Measure ULA also known as the “Mansion Tax” updateJust a quick background to those who are not familiar with the history. Better known as” Mansion Tax” some people called it the “Homelessness and Housing Solution Tax”. The intent was to raise taxes on property sales exceeding $5 million within the City of Los Angeles. The voters approved the Measure ULA in November of 2022. In turn it became a legally binding ordinance on April 1st, 2023. Basically a 4% transfer tax was imposed on property with a value ranging from $5 million to $10 million and a 5.5% transfer tax exceeding $10 million. Not only did this apply to Residential, but to commercial properties as well.Well, the update is that as of June 30th,2024 the sales price has to exceed $5,150,000 -$10,300,000 for the 4% tax and anythin... 06/18/2024

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, may they be pets or human children...(above photo I made the appetizer)As far as my take is fathers play a huge role in the lives of their children, not only providing love and guidance but all in all they contribute to their well-being.My father was very involved positively in my development, not just in my academic achievement but in my social skills as well. He served as a role model form me and instilled values as well as he was instrumental in shaping my character. For that I am forever grateful.(above photo Diane's father and my father in Salem, MA) Now let's talk about tonight's dinner. Diane insisted on wanting to cook, usually means we would go out to dinner or lunch or Linner (late lunch early dinner) I did not want to do that. She insisted ... 06/16/2024

Fun easy dinner at home: Pasta with seafood and vegies... I have had a few hectic days and wanted to do something easy.The good news is that I had leftover tomato sauce I made a while back. Needless to say, I always have frozen mixed seafood in the freezer. Had to add a handful of mixed frozen vegies as well.Hence all I needed was to boil some pasta (also from Trader Joe's) hence while Diane was feeding the animal farm dinner came together in less than 40 minutes.Now with that said I need to think what I want to make for dinner tomorrow. Hmm any ideas? Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach ou... 06/15/2024

Did you know today was Flag Day? Also, the birthday of the United States Army?Well, many of my neighbors missed this history class or did not get the memo or forgot it. So, with that said let me say that National Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Flag Act of 1777 an as well as the official flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This was done by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The Flag Resolution stated, “Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United Staes be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”.A little more history, in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation, that officially established June 14th as Flag Day. Then to add a little more history on Au... 06/14/2024

Just Sold: 2401 San Marco Dr. Los Angeles CA 90068 another Vacant Lot in the HillsDirections : Head East on Franklin Ave to Cahuenga BLVD (N) first right (E)on to Dix St and first left (n) on Holly Dr. to the end turn (L) to San Marco, land is just past 2407 San Marco Dr.Remarks : Best priced vacant land in the Beach Wood Canyon area. Truly a fantastic opportunity to build your dream home in the highly desirable Hollywood Dell section of the Hollywood Hills East. This lot is equally desirable for a developer to build for spec. The house next to this lot on a more difficult upslope with smaller frontage was built recently. This up sloped lot has about 58 ft of frontage with panoramic canyon views. Just imagine being surrounded by nature and multimillion dollar homes and still be minutes ... 06/13/2024

Look what I found in the library on the west side of Los Angeles...Well, I needed a tune-up, an oil change and I decided to go to the library instead of sitting in the waiting room until my car was fixed. Hence, I bought my laptop and continued working.Now interestingly I parked myself in the end of the library and look at where I ended up sitting at. Needless to say, I was focused on work and did not touch any of these books.Now if for some reason I end up buying some of these books I can blame the library:))BTW add insult to injury I also needed some rear breaks so I spent about two and a half hours starring at those books:)Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly H... 06/11/2024

All first time buyers need to watch this video:1. determine what you can afford.2. Find a Real estate Agent3. Get organized4. Find a lender that your Real Estate Agent Recommends5. Begin shopping for a home that fits your financing.6. Offer and negotiate and a binding contract7. Due Diligence and Inspection in other words Hire a HUD 203k renovation consultant to determine any HUD Minimum Property Standard or improvements you want to include at closing.8. Underwriting and Appraisal 9. The closing is the between the borrower and seller.                        06/10/2024

Here are two photos, let me know which one you like better. On a side note, can you name what each meal consists of? One is harder to identify than the other:)Instead of a Monday Motivation post I thought you would enjoy this instead a quiz not like Wayne Martin  but equally challenging. Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investmen... 06/03/2024

Speechless Sundays: What is this guy doing on our lemon tree?... clearly he put on some weight. Have not seen him in a while close up. All the orange trees are keeping him healthy and well.In case you are wondering there are a lot of evidence that he has been eating well see above:)It turns out he was chewing on the lemon tree's bark... hmmm? why? Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are consider... 06/02/2024

How many homes have you shown your buyer last month? Getting a home in a sellers market can work if you have the right 203k team. This video covers how to prepare for underwriting in a short time frame. 06/02/2024

Having the right tools in every profession matters... as most of you who read my posts, know I love cooking and having the right tools helps me make some of the best dishes relatively easy. All because of having the right tools, the right cookbooks, the right skill set and the right ingredients.I do not have an outdoor grill, so I substitute everything indoors. Tonight, I made Mexican Street Corn, in a skillet since grilling was not an option.Needless to say, I had the right tool...  Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills ... 06/01/2024

