7 Tips to Help You Downsize Quickly and Painlessly written by Michael Longsdon

7 Tips to Help You Downsize Quickly and Painlessly

written by Michael Longsdon

If the current housing shortage is any indication, older adults aren’t eager to downsize their homes. For many, it’s not because they don’t want the benefits of a smaller home. Rather, retirees simply aren’t ready for the big change. Seniors who wait to downsize put themselves in a tough situation. Instead of downsizing in their 60s when they’re healthy, older adults are waiting until their 80s when they can no longer live independently. Without the stamina for a big move, seniors in their 80s are more likely to end up in assisted living.

If you’re committed to aging in place, it’s better to downsize early. Not only will you have a safe home to age in, but you’ll also increase your financial security in retirement. A smaller mortgage, lower utility bills, and fewer maintenance expenses mean more money to live on and less stress. As HomeAdvisor puts it, “Having fewer financial- and maintenance-related responsibilities will allow you to focus more on your happiness and less on your home.”

If more financial security and fewer worries sound like something you want, don’t wait to downsize. Instead, use these tips to make downsizing as painless as possible.

1. Think twice before moving far.

A destination retirement might sound endlessly appealing, but moving far from your community has major drawbacks. Not only do you have to deal with the logistical aspects of a long-distance move, but you’ll have to rebuild a social community from scratch or risk isolation. Most seniors are better off staying in the same area.

2. Start culling possessions early.

Downsizing belongings can be the most overwhelming part of moving for many older adults. Rather than paying for an expensive storage unit or cramping a new home with too much stuff, start culling belongings a year before the move. The earlier you start, the less stressful it will be.

3. Know your ideal home size.

It’s hard to know how much to get rid of if you’re not certain what size house you’d like to live in. Research the local market to discover what size homes are available in your price range. Then, drop into a couple of open houses to see if it’s a realistic size for your lifestyle. In addition to home size, consider the aging-in-place design features explained at Next Avenue.

4. Practice living with less.

Can’t decide what to keep and what to give away? Box up the items on your “maybe” list and practice living without them. If you don’t miss them, you know you’re ready to say goodbye.

5. Hold an estate sale.

Selling items piece by piece is incredibly time-consuming. And usually, it’s not all that profitable. Instead, host an estate sale to sell a lot of stuff in one go. You can host your own estate sale, but hiring an estate sale company makes the process much easier.

6. Spruce up your home before moving.

A minor facelift can make a big difference in your home’s market appeal. If your home is well-maintained but hasn’t been updated in many years, it’s worth investing in some home improvements. An updated appearance helps your home appeal to today’s buyers without putting a big dent in your budget. Bob Vila recommends 13 inexpensive upgrades for sellers.

7. Know the floor plan.

Moving items that won’t fit in your new house is a waste of money. After buying a house, measure your furniture and compare it against the blueprint to see what fits. Creating a floor plan also lets you tell movers exactly where to set heavy items.

Our final tip? Hire help. Downsizing is overwhelming enough without trying to do it all yourself. With a trusted real estate agent, a crew of movers, and a senior move manager on your team, you can navigate this big transition with confidence that you’re making a smart move.

*Don't forget, Prop 60 and 90 were designed for people 55+ in LA county and other select counties in California.  It allows the transfer of your current property tax to a new home. Find out more here
https://assessor.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/E-20.pdf

                                                                                                     

Michael Longsdon reached out to me about him writing an article that I would put on my blog, which has always been my own writings. However, I believe that this is a great article and Mr Longsdon has a lot of great advice to give when it comes to caring for aging friends and family.  You can read more of his columns here  elderfreedom.net

Did You Know? Tips And Tricks For Your Home

Did You know...you can track your mail through a service provided by USPS.  Sign up here https://www.usps.com/    Look for the "Track And Manage" Tab and under that choose "Informed Delivery".  UPS and Fedex also offer similar services.

Did You Know....You could be eligible to get $400 rebate for a new Clothes Washer through LADWP?  Find out more here https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/residential/r-savemoney/r-sm-rebatesandprograms?_adf.ctrl-state=fcerei2y0_4&_afrLoop=646652632687252

Did You Know....LADWP also offers free AC Optimization services from installing a new thermostat, replacing air filters and adding coolant to your unit?  Find out more here
https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/residential/r-savemoney/r-sm-rebatesandprograms/r-sm-acopt?_adf.ctrl-state=fcerei2y0_4&_afrLoop=646866475158789

Did You Know....Using DW40 to help doors and windows open better may work but spray silicone is what most professionals would recommend you use instead

Did You Know...Watering your grass in the middle of the day can waste water as most of it will evaporate from the sun's heat.  Watering your grass at night may work better but may also cause the growth of mushrooms.  Watering in the early AM is typically a better option for most.

