My First P.D.James novel: Innocent Blood  I have been collecting quietly PD James novels for a long time, but time and other books took priority. So finally I read my first PD James novel.  I decided Innocent Blood would be my first read. PD James is an amazing writer. This is not just a Murder Mystery that I was accustomed to reading.  What I found fascinating and in a strange way it was interesting, that I learned to like characters that I should have despised rather than like.    This is a story of revenge, atonement, forgiveness and at the same time a physiological thriller.  This book addresses the issues of adoption, families by blood lines and a lot more. This book is not for the faint at heart. Now I understand why PD James has such a large following, she writers much deeper th... 03/10/2012

  Planned Power Outage in parts of Marina Del Rey, CA Planned power outages give the opportunity to complete ongoing maintenance and upgrade the grid with newer materials and technologies. It is part of Southern California Edison’s long-term plan to help revitalize Southern California’s power grid. This is all good for the long term benefit of better service for the increasing demand that the growing Marina Del Rey population needs. What does that mean in the short term for us consumers of electricity in the Marina? For me specifically since I work out of the House mostly, either a relaxing day or I better go to the nearest Coldwell Banker Office or nearest Starbucks for Internet Service. I opted to relax today and went for a walk to see what Southern California Edison is doing in my co... 02/28/2012

Bringing back the Fourth of July Fireworks in Marina Del Rey, CA. As most of you know, last year we did not have Fireworks in Marina Del Rey. The culprit was the County’s Budget Crisis. There is a solution, just like the New Years Fireworks were sponsored by local business people, the Fireworks Show could be done for the Fourth of July as well. The cost of the show is about $115,000.00 and the Community & Marketing Services Division of Beaches and Harbors is handling this great cause of bringing back the Fireworks for the Fourth of July. There are sponsorships available, starting at $100 with acknowledgement on the department’s website and on social media platforms to radio spots and online interactive advertising to a high of $25,000 Finale Presenting Sponsor and everything in between,... 02/27/2012

Marina Del Rey Condominium Market Report for January 2012 The Marina Del Rey Condominium Market report is a bit late this month. Nevertheless the information is important and close to two months ahead of the Main Stream media’s reporting of the information. While the short term economic picture may be mired with uncertainty many indicators point to the financial strength of most companies, hence that will translate to consumer confidence and ultimately will reduce the high unemployment figures. That of course will help the Real Estate Activities. That in turn will help the economy. So with that said let me recap December 2011’s numbers as well as January 2012’s so we can properly see the trends:   December 2011: There were 73 Active Condominiums on the market for sale; there were 5 acce... 02/14/2012

Find your ultimate California Living when you purchase a condo in Marina Del Rey.   Head west on the Marina Expressway just a couple miles from the 405 and you are transported to an aquatic world of marine life, beach living and waterfront escapes. Amid resort high rises and fantastic yachts the condominiums and lofts in Marina Del Rey tell a hidden story of exquisite relaxation and warm ocean breezes.   Think you can’t afford a Marina Del Rey condo? You might be pleasantly surprised. Condos here start at just $300,000. Of course the price range varies dramatically all the way up to well over $3 million, but the span of prices, styles and comfort levels is just as expansive.   Marina Del Rey encompasses only one and a half square miles of space wherein .6 miles of that is water. It feat... 02/07/2012

Of all the wonderful places to consider living in the Los Angeles area, the Marina Del Rey area is unmatched in style, charm and unique appearances. Marina Del Rey is less than 2 square miles and much of that is water, but this man-made harbor provides hundreds of boat docks, luxury resorts and condos, from the affordable to the luxurious. Knowing where to live in Marina Del Rey takes the knowledge and know how of a broker that specializes in this area. Marina Del Rey is home to a little over 8,000 full time residents, many of whom choose beautiful condos and high-rise apartments with breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean. How affordable is living in Marina Del Rey? Probably more affordable than you might think. Yes there are the over the top luxury apartments in the $1-3 million dol... 02/03/2012

