Beverly Hills is still hot.  Are prices coming down? Perhaps.  But as I check the recent solds in the area, I'm surprised at how close the SOLD price is to the asking price.  In some cases, for the more expensive condos, there's a marked difference in Sale Price vs. List Price, but in those same cases, it seems that Days on Market was shorter too.   Much of the west side seems to be holding its own.  Many of my foreign clients are waiting for that perfect deal in Beverly Hills, and they are still waiting.  I believe that time is on their side--that eventually, something will pop up that my buyers think is the answer, but when.... Now may be the perfect time to buy.       For properties on the market for several days or months, you see price improvements.  To me this is a signifcant sign... 03/24/2008

The parkway trees that line the streets of Beverly Hills, as well as the trees in the parks of the City, comprise the City's urban forest. The management of the City of Beverly Hills urban forest is the responsibility of the Parks and Recreation Department-Urban Forestry Division. It is a violation of City of Beverly Hills Municipal Code (Sec. 5-6.1001) for people who are not official representatives or authorized agents of the City of Beverly Hills to prune, remove, make attachment to, or otherwise damage a City street or park tree. From its inception, the management of the City of Beverly Hills urban forest has been a master planned effort. The Green and Cook Community Plan of 1906 is credited with the original planting of trees along the streets of the City. The idea of this plan wa... 03/06/2008

for more information and pictures, click on the property picture or this link: Beverly Hills homeStunning new construction, over 14,000 sq. feet of incredible quality and craftsmanship on a spectacular lushly landscaped 9/10 of a flat acre lot. Completely walled and gated, total privacy, large motor court, 4-car garage, formal gardens, outside BBQ. Grand 2 story entry, huge public rooms, master with his and hers.....absolute perfection!!! To preview the finest Real Estate in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Burbank please visit my website. When you are ready to view homes or have any questions regarding selling your home, please contact me. 12/12/2007

Convenience, elegance and style, that's what living on the Westside of Los Angeles is all about.  Today I want to feature a Westwood property that shines in "The Jewel" of Los Angeles: The Westford.  This sumptuous residence was built in 1980 and adds a dignified silhouette to the famous Wilshire Corridor.  The Westford's famous floor-to-ceiling windows provide a breath taking view of the green hillsides of Bel Air, the sun setting of the Pacific Ocean and the twinkling lights of Wilshire Boulevard. This full service building is chock full of luxurious amenities from its valet parking to their well appointed exercise room, this residence places a premium on comfort, convenience and gracious living.  In a world of "Location, location, location!" the Westford takes top honors.  Within clo... 12/06/2007

     Buying a condominium is slightly different than a detached home purchase.  When you buy a condo you aren't just purchasing a property, you are buying a lifestyle.  In today's market, condominium communities are offering more and more amenities designed to attract home owners.  These amenities range from heated lap pools to temperature controlled wine storage, from 24 hour guarded parking to 24 hour concierge service. So who is right for the condo lifestyle?      An obvious candidate for the condo lifestyle is someone who is single and looking to make their first real estate investment.  A condo offers a lower entry price and freedom from having to deal with maintenance issues. For these reasons, the condo lifestyle is also ideal for small families, just starting out.  One of the be... 11/06/2007

Click on any picture for more information and price Celebrity Owned Italian Villa in the prestigious guard gated community of Mulholland Estates. Soaring 2 story foyer open to generously scaled rms. This luxurious home features French doors, hardwood floors, expansive ceilings & a gourmet kitchen w/every conceivable amenity. All bedrooms en suite, pool, spa, private north/south tennis court, BBQ, numerous gardens & yard. Please visit website for further details about this one of a kind property. Please visit my website to preview the finest real estate in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Pacific Palisades,Santa Monica and Brentwood. When you are ready to view homes or have any questions regarding selling your home, please contact me. 11/02/2007

In the last year over 100 mortgage lenders have gone out of business due to the "mortgage meltdown" as most of you might now it is getting much more difficult to qualify for mortgages in Beverly Hills. The reason it is difficult to qualify for your Beverly Hills mortgage is because guidelines have changed drastically. Even reverse mortgages in Beverly Hills are getting harder to qualify for, leaving many looking for a honest mortgage company in Beverly Hills.Since many mortgage brokers in Beverly Hills are going out of business, and others are not able to get you qualified, you need to call a reputable company to help you with your home mortgage in Beverly Hills. We here at America One Mortgage Group are a national company headquartered out of Southern California. We have offices in man... 10/22/2007