Did You Know...Even though your holiday lights say they can be used outdoors, rain and moisture can still short them out or corrode the plugs over time.  Some neighbors either zip-tie or use electrical tape to cover the plugs with a plastic bag.

Today's Real Estate Market: The Twists and Turns

2018 has held a lot of twists and turns for our real estate market.  Here are some of what you may be seeing and what to expect in the near future. 

Back in June of this year, I wrote about the shift happening in the real estate market.  It didn't take long for our market to switch from a Seller's Market to a Buyer's Market, which we are now in.  If you're not in an up-to-date knowledge of the real estate market, this news may come as a surprise as you've likely been watching homes go into multiple offers and get over asking price for years.  And while some places may still have more than one offer on them, we may not be seeing the frenzy of house buying like this again for quite some time.  The housing market, just like our economy, has its ebb and flow and the housing market had been going up strong for about the past 6 years.  So it's no surprise that we are entering into a new market.  As an agent, my job is just to set up my client's expectations with where the market is and how best to market a home for sale for my sellers in this market or negotiate a deal for a buyer.

My advice for my sellers: Market their homes with the unique features it may have that surrounding homes may not.  Make this the big, bold, first sentence marketing bit. Show the pictures of this feature first.  Does your home have solar?  A pool?  Maybe you have an "office" that could really be a bedroom if it only had a door.  I would ask my sellers to install a door or list that house as having that extra bedroom for marketing purposes than disclose to buyers that it is not a true bedroom. The way in which you market your home, and to who you market it to, is of the highest importance.  Especially in this new market.

My advice for buyers:  Don't let a home that has been sitting for a while, or gone on and off the market scare you.  This will become something we will see more and more of moving forward.  Negotiation of the price will be more and more common and prices are already showing drops so this is a good time to buy if are looking for a deal.  Especially in the winter time when people who sell their homes are usually selling because they have to, not because they want to. 

Not only am I the Valley agent that national and local media turn to when they want an expert's help in putting together their news and articles, but I am also in constant contact with other local agents and well as some of the best agents in other major markets. I listen to where other markets are and take in the ways other agents in these markets are working through their own market shifts and challenges. 
                                                                     

11 Ways You Can Give or Receive Help #Woolsey Fire

11 Ways You Can Give or Recieve Help From the Woolsey Fires

1. Los Angeles Fire Dept Foundation
http://supportlafd.org/

2. United Way of Greater Los Angeles
https://www.unitedwayla.org/en/

3. Ventura County Community Foundation
https://vccf.org/

4. Humane Society of Ventura

https://www.hsvc.org/

5. Red Cross

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2018/california-wildfires-red-cross-providing-shelter-as-people-flee-their-homes.html?fbclid=IwAR3oQ9mxpSJQN3sphExyuJQ7oE_FenR26JJJhfAgAec3EHqDFYbDSlvF368

6. California Community Foundation
https://www.calfund.org/wildfire-relief-fund/

7. Direct Relief
https://www.directrelief.org/

8. AirBNB
https://www.airbnb.com/welcome/evacuees/venturacounty…

9. LA County Animal Shelter
https://lacountyanimals.org/

10. Direct item donation. Any and all items welcome
Tuesday, November 13: 2 pm - 7 pm
Wednesday, November 14 - Friday, November 16: 12 pm - 7 pm

On Saturday, November 17 from 12 pm - 7 pm the warehouse will open for whoever needs to pick up supplies. We have partnered up with some amazing local restaurants who will be serving hot dinner on Saturday too!

