SOLD   HOUSE 326 N DOHENY DR     3 2.00   1,679 5,700 1925   08/01/08 $1,510,000        SOLD    HOUSE 1144 COLDWATER CANYON DR     5 4.50   4,000 21,780 1947   08/06/08 $2,600,000        SOLD    HOUSE 9596 SHIRLEY LN     3 2.50   2,555 12,700 1958   08/08/08 $1,349,000     08/09/2008

Those of us in the condo market have already experienced first hand the recent upswing in the market but it's always nice to have the media cover it as well.  Howard Fine aptly covered this market upturn in his recent Los Angeles Business Journal report entitled Uptick Seen in L.A. Home Sales In the report Fine frequently acknowledges the recent surge in L.A. condo sales. ...L.A.'s housing market, pushed along by lower prices and sharply higher condo sales, is showing some signs of life... ...While sales activity normally picks up going into the summer, June's increases far exceeded the typical seasonal surge, especially in the condo market... ..There were 1,254 condo units sold in June, up 115 percent from May. That was the largest number of condos sold in one month since July 2007... ... 07/30/2008

In these "interesting times" that we are living in, it is important to remember that value is value.  Forbes.com published a report not too long ago about the most lucrative neighborhoods in the United States, neighborhoods that continue to grow in value despite the current turbulent market trends.  It should come as no surprise to anyone that Los Angeles was featured in the report and that the Westside was singled out as one of the most lucrative neighborhoods in the country. Forbes particularly singled out the area just south of and including Wilshire Blvd between Ohio and Westgate Avenues. Forbes cited the homes there as having increased in value 3081% since 1990.  They also claimed, "...new construction and commercial growth have since made this neighborhood one of L.A.'s fastest to... 07/27/2008

Whenever things get complicated or difficult I think it's a wonderful time to reflect on all of the people and things that we love in our lives and to be grateful. After my family and friends  and my animals, the thing that I love most in my life is my lifestyle.  When I think that there are people in Iowa who daydream their way through the month of February picturing a sunset on the beach, I am reminded of just how lucky I am.  I don't take it for granted that I can see the sunset on the beach everyday if I choose to, instead I appreciate that the choices I have made in my life make it daily possibility.      I live in the midst of lush wonderland,  up a long drive with nature  surrounding me. When I walk on to my balcony which is large enough to hold a huge couch and chairs, planters ... 07/27/2008

I had the great fortune to have lunch with an old friend the other day.  During the course of the lunch, I asked her about her Grandmother, a bright feisty woman now in her mid eighties.  I was thrilled to hear that her Grandmother was in grand health and enjoying her retirement.  "Grandma Sandy" as everyone still calls her today was one of the great inspirations of my life time.  Born in the roaring 20's Grandma Sandy spent the majority of her teen years surviving the Great Depression, it was then that she learned the value of a dollar would go up and down but that property would always weather the hard times.  As a young married woman Grandma Sandy had seized opportunity and purchased the house next door when the owner, an air force widow, decided she needed to live closer to family. ... 07/26/2008

I am a great believer in the principles of Feng Shui and the peace and harmony it can bring to your life and your home.  Now that we are in the summer months I thought it was an ideal time to talk about Feng Shui for the balcony. The first order of business is cleanliness.  Feng Shui tells us that clutter, dirt and trash weigh down our energy and prevent chi from flowing into our lives and our homes.  Make sure that who ever cleans your home pays particular attention to your balcony, especially the corners, to make sure that there are no dead leaves or soil collecting there. Feng Shui also teaches us that corners need to be softened. If your balcony sports sharp corners structurally you can balance them by placing tall healthy plants in the corners, or place a round table in the corner ... 07/19/2008

  1 SOLD HOUSE 9892 BEVERLY GROVE DR 4 4.00 0 4,000 13,070 1962 07/11/08 $3,800,000 2 SOLD HOUSE 1824 BENEDICT CANYON DR 3 2.00 0 1,610 9,150 1937 07/09/08 $985,000 3 SOLD HOUSE 2720 BENEDICT CANYON DR 4 3.00 0 0 75,237 1940 07/09/08 $4,500,000 4 SOLD CONDO 340 N OAKHURST DR #106 #106 1 1.00 12 0 0 1930 07/09/08 $549,000 07/12/2008

