I have some great pages on my website that are about the history of the South Bay Los Angeles, as well as detailed histories of the all of the beach cities in the South Bay including the Palos Verdes Peninsula, particularly Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. The pages also have a load of historical photos. These pages can be accessed at http://www.maureenmegowan.com/convertedpages/historyofthesouthbay.html Malaga Cove Plaza in early 1920sThe street signs looked as they do today.(Picture Courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Library District)   07/08/2008

There  were 22 homes on Broker's Tour.  We currently have 256 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $849,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes ($589,000 in Eastview) to $23,000,000 in Rolling Hills.  My favorites today were all in Palos Verdes Estates:      Bobbie Owen's 2 El Portal, Palos Verdes Estates, (above left) is a 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 4391 square foot home for $2,688,000.  This spacious Monte Malaga home has 3 bonus rooms and a 23,090 square foot lot with serene gardens on a secluded cul-de-sac.  Frank Fountain's 505 Yarmouth Road, Palos Verdes Estates, (above right) is a 5 bedroom, 5 bath, 3859 square foot home for $3,295,000.  This custom-built Tuscan Villa in Lunada Bay has an elegant master suite which opens to a salt water pool and spa. For more in... 06/24/2008

  Statistics for the month of May for Palos Verdes real estate are available and indicate our market is holding.  Average price for single family homes sold in the month of May was $1,677,000 vs $1,667,000 in April.  Number of homes reported sold (closed escrow) for the month of May was 43 which was the same for April.  Number of homes pending for the month of May was 39 vs 40 in April.  Inventory of homes for sale was nearly the same - 258 in May and 254 in April.  Months of Inventory (how many months it would take to sell existing inventory at the current rate of sale) was virtually the same; 6 months for May vs 5.9 months for April.  For more information, click here 06/23/2008

‘If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe.' - Abraham Lincoln I showed six high-end properties in Palos Verdes last weekend.  The actual showings took four hours, but the preparation took many more hours and a circus worthy juggling act!  Fortunately, I'm religious about previewing and attending broker open houses, so I was familiar with four of the properties.  Another home was a model in a new development a few years ago so this was going to be easier than I anticipated. Or so I thought. The sixth property was in the same ocean front community and the same floorplan as the model, so I would be able to show it with ease and familiarity too.  Since the homes were scattered all over the Palos Verdes Peninsula I routed the properties and made guesstimate o... 06/14/2008

Today there were 26 homes on Broker's Tour.  We currently have 253 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $599,000 (in Eastview) to $23,000,000.  My favorites today were:     Joan Zirkel's 6739 Vallon Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes (above left), is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 3177 square foot home for $1,650,000.  This remodeled home has an ocean view, 3 car garage and backs to Robert Ryan Park.  Anna Randall's 3005 Via Victoria (above right), Palos Verdes Estates, is a 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 3336 square foot home for $2,550,000.  This stunning residence has a pool, hot tub, ocean view, and a 15,090 lot.      James Sanders' 3900 Via Nivel, Palos Verdes Esatates (above left), is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2100 square foot home for $1,249,000.  This Valmonte home has a pool,... 06/11/2008

Last week, I went to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana to view the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Guardians of China's First Emperor.  It was fabulous!  I highly recommend it.  It was very well organized.  We had tickets for 10:00 am,  only stood in line for a few minutes and then were given an audio phone to help guide us through history.  This is the largest exhibit of the Terra Cotta Army ever seen outside of China.  There are 20 life-size figures and 100 other items from the tomb.  The Bowers' website has great photos which will give you an idea of what you will be seeing.  To continue reading, click here 06/08/2008

Palos Verdes students have exceeded the prior years API scores as reported by the State of Calilfornia Department of Education. The new 2007-2008 Accountability Progress Report is available and shows the Palos Verdes Unified School District with a score of 899 with 9,127 studests included.  The score for 2006 was 897.  Great schools help maintain property values for Palos Verdes real estate.   To continue click here 06/06/2008

Summer of 2009, Palos Verdes Peninsula will have its first hotel and a luxury hotel no less.  Terranea Resort will have 400 rooms, a spa/fitness center (25,000 square feet), three restauants, three swimming pools, a 9-hole golf course,  meeting rooms (63,000 square feet), a wedding venue, an ampitheater, a sand beach, and a bluff-top trail connecting to miles of on and off resort trails.   Terranea is being built on 102 acres on the Pacific Ocean where Marineland once stood.  To continue, click here 06/05/2008

Tuesday there were 22 homes on Broker's Tour.  We currently have 258 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes.    My  favorites today were:                     Al D'Amico's 12 Pony Lane, Rolling Hills Estates (above top), is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2317 square foot home for $1,575,000.  This is "A Horse Lover's Dream" on a 20,000 square foot lot with a 2-stall barn and exercise ring adjacent to the riding trail.  Judy Henry's 31015 Via Rivera(above bottom), Rancho Palos Verdes, is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1861 square foot home on a 18,210 square foot lot for $1,199,000.  This home needs updating but has a fabulous ocean view.  Click here to read more 06/03/2008

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times Real Estate Section reported the ten Southern California cities with the highest increase in sales prices for single family residences for the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period last year.  Both zip codes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula were on this list.  Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates (zip 90274) showed an increase in median sales price of 16.5% compared to the first quarter of 2007.  To continue, click here   06/02/2008