Warehouse location:

31360 Via Colinas suite 101
Westlake Village, CA. 91362
located in the Westlake Village Industrial Park

11. Send thank you cards and messages to our Frist responders here and those who traveled to California to help.

Spooky, Thrilling, Fun Events Around LA Halloween 2018

Here are some Halloween attractions for you, the kids, or both

      1. Reign of Terror in Thousand Oaks 

2. Fall Festival at Underwood Farms in Moorpark

3. Tapia Bros. in Encino 

4. Boo at the Zoo

5. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios

6. The Backwood Maze in Burbank

7. Knott Scary Farm

8. Griffith Park Ghost Train

9. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride 

10. Rotten Apple 907 in Burbank

11. Queen Mary Dark Harbor

12. Rooftop Cinema (showing multiple Thriller movies between now and Oct 31st)

13. Horror Made Here at Warner Bros Studios

A Few Things To Expect In The Near Future For Real Estate

Back in June of this year, I wrote an article about the market shifting.  Some people didn't agree, some people didn't like it but none-the-less it had begun.  We are now in October and the market from Beverly Hills to the beaches to the Valley have all experienced this shift.  And what exactly is the shift, you may be wondering?  We have pretty much been in a seller's market from about 2012 till just recently.  This means there were more buyers looking to buy than houses that were available.  This creates a market where the seller typically has more say-so in a transaction because it was harder for buyers to get an accepted offer and then once they did, the buyer had very little leverage in negotiations during the transaction.  The seller's market is no longer here, and while some houses may be still selling quickly and maybe even some selling with multiple offers, it is more common to see houses sit on the market for a bit and possibly even drop their price.  With this happening, it also leaves the buyers in more control during the transaction.  And what does that mean, you ask?  For starters, the purchase contract is written such that the buyer has more abilities and options to cancel than the seller, up to a certain point.  Also, the buyers have more abilities these days to negotiate during the transaction because if buyers and sellers don't agree on repairs or credits during the transaction, the buyer can walk away leaving the seller to put the home back on the market and look for a new buyer which some sellers don't want to go through again.

What does this mean for the near future? I believe we will continue to see homes sitting a little longer on the market than before.  This means we have to set up buyer's expectations that just because a home may be sitting, doesn't mean anything is wrong with it.  It's just going to start becoming the norm.  Also, homes will be off and back on the market more while we are in this transition since buyer and sellers may be trying to hold their grounds stronger during negotiations.  And again, this won't mean something is wrong with the house. We may also have sellers experiencing wavering of decisiveness from the buyer throughout the transaction.  When a seller wants to sell, they are typically set on their plan to sell and move.  But that's not the same as a buyer.  Buyers can say they want to buy one day, then change their minds the next. They may have an idea of where they want to buy and what the home needs to have but then go in the opposite direction when they actually buy.  It's just the nature of buying a home.  And when buyers aren't under any pressure to buy, the way they were in the seller's market, then things can feel a little rollercoaster-like during the transaction as the buyer may not be set on their decision. I hope this gives perspective buyer and sellers some insight into what to expect in the near future for our Los Angeles Real Estate Market.  And when you start to think about moving, give me a call. I'm always here to help.


                                                                           

What Should Your Agent Be Doing For You?

It's hard to know what to expect from your agent unless you have bought/sold a number of homes.  So many times, people work with agents and really don't know what their agent should be doing for them. They wind up talking to friends and comparing stories to get a feel for what they are experiencing (good or bad).  I've worked with a number of clients before, who conveyed to me, that they were very surprised by what I was doing because their previous agent worked in a much different way. So here are some things you should expect and hopefully receive from your agent:

