10962 Kittridge is live on the mls

Here’s the property you’ve been waiting for – stunning 3+3, 1600+sf stand-alone townhome in newer Noho development with low, low association fees. This beauty features a huge designer kitchen with a long bar and lots of cabinet space, newer appliances, wood flooring and newer, plush carpet, big secluded patio, attached two car garage, den/retreat upstairs, big master and tons of closet space.  Other features include gorgeous shutters, wiring for surround sound and two built-in ceiling speakers, Nest thermostat and Wink home monitoring system. Since the units stand alone with no common walls, the association fee is only $38! (No, that’s not a misprint.)  The location is close to all that Noho has to offer, including restaurants, a bike path, and the subway.  Here’s your opportunity to have the place of your dreams before Noho prices explode. Listed for $530,000. Call me for a showing or visit from 2-5 pm at the Sunday, 7/16 open house.

Another great Yelp review

I just received another great Yelp review from my clients Briana and Mike.  Their condo was really hard to sell due to HOA issues that most lenders don't like. Other posts about the unit can be found in the archives here -- the address is 5227 Denny Street #101, North Hollywood.

Anyway, we were able to get the unit sold and get Briana and her family into a particular home that they've always wanted.  It's been wonderful working with them over the years and I can't wait to see what they've done with their new place.  From Yelp:

We've worked with Judy for 6 years now. First, when we bought a condo in 2009 and just a couple of months when we sold said condo and purchased a house. Our condo situation was not ideal. It was unwarrantable and near impossible to sell and somehow Judy did it. It was a flawless transaction and I still can't believe we got out of it.

As far as our new home, we had mentioned a couple of times we loved it overt he years as we walked by it all the time. She happened to be the agent for the people who purchased it years ago and mentioned it to us that they were looking to sell. Being that our condo was "unsellable" we thought it was a complete long shot that we would be able to sell it and some how get this new home.  Apparently Judy is a miracle worker because she did it. We closed the condo and moved in to are new home all within days of each other. I cannot thank her enough for putting up with a very stressful me and making this happen. Then, on top of that she thanked us with a thoughtful gift. Judy is the real deal and she just basically makes shit happen. Thanks Judy!

Open Sunday, 7/21, from 2 to 5: 5227 Denny #101, North Hollywood

If you're looking for a gorgeous condo, you owe it to yourself to see this one.  Three beds, 2 baths, single story with no steps, huge kitchen, new since 2009, bamboo floors, big closets, fireplace two patios, faces the street, and wheelchair-accessible (see post below).  It also has two extra, dedicated storage rooms and the building has a bike room.  It's very close to the Noho Arts District and public transportation, too.  Listed for $420,000; the building's HOA fees are a low $261.  Steve and I will be there from 2 to 5 today.

Kurt Cobain recorded at my new listing! Well, or close to...

Devonshire Sound Studios on Denny and Magnolia in North Hollywood was famous back in its day as one of the premiere recording studios in the Southland.  Alas, Devonshire is now Salami Studios, but its storied history lives on.  And you can live close to that history at 5227 Denny #101.  This chic condo will be listed for $420,000 in a few days, and features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, newer construction, a big kitchen, gorgeous bamboo floors and more.  As you may know, the Noho Arts District is undergoing a lot of rehabbing, including widening Magnolia and planting more trees.  I'll have the condo open on Sunday from 1 to 4; more pics tomorrow!  (And yes, I'm sure that Kurt is rolling in his grave.)

Nicest house I saw this week that my clients didn't want to buy

This is 5908 Troost, North Hollywood.  It just came on the market for $469,500 and it's a 3+2, 1600 sf.  Yes, it's a flip, and a really nicely done one.  Check out the pictures on the mls.  It was the nicest house that I saw this week in the price range that my clients didn't want to buy.  I know what you're thinking: North Hollywood is sketchy.  But this area is improving pretty rapidly.  I sold a home just a half block away to clients last year, and they are deliriously happy there.  The North Hollywood police station is just down on Burbank Blvd. and "Noho" is turning into a fun destination.  True, the public schools aren't anything to write home about, but for those without children in this price range, this area -- and this house -- might be an excellent option.

Cute short sale for aviation buffs

(Disclosure: my client made an offer on this property. So have about a dozen other buyers. Currently, no more offers are being accepted. No, we don't know yet if our offer prevailed.) This cutie is 11558 Cantlay in North Hollywood. It's a 3+2, 1545 sf. short sale for $249,000. It's as nice inside as it is outside -- yes, hipsters, the style IS a little suburban. But...it has a spacious galley kitchen with new Corian counter tops and lots of storage, all the windows are new, new paint inside and outside, decent bedrooms, well maintained, attached two-car garage, nice backyard and side yard, etc. etc.