"Move Up Buyers" -- those selling less expensive homes for a larger, more expensive property -- can reap BIG benefits in the 2008 market.  The reason is simple:  If the market is down, the discount gained on the more expensive property purchased will outweigh the profit lost on your current home sold, and that's money in your pocket! "A 'Buyers Market', like today, is the ideal time for a move-up buyer to pounce," says Elaine Mallon, Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker.  "Some kick themselves for not selling during the market's high in 2005.  Instead, consider yourself lucky.  As a move-up buyer -- you would have also bought at that time and the financial benefits would not have been as great as they are for you today." For example:  Assume a home was valued at $500,000 in 2005 and th... 06/02/2008

The 21st Annual Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival takes place this weekend.  The theme this year is "Going Green" and will feature "Green Street" with exhibitors giving away free energy-efficient light bulbs, eco-friendly shopping bags and lots of free merchandise.  There will also be demonstrations and seminars.  Palos Verdes Street Fair will also feature... To continue, click here 06/01/2008

Palos Verdes Peninsula is actually composed of 4 different cities - Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates (and 2 Los Angeles County areas known as Westfield and Academy Hills).  They are all part of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. This is the first of 5 posts ....click here to continue 05/29/2008

Hello, Today is Monday May 19th. There are currently 233 homes for sale in Palos Verdes. The average market time for the Peninsula as a whole is 82 days. Currently the lowest priced home is listed for $895,000. The average asking price for homes in the area is $2,487,157. The average home is 3,602 sq.ft with a 22,775 sq.ft lot. If you would like specific details for a certain area or automatic email notification of new listings please contact me at: Rachelmtyndall@gmail.com WWW.RTYNDALL.COM   Thanks! 05/19/2008

Spring is in the air and real estate is on the move in Palos Verdes!  The number of homes in escrow is up as well as the number of closed sales.  That's good news for sellers and buyers.72 Single Family Homes are in escrow260 Single Family Homes are currently for sale108 Single Family Homes have sold YTD  Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma Palos Verdes Real Estate Blog - Palos Verdes Real Estate WebsitePalos Verdes Home Search - More informat... 05/01/2008

  Peninsula Sports Camps 2008Picture courtesy of /www1.istockphoto.com/ It's time to sign up for the Peninsula Sports Camps, and they are as follows:Check out these great sport camps by Scott Osborn- Enrollments open "Busy minds are happy minds and busy hands have no time to be idle or video brained"  Great exercise and my kids love it"The 36th Annual Peninsula Basketball Camp will take place at Palos Verdes High School from July 28-Augsut 1, August 4-8 and August 11-15. The first and last sessions are for girls and boys ages 6 to 14; the second session is for boys only ages 6-14. The camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Special Guests. The cost is $215. The 31st Annual Peninsula Baseball Camp will take place at Palos Verdes High School from July 28-August 1. The camp ... 04/11/2008

 Never look down on anybody unless you're helping to pick them up.    This is an awesome email for all of us who have ever lost someone and especially dedicated to Victims of 911 and their families.Stacy Randall is a talented writer  I was sent this by a friend.       'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL' By Stacey Randall   You say you will never forget where you were when           you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither  will I.              I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room           with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I           held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the           peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it           is OK...I am ready to go.'            I was with his wife when he called as she fed           breakf... 03/21/2008

HERE ARE A FEW EASTER EGG HUNTS AND PENINSULA MALL HAS BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY.iF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AD YOUR CHURCH EVENT OR COMMUNITY EVENT TO MY MONTHLY EVENT BLOG, PLEASE JUST EMAIL ME AND SEND THE PICTURES TOO. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO AD YOUR PALOS VERDES EVENT TO MY CALENDAR. HAPPY EASTER!!!!                                                                                              Picture courtesy of mumknowbest.com uk    Saturday, March 22, 2008TimePeninsula CommunityChurch     Easter Breakfast 9.00 am easter egg hunt                             First Baptist Church- Sunday Easter Events Easter is a time of family celebration: hunting eggs, unwrapping gifts, snapping photos. This year, add something both fun and meaningful to your family's Easter Week. Join us at Fi... 03/19/2008

Did you know that most schools will not and do not have testing for Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHDUnless your child is bouncing off the walls and may have adhd ,most schools do not have testing for ADD. I was very surprised to find out that schools can not test for ADD. These children can slip through the cracks as my middle daughter did.  She tested out with a verbal vocabulary at College level in 6th grade but her written skills were 4th grade level.  Trust me, If you find yourself losing it or pulling your hair out anytime over homework time, chore time or get out of bed to go to school time on a daily basis,Or your child has an extremely bad temper- 9 times out of 10 it is ADD.I had an evaluation at my request for my son in the 4th grade after I found several doctor's that diagn... 03/17/2008

] FOR ALL THE PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AT SCHOOLS, TAKE NOTE OF THIS WARNING>>>I CHECKED THIS OUT ON SNOPES.COM AND IT IT TRUE, so please pass this on to keep our children safe.  This is just terrible and I hope this will help protect all our kids.>>>>I received this email from mysister in NY. Please warn and prepare your children about this danger,>>picture courtesy of google images>This is a new drug known as'Strawberry quick'                               >>There is a very scary thing going on in the schools>right now that we all need to be aware of.There is a type of crystal>meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that>sizzles and 'pops' in the mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it>is being handed out to kids in school yards.They are calling it>str... 03/15/2008