When selling a home:
1. He/she should offer to meet you in person to fill out disclosures that may require more than just a signature
2. They should hire a professional photographer to take amazing photos of your home! This is must!
3. They should have disclosures filled out by you ready for any buyer prior to the acceptance of an offer.
4.  They should have the city report called a 9A be requested and paid for by you before an acceptance of an offer (these can sometimes take weeks for the city to get and they hold up the closing of homes way too often because of the time they take)
5.  They should talk to you about what to expect in terms of needing your house to be ready for a retrofit inspection and what that looks like and may cost.
6.  They should have a title report run on your home prior to putting your house on the market to make sure there isn't anything that needs to be taken care of now before your house is in escrow and issues can arise.
7. They should have you fill out a "Statement of Information" so that the escrow company can start working on making sure there aren't any liens or other information found out about you that could affect the sale of your home. (many times someone with a seller's same name can come up on a title report that looks as if the seller has a lien or judgment when in fact, it is another person by the same name and this "Statement of information" is meant to clear up situations like this.
8. The agent should give you an idea of what open houses they want to have for your home and if your home doesn't sell right away, they should be available (or have someone available) to hold more open houses on your home for the weeks to come if you choose.
9.  They should clearly explain to you what the listing contract means, how much commission your agent and the buyer's agent receives, and what it would take to get out of that contract if you're not happy. (you should see this in writing)
10.  They should tell you in what manner your home will be shown to prospective clients.  Will you, the seller, be showing it? Will your agent meet the other agent and buyers themselves to show? Will there be a lockbox on the property for buying agents to gain entrance themselves? (Personally, I don't typically leave a lock box on a property AND also advertise that it is there on the MLS.  Regardless if agents say they need to call the owners prior to showing your home, it happens too often that if an agent reads that there is a lock box, they don't read the comments regarding calling the agent first and they just show up.)
11.  Your agent should try to be there for the inspections the buyer has on your home. It's best to hear, in person, what the inspector says regarding the condition and possible issues of a home.  It's also a good time for the listing agent and buyer's agent to communicate.
12.  Your agent should be advertising your home in whatever manner they deem best for your home.  Social media, mailers, neighborhood flyers etc....
13.  Your agent should clearly go over any offer and the pros and cons of what it may mean.  There is SO much more to an offer than the price.  Who is the buyer's agent? Does your agent know them? Who is the buyer's lender? Are they good? What are the time frames the buyer has for inspections? After inspections are completed and agreed upon by buyer and seller, does the buyer still have the right to come into your home before closing? Can the buyer just walk away from the purchase? If so, under what conditions?
14. Your agent should be able to do "Reverse Prospecting" which is looking up buyer's agents who have sent your property's MLS link to their clients. Your agent should be able to reach out to these other agents to ask for feedback or advertise your property to them.
15. Your agent should be able to give you an HONEST answer on what your home may be worth/sell for.  Some agents will get your hopes up by telling you your home is worth more just so they can get the listing signed and then later convince you to lower the price of your home.  (If your agent is convinced your home's price is more than other agents you've spoken with and you choose that agent. you have the right to have wording added in your listing agreement that states if your home doesn't sell for a certain price, you can cancel the agreement)
16. Your agent should discuss with you the possibility of them also representing a buyer for your home. And if they do that, what does it mean? What should you expect?  Personally, I've only done this a couple times and only at the request of the seller.  There is much to be discussed about this situation.
17. They should tell you about what is going on in the market in your area and what to expect in terms of how long your house may take to sell.
18. They should tell you who pays for what during the sale. Does the seller pay for certain closing costs or the buyer? (each transaction is different)

When Buying A Home:
1. Your agent should first have you get preapproved with a lender.  Not all lenders are good and just because you are pre-approved does NOT mean you will get the loan.  Lenders can be a huge hickup in the middle of a purchase.  Get recommendations from your agent or friends. Don't just call someone from the internet.
2.  He/she should be sending you homes that come up, or change price on a regular basis.
3.  They should be able to ask fellow agents if they have listings coming up that are not yet public.
4. They should advise you on how to put your offer together.  Should you offer the asking price? More or less? Will you be able to hold all needed inspections in the time frames on the contract?  What are your rights to walk away from this purchase if you choose?
5. They should have inspectors they have worked with and can recommend.
6.  They should be reasonably available to come with you to listings or have someone they work with take you.
7.  They should give you an idea of what to expect once your offer is accepted. How long till you put your deposit in escrow? How do you do that? What is included or not included in the purchase? What about things like solar panels, water softeners and security systems?  When should the owners be moving out or are they staying past the closing date?  Can you have things fixed on the home prior to closing?
8.  They should be with you during inspections of the home and be able to give you guidance on what the inspections mean.
9.  They should CLEARLY explain what the contingencies are prior to putting in your offer. What is at risk regarding your deposit with the contingencies?
10.  They should go over the disclosures with you and tell you what they mean and how they may affect you.
11.  They should go get you your keys/remotes to the new home when the home closes!

                                                                     

If you are looking to sell/buy a home, please give me a call.  I work hard, not only for my clients, but to get their future recommendations.  My clients and their needs are always my top priority.

