What One Million Dollars Buys you in LA in 2021

 This happens to be one of my most popular posts year after year.  Now it's 2021....prices over the last year have gone up on average across Los Angeles by about 20% since this time last year.  For those who are not familiar with Los Angeles, to understand why I have listed so many different areas here, it is because the county of Los Angeles is so large that there are many different areas with many different price points.  It is so large that if I were to drive from the top of the county to the bottom, it would take about 1 - 1.5 hours with no traffic and is about a 68 mile drive on the freeways. That is close to the size of the state of Massachusetts from top to bottom. From mountain areas, to the middle of the hustle and bustle and out to the beaches, check out what $1 Million could buy you in 2021 across LA.

North Redondo Beach

This area is just inland from Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.  Located about a mile from shore.  This is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo just over a mile from the beach. Sold for $989,000

Culver City

This area is located East of the 405 and South of the 10.  It's popularity has been growing a lot over the years. This home is likely going to be a flip or teardown. Currently it is 3 bedroom, 1 bath and just under 1,100 sqft and a lot that is under 5,000 sqft. Sold for $1,050,000

Sherman Oaks

This is part of what people in Los Angeles call "The Valley".  Located just past the Hollywood Hills and about 45 minutes to the beach. This home is  3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms and 1,346 sqft. The lot is just over 6,200 sqft and sold for $1,050,000. 

Santa Monica

This is one of the more well-known beaches in LA.  With a good mix of homes, restaurants, and businesses, people pay top dollar to live here. This condo is 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and just over 1,000sqft.  The home sold for $980,000 and is under a mile from the beach. 

El Segundo

This area of LA is where our international airport is located.  And it is also a beach town.  

This condo is 3 bedroom, 3 baths and 1,423 sqft.  Just blocks from the beach and sold for $985,000

South Pasadena 

This area of Los Angeles is well known for it's historic Craftsmen homes. Over the past number of years, it has attracted many great chefs with the foodies flocking to their restaurants. This condo has 3beds, 3baths and is 2,064 sqft.  This home sold for $995,000

Brentwood 

This is a well-to-do established neighborhood in Los Angeles.  It is nestled between The Pacific Palisades and Bel Air.  This condo is 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms and 1,425 sqft and sold for $1,010,000

West Hollywood 

When it comes to living in an area of LA with lots to do, this is that area.  So much shopping, nightlife, and designer homes. West Hollywood is also one of a handful of areas in Los Angeles that is it's own city. This 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo from the 1980's sold recently for $1,020,000.

Burbank

As I just mentioned, there are a handful of areas in LA that are its own city and Burbank is another one of them.  

There are too many TV shows and Movies to name that are filmed here both in the studios and around town.  With Warner Bros Studio, Disney Studio, and the sought-after schools for families, this area attracts people both for home life and proximity to their jobs. 

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Burbank looks like it may have a lot of its original features from when it was built in 1950.  This sold for $1,030,000.

Westlake Village 

Bordering on Ventura County, this is community has become one that wealthy households have sought-after when they don't want to be in the hubbub of the city.  However, it also has a great selections of things to do and places to go and is also one of my favorite areas in LA.   This home has 2,243 sqft with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It sold for $1,000,000

Downtown LA

DTLA is transforming every day.  Home of the Staples Center that hosts both Lakers and Clippers and well as many concerts and shows. It also holds so much of our city's history in certain pockets, buildings and stories. This DTLA condo has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and is 1,151 sqft. This sold for $980,000

Valencia 

Also known as Santa Clarita, this is also its own city.  Located on the most northern point of Los Angeles, people seek this area for it's beautiful town, good schools and your money goes farther here. This home is located in the unincorporated area called Stevenson Ranch. It features 3,108 sqft and has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. This sold for $1,048,000.

La Canada Flintridge

 This section of Los Angeles is widely known for its beautiful nature. With thick green lush and hills, it's a bit reminiscent of Northern California.  Schools in this area are known to be good and that is a factor that drives prices up in areas all over LA. This home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and is just under 1,300 sqft.  It sold for $950,000

To check out where prices have changed over the years, see my previous blogs

One Million Dollars in LA 2016

One Million Dollars in LA 2017

One Million Dollars in LA 2020


When you are ready to buy or sell, call me.  I'm always here to help. 

Amber Dolle

O - 661.347.8410

C - 323.828.7777

dollehouses@gmail.com

Nine Things In Your Home That You Should Know Where They Are And What They Do

 There are many people who grew up fixing their own cars and maintaining their own homes.  Then there are those like myself that lived in apartments for many years when I was young and didn't know how to fix much of anything.  And I sell homes to many people like this who have either had landlords taking care of things or may need to hire someone to come help with most projects around the house.  Either way, you'll want to know where these things are and what they do!!

1.  Sprinkler shut off valve.  

This may likely be underground or at least covered in dirt or grass.  If not, it will be around 8"- 12" of a circle or oval cover you should be able to lift off.  You'll need to know where this is to shut off the water from going into any of your sprinkler lines if one breaks, you need to reroute them or redo your yard for any reason.  

2. Main Water shut off valve

Again, this is something you'll want to know where it is.  If a pipe in your home bursts, this may be your best friend.  This could be in your garage, or maybe outside your home.  

3. GFCI reset

Most women have had the experience of blow-drying their hair and the electrical outlet shutting it off mid-dry. Many times, you can use the button on the outlet to reset it.  This is also used around places in your home where there is water near the outlet to protect from electrical issues near that water source.  Some homes have these outlets GFCI capable but there is no button on them yet they can still trip.  This could mean that all the outlets are wired to one main outlet that you'll have to locate and be able to reset through that trip button on it.  Good to ask your inspector or electrician if this is the case and know where that is...they can be tricky to find sometimes.  

