What type of personality do you have? A friend sent me an interesting little quiz which determines "what type of sports car you are" based on your personality. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this test, but it's fun neverthless. Apparently, according to the test, I'm a Ferrari: "You've got it all.  Power, passion, precision, and style.  You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental.  Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it". Enjoy! "Which Sports Car Are You?" 07/13/2008

JUNE 2008 CONDOS: Median Price: $585,000  Average Selling Price: $657,400 Average List Price: $687,343 Therefore, Average Sales Price was  95.6% of List Price Lowest Price Condo Sold: $375,000 Highest Price Condo Sold: $1,150,000 Number of Listings Sold: 30 MEDIAN SALES PRICES: May 2008 - $519,000 April 2008 - $516,500 March 2008 - $615,000 February 2008 - $618,250 January 2008 - $620,000 For further information, please contact:  Stewart Penn - Realtor/Broker - " West Hollywood Condo Specialist" 07/11/2008

Markets are driven by two human emotions: Greed and Fear. In the height of the Stock Market technology boom everyone who had access to a Brokerage Account was buying stock in companies they knew nothing about. Without worries, the stock prices increased and they made money without thinking ... until the tech bubble burst and hundreds of millions of dollars were wiped out.  Similarly, in the boom days of our Real Estate Market, many people bought property expecting big capital gains each year. Greed made buyers committ to loans without considering the affordability. The notion was one could refinance at any time.  Equity mutual fund flows Year Event Fund Flows 2000 Market High UP $309 Billion 2002 Market Low DOWN $28 Billion 2006 Last Strong Market UP $159 Billion 2008 May YTD Down Marke... 07/11/2008

West Hollywood , California is getting a new building to complete the triad of Pacific Design Center buildings.  The first buildings were designed by Pelli and Gruen Associates while Charles S. Cohen will be developing the new building, called the Red Building . If you need office space, then you will find plenty of it in the Red Building .  The building will have over 400,000 square feet of space.  This office space is world class and even the smallest details show.  The Red Building will also feature a seven level parking deck with parking for 1,500 vehicles, a fitness center, the Silver Screen Theater, the Museum of Contemporary Art, multi-use facility with 200 seats for meetings or conferences, and 2 restaurants that will be operated by Wolfgang Puck, the world renowned chef. The ne... 07/07/2008

  Best wishes to my fellow ActiveRainers  for a happy, healthy and relaxing 4th of July. I'm off to Jamaica (Montego Bay area) for some much needed rest and relaxation. It's been a difficult 6 months so far this year. With that in mind I plan to relax, eat some great food and drink wonderful cocktails, enjoy the sun, the beach, take in some water skiing and jet skiing, and return to work rested and energized for the second half of 2008. A big thank you to all those who have added to my experience on ActiveRain this far .... and I look forward to learning and sharing with many new friends. I'll return to Blogging around mid July. Take Care - Stewart 06/28/2008

I absolutely love pizza - so I decided I needed to find the "Ultimate Pizza in Los Angeles". After eating at many, many pizzerias from Hollywood to Santa Monica, I am happy to report that I have finally found the most delicious, most flavorful, best crust, tastiest ingredients, and overall satisfying pizza available in Los Angeles: Mozza Pizzeria - 641 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 (at the corner of Melrose) - Phone: (323) 297-0101 Celebrity chef Mario Batali, business partner Joe Bastianich, and Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery have created the very finest Pizza in Los Angeles. But this is no ordinary pizza - rather an unusual culinary delight. Their deserts are unique and also unbelievably delicious. Reservations are highly recommended to avoid a long wait - but I suggest sit... 06/27/2008

In 1997 there was a brilliant movie called "Wag the Dog". It was billed as "a comedy about truth, justice and other special effects". The storyline was how a Washington spin-doctor could distract the American people from the issues at hand, and divert their attention to a "controlled subject". "The film explores serious themes such as the manipulation of the mass media and public opinion with a comedic sensibility". It appears that in 2008 Politics the tail is wagging the dog. In the first few months of this year most Americans were focusing on Iraq and the Economy. As politicians (and I include members of both parties) realized they had no control over either subject matter (both issues having spun out of control) - suddenly the main focus of attention is oil, gas prices and renewable ... 06/24/2008