How To Get Free Maintenance For Your AC

Was it really just 115 degrees outside last week?  Even the dust was crying it was so hot.  And how about all those Air Conditioners that went out?  No fun for anyone who had to suffer through that heat. And while many people had to call on someone to fix, or replace their air conditioners because of that heat wave, I have some good news for those whose units made it.  You may be eligible to have your AC maintenance done for free! Here are some of the service provided by LADWP

• Replacement or cleaning of standard air filters
• Outdoor coil cleaning
• System diagnostic test
• Refrigerant charge adjustment (up to 2 lbs. of refrigerant will be provided, if applicable)
• Installation of smart, Wi-Fi enabled thermostat (for compatible residential systems only, if customer does not already have a smart thermostat*)
  • Zoned systems only qualify for one thermostat
• If the customer’s home is not Wi-Fi enabled, or would prefer not to have a smart thermostat installed, the following AC system or Heat Pump alternatives can be installed at no charge to the customer:
• Western Cooling Control

Along with these great services, you can get rebates on new A/C units and much more.  Visit their website here: 

https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/residential/r-savemoney/r-sm-rebatesandprograms/r-sm-acopt?_afrLoop=2141401561408961&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=15q4bwlpzk_1#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3D15q4bwlpzk_1%26_afrLoop%3D2141401561408961%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D11qutgi5ni_4

Five Signs The Market Is Changing Right Now

Number #1 question I get about real estate is "When Do You think the market is going to stop climbing, level out or go down?" I'm pretty sure the answer is "Now".  Every year since about 2011 the market has been on the rise.  Some years more than others and each year the seasons and holiday times would give way to the natural ebb and flow of the market but I'm starting to see a real change right now in, what would normally be, the high season for buying and selling.  I've worked with a number of sellers and buyers this year and just about a month ago a few things happened in my transactions that got me asking "Is this just my transactions this is happening in, or is this a trend that is showing signs of something else?"  So I started asking all the other realtors in my office and that I was working with.  At first, it seemed as if it were just my luck (or lack there of) that was witness to some interesting things going on in my sales.  Then my questions started reflecting back that other realtors were experiencing some abnormal set-backs as well.

Here are five things I'm seeing that may be signs the market is making a change. 

1.  A number of homes aren't flying off the market, even when priced and marketed very well.  In fact, many were staying on for a few weeks and months and even some were starting to drop their prices.

2. Buyers are starting to really ask for a lot of request for repairs that seemed more than I had experienced in years which made me believe they were okay if they lost this sale and confident that would find another and be just as happy. Whereas in years before, they felt lucky just to get their offer accepted and didn't want to rock the boat too much and lose out on a deal.

 3. We've seen rates being to climb a bit however, they are still low enough that they are considered very good rates by history's standards.  But when rates go up even just a bit, some people are pushed out of their price range and what they can afford leaving them to "hold off" and either wait to save more money, wait for prices to drop or wait to see if rates drop back again.

4. Well priced good homes are getting high interest right when they hit the market for the first week, but after that, interested parties are seeming fewer and further between.

5. Short sales are starting to show up more.


I've been interviewed by NPR, LA Times,  Realtor Magazine, Trulia, Real Estate Business Institute and many more regarding my expert opinion on the housing market.  While I can't make predictions, I have great insight into where the market is and what is happening.  If you have any questions or if you are considering buying or selling soon, call me today!

                                                                     

I also added some statistics on here about home sales year over year in 3 different areas for your reference as well. 

8 Tips To Help Keep You From Being a Victim of Real Estate Related Cyber Crime

If you are thinking about buying or selling a property, you need to be on high alert to this massive cybercrime targeting people like you.  The FBI is working overtime to stop this growing crime but the best defense is you knowing about it and being proactive in watching for some red flags.

Here is what's going on:  Buyer and sellers get into a contract for a property and when they do, money is exchanged.  Years ago, it was more common that when you were buying a home, you could send a check or money order to an escrow company for the deposit and down payment for the purchase of a home.  Today, it is more common that people wire money which is the term for electronically transferring it between two people or businesses.  Criminals have used this wiring of money as an opportunity to step in and steal it by falsifying their identity over an email as someone such as your real estate agent, escrow officer or lender.  Once they have practically identically copied someone's email address, email signature and even business logos and photos on emails, they send this "copy cat" email to buyers and sellers giving them false wiring instructions.  Buyers and sellers are sometimes completely unaware this scam exists so when they receive an email that looks exactly like their agent's, lender's or escrow officer's they don't think twice about its validity.  Here's an example of how this crime might go down....

