series of Classes conducted by Kevin Boer and Pat Kitano.

I've been taking these classes myself to learn more about leveraging social media networks. What I didn't realize was how much I was going to learn about "micro blogging", RSS feeds, hash tags, twitter and so many more tools available to us.

This truly adds a new dimension to blogging!

I highly endorse this series of classes and recommend them to all my Active Rain brethren.

Thanks Pat and Kevin. You guys simplify even the most complicated ideas. Well worth the time and the minimal investment!

Via Kevin Boer:

The last few days have been pretty darn busy for Pat Kitano and myself ... OD'ing gorging on Turkey celebrating Thanksgiving and finalizing the curriculum for our next Social Media Webinar series, which starts on Friday, December 5, 2008, from 10:30am to 11:30am Pacific time, and runs for 12 weeks.

The first three have been sellouts, with over 50 attendees registered for each series, and we're expecting a full house again. We've been thrilled with the great reviews, which you can see for yourself here:

Our "Twitter stream"

Brad Andersohn's article (and the comments) about our first series (which is wrapping up this week)

Jeff Dowler's article (and the comments) about another of our series

We're also excited because, working with ECRESystems.com, we're now able to showcase a pretty darn cool product: FeedFuze, which allows you to aggregate interesting social media content (via RSS) and display it nearly anywhere -- your Active Rain blog, your outside blog, your Wordpress blog, even your Aunt Thelma's old web site!

Translation: You know all that interesting content you've found and tagged on Delicious? And all those articles you've written on Active Rain about getting a home prepared for sale? And all those Tweets you've sent out about your market? FeedFuze enables you to take all that content, aggregate it, then display it in a "newsfeed" format. The future of social media marketing is all about you becoming the hub of real estate content for your local area, and FeedFuze makes it possible.

Check out these demos of FeedFuze:

On our site

On Irina's Pasadena Views site

Apart from showing off FeedFuze and what it can do for you, we'll also be discussing social media in general: How do you use these tools to generate contacts, listings, closed transactions, and ultimately $$ in your bank account?

Because of the support of the Active Rain community, we're happy to be able to offer a 50% discount off the regular $299 price. By clicking on the orange registration button, you'll be able to get the Active Rain special price of only $149 for the 12 sessions -- about $12 each.

For more information, please go to: http://domusconsultinggroup.com/ar

Pasadena California Housing Outlook

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:45:38 -0600

Last week, I was privileged to attend a presentation by Leslie Appleton-Young. Leslie is the Vice President of California Association of Realtors and their Chief Economist.

I have never heard Leslie speak before and was surprised with her vibrant personality and down to earth style. it's always hard to deliver bad news to a room full of Pasadena realtors, but she did with style and ease.

It turns out that Leslie is a resident of Pasadena and has been living in our community for the last year and a half. Pretty exciting for me since I'm hoping that I'll run into her one day at Pete's and will have an opportunity to pick her brain a bit.

I will be writing a post over the next few days to share my thoughts on real estate market expectations for 2009 in Pasadena, but in the meantime, here's what Leslie shared with the real estate community.

Personal Consumption:

American consumers have been spending more and saving less. For the first time since 1992, personal consumption dropped. Simply, this means that people buy less which causes employers to cut back jobs.

California is losing more jobs on average - California's unemployment rate in August 2008 was 7.7% while United States as a whole was 6.1% in September 2008.

California Housing Permits:

New Housing Permits are down by 45.1% year to date in California - under 50,000 units compared to over 100,000 in 2007. Builders are waiting for the existing inventory to be absorbed.

National Economy Outlook through 2009:

CONTINUE THIS ARTICLE AT PASADENA VIEWS WEBSITE!

Pasadena California Real Estate Market Report for October 2008

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:29:59 -0600

Here's the latest and greatest report for Pasadena's real estate market inclusive of statistics going back to August 2008.

Pasadena's real estate inventory of homes has decreased in October to 127 units overall - inclusive of single family residences, condos and townhomes. It is not surprising as folks are getting ready for the holiday season and in the natural annual cycle of real estate, we expect to see less inventory to choose from. The sales have closed strongly in October at 117 units. Next month, we will see a marked decrease in this number as evidenced by the decline in the Pasadena home buyers going into escrow in October.

This month, I was able to catpure the median Pasadena home sales price and will be adding that information to all future reports. Median home sales prices provide a more accurate picture since the median signifies that 50% of Pasadena homes sold for more and 50% of these homes sold for less. Hope that you will find it useful.