This coming week should be another juicy one as far as the economic calendar is concerned, with several reports and releases that will have the power to move the markets.Of special note, Tuesday brings the release of the "Meeting Minutes" from the last Federal Reserve Board meeting - and unlike the carefully crafted wording of the formal Policy Statement that is released just following the meeting - the Minutes are the "Fed Unplugged", including commentary and conversation during the meeting by all attending Fed Board members. Dallas Fed President Richard "Loose Lips" Fisher is often a loose cannon, sometimes blurting out off the cuff comments on the economy almost uncontrollably...so it will be interesting to see if the meeting contained any wild cards.Remembering that when Bond prices... 10/09/2007

Often times some of my wealthy borrowers call me to see what is happening in climate is in the luxury lending market. The good news is AFFLUENT BORROWERS HAVE AS MANY OPTIONS NOW AS THEY DID LAST YEAR. Many wealthy borrowers who are looking to buy a luxury home are faced with a important decision. To borrow, or not to borrow, that is the question.Lenders are cutting back on high risk loans, but are ready to fund on the super jumbo programs. The reason is simple, high net worth borrowers have a pattern of paying back mortgages. While many first time buyers and subprime borrowers are unable to afford rising costs, affluent borrowers have the funds to make sure that their mortgage is paid. Below are two secenarios, you tell me who you would rather lend to:1. A couple who make $8000 per mon... 10/08/2007

DONALD TRUMP uses a POWERFUL STRATEGY for STAYING IN FRONT OF HIS COMPETITION.   It appears that eliciting a 'favorable opinion about himself' is not as important as seeking someone who HAS An OPINION OF HIM!  Thus, 'WHAT his market believes' is not as important as that 'THEY REMEMBER HIS NAME, which more often than not, EQUATES to an 'AIR of CREDIBILITY'  BECAUSE  MOST  PEOPLE  KNOW  WHO  HE  IS (or at least they feel that they do) wherever they go ......and THAT is BECAUSE 'big D' DOES WHATEVER it TAKES to GRAB 'audience ATTENTION'.   Does he do that pretty well?Working in REAL ESTATE RELOCATION and FINANCING for INDIVIDUALS, INVESTORS and DEVELOPERS, it is even more important today, to GET YOUR HOME or PROJECT SEEN by MORE of the MARKET, regardless of current inventory on the market ... 09/30/2007

Luxury real estate circles are abuzz with the latest report that two top producing Beverly Hills agents have been indicted for their alleged participation in a mortgage fraud scheme. The LA Daily News reports that Joseph Babajian and Kyle Grasso have been suspended by Prudential California Realty, and are under orders not to conduct any real estate business until federal charges against them have been resolved. Both men deny any wrongdoing in the charges leveled against them, which reportedly include multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud and loan fraud. Included in the the indictment are two licensed appraisers. According to RISMedia, the foursome allegedly duped lenders out “of more than $40 million in fraudulent loans for homes in some of Southern California’s most expensive neigh... 08/14/2007

Beverly Hills, California is synonymous with luxury.  For most people that is probably what they think of first when they hear Beverly Hills. And why not?Beverly Hills is home to one of the most exclusive shopping districts around, Rodeo Drive. And it is also known for the celebrities who live there and the lifestyles of the rich and famous so often portrayed by the media. The allure of Beverly Hills is perhaps as much a product of the attention paid to it by the media, films and magazines as it is the lifestyle one can enjoy if you can afford it.From a real estate perspective, Beverly Hills is one of the more expensive zip codes in the US, although it is eclipsed by communities such as Rancho Santa Fenear me in San Diego, and Sagaponack, New York (for 2006 rated the most expensive zip ... 07/16/2007

I have been meaning to get this information into print for a few months now and decluttering my cluttered to do list is my current project I am passionately attacking.Awhile back I wrote about a new show on VH1 called Fabulous Life Presents Really Rich Real Estate. I paid close attention to what the agents said about the homes, what they think are features, and how many were repeated throughout the shows (3). Create or enhance as many of these features as possible...large foyerbeautifully landscapedoutdoor entertaining areas lush lawnsgourmet kitchenmedia roomspa bathtowel warmerswater featuremarblegranitetumbled stonerubbed concrete counters and floorsgallery wallshigh ceilingsskylightsviewslarge closetsneutral color schemeprivacyBelow is the next really interesting show on July 12th. ... 07/10/2007

Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Previews lists $125M property   New US record sale? asks Wall Street Journal          The Beverly Hills office of Coldwell Banker has listed what the Wall Street Journal says could be a property that will set a new US record for a home sale.Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker's Beverly Hills office listed the $125M property on behalf of Suzanne Saperstein, the recently divorced wife of Texan millionaire David I Saperstein. She got the house.Modeled on Versailles and other French palaces, the 45,000 square foot estate, known as Fleur de Lys, ties for second place most expensive listing price with Donald Trump's $125M listing of his Palm Beach mansion. First place belongs to Prince Bandar bin Sultan's ranch in Aspen, CO which is listed for $135M.The US record for a h... 04/14/2007

With a drumroll, let’s reveal and discuss the results of First Republic Bank’s Prestige Index for Los Angeles, California. An earlier article about San Diego’s Prestige Index offered some interesting data. Hopefully the report on the Los Angeles luxury home market won’t disappoint!As might be expected, the pace of luxury home appreciation in Los Angeles has cooled somewhat, but is far from being in the tank. The report reveals that at mid-2006, the average price for a luxury home in Los Angeles stood at  a record $2.29 million—a $253,000 increase from a year earlier. That’s a healthy 12.4 percent increase (What bubble???). The rate of increase in the luxury home market, though, appears to be slowing.Los Angeles homes in marquee locations, says the FRB report, remain in hot demand, but t... 02/05/2007

....Like, IS Kirk Kerkorian heading from the Hills????                                   Speaking of gossip….Legenary Kirk Kerkorian has just cut the $25 million asking price of his 30–acre Beverly Hills mansion to a reasonable $18 million, after it has languished on the market for nearly a year. His lovely gated estate boasts a Mediterranean-styled main home, two guest cottages, two pools, two tennis courts, a putting green and lots of room for expansion.The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Kerkorian, 89, has purchased this estate in three different phases. The first parcel was purchased for $5.7 million in 1989. The other two were added in subsequent transactions. The package is listed by Coldwell Banker in Beverly Hills.All this leads Active Rain's Gossip mongers to wonder if the... 01/30/2007

The Basic Requirements of a Lease include :(1) Length of Time(2) Amount of rental payments(3) Names of Parties(4) Description of the Property  Other useful facts about leases that you may have or not have known : - If more than 1 year, it must be in writing- Signed by lessor (landlord)- Lessee (tenant) does not have to sign lease- Reversionary right belongs to the lessor- Possessory right belongs to the lessee- A rental is presumed to be month to month unless it is specified otherwise- Agricultural lease limited to a maximum of 51 years- Urban lease limited to maximum of 99 years -Mineral , oil , and gas leases are limited to a maximum of 99 years  Eddy MartinezBest Rate Funding - Direct Lender - Wholesale RatesSenior Loan ConsultantDirect Line: 1-888-702-2225 x. 115E- Fax :1-310-943-65... 12/26/2006

Seller Financing Disclosure Statement (continued).......The arranger of credit must deliver a disclosure statement as soon as possible before the execution of any note and security document. The statement must be signed by the arranger of credit, the buyer and seller, who are each to receive a copy,The disclosure statement must include : -comprehensive information about the financing-cautions applicable to certain types of financing-suggestions of procedures which will protect the parties during the terms of the financingThe arranger of credit does NOT have to deliver a disclosure statement to a buyer or seller who is entitled to recieve a disclosure under the regulations of the Federal Truth-In-Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) or a mortgage loan disclosure sta... 12/11/2006

Brian Brady was kind enough to write a blog about my absence due to the birth if my first child and i would like to thank him again. http://activerain.com/blogsview/16884/Eduardo-Rapido-Becomes-a   I would also like to thank Scott Gormley Californias number one Active Rain broker http://activerain.com/lendingmagician  for the kind email he sent me today. His wife is also expecting a bundle of joy next month. This experience was life changing to say the least to have the ability to bring a child into the world helps you appreciate life much more. When my wife was pregnant i honestly couldnt believe that i was going to be a father but when i first laid on baby Eddy in the operating room it hit me. I am truly blessed and thank the guy upstairs for this gift. I will now work ten times harde... 10/27/2006