There were only 7 homes on this first Palos Verdes real estate Broker's Tour for 2009.  We currently have 224 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $699,00 in Rancho Palos Verdes to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $599,000).  There are 53 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $269,900 and $2,000,000.  My favorites were: Click here to read more....       01/14/2009

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke at the London School of Economics this morning. He discussed the financial crisis and the response by regulators. Mr. Bernake said that the highest priority is to promote global financial stability and that the US Federal Reserve still has enough policy tools to combat the current recession. He admitted that the timing and strength of the global economic recovery"are highly uncertain" and that he expects inflation to moderate further. There are no real surprises in this comment as inflation remains virtually non-existent and it's tough to forecast when the US will recover from this recession. Here are two things we will be looking for-Stocks, historically start rising four to five months BEFORE GDP turns positive and Initial Jobless Claims, wh... 01/13/2009

  Conventional wisdom tells us that we do not know if we have hit bottom until we are on the way up.  Trying to "time" the bottom is a matter of luck.  For buyers of Palos Verdes real estate I encourage them to consider the following:  1) Interest Rates are at historic lows.  4.75% for conforming 30-year fixed and 6.625% for jumbo 30-year fixed rate loans. 2) Many buyers are sitting on the sidelines waiting and watching.  Buyers entering the market now have less competition and are able to negotiate better with sellers.  Click here to read more..... 01/12/2009

The mortgage meltdown and huge volatility in the stock markets has obviously had a significant impact on the sale of homes. The average price per sq. ft. for homes sold in the fourth quarter 2008 compared to fourth quarter 2007, has fallen much less in the South Bay beach cities, however, than in most markets in Southern California.     Location 2008 4th Qtr. Sales 2008 4th Qtr. Sales   % Change 4th Qtr. 2007       % Change 4th Qtr. 2007      Sales Price Per Sq. Ft. # of Houses Sales Price Per Sq. Ft. Sales Volume   Days on Market     Months Inventory     Palos Verdes Peninsula                                   $498                     67   (19%)                       (25%)          80            10 Manhattan Beach/Hermosa    688    57 ( 16%)                  (12%)           77       13... 01/10/2009

Whale Watching boat excursions are underway at both the Redondo Beach Kings Harbor area as well as San Pedro Harbor. Redondo Beach: Redondo Sportfishing 233 N. Harbor Arive (310-372-2111). Adults and children $14 weekdays, Aults $20 and children $15 weekends. Boars leave at 10 am and 1:30 pm daily through April 15th. San Pedro: 22nd Street Landing at 141 W. 22nd Street (310-832-8304). Adults $14 and children $11 weekdays. Adults $15 and children $12 weekends. Boats leave at 10 am and 1 pm weekdays, and 10:30 am and 1:00 pm weekends through March 15th. For more information about PV Sports, RecreationAnd  Parks visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 01/09/2009

  I am often asked by owners of Palos Verdes real estate which remodeling projects will give them the greatest return on their investment.  The answer is siding replacement, window replacement and major kitchen remodel according to the December 2008 Realtor Magazine.  This article covers areas around the country and states, "Pacific Coast cities recorded the best payback on remodeling by a wide margin.....replacement projects that boost curb appeal - siding, windows and decks - give you the greatest chance of recouping your money.  Inside, only kitchen remodels can compare..."Click here to read more..... 01/09/2009

How to Fill Out a Quit Claim Deed A quit claim deed is a very important written document that transfers the rights, claims and interests of a person who owns a property to another individual. This particular document is vital in selling properties, transferring properties to family members such as inheritance and when divorce takes place. Executing a quit claim deed means that you are turning over a property including its liabilities to the person (grantee) you are giving ownership interest. Where real estate is concerned, a quit claim deed does not totally release the person who executes the document from his mortgage obligations. In order for the mortgage to be free from any claim, the grantor who quits claim should refinance the mortgage in the name of the person (grantee) to whom th... 01/08/2009

Home selling trends are not always constant. As in any business, there are ups and downs. Different areas may experience a hot housing market in certain months and encounter a slow market in other times of the year. What if the housing market in your locality is slow at a time you want to dispose of your residential property? As a home seller, you would know that the market is slow if houses for sale stay long on the market. There are various factors that point to this. It may be that home buyers are few or home sale prices are high thereby discouraging potential buyers. But then again, even if you're selling in a slow market, there are ways you can do to get a good buyer for your home. Just remember the basics of selling a residential real estate property. With so many houses up for sa... 01/08/2009

The average price per square foot for the Palos Verdes Peninsula for the month of December 2008 is 522 down from 663 the previous year.   1 year 15 months   Dec 07 Dec 08 % Change Oct 07 Dec 08 % Change Avg. Sq. Ft. Price 663 522 -21.4% 648 522 -19.5% 01/08/2009

 A sound financial moveOften, analysts say, people get so fixated on getting the lowest possible price that they forget just how little difference an extra $10,000 in the home price can mean to their monthly mortgage payment. Assuming a buyer pays $300,000 rather than $310,000 on a 5.7%, 30-year loan with $30,000 down, he'd be paying $1,575 a month rather than $1,634. Of course, the costs of the initial $10,000 add up the longer you own the home without paying off the mortgage. But, that additional $10,000 in value might be just the psychological boost some sellers need to part with their homes. And for first-time home buyers in markets such as Los Angeles, there's extra incentive in the form of rapidly rising rents. Los Angeles rents have climbed 25% since 2003, to an average $1,617, a... 01/08/2009

