I had to smile when I read a blog post written in February 2007.  My youngest son had recently returned from Iraq after two tours of duty.  He worked as my assistant as he adjusted to civilian life. I changed my work environment to accommodate our change in office space requirements.  Little did I know the real estate market was about to crash and recovery would not occur for several years. As the market declined to depths not seen since the Great Depression, I was resolute in my determination to survive and even thrive.  If my son could survive the challenges of being in a war zone and cope with the after-effects of post traumatic stress, surely I could find the willpower and courage to ride out a faltering real estate market. I'm happy to say not only did we both survive the challenge... 06/15/2015

Country Club neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in April 2015.Many of the homes in the Country Club neighborhood have a view of Los Verdes Country Club and since the neighborhood is near the top of the hills there are also gorgeous view of the ocean, Catalina Island and even some city lights. The Country Club area also has shopping nearby with the Golden Cove center at the base of Hawthorne Blvd and Ralphs just up the hill at Crest.Homes