Wordless Wednesdays: one of Diane's bosses gave her this. Keep in mind she goes into the office every Wednesday and there is always some surprise, such as a gourmet lunch or a gift of sorts.Now does this post inspire you to stop into the office? I worked remotely before the Covid Pandemic. For me the Pandemic just made it legal to work more remotely than before:)Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If y... 05/29/2024

Did you know that the average homeowner has a net worth 38 times higher than the average renter?Well as a seasoned Realtor I did know this, ironically not all buyers do and many buyers are not willing to compromise the "better" rental location to what they can afford in their "budget".  Sadly, that is an ego and status problem. In the long run the renters lose out.Yes, there are benefits to calling the landlord or the manager if there is an issue when it comes to plumbing, electricity and other issues. On the other hand, a few calls to a good electrician and a plumber as a homeowner goes a long way. Just my two cents.Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area... 05/28/2024

This Memorial Day: We are Honoring the Fallen Soldiers. May I say, we should do this all year around, not just today or should I say once a year. These were our true Heroes, they never made it home to enjoy our Freedom.“This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn't come home. This is not Veterans Day, it's not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom." –Tamra Bolton I have been saying this message for decades. Some listened and learned, others did not. I still get emails with the headline: Happy Memorial Day. I also get greeted with the same message. I just politely smile, and it tells me something about that person. If it is an email, I just shake my head and mumble a few choice words. "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather... 05/27/2024

Let's have a quick easy light dinner, request by Diane... her wish is my command:)So, with that said how about some fresh Shitake mushrooms, some Trumpet Mushrooms and some brown beech mushrooms sauteed with onions, garlic olive oil and some seasoned butter.Well let's add some garbanzo beans and some fresh baby spinach with a little carrots and green peas. Well, OK we need some stock mixture too, bone broth, chicken and vegetable stock. Also add some chicken sausages or ones you like.While you making this quickly make some mac and cheese and you have a nice light dinner. Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goa... 05/25/2024

2529 Woodstock Rd Los Angeles CA 90046: Massive Price Reduction Directions: Sunset Blvd turn right to Willow Glen Rd continue to Woodstock Rd turn right past the paved Rd on the dirt road first structure is 2529 Woodstock Rd.Remarks: Huge Price Reduction, sell wants it sold! This is truly an exceptional opportunity to purchase this land/project. Ideal for developers, end users, investors or flippers or for an owner user. This fantastic property is located in close proximity to the Houdini Estate. Head up Laurel Cyn to Willow Glen Rd to Woodstock Rd. 8,841 sq ft of down sloped land with a foundation and many more. Vacant panoramic view Land with a structure on it. The property has a foundation and substructure and grading done already. A seasoned developer who knows their way around the ... 05/24/2024

2401 San Marco Dr. Los Angeles CA 90068: Another vacant lot PENDING...Directions: Head East on Franklin Ave to Cahuenga BLVD (N) first right (E)on to Dix St and first left (n) on Holly Dr. to the end turn (L) to San Marco, land is just past 2407 San Marco Dr.Remarks : Best priced vacant land in the Beach Wood Canyon area. Truly a fantastic opportunity to build your dream home in the highly desirable Hollywood Dell section of the Hollywood Hills East. This lot is equally desirable for a developer to build for spec. The house next to this lot on a more difficult upslope with smaller frontage was built recently. This up sloped lot has about 58 ft of frontage with panoramic canyon views. Just imagine being surrounded by nature and multimillion dollar homes and still be minutes from the city... 05/21/2024

Wordless Wednesdays: what did you have for dinner tonight?... I was busy today so while I was on the road, Diane decided to clean the fridge (against my approval) ... So, I get home and want to make dinner, told her what I had in mind... she said I saw some Sausages in the fridge can you make that instead? I said sure...I her mind I know she was visualizing onions sausage and bread with mustard and other condiments.Well instead while she was feeding the cats I made this. Let me know what you think? :)On a side note, she loved it:)Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If yo... 05/15/2024

Speechless Sunday: Have you ever seen a resting hummingbird? Well, how about two?... as I was cleaning the dishes (well it is Mother's Day you know) I saw these two birds from the kitchen window.I mentioned to Diane, that we need to put food out, since the birds are starring into our kitchen, clearly, they must be hungry.She said they were Humming birds. I did not believe her, but when they took off, I had to admit she was right. They were humming birds.They proceeded to fly to the lemon tree, and it is hard to see, but one of them decided to rest there for a photo opportunity.Hard to see but to the left of the top lemon the little guy is sitting on the branch about an inch and a half away on the photo.Hope you had a fun and relaxing Mother's Day weekend.  Wishing you a safe and healthy... 05/12/2024

The Annual Food Drive: Second Saturday in May, Diane & I have been supporting this great cause for the past ten years. We are blessed and happy that we are well off and can help others.Every year the Postal Employees that deliver our mail come by and drop off the bag two days before it and in turn send a card as well.We in turn fill up the bag and put it out. Today I noticed that our regular mail carrier was not around. As Holly and I returned from our 5:30 pm walk the bag was still there. Across the street I saw the fill in mail carrier. I flagged him down; he said once he delivered the mail he would come around to pick up the bag.Around 8:30pm out of character the mail was delivered. 10:00pm on Holly's evening walk the bag was still on our front porch.What a shame, I said to Diane ear... 05/11/2024