New Listing in our Neigborhood!

Chateau De Chene ~ 4 bedrooms + 2.5 baths approx 2,000 sf. Luxurious!
$1,369,000.

Relationships Matter!

THINKING ON GLOBAL SCALE, CONNECT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. LET ME CONSULT YOU FOR ALL YOUR OF REAL ESTATE MATTERS.

ANGEL WHITE

Mc Gyver House up for Sale ~ Green Living Touches!

Carla Ridge up in the Trousdale Estates is full of mid-century houses that have rarely or ever changed hands. This four bedroom, six bathroom example from 1961 has belonged to television director John Rich (The Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family) for "over 44 years," according to the listing, but it hasn't been preserved in amber. Rather, it's been "completely renovated" and now has an 84 panel photovoltaic array, a computerized electrical system, bamboo floors, a bio-ethanol fireplace, and all kinds of other green touches, plus an elevator, pool, media/game room with full bar, and "the most high-tech in-home electronic system," according to its brochure. By the way, we should also mention that Rich was the executive producer (with Henry Winkler) on MacGyver. Asking price is $10.7 million.
· 1575 CARLA Rdg [Redfin]

The Cost of Home Ownership May Rise

Conforming loan limits are set to drop from $729,750 to $625,500, resulting in higher interest rates and down payments. A recent article on Market Watch warns: “The fact that the limits are changing is going to raise the cost of homeownership for homes priced in that range between the old and the new limit, and while the change officially takes effect October 1st, it may be reflected in loan quotes as early as the end of July."


Although a bill was introduced to Congress on Monday to extend the current loan limits, until a vote is set, we still believe that right now is the perfect time for those clients who are on-the-fence to take action on a new mortgage, as their rates may be affected even before the deadline. Because rates are still historically low, now is also a great time for clients to refinance their existing loan. Our knowledge, experience, and direct-lending capabilities ensure a seamless process and closings within 30 days or less, allowing your clients to take advantage of the current savings.

The Beverly Hills Pennisula is providing Picnic Baskets for Hollywood Bowl and More!

Balmy summer evenings call for concerts under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, a beloved Los Angeles tradition.

Concertgoers can add a touch of elegance to their evening with a gourmet picnic basket prepared by The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

The Peninsula picnic baskets also can be ordered for concerts at the Greek Theater, family picnics in the park, or excursions to the beach.

Executive Chef James Overbaugh has created a menu that offers diners an opportunity to customize a three-course picnic with a choice of appetizers, main and dessert courses.

Prices range from $39 to $49 per three-course dinner.

Have fun at the concert!! Pass this on to your friends!

Happy Friday!!!

Some slight good news for the weekend. With that said, I hope everyone has a joyful weekend in the city and those who are in the job market look forward to an upturn in employment opportunities.

California's jobs market takes unexpected upturn
By Alana Semuels | 7:54 a.m.
Employers added 28,800 jobs to payrolls in June, a surprisingly positive number amid a weak labor market nationally.

QR Codes and Smart Phones

RISMEDIA, May 17, 2011—Mobile technology is changing the way the world operates, largely by providing smartphone users the opportunity to visit a website directly from their fingertips. It is no secret that while consumers are getting much more demanding of the offerings websites provide on their mobile devices, REALTORS® have been responsive, and answered the need. The services that are currently available to real estate firms for their marketing can include text message lead generation, QR codes, apps and most importantly mobile websites for listings on consumer’s mobile devices. Being easily accessible from an iPhone, Blackberry, Andriod or other smartphone is key in this fast paced industry.

For that reason, forward-thinking brokerages, like the John Aaroe Group have placed mobile technology in the forefront of their marketing techniques. This has proved to not only enhance the experience of the buyer and seller but also allows the agent the benefits of being the most relevant and technologically advanced in their market place.

This has also resulted in agent productivity and loyalty from the forward-thinking brokers prospective. “We are a strong locally owned company vs. the major national companies—our agents are able to leverage this mobile technology, property text numbers and QR codes ahead of the market. It definitely has helped set us apart in the markets that we serve in Los Angeles and the Beverly Hills Community.

New Terrace Bar Overlooking Rodeo...More to come!

Regional Vice President of the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel, tweeted that management planned to open a second floor terrace bar (overlooking Rodeo) above The Blvd, the property's shmancy ground floor restaurant/lounge. Word on the street is that the bar may or may not be affiliated with The Blvd and could open as early as August 2, but details are still scarce. More to come.

As August 2nd is MY Birthday, it would be great to have our neighbors meet and greet there if the rumors are true!! Please join my Blog Spot to keep current on Beverly Hills Real Estate and Venue's and Events!

Fabulous Pied a Tier in BH for Sold for $399K ~ 580 sf

9601 Charleville, designed by architect to the stars Peter Choate and designer Waldo Fernandez. (Last month we checked out an airy building of his in Santa Monica.) The multifamily building was constructed in 1954, and according to a recent listing of one of its units, "recently extensively modeled." Last week, Unit 4, a 580-square-foot "Manhattan style" studio hit Craigslist at $2,295 a month. It's got one parking space and access to an "incredible roof top terrace." Check out more generic 9601 Charleville pictures at the building's website, plus some more at the sale-pending listing for Unit 6, a roughly same-size studio that just sold for $399K. -Andy J. Wang.

Wow!

Beverly Hills Making Room for Bikes!! Park your Mercedes!

It's not all snooty-snoots resisting change in Beverly Hills; city officials are learning to embrace cycling, according to the Beverly Hills Patch. The 90210 has seen many biking-related developments lately, from the city-sponsored Gran Fondo cycling tournament last month to a new biking committee tasked with shifting more trips from four wheels to two. The committee, under the aegis of the Traffic and Parking Commission, held its first community meeting last month (support was voiced for additional bike racks and "sharrow" markings on streets) and is working on updating the city's 34 year old biking plan. Beverly Hills's Deputy Director of Transportation Aaron Kunz has been attending meetings with other officials around the county so the bike plans for BH are integrated with nearby cities like LA and West Hollywood. Kunz is also working with both the Beverly Hills Unified School District--to get more bike infrastructure at city schools--and the city library, which has already agreed to add 12 bike racks serving two bikes each, likely before the fall. Pictured: Kyle Richards of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills training on television with Olympic medalist Mari Holden
· Shifting Gears to Make BH More Bike-Friendly

Congress pushed to extend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loan Limits..

(Reuters) - Congress should permanently extend increased loan limits on mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that are set to expire, the top Democrat of the House Financial Services Committee said on Monday.

"To have no recognition in federal policy of variations in housing prices makes no sense," Democratic Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts said at the National Press Club. "The same level can't be right for the whole country."

He said the housing market remains fragile, and it would be "an especially bad time economically" for Congress to sidestep taking action on an extension of the October 1 deadline, when the maximum level for loans guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie drops to $625,500.

Congress raised the ceiling on the size of the loans in 2008 to help ease the credit crisis.

The higher limits, which vary by region, currently peak at $729,750 for single family homes in the most expensive parts of the country, except for Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher limits.

(Reporting by Margaret Chadbourn, editing by Dan Grebler)

short sale, TALLL ORDER!

This challenging transaction can be a major component of economic recovery...if we can just make it work!

VICTORY FOR HOMEOWERS!

CA Senate Bill 458 was signed into law on July 15, 2011 and is effective immediately for all short sale transactions that close after 7/15/2011. The law provides that Junior Lien Holders no longer have any deficiency rights agains the borrower of a short sale! Yay! If you have questions or require further information about this Bill 458 and it applies to you or someone you know, please dont hesistate to contact me!