Pumpkin Soup sort of like Joel Robuchon's but easier to make.The ingredients:   1. half a sweet onion sauteed in olive oil                                  2. two garlic cloves sauteed with the onions                                   3. Chopp the pumpkin into one-inch cubes.                                   4. good quality vegetable or chicken stock                                    5. cup of water                                     6. cup of heavy cream                                      7. handful or more of Argentinian shrimp or other type\                                       8. cheese tortellini.How simple is this. Sautee the onions and garlic, then add the cut up pumpkins toss and add the stock. Boil until the pumpkins are cooked.Use a handheld blender puree the pumpkin and... 11/23/2024

Breaking News: Top 100 agents for Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties have been announced by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.I am so grateful, that I am still in the top one hundred after the first nine months of production for the year. I am equally appreciative and grateful to my clients that got me to this point.This year was very challenging, and I am still in the top 100 to be exact #50! Thank you again and I look forward to helping you in future sales and purchases. Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Re... 11/19/2024

Appreciating all the Veterans not just on Veterans Day, but everyday should be the goal of every American. The best way to do this, is by not to confusing it with Memorial Day.Since, Veterans Day is dedicated to all American veteran not just to those who served in wars. I find it annoying when people confuse the two dates.Just to clarify Veterans Day will happen on Monday, November 11th. How fascinating that in 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month an armistice was declared between the Allies and Germany basically ending World War I.In 1938 November 11th became a federal holiday. After World War II and the Korean War Armistice Day became better known as Veterans Day.Often, I get asked what is the best way to thank a Veteran? Well, my take is to:       Fly the American... 11/10/2024

Often I get asked: How is the Beverly Hills 90210 Real Estate Market? The answer is very interesting:   This week the median list price for Beverly Hills, CA 90210 is $9,195,000 with the market action index hovering around 25. This is less than last month's market action index of 27. Inventory has decreased to 197 (according to Altos Research)The Market Action Index has been trending lower for the past few weeks while prices have remained relatively stable. If inventory continues to grow relative to current demand, I will anticipate seeing a downward pressure on pricing.Needless to say, depending how interest rates will be in the next few weeks that can have an impact on the activity as well.Equally interesting are the Market Segments. Hence my advice is if you are considering selling, ... 11/06/2024

I voted, did you? If not tell us why not... One of the most important civic duty each American Citizen has is to VOTE! Not only is it our duty but it is our privilege.“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”— Susan B. Anthony, "This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” Alexander Hamilton "The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Abraham LincolnWishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet fr... 11/05/2024

If you have not heard of him, he was born in 1875 during the Austro-Hungarian Empire's period. Although he was born in Prague, most people thought he was German, but in reality, he was born to Austrian parents, and the bulk of his poetry is written in German. There are some in French as well.I have a few books about him, and I have learned to read him in German and in English as well.  If you have not been exposed to him let me share one poem by him here:                                             THE PANTHER                              In the Jardin des Plantes, Paris                   His vision, from the constantly passing bars,                  has grown so weary that it cannot hold                 anything else. It seems to him there are                 thousand bars; and behind ... 11/04/2024

It's hard to imagine that we are only 2 months away from a new year.  The Dodgers beat the Yankees in a thrilling Game 5 and the Presidential Election is just a few days away. But the real question is “what is going on in the Real Estate Market?"  I adopt a cautious thought process when I see the media and the Feds on the same page, both painting what I call a "very rosy picture" - the economy is fine and improving while inflation is down to 2.8%; you get the idea.  So, what is the reality? The reality is that home prices have been and will continue to rise, just as rents have been increasing along with groceries, water, electricity and gasoline. Interest rates are hovering between 6%-7% for home loans.  With a 3% annual growth, the current home prices will double in 20 years if you do ... 11/01/2024