Hot Weather = More Sales!!! It’s getting hot! Sarah Max, contributing senior writer at Cyberhomes, wrote this article about the relationship between the weather and home sales. If you’d like me to send you a market report specific to your area, email me and you’ll receive it in your inbox…it’s that easy!      ValerieFit@aol.com To read the original article, click here... Hot Weather = More Sales!!! 07/07/2008

I love the principles of Feng Shui and the amount of peace and harmony they can bring to any home.  I am especially fond of quick Feng Shui fixes for the bathroom as they are so sensible and relevant in today's society.  One of the basics in Feng Shui for the bathroom is keeping things clean.  Certainly we are all striving for a clean bathroom, but Feng Shui asks us to pay strict attention to the fixtures, that they are clean and functioning properly.  A leaking faucet is a huge no-no and should be repaired immediately. One overriding theme in Feng Shui is water, in very basic terms to waste or misuse water could become a money drain.  The idea is to minimize the effects of water running down the drains of your tubs, toilets and sinks.  First of all the toilet seat should always be kept... 07/02/2008

When looking to the sky for the next chapter in luxurious Los Angeles living 1200 Club View is without a doubt one of the brightest hot spots on the horizon. Designer Richard Keating has created a masterpiece of spacious metro living that will redefine luxury living.  With 21 floors and only 35 residences, the emphasis is on quality and space.  At this point the Club View is literally under construction as the new owners have taken the original plans prepared by Fifield the previous owner and tweaked them to make them even better. Each floor has approximately 8000 square feet and there will be whole floors available and half floors available. The ultimate in privacy luxury and anonymity the Club View is certainly going to rock the block on the Wilshire Corridor. The location is minutes ... 07/02/2008

Contrary to popular belief this can be a good time to sell your home, provided you are willing to approach the sale with the right attitude. The market has changed significantly, so a seller in today's market needs to be smart about how they prepare their home for the sale process.  A seller needs to have their home shine like a precious gem in a sea of pebbles.  I'm not talking about a massive renovation; today's market won't offer a return on a large expenditure of that nature and time is of the essence.  I'm talking about strategically staging your home to showcase the value that is already there. Something I sometimes suggest is that we first get an interior designer or stager to come in. If the listing is one that I get after another agent had it and it did not sell then I may even... 06/30/2008

Imagine your alarm going  off, you want to go to the gym so....you throw on work out clothes and head to the state-of-the-art gym, which is dowstairs. You have a great work out and then take a refreshing turn in the heated lap pool.  Now you are ready to start your day.   Back in your luxury condo you step shower and change and then call thevalet to bring up your car to go to work,  have a great lunch, a few meetings, more work, a little shopping and then a night out on the town.  How much gas will all of that cost?  Nothing.  If you chose to you are within walking distance of everything that you could possibly need.  World class dining and shopping are within close proximity.   You are only moments away from work and a world of cultural events.  The world is your oyster and you are liv... 06/29/2008

Competition is good.  I love healthy, productive competition. Olympic athletes understand that in time trials it is easier to perform at your peak if you are physically running against a real person instead of just a clock.  Competing helps us to stretch the limits that we tend to put upon ourselves.  If there is goal that you would like to achieve but have been struggling with, ask yourself if there is a way that you could create a healthy competition with friends or colleagues. Personally I love it when a colleague says to me, "My goal is to produce higher numbers than you this month!"  Game on!  Suddenly everyone gets caught up in a spirit of what is possible; the work becomes fun, people think out of the box.  It's important to keep the competition healthy and professional, but ther... 06/27/2008

In the beginning there were caves and huts.  As time went by there were log cabins and eventually brick homes. Housing developed and grew until finally it reached its highest design form - luxury condominiums.  With all the benefits of living in a luxury hotel plus all the comforts and privacy of "home", living vertically in a luxury condominium is one of the ultimate gifts a person can bestow upon themselves. Imagine being free of all gardening and maintenance tasks, while living in a lush beautifully maintained wonderland.  Visualize saying good bye to long commutes of bumper to bumper traffic in order to get to work or cultural events.  Picture yourself being able to take all that free time and to spend it meditating, getting exercise, being with your loved ones or growing your busin... 06/25/2008

