The Mystery of the Vanishing (Good) Restaurants

I’m not 100% behind the plastic bag ban (see why in this Wired.com article), but I do have to admit not having to choose between “paper or plastic” has freed up enough brain cells so I can tackle the important question of “Where should I eat?”

This is a question (more of a conundrum) that I deal with a few times a week as I try to schedule meals with friends, clients and colleagues. On the days I work out of my Brentwood office, dinner I prefer to stay west of the 405 (this is a function of traffic and not an indictment of areas further east), but this has become a harder and harder task as many of my usual haunts have gone out of business.

Bragging Rights Of The Fraudulent Kind

Enjoying my morning coffee and   LA Times, NY Style.

I never thought the Treasury Department’s thresholds for reporting the people behind cash purchases of residential real estate would make me face my bi-Coastal allegiances.

Having grown up in New York, and having lived in Los Angeles for more than half of my life, I’m conflicted. I read the New York Times (electronic edition) every day. I also read the Los Angeles Times (print edition), which, jonesing for a NY experience, I fold in the manner I learned in fourth grade so as to more easily read it on the subway. [That this was taught to me in school as part of the curriculum says volumes about the veneration of The Times. But I digress…]

I identify as a New Yorker, especially when it comes to claiming unparalleled authority on topics such as bagels and pizza. Even more so, I wear the mantle of having grown up in Manhattan with unwarranted snobbery over those from Long Island or New Jersey ― unwarranted as I was simply lucky to have parents cool enough to live in the city, and did not attain that rank of my own merits.

Beverly Hills Courts Self-Driving Cars (Which Will Ruin Everything)

A recent article in the Hollywood Reporter reported that Beverly Hills is courting the manufacturers of self-driving autonomous vehicles as a way to reduce traffic congestion and to be a beacon of modernity to the nation… And I just don’t trust it. I don’t trust it at all.

Here’s the thing: People in LA are called “Angelenos,” those residing in Santa Monica are “Santa Monicans,” but people living in Beverly Hills are… “people living in Beverly Hills” which makes me wary of this whole “self-driving car” thing.

Cheviot Hills 1st Quarter Prices Kick Serious A$$!

Yes, that’s an unprofessional headline, but I’m quite enthusiastic about the direction of Cheviot prices (and other stats) for the first quarter of 2013 (that’s January through March for those of you who prefer to measure markets using pennies, nickels or dimes).

The big news is that the Sold Price Per Square Foot is up close to 23% over the average for 2012, going from $531.79 up to $652.63!  Really.  Check it out:

Now, I don’t like to pop balloons, so let me let the air out of this slowly — there have only been 10 sales so far this year in Cheviot Hills, with 5 of the ten sales above $1,600,000 (and three of those were above $2 million).  Here’s the list:

Because so few homes were sold, the $Sold/SF numbers are easily skewed, but the news is still really good, because it shows that we are still in a seller’s market.  There are currently only 5 homes for sale in Cheviot, from $1,250,000 up to $3,795,000.  Of the 5 homes, four of them are priced above $1,750,000. (We’ll be doing a video review of the homes at the end of the week.)

Here’s what I’m thinking that you should be thinking: If you are thinking of selling your home, we have a great selling climate — low interest rates are mixing with low inventory, and very high buyer demand.  Homes are selling in multiple offers, and even off market sales are selling at very high prices.

Yes, it is possible that the market can keep going up, but if the number of homes for sales increases, the market momentum could stall.  Plus, with so few homes on the market, it’s easy to make your home stand out (especially if it’s priced below $1,750,000).

Okay, you know the drill.  If you are thinking of selling, give Chad and me a call.  We’ll give you a free evaluation of your home (and a free notepad… maybe even two notepads).

Look back at the end of the week to see our video update on the market.

The Cheviot Hills Report for August 23, 2012

Is it possible for a real estate agent to discuss the current inventory, and why it’s the perfect time to list a home for under $1,500,000 while grilling tofu?  I answer the question to these burning questions in this video!