Wednesday, June 13, 2018

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

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.

**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

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

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

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

Culver City
West LA College
9000 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 287-4200
Date: July 4, 2018 at 4pm

Diamond Bar
Music, food trucks and fireworks
 Diamond Bar High School
21400 Pathfinder Road
Diamond Bar, California 91765


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.


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

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
Go Go Go to the Bowl for the Go Go Girls and fireworks!
2301 North Highland Ave
(323) 850-2000

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
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

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*

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,


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)

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

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

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. 

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

Redondo Beach
100 Fisherman’s Wharf Redondo Beach 90277

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. 

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

Santa Clarita
festivities kick off with the Independence Day 5K and 10K 
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!

Santa Clarita (2)
Six Flags Magic Mountain 
Fireworks will be on display from June 30th-July 4th

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

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

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.

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

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. 

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. 
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Thursday, May 3, 2018

5 Most Common Options For People Who Need Money From Their Current Home To Buy Their Next One.

Buying and Selling a home comes with challenges that are unique to each individual.  I've worked with first-time home buyers that sail through the process like a breeze and others whose home buying is more challenging.  But one of the benefits of being a first-time home buyer is that you just need to give your landlord notice to move from your current home.  Homeowners looking to buy something else have another hurdle they have to get passed.  How do you get the money from your current home to use it to buy the next? Here are 5 of the most common ways you can go about doing this.

1. Sell your current home and take the proceeds from that sale then and move into a short term rental until you buy your next home with your proceeds ready to go.

2. Explore the options of having a family member help you with your next downpayment.

3. Ask a lender how much money you could take out of your current home to use for the next.  If you choose this option, your lender will likely tell you there is a waiting period from when you take that money out, until you can sell that home. 

4. Put your home on the market for sale and ask the buyer for a "Rent Back" which is when the buyer becomes the owner and you become their tenant for a short time.  There are some pros and cons to doing this so make sure to talk to your agent about what they may be.  Going this route may be gambling a bit since it leaves you a limited, finite amount of time to find and buy your next home.

5. Put your home for sale contingent on buying your next home. This means your agent will put something into the contract when the buyer makes an offer on your current home that states the home can not complete the sale until you have found your next home. However, this also means you need to put something in the contract on the home you intend to purchase that says you can't complete the sale of that home till your current home sells. A bit of a domino effect can be created doing it this way.  This is the trickiest way to go straight from one home to another but for most, it's their only option.

Any option you choose, make sure you have an agent that is very hands on.  For most people, there needs to be a lot of creative problem solving done between clients and agents and clients tend to need a lot more questions answered as situations get more convoluted in the selling/buying process.

                                                                         

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Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Valley: Coming Soon...Home with detached In-Law Suite, heated pool and completely remodeled

Are you looking for that home in the Valley that has it ALL? Well, it will be on the market soon. Here are some of the things this "Coming Soon" home has:


All windows replaced in 2006 and 2012
New Floors in 2012
Kitchen and Bathrooms remodeled in 2012
Kitchen Built-in Cabinets installed in 2012
HVAC replaced and moved to roof in 2013
Hot Water Heater Replaced in 2013
Pool remodeled 2013
Pool Deck new in 2013
Fence remodeled in 2006
Custom Closets installed in 2013
Home exterior painted in 2015
New Rain Gutters and grills installed in 2015
Ceiling smoothed in 2012
New Kitchen lighting in 2015
Cianti Verde Granite in Kitchen
Copper plumbing installed under house
Drip system installed in backyard
Solar lighting installed along back Fence
Pool has pebble finish, baja step, salt water and is heated by solar
Reverse Osmosis water filtration installed 


And can you believe all that is asking $700,000. Don't miss out! 
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Thursday, March 22, 2018

Feds Raise Rates Again And Expect More Raises To Get Back To A More NORMAL Rate

Feds just raised the rates again by a small amount as they all agree the market is healthy and this is the best time to raise them.  They mentioned raising them 2 more times this year an they expect to raise them 3 times next year.  Does this mean the house prices will go down? The market will drop? What should you make of this news?  Here is the most important part of this article:

  ..."it expects to increase rates another two times this year as it pursues a return to more normal interest rate levels."

 The reason I believe this part of the article is the most important is because I've been preaching about our very low interest rates for years. They've lasted this long but won't last forever and this is major.  If you are thinking about buying...don't wait! You may be out of luck by next year if/when rates are continuously raised.  

 My professional experience leads me to believe that this will not cause house prices to drop. At least not this year. And for those of you that have been holding out on buying...stop. The rates are the biggest factor in home buying and I suggest you move on them before they rise back to normal. 

 Read more about it Here

                                                                                 


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Monday, February 5, 2018

Is Your House Earthquake Ready?

The state of California has put together a program to help homeowners retrofit their homes in case of an earthquake.  Many homes here is Los Angeles were built well before the standards we now have that help keep homes safe during an earthquake.  Things such as cripple walls, water heater strapping, and anchor bolts are just some of the things we need for us and our home to stay safe in case of an earthquake. Here is some information below and you will find much more detailed information on the links provided at the bottom of this article. 

