It is with great respect and admiration that I congratulate Sandra Bullock. I'm not referring to her win at the Golden Globes held on Sunday 1/17/2010 in Los Angeles, but rather to her kindness, compassion and humility. After the horrific events of 9/11, Sandra Bullock donated $1 Million to the Red Cross; After the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina in 2005 , Bullock donated another $1 Million to the Red Cross;  This past week Bullock donated $1 Million to Haitian earthquake relief. When asked at The Golden Globes Awards in Beverly Hills why she made these extremely generous donations, she had a simple answer: "It's because I can." 01/17/2010

This morning I was pleasantly surprised at the picture I saw on TV. It was President Obama with Bill Clinton and George Bush, announcing the "Clinton Bush Haiti Fund" CNN reported today that "President Barack Obama announced that former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have agreed to lead an effort to raise money for Haiti". 01/16/2010

Since my discovery of the Edward Fickett architectural condominium arrangement perched above the Sunset Strip, I have been absolutely obsessed with this building. As I had detailed  in a recent post in December and not to sound like a broken record, there is just something very special about this building. From the mid century architecture to the amazing views and location, there is nothing that encapsulates the LA dream like this property. This is the largest unit in the building at 2990 sq ft. Unless marble is your thing, the unit is obviously going to need an overhaul to get it where you want it to be. I am picturing this with slick hardwood floors, an updated kitchen, redone baths and you will have a showplace. A home like this is truly for the rich kid who wants the benefits of own... 01/15/2010

Lemonade - 9001 Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood, 90048 Lemonade is a great new eatery in West Hollywood serving delicious fresh salads and select hot meals in a relaxed cafe-like environment. Diners choose from a tempting selection of over 20 salads made from local, seasonal ingredients.  Their salads include Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan Cheese in a Balsamic dressing; Spaghetti Squash with Farro in a Pomegranate Vinaigrette; Snap Peas and Edamame in a Sesame Vinaigreete; and Beluga Lentils with Eggplant and Red Peppers in a Sherry Vinaigrette. These salads are delicious and tasty and reasonably priced at $4.00 for 1 item, $7.50 for 2 items, and $10.50 for 3 items. I recommend 2 items per person and then selecting 4 half-portions allowing one to sample a variety of what's available. T... 01/14/2010

What looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, tastes like a cigarette, but isn't one? It's called an E Cigarette. Electronic Cigarettes (known as E Cigarettes), are non-flammable, non-tobacco smoking devices that provide the real-life experience of smoking without all the harmful side-effects. "E Cigarettes incorporates micro-electronic technology which provides smokers a real "smoking" experience without the fire, flame, tobacco, tar, carbon monoxide, ash, stub or smell found in real cigarettes." E Cigarettes are eco-friendly and cheaper than real cigarettes. They include a "nicotine cartridge", an atomizer that emits a harmless smoke-like vapor, and a smart chip with a lithium battery. The tip even glows red when the smoker puffs on the device. I empathize with and understand t... 01/08/2010

In November last year I blogged about a letter I received from Blue Shield in which they notified customers of their new policy regarding a change to the reinstatement portion of their healthcare policies. "Effective January 1, 2010, Blue Shield will no longer reinstate policies that are canceled for nonpayment of premiums. This means that if your premiums are not paid in full and received by the due date, your policy will be canceled and you will need to re-apply for coverage." This week I received another letter from my friendly Health Care Provider. The letter stated: "Blue Shield is dedicated to making it easy for you to get and maintain access to quality healthcare coverage. On November 25, 2009 we sent you a letter about a change to the reinstatement portion of your healthcare pol... 01/08/2010

Stewart Penn | Penn Properties | 310.844.6515 118 S Clark #PH3, West Hollywood, CA Unique Penthouse in in Prime West Hollywood / Beverly Hills area 3BR/2.5BA Condo offered at $1,199,000 Year Built 2004 Sq Footage 1,800 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $335 per month DESCRIPTION "SOLD" - Sophisticated, sunfilled 3-Bed 2.5-Bath Condo within walking distance to Robertson Blvd. Front corner unit has only one common wall, bamboo floors and Venetian walls. Huge master-suite features double walk-in closet, fireplace and sliders to balcony. Stunning kitchen with Viking appliances. Three balconies and rare rooftop sun-deck with views to Beverly Hills. Listed by Mathew Bahri (310) 447-7777 of Nelson Shelton & Associates and Sold ... 01/05/2010