Congratulations to the World Champion Dodgers! They are the World Champions in MLB for 2024!This was an impressive win, being down 0-5 and then they tied it to 5-5 and ultimately won 7-6 CONGRATULATIONS to the Los Angeles Dodgers!!  I would be remiss if I did not Congratulate Freddy Freeman for being the MVP.Looks like there will be a Victory Parade soon. Then I anticipate some heavy traffic coming back from New York!Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that n... 10/30/2024

Monday Motivations:  A powerful message from Coach John Wooden... Always Be Progressing!You must never stand still. You're either moving upward a little bit or you're going the other way. You can't expect to go upward too quickly, but you can sure go down very quickly.The slide down happens in a hurry. Progress comes slowly but steadily if you are patient and prepare diligentlyNow I am sure many of us Real Estate Practitioners can relate to this universal truth!  Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handl... 10/28/2024

Speechless Sundays: Mussels Marinara with Bucatini...Some evenings you just have to have fun and make an easy meal. If you look at the photos, all it consists of is:1. Two cloves of garlic2.  1/4 of a sweet onion3.  Jacinto Kale chopped.Sautee the above in butter or Olive Oil, this time I used 1/4 stick of unsalted butter.4. Then added a Jar of Marinara Sauce.5.  Instead of wine I opted to add Fish stock.Lastly, I added a 1.25 lbs. of fresh black mussels.While the above was being made, I boiled the Bucatini to be al dente.Easy dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes including prep time.It was a winner we all enjoyed it.  Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly ... 10/27/2024

As a Patriotic American, Beverly Hills Realtor, Old Glory is always flying in front of our home. We are doing our part in spreading the word that Patriotism is OK.Now as most of my regular readers, know there are times, that the American Flag is taken down, for few events. Just as an example when the Red Sox are wining or leading in the MLB standings.As a true Red Sox fan you must understand, that when The Yankees or aka D... R... Yankers are playing against another team in the World Series, we are obligated, or should I say, we must root for the other team.Well, it is extra sweet, this year it is the home team, aka the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing against the Yankees.Today at 5:08 pm local time the First Game of the Series will be here in Los Angeles.Needless to say, the excitement ... 10/25/2024

Throwback Thursdays: Decades and years ago, Diane and I used to go to all the Rolling Stones Concerts. It did not matter if it was in Massachusetts, New York or Los Angeles.Not only did we go to the concerts, but we also went to the Art Galleries where Ronnie Wood would be showing his artwork.Needless to say, not only did we meet him and his wife and at times other members of the band, but we managed to buy a few of his artwork over the years.Why did we do it? Well Diane was a huge fan of the Rolling Stones and gratefully we were in a financial position that we could afford it.So, what did we get out of it? Some wonderful memories.... after all life is short might as well enjoy it. Just to be clear we have wonderful memories not just of the Stones Concert, but the people we met at the a... 10/17/2024

Have you heard of Waymo? Well, I have seen them around for quite a while. I initially, I thought they were the Google Mapping cars. The more I saw them, the more I realized that they were not the Google Mapping cars. Instead, they were like a Taxi, or a Limo or an Uber transportation vehicle.Last three days everywhere I was going, I kept running into these vehicles. I was intrigued.A few things caught my eye.  Some of which I have been complaining to Diane for the past five years or so, that the new cars, must not have signal lights as far as turning left or right. Seriously, I found it always annoying, because for conservative drivers you have to wonder are they going straightforward? Or will they be turning left or right.Now with that said without digressing the Waymo Car would signal... 10/07/2024

Wednesday's Wisdom: from non-other than Coach Wooden...I always enjoy just opening his book: A lifetime of observations and reflections on and off the court!Never gets old so with that said, let me share this message:Winners Make the Most MistakesMy coach at Purdue, Piggy Lambert, constantly reminded us "The team that makes the most mistakes will probably win".That may sound a bit odd, but there is a great deal of truth in it. The doer makes mistakes. Coach Lambert taught me that mistakes come from doing, but so does success.The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that's a very big mistake.I can so relate with this message how about you??Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowled... 10/02/2024