Market Action Indicator for Pasadena's real estate is currently in the buyer's zone though not strongly so. The 90-day Market Action Index stands this week at 22 so buyers should expect find reasonable levels of selection. Inventory levels have been relatively consistent relative to sales. Despite the fact that there is a relatively high amount of available inventory, this Buyer's market is still seeing prices move higher. Given inventory levels, these price conditions are relatively fragile. If the market cools off further, the price trend is likely to reverse.

The highest sold home in Pasadena for October was at 485 South Grand Avenue, a 4 bedroom/4 bath luxury estate with 6,000 sq. ft. on a 24,345 sq. ft. lot which sold for $4,300,000 at 95.56% of its asking price.

The lowest sold home in Pasadena for October was 476 East Mountain Street, a 1 bedroom and 1 bath with 624 sq. ft of a 2,580 sq. ft. lot whcihc sold for $233,000. This home sold over its original asking price of $226,900.

Overall, October's single family residences sold at 95.20% of their asking price.

Housing Market Statistics for Pasadena California for August 2008 through October 2008:

Single Family Residence	Aug-08	Sep-08	Oct-08
New Listings	80	78	72
Total Listings	325	341	303
Sales Pending	43	95	61
Homes Sold	69	59	71
Listings Expired	36	59	54
Average Days on the Market	133	115	141
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$407	$396	$411
Average Selling Price	$923,986	$751,228	$811,092
Median Selling Price	$657,000	$655,000	$620,000
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	20.4	25.0	18.5

Condos	Aug-08	Sep-08	Oct-08
New Listings	31	46	43
Total Listings	136	156	165
Sales Pending	9	38	26
Homes Sold	27	21	31
Listings Expired	22	35	16
Average Days on the Market	115	121	135
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$397	$445	$401
Average Selling Price	$515,896	$459,540	$442,758
Median Selling Price	$399,500	$350,000	$415,000
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	21.8	32.2	23.1

Townhomes	Aug-08	Sep-08	Oct-08
New Listings	11	16	12
Total Listings	57	69	68
Sales Pending	6	18	3
Homes Sold	13	15	15
Listings Expired	4	12	10
Average Days on the Market	111	130	72
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$385	$358	$347
Average Selling Price	$ 597,477	$ 512,933	$ 544,820
Median Selling Price	$ 539,000	$ 500,000	$ 519,900
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	19.0	19.9	19.6

Data compiled from ITEC (Pasadena Foothill Association Multiple Listing Service).

SEARCH PASADENA CA HOMES FOR SALE (Single Family Residences - SFR)

SEARCH PASADENA CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES FOR SALE

If you are interested in receiving a weekly Pasadena real estate market report with the Market Price Index, you can request the Pasadena Market Real Estate Report here and it will be emailed to you automatically each Monday. This is a report that I order specifically for the readers of my website from Altos Research who specializes specifically in real estate housing market activity throughout the country.

For the full report including Pasadena Foreclosure lists and property searches, please visit my Pasadena Real Estate blog.

Pasadena Condo for Sale - Luxurious Prado on Lake

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:24:30 -0600

An amazing opportunity to buy a luxurious condo in the heart of South Lake Avenue District at Prado on Lake in Pasadena California. This is a Pre-Foreclosure (Short Sale) and is priced below market! For additional information about this Pasadena luxury condo for sale, please visit www.PradoOnLake.com.

Luxury living in South Lake Pasadena's Prado on Lake

840 East Green Street #425, Pasadena, CA 91101 View Map

What an opportunity to own a top floor unit in the beautiful Prado on Lake in Pasadena California. This one bedroom, one bath unit offers the best of urban living in the South Lake Avenue District of Pasadena California. This unit has a loft style feel with high ceilings, exposed HVAC ducting and floor to ceiling windows offering beautiful views of Pasadena. Gourmet kitchen with high end appliances. A large walk-in closet, inside washer & dryer, wood floors, exposed HVAC ducting, exposed concrete walls/ceiling, granite countertops, eating bar for casual dining, slate backsplash in the kitchen. Prado amenities are incredible and include lounge, premier fitness center, gourmet kitchen, resort style pool, BBQ, coffee & tea bar, internet cafe, 20 seat movie theatre, concierge service, controlled access/security & subterranean parking.

An elevator away from boutiques, fine dining, and shops of South Lake. Minutes to Old Town Pasadena, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena Museum of History, Huntington Library and the Gold Line.