The buyer finds the home of their dreams and gets an offer accepted. Once the offer is accepted, the buyer is contacted by the escrow company and sent a packet of papers with information about their purchase as well as instructions on how to wire their initial deposit into escrow.  The buyer is now also in constant contact with the lender and agent during the purchase and a lot of this is over email.  Cybercriminal has already looked up real estate agents, escrow officer, and lenders and sets their sites on many of them by sending an email that is a scam where there is likely an attachment or link that, when it is opened, allows the criminal to take over the email address and criminal can read emails to find out who is about to buy and what their contact information is.  The criminal then sets up an email that will look practically identical with the email address, email signature and more being replicated by the criminal. One of the ways they get the buyer's attention is by saying that funds must be transferred immediately and the criminal then attaches wiring instructions that actually go to their own bank.  They even change the email signature so that when the buyer thinks to call and question this, the buyer reads the phone number attached with the email and actually speaks to the criminal who is disguising themselves as the agent, lender or escrow officer.  The buyer then transfers money as directed which, for most people, is hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.  Money is sent to the criminal's account.  The criminal immediately has money and money is gone.  FBI can sometimes stop the transfer only if they are notified immediately but sometimes this doesn't even help as the criminals have learned that if they do this crime near a holiday weekend such as the upcoming 4th of July, that may tie the hands of the banks who will be closed and also the buyer may not realize money didn't reach the right hands until the 3 day weekend is over and too much time has passed at that point.

Here are 8 tips to help keep you from being a victim of this crime:
1.  Tell each and every person you know who is thinking about buying or selling about this. Spread the word as much as you can!
2.  Have a conversation with your real estate agent, escrow officer, lawyer and lender about what they suggest you can do to avoid having this happen.
3.  Some people are choosing to go back to the old ways of using checks/money orders.  Talk to your agent and escrow officer and find out if this is possible and if so, what you need to do to make that work. (there may be time constraints on having the money released in check form that may conflict with contract deadlines)
**4. Have a phone conversation with your agent and have them verbally give you the lender and escrow officer's contact information and store it in your phone and only use that, rather than referring to the email contact info when reaching out to them. (This one is VERY important)
5. Be on alert for emails in which anyone is asking you to rush and send money.  This is the time to pick up the phone and call the number you originally have stored on your phone, or walk into the office of the person who sent you that email and verify it.
6.  Be on alert for any changes in wiring instructions sent to your email
7.  Visit the FBI's website to find out more information about this https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/international-bec-takedown-061118
8. Lastly, go back to #1 and spread the word about this as much as you can!

                                                                     

July 4th Fireworks 2018

Avalon/Catalina

July 4th- Firework shows at sundown.

Annual 4th of July Parade, Fireworks Display, Dinner at the Casino

Gold cart parade down Crescent Ave starts at 1PM.

Fireworks start at 9PM over Avalon Bay

1 Casino Way

Avalon, CA 90704

(310) 510-1520

https://www.catalinachamber.com/fireworks/

Burbank

Starlight Bowl - July 4th An American Celebration

1249 Lockheed View Dr.

Burbank, CA 91505

Gates open at 5:30 pm show begins at 6:30PM

Concert includes The High Street band

Purchase tickets online or at the Community Services Building, located at 150 North Third Street. http://www.starlightbowl.com 

Cabrillo Beach

Cabrillo Beach 3800 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731

For the 69th Annual 4th of July Spectacular

Cabrillo Beach will host a FREE 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks show.

http://www.lawaterfront.org/events.php

**Calabasas

Calabasas High School

Gates open at 5 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m.

Celebration includes live music, rides, crafts and games

Musically choreographed Fireworks Spectacular!

2855 W. Mulholland Highway

Calabasas, CA 91302

$10 admission price includes parking, entertainment and all activities

Tickets must be purchased in advance

http://www.cityofcalabasas.com 

Carson

StubHub Center

Soccer game and fireworks 

LA Galaxy VS DC United

Game starts at 7:30 p.m. Last year's event had fireworks after the game, however this year it is not clearly stated on the website that there will be fireworks. Please call to find out if you are interested in going. 

18400 S Avalon Blvd

Carson, CA 90746

http://www.stubhubcenter.com/events/detail/la-galaxy-vs-dc-united-2

Cerritos

Let Freedom Ring Celebration

Begins at 4 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m.

