French Food

Monsieur Marcel

Monsieur Marcel is a fabulous find on 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica. I had the onion soup and bouillabaisse.  Probably the best I have ever had. They have another location in Farmers Market/The Grove. The Santa Monica locations is in the middle of the street with outdoor seating only.  With lighting, ambiance, and people walking by you get a feeling of  sitting on a Paris boulevard. Map of Monsieur Marcel Santa Monica View Larger Map Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real … [Read more...]

Now is a Good Time to Buy – How is Your Credit Score?

Credit Score

How is your Credit? Tougher lending laws are now are now leading Fannie Mae to require a minimum of 620 credit score as a qualification for some loans.  This includes FHA and VA loans.  However, in order to get the best rate, a credit score of 720 is required and verifiable income. In the past a mortgage broker was able to shop around for the best rates, but the new procedures and the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) have made this difficult.  Lenders will no longer take a … [Read more...]

Great Persian Food

Los Angeles Persian Restaurants, Persian Food in Los Angeles

There are many Persian restaurants in Los Angeles, but the best one I have experienced so far is: Shahrzad Restaurant 1422 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: 310-474-1410 The absolutely best rack of lamb you have ever had.  Consistently moist and sweet. Medium priced Map of Shahrzad Restaurant Los Angeles View Shahrzad Restaurant Los Angeles in a larger map Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city … [Read more...]

Westside Los Angeles Italian Food

West Los Angeles Italian Restaurants, Great West Los Angeles Italian Restaurants

La Bottega There are now two locations in West Los Angeles for this  neighborhood bistro.  One is on Santa Monica in West Los Angeles and the other on Santa Monica in Beverly Hills. La Bottega has great service and great food. Try their deli appetizers, especially the eggplant.  Delish! Map of West Los Angeles Italian Restaurants View West Los Angeles Italian Restaurants in a larger map Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting … [Read more...]

The Best Indian Food in Los Angeles

The Best Indian Food in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Indian Restaurants

If you are looking for the best Indian food in Los Angeles these are two of the best: India's Tandoori Among the best Indian food I have eaten, and I am from the U.K. where the best Indian food outside India is found.  It is on the pricey side, but worth it. Anarkali There is a story behind this name which you can read on their website. The best, consistently good Tandoori chicken I have had. They offer two for one discount coupons which you can use every time you go.  It … [Read more...]

Great Chinese Restaurants in West Los Angeles

West Los Angeles Chinese Restaurants, Where to Eat Chinese in West Los Angeles,

My favorite West Los Angeles Chinese restaurant is Hop Li. They have four locations, but the one I frequent is their Westwood location. Hop Li has consistently good food, is always packed - a good sign - and provides excellent service. Hop Woo's food  is among the best Chinese I have had.  It is moderately priced. Hop Woo is in a strip mall where parking is a problem and the waiters are surly to put it mildly.  But if you can overlook that the food is worth it. Jin Jiang is … [Read more...]

Buying a Home in Los Angeles – The Most Important First Step

moneyman

Buying a home in Los Angeles can be a daunting prospect. You start to look on line at areas you would like to live and estimate the amount of home you can afford. Well, this is not the way to start looking for a home.  You must get pre-approved by a lender! No ifs ands or buts. Many first-time buyers don't realize the upfront costs in involved in buying a home - loan fees, insurance, escrow fees, etc. and those can make a huge difference in deciding the price range of your home … [Read more...]

Culver City Market Report – Third Quarter

ccmedian

Based on the Culver City Third Quarter Market Report, the median home prices have fallen 6%. The number of sold homes in Culver City has dropped 20%. The properties on the market in any given month where a buyer could have written a first position offer to purchase it at any time during that month. Different from Months Supply of Inventory below. The number has increased 3%. The number of properties going into contract on any given month shows the sales activity. This has … [Read more...]

Beverly Hills Market Report – Third Quarter ’09

bhsold

The properties on the market in any given month where a buyer could have written a first position offer to purchase it at any time during that month.  Different from Months Supply of Inventory below.  The number has increased 3%. The number of properties going into contract on any given month shows the sales activity.  This has increased 108%. These figures show how long it would take to sell the present inventory based on the present monthly sale rate. The number of properties … [Read more...]

Santa Monica Market Report – Third Quarter ’09

smmedian

The median price of a Santa Monica homes has only dropped 2% over the last year. The number of home sold has increased by 114% over a year ago. The number of properties going into escrow has increased by 127%. The number of properties for sale has remained reasonably steady. The number of new properties being listed each month has also remained pretty steady. The total inventory of homes has dropped 66% Supply has stayed the same as compared to the … [Read more...]

Los Angeles Market Report – Third Quarter ’09

Median Price of Los Angeles Homes

The following represents the Los Angeles housing market trend for single-family homes over the last 13 months. Overall the figures show the market turning around as follows: The median price has decreased by 12% from $608,000 in '08 to $533,000 in '09. The number of homes sold in Los Angeles has increased 12%, from 356 to 410. The number of properties on the market has decreased by 42%, from 4,500 to 2,632.  … [Read more...]

How Should I Use My Home Equity For My Retirement?

Home Equity for Retirement

There is plenty of information and advice about when to retire and take social security, but very little about managing your home equity with a view to retirement. Equity in your home is a big part of your overall portfolio. If you are married, this is approximately 70% of your non-liquid assets per a 2009 Society of Actuaries (SOA) Report. The report also states the median value of financial assets is less than 1.5% of the median middle class income, which is $75,000, and three times the … [Read more...]

2010 Housing Forecast

Remodeling Your Los Angeles House, Where do you Start?

According the California Association of Realtors (CAR), home prices will increase in 2010 as the low-end market and foreclosures are bought up. This will also leave a shortage of homes as the inventory dries up. The median California price will increase by 3.3% to $280,000 with sales decreasing by 2.3% to around $527,500, the latter occurring unless the first-time home buyers' tax credit is extended. In the low-end to moderate market prices have decreased about 50% in some places, while in … [Read more...]

Ensuring a Smooth Buying and Selling Process – No Lawsuits!

caution

When selling a home disclose, disclose, disclose. The most lawsuits arising after close of escrow would seem to be directed at agents who do not disclose known issues affecting the condition of the property in question. Water intrusion leading to mold are high on the list, followed by sewage systems, whether septic tanks or city sewer lines.  Also misstated square footage can lead to legal problems. Foreclosure sales, i.e. bank-owned properties, are frequently involved in these kinds … [Read more...]