4. Electrical panel/box

This can either be outside on the wall of your house or maybe in the garage although I've seen some inside the home especially if add-ons were done.  There also may be a "sub-panel" if your home is older and needed more power with the many plug-in items we have today.  You'll want to know where these are. 

5. Sink and toilet water shut off valve.

Many people like to turn these off if they are leaving their homes empty for a while.  But you really want to know where these are and how to shut them off if a toilet starts to overflow or something around your sink starts to leak or burst.  

6. Dryer Vent Exit

Many house fires start because of these.  So this is something you really need to pay attention to.  If your vent is short and straight between walls, you can likely clean it yourself.  But if it is longer and curves in the walls, you can hire someone to clean it for you.  They can sometimes look like a wide pipe hole on the outer wall of your home or sometimes they have a cover like the one in this photo. 

7.  Window bars release pull

Having bars on your windows is common in many areas and especially in the city.  Not all of these have a release but they should and if you have a fire in your home, you'll need to know how to get these open quickly so find where yours is today and how to open it.  Because these can be in many places and have different levers and pulls and even foot pedals that open them, I don't have a good photo to represent these release levers but please find the one in your home if you have bars.  

8.  Garage Door release

This one is easy to find and use.  It is typically a string with a red handle tied to the end.  When you pull on it is releases your garage door from the automated lift system allowing you to manually open/close your garage.  While most people don't ever have to use this, it is good to know how to use it in case your electricity shuts off or your electrical opener breaks so you can get your door open or shut.  

9. Sewer Cleanout

This is another one where you will want to know where it is and how to use it!  It is usually located outside your home in the front yard area (although I've seen some townhomes where this is in the garage floor).  Sewer backups in homes happen more often than you think and can cause more damage than expected.  They happen due to items being flushed in toliets that are not toliet paper.  Also sewer lines can collapse, break or have root intrutions.  If you ever hear/see bubbling in your toilets, shower drains or sink drains, this could be a sign that your main line is backing up.  Call a plumber! But also find your clean out and remove the cap right away.  They twist off and sometimes can break if they have been exposed to weather for too long but better to get it off and replace it than to deal with sewer backing up into your home.  

If you are buying a home, this is a good oportunity to find out where these are located. But if you already own your home and need to find these, start asking your plumber and electrician and write down where they are and how they work.  

6 Of The Most Common, Yet Simple, Mistakes Sellers Make

 1. Assuming certain items can be removed from the home. 

When selling your home, the contract states what can and can not be removed from your home.  If you have any doubts about whether it stays or goes, ask your agent.  This causes a lot of problems when buyers are told certain things will remain but then show up to their new home and find them missing. 

2. Leaving your refrigerator icemaker on and/or leaving ice in the ice maker bucket. 

Sellers sometimes forget or their agents forget to advise them some sellers turn off their electricity before the new buyer turns it on.  This can cause ice to melt and leave a mess of a puddle on the floor. 

3. Not changing your address with all needed businesses, services or agencies.  

After many years of compiling this, I put together a list of everywhere you should change your address with when you move. I give this to all my sellers so they don't miss anywhere important. 

4.  Forgetting to tell the people who service your home that your moving. 

From gardeners, pool maintenance people and pest services.  Remember to let them know you're going, especially if you have a contract with them like the pest control company. 

5.  Forgetting to take items from your garden or yard. 

You'll have to ask your agent what stays and goes before you market your home but assuming you've already done this and it's okay that you can take them, sellers forget about potted plants, bird feeders and things like wind chimes quite often. 

6.  Leaving paint cans behind

Just out of courtesy to the new owner, it is nice to leave old paint cans that are labeled with where they were used for the new owner.  Even if there is no or old paint in them.  You'll like have a lot of holes that need to be covered and painted from things you've hung around your house and not all new home owners want to repaint entire rooms. They would prefer to just patch up the holes and paint them. 

Photo by  Vinicius "amnx" Amano  

What Is Really Safe To Flush In Your Toilet? Here Is A List Of The Only 10 Items You Can Safely Flush

If you are a child of the 80's then you may remember "The Lost Boys".   And perhaps you'll remember that famous scene where the bathroom and kitchen blow up with everything ejecting from every pipe or drain in the room.  Well, your home could have a similar reaction to having certain items flushed down the toilet.  

And while it may not look as devastating and dramatic as that famous "The Lost Boys" scene, trust me, it will feel about the same when you see what can come back up in your bathtub, shower, drains and toilets. 

Have I got your attention yet?  I hope so.  Because not only is this a mess no one wants, it's also a cost that will leave your wallet in tears.  Every home I sell, I tell my clients they need a sewer inspection.  If you own your home and haven't had one in about 5 years then you too should have one.  How else will you know what that big pipe going from your house to the main sewer line looks like?  Are they broken? Cracked? Collapsed? Or do they have roots growing in them? Or backed up by things that shouldn't be in there?

A couple weeks ago I had a social hour over Zoom with some girlfriends of mine and, to be honest, I don't remember how the conversation of bathrooms came up but there was wine involved so...who knows.  Point being, there was a lot of confusion over what you can really flush down a toilet.  So that conversation led to this blog.  And I felt it necessary to make a list of all the items that can be safely flushed down a toilet to avoid a horror movie scene from happening in your home. So here you go:       1. Toilet paper 2. Toilet paper 3. Toilet paper  4. Toilet paper  5. Toilet paper  6. Toilet paper  7. Toilet paper  8. Toilet paper  9. Toilet paper  10. Toilet paper

It doesn't matter what the box or packaging says because unless that company will come to clean up your mess when it doesn't belong in your pipes, then I suggest you find other products or another way to dispose of them. 

Photo by Curology on Unsplash