Cerritos Civic Center

18125 Bloomfield Ave.

Cerritos, CA 90703

(562) 916-1254

http://www.cerritos.us/main/city_calendar.php?trumbaEmbed=date%3D20170704#/?i=15

Claremont

4th of July Festival & Contests 

Memorial Park

840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

Claremont, CA 91711

The day will be filled with a festival of games, concert, food, fun, parade and fireworks

http://www.claremontevents.com/

Culver City

West LA College

9000 Overland Ave

Culver City, CA 90230

(310) 287-4200

www.culvercityfireworksshow.com

Date: July 4, 2018 at 4pm

Diamond Bar

Music, food trucks and fireworks

 Diamond Bar High School

21400 Pathfinder Road

Diamond Bar, California 91765

https://www.diamondbarca.gov/764/4th-of-July-Blast

Downtown Los Angeles

4rth of July Block Party in Grand Park

200 North Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(323) 887-4427

Attendance is free, event begins at 3 p.m.

http://grandparkla.org/event/july4-block-party-2018/?instance_id=98373

Hansen Dam

11770 Foothill Blvd.

Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

featuring music and other live entertainment, food, and fireworks.

10 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.;

Event is free to the public

(818) 891-9399

https://culturela.org/event/4th-of-july-celebration-at-hansen-dam/

Hollywood

Hollywood Bowl

Go Go Go to the Bowl for the Go Go Girls and fireworks!
2301 North Highland Ave

(323) 850-2000

https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/367/

Hollywood (2)

Footloose and Fireworks! 

Hollwyood Forever Cemetery

6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles CA

Cost is $35. Doors at 7:15PM and Movie at 9PM

https://patch.com/california/studiocity/calendar/event/20180704/359912/july-4-footloose-fireworks-2018-forever-cemetery-hollywood

Irwindale Park

4th of July fiesta and fireworks spectacular

Fiesta begins at noon. Fireworks begin at 9PM

http://www.ci.irwindale.ca.us/documentcenter/view/861

La Crescenta

tickets are just $9 each pre-sale until July 3rd. They will be $10 at the gate. Children 7 and under are free.

Check website for advance ticket sale locations (recommended). Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Ave.

(818) 248-2271

http://www.cvfireworks.com/event.htm

Lancaster

4-7:00 p.m.   Entertainment and food outside of Grandstand area

7:00 p.m.      Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division

7-8:30 p.m.   Entertainment in grass area outside grandstands

9:30 p.m.      Free Fireworks Show*

http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/about-us/departments-services/parks-recreation-arts/special-events/hot-hot-hot-4th-of-july-extravaganza

Long Beach 

Fireworks cruise:

Tickets are about $45 dollars ages 3 and up; Boarding approximately 7:30 pm. Cruise approximately 2-2 1/2 hrs. in length. To purchase tickets please:

Call (562) 983-6880,

https://tickets.harbor-cruises.com/default.asp?searchdate=07/04/2018&MonthSubmit=x

The Queen Mary All-american July 4th                                                                  A day of entertainment for the whole family ends with a giant fireworks extravaganza. Prices are $44.00 per adult (ages 12+) if tickets are purchased prior to July 4th.
On July 4th at the door the price is $59 per adult (ages 12+)Prices are $24.00 per child (ages 4-11) if tickets are purchased prior to July 4th.
On July 4th at the door the price is $39 per adult (ages 4-11)

https://www.queenmary.com/calendar-of-events/july-4th/

Marina del Rey

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. and are launched from barge across the Marina's main channel

Parking is limited and local street closures (see “Road Closures” below) are planned to commence as early as 1 p.m. in some areas. We recommend that you arrive no later than 1 p.m. and stay for the day. See “Getting Here” section on the website for alternative ways to get around the Marina once you have arrived in town; use these methods for transportation to kayak/paddleboard rentals and other water activities to enjoy while you wait for the show.

Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way) and Fisherman's Village (13755 Fiji Way) are premier viewing locations

Parking fees range from $7 - $15

(310) 305-9545

https://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/events/july-4-marina-del-rey

Pacific Palisades

Begin your day with the 41st annual 5k/10k cross-country run. http://www.palisades10k.com/

4Pm: Food/Concert Gates OpenKid’s Activities & B Stage Concert Featuring:

• Arielle Martinez Cohen
• Trinity Rose
• Phat Trick
• Cohort  

6pm: Main Stage Concert Featuring:

• HEADLINER: The 2018 Palisades' Uplifters
• OPENER: Madi Rindge
• Tom Farrell's Palisades’ All-Stars (Sound Roads Music School)
• Palisades Charter High School Band (Alex Dale)

9PM: Fireworks

http://www.palisades4th.com/fireworks/

Pasadena

"Americafest 2016" at Rose Bowl Stadium

1001 Rose Bowl Dr.

Pasadena, CA 91103

12:00 PM – Parking Lots Open

2:00 PM – Family Fun Zone- Area H Opens5:00PM – Field Viewing Experience Reception Doors Open 5:30 PM – Doors Open7:00 PM – Performances Begin9:00 PM – Fireworks Begin

9:00 PM – Fireworks Begin

Tickets: $15 - General (5 and under free), $30 - Reserved

(626) 577-3100

https://www.rosebowlstadium.com/events/detail/america-fest

Pomona 

Pomona Fairplex

1101 W. McKinley

It's the 32nd annual fireworks spectacular at Fairplex.

