The link below sheds some light on the appreciation in the local market.
Housing upturn occurring in some parts of Southern California, data show -- latimes.com
Showing posts with label Los Angeles County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Los Angeles County. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
KOBE BRYANT, GRAUMAN’S CHINESE THEATER, OZZIE OSBORNE & A PICKLED TONGUE SANDWICH ON RYE
Only in L.A. are all the things in this blog title possible to see in one afternoon. Well, sort of. My daughter wanted to see some star’s homes, so yesterday we made a day of it. If you enjoy watching humanity on parade, Grauman’s Chinese Theater is absolutely the place to be.
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We started out there by looking at the stars on The Walk of Fame. While a sidewalk marker of Julia Roberts may be eye catching, the real show revolves around the people at eye level. There were wanna’ be’s, might be’s, and those that just want to be seen. You can go a block west, to the Hollywood Wax Museum and see very large candles that look frighteningly like Kobe Bryant, Snoop Dog or a host of other stars.
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If shopping is more your thing, The Hollywood & Highland Center is just on the east side of Grauman’s. Personally, I’ll keep an eye on the parade of humanity while my wife and daughter shop.
From there, it was off to the Hollywood Hills to the star’s homes. Through Google, we found a semi-reliable list of stars. If you want to drive by Ozzie Osborne’s front gate, you can. Ditto for Madonna. But really, it looked a lot more like a big, giant hedge row to me.
Whether most of these people still live in the homes is anyone’s guess. However, if you want to find yourself lost in some beautiful areas of Los Angeles, it’s the way to go.
After working up a serious hunger, we drove east to the Fairfax District, and home to Canter’s Deli. Canter’s is a very historic part of L.A. It’s famous for it’s patrons, food and, well, being Canter’s. Always wanting to try ethnic foods, I opted for the pickled tongue sandwich on rye. If you’re not Jewish, this might sound bad. I’m not, and it wasn’t. In fact, it was very good. My wife had pastrami, and my daughter had a lox sandwich.
From there, it was off to the Hollywood Hills to the star’s homes. Through Google, we found a semi-reliable list of stars. If you want to drive by Ozzie Osborne’s front gate, you can. Ditto for Madonna. But really, it looked a lot more like a big, giant hedge row to me.
Whether most of these people still live in the homes is anyone’s guess. However, if you want to find yourself lost in some beautiful areas of Los Angeles, it’s the way to go.
After working up a serious hunger, we drove east to the Fairfax District, and home to Canter’s Deli. Canter’s is a very historic part of L.A. It’s famous for it’s patrons, food and, well, being Canter’s. Always wanting to try ethnic foods, I opted for the pickled tongue sandwich on rye. If you’re not Jewish, this might sound bad. I’m not, and it wasn’t. In fact, it was very good. My wife had pastrami, and my daughter had a lox sandwich.
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All were tasty and the bread was bakery fresh. The one negative I would say was the price. Three sandwich lunches with waters and ice tea ran over $50. Given the number of other Jewish delis in L.A., I would probably opt for a different one next time.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
INEXPENSIVE SUMMER FUN
Summer's Here!!!
Say it with me now...Summer is HERE! OK, so it's cloudy today and 65 degrees. But there are two distinct things that tell me warm Southern California nights are upon us. And I've spotted both. One is the sound of Vin Scully calling a Dodger game. Whether you're a Dodger fan, Angel fan, or no fan at all, hearing Vin Scully means summer. Some of the best things in life really are free. And dozing off to Vinny is definitely one of them.
The other sure sign summer is here are the sites, sounds and smells ( that darn kettle corn does it every, single time) of a local farmers market/street fair. Nothing turns a person back to their childhood faster than cruising around a blocked off street, eating a funnel cake, bbq, roasted corn, tri-tip sandwich, and/or kettle corn. Unless of course, it's listening to a cover band play your favorite high school songs while holding your spouses hand and watching your child laugh and shop for ...well in my case, anything.
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If you are now thinking about fresh cranberry bread,bonsai plant, or a henna tattoo, you'll find it
at any number of local downtown street fairs. It's fun, it's family, and it's the best inexpensive fun you can treat your family to. So below are a list of links to Upland, Claremont, Pomona, San Dimas and La Verne's Farmer's Markets:
If you see a skinny, bald guy eating way too much bad food, be sure to stop by and say hi.
Friday, May 22, 2009
TRI-LEVEL ELEGANCE
***JUST LISTED***
4552 Jessica Drive,Los Angeles(Glassell Park)
3 Bed/2.5 Bath/1812 Sq.Ft.
$4999,995
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Monday, May 18, 2009
A TAX NOTICE I WAS GLAD TO GET
So I go out to my mailbox a couple of weeks ago, and pull out my Sports Illustrated, Realtor Magazine and a bunch of advertising I had no need for. But then I came across this:
Not a particularly attractive post card. And quite frankly, getting anything with a county,IRS,or Franchise Tax logo on it is not necessarily good news. BUT...as I scanned to the bottom, I was over joyed at the sight of my home's value being upside down. The reason being, the County of San Bernardino is the one entity that I want to think my home has de-valued. Not only that, but this was accomplished in the recent election under Prop. 8 .