This is a short sale and is being offered for sale below market value.

Details

Asking Price:

$485,000

MLS:

22118200

Sq. Feet:

914

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

HOA/Maintenance Fees:

$350.24

Garage Size:

1 space

Subdivision:

Prado On Lake

Year Built:

2006

Contact Info

Irina Netchaev
Broker Associate

Cell 626.627.7107
Dir 626.204.3340
Email | Website

Posh'd! How Awesome!!!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:06:06 -0600

A bunch of amazing sites, mine included have been Posh'd! I am honored to have my site be included with my friends and Active Rainers - Faina Sechzer, and Mary Pope-Handy.

Here's what the developers of Posh'd say about featured sites: Ever visit other Real Estate websites for inspiration? Ever notice how many of them are VERY similar? We support those of you trying to break the mold and make the real estate sites on the web a better experience for everyone.

Please visit www.poshd.com to cast your vote. And, if you are so inclined, please vote for www.PasadenaCARealEstateHomes.com (my baby) at http://www.poshd.com/?p=41

This is so totally cool! What an honor!!!

What does Halloween have in store for you tonight?

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:21:25 -0500

Over the last couple of days, I've been taking long walks around Pasadena and San Marino and looking at all the amazing decorations that are gracing our beautiful homes. It's no small feat to put some of these up. I, for one, am not much for decorating - maybe it's the lack of time or just not enough creativity - I don't know. My decoration was three huge pumpkins (2 of which unfortunately walked away off of my porch a few days ago) and a door hanger.

This morning, as I'm watching my kids put together their costumes, get the cookies and cups ready for school parties and talk about this evening's activities, I'm reflecting on how commercialized Halloween is getting. This is not going to be a rant, but out of curiousity, I wanted to look at some Halloween facts as presented by National Retail Federation.

"This year, the average person plans to spend $66.54 on the holiday, up from $64.82 one year ago. Total Halloween spending for 2008 is estimated to reach $5.77 billion."

Read the rest of the Halloween Article

Halloween in San Marino California

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:44:31 -0500

What a fun day we had in San Marino yesterday.

In the morning, my family and I joined the rest of the community for a pancake breakfast at Huntington Middle School. Later, we made our way to Lacy Park for it's first Annual Halloween Dog Parade.

Take a look at additional photos from the event on my flicker page - San Marino Photos.

San Marino is getting ready for the homecoming game, parade and dance!

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:05:16 -0500

I had a pleasant surprise this morning. A group of middle schoolers from Huntington Middle school were practicing their "band walk" for tomorrow's annual parade.

Tomorrow will be a huge day for San Marino. San Marino High School football teams both JV and Varsity will be playing San Gabriel for their homecoming football game.

At 3 pm, Huntington Drive will be closed for the annual homecoming parade which you just don't want to miss. And, Saturday, October 11th, the kids will be celebrating by having the night out and dressing in their finest for the "Coro" Dance!

In the meantime, enjoy the photos of the marching band kids practicing for the big day tomorrow!

South Pasadena - Heirloom Bakery

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:36:02 -0500

If you live in South Pasadena or take the Gold Line from the Mission station, you probably already know about Heirloom Bakery. I was introduced to it by a realtor friend of mine a few months ago and loved it since.

Heirloom bakery serve a mean cup of late and the most delicious carrot cupcake that I have had. They also cook up a fabulous breakfast and lunch.

My kids (yes - they're picky eaters) are always excited about heading to Heirloom for breakfast. I also like the fact that there's both in-door and out-door seating.

Heirloom is located at 807 Meridian Avenue, South Pasadena, California 91030. Their phone number is 626-441-0042 .

If you are like me, take a nice long walk along the Arroyo and then head over to Heirloom for breakfast. Maybe, we'll run into each other there one day!

Posted by Irina Netchaev, Real Estate Agent

SEARCH SOUTH PASADENA HOMES FOR SALE (Single Family Residences)

SEARCH SOUTH PASADENA CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES FOR SALE

Is San Marino CA ready for a dog park? (Localism Featured)

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:20:48 -0500

Last night I attended a San Marino Community meeting discussing a proposed San Marino City Dog Park in Lacy Park. Derek Barker, a student at San Marino High School felt so passionately about having a place to run his dogs that he decided to undertake this initiative as his Eagle Scout project.

San Marino Recreation Committee met held a public meeting at the Crowell Library to hear feedback from the community on this matter.