Monday Motivations: Letters from Ronald Reagan & Nancy Reagan... There are times I just pick up some of the many books I have on my shelves and read some paragraphs or chapters or just a sentence here and there.Tonight, I opted to pick up "Reagan: A life in letters" I found it refreshing that he took the time to respond to letters he received and clarified some of his positions that the News Media did not present properly. I found it ironic that this was in the 1980's, times have gotten worse, and no one really can take the time and respond to the false messages the news media provides in the 2020'sWell, let me share a short one here, this letter was to Colonel Barney Oldfield USAF (Ret) Beverly Hills CA. May 20, 1985:Dear Barney: Thanks very much for all your encouraging words and for ... 09/30/2024

RIP Kris Kristofferson: farewell wishes from one of your loyal fans...Well, I was sad to find out that Kris Kristofferson passed away. I had two personal connections with him in my lifetime.When I was a Plebe at West Point, NY. he came and preformed a concert at the Academy. Before he started the concert, he let his audience know, that he will not come back no matter how hard we clapped and begged for one more song when he finished. Reason being his affiliation with West Point, The U.S. Army and his contract negotiations. He would not go into more details just that we should not be disappointed.Well, keep in mind we knew as Cadets, that he was a Rhodes Scholar, also that he was an Airborne Ranger Infantry Captain and a West Point English Instructor. Needless to say, we were thrilled tha... 09/29/2024

Monday Motivation: Success in Real Estate takes time, effort and dedication.One of my favorite motivation persons has been Tom Hopkins and his strategies, techniques and concepts for Success in Sales never gets old with me. Well, let me share this one quote:"... Enjoy your work... you spend too much time working not to enjoy it. If you don't enjoy your work, figure out why. Then develop and execute plans that will make the emotional satisfaction you derive from your work as important to you as to the money you make...."Another great person I love to read is Jeffrey Gitomer he has so much wisdom well here is one simple message I am sharing:  "... you can only earn a commission using a sales technique, but you can earn a fortune building friendships and relationships..."This quote really ... 09/23/2024

Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Sat Sep 21, 2024, Market Snapshot... often I get asked by potential buyers, sellers and out of area agents: How is the Market? My standard answer is, let me check it out for you and that way I can give you the best answer as of today.Too often I find that the market changes day to day, week to week. Real Estate as far as I am concerned tends to have a herd mentality. There are times when everyone is buying and there are times when the majority sit on the fence.Needless to say, the savvy buyers call and reach out to me, and we start the negotiations once we have solid market information.Now with that said, this week the median list price for Beverly Hills, CA 90210 is $9,800,000 with the market action index hovering around 29. This is about the same as last month'... 09/21/2024

Friday Dinner at a Catholic Beverly Hills Gourmet Realtor's Home... no this is not your traditional meal your parents did. Baked or Fried Fish Sticks...Instead, it is a Rainbow Poke Bowl but with not with fresh Tuna instead it is with canned Tuna... Honest it was good do not turn your nose up. check out the photos and the recipe. Ingredients:  these need to be pickled no worries takes no time at allPeeled and cut into thin matchsticks:  Daikon radishOne Persian cucumber thinly sliced without peeling itThe Pickling consist of 1/2 cup of rice wine vinegar & 1/2 cup of water boiled. Once you boiled it put the radish and the cucumbers in a jar with the cilantro sprigs and pour it over close the lid and set it aside... periodically shake the jar to get the marination evenly.While this is mar... 09/21/2024

What is an ADU? Many homeowners read about Accessory Dwelling Units... I joke about it here in Los Angeles it is the wild west of home additions.I have seen additions that are attached to the home on the ground floor with separate entrance for the ADU. This is what it was intended to be... then again, I have seen garages converted to an ADU also separate entrance on the side of the garage.Then I have seen sellers adding a second story to their one-story home and calling it an ADU.... all I can say is hmmm....Then I have seen homeowners doing a separate addition without connecting it to their home in the back yard. Indeed, that is also considered an ADU not necessarily the best option for resale, because the living square feet cannot be added to the home unlike the above-mentioned option... 09/16/2024