The Los Angeles Garden Tour and Party is an annual fundraiser that presents some of the finest private gardens in Hancock Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.

This year’s event on April 22nd honored Mia Lehrer and Lyn Mac Ewan Cohen for their contribution in the beautification of Los Angeles communities and neighborhoods. The Event is put on by the Hancock Park, Windsor Square Historical Society and was Co-Chaired by June Bilgore and Myrna Robin Gintel.

Writing about these wonderful gardens cannot, will not do them justice, so I present… “The Hancock Park Los Angeles Garden Tour and Party” slide show:

Sorry if you missed it this year but we’ll see you next year in 2013.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

It seems the real estate market has followed the late-blooming Jacaranda trees in Faircrest Heights – in the last couple of weeks some fantastic homes have hit the market in our little neighborhood.

I had the pleasure of viewing a few of these homes at Broker’s Open Houses this week and would like to share some property details and photos with you. If you’d like to learn more about living in Faircrest Heights or have any questions about any of the homes below – let me know. I’ve been a resident of the neighborhood for over 3 years and specialize in helping homebuyers and sellers in this part of Los Angeles.

First up, there’s a great 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom Spanish style home at 6010 Saturn Street. This house has a lot of character. The yard is small, but there’s a 2-car garage accessed off of the alley to the side of the home and plentiful street parking, too. Priced at $599,000.

You might also be interested in the 2 bedroom 1 bath home at 5910 Airdrome Street. As the listing agent mentions, this home is a great Condo Alternative at only $430,000 – this is a wonderful opportunity for someone to live in a single-family home without breaking the bank.

Brand new to the market this week is an extensively remodeled contemporary 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a big landscaped yard and a detached 2 car garage. It is for sale for $699,000.

Also new to the market this week and just down the street from my house is a lovely Spanish style home on a corner lot at 1700 S. Hayworth Avenue. It has 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths and also has a 2 car detached garage and a large landscaped yard.

Last but not least, a Mid Century designed home at 1856 Hi Point Street with original features has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a 2 car detached garage. Something you don’t see every day, this one is definitely worth a look. It is offered for sale at $899,000

Have you seen any of these homes?  What’s the best property you’ve seen in your neighborhood lately?  Please share your thoughts and leave your comments below.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

Robertson Boulevard (and the surrounding area) is a mecca for the nightlife of West Hollywood.  Just south of Santa Monica Boulevard you will find The Abbey, The Here Bar, The Factory and Ultra Suede. In addition, there are numerous restaurants including the famed Sur, which becomes a hotspot on most evenings as well. This explains the high density of foot and car traffic on Robertson and Santa Monica Boulevards notably on the weekends.

There are thousands of locals and tourists visiting this small area of nightclubs on most weekend nights. For this reason, some are seeking to make Roberson Blvd. a pedestrian-only zone on Saturday nights. Santa Monica Promenade in the city of Santa Monica has a similar concept as well as Lincoln Road in the city of Miami. It is safe to say that when Mayor Jeff Pang  co-signed the proposal, he had two main things in mind:

• Increasing public safety
• Capitalizing on the activity which is already taking place in the area with a look toward the future

Some other city council-members have suggested that the pedestrian only zone should be on La Peer, one street west of Robertson Blvd.  Typically, for any proposed changes in a city to be enacted, hearings need to take place and that takes time. Since there is not enough support on this issue thus far, the city council has instructed city manager Paul Arevalo to study the idea further and report back to the council in July.

I do not know about you, but I do whatever it takes to avoid being around Robertson and Santa Monica Boulevard on Saturday nights unless I’m hosting out-of-town visitors and even when this is the case I usually send them out without me.  Robertson Blvd. becoming a pedestrian only zone on Saturday nights is something I would like to see.  Time will tell what other community members desire and I am sure that West Hollywood business owners on Robertson Blvd will have some say on the matter.

What would you like to see happen on Robertson Blvd.?  Please share your thoughts as I am sure they would help the city council during their decision process.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

Joseph Judah is a financial adviser and runs the Judah financial group in Los Angeles with his wife of 19 years. They have 7 children and keep a pretty busy life.