What can cause a drain to be clogged in your home or commercial building? A clogged drain in your bathroom, whether it is a clogged shower head, bathroom sink drain, or toilet, can ruin your day. Many times these stubborn clogs are caused by hair buildup in the drains. Sometimes you can get enough hair out of the clogged drain yourself, but to do a thorough job and to prevent further problems, it is best to call your plumber. Here at Schuelke Plumbing, we will send our repairmen out quickly. They will make a full assessment of your situation, clear out any obstructions from your sink, toilet, or shower, and get your water flowing again quickly. Trying to do this yourself with wire coat hangars and plungers will take your time, may cause further damage, and you will still continue to hav... 12/28/2009

As I have referenced in a previous post, I have really been digging the new Melrose Place. Is it trashy - yes! Are the bisexual undertones a cheap ploy for ratings - yes! Has Heather Locklear had so much botox that she talks like I was talking after I had a deep cleaning at the dentist with mouth completely shot up with novocaine the other day - hell yes (agents and clients who spoke with me that day know what I am talking about)! What does this have to do with today's hot prop - not much other than if you truly want to live the real life Melrose Place experience, this building is it. Like I always say, I have literally seen every single condo in the West Hollywood/Sunset Strip area and trust me, there are many exqusite units that I would happily live in if I could! The condo I am featu... 12/17/2009

Goodbye 2009 - It's that time of the year when I prepare for my year end vacation and also spend time relecting over the past year - and what a time it's been! We witnessed the unintended consequences of the governments intervention in the mortgage crisis which lead to credit card companies hiking rates charged to their customers. The price of oil fell below $34 a barrel (and later soared to over $70 a barrel). We saw the outrageous behavior and continued greed of Goldman Sachs; we saw disgusting conduct in the political arena and the debate on Health Insurance Reform raged on. Gold reached an all time record of over $1200 an ounce, the Dow Jones Industrial Index slumped and then recovered over 50%, and major banks reduced their lending to businesses by $100 Billion. It was extremely tr... 12/17/2009

W Hollywood Residences - Located in the heart of Hollywood at Hollywood Blvd & Vine Street is the new W Hotel and Residences. The $600 Million development consists of two 15-story towers with 300 hotel rooms and 143 condo residences. There is also a 60,000 sq ft retail component. The W Hollywood Residences are priced from $800,000 - $6.5 Million. Designed with high performance glass, water-saving plumbing & irrigation and high-efficiency appliances, the W Hollywood is planned to be a LEED-Certified property. Wherever possible, recycled low toxicity materials have been used in the construction of the building. A great feature in the garages is the installation of electric ports to recharge hybrids and electric cars. There are several options of floor-plans available with spacious Studios... 12/11/2009

I have a client who has a very keen eye for real estate and impeccable taste when it comes to what she likes. Initially we were on the hunt for condos, but in an attempt to avoid writing a paper for her finals, she stumbled upon this house in the MLS. Back in the day, my way of avoiding writing papers was a rousing game of beer pong with my roomies. By the time you were finished playing a few rounds of that, you totally forgot that there was even a paper to write to begin with...but I digress. When I saw this house online I fell in lust, but when I saw it in person I fell instantly in love. Located between Sunset and Santa Monica in the prime north West Hollywood area, this gem has it all. The curb appeal is charming with tall privacy hedges, video controlled access, and an electronic s... 12/09/2009

Sierra Towers - 9255 Doheny Road, West Hollywood Considered by many to be West Hollywood's most prestigious address, Sierra Towers is a 32-story high-rise with 146 individually owned condos, situated the Western end of the famous Sunset Strip, right on the Beverly Hills border. Originally built as apartments in 1965, Sierra Towers ranks as the tallest condo tower in the greater Los Angeles area, not because of the number of stories but rather because of it's unique positioning at the base of a hill which makes it the highest building based on altitude relative to sea level. There is a variety of floor plans offering one, two and three-bedroom condos with active listings priced from around $1.4 Million - $4.9 Million with HOA Dues ranging between $1600-$2300 per month. Units vary in siz... 12/07/2009

