Pence Hathorn Silver's latest listing is creating quite a buzz. The brand new construction is not only beautiful, but it is a Green Home that is LEED registered. What is LEED for homes? LEED for homes is a green home rating system for ensuring that homes are designed and built to be energy and resource efficient and healthy for occupants. Green homes use less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier for the people living inside. This is the first eco-friendly spec house being built in the north of montana neighborhood of santa monica and it proves being green can be luxurious. The PHS team is very excited to partner up with the developer on such an important endeavor and they are using this as an opportunity to teach neighbors simple ways they can make their homes more green.
Below are a few tips:
Per the U.S. Green Building Council and LEED® for Homes, here are 16 ways to Green Your Home:
Lower Your Utility Bills
1. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
2. Program Your Thermostat
3. Plug Air Leaks
4. Tune Up Your Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System
5. Choose ENERGY STAR® Appliances
6. Reduce Water Use
7. Switch to Green Power
Choose Green Products
8. Buy Local
9. Use Low-VOC Products
10. Use Wood Alternatives or FSC-certifi d Wood
11. Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials
Green Your Yard
12. Plant Trees to Provide Shade and Wind Protection
for Your House
13. Use Native Plantings
14. Use Nontoxic Gardening Techniques
Green Your Transportation
15. Carpool, Use Public Transportation, Walk or Bike
When Possible
16. Buy a High-effi ciency Car.
For more information about LEED for Homes, visit the USGBC Web site at www.usgbc.org./leed/homes.
To make an appointment to see the LEED Registered Green House or to get more info, call Shann Silver @ (310) 458-4024.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Location Does Matter
Generally real estate values fluctuate as a whole by city, state or region. That has changed here on the Westside! Values are varying from neighborhood to neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Proximity to the ocean, large-scale new construction projects and major traffic congestion are common varaiables for this change in value. The values on the Westside have been up over the last two years, while values in many of the neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley have been down. Mid city in LA is up in value. The values in the eastern end of LA County and the desert communities are down. In the South bay some neighborhoods are up while others neighborhoods are down. This depends primarily on their proximity to the ocean.
Sellers in neighborhoods that are in close proximity to new housing developments are slugging it out with developers to entice buyers. Developers are very aggressive with incentive for new buyers, that the average homeowner can't afford to offer. This is especially true if these sellers purchased in the last few years.
Buyers are also making decisions based on proximity to work and play. They want to avoid their cars more now than ever. Going from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills at the wrong time of day can take 60-90 minutes.
Santa Monica has been one of the hottest markets in the country over the last fifteen years. Recently, 90402 was rated one of the top zip codes in America. The reason? It is an end destination with little cross traffic. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north by the Santa Monica mountains. There is no land to develop on a large scale - if you want to build a new house on the estside you will have to tear one down. Additionally, the air quality is better than most other cities in LA county.
The major distinction that impacts most of the above determinants is the concentration of wealth on the Westside over the last ten to fifteen years. More people can choose to live close to the ocean, in less congested areas where the air quality and climate are better. As an example, we are seeing more people buying the house next door, rather than move so they can have larger yards with a guesthouse and pool. Every time this occurs there is one fewer home in the local housing pool further driving up demand and prices. So there you have it, by owning real estate in the westside market, you have invested in some of the most marketable real estate in the world!
Proximity to the ocean, large-scale new construction projects and major traffic congestion are common varaiables for this change in value. The values on the Westside have been up over the last two years, while values in many of the neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley have been down. Mid city in LA is up in value. The values in the eastern end of LA County and the desert communities are down. In the South bay some neighborhoods are up while others neighborhoods are down. This depends primarily on their proximity to the ocean.
Sellers in neighborhoods that are in close proximity to new housing developments are slugging it out with developers to entice buyers. Developers are very aggressive with incentive for new buyers, that the average homeowner can't afford to offer. This is especially true if these sellers purchased in the last few years.
Buyers are also making decisions based on proximity to work and play. They want to avoid their cars more now than ever. Going from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills at the wrong time of day can take 60-90 minutes.
Santa Monica has been one of the hottest markets in the country over the last fifteen years. Recently, 90402 was rated one of the top zip codes in America. The reason? It is an end destination with little cross traffic. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north by the Santa Monica mountains. There is no land to develop on a large scale - if you want to build a new house on the estside you will have to tear one down. Additionally, the air quality is better than most other cities in LA county.
The major distinction that impacts most of the above determinants is the concentration of wealth on the Westside over the last ten to fifteen years. More people can choose to live close to the ocean, in less congested areas where the air quality and climate are better. As an example, we are seeing more people buying the house next door, rather than move so they can have larger yards with a guesthouse and pool. Every time this occurs there is one fewer home in the local housing pool further driving up demand and prices. So there you have it, by owning real estate in the westside market, you have invested in some of the most marketable real estate in the world!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Spanish Charmer Just Blocks From The Beach!
Address: 232 Mabery Road
Price: $2,495,000
Charming Spanish with 3 bedrooms + 1.75 bathrooms and an office. Prime location a few blocks from Ocean Ave. and the beach in Santa Monica Canyon. Features new paint inside & out, spaciuos livig room with high wood beamed ceilings & fireplace, bright formal dining room and bathroom with handmade tiles, spa tub & steam shower. Boasts hardwood floors, archways & crown moldings. Kitchen with new stainless steel appliances & granite countertops. Professionally landscaped front & backyard with fountain.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Pink is the New Location
For those of you with a sweet tooth, the latest craze on the West Side is the new frozen yogurt sensation, Pinkberry. The concept is simple - frozen yogurt - that tastes like yogurt - with fresh fruit toppings. Just a few months ago, you needed to drive across town, to wait in line at one of the few locations to get your fix. But now, thanks to a rapidly growing franchise, Pinkberry is showing up all over the West Side.