Smelling a reduction in my property tax (which may be the only smell I enjoy more than orange blossoms), I decided to investigate. Lo and behold, it worked! I lowered my mortgagepayment by $185.69/month. And I didn't even have to pay for the postage.It can for you too. If you live in San Bernardino County,and got the same post card....
Here's how:
1. Get a copy of your tax bill Click Here..Just follow the instructions and it will take you a link that says "Parcel
Number". Now click on that. Then click the link that says "View PDF".
2. When you see your tax bill (you'll know because the next thing you will see is Dick Larsen's name in large font)
look just below his name, and see the number under "Total Tax Rate" . Mine is .010594, or 1.0594%
3. Here's the only math you have to do. Use my tax bill as an example. My "Maximum Assessment" is
currently $575,341. Multiplying that by the Total Tax Rate gives you my existing yearly
taxes of $6095.16 ( $575,341 x 1.0594%= $6,095.16)....Now do the same for the "Fair Market Value as
of 1/1/2009" . That figure is $365,000 ($365,000 x 1.0594%=$3,866.81)
4. Subtract those two figures, and you'll get the yearly tax savings ($6,095.16-$3,866.81= $2,228.35) Since
my taxes are built into my payment, I divide $2,228.35 /12= $185.69.That is how much my mortgage
payment dropped. If it wouldn't have made for an uncomfortable moment, I might have actually kissed my mail
man. If the math is confusing, just drop me an email, or call and I'd be happy to walk you through it.
And just like Billy Mays.....WAIT...THERE'S MORE!!!
If your mail man wasn't nice enough to give you one of those postcards, and you think your property is worth less than when you bough it, you can petition the County of San Bernardino to lower your taxes. Click Here.. and be taken to the application page for The County.You may still get a reduction.
WAIT...THERE'S STILL MORE!!!
If you don't happen to live in San Bernardino County, here are some links you may be able to use:
For Orange County Click Here
For Los Angeles County Click Here
For Riverside County Click Here
If your taxes are built into your payment,and depending on your lender, you may have your payment reduced in the next month. And yes...THERE'S STILL MORE!! You may also have a refund from the overage your lender now has in your escrow account.
Not a particularly attractive post card. And quite frankly, getting anything with a county,IRS,or Franchise Tax logo on it is not necessarily good news. BUT...as I scanned to the bottom, I was over joyed at the sight of my home's value being upside down. The reason being, the County of San Bernardino is the one entity that I want to think my home has de-valued. Not only that, but this was accomplished in the recent election under Prop. 8 .
Smelling a reduction in my property tax (which may be the only smell I enjoy more than orange blossoms), I decided to investigate. Lo and behold, it worked! I lowered my mortgagepayment by $185.69/month. And I didn't even have to pay for the postage.It can for you too. If you live in San Bernardino County,and got the same post card....
Here's how:
1. Get a copy of your tax bill Click Here..Just follow the instructions and it will take you a link that says "Parcel
Number". Now click on that. Then click the link that says "View PDF".
2. When you see your tax bill (you'll know because the next thing you will see is Dick Larsen's name in large font)
look just below his name, and see the number under "Total Tax Rate" . Mine is .010594, or 1.0594%
3. Here's the only math you have to do. Use my tax bill as an example. My "Maximum Assessment" is
currently $575,341. Multiplying that by the Total Tax Rate gives you my existing yearly
taxes of $6095.16 ( $575,341 x 1.0594%= $6,095.16)....Now do the same for the "Fair Market Value as
of 1/1/2009" . That figure is $365,000 ($365,000 x 1.0594%=$3,866.81)
4. Subtract those two figures, and you'll get the yearly tax savings ($6,095.16-$3,866.81= $2,228.35) Since
my taxes are built into my payment, I divide $2,228.35 /12= $185.69.That is how much my mortgage
payment dropped. If it wouldn't have made for an uncomfortable moment, I might have actually kissed my mail
man. If the math is confusing, just drop me an email, or call and I'd be happy to walk you through it.
And just like Billy Mays.....WAIT...THERE'S MORE!!!
If your mail man wasn't nice enough to give you one of those postcards, and you think your property is worth less than when you bough it, you can petition the County of San Bernardino to lower your taxes. Click Here.. and be taken to the application page for The County.You may still get a reduction.
WAIT...THERE'S STILL MORE!!!
If you don't happen to live in San Bernardino County, here are some links you may be able to use:
For Orange County Click Here
For Los Angeles County Click Here
For Riverside County Click Here
If your taxes are built into your payment,and depending on your lender, you may have your payment reduced in the next month. And yes...THERE'S STILL MORE!! You may also have a refund from the overage your lender now has in your escrow account.
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