Me and my family were fortunate to find a 22lb turkey at Ralphs in Woodland Hills, CA at the last minute. I had the pleasure of eating good and relaxing with family and friends. But now that Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, it's back to business!         11/25/2011

THE WOODLAND HILLS COMMUNITY THEATER is one of the local gems of the West Valley.  The group started in a church in 1986 and moved to its current home, The West Valley Playhouse in the old Fire Station on Owensmouth Ave in Canoga Park in October of 2000.  The building is an attraction in itself.  Loaded with nostalgia it harkens back to another era before mega movie complexes and satelite TV.  There is an attached museum featuring many articles and pictures of bygone times in the local area.  The theater interior is small allowing for close interaction with the actors and engages one in the performance.  The Woodland Hills Community Theater is rated one of the top Community Theaters in the country and provides a much needed venue in the West Valley for those of us who appreciate live th... 11/21/2011

Woodland Hills offers some of the most affordable home prices in the City for such high quality interesting and eclectic neighborhoods.  In addition to an abundance of condominiums and townhouses, there are 3 single family homes currently on the market for under $300,000.00 including a fixer upper located in the hills South of Ventura Blvd.  There are 22 homes currently listed between $300,000.00 and $400,000.00.  Most of these are between 1000-1600 square foot depending on location and most are situated on lots that are between 6000-8000 sq ft.  This price range provides a variety of styles predominently on established quiet tree lined streets in what are considered some of the City's best school districts (see links to find schools).  As we move into the more affluent price ranges fro... 11/20/2011

Ever wonder what gives Warren Buffet and other successful investors the golden touch. What genius lies beneath their success? Most will tell you that it is a matter of timing and preparation. They tend to enter the market at a time when others are afraid and take advantage of the many tools then available to them. Purchases large and small are made in difficult economic times with previously unheard of terms.Yes, we are impressed by the multi billion dollar transactions by the Trumps, Gates, and Buffets accomplished with very little of their own money and receiving big tax benefits, but very few realize how many of these benefits are available to those of us who are not billionaires.For the first time buyer with a job and decent credit, real estate prices and financing have never been b... 11/17/2011

PENN STATE, CANCEL THE SEASON.  Why?  As I sat watching my favorite early morning news this morning I was appauled that any one should suggest that Penn State should cancel their football season do to the scandal that has erupted around the actions of a few individuals.  Is this America?  Do we punish the parents of a child gone bad?  The 100 or so players that had nothing to do with the actions of the coaches and administration simply want to play football.  The football program did not cause this.  College campuses are a bastion for tolerance of strange and sometimes dangerous lifestyles.  The line has to be drawn by the administration and they are responsible for this, not the football team.  From education to politics, I believe we are all tired of those who should be responsible tr... 11/17/2011

WOODLAND HILLS NIGHT LIFE: The local folks that live in the quiet neighborhoods in Woodland Hills south of Ventura Blvd know that on any evening there is entertainment and lively activity just a short walk away.  Numerous little Bistros line the Blvd west of Desoto Ave and come to life at night with patio dining and everything from live music to karaoke for entertainment.  Have a beer at the Pickwick Pub, Karaoke at Paolis after an alfredo pizza, or catch the sports crowd for Monday Night Football at Soups Sports Bar.  There is some great nostalgia in some of the traditional old favorites such as My Brothers Bar B.Q. which has been a Woodland Hills landmark at the corner of Ventura and Comercio Way since the forties.  They have pictures on the wall that show you what Woodland Hills used... 11/17/2011

THE FUTURE OF WOODLAND HILLS REAL ESTATE in my opinion is one of the brightest in the Valley.  For many years, Woodland Hills has been a sleepy suburb tucked away in the Southwest Valley.  When I first started in Real Estate in 1977 it was thought to be just a little too far out and the 101 Freeway made it an unattractive commute for many of the high income shakers and movers on the West Side.  At the same time, Woodland Hills was touted by a popular periodical, L.A. Magazine, as one of the safest areas of the city and one of the best areas for families.  The busing of school children which began in the early 1980's had a negative effect economically on Woodland Hills.  Many affluent families which had been previously locating in Woodland Hills due to the excellent schools now tended to... 11/15/2011

A FREE SEMINAR, BUYING FORECLOSURES is scheduled to be held in the Community Hall at St Luke Lutheran Church at 5312 Comercio Way in Woodland Hills, Wednesday evening, November 16th at 7:00 PM.  This informative seminar is being conducted by Randy Kistler, a successful Real Estate Broker in the San Fernando Valley since 1977.  The format and the content is intended to explain the process and vocabulary associated with foreclosure.  Those currently facing foreclosure will better understand the proceedure and where they stand in the process. The first time buyer or small investor will be introduced to the different buying opportunities afforded with each stage of the foreclosure process.  Many terms such as SHORT SALE, TRUSTEE'S SALE, and REO will be defined and explained.  The different ... 11/14/2011

First of all, I would like to wish myself a happy birthday! I also would like to thank everyone that wished me a Happy Birthday. And as much as I would love to take the day off, I still have business to take care of and clients to follow up with. So I will accomplish my tasks early on and try to relax the rest of the day. Happy Birthday to ME! 11/14/2011

