I'm not sure that is an accurate statement. But having been to a variety of farmer's markets in California, in New England, in the Mid West, and in Europe, I have to say the Farmers Market at The Grove inLos Angeles is unique. And it is historic - the original since 1934! Not a long time, perhaps, compared to Europe or the East Coast, but definitely an LA landmark. Located on the east side of Fairfax north of 3rd and south of the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, the Farmers Market is adjacent to The Grove, the trendy outdoor mall with a myriad of upscale shops - Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Coach, Tommy Bahama, Nordstrom, L'Occitane, J. Crew, Anthropologie and much more - as well as in-store events, activities in the mall, and events for kids. But this post is all about food a... 06/22/2007

 Recently Los Angeles Councilwoman Wendy Greuel announced the addition of 80 acres to Verdugo Mountain Park.  The park is now 565 acres and the fourth largest in the San Fernando Valley!In an age where land is at a premium and constantly being developed it is refreshing to see local politicians that are truly interested in preserving our public spaces.  The City of Los Angeles purchased this land from a private owner and the funds came from Proposition 40 which was passed in 2002, Proposition K passed in 1996 and funds from Council District 2, Wendy Greuel's District funds. Read More.....  06/19/2007

Playa Vista Market Data Playa Vista Real Estate                                                              Return to: http://www.nuevorealtygroup.com/         We here at the Nuevo Realty Group continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find Playa Vista real estate statistic for the month of January through February 9, 2008.          Total homes on the market: 33          Number of homes pending: 0          Number of homes closing escrow (sold): 0          Number of homes expiring: 6The information provided herein is from sources we deem reliable, but not guaranteed.Nuevo Realty Group or its agents have independently verified the information.Try not to get caught up in the agents sizzle only to hav... 06/15/2007

Security Pacific National Lending, Inc. is hiring Mortgage Bankers and Loan Officers for its new Westside Group. Applicants must be self-motivated, tenacious, and strongly interested in succeeding in the mortgage and loan business. Positions available for both experienced and new bankers/loan officers working in the West Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Security Pacific will provide extensive training, support, professional software, extensive leads, and employee benefit packages. Great opportunity for those interested in creating their own work schedule with tremendous financial upside potential. For more information or to schedule an interview, please call SPNL Westside at 310.882.6851 (option #5) or email Martin at Martin@SPNL.net and our recruiter will contact you directly. 06/14/2007

I don't get out much. Martin Rodriguez knows this. He's my next door neighbor. So when he called to invite me to go to a Dodger game with him, it wasn't so much an invitation as it was an order. "Hey, I know you're not a big Dodge Fan, but you're going to a game next Wednesday. Clear it with Rocky." A neighbor knows your wife's name. A good neighbor also knows when your wife wears the pants in the family . :) He's not usually that aggressive, so to be frank, he kind of freaked me out a bit. I was truly afraid to say no. I'm glad I didn't.Martin scored four tickets to the Dodger's Dugout Club. For those not familiar, this is the absolute best place you can be in Dodger Stadium. The Club is right behind home plate and the tickets come with everything, including Dodger Dogs. Those in LA ar... 05/24/2007

Come bring the kids, have breakfast and support your local fire department!  On Saturday, May 12th from 8am-11am Fire Station 86 will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast to raise funds for the fire house. If you are a resident in the Toluca Lake, Valley Village and Studio City areas or are thinking about purchasing a home in these neighborhoods, this is a great way to lend support and meet local community members.  Fire Station 86 is located at 4305 Vineland Ave. Studio City Ca 91602.  To contact Fire Station 86 or LAFD Headquarters for routine matters: In Los Angeles: 3-1-1 In Southern California: (866) 4-LACITY From Anywhere: (213) 485-5971   For more information on my real estate services, please visit anaconnell.com    05/09/2007

