Lunada Bay Home Sales - April 2010

Lunada Bay neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in May 2010.

Active listings: 36 Homes are for sale in Lunada Bay priced from $999,999 to $5,200,000.

Pending sales: 13 Homes are in escrow priced from $1,029,000 to $1,725,000.

May sales: 10 Houses sold in Lunada Bay, PVE during May 2010:

• Via Pacheco $1,100,000
• Via Sanchez $1,150,000
• Via Carrillo $1,502,000
• Via Pacheco $1,550,000
• Via Coronel $1,585,000
• Avenida Mirola $1,750,000
• Via Victoria $1,800,000
• Paseo Del Mar $2,000,000
• Chelsea Rd $2,250,000
• Paseo Del Mar $2,770,000
  

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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Palos Verdes Drive South - April 2010 Home Sales

Palos Verdes Drive South neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in April 2010.

Active listings: 21 Homes are currently for sale around the PV Drive South area priced from $910,000 to $4,999,999.

Pending sales: 3 Homes are in escrow priced from $899,000 to $1,499,000.

April sales: One homes sold in April 2010 in PVDS:

• Conqueror Dr $865,000
  

Previous Palos Verdes and San Pedro Market Reports

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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What to Expect When You're Searching for a Coastal Home

Last week my business partner and I showed coastal property to an inland client. The first surprise (make that shock) was the price of a Palos Verdes coastal home with a view. Much to her chagrin the price tags of coastal homes clearly reflect they are not "on sale."

Due to the coastal location coupled with a sought-after public school system values have not plummeted on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. A quick review of recent sales the first quarter of 2010 show prices are up 4% compared to March 2009. Distressed property makes up a very small percentage of listings on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and has little to no impact on local values.

Since coastal homes are close to or front on the water, they often have a noticeable dampness or ocean odor (and this was a very wet winter), especially in any below grade or enclosed areas. If you're not accustomed to the ocean mist and fog this may be a disconcerting discovery. Once the rainy seasons ends the smell usually disappears when the Southern California sun returns for the days of summer.

A dehumidifier is a great way to counter unwanted dampness. Sometimes simply opening the windows and letting fresh air work its magic is sufficient to banish stale damp air. If you think the problem may require the help of a professional there are mold and mildew expects who can access your situation and suggest ways to remedy it.

Palos Verdes coastal homes range in price from under $1,000,000 to well over $10,000,000. The average price of Palos Verdes homes currently for sale is just over $2,000,000. With 17 major neighborhoods and many more micro areas there are many styles and locations to choose from.

From hillside villas to equestrian estates Palos Verdes is a coastal community with much to offer. Views range from peek-a-boo to panoramic. The proximity to the ocean's edge is never far and generally speaking, the closer to the water you buy the more it will cost.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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Five Ways to Add Views to Your Home - Palos Verdes, CA

The Palos Verdes Coastal area is graced with some of the most magnificent views in the world. Since it is a peninsula it is surrounded on three sides with water and a large number of waterfront and bluff-top homes. The Palos Verdes Peninsula is also a small mountain and the hillsides are lined with view homes.

A view is a desirable thing to have; it also increases the value of your property. It is impossible to install an ocean view, but I've seen some creative ways to "add a view" to a property. Let's start with the obvious:

1. Trim and prune overgrown shrubs and trees. It is not unusual for a peek-a-boo view to grow into so much more with some artful trimming and pruning. A client once laced several large trees to discover a distant water view.

2. Turn a corner of your backyard into a garden with a fountain, seating area and your own mini resort.

3. Focus all eyes on the pool. Enhance the pool deck with a cabana, potted plants, dramatic lighting and inviting lounge chairs. What's not to love about vacationing at home?

4. Add a piece or two of interesting yard art. An interesting sculpture can transform a ho-hum space into cutting edge chic upon installation.

5. Refresh or start over with new landscaping. In my opinion, landscape architects are undervalued. The right green-scape and hard-scape can change the appearance and appeal of an ordinary house into an unforgettable home. Who needs the ocean to look at when everywhere the eyes turns there is a new delight to discover and enjoy?

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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Malaga Cove Home Sales - March 2010 - Palos Verdes Estates

Malaga Cove neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in March 2010.

Active listings: 12 Homes are available for sale in Malaga Cove, PVE priced from $1,750,000 to $13,775,000.

Pending sales: 8 Houses are in escrow priced from $998,000 to $2,496,000.

March sales: No homes closed escrow in Malaga Cove during March 2010.

Previous Palos Verdes and San Pedro Market Reports

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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A lender's love is oh so conditional.

You had him at hello. It started with grand promises and tantalizing interest rates. It was a whirlwind affair with documents flying around the globe. Your Big Three resume carried recognition and clout. He felt comfortable with your world renowned brand. Now he is just another would-be borrower with a broken heart.

What went wrong? Was it because yours was one of those Internet clandestine affairs and you never had a face to face? Breaking up was easy via email. There were a few last minute torrid phone calls but you stood firm and called it off the day loan approval was due.

A good loan is hard to find and even harder to close these days. It takes a borrower with a resilient heart to stay in the game. The phrase "I'm sorry it didn't work out for you" was his cue to move on (this time to a local lender) and seek a new loan, a new lender and continue forward with his pursuit for a place to call home.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

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Mudslides, Landslides and Other Perilous Perks of Life in California

Breaking news is playing in the background as I write this blog post. 41 Homes were either destroyed or damaged by mudslides overnight north of Los Angeles. The local hills were charred from recent forest fires and last night's heavy rainfall was sufficient to trigger a flow of mud into the community below the barren hills.

When building or purchasing a home it is important to be familiar with local conditions and past history of landslides and other acts of nature. Hillside homes are common throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Palos Verdes Peninsula consists of hills, canyons and cliffs. I currently have a hillside home listed for sale in Rancho Palos Verdes. Thanks to the forethought of the City, adequate drainage systems lace the hillsides and mudslides are rare.

If you are considering purchasing a hillside home, investigate, inspect and engage professionals to ensure proper precaustions are in place to keep your home free of mudslides. The rains will come, but with ample planning the water and mud will flow through the designed channels, not through your home.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

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