Marina Del Rey,CA Views of the Channel by Endre Barath,Jr. As you know I live in Marina Del Rey,CA, but I seldom come out of my home office since I am always on the phone or on the Net. This afternoon I decided to step out of my office and take a stroll and enjoy the '70+ degree weather. So as I was strolling I had to take a picture with my New  Blackberry Bold and share with you.  if you like this view, I can find you a home nearby  so you can see this same view!   If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at             310.486.1002     ... 01/26/2012

Just a short 30 minutes from Downtown LA, Marina Del Rey is one of the premier coastal communities in Los Angeles. This highly sought after place to live is well known for having one of the largest man made boat harbors in the country. Shore fishing, sailing, shopping, and fresh ocean air offers residents the lifestyle they have been waiting for.    Just because its a condo doesn't make it immune to foreclosure and short sales just like a single family house. But the benefit of buying a foreclosed condo in Marina Del Rey is the fact that you probably won't have any exterior damage or repairs to deal with. While this is a nice "check off" that list, you may still have internal issues to deal with. Is it worth it and does it have the same return on investment? Buying a condo in Marina Del... 01/23/2012

It's that time of year again... the beginning. We get to look at the year past and see what's happening now in the world of Marina Del Rey condos.... By way of comparison here's a whole bunch of charts. Let's talk about them.   Days on market.  A good indicator of the speed of the Marina Del Rey condo market.  And the speed looks good.  A little upswing in the process and months of inventory.  We're up 15% from last year which would be bad regarding days on market... but the months supply of inventory is down to 6-ish... so buyers have less to choose from... power to the sellers, yippee.  The trend line looks to be moving back toward the high side at three months average selling time... so not at the full speed of six years ago, but none the less, a healthier market than say.... Vegas..... 01/18/2012

Marina Del Rey, CA Condominium Market Report for the month of December 2011 As we closed this challenging year in Real Estate and in the overall Economy, I am truly glad we can start a New Year. So let’s review, we had the fear of a double dip recession, European crisis in Italy, Greece, Portugal to name a few. Then we had the Japanese Tsunami and the various other catastrophes around the world. All this has impacted the housing market. Let’s keep in mind that the debt crisis at home and in Europe will continue to linger on in 2012. Ironically this volatile economic environment will push investors into the Real Estate Market. I anticipate this migration to the “safety” of “Real Estate Investments” in the coming year of 2012. The good news Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac will continue to guara... 01/07/2012

There will be a Fireworks Extravaganz in Marina Del Rey, CA this year.The New Year's Eve Fireworks Spectacular in Marina Del Rey, CA will begin at the 30 Second countdown to midnight to bring in the New Year. I am so excited, since sadly we did not have fireworks at the Fourth of July, this year. Not only will we have Fireworks but more importantly it will be will be presented by the Zambelli Fireworks International. They are the world famous Fireworks producers.  http://www.zambellifireworks.com) If you remember the 200th year birthday celebration of our nation on the Fourth of July in 1986, the most spectacular fireworks display which was ever held in American history, the one that went on for 30 plus minutes and President Reagan addressed the nation from the USS John F Kennedy in New... 12/28/2011

Marina Del Rey Condominium Market Report for the month of November 2011 Here we are, the last month of the year is just buzzing by. So let’s look how the November real estate activity fared comparatively.  The month has been quite mixed with good news and bad news. Every time I looked on the internet I either saw that there was bad economic news in Italy, Spain, Ireland and Portugal or there was good news that Germany will help out the European Financial Crisis. This roller coaster good news, bad news in my opinion is manipulating the World Economy… Sadly not in a good way… this is creating insecurities all over the Globe. The Stock Market responds to the headlines instead to the “researched facts”. This volatility is affecting the housing market as well. I have noticed that only the sa... 12/05/2011

Buying a home shouldn’t be a Big Risk if you have the Right Realtor! (Speechless Sundays in Marina Del Rey CA) Contact me if you need a knowledgeable, seasoned Realtor who is looking out for your interest first.        If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations. 12/04/2011