Recently someone handed me a small book as a gift, her timing was perfect since I was due for a new book to read. “A Dozen Golden Eggs” is the name of the book.  Little did I know, my friend Joseph Judah had wrote the book a few years back.  At first I was confused by the title, then I noticed the subtitle: “Wealth Building with Prosperity Consciousness”, which had me hooked.  That night I began reading the 100 page (or so) book and did not put it down till I was finished.

The book is really easy to read and very helpful in explaining the meaning behind wealth building with prosperity consciousness. The question the book brings up is why are not we all wealthy? Joseph Judah breaks down the answer in his book using three simple categories:

• The Problem
• The Solution
• Taking Action

To some, money is nothing but energy, but then why do some people have more than others?  It comes down to understanding how wealth building works and knowing that it does not mean we need to work 80 hours a week.  This book is full of tools and wisdom on how to accumulate wealth for people like you and me. One particular concept grabbed my attention; it’s called “The Rule Of 72″.

The number 72 has many significant meanings behinds it.  However, “The Rule of 72″ is a new one to me. Most people, if not all, would like to know how long it will take them to double their investments, whether it’s an investment of $1000 or $10,000. “The Rule of 72″ explains how. Take $10,000 for example and lets use 12% as an annual rate of return. We divide 72 by 12 and we get 6 years, that’s how long $10,000 will become $20,000.  I know what you are thinking: is there is anything paying 12% currently on a $10,000 investment? I found out from Joseph Judah, yes there is and it is safe.

“The Rule of 72″ is one of many insights this book explores. I am not by any means a financial adviser nor do I understand fully how it all works. However ,after reading “A Dozen Golden Eggs“  I began to at least understand the concept behind wealth building with prosperity consciousness. The book is perfect for adults as well as young adults who might be interested in understanding how to build their future wealth.

Have you heard of “The Rule of 72″ before?  Have you had a chance to read “A Dozen Golden Eggs”? Please leave your comments and thoughts below and share how this was of value to you.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

President Obama will be back in Los Angeles, tomorrow May 10th to attend a fundraiser at the home of George Clooney. So what does that mean to all of us?

Though not all of the details have been released we already know that LA traffic on Thursday’s is usually heavy. The President will be coming from Seattle and will arrive at LAX around 6:30pm and will be departing LAX on Friday morning a little after 10AM.

This time will be different…most of the time the President ties up traffic on the Westside of town after being flown usually to the VA. This time however, he needs to be in Studio City in Fryman Canyon just off Laural Canyon.

It is thought that he will be flown possibly to a park or golf course in the valley to avoid a big cross-town disruption. It is still not certain if he will stay back at the Beverly Hilton as he usually does. So, it’s now the Valley’s turn to learn to navigate the road closures and congestion.

Some guests are paying $40,000 to attend the event that Wolfgang Puck will cater.  Though, Obama has been to the valley in the past to appear on The Jay Leno show, this is the first time he will be at a private home.

How will his visit affect your commute?  What has your experience been with past visits?  Please share your thoughts and leave your comments below.

Photo courtesy of Blacktar’s Flickr

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

In the spring of 2009, a vibrant purple yellow flowered tree first caught my attention.

I had been living in Los Angeles since the fall of 2008, and while the trees bloom twice a year in Los Angeles – once in the fall and once in the spring – the springtime blooms are more striking and vibrant. I’ve learned that the purple flowered trees are called Jacaranda, and that while native to tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America, they thrive here in Southern California.

I snapped a photo of some of the trees that I pass on my runs through the neighborhood with Mason (my chocolate lab) and am attaching it here for your enjoyment. April is typically the month when the trees are in full bloom, but this year they seem to hitting their peak a little bit later than in the other years I have been here. Regardless, it’s a welcome sign that spring is here!

What are your favorite trees?  What do you love most about this time of the year?  Please share your ideas and leave your comments below.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

We’ve all have heard the phrase, “We create our own reality,” but what does it really mean? Most entrepreneurs would agree with this phrase and that using challenges as opportunities for growth is a vital element of success.  Daniel Charlier is one of those individuals and I had the pleasure of meeting him in person a few months ago.

