This is going to be a long list, and I'm only going to scratch the surface, so let's get started.  The list is in no paraticular order--just the way it popped into my head after living in the area for over 22 years.

 The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a 26.3 square mile area located in the southwest corner of Los Angeles County. The Peninsula is 23 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

1)   The Climate:   Average temperature in January--66 degrees.  Average temperature in July--77 degrees.

2)   The Coastal Location:  It's the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean kisses three sides 24/7.

3)   The Views:  Ocean to the south and west.  LA city lights to the north and LA Harbor to the east.

4)   The Schools:  PV is home to a top ranking public system and a plethora of top notch private schools.

5)   The Open Space:  A drive around Palos Verdes reveals lots of wide open space.  There's room to breathe.

6)   The Variety of Housing:  From condos to cottages to mega million compounds it all available in PV.

7)   Urban Amenities:  At your fingertips but not in your backyard.

8)   Horses:  They are welcome in many areas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

9)   Trails:  If you have horses you need trails and PV is laced with riding trails.

10)  Foghorns and Lighthouses:  Does it get anymore coastal than that?

11)  Great Libraries:  I know you can find everything on the Internet, but there's something about books...

12)  Great Parks:  Many PV parks have stunning views.

13)  A World Class Resort/Hotel:  Terranea offers luxurious accommodations in an ocean front location.

14)  Recreation Opportunities:  Five golf courses, tennis clubs and miles of hiking trails to name a few.

15)  Beaches:  I can't believe this one didn't pop into my head until now. 

16)  The Untamed Beauty:  Towering cliffs and a craggy coastline showcase some of nature's best work.

17)  278 Days of Sunshine!

18)  Trees:  We don't like them to block our views, but we love their shade and beauty.

19)  It's Dark at Night:  There's very little neon in PV, very few traffic lights and even fewer street lights.

20)  The International Flavor:  The cultural stew is varied, food choices abundant and people mix eclectic.

21)  Wayfarers Chapel:  The glass church on "The Hill" designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's son.

22)  Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and Ecological Center:  Graced with bluffs, tide pools and incredible views.

23)  Point Vincent Interpretive Center:  Great whale watching site.

24)  Whale Watching Boat Rides:  Get up close and personal with the gentle giants of the sea.

25)  Catalina Express:  Will speed you the 26 miles to Catalina Island in just over an hour.  Great day trip! 

26)  Secret Surfing Spots:  The locals hold these surf spots close to their chest.

27)  Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead:  Load up the kids and the ski gear.  You can be on the slopes in 3 hours.

28)  Palm Springs and Other Glorious Desert Destinations:  Just over 2 hours away and you're ready to play.

29)  South Coast Botanic Garden:  Former landfill abloom with local floral including a rose garden.

30)  Roses:  They thrive in the coastal climate of Palos Verdes.

31)  Bougainvillea:  You will seen the brilliant colors throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

32)  Norris Center for the Performing Arts:  Voted best live theater in the South Bay.

33)  The Art Center:  PV's art community is alive and well.

34)  The Queen's Necklace: Where ocean meets land along the beach cities coastline.  PV top view!

35)  Trump National:  Great place to golf or simply walk--I do the latter almost daily.

36)  George F. Canyon Nature Center:  36-acre park with educational center and hiking trails.

37)  Ice Chalet:  Daily ice skating available at the Promenade Mall.

39)  The Promenade Mall:  Never too crowded and always a good movie playing.

40)  Torrance Beach:  Located in the shadow of the Palos Verdes Peninsula with white sand and bike path.

41)  Cabrillo Marine Aquarium:  Much smaller than the one in Long Beach but great for kids.

42)  Vincent Thomas Bridge:  The much photographed bridge connects San Pedro to Long Beach.

43)  Sunrises

44)  Sunsets

45)  Bedrock:  It's earthquake country but most PV homes are built on solid bedrock

46)  Deep Canyons and Towering Cliffs and Hills:  The topography is anything but boring.

47)  Paragliders:  The PV cliffs are a magnet due to the thermal drafts.  

48)  Ocean Breezes

49)  Tide Pools:   Filled with little creatures of the sea.

50)  The Restaurants at Terranea: I've eaten at all of them--no favorite they are all delicious.

51)  Trump National Restaurant:  Best breakfast spot is on the outdoor patio with a view of the Pacific.

52)  RAT Beach:  Tucked beneath the hills of Palos Verdes Estate this is a fabulous beach for kids.

53) The Getty Museum:  Overdose on art at your leisure.  I once gazed at Van Gogh's Irises for hours. 

54)   Beverly Hills:  A fun place to dine and shop, but I'm always ready to head back to "The Hill" (PV).

55)  The Nickname:  The locals refer to Palos Verdes Peninsula as simply The Hill.

56)  The Abbreviations:  RH, RHE, PVE, RPV, PVDN, PVDS, PVDE, PVDW, PVP, and the list goes on...