The proposed dog park will be located in San Marino's Lacy Park on the West side not too far from the tennis courts. 14,500 sq. ft. area that has been used in the past by San Marino Girl Scouts for their August camping/cooking week and the annual fish derby is under consideration.

The costs of building the San Marino Dog Park will run around $20,000 and include putting appropriate turf, access key card, fencing and sterilizers. The annual upkeep is expected to run several thousand dollars.

San Marino Dog Park will have to be self-policed. Owners will need to pick up their dogs' treasures and ensure that the area is kept clean.

Humane society estimated that San Marino has close to 3,000 dogs based on the size of the community. Currently less than 10% are licensed with the city. To be able to use the dog park, residents will need to ensure that their dogs are licensed which will ensure that they have the necessary vaccinations keeping these doggies happier and will add to the city's revenue stream.

Residents of San Marino that came to the meeting were torn on this issue. Speakers were given 3 minutes to state their opinion on the issue and then the San Marino Recreation Committee took the feedback under consideration in their discussions.

Proponents of San Marino Dog Park:

Dogs are already allowed in San Marino. Now they will have their own secure area where they can run without a leash and socialize with other dogs.
Dogs need a couple of hours of exercise a day. This keeps them healthy and not as aggressive or loud. Dogs tend not to bark in dog parks.
A dog park would provide another opportunity for dog owners to socialize and get to know one another. A benefit to the San Marino's close knit community.
There are really no areas in San Marino currently that will allow dogs to run freely.

Opponents of San Marino Dog Park:

Putting a dog park in Lacy Park will take away from Lacy Park's original purpose of providing a "pastoral" tranquil and serene setting.
Size of the dog park was a concern to some. The recommended size of a dog park is around 1 acre. This area will be half the recommended size.
San Marino dog park will be too close to existing homes that back up to Lacy Park. San Marino homeowners are concerned about the potential noise and smell.
Parking is an issue for some. Currently, Lacy Park's parking is very limited. San Marino residents expressed concern that the dog park will increase the number of visitors thus making it more difficult to park in the area.
Liability - some residents were concerned about the potential city liability in case of accidents, dog bites, etc.

Unfortunately I had to leave early and did not attend the discussion held by the Rec Committee. Derek Barker reported that the vote was positive and the dog park is going to San Marino City Council for consideration.

For more information on the San Marino Dog Park, please visit - www.sanmarinodogpark.info. Derek Barker can be reached at sanmarinodogpark@me.com.

Real Estate Market Reports for San Gabriel Valley - August 2008

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:25:01 -0500

Whether you are a home owner or thinking of buying a home in the future, it is important to stay on top of the LOCAL real estate market trends in your area. Media, for the most part, provides a national real estate market overview and in many cases doesn't truly describe the conditions that can affect a decision to buy or sell a home in a city like Pasadena, for example. To make it easier for my readers, I try to provide a local real estate market perspective for each of the cities that I service in the San Gabriel Valley.

If you see a city that is not on the list below, please leave a comment below and I will add that to my monthly market overview. You can also request to receive real time real estate reporting compiled by Altos Research that I make available to my readers free of charge by clicking on the How's the Market button below.

Real estate market reports for August 2008 can be found at the links below:

Alhambra Real Estate Market Activity

Altadena Real Estate Market Activity

Arcadia Real Estate Market Activity

Monrovia Real Estate Market Activity

Monterey Hills Real Estate Market Activity

Pasadena Real Estate Market Activity

San Gabriel Real Estate Market Activity

San Marino Real Estate Market Activity

Sierra Madre Real Estate Market Activity

South Pasadena Real Estate Market Activity

Pasadena California - South Lake Avenue

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:46:38 -0500

South Lake Avenue in Pasadena stretches from Colorado Boulevard at its northernmost end and winds all the way through Shoppers Lane before culminating at California Boulevard. There's no longer a real lake near this 10 block shopping district packed with hundreds of shops, restaurants and offices. The lake dried up long ago.

South Lake Avenue's rich shopping heritage was born in the late 1940s with a department store built to look and feel like a country club. Bullocks, now Macy's (currently under construction though December 2008) became the foundation of South Lake Avenue's reputation as a cosmopolitan shopping destination. More department stores followed, making the area one of Pasadena's finest shopping districts.

Today, antique English phone booths complete the district's European ambiance, where shoppers sample fresh lunch cuisine at the various open air eateries. Shopping boutiques, European-style patio cafes and upscale business lofts polish off the chic setting.