As a U.S. Marine, Senior Vice Chairman Dan Charlier learned the discipline and leadership skills to succeed in the business world. After a decorated military career, Dan left the Marine Corps and was soon introduced to the WFG opportunity. Dan met his wife, Christine, the two married in 2005 and have since spent their time dreaming big and encouraging others to do the same.

In meeting Daniel and hearing his story, I recognized that there are a lot of people who could benefit from his inspiring story.  I invited him to speak to a group of 30 people or so.  The date was set and my intention was clear: I wanted my guests to see the possibilities of using challenges as opportunities for growth.  It would be fair to say that we all learned a lot that evening, such as:

• There are 4 important F’s in life: Family, Finances, Fitness and Faith.
• Everything falls and rises on leadership.
• You are either growing or you are dying; you are either rotten or you are ripe.

I was pleased with the end result and watching my intentions for the evening unfold. I trust all the guests had a great time, made some new friends and learned a new way of thinking along the way.  With that, my job was complete for the night and I was so grateful that Daniel Charlier was able to speak and share some of his sage wisdom with us.

Have you had a chance to hear Daniel speak and if so please share your thoughts on your experience? It would be of great service to hear your feedback.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

Foster parents can be a great asset for children with no place to call home in Los Angeles. However not every child is lucky enough to have a foster parent. The question then becomes how are these children without foster parents being taking care of?

I recently wrote about my getaway to Ojai, California with my co-mentors to meet 3 young adults in transition out of foster care.  Since the young adults did not have foster parents, I was curious to know how foster boys in Los Angeles are being taken care of without foster parents.  LeRoy Haynes Group Home is one option for boys up to 18 years old. 

Founded in 1946, LeRoy Haynes Center is comprised of a Non-Public School (Haynes Education Center) and a group home for abused and neglected children (LeRoy Boys Home). Started with only 10, boys the center now serves over 100 children at any one time providing a place for them to grow into productive members of society.

• On site there are 6 cabins with 12 occupants per cabin and 2 occupants per room.
  
• There is a pool and a gym on site.
• There is a 24 hour staff with counseling being provided for as well.

Foster boys at the LeRoy Haynes group home get rewarded for good behavior and good grades in school by getting different ranks as well as financial compensation. There are specific times for visiting hours and taking the young adults for different outings.  The co-mentors had to go through a very comprehensive background check with three different agencies in order to qualify for mentoring these teens. After the age of 18, the young adults get to move onto what is referred to as transitioning housing before which they must go through an interview process in order to qualify for the program.

Having his own apartment might sound like the best thing that ever happened to the young adult, but it comes with a new set of anxieties and concerns, for example:

• This is the first time living on his own at a young age.
• The child will be leaving his friends behind at the LeRoy Haynes group home

It seems like the challenges never end for these young foster boys. However I can testify that after spending the weekend in Ojai and a couple of workshops with these boys, they are not any different from myself  when I was their age. They inspire me and they empower me to have a sense of purpose.  They have a great sense of appreciation for life and are willing to do the work. I am glad to be in the company of these young adults and am looking forward to our new journey together.

Have you had any experiences with any foster teen agencies? Please share your thoughts and comments below and help get the conversation started.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

People often ask me how is the real estate market?  I say that it all depends on what part of town you live in. When the answer is West Hollywood I say, there’s “no sign of decline.”

West Hollywood has a population of 36,732.  This consists of 66% Caucasians, 8% Latinos, 3% Asians & 3% African Americans. West Hollywood is characterized as a well-educated city. According to the 2000 census, 21.2% of the population 25 years and over have some college, 6.5 % associate degrees, 31.1% bachelor’s degrees and 15.7% graduate degrees.  Some might say that a well educated populous is the driving force behind the West Hollywood real estate market.

The numbers of the sold and pending transactions in the month of March till the present in West Hollywood have seen no small change, here are a few examples:

• 541 Westbourne: 4 bed and 3.5 baths sold for $1,1645,000
• 133 N. Almont: 3 bed and 2 baths sold for $1,435,000
• 8629 Rugby Dr.: 3 bed. and 3 baths is in escrow asking price $1,250,000
• 321 Huntley: 2 bed and 2 bath is in escrow asking price is $1,199,000

With the diversity in West Hollywood real estate market, often single family buyers are not the same as condo buyers.  Do not get me wrong, both require the same amount of attention and hand holding, but some like the freedom of owning a condominium vs. owning a single family home.