Outpost Estates is one of the most exclusive Hollywood Hills neighborhoods. Rich in history and tradition this 1920’s era neighborhood boasts underground utilities(one of the first communities in the United States to offer such an amenity) and features beautiful Spanish style homes.  Located north of Franklin and adjacent to Runyon Canyon Park it is a hiker’s paradise! The Outpost community has much resident involvement through the Outpost Homeowners Association, a voluntary organization that works to preserve the vibrant history and quality of life for this area.  For more historical information, please visit: http://www.outpostestates.com/Index.html   For more information on my real estate services, please visit anaconnell.com    05/07/2007

Most people only sell a small number of homes in their lifetime.  With such limited experience, how do you expect to be capable of maximizing your profits from your home sale?  Many sellers make the mistake of assuming that all real estate agents are the same and list with the first agent who comes along.  Not taking the time to research the agent who will list your house could cost you thousands of dollars. Start the process by doing a bit of legwork.  Ask your friends, relatives, and co-workers for referrals to good agents.  Also, drive around town and look for agents with the most signs posted, ads, and marketing material in the market.  To find out which Agent is right for you interview two or three agents. 1.  Ask prospective agents to send some information about them-selves.  You ... 05/07/2007

The beautiful community of Whitley Heights is located in the hills above the Hollywood bowl and in its hey day was home to such stars as Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin and Bette Davis.  The charm of this Hollywood real estate neighborhood lies in the curving streets, Italian architecture and sweeping views, especially of the Hollywood Sign.  On some properties the views stretch to Century City and beyond.  The community originated in 1918 and has the distinction of National Historic District and is a historic preservation overlay zone (HPOZ).  Walking distance from the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Boulevard and the Kodak Theater, it boasts plentiful shopping and hip restaurants.  The community of residents are a very active group that, through its voluntary homeowners association, Whi... 05/06/2007

The Great Los Angeles River Clean up is Saturday, May 12th! Yes, for you LA residents that have not heard, we do have a river, albeit not in the most traditional sense.  The Los Angeles River runs almost 51 miles, possibly through your neighborhood!  Going through 14 cities, including communities in Burbank, Toluca Lake and Studio City, it starts in Canoga Park and ends in Long Beach where it flows into the Pacific Ocean. Some history…..Throughout the early to mid 1900’s flooding was a dangerous and very real problem resulting in many deaths, so in the 60’s the US Army Corps of Engineers concreted much of the river in order to prevent disastrous flooding events.  In the last 15-20 years there has been a groundswell of groups and people interested in reversing the trend of concrete and ... 05/04/2007

Windsor Square is one of the oldest, historic neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  Located adjacent to Hancock Park, this beautiful area boasts homes with expansive lawns that reflect the charm and style of a wonderful early 1900’s era.  Preservation is a key element of this well conserved community and in 2004 was designated with a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone(HPOZ).  Something to keep in mind is that some of these properties may qualify for tax incentives through the Mills Act or other tax incentive programs (please consult your financial advisor). If you are looking to purchase a home in this wonderful area you will find an active homeowners association, the Windsor Square Association, http://www.windsorsquare.org/, which is voluntary, but extremely involved in addressing any qual... 05/04/2007

Wether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous bloggers,Or to take arms against a sea of SEOs,And by opposing end them?  To die: to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural shocksThat real estate is heir to, 'tis a consummationDevoutly to be wish'd.  To die: to sleep;To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;For in that sleep of death what deals may comeWhen we have shuffled off this electronic coil,Must give us pause: there's the respectThat makes calamity of so long career.For who would bear the whips and scorns of blogging,The seller's wrong, the buyer's contumely,The pangs of cancelled contract, the law's delay,The insolence of office and the spurnsThat patient merit of the unworthy takes,When he himself ... 04/14/2007

I just met with my clients showing properties in Monterey Hills.  Where?  You ask.  Monterey Hills... No, it's not next to the beach.  It's not Northern California.  It's a community of condos and townhomes built in the early 80s by J.D. Carley & Associates.  It's set up on a hill with most condos and townhomes offering expansive views of South Pasadena, Alhambra, and downtown LA.It has always amazed me that a community that has been around for over 25 years is so little know.  People that have lived most of their lives in South Pasadena, Alhambra, San Marino have no idea that it exists.It's off of the 100 Freeway (South Pasadena Freeway) - one of the oldest, if not the oldest, freeways in California.  If you were to take Via Marisol exit and turn right, heading straight past a light an... 03/13/2007