Even though I didn't get a chance to make it to any parades today, I still took the time to thank several people for their service on my daily commute through woodland hills, ca. They deserve to be thanked and treated special anytime you see them, not just on Veterans Day. I also took the time to recognize and thank those that are overworked and under-appreciated. Appreciation goes a long way, and a helping hand compliments it.  11/11/2011

SLOW DOWN WHEN PASSING TAFT HIGH SCHOOL is some of the best advice I can give to drivers headed East along Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills.  Passing over the crest of Chalk Hill it is easy for vehicles to rapidly accelerate as they head down the grade towards Winnetka Ave. Safety of course is the first issue.  Almost any time of day numerous pedestrians cross  Ventura Blvd frequenting the many little shops and restaurants that line the corner.  Students are almost always present especially between 7-9 AM and 3-5 PM.  In addition, cars are slowing down to enter the large parking lot for the Ralphs Market.  Even staying within the speed limit it often becomes necessary to aggressively apply the brakes. Another reason known to many of us familiar with the daily route is that it is frequentl... 11/10/2011

Cables Restaurant, a Woodland Hills landmark just west of the corner of Ventura and Desoto has been one of my favorites since moving to Woodland Hills in 1987.  Cables Restaurant maintained an old fashioned country diner atmosphere while providing an ever changing, and in later years, more health conscious menu.  I was concerned recently to find that my old hangout had been sold to the Lamplighter Restaurant chain.  Flatscreen TV's appeared on the wall, the plants were taken away, and the pies in the case behind the counter were replaced by a presentation of assorted exotic beers and wines now available.  I miss the atmosphere of thee old Cables Restaurant, but after having dinner there last week, I am happy to report that the food is as fresh and well prepared as ever and there remains... 11/04/2011

I guess we all know by now that it rains in Southern California. The good thing is we can always look forward to sunshine afterwards. Point being, don't let your plans and goals for the day get rained on. Rain is temporary, so continue to shine! Have a great weekend! 11/04/2011

I went on my very first caravan today with a few people from my real estate office. It was a great experience and we had a chance to bounce ideas off each other and work as a team as we toured the open houses. I also got the opportunity to learn some of their styles and techniques, as well as finding some new areas to farm. And at the end of the caravan, lunch was provided at an open house by another agent which was a great addition. I thanked everyone for the opportunity and decided to commit myself to caravans more often. 10/14/2011

If you plan to be in the Woodland Hills, CA area M-F, then I have a great food suggestion for you. Flemings on Victory and Topanga has an happy hour special, and their $6 prime burger is an excellent choice. They also have other appetizers for $6 but I like this one the most. Enjoy and have a great weekend! 10/13/2011

You can always tell when it's the fall in Woodland Hills, California. Well for starters, the leaves begin to change colors and local business decorate with holiday colors. Also, an outdoor winter ice rink is built on the parking lot of the Westfield Promenade Mall. It is a great experience for families, organizations and for events. Enjoy your fall season!  10/13/2011

  This years FrightFair ScreamPark is for those looking for something more extreme because the Halloween Harvest Festival takes on a more sinister persona after dark as the festival comes to life, featuring: both the "Factory of Nightmares" Haunted House, and our "Creatures of the Corn" Haunted Trail - is Not for the easily startled!!! The hours for the Haunted House & Trail hours are weekdays dusk to 10pm and weekends dusk to midnight.  The Haunted House and Trail will be open on the days highlighted in green.  Tickets start at $13 and there is also a $2 off coupon available on the website.                       FrightFair ScreamPark is held at Pierce College located at 20800 Victory Blvd. in Woodland Hills.  For directions to the college from outlining areas, please check out the maps... 10/07/2011

Usually in the San Fernando Valley especially, in Woodland Hills it is always 10+ degrees hotter than any other part of LA.  We woke up to a morning rain but beautiful afternoon.  Today it was around 75 outside with just enough sun and warmth to enjoy sitting out on the patio grilling.  My husband and I really enjoyed the nice break in weather and having our dinner outside today! It was so peaceful to sit outside and write out our real estate to do list for the weekend! 10/06/2011

Woodland Hills Ca- Real Estate / Homes for Sale / Finding Your New Home – What Features are “Must Have’s?”    Mr. Buyer                 One of the most important things you can do to streamline your home search is to make two lists: One that lists the features you must have and one that lists the features it would be nice to have.               Please use the attached “buyer checklist” to get yourself thinking about what is or isn’t important in your new home. If there are features you really need or want that aren’t listed, write them in.               Using your “must have” list I can eliminate homes that clearly won’t fit your needs. For instance, if you need 4 bedrooms and a home has only 2, it will be eliminated from the list. If your life will be sour without room for a vegetable ... 08/29/2011

 On July 15, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law, SB 458, which wipes out outstanding loan balances on all mortgage loans when a California homeowner “short sells” their home.  This new law is a huge victory for homeowners who find themselves with mortgage debts that are bigger than the value of their home – typically referred to as being “upside-down”.  These “upside-down” homeowners’ previous attempts to short-sell their homes and unburden themselves from enormous weight of their mortgage debt was thwarted when lenders chose to pursue the homeowners for outstanding loan balances after the short sale transaction was completed.   A prior 2010 California law, SB 931, had attempted to address the situation, by prohibiting first mortgage lenders from pursuing homeowners who short s... 08/24/2011