57)  Farmers Market:  Sundays 9 AM to 1 PM at Peninsula Shopping Center. 

58)  Portuguese Bend Beach Club:  Private beach with Palapas, fire-pits and rocky beach.

59)  Palos Verdes Beach and Athletic Club:  Private ocean front club on the bluff overlooking the Pacific.

60)  Jack Kramer Tennis & Swim Club:  My kids loved playing tennis and swimming here.

61)  Walks on the Wild Side:  Lace up your hiking boots, grab the camera and explore PV.

62)  Morning walks in coastal fog.

63)  Wave Watching on a high surf day.

64)  Staples Center: Sports and concert venue extraordinaire.

65)  Horseback Riding:  Saddle up. 

66)  Tennis, anyone?

67)  Dining:  From ocean view dining to tiny bistros PV offers a wide variety of dining options.

68)  Seniors:  Aging is place is a popular option for PV seniors and there is ample community support.

69)  Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival:  Come join the fun.

70)   The Traffic:  Or lack thereof...

71)  The Beach Cities:  They are next door and offer an unlimited expansion of everything from dining to dancing. 

72)  Amusement Parks:  From big daddy Disney to go cart parks Southern Cali is the place to get your amusement park fix.

73)  LAX:  It may not be your idea of a good time, but it's close when needed.

74)  JetBlue:  When I have the option I fly out of Long Beach.  JetBlue to NYC is the best.

75)  World Class Shopping:  Rodeo Drive, South Coast Plaza--from diamonds to discount malls it's all in LA.

76)  Cruise Ships:  Watch them leave, watch them arrive or board one in the LA Harbor.

77)  Peacocks: Love them or hate them they are a part of the PV landscape.

78)  See PV:  Take a drive around the PV Peninsula on Palos Verdes Drive--PVDS and PVDW are not to be missed.  Pull over often to enjoy the views.

79)  Shakespeare in the Park:  What's not to love about an outdoor play on a warm summer night?

80)  The drive up the coast.

81)  The drive down the coast.

82)  Starry Nights

83)  Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific:  It's a hands on experience and a favorite of my grandchildren.

84)  Hiking:  The hills at Trump National are my gym of choice.

85)  The Olmstead Brothers:  Landscape architects for PVE.  Their father, Frederick, designed Central Park in NYC.

86)  Malaga Cove Fountain:  It's a landmark and one of my favorite places to meet clients coming from the beach cities.

87)  Paseo Del Mar:  An ocean view boulevard with stunning views and homes.  Drive it or better yet, walk it.

88)  The Greenery:  PV is an oasis of vegetation in the concrete and asphalt jungle of Los Angeles.

89)  Hills and Cliffs:  The flat land of LA is a stark contrast to the rolling hills and towering cliffs of Palos Verdes.

90)  The Atmosphere:  The surrounding area is urban; PV has a small town feel.

91)  Frank Vanderlip:  For having the vision of what Palos Verdes could be and the money to develop it.  he purchased the land without seeing it in the early 1910s for $1.5M.

92)  Eucalyptus Trees:  They are not native flora but they are at home in Palos Verdes.

93)  Whales:  They can be seen along the coast from December to March.

94)  Dolphins:  They frolic along the coastline too.

95)  Seals:  Part of the local water fauna show too.

96)  Hollywood Sign:  Iconic symbol of LA and the entertainment industry--PV is a popular destination for film making.

97) The View of Catalina Island:  On a clear day you can see every crevasse and canyon on the Island, and at night the lights of Avalon.

98) The Razzle Dazzle of LA's Lights:  From the vantage point of PV, LA's city lights twinkle below like millions of holiday lights.

99)  Advanced Placement Courses:  My four children took many and graduated from the Palos Verdes School District with numerous college credits.  Great way to save on college costs while living the Palos Verdes lifestyle in a little slice of paradise.

100)  The beauty of it all.

I'm always looking for inspiration on Monday morning as I begin a new week.  Lou provides a steady supply of uplifting and thought provoking quotes.  It is easy to handle the up moments of life, but learning from our falls require grace, humility and self forgiveness.

"To err is human; to forgive, divine." Alexandra Pope

The core of this business is meeting sellers and buyers.  Quite simply they make the real estate world spin round and round through strong markets, weak markets and all markets in between.   When a seller invites an agent into her home to access its value and give a listing presentation one can be fairly certain the seller is going to list the home in the immediate future.

Buyers are a bit trickier to gauge.  Their time-line may be more fluid than fixed.  They may have huge hurdles to overcome, such as finding a new job or selling a property, before they can sign a purchase contract.  For example, I held an open house yesterday and met more than a few terrific prospective buyers:

1)  Mr. Red Hot:  Before both feet were in the door he announced he was just pre-approved to purchase in the price range.  He's doing his homework (online) and his footwork (at open houses).  Based on the vibes he was emitting he'll be in escrow within 30 days.  He wants a home now and is on the hunt for the one.