West Hollywood Condos - Market Report for November 2009 (October/September/August) Average Selling Price: $652,000 ($514,000 / $523,000 / $509,560) Average List Price: $685,000 ($591,000/ $539,300 / $538,774) Median Price: $485,000 ($462,500 / $494,500 / $450,000) Total Sold in Dollars: $15,008,000 ($14,386,000 / $12,551,000 / $15,796,000) Number of Units Sold:  23 (28/24/31) Lowest Price Condo Sold: $243,000 ($235,000 / $230,000 / $299,000) Highest Price Condo Sold: $1,775,000 ($1,200,000 / $835,000 / $880,000) Average Days on the Market: 98 (68/107/93) (Statistics obtained from The CLAW MLS and rounded off for ease of comparison. Statistics are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed) 12/05/2009

There were 8 sales in the  West Hollywood Single Family Market  in November, up slightly from 5 sales last month at an average of $635/sq.ft, up from the YTD average at $605/sq. ft. and down 17% from the market peak of 2007. There were 3 expired and 4 withdrawn listings in the area during this period. With 60 active  listings, and an average of 5 sales per month YTD , current SFR inventory is at 12 months supply, down from 15 months  in October. REO, or bank-owned property in West Hollywood  is currently at 59 units, or an additional 11.8 months supply.  As I have noted in previous market reports, a pipeline of 1-2 months supply of unlisted REO property is considered normal. In the West Hollywood Condo Market, there were 31 sales in November, at an average of $475/sq. ft.- up from the Y... 12/01/2009

When should a Listing Agent tell a prospective Buyer the details of offers he's holding? Never, according to the National Association of Realtors' Code of Ethics. The Code makes several refereances to preserving confidential information in the course of agency relationships. The Code goes further to state that Realtors shall only disclose the existence of other offers with the Seller's approval. Yet according to an article titled "7 Tips For Buying Foreclosures" on CNNMoney.com, Glenn Kelman - CEO of discount broker Redfin, suggests a prospective buyer ask the Listing Agent what offers he's holding. "Talk to the agent selling the property," said Kelman. "The agent may tip his hand. Call up and ask, "Should I make an offer? What should I come in at?" The agent may tell you he has offers ... 12/01/2009

This week I received a politely worded letter from Blue Shield of California that was a rude awakening to the fact that this health insurance company is beginning its strategy to tighten the screws on its members. The letter began by thanking me for choosing Blue Shield and went on to state their appreciation of my trust in them and to ensure me of their commitment to provide me with easy access to quality medical coverage. Then, in the second paragraph of their polite letter, they dropped their devious bomb. "Effective January 1, 2010, Blue Shield will no longer reinstate policies that are canceled for nonpayment of premiums. This means that if your premiums are not paid in full and received by the due date, your policy will be canceled and you will need to re-apply for coverage." Thei... 11/29/2009

      In Southern California Buyers have a Final Walk-Through and Verification of Property Condition in the few days before escrow closes. During this time the Buyer can satisfy himself that the property is in substantially the same condition as when he agreed to make the purchase. It's also is an opportunity for the Buyer to confirm that any repairs the Seller committed to make have been completed. However, unless specifically agreed otherwise in the Purchase Agreement, this Final Walk-through is not a contingency of the sale. So what is the Buyer actually determines that the property is not in substantially the same condition as when he made the Offer? Or what if the Seller hasn't completed the repairs to the Buyer's satisfaction? In these circumstances the Buyer cannot unilaterally ... 11/29/2009

I was interested to read about CreditKarma.com, an online company that supplies registered users with their credit report and credit scores for free. Unlike other companies that supply credit reports that advertise free reports but actually end up charging for their services, CreditKarma.com is truly free for consumers. The company (founded in 2007) is funded by its advertising revenue and in turn is able to offer users free credit reports and scores. This is a win for consumers who up until now had to pay about $15.95 (or more) to receive their credit report and score directly from the credit reporting agencies; Experian, Equifax and Transunion. My biggest concern is that a user needs to provide his or her Social Security Number (which makes sense) ..... but I'm not convinced about th... 11/21/2009

There are so many stunning homes in The Bird Streets that I know that all of my rich kids would love that I could blog exclusively about this neighborhood all day long and never get tired of it! Since I haven't showcased a home in this area for a while, I thought I would offer you a refresher course on The Bird Streets. This uber chic neighborhood off of Doheny, north of Sunset is some of the most sought after and prized real estate in all of Los Angeles. Named after, you guessed it...birds... these streets feature some of the best views and high profile residents in the city. You will pay a premium to fly with this flock, but for the rich kid with no limits there are few better placed to call home. Today's Hot Prop is a stunning redone mid century set on a lot with extensive landscapin... 11/16/2009