Stores on South Lake Avenue run the gamut. Mall-shopping big names like Macy's and Borders complement niche stores like Anthropologie and Rangoni Firenze Soes, where shoppers can find high-end Italian footwear. The food here is the same way: familiar favorites like Coffee & Lea Leaf, Starbucks and Pete's Coffee rub elbows with lesser-known but still delicious locales such as the original Corcodile Cafe and the Rose Tea Cottage, Pasadena's first English Tea House.

South Lake Avenue Pasadena real estate has been doing extremely well. The luxurious condo complexes like The Prado, Pasadena Collection and the newly built exclusive residences at The Granite Park have been in demand by investors, corporate housing and consumers looking for a car-free urban living.

If you are ready to start your Pasadena home search, this website offers FREE MLS access and Pasadena real estate market reports to help you with your research. Of course, please do not hesitate to call Irina at 626.627.7107 for personal assistance in finding the right home for you.

General description gathered from Pasadena Official Visitors Guide 2007/2008.

http://www.pasadenaviews.com/0043D5

Monterey Hills: 14th Annual Jazz Festival Photos and More

Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:48:26 -0500

2008 Monterey Hills Jazz Festival was a huge success! Learn the history behind Monterey Hills.

What a fun day in Monterey Hills today. It was the 14th annual Monterey Hills Jazz Festival.

Performances by Luis Conte, Lori Andrews JazHarp Quartet and Pasadena Jazz Institute Youth All Stars kept everyone enthralled. The festival featured several food and non-food vendors representing many different interests and cultures.

This 14th year of Monterey Hills Jazz Festival was anticipated by many Monterey Hills residents. Since it's inception, the Jazz Festival has been sponsored by Monterey Hills Federation with the support of the Los Angeles City Council's 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar, the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency. Many local merchants and artisans have participated each year as well.

It was a lot of fun being out and meeting Monterey Hills residents. I had an opportunity to speak with Jim Henderson and Ginger Cole. Both Jim and Ginger were on the Monterey Hills Jazz Festival Committee chaired by Debra A. Evans. I also spoke with Carlos Alvarado from CRA/LA who was telling me about an upcoming relandscaping project that will be most likely take place within the next 12 months or so. Committees will be forming within the next several months and will work hand in hand with CRA/LA to decide where and what kind of landscaping will be gracing Monterey Hills.

Monterey Hills is a community of condos and townhomes located in the city and county of Los Angeles. It is bordered by South Pasadena to the North, El Sereno to the South, and Highland Park to the West. It is conveniently located just off of Via Marisol exit of the 110 Freeway and is 15 minutes to Downtown Los Angeles or Old Town Pasadena.

A little history on Monterey Hills. The Monterey Hills Redevelopment Project was adopted by City Council on July 29, 1971. The CRA LA (Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles) project contained 211 acres of land. The principal thrust of the project outlined in the Redevelopment Plan included the development of a well planned residental community that provided a variety of housing opportunities for families and individuals from all income levels and the preservation of the physical integrity of the site.

At the time of Monterey Hills project adoption, 90% of the area was underdeveloped due to its sloping configuration and improperly platted terrain. The entire area had been subdivided in 1902 according to a coordinated grid system with lots and streets laid out at right angles to each other.

Because of the terrain, there was no possible way to develop any significant portion of the area as it was platted. The streets were substandard and in most cases unimproved. Land ownership was extremely complex, precluding private enterprises from assembling the stie and re-subdividing in a proper manner. Approximately 1/3 of the area was owned by the City of Los Angeles as a result of property tax defaults by former owners. Many structures were obsolte, public utilities were inadequate, there was a lack of usable open space, the value of land and properties was depreciated and private investments were seriously impaired.

Today, some 37 years later, Monterey Hills is a thriving community. "The Hill", as its known to its residents, currently has 21 condominiums with a total of 1,781 housing units that have been built to date.

ALSO READ: Monterey Hill Real Estate Market Report and Monterey Hills Condo Buying Tips

It is sought by first time buyers and investors alike. It offers beautiful condominiums and townhomes with excellent amenities at reasonable prices. Monterey Hills is always alive with residents walking its streets, using the Bud Weiner park and just enjoying the fresh air.

Living in Monterey Hills is like being on Top of the World! Check it out for yourself.

If you are interested in finding a Monterey Hills condo or townhome for sale, this site offers a free home search for your convenience.

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0043C5