Here are some examples of the richness of the condo market since March of 2012:

• 825 N. Kings Rd. #9: 2 bed and 2 baths sold for $765,000
• 1416 Havenhurst Dr. #1C: 1 bed and 2 baths sold for $864,000
• 1353 N. Fuller Ave. #PH14: 2 bed and 2.5 baths sold for $610,000
• 1201 N. Larrabee #305:  2 bed and 3 baths is in escrow asking price $799,000

I am only quoting a very small percentage of what actually took place in the real estate market this Spring.  There are 27 condominiums and 36 single family transactions that took place since March of 2012.   I feel very confident that when the question comes up again “How is the West Hollywood Real Estate market?” I will respond with a grin on my face and say, there is no sign of decline.

Have you recently looked in the West Hollywood Real Estate market to either buy or sell? Please share your experiences and help us make it a stronger market.

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!

Like any good Italian Catholic family, mine has always celebrated Easter by attending mass and then spending the day over-eating together while watching the entire “Godfather” epic from start to finish.

Okay – maybe it’s unconventional, but it’s more about the time spent with family than the activity itself that makes our Easters together a fond memory for me. Perhaps it’s also dad’s breadcrumb spaghetti or some fried eggplant lasagna dish he’s invented that make me reminisce most about happy times together on Easter weekend.

This year, I’ll be staying in Los Angeles for Easter weekend and won’t be trekking home to Arizona for the holiday because of a number of commitments that I can’t break, but I’ll definitely be trying to fit in some fun things too.

• On Thursday evening, my running coach is performing at the Hollywood Improv. His wife bought him a 6-week standup comedy class this year for their anniversary and it culminates in a live performance. My friends and I don’t want to miss it!
• On Friday evening, I’m attending the DOMA Theatre’s production of Tommy by The Who, I mentioned wanting to see this in an earlier blog post – so now that I’m getting to attend, I’ll be sure to give my review in a future post.
• On Saturday morning the Hollywood Half Marathon traverses from Universal Studios City Walk down to Hollywood Boulevard and across to Sunset Blvd at Maltman Ave and back. There’s also a 5K and 10K being held along the same course. A number of my friends are participating so I would like to join the other spectators and cheer them on. Check out a course map.
• On Saturday afternoon, LA Beer Fest is being held in two sessions from 12pm to 3pm or 5pm to 8pm at the Paramount Studios / The Sony lot. The festival will feature live music, beer and food trucks.  Tickets will not be sold at the door – so visit the site to purchase your ticket if you plan to attend.
• On Sunday morning in Santa Monica, my team’s weekly practice continues for the San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon/Full Marathon and Mayor’s Half/Full Marathon to be held in Alaska. As you might know, I’m a captain on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training – we train for marathons while fundraising to cure blood cancer. This week – our training run is scheduled to be 6 miles for our half marathoners and 14 miles for our full marathoners.
• Open Houses will be in full swing on Sunday afternoon and I’m going to be attending a number of them previewing properties for buyers that I am working with.

If you’re stuck in town, I’d encourage you to take advantage of the idea that a number of people are starting to adopt – the “staycation”…use this opportunity to stay in town and take a vacation in your own city…explore the local area and try something new:

• Check out a comedy show, a musical or a play
• Take a hike
• Attend services at a familiar or new place of worship
• Lay on the grass or play Frisbee in a park
• Head to the beach
• Check out a music or beer festival
• Be a spectator at the Hollywood Half Marathon – I guarantee the runners will appreciate you cheering them on and you’ll get a great feeling about the human spirit watching the race
• Volunteer – whether you visit a dog rescue organization, help at a food kitchen, or pick up litter – just try something!

What are you going to do this holiday weekend? I want to hear your comments below!

Photo courtesy of Frank3.0′s Flickr

The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice | Los Angeles Real Estate Blog - The Los Angeles Real Estate Voice is a real estate blog featuring properties in the greater Los Angeles area. Visit our Los Angeles real estate blog here!