2)  Slow Simmer Couple:  He's relocating but not yet committed to a location.  She's local and probably the catalyst for the move.  No sense of urgency here--housing may be on the back burner while job and relationship gel.

3)  Holding Pattern Boomers:  The big house is for sale in a slow market.  They are hopeful a sale is imminent, but their hands are tied until it sells.  In the meantime they are enjoying sunny Los Angeles and open houses in Palos Verdes.

4)  Emotionally Adrift:  He's ready to downsize, she's not so sure she's ready.  He says now, she says a year or so...

5)  Ice Cold Dreamer:  No, the seller will not take 25% below asking...

Malaga Cove neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in January 2012.

Homes for sale: 10 Homes are available for sale in Malaga Cove priced from $1,200,000 to $3,750,000.

Pending sales: 3 Houses are in escrow priced from $925,000 to $949,000.

January sales: 3 Homes sold in Jan. 2012:

Monte Malaga neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in January 2012.

Homes for sale: 14 Homes are listed for sale in the Monte Malaga area priced from $950,000 to $5,500,000.

Pending sales: 4 Homes are in escrow priced from $849,950 to $3,299,000.

January sales: Two homes sold in  Jan. 2012:

Lunada Bay neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in January 2012.

Homes for sale: 22 Homes are listed for sale priced from $975,000 to $5,800,000.

Pending sales: 7 Houses are in escrow in Lunada Bay priced from $1,095,000 to $2,895,000.

January sales: 4 Homes sold in Jan. 2012:

If you're not watching the Super Bowl this lovely Sunday afternoon you are cordially invited to join me at my open house at 6542 Ocean Crest Drive just off Hawthorne Blvd. in Rancho Palos Verdes.  I'm not sure what time the Super Bowl begins (can you tell I'm not a football fan?) but the open house hours are 1-3 PM.

The two bedroom, two bath condo is located in a gated complex and has a lovely ocean view, spacious balcony to enjoy the view, new carpet, upgraded bathrooms, and perhaps best of all, a motivated seller and a price under $400,000. 

The unit is positioned to be light and bright throughout the day and the freshly painted soft white walls offer a blank canvas for your decor.

 If you're searching for a place to enjoy the Palos Verdes lifestyle, downsizing but want to to stay in Palos Verdes or looking for a PV address so your children can attend one of the finest public school districts in Southern California, you really should attend this open house.  If you simply cannot pull yourself away from the game, then call me when it's over and I'll arrange to give you a personal tour.

I know, the photo does not remind you of winter, but in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA this is a winter day.  I snapped this photo while out walking at Trump National Golf Course yesterday.  The temperature was in the 70s, the wildflowers were in full bloom and the day was topped off with a gentle breeze and megawatt sunshine.  As I climbed the hills and followed the trails weaving to and fro along the towering Palos Verdes bluffs, I paused to capture a few photos of this near-perfection Southern California day.

 If you're relocating to the Greater Los Angeles Area, be sure to include the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula on your must see list of locations.  The coastal location offers some of the best weather and most stunning natural beauty along the Southern California coastline.  There's a home for nearly every budget--a condo in the $300,000 range or a multi-million dollar compound with all prices in between available.  The choice is yours.

It's your life, why not live it on the Palos Verdes Peninsula?

Yesterday, I listened as a soon-to-be-dad spoke about saving money to purchase a new home for his growing family. A challenging but lofty and worthy goal to be sure. The pre-recession years were filled with spiraling housing costs and many young families were forced to take a seat on the fence and wait for sanity to reclaim the house prices in Los Angeles. Many felt they were stuck between two decisions and neither one was palatable. They could stay put in a rental or condo, or they could move inland and extend their commute by an hour or two each way.

Then along came the Great Recession. After years of waiting for the realization of what they were beginning to think might be their impossible dream, home prices had a head-on collision with an economy losing steam, a banking industry in disarray and housing prices started marching south.

Years passes and as the inflated air drained from the local housing scene, color, tinged by that powerful aphrodisiac we know as hope returned to many a first time (and seasoned) buyer’s face. Today, after much pain and suffering, the housing landscape in the Greater Los Angeles Area is filled with opportunities.

These opportunities to finally receive the long-awaited keys to a first home, a move-up home, investment property, second home or retirement villa are much more attainable as we begin our trek through 2012. Prices are down, loans are easier to obtain, interest rates are the lowest I’ve seen in my 20 plus year career, and if I’m not mistaken, there is a new level of hope and determination to make 2012 the year buyers add a new key or two to their key ring.

De-clutter is a subjective word--it means one thing to some people and an entirely different thing to others.  If you're thinking of listing your Palos Verdes home for sale and know you must tackle the ubiquitous "clutter" but not quite sure what qualifies, or where to begin, here's a terrific list compiled by a fellow agent.