Motor cross, Monster trucks (with rides) and Quad wars! 

General Admission starts at $18.50. Kids under 2 are free. 

 http://www.fairplex.com/events/kaboom

Porter Ranch

Shepherd of the Hills Church

19700 Rinaldi Street

Porter Ranch

A variety of free inflatable jumpers and obstacle courses until 8:30PM.

Free face painting until 8:30PM

Sprinkler zones to stay cool

Super Hercules military flyover by US Air Force 146th Airwing, Channel islands

Lots of food trucks! 

Event is FREE

https://www.shepherdchurch.com/4th

Redondo Beach

100 Fisherman’s Wharf Redondo Beach 90277

http://www.redondopier.com/event/meet-the-falconer-3/

Rosemead

I couldn't find information about fireworks this year however, it is possible that the information just isn't up at this point. Please check website or call for more information. 

http://www.cityofrosemead.org/

San Pedro -

7-10 p.m. Celebrate the Fourth of July on the water! Tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for children.

https://lamitopsail.org/community-calendar-2018/

Santa Clarita

festivities kick off with the Independence Day 5K and 10K 

http://calendar.santa-clarita.com/event/independence_day_classic_5k_10k_runwalk#.WyFV39MvzBI

Also enjoy the annual Santa Clarita "Grand Ole Flag" Parade beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Old Town Newhall

Firework show: 

Not only will the night’s sky display magnificent, luminous lights, the air will be filled with the sounds of KHTS AM 1220’s live soundtrack to compliment the ambience of the event.  Fireworks will be shot from the parking structure above Buca Di Beppo restaurant, so grab a grassy spot nearby and get ready to catch a show!

http://calendar.santa-clarita.com/event/city_of_santa_clarita_fourth_of_july_fireworks_show#.WyFWd9MvzBI

Santa Clarita (2)

Six Flags Magic Mountain 

Fireworks will be on display from June 30th-July 4th

https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/special-events/july-4th

Santa Monica

No firework shows are happening in Santa Monica however, there is a great parade starting at 9:30am. 

https://www.santamonica.com/event/fourth-july-parade/

South Gate

4900 Southern Avenue

South Gate, CA 90280

Dazzling Fireworks Display starts at 9 pm on Baseball Diamond #1. For more information please call 323.563.5479

https://cityofsouthgate.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=947&month=7&year=2018&day=4&calType=0

Stevenson Ranch

Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park

26233 W Faulkner Dr.

Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381

Festivities begin at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.

http://parks.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpr/Parks/Dr_Richard_H_Rioux_Memorial_Park

Studio City

This year Studio City will not be having fireworks but check back next year as things may change.

http://www.studiocitychamber.com/

Sunland Tujunga

The Family Fireworks Festival is held at Verdugo Hills High School’s Turner Stadium. The main entrance is off Hillrose Avenue at the athletic field. Gates open at 5pm and there will be live music, fun games, and  food. The gates close at 8:30pm and shortly after 9pm, the 20+ minute fireworks show lights up the sky. 

http://sunlandtujungafireworks.com/

West Covina

Independence Day Celebration

& Fireworks Spectacular

Wednesday July 4th 2018

4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

*NEW LOCATION*

Big League Dreams West Covina

2100 S Azusa Ave, West Covina, CA 91792

http://www.westcovina.org/departments/community-recreation-services/independence-day-celebration

Woodland Hills

July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza

Warner Ranch Park

21820 Califa St.

Woodland Hills, 91367

PARKING: $20 – Park in any of the Warner Center structures between Topanga and Canoga or Califa and Oxnard. Over 20 food vendors, arts and crafts booths and a children’s play area for your enjoyment. COME EARLY!

General admission if FREE but there is a VIP treatment you can find our more about. 

http://valleycultural.org