Palos Verdes Fault and Earthquakes:  A Southern California Earthquake Data Center map of fault lines in the Los Angeles region shows two faults - one with two branches - that run through or near the South Bay. The two faults running through the South Bay are the Palos Verdes and the Newport-Inglewood faults. The Palos Verdes Fault Zone, which traverses the southern portion of the South Bay, has two branches - the Cabrillo Fault and the Redondo Canyon Fault - which join the main fault at different points along its route. The SCEDC map shows the Redondo Canyon Fault joining the Palos Verdes Fault offshore and extending west into Santa Monica Bay. The map shows the Cabrillo Fault joining the Palos Verdes Fault offshore, just outside San Pedro Bay, and continuing northwest through San Pedro... 01/07/2009

I thought it would be fun to go through 2008's Top Tuesday Tour Tips for Palos Verdes real estate and pick my favorites, tell you why and give you an update on those properties.       My favorite listing is my own listing at 838 Rivera Place, Palos Verdes Estates; it is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,025 square foot home for $2,449,000 (original price was $2,499,000.  This Lunada Bay home is lavishly remodeled with a private courtyard entry and panoramic ocean/Catalina views from nearly every room.  It is a great alternative to a Terranea casita (and less expensive) and you can use it 365 days a year! (view more photos by clicking on the link above)  This home is currently on Hold for the holidays.  Click here to read more..... 01/06/2009

Ten Important Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector   1. What does your inspection cover? The inspector should ensure that their inspection and inspection report will meet all applicable requirements in your state if applicable and will comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics. You should be able to request and see a copy of these items ahead of time and ask any questions you may have. If there are any areas you want to make sure are inspected, be sure to identify them upfront. 2. How long have you been practicing in the home inspection profession and how many inspections have you completed? The inspector should be able to provide his or her history in the profession and perhaps even a few names as referrals. Newer inspectors can be very qualified, and many ... 01/05/2009

      Nov 07 Nov 08 % Change Nov 06 Nov 08 % Change For Sale 192 239 24.5% 202 239 18.3% Sold 35 23 -34.3% 42 23 -45.2% Pended 17 15 -11.8% 52 15 -71.2% WWW.RTYNDALL.COM WWW.THEPVREALTOR.COM (310)802-2334 Rachelmtyndall@gmail.com KathyandRachel@gmail.com   01/05/2009

Real Estate Activity on the Palos Verdes Peninsula continues to be slow compared to a year ago, but inventory of homes for sale has decreased the last several months 23 homes were sold on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in November, an increase over October, but a significant drop in activity compared to the prior year. The average price per sq. ft. paid for properties sold on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for the month of November had an uptick, and prices per sq. ft. have held relatively steady over the last year, and are down about 8%  compared to the prior year This market continues to be a great opportunity for buyers to purchase a bargain and finance it with record low interest rates. For more information on buying or selling property on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, visit my website at htt... 01/02/2009

The Great White Steamship SS Catalina is finally going to be demolished. This wonderful steamship used to ferry passengers between San Pedro and Avalon on Catalina for many years, from its maiden voyage on May 30, 1924 until it stopped its daily trips in 1974 when faster ships made the slow 2 hour crossing a nostalgic thing of the past.   SS Catalina awaiting demolition in Mexico I remember diving for change thrown by arriving passengers in Avalon when I was a kid visiting friends on Catalina. This old ship offered amenities not seen on the fast ships of today including a dance floor. SS Catalina in Avalon After being retired, it was sold to a buyer who was going to fix it up for his wife. A subsequent owner moved it to Mexico in 1985 where it was supposed to undergo a multi-million dol... 12/31/2008

  This has been such a "full" year and as it draws to a close I want to share my thoughts on 2008.  Even though many of us have experienced some negative impact from the financial issues of our country and the world, I wanted to pass on a comment from my Yoga teacher.  "These are first world problems," she says.  She is right.  People in other countries would gladly trade places with us.  We live in a safe environment, we have comfortable homes, we are warm, we are well fed and really have all our basic needs met. And so I want to finish off this year in a moment of gratitude for all that I have -  radiant health, unlimited love, fabulous family, wonderful friends, lots of laughter,  a lively-bustling real estate career with honest/fun/motivated clients, financial security and a beautif... 12/31/2008

  Are You Confused About Plastics?  That is the questions posed in an excellent article from C.A.R. Newsline from California Association of Realtors.  I was confused and found this article informative and I pass it on to you: You're not alone. Experts have reached a consensus and recommend that you avoid these varieties - identified by a triangle and number on the bottom of most containers - for the following reasons: Click here to read more:   12/29/2008

Palos Verdes Estates City Council has selected a "combination of caissons and tiebacks to create a wall that will support PF Drive West" reports the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.  The road has been affected by the landslide above Bluff Cove. The caissons will be 53 feet deep; the tiebacks are horizontal wires used to reinforce the caissons for stability.  The cost could be up to $1.2 million.  Click here to read more..... 12/29/2008

There were 15 homes on the Palos Verdes Real Estate Broker's Tour.  We currently have 242 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $709,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $599,00).  There are 67 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $269,000 and $2,000,000.  My favorites were:  Click here to read more.....      12/29/2008