It seems the Pinkberry folks know the most important thing in real estate - location, location, location! The newest stores have opened on some of the best neighborhoods: Abbot Kinney in Venice, Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills.
If you're looking for you next home, it seems you can't go wrong if there is a Pinkberry nearby.
BTW - If you're looking to list or buy a home on the westside, come in for a chat, mention this blog, and your next Pinkberry is on me!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Exquisite Craftsman Close to Beach
$2,395,000
Address: 716 Marco Place, Venice CA
Enjoy the California lifestyle in this exquisite Craftsman on a historic Venice Walk St. Take a short stroll to trendy shops & cafes on Abbot Kinney from this pvt exclusive location. Brand-new built 2006. Design by J. Carmi Simon. Spacious home w/3BD, 3.5BA + FR/ofc opening to pvt patio, rooftop sun deck w/amazing views. Sophisticated master w/FP, walk-in closet & pvt deck. Superb cook's kit w/Viking & Sub-Zero. Lush landscaping w/rose gardens designed by Ivy Reid.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Wiki-westside-ia
Wikipedia is an amazing resource. It's got pages on just about every person, place or thing you could every think of. I've put together some wikipedia links the westside neighborhoods. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with the lay of the land as well as some local history.Wednesday, January 3, 2007
What's going on with the real estate market?
As an article in the Los Angeles Times so aptly put it, “There is no consistency or predictability in the real estate market in Southern California.” The market is “still going up” or “it is finally going down” as prognosticated by market gurus the last five years or “it is running sideways, a flat market.” These are the most frequented opinions by local writers and predictors of future real estate values. So, which is it? I think it is all of these in Southern California…..depending on the neighborhood.
The primary driver of real estate values is perception. When people feel good about the way things are going and the media supports that point of view the discretionary buyer group is more active in the real estate market. When they don’t feel as comfortable because of the barrage of negativity in the media they tend to operate more in the “wait and see” mode.
When that 15-20% of the market is less motivated to buy a home, inventory builds causing an extending of the “time on the market”. This slowdown in-turn takes the urgency out of the marketplace causing more buyers to delay decisions to buy. As this happens, some sellers become unnerved wondering if their house will sell. At this point some sellers will reduce their asking price, others will take their home off the market and the rest will do nothing.
Some areas are experiencing a reduction in values: areas of the San Fernando Valley, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and downtown San Diego, to name a few. Other areas, like the Westside of Los Angeles, prices appear to be holding, but properties are remaining on the market for much longer periods of time.
Why does the Westside appear to be an anomaly? Two things….one there is an inordinate concentration of wealth, way beyond the late eighties and early nineties. Two, the lack of inventory is more pronounced now than at any time in history. There are more people now who want and can afford to live on the Westside. You can’t make dirt! The only new building lots available to the marketplace in the last thirty years are the formerly unbuildable lots up in the hills.
Where are we headed? Again, confusion abounds. The National Association of Builders reported last summer that the current “slump”, which started early in 2005, would bottom out in the summer of 2007 with a rebound in 2008. A few weeks ago the National Association of Lenders predicted that the “downturn” is at the bottom and would rebound in 2008. Real estate reports from Yale, Harvard, UCLA and various other predicting agencies have had conflicting prognoses. I read a prognostication from another agency last week stating the bottom point of this downturn would be the same price point as the peak of the last upturn (1989 prices).
Again, who really knows and as you can see the predictions are all over the board. It is greatly dependent on where you reside. I wish I had a crystal ball so I can see what the future holds, but until then…the consensus seems to be that this potential downturn will be much shorter and much less severe than the last.
The primary driver of real estate values is perception. When people feel good about the way things are going and the media supports that point of view the discretionary buyer group is more active in the real estate market. When they don’t feel as comfortable because of the barrage of negativity in the media they tend to operate more in the “wait and see” mode.
When that 15-20% of the market is less motivated to buy a home, inventory builds causing an extending of the “time on the market”. This slowdown in-turn takes the urgency out of the marketplace causing more buyers to delay decisions to buy. As this happens, some sellers become unnerved wondering if their house will sell. At this point some sellers will reduce their asking price, others will take their home off the market and the rest will do nothing.
Some areas are experiencing a reduction in values: areas of the San Fernando Valley, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and downtown San Diego, to name a few. Other areas, like the Westside of Los Angeles, prices appear to be holding, but properties are remaining on the market for much longer periods of time.
Why does the Westside appear to be an anomaly? Two things….one there is an inordinate concentration of wealth, way beyond the late eighties and early nineties. Two, the lack of inventory is more pronounced now than at any time in history. There are more people now who want and can afford to live on the Westside. You can’t make dirt! The only new building lots available to the marketplace in the last thirty years are the formerly unbuildable lots up in the hills.
Where are we headed? Again, confusion abounds. The National Association of Builders reported last summer that the current “slump”, which started early in 2005, would bottom out in the summer of 2007 with a rebound in 2008. A few weeks ago the National Association of Lenders predicted that the “downturn” is at the bottom and would rebound in 2008. Real estate reports from Yale, Harvard, UCLA and various other predicting agencies have had conflicting prognoses. I read a prognostication from another agency last week stating the bottom point of this downturn would be the same price point as the peak of the last upturn (1989 prices).
Again, who really knows and as you can see the predictions are all over the board. It is greatly dependent on where you reside. I wish I had a crystal ball so I can see what the future holds, but until then…the consensus seems to be that this potential downturn will be much shorter and much less severe than the last.
Monday, January 1, 2007
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