I have been working with several would be home buyers here in Calabasas.  All of them feel that they should wait until the housing market is at the bottom before they buy a home.  I'd like to share my explanation of "the bottom of the market" and how it will effect your buying decision.     This is a graph that represents the Calabasas housing market.  The left side of the V represents the market going down, the right side represents the market going up, and of course the bottom of the V represents the bottom of the housing market.  If  I asked you to plot on this       graph where you thought the housing market was right now ...    ... would you pick this spot or something close?So you think that the market is going towards the bottom.  If the market isn't at the bottom yet, how will... 10/09/2007

Friday's bond market has opened down sharply following the release of this morning's Employment report. The stock markets are reacting favorably to the news with the Dow up 84 points and the Nasdaq up 35 points. The bond market is currently down 26/32, which will likely push this morning's mortgage rates higher by approximately .250 of a discount point. Softening the blow to this morning's rates is strength in bonds late yesterday that prevented rates from rising by another .250 of a discount point.The Labor Department gave us this morning's news, saying that the unemployment rate rose to 4.7%, that 110,000 new jobs were added and that average earnings rose 0.4%. The earnings increase was a little higher than expected, which is bad news for bonds because it raises concerns over wage-inf... 10/05/2007

Listing your house and crossing your fingers was not enough to sell a house in Calabasas during September.Fourteen escrows closed in Calabasas during September.  This is a 39% decrease in numbers of closed escrows from September 2006.  The average price of a home decreased slightly, 6.4% to $1,170,000.  Its important to note that because the sample size is so low that even one more $2,000,000 sale would have skewed the average price dramatically.In addition to publishing the overall sales for September, this month I've also included a breakdown of each sale.  Its important to note that all but one of these homes took a price reduction at least once during its time on the market, many of these homes had to lower the price several times.  There are 248 homes on the market in Calabasas as ... 10/01/2007

   Aug. 2005  Aug. 2006  Aug. 2007# Change from 2006% Change from 2006Closed Escrows 44 31 32 +1 +3.23%Avg. Sale Price 1,195,782 1,144,048 1,638,600 +494,552 +43.23%There are approximately 250 homes on the market in Calabasas as I write this article (about 100 more than were on the market the same time last year).  Thirty two homes closed escrow in August with an average days on the market of 64, compared to 46 days on the market in August 2006.If you take a look at the MLS right now, many of the homes for sale have been on the market for 100 days and some even more.  There were very few price reductions on the homes that did sell.  These 32 homes sold at 95.10% of their list price.  This is very important information.  The translation here is that it is criticl to price your home right... 09/25/2007

Life isn't always so easy...no one said it would be, but every once and awhile you get a little nugget, a tiny little breadcrumb to show you that you're on the right path.  Today was one of those days.  My son, who is sixteen, is a man of little words.  Ever since his was born, he just didn't talk unless he had something to say. No polite small talk for this kid, just a smile, a nod, a yep, or a nope.  Today, we were sitting in the dentist waiting room and he looked at me serious as a heart attack and said, "I heard something interesting in school today."  So I'm all ears, since the boy doesn't speak unless spoken to.  I said "really?"  He said, "Yep, would you ever try to put a puzzle together without a picture?"  I said "What do you mean?"  He said, "You know, those puzzles, they come... 09/06/2007

My Grandfather had a comb over long before The Donald made it famous.  He was a Serbian immigrant and was actually quite handsome for an old guy; well that's what all the old ladies in his town thought anyway.  I'll never forget the first time I saw his comb over blowing in the wind...it was long (past his shoulders).  My sister and I could not contain ourselves and we started giggling uncontrollably.  My Grandfather, being the suave ladies man, calmly folded the hair fringe over his bald spot without missing a beat in the conversation and winked at us coyly.It was much easier for my Grandfather to cover up that shiny bald head of his than for us to cover up what's happening with mortgages right now.  In Calabasas, CA where the average home sold for $1,260,000 last month we have a diffe... 08/29/2007

After an extremely successful Spring Pops Concert in May, the City of Calabasas is pleased to announce that there will be a free Autumn Pops Concert on the Lake featuring "The Legends of Sing" with vocalist Cassie Miller.  The concert will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 5:30PM at the Calabasas Lake.   Legends of Swing is one of the premier Big Bands in the United States.  Led by trombonist Gary Tole, Legends of Swing salutes the great artists of the jazz era.  The band offers tributes to Benny Goodman, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Harry James, Stan Kenton, Wooday Herman, Count Basie, and many others.Be sure to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and sweaters.  Picnic dinners will be available for sale on-site.  The Autumn Pops Concert on the Lake is free and open to the ... 08/02/2007

The 2nd Annual Make a Splash Swim Meet will be held on Saturday August 11, 2007 at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center.  This fun-filled meet will feature plenty of swim contests and will be followed by a Family BBQ where awards from the swim meet will be handed out.  Registration is $15 per child and $18 per adult before July 20, 2007. After that, registration is $20 per child and $25 per adult. Registration includes the swim registration fee, refreshments during the meet, a special event t-shirt, and admission to the BBQ and awards ceremony.  Check-in for the meet begins at 12:30p.m., warm-ups begin at 2:00p.m., races start at 2:30p.m. and the BBQ follows the last race at 6:00p.m.  Registration forms are available online or at the Tennis & Swim Center.  For more information about the... 08/02/2007