This year's L.A. Marathon began with a brand new course beginning at Universal Studios Hollywood.   Over 26,000 participants endured the warm sunny day.  It was thought the new course, (touting the downhill grade at times) would bring about new record times. Not  so!  It was actually one of the slower paces in recent history.  The men's winner was almost 9 minutes behind the course record. The women's top athlete finished almost 12 minutes over the prior record. Something somewhat unheard of at the professional level.  As usual, it was a fun event with street performers and great spectator participation encouraging you along. As a participant myself, I've always loved the fun of this event. Some years I've done the bike tour, some years the marathon.  Two years ago I did both the same d... 03/06/2007

If you own, or plan to buy rental property, particularly with the intention of converting to condominums, in Los Angeles, you will want to watch City Hall very carefully this month:Los Angeles Times reports that two Los Angeles City Council committees Tuesday approved an increase in the relocation fees for tenants who lose their apartments to condominium conversions.The current fees are $3,450 for most tenants and $8,550 for so-called qualified tenants, those older than 62 or disabled, or families with minor children.The new proposed fees would be:• For tenants who have lived in their apartments less than five years: $6,810 ($14,850 if they are qualified tenants).• For tenants who have lived in their apartments more than five years: $9,040 ($17,080 if qualified).• For tenants whose inco... 03/01/2007

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES     FORECLOSURE PROPERTIES    I.D. # BED BATH Property Type * Investor Price Area / Zip Code SA-879-21 3 2.5 Condo $6995 Citrus Heights, 95621 SA-315-23 4 2 Single Family $10,495 Sacramento, 95823 SA-508-28 3 2 Single Family $11,345 Sacramento, 95828 SA-710-23 5 3 Single Family $12,165 Sacramento, 95823 SA-111-23 3 2.5 Single Family $10,995 Sacramento, 95823 SA-075-23 2 2 Single Family $8,575 Sacramento, 95823 SA-640-28 3 2 Halfplex $7,900 Sacramento, 95828 SA-283-23 2 2 Single Family $8,100 Sacramento, 95823 SA-989-23 2 1.5 Single Family $7,400 Sacramento, 95823 SA-961-28 2 2 Single Family $7,200 Sacramento, 95828 SA-011-23 3 2 Single Family $8,200 Sacramento, 95823     800-951-PIKE ext. 576 *INVESTOR PRICE - Note the price is required to purchase the above for... 01/04/2007

                                                                                                               INVESTOR PROGRAMS                                                                                                       Pike Development, a Pike Corporation, has incredible investing programs offered to our clients seeking guidance in real estate investing. Whether you are new to real estate investing or a seasoned investor or investment company looking to expand your portfolio, we have a program for you. Projects for our investors range from single family residential homes to commercial properties and small residential subdivisions throughout the country. Please see INVESTOR SERVICES for additonal investor services we offer. Currently we offer (3) different investment options ... 01/04/2007

IS YOUR HOME IN FORECLOSURE? You Are Not Alone. We Can Help.    Every day thousands of homes in California alone are recorded with "Notice Of Default" and begin the process of Foreclosure. There are many reasons for people falling into foreclosure. Loss of employment, medical expenses, and divorce are just to name a few. This process can be very humiliating and exhausting. BEWARE    You will immediately begin receiving phone calls and letters from real estate agents, loan companies, and investors all promising to help save you from losing your home! Many times these programs either end up paying you less then your property's real value, claiming "sell fast before you are out of time" or offer you programs that are simply going to delay you in losing your property. Complete our Foreclos... 01/01/2007

I am not a realtor. I was wondering how many realtors come across Lease Options in their transactions. The lease option allows a buyer to buy a home without having to get a mortgage. How does this benefit the buyer and seller? Here in California i have only seen this once. Let me know your thoughts on this fellow AR members!!!!!!!! 09/06/2006