As the temperatures heat up and summer looms large in everyone's minds, isn't it great to know that we live in a city that boasts ocean front property and is also only a short drive from mountain wilderness?  It's time to enjoy the cool summer breezes that wend there way off the ocean.  There is so much to take advantage of in our fair city all year round but the summer fare is particularly notable.  Whether you enjoy listening to world class musicians play at the Hollywood Bowl, arguably the most spectacular amphitheatre in the country or you enjoy a fun filled day strolling the marina, there is something for everyone. With gas prices soaring, we Angelinos are blessed with the knowledge that we are already at the hottest destination on the West Coast.  Take some time this summer to enj... 06/23/2008

As luxury condominiums grow in popularity we are seeing a surge in ultra-luxury condominium development.  Designers and developers are vying for your attention offering a wide variety of amenities.  The question is what luxury perk will you choose? On the Wilshire Corridor, where luxury condos are beautifully showcased in a wide variety of packages, there are some amenities that are so prevalent that they are almost taken for granted.  Full security buildings with doormen, 24 hour valet and concierge service are the order of the day on the Wilshire Corridor.  Most of the buildings also offer sparkling swimming pools, luxurious Jacuzzis and spectacular sun decks all in sumptuous sculpted garden settings. A smaller selection of buildings on the Corridor offer heated lap pools, tennis cour... 06/19/2008

I am not a big fan of apathy.  Life is better when enjoyed with passion.  Apathy is for people who don't feel empowered to design their own lives.  That's not for me.  I live in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the world.  I am a short car ride away from snow capped mountains and close enough to the beach that I can feel fresh ocean breezes from my balcony.  My home literally nurtures my life style, providing me with valet parking and concierge services to see to my every need.  I don't need a gym membership as there is a state-of-the-art gym in my building.  I am within walking distance of world class shopping and dinning.  I have a veritable smorgasbord of cultural events to choose from on a daily basis, all of it practic... 06/19/2008

Come and enjoy a full day of fun at Greystone with Pink's Hot Dogs; Greystone Mansion tour; Greystone historic display, historic fire engine display, canine demonstrations (1:00pm and 3:00pm), music, face painting, balloons, marketplace and opportunity drawings. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Greystone, Beverly Hills Fire and Police Associations, Beverly Hills Fire and Police Departments, and the Community Services Department. Advanced Tickets a Must! Adults: $15 each Children (3-11 years): $10 each Children 2 and under Free Mail check only payable to Friends of Greystone to: PO Box 16938 Beverly Hills, CA 90209 Location: Greystone Estate google map Date: 6/21/2008 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Contact: Friends of Greystone @ (310) 286-0119 To preview the finest Real Estate in Beverly Hills... 06/19/2008

The quickest most efficient way to build your business is through referrals.  This is true in any business, but most especially in real estate.  When clients are happy they talk about it and that leads to more business.  It always behooves us to make our clients happy.  So I have compiled a list of practical ways to make our clients happy.  They are basic and easy to do, but don't discount them.  You'd be surprised how many agents are not living by these simple principles: 1. Be polite - always, it will never serve you wrong.2. Treat your clients with respect - never base how you treat your client on how much money you stand to make.  Treat everyone like a billionaire client - I have had clients who purchased a $300,000 condo refer me to someone that bought for $3,000,000.3.  Keep in to... 06/18/2008

Rent Your House to America’s Next Top Model That’s what our client, Las Vegas businessman Nick Santucci, is doing with his Mulholland house. Santucci says of his pad, “There’s a very hip, Viceroy Hotel vibe.” Recently, Angelino Magazine ran an article describing the house by saying, “…the entry features a motorcycle hovering over a pond, while a boat floats in the pool. The interior public space - all gleaming white floors with Atomic space-age furnishings - is designed around a bar and conversation groupings. Plus, there’s a private hot tub room, tanning bed, theater, and outdoor bar.” Not long ago, the house was the location for a Kelly Rowland video shoot. Next up, you’ll see this Mulholland hide-away as the set of next season’s America’s Next Top Model hosted by Tyra Banks. If you a... 06/17/2008