The Los Angeles Sheriff's department has expanded fire protection for Calabasas and surrounding communities by returning a dedicated helicopter to patrol for fires.  Because of this years unusually dry conditions and fire dangers, the Sheriff has assigned a helicopter and crew to the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department through September 30, 2007.  The helicopter is assigned to the station during the day Thursday through Monday.  The helicopter will also fly on all red flag days through September 30, 2007 and after if needed.  The next four to five months are the most dangerous time of the year for wild land fires because of the low humidity, strong winds and the critically dry vegetation and brush conditions.  For information on fire safety visit the LA county Fire Department's web site. 08/02/2007

The summer is more than half over and we're already starting to plan for another school year.  High School registration materials should be arriving any day in the mail; they were mailed out the third week of July. Seniors will be registering on Monday August 20, Juniors on August 21, Sophomores August 22 and Freshman on August 23.  Click here for specific times and detailed information.School starts this year on Wednesday August 29th.  Click here for the 2007-2008 Las Virgenes District Calendar.  Students have school, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and then it's a long weekend.  There is no school on Monday September 3 because of Labor Day.  School resumes Tuesday the fourth through Friday the seventh and then the following week it's another long weekend with Thursday the 13th and Frid... 07/23/2007

A few months ago I had clients from the East Coast impatiently looking for a home.  They had been in a rental for close to a year and we were pretty much at the end of our rope, well I was anyway.  I had them set up on automatic MLS alerts. One morning I get an early AM email from Mrs. Buyer.  She has sent me not one or two, but five emails, in shear panic that her dream house is finally on the market.  I pull up the listing and it's not really in their price range.  Let me restate that, it's in her price range, but not her husband's price range.  As I read her frantic emails, she is scheming to be the first to see this brand new listing.  So I call the listing agent to set up an appointment and the agent has this "whatever" attitude.  She doesn't work in our town, but she agrees to sho... 07/23/2007

I cringe when I have to tell a seller that they will see little return on the money they've spent in remodeling their home.  Upgrades must be appropriate for the style and price range of the neighborhood or they could actually detract from the value and salability of the home.This morning I was in the Woodland Hills Home Depot and ran into a couple that I had sold a home to several years ago.  I was so glad to see them but when I looked at their shopping cart full of stuff, I asked them what they were doing.  They laughed and said they were doing the home improvement thing.  I asked them if they still planned to move when their children got to middle school.  They said yes which surprised me when I saw what was in their cart.  I explained that it's great to make improvements that you'll... 07/21/2007

 Everyone is so busy these days that we barely have time to grocery shop let alone cook dinner.  I've started a list of restaurants that deliver in Calabasas.  This is definitely not a complete list, but it's a start.  Please feel free to add to the list so when we're in a pinch, we can feed our family's fast.  I've included a link to the menus to make it easy to order.Chicks Restaurant - (818) 222-4488 - Chicken, Ribs and MexicanCosmos's Grill - (818) 591-2211 - Varied MenuJerry's Famous Deli (818) 340-0810 - DeliCalifornia Pita & Grill(818) 999-1118 - Mediterranean    07/15/2007

 I just love getting my email on the go, so here's a list of the free Wi-Fi spots that I know about in Calabasas..  Please add to these as you discover new ones.  The Good Nite Inn26557 Agoura RoadCountry Inn & Suites23627 Calabasas RoadThe Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center23400 Park SorrentoThe Calabasas Library23975 Park SorrentoVillage Coffee Roaster23351 Mulholland DriveWoodland Hills (not Calabasas proper, but pretty darn close)I was having a quick lunch in The Cheesecake factory on Canoga in Woodland Hills the other day and I had my laptop with me, it was way too hot to leave it in the car, and what do you know, there was no problem getting online there.  As a matter of fact, I could choose from several different networks.Check back often for updates  07/13/2007

Thank You so much to all of our Mulwood neighbors who so generously gave to our Keller Williams food drive.  When we pulled off Mulholland and started up the the Dardenne hill we didn't know what we'd find.  Then we saw the white bags lined up and down the street; we just couldn't believe our eyes!  Bags and bags overflowing with canned goods and other non-perishables.  The neighbors were so generous that we filled the van several times.  A few people even ran to catch our van when they saw us driving around with a bag that they had forgotten to put out. We collected over 500 bags of food and donated them to the San Fernando Rescue Mission.  The people at the mission were so grateful and told us that this time of year their reserves are low because they receive most of their food donat... 07/13/2007

    CALABASASCity of Calabasas26135 Mureau RoadCalabasas, CA 91302(818)878-4225fax(818)878-4215 City Hall Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon. - Fri. (website open 24/7)The generally accepted meaning of the word Calabasas; pumpkin, squash, or gourd, derived from the Spanish "calabaza". Some historians believe that it is a translation of the Chumash word "calahoosa", but that also refers to some type of gourd. Whatever the derivation of Calabasas, Calabasas residents are proud of their unique name, and every October, the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce hosts a "Pumpkin Festival" to celebrate fall, the local wares and talents of Calabasas merchants, and of course, the pumpkin for which our colorful city was named. The City's official logo, the red-tailed hawk flying over the Santa Monica Mountains, symbol... 03/21/2007

Mechanic`s  liens may be placed against a property by anyone who supplies labor, services, or materials used for improvements on real property and who did not recieve payment for the improvements. Therefore, a  contractor, sub-contractor, a laborer on a job, any person who furnishes materials such as lumber, plumbing or roofing, or anyone who furnishes services such as an architect, engineer, teamster or equipment lessor is eligible to file a mechanic`s lien. A mechanic`s lien must be verified and recorded. The law is very time specific about the recording here in California.  The formal statutory procedure must be followed in the exact manner if the mechanic`s lien is going to be deemed valid : (1) The Preliminary Notice(2) The Notice of Completion (3) No Notice of Completion (4) Forec... 12/13/2006