All around, this is a very nice home. If you like planes. It's just north of the Bob Hope airport. I mean just about 1000 feet from the runway. A plane landed while we viewed the home and I could count its rivets.

In spite of the location, this home sold for $507,000 at the height of the market.

We test-drive a new North Hollywood gastropub

As an occasional public service of this blog, we go out and research neighborhood hot spots so you won’t have to. Last night we visited the new-ish Federal Bar on Lankershim in North Hollywood, and we can confidently report that it is safe for you to visit, too.  This sort-of gastropub is a really welcome addition to the NoHo arts area and is just across from the train station.

Federal Bar has been elegantly carved out of an old brick bank building by the same folks who brought you the Knitting Factory.  It has a quasi-Prohibition theme and it’s slightly more upscale than your average gastropub hang.  There are two main rooms, each with its own long bar, plus an upstairs party room with its own bar and a stage.  The place was pleasantly busy when we got there at 5:00 – hey, we’re old – but the restaurant and bars were packed when we left at 6:30.  And if you’re single, or like beer, by all means just go for the lively bar scene.

The wait staff is stellar.  Our lovely server, Ashley (pictured above; she should be America’s Next Top Model) could not have been more enthusiastic or knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks.  She truly seemed to be on a mission to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.  And gracious manager Carl gave us a complete tour of both upstairs and downstairs.

The plan was for the three of us to have a drink and an appetizer.  One finely-made cocktail turned into, uh, more, with beer chasers all around – there are over 20 beers on tap.  And the appetizers turned into meals.  The menu features several reasonably priced small plates, burgers and entrees. Since we ordered a lot, our final bill wasn’t particularly small. The food was good and I especially liked my friend’s fish and chips.  My husband enjoyed his burger, too. 

The North Hollywood renaissance continues…

Homes in Burbank between $425k and $455k

I case you're wondering about the selection of 3 bedroom Burbank homes and condos in the $425,000-$450,000 price range, I just showed several. Here's my opinion.
1225 Frederic - approved short sale in a nice neighborhood. House looks like somebody tried to flip it and ran out of money. The front needs work, there's a one-car garage, and the pool has not been maintained and is a yucky green color. Kitchen is nice, though.
2268 Ontario - regular sale in this planned unit development across from Yahoo. Each house is a stand-alone with no common walls, but no yard either. The complex was built in 2001 and each unit is very spacious, with a modern layout.
1523 Valley - close to North Hollywood, and its a regular sale. Lots of improvements but the kitchen is small. It looks like it has been added on to several times over the years. Huge yard with pool.
4268 Kling - (pictured above) I love this complex (each unit has its own 2-car garage) because it's so well-maintained and in such a nice area. This unit is a particularly good deal for the complex and the kitchen has been redone.
1211 W. Orange Grove - this foreclosure is right across from Disney school. Looks okay from the outside, a little cobbled together on the inside. Big, green backyard. May be another flip where the owners ran out of money.

Is Valley Village a state of mind?

Where's Valley Village? Is it really Studio City, Los Angeles, or good old North Hollywood? Thanks to the management of the MLS and Wikipedia, we now have a carved-in-stone answer.  Southern boundary: Ventura Fwy.  Northern boundary: Burbank Boulevard.  Eastern boundary: the 170.  Western boundary: the Tujunga wash.  Now, does anybody know the boundaries of Sherman Village?

Problems with new construction

My clients Briana and Michael closed yesterday on a unit here at 5227 Denny in North Hollywood. It's a brand new building and the escrow went very smoothly (the developer was smart and secured FHA financing before marketing any of the units). However, in spite of our inspections, walk throughs with the contractors, lists of repairs, etc., many items still remain to be fixed or done in the unit. At our walk-through the contractor indicated it all would be done before closing. Now, the story is that all the remaining work has to be arranged, scheduled, and coordinated with the other recently sold units in the building. Am I naive to think this should have been done before closing?

The NoHo Show!

As you know, North Hollywood is chock full of smaller theaters and even has its own arts district. You may have seen theater there, and many of you may have been members of theater companies and have pursued acting careers. C'mon, admit it! You may also have friends and family doing that even now. So, for your viewing pleasure, here's a delightful YouTube spoof of the North Hollywood theater scene, The NoHo Show! There are four webisodes so far, and I certainly hope there will be more. Kudos to friend Ellen, who is laugh-out-loud funny as Lori.