The annual Playboy Jazz Festival (the 30th this year) at the Hollywood Bowl is a hugely popular event. With a terrific venue like the Hollywood Bowl in the entertainment capital of the world, how can you go wrong? The festival features two days of both well-known and lesser knownbut up-and-coming jazz performers and the first day always seems sold out (and in my opinion has the better list). The line-up is usually pretty good, with some performers that stand-out and others that are, perhaps, a bit more lackluster. But folks are there to enjoy the outdoor party scene with about 18,000 in attendance in the Bowl tucked high in the Hollywood Hills, so if the current performers don't interest you, you can enjoy the people watching while you dine and drink - there's lots of socializing, danci... 06/16/2008

As a property owner and resident of West Hollywood, I am proud of the significant and important role the City has, and continues to take in the advancement and protection of equal rights for all Americans. Effective June 17, 2008 the City of West Hollywood will begin to issue marriage licenses and perform civil ceremonies for same-sex couples. Licenses will be issued at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium - 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069. The hours of service will be Monday-Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Currently the City is not taking reservations, but will be issuing licenses on a first come, first served basis. On Saturday, June 21st, civil ceremonies will be conducted in West Hollywood Park from 8 AM to 8 PM. Whether or not people believe in Gay Marriage is not... 06/16/2008

In life, there are three kinds of people: Those that make things happen; Those that watch things happen; And those who wondered what happened. Independent Brokers make things happen! In the current market environment it's not always easy to stay motivated, focused and enthusiastic. We are continually bombarded by negative reports and fearful thinking. As Independent Business-people we need to focus on a positive goal and put out brain to work to devise a plan for success. We need to stop dwelling on the bad news, stop worrying bout the future, and rather do something about it.  This is the biggest step towards becoming motivated to take action and become busy again. 06/08/2008

I have been responding to a Blog -  The New Real Estate Agent by Ralph Odierna - and decided I'd like to moderate this subject at further length, hence this Blog. I've operated as a Realtor out of some of the biggest National Real Estate offices in Los Angeles. After carefully considering the benefits of remaining with a corporate-branded brokerage, I concluded it would be in my best interests to obtain my Brokers License and operate independently.  I fully appreciate that being an independent is not for everyone (we all have different needs and methodologies and I respect that), but I can't help questioning the real and practical benefits to the Realtor, and ultimately the clients, of working with a large brokerage. While I totally agree that agents need to interact with each other in ... 06/04/2008

LA Pride 2008 - West Hollywood, CAWest Hollywood is proud of its dynamic gay and lesbian population and it shows at the annual Christopher Street West LGBT Pride Parade and Festival. The two-day festival celebrates diversity and culture with booths, food, exhibits, and performances. The parade on Sunday draws over 300,000 to The Boulevard. Visit www.lapride.org for more information. The 38th annual parade and festival, which happens along Santa Monica Boulevard and throughout West Hollywood Park, celebrates the culmination of its three-year theme, "Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE." LA Pride's 2008 message is about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you. During Pride weekend, locals and visitors can expect to enjoy a parade, vendor booths, fo... 06/01/2008

With Oil prices reaching all-time record highs and gas prices rising on a daily basis, it's worth taking a look at whether anything happened over the last decade that may have averted our current dilemma. Two significant factors come to mind: (1) The continued transfer of oil to the Strategic Oil Reserves despite rising prices; and (2) The concerted effort to stop the benefits of technological developments.  (1) In 2002 Senator Carl Levin directed the staff of the subcommittee on Investigations to consider whether the Department of Energy's program to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was increasing the price of crude oil. In 2003 Senator Levin issued a Report concluding that the program to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve had in fact increased oil prices, but did not increase ov... 05/30/2008

Winston Churchill was one of the greatest orators of all time. With just a few carefully chosen words he made profound statements. So the words one uses obviously matter. I remember a Rabbi who once said: "Keep your words soft and sweet, because one day you may have to eat them". How profound was that? I believe that each day we can all learn something new. We grow from what we learn, and we teach by what we say and what we do. We develop social skills from an early age, and this enables us to interact and communicate with others. The process of learning these skills is what is known as "socialization". An integral part of socialization involves "tolerance" - this being the term used to describe attitudes and practices that prohibit discrimination against those practices or group member... 05/25/2008

