Nobody walks in L.A.? - NoHoArtsDistrict.com

Nobody walks in L.A.? - NoHoArtsDistrict.com Just as I've been telling you, North Hollywood is turning into quite the walking community, especially around Lankershim/Magnolia.  I'd love to see the restaurants and the other attractions there spreading out a little further each way on Magnolia.  One bad thing: it's really hard to park to start your walk if you're coming from someplace else.

Another show on HGtv? Yes, and your home can be the star

Will those nice folks at HGtv never run out of ideas? Here's the flyer I just received.  They will do up to $25,000 in renovations before you list your home. If you're interested, please let me know.

ATTENTION HOME OWNERS!!!

Are you putting your house on the market? Do you need a home appraisal but are worried it won’t be valued high enough? Do you need help taking those extra steps to ensure you get the most out of your home investment when it comes time to sell?

Well, a new show wants to help!

From the creators of ABC’s "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" comes a new show that will pair you with a nationally recognized home improvement consultant who will help you make the necessary improvements to ensure that your family gets the best appraisal possible!!! 

This is an opportunity of a lifetime! Please send photos of your home, your family as well a little bit about yourself and your situation tochandra.pinto@rrstaff.com. Don’t forget to include your name, age and contact info. Send ASAP to be considered!!! 

For Burbank parents re Jefferson Elementary

Here's from friend and former client Barbara Wise: "Jefferson Elementary has a new principal with great ideas. She worked with our computer specialist to put a long-awaited Amazon.com link on the school website - if you use the link, a portion of your purchase is donated to the school Booster Association. I love the school and am excited to see how things will evolve with new leadership. Great selling point for this area."

If you already shop at Amazon.com, a portion of your purchases will automatically go to Jefferson Elementary Booster Association if you simply paste this link into your browser and access www.amazon.com through this link:

http://www.amazon.com/?tag=jeffersonburbank-20

Thanks, Barbara! Barbara has twins in second grade at Jefferson and had an older son there as well.

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you...

My clients just learned that their offer on a particular house has been accepted.  They have been looking for FOUR YEARS.  They've made countless offers.  They offered on this particular house at the beginning of the month, and through attrition of other offers, theirs' was finally accepted.  Congratulations -- dreams can come true.

Children aren't the only people who need to go back to school

Lately, I've been getting really elementary questions from other Realtors.  Not just from one Realtor, but from several.  Not just about a house's condition or a plan during an escrow, but really simple questions that, uh, anybody with a r.e. license should know.  What's going on? Aren't you heads of brokerages teaching your people about r.e. practice? We all need refreshers from time to time, but...makes me wonder if I'm really dealing with licensees or if the state of California has dumbed down the test made the license exam even simpler than ever.

Open today, 8/18, from 2-5: 5227 Denny #101, North Hollywood and 2112 N. Brighton, Burbank

Seeking an adorable 2+1+den in Burbank for $430,000? Please visit me today at 2112 N. Brighton. If you'd rather have a really cool 3 bedroom condo in trendy Noho, please visit colleague Scott at 5227 N. Denny #101 in North Hollywood.

2112 N. Brighton will be open Sunday, August 18, from 2 to 5

Here's a pic of 2112 N. Brighton in Burbank. More pics can be found later today on my website at JudyGraff.com. Brighton is an adorable 2 bed, 1 bath home with a den, a generously-sized kitchen and 2 separate garages. It is listed for $430000 and is open on Sunday, 8/18, from 2 to 5. Come visit me and Steve!

Don't give up your home search yet. 2 beds+1 bath+sunny den in Burbank for $430000 lists Friday.

Just when you thought you'd never find a home, along comes 2112 N. Brighton in Burbank. With 2 beds, 1 bath and a big, sunny den. Big yard. Two garages: a single car plus 2-car garage off the alley. Hardwood floors, generously-sized kitchen, dining area, coved ceilings, included appliances, great neighborhood. Just waiting for your creative touches. And affordable, too. See? Wishes can come true. 2112 N. Brighton will be available to see on Friday and open this Sunday, 8/18, from 2 to 5. I'll have pictures on Friday. Sellers are motivated and will respond to all reasonable offers -- I know, it seems too good to be true, doesn't it?

Monday reading from Sunday's NY Times. Trust me, it's interesting!

I know that reading about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is kinda boring, but this may help explain it all for you.  Gretchen Morgenson is a business columnist for the NY Times.  In my opinion, she's one of the best business writers ever, and her columns always explain a lot in plain English.  Her column from yesterday's NYT is The Housing Market is Still Missing a Backbone (title should link).

In a section about winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Morgenson writes "...to prove how hard this will be, both companies later in the week announced enormous profits for the second quarter of this year, most of which go to the government in the form of dividends. Together, the companies reported $15 billion in profits; with Treasury on the receiving end of this lush income stream, it will be tempting to keep the mortgage finance giants in business." She continues "...For starters, banks have grown accustomed to earning fees for making mortgages that they sell to Fannie and Freddie [Emphasis mine.] Generating fee income while placing the long-term credit or interest rate risk on the government’s balance sheet is a win-win for the banks."

Morgenson goes on to discuss why it's so hard to lure private investors into the mortgage market.  She's not talking about a flipper that has, say, 30 houses.  She means the institutions that buy millions and millions of dollars worth of bundles of thousands and thousands of mortgages.  Anyway, this is a great read from a very talented columnist.

News of the week: 5227 Denny #101 is still available! And more...

Do you know anybody looking to buy in Noho? Or anybody that simply wants a gorgeous three-bedroom condo? Consider 5227 Denny #101, pictured above.  Yes, it's 3 beds, 2 baths, fireplace, big newer kitchen, bamboo floors, 2 extra storage spaces, 2 patios, and much more in one of L.A.'s coolest neighborhoods.  It is listed for $420,000 and the HOA fees are $261/month.  I can usually arrange a showing with just a bit of advance notice.

In other news, prices are still going up and inventory is still down.  It looks like small (under 1,000 sf) homes across the east San Fernando Valley are hitting the $500,000+ mark now.

And Realtors are continuing to list properties low and then entertain multiple offers and bidding wars.  One client set has been waiting a week now to hear about their offer, which they increased from the original price.

Stansbury is in escrow.

In more upbeat news, I will likely have a small house listed in Burbank soon, along with a 3+2 in Noho that's currently being fixed up.  These may be on the market later this month; just not sure yet.  There may be one coming in Valley Glen, too.

I met a friend and former client at the lounge at Amarano last night and it was swinging! With a chic, younger (than me) set, of course.  Amarano is a boutique hotel right on the border of Burbank and Toluca Lake.  It's a really classy place and we had lots of fun.  My only criticism is that they could improve their house Cabernet.

Bragging. This full page ad is running in the L.A. Times' SFV real estate section today.

This ad from my company congratulates me for being in the top 1% of my office for the first half of 2013.  Thanks, clients, for making this possible!

You didn't know how much stuff you had until you had to move it.

This is a pic of client Mario's stuff during his recent move.

Need an aviary? You might want one after you see this

It's always fun showing property in the hills of northeast Los Angeles as you never quite know what wildlife you'll find (animal AND human). Today I met these red-billed hornbills, who have their own professionally- built backyard aviary.