Thanksgiving Dining at Shanghai Red’s in Marina Del Rey, CA Again if you do not want to shop, prepare and cook for a week before Thanksgiving Day. Then a great alternative is the Thanksgiving Day Feast with complimentary champagne at Shanghai Red’s. Thursday November 24th from 10:00am to 8pm you can enjoy roast turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, stuffing and pumpkin pie. Their version of the traditional holiday buffet features a carving station with roast prime rib, leg of lamb and roasted ham. Then there is the sushi station and not to forget the variety of hot entrees including chicken, baked salmon, pork loin, lasagna, Korean short ribs, seafood past and much more. Naturally they also have crab legs, mussels on ice, poached salmon. I cannot even list nor remember all they have to... 11/19/2011

Thanksgiving Dining in Marina Del Rey, CA There are many great places to eat and feast very inexpensively without having to go shopping, and prepping and cooking all week before Thanksgiving. If I may recommend one way to celebrate Thanksgiving, is by going to a holiday buffet. I will highlight a few for you to choose from in upcoming blog posts. The first one is The Warehouse Restaurant. I chose this as my first to mention, since the restaurant was one of the first businesses in the Marina, they opened in 1969. Most of the buildings materials you see are exactly as they were way back. There are old wine and whiskey barrels, shipping crates, fishing nets and weathered lumber to mention a few. There are old photos on the walls to enjoy, besides just good eating. Check out the link to the... 11/19/2011

Do you know the difference between Non-Recurring and Recurring Closing Costs? There are some buyers and sellers have no idea what Closing Costs are hence I figured I would share here. Non-Recurring Closing Costs are:                                             Recurring Closing Costs are: Lender Origination Fees                                                                    Prepaid Interest               Appraisal                                                                                                  Prorated/Prepaid Property Taxes Credit Report                                                                                         Fire/Hazard Insurance Tax Service                                                                                              Up-Front Mortgage... 11/16/2011

The Marina Del Rey Condominium Market Report for the Month of October 2011 The Global Economic volatility continues and Europe’s problems are visiting every part of the world. The roller coaster ride of will China bail out Europe or not and will Greece take the offer of saving their as well as the rest of the Global economies or will they turn it down? It was a busy month for all. Hence if you are an investor would you want to invest in Europe and specifically Greece? The answer is clear to me, if you are an investor you need to do your homework, since there is a very fertile ground right now for the Bernie Madoff’s style Ponzi schemes. Once you do your Homework, the answer will be clear and you will discover that this is a good time to buy Real Estate in the greater Los Angeles area. I... 11/06/2011

Bouillabaisse-Marseille-France-Legendary Fish-Stew-Soup When you think of Marseille what comes to your mind? Mischief, Sailors, Debauchery, Vice, Vulgarity and of course Bouillabaisse, Marseilles is one, if not the oldest city in France. The history of this seaport city goes back to the days of Julius Caesar and Pompey. Marseilles has weathered time and has become outside of Paris a   Cultural Center. This is not the Marseilles of “French Connection” fame. Enough digressing let me give you what you really want:  The World Famous Bouillabaisse ala Endre Barath Marina Del Rey Style. Since I do not want to insult, the great Seaport and their Residents that I was not “true” to their time tested recipe hence, I had to add this disclaimer's First let’s address the main ingredient: Fish Stock.... 10/23/2011

Where is Jill? Jill is missing in Marina Del Rey,CA As some of you know we have three cats, Dougy, Jack & Jill. Well I see Jack but where did Jill disappear to? Please help us find her. We have been looking all over for her.   If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 email me at homes@endrebarath.com  or visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations. 10/23/2011

Boston MA is the Third Greenest city in the United States As some of you know I was in Boston, MA not too long ago. A place I called home for over ten years. Every time I go back visiting I have great memories that return as we see friends and family. I also note the changes that take place. It has been over five years since  the last time I went back, so with a keen eye for changes we went down to the Waterfront. Since I live in Marina Del Rey I wanted to see with a new set of eyes the changes. My first impression was how much Cleaner and Greener Boston were since the last time I was there. Then I noticed small changes that were huge to me. The third harbor tunnel project was completed and there were fewer cars driving above ground. Then I notice a lot more green grass, trees and clear... 10/22/2011