This is a great quote which I read in a blog on ActivRain today. I know that many plumbers and electricians use this line - but it's true. The same way my neighbor locked herself out her house at about 9pm the other night and I assisted her in calling an after-hours locksmith. The locksmith arrived and in less than 60 seconds, he picked the lock and opened her front door. He asked for $150.00. My neighbor was shocked and started complaining that his fee was too high. I suggested she pay the fee and thank the locksmith for his good work. After the locksmith left I explained to my neighbor that if she were to have brokern a window to gain access to her house or brocken down the door, it would have cost her far more than the $150.00 she paid the locksmith. She then realized what I was sayi... 05/20/2008

West Hollywood (also known as Weho) is an incorporated City in Los Angeles County, California (1984). The City is bordered on the north by the Hollywood Hills, on the east by the Hollywood District of Los Angeles, on the west by the city of Beverly Hills, and on the south by Melrose & the Beverly Center area. West Hollywood is recognized as a leading community in gay and lesbian rights. The heart of the gay and lesbian community is Santa Monica Boulevard, a pedestrian-friendly street filled with many outdoor cafes, bars & clubs, bookstores & boutiques. West Hollywood has an abundance of upscale condo communities and is home to many celebrities. West Hollywood's southern border is Melrose Avenue, which is emerging as the trendy new shopping area in Los Angeles (between San Vicente and Cr... 05/20/2008

West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval, The Largest Adult Outdoor Halloween Event In The World The entire week will be filled with special events, costume contests, and, of course, the world-famous costume party on Santa Monica Boulevard Halloween night, October 31st, 2008. On Halloween night every year, West Hollywood stages perhaps the most extravagant Halloween party anywhere. Santa Monica Boulevard, one of the busies streets in Los Angeles, is converted into a pedestrian only zone between Doheny and La Cienega Boulevards. This one mile stretch of road gets packed by over three hundred thousand partiers each year. Further details will be posted as they become available. 05/19/2008

LA Pride 2008 West Hollywood, CAWest Hollywood is proud of its dynamic gay and lesbian population and it shows at the annual Christopher Street West LGBT Pride Parade and Festival. The two-day festival celebrates diversity and culture with booths, food, exhibits, and performances. The parade on Sunday draws over 300,000 to The Boulevard. Visit www.lapride.org for more information. The 38th annual parade and festival, which happens along Santa Monica Boulevard and throughout West Hollywood Park, celebrates the culmination of its three-year theme, "Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE." LA Pride's 2008 message is about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you. During Pride weekend, locals and visitors can expect to enjoy a parade, vendor booths, food... 05/19/2008

Do you know that when a spouse in a straight marraiage dies, and the property (owned by the two spouses) is valued for Estate Duty purposes, there is what is called a "stepped up basis" which is not applicable in Gay Marriages or Civil Unions. Practically, what this means is that if a property is valued at (for example purposes) at $100,000, and the surviving spouse sells the property the day after the one souse dies, Capital Gains Tax is payable on the difference between the Selling Price and the "stepped up basis". In my example above, if the stepped-up basis goes from $100,000 to $300,000, and the property is sold for $300,000, then no Capital Gains Tax is payable. In a Gay Marraiage or Civil Union (which is not recognized on a Federal level), in the example above, the surviving spou... 05/18/2008

APRIL 2008 CONDOS: Median Price: $516,500 Average Selling Price: $683,566 Average List Price: $709,492 Therefore, Average Sales Price was 96.3% of Average List Price.  Lowest Price Condo Sold: $300,000 Highest Price Condo Sold: $1,795,000 Number of Listings Sold: 26 MEDIAN SALES PRICES: April 2008 - $516,500 March 2008 - $615,000 February 2008 - $618,250 January 2008 - $620,000 For further information, please contact:  Stewart Penn - Realtor/Broker - " West Hollywood Condo Specialist" 05/11/2008