 Registration is open January 23, 2018 through February 23, 2018. Homeowners interested in participating in EBB must:
  • Own a house located in a designated ZIP Code
  • Create an online account and complete registration as a homeowner
  • Only one registration per house
  • Ensure your house is eligible by answering all qualification questions and reviewing the Program Rules.
    • Your house must have less than a four-foot cripple wall to use a prescriptive plan set
    • If your house has a cripple wall between 4-feet and 7-feet you must use an engineered solution.

https://www.earthquakebracebolt.com/homeownerregistration


http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2018/release009-18.cfm



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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Museums This Sunday Are FREE

What are you doing on Sunday?  Here in Los Angeles, we are blessed to have an amazing selection of museums to experience.  I highly recommend taking advantage of this FREE opportunity to go see one of the following participant museums.  Have Fun! (please check dates, times and availability)

Annenberg Space for Photography
Autry Museum of the American West
The Broad
California African American Museum
California Science Center
General admission only. A timed reservation with a convenience fee is required for Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Columbia Memorial Space Center
Craft & Folk Art Museum
Descanso Gardens
Forest Lawn Museum
Fowler Museum at UCLA
Getty Center
Getty Villa
Free, timed tickets are required. Visit getty.edu.
GRAMMY Museum
Hammer Museum
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Japanese American National Museum
Free tickets available at janm.org/freeforall.
Kidspace Children’s Museum
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
General admission only; free tickets available at tarpits.org/freeforall.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA)
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
Museum of Tolerance
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
*General admission only; free tickets available at nhm.org/freeforall.
Orange County Museum of Art
The Paley Center for Media
Palm Springs Art Museum
Pasadena Museum of California Art
Petersen Automotive Museum
Tickets must be reserved in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/museum-free-for-all-day-tickets-41631960314#tickets. 
Pomona College Museum of Art
Riverside Art Museum
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Skirball Cultural Center
Noah’s Ark timed-entry, one-hour tickets are limited and distributed first-come, first-served.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
Excludes tours of the historic house and grounds.
University Art Museum, CSU Long Beach
Join us for opening reception of Robert Irwin: Site Determined 4-6 pm, January 28. Closed January 27.
USC Fisher Museum
Offering free admission on Saturday, January 27, instead of Sunday, January 28.
USC Pacific Asia Museum
Zimmer Children’s Museum
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Sunday, January 7, 2018

Pacific Union International is My New Company

I started with the John Aaroe Group when I first became a realtor.  John Aaroe appealed to me with his vast knowledge of the industry, the respect that people had for him, his focus on the agents in the office and his ever-gracious way about him.  Just a few months ago, he decided it was time to go sit by a warm beach, watch the waves and drink a frozen concoction with an umbrella in it (ok...I'm making that up since that's what retirement looks like in my imagination).  None-the-less, he retired and our company became known as Pacific Union International.  Pacific Union was already a force in Northern California and they wanted to spread their wings and be a part of the hot SoCal market as well.  So, I'm still me, doing business as usual but just with a new company name.  I look forward to helping you buy and sell your home and investments with all the same drive, professionalism and personal touch that I've done in all the years past.  Happy 2018 and I'm always here to help!

                                                                       
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Saturday, January 6, 2018

11 Questions You Should Ask A General Contractor

A past client just reached out to be the other day and asked about what she should look into when hiring a General Contractor to update her home.  So I took this as a great opportunity to write about it and share.  I reached out to an old friend, Kevin McCabe, who has a contracting business in Raleigh North Carolina called KLM Designs (see his Facebook page here  KLM Designs Facebook ) and asked him what prospective clients should be asking when they are looking to hire someone.  Most of the tips below came from him and you can't get better information than from the source itself so here you go.  

This is a list of 11 things you should be asking a General Contractor when you are shopping around.


1. Ask for proof of insurance
2.  Make sure they are licensed then find out how long have they been licensed. Here is the website for California where you can check http://www.cslb.ca.gov/
3. Can they supply referrals of people they've done jobs for?
4. Ask for their estimate on how much and how long they think they project should take.
5. What is included in their estimate? Such as, is this a total for all work and materials or are you going to be buying certain materials yourself that are not included in the estimate?
6. How many people work for that general contractor? Or is the General Contractor subbing out the work and if so, how long have they worked with the people they are subbing out the work to? 
7. If you live in a condo or home that has an HOA, ask the contractor if there are specific permits or approvals they need to get ahead of time and if so, how to get those?
8. Talk about the process of getting permits on the work getting done or if you choose to forgo that.
9. Ask about how the payment will be handled for the job.  Every General Contractor does it different and it can largely depend on the size and scope of the job.  Some examples of payments can be:
Larger jobs may charge 1/4 down, 1/4 on day one, 1/4 at a certain point during the job then the remainder when the job is done.  Others may ask for 50% upfront and the rest when the job is complete.
10.  Ask what you should expect during the work. If you are working on a kitchen, you may need to use a hotplate or microwave for a while to eat and also find a make-shift place to clean dishes. 
11.  Ask how any future issues resulting from the work should be handled.

                                                                       



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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

I Broke My Own Advice I Give To Clients- And I'm Happy I Did

There are some things I advice to every client I work with.  One of them is to try to avoid personal interaction with the other party you are in a deal with, at least until the house is sold.  Meaning, if you are the sellers, don't be home while I'm showing your house to prospective buyers and also during inspections.  There are many reasons I highly advice this.  One is because people make things personal once they've met that should stay just business.  Another is, one party could unintentionally say something that the other party could use or hold against them.  That's one reason for a realtor to convey everything is because we know what and how to deliver information.

However, I couldn't be more happy that I went against my own advice.  See, when I was looking to buy my own home I made an appointment to see this one house.  I told their realtor I would be there around 1:00 PM but was very late due to traffic.  I had my kids in tow, my husband there too and we were looking through the home when the owners showed up.  They asked where our realtor was.  I explained to them I was the realtor and it was a purchase for myself.  The owners had grandkids and they brought a few toys out for my little ones while we looked around.  We spoke for a bit. I really loved the house.  And I immediately connected with the owners as well.  They were so nice and they had raised their own kids, now grown, in that home.  We bought the house and stayed in touch with the sellers.  They didn't move far and over the years they stopped by my house to get mail that still showed up. We exchanged holiday cards. Once, the wife took a bunch of grape leaves that had grown on a vine they planted and made some dolmas which she shared with us after making them.  There was no doubt they loved this home and they had no doubt that we would too.  Today I called them after a package was delivered in their name to the house.  I had just spoken with the wife a couple months back and knew she wasn't feeling well.  Her husband answered the phone.  "I have a package with your name on it here.  Would you like to pick it up or for me to drop it by your house?' I asked.  He said yes and was surprised the package was not delivered to his current home that he's now been in for years.  I asked how his wife was as I knew she wasn't feeling well.  He said she had passed this morning. My heart broke immediately.  I have an affinity for their family and especially his wife.  I knew she was sick.  She had shared her story with me over the years.  And as I write this I know, as I always have, that a house is much more that four walls.  It's memories, it's heartache, it's love, it's children and pets, it's holidays and neighbors.  And I am so happy I broke my own advice and met the sellers of my home.  Their love of this home is felt and my friendship with them is made by that special bond.  I will truly miss her.
                                                                 
                                                                       



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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

7 Things That Make Homes In Los Angeles Unique

If you've ever lived in places other than Southern California then moved here, you'd notice some things that are different about the houses we have.  As someone who has lived all over, I'd like to tell you what our homes here in LA have that differ from homes in other places.

1. Not too many homes made of brick. You'll find brick homes in most other states across the US but not here.  Earthquakes and brick homes don't go together well.
2. Not all homes have Heating and Air Conditioning. There are so many homes in LA that were built well before these amenities were common to every home. So unless your home is newer or someone has added Heat and Air, you may find homes that still don't have it.  Also, homes closer to the beach typically don't need AC since the weather stays so mild there.  Beach city homes may have heat but a lot of them opt out of having an air conditioner.
3. We don't have a lot of "Neighborhoods" here.  In a lot of American towns, if someone was asked where they live, they may say something like "Stoney Brook Meadows" or "Oakwood Heights" and you would see a little sign that has the name of your subdivision at each entrance.  However, here in LA, when people tell you where they live it's typically the name of the city or a locally-known name of the specific area in the city such as South Pasadena or Hancock Park.
4.  You will see a lot of homes that have air conditioning units on the roof of the house.  This can be found in a number of cities other than LA but if you haven't been to those cities, it may be a surprise to some to see the AC units perched up there. But with large lots being hard to come by here, it sure saves space.
5.  LA may hold the most vast amount of styles of homes than anywhere else in America.  Now, this is just a guess I'm making here but I would be surprised if any other place holds as many different styles as we do.  From Colonial, Mediterranean, Mid-Century Modern, Farm houses, Victorian, Cape Cod, Craftsmen, Contemporary, Tudor, Ranch and on and on.... Our mild climate allows for just about every style home. And architects love to come here to flex their creative muscles so-to-speak because of our climate and many different landscapes to work with.
6. Some of our houses are on stilts that hold part of the home that is over a steep hillside.  This was a unique characteristic I had not seen before moving to LA that still fascinates me.  And it's very common in places like the Hollywood Hills.
7.  It's not common to have basements or attics you can walk in here.  Most of the cities I've lived in have basements, whether they are storm basements, partial basements, or full basements that are used as extra living space.  Also, attics where you can pull down a folding ladder to walk up into it or a door that leads to stairs that go to the attic are common in many places but not in LA.  Here, you may find "California basements" which are usually the size of a closet but even those aren't common.  And while we have attics that hold ducting and insulation, it's not usual to find walk-up attics here.

If you don't live in LA and get the chance to come here, make a point to drive through some of our cities and look at the homes.  If you like looking at houses as much as I do, you will find some very fascinating, beautiful and unique houses while you are here. 







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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Some of the Spookiest and Fun-Filled events In LA for the Halloween Season


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


12. Rooftop Cinema (showing multiple Thriller movies between now and Oct 31st)
13. Horror Made Here at Warner Bros Studios
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