In case you missed 60 Minutes last night Bernard Bernanke's interview was on point--he's neither a politician nor a Wall Street suit, he grew up on Main Street in small town America.  His view is not one of doomsday (although he admitted we came close) nor is he a Pollyanna with a Marie Antoinette attitude of let them eat cake.  He is so determined to find solutions to the financial crisis we are in the midst of, he often sleeps on the sofa in his office.  He certainly inspired me to do my part to help restore confidence in the economy of the USA.  So here goes. If you think the housing market is dead in my little corner of the world, here is a peek at my calendar for today: Submit offer on foreclosure--I'm hoping the third attempt will be our lucky one.  The first two houses sold with ... 03/16/2009

If Warren Buffet is correct in his proclamation of the "...the economy has fallen off a cliff..." I think the one thing the jobless and foreclosed upon members of humanity need is compassion.  They need others to feel their pain, and realize misfortune and hard times do not always happen to the other guy. Yesterday, as I showed foreclosures and short sales, I could not help but notice the sadness in the owner's eyes as they opened the door to allow strangers in a home they do not want to leave.  Signs of departure were easy to detect--boxes filled with a few favorite toys and trash bags filled with clothes.  A dream gone wrong and packed away. The homes already vacant had telltale signs of a displaced family.  Toys left behind, a cat's sorrowful meow as it pleaded to come inside.  Weeds... 03/14/2009

I admit Palos Verdes is a quiet, isolated and very private community, and I, along with many others, like it like that!  More than once I've heard the lament of, "There's nothing to do in Palos Verdes," and that is absolutely not true.  Hey, this is LA! We really have it all.  There's the Pacific Ocean with its beaches, surfing and boating opportunities.  There are many wonderful fishing spots plus deep sea charters are available.  The Palos Verdes hills are laced with hiking and horseback riding trails.  There are parks and places to go whale watching. Cyclists love the winding roads and challenging hills of a ride around the area. But if you really want to get out of town for the day here are few of my favorite ways to spend a day, then return to Palos Verdes for the night. 1.  Catali... 03/11/2009

Last night I sat up, turned the volume up and listened as one of the talking heads on the news said he expects the recession to end in four to five months.  Even though I was running a fever, my brain quickly calculated his time-frame coincides with the conclusion of the spring housing shopping spree.     I am not sure what his indicators are, but mine are pointing to a busy March.  Yes, the bargain shoppers are out in force, and why not?  It has been a long time since real estate was "on sale" at today's prices.     The last short sale offer I wrote fell into a pile of three.  The one before that lies lifeless at the bottom of a stack of four offers.  I have an offer at the bank on a foreclosure; yep, multiple offers on that one too.  The property I have a physical inspection on today ... 03/11/2009

I stayed at home today (I have a fever and chills) but I did not stay away from my computer and my blogging!  Thankfully, email allows us to work without exposing co-workers to contagious illnesses and I even fit a short nap into my day.  My Type A personality enjoys being productive even when I'm sick. I had time to check the local statistics to see if my market indicators are pointing me in the right direction.  I've noticed a bit more activity in March.  More phone calls, more prospective buyers at open houses and yes, more offers going out and coming in.  Agents see the increase in activity long before the media picks up on it.  We are the First Responders in the real estate world. Here are the statistics for single family homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula as of today:       284 S... 03/10/2009

  Today is MARCH 10th. There are currently 273 homes for sale on the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula. The average asking price is $2,369,373. The lowest priced home is listed for $849,000.   (273) List Price ADOM Selling Price BR BA Year Built SqFt Lot SqFt Min 849,000   - 2 0.00 1930 1,200   Max 18,900,000 690 - 9 12.00 2009 18,227 400,752 Avg 2,369,373 103 - 4 3.88 1973 3,595 23,718 Sum 646,838,818   -       For more details contact Rachel.   rachelmtyndall@gmail.com www.thepvrealtor.com www.rtyndall.com   03/10/2009

http://intranet.remaxpv.com/intranet/charts/Marketing_Data/2009/JAN/2009%20Jan%20MD%20PV.pdf   03/10/2009

03/10/2009

There were 32 homes on the Palos Verdes real estate Broker's Tour.  I was able to see ten of the homes in the allotted 2 hour time period.  We currently have 287 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $827,900 in Rancho Palos Veres to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $585,000).  there are 45 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $229,500 and $829,000.  My favorites were:  Click here to read more......      03/10/2009

  It is Cherry Blossom Time again at South Coast Botanic Garden on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  This is the closest location for us to see the beauty and color of these trees.  And when the petals fall in the breeze, it is like a silent rain.  I often forget what a special place the Garden is.  One can roam around for hours enjoying beauty and nature.  It is a gift to our soul. Click here to read more...... 03/09/2009

I stumbled across this quote during my Monday morning motivational readings.  I believe this is exactly the way life is suppose to work, and perhaps is the purpose of life itself---helping others. "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar, American author, salesperson, and motivational speaker The opportunity to help others presents itself on a daily basis in real estate.  For instance, today I will help two young couples begin their journey of building wealth through real estate investing.  One offer was accepted over the weekend and the other is at the bank awaiting a decision.  Today I will helpa couple prepare their Palos Verdes home for sale and smooth the disruption of moving as best I can.  Moving from one r... 03/09/2009

When my children were babies I delighted in watching them master new tasks.  Whether it was rolling over from back to tummy or reaching out to grasp a new toy, one of my favorite things to say to them was, "Stretch and grow."  Those words are very apropos for today's real estate market and the economic times.     There is a revolution happening in real estate.  The way we market is changing. As much as I love Sunday morning and a big fat newspaper, print medias are struggling to survive.  Real estate advertising, one of their largest sources of revenue, is shrinking at an alarming rate.  Now, it is all online.  The homes we are selling must be there too.     As the first quarter of 2009 comes to a close I'm somewhat pleased with the stretching and growing I've accomplished during the pa... 03/08/2009

    Trump is not rags to riches but the American Dream and Hero all the same. How dare I compare? It's a free country. They both lost it all, found it, lost the girl, found her. So many things to say. First of all they were both true to their dream. In the same earth where so many sell out only for the money, they didn't. Trump is legit, he does it with Real Estate, Books, Speeches, TV, just call it seeing what is working and making it fit. That is leadership, showmanship all together. He says buy up properties now. Those who can are. Those who can refi will.    I believe in Spirit. Spirit of Christmas, Spirit of hope and goodwill. The ability of people to overcome against great odds. Our country, our earth is turning over and over. The inventors are working to create a new vision of tr... 03/07/2009

Today's online headlines scream Unemployment Hits 8.1%, and US Prepares for Big Bank Failures.  Last week I sent a market update to my past clients showing a 2-year supply of luxury homes are currently for sale on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, an upscale area in Southern California.  So my question is, are the luxury buyers hunkering down for hard times too? Real estate agents view a cross-section of life in their community on a daily basis.  We see the one-bedroom condo and we see the 7-bedroom mansion with pool, view and guesthouse.  We also see the tell-tale signs of financial woe.  It runs the gamut, and is not restricted to the people who live paycheck to paycheck. The way we live is shifting.  This new tilt throws us off balance for the short term, but in the long run it may be more... 03/07/2009

Don't forget that Daylight Savings time begins Sunday. Make sure you set your clocks ahead Saturday night when you go to bed. This is only the third year that daylight saving time has begun the second Sunday in March. For years, the first Sunday in April was the day the clocks and other time pieces were set forward. Daylight saving time continues until 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. All States observe daylight savings time except for Hawaii and Arizona. The moving forward of the daylight saving time start date was part of the federal Energy Policy Act adopted in 2005. The US Naval Observatory website has the following history of daylight savings time: "Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until th... 03/06/2009

  Can you qualify for the home buyer tax credit?  Maybe.  Here is what we know.  With the recently passed legislation, "first time" buyers who purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 may qualify for a $8000 tax credit.  What surprised me was reading that a first time home buyer is someone who has never owned a home before or hasn't owned one during the three years preceding the 2009 closing date. Click here to read more...... 03/06/2009

Details are starting to be released regarding Obama's new $75 billion "Making Home Affordable" loan refinancing and loan modification program announced yesterday. The following are some of the Guidelines released and other emerging details: Loan Refinancing Program Guidelines : 1). Borrowers must be current on their payments for the loan 2) Loans that are between 80% and up to 105% of the property's market value are eligible 3) Loans must be held by a federal agency such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Unfortunately, many home loans were syndicated into mortgage backed securities and sold to investors, so these loans would not be eligible for the Federal Program 4) Loans must be under $729,750 and originated before January 1, 2009 and the program ends June 2010 5) The loans must be for ow... 03/05/2009

"Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours." Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States, 1911-2004   I walked out on the news last night, and yesterday's Wall Street Journal hit the circular file half-unread.  Yes, I will still tune in on the national and global picture, but my focus is going local.   My little niche of the world may not be turning at the same speed as in markets past, but it is not stagnant.  Have I had to adjust my plan you ask?  You bet.  Have I changed my business model?  Of course.  Have I embraced new (read that as free) ways of doing the same old thing?  Oh yeah!   What are the results of the these changes--still too early to give stats, but I will share that I am writing offers for buyers and listing homes for sellers.... 03/04/2009

I have a Mont Blanc fountain pen and every once in awhile I have the urge to use it.  I know, I know--totally old school, but there is something about a handwritten note that conveys so much more than a quick email.  There are occasions when taking the extra time to express your thoughts with penmanship and postage simple says I care enough to take the time to write this not only to you but for you.   I like to send a handwritten note of thanks after I give a listing presentation.  Whether I receive the listing or not, I was invited into their private sanctuary and given the opportunity to discuss selling their home.  A personal follow up is in order. Last week I received news of the death of a client's father.  A handwritten note to my client and one to his mother were soon in the mail... 03/03/2009

  The Montemalaga neighborhood is located in Palos Verdes Estates.  The best thing about this neighborhood is the fabulous ocean and Queen's Necklace views (photo above) that many homes enjoy as this area is the highest elevation (up to 1380 feet) in Palos Verdes Estates.  The Montemalaga neighborhood is roughly 1 square mile in area and has no ocean borders.  It is located on the hill above Lunada Bay, Malaga Cove and Bluff Cove and is bordered by Rancho Palos Verdes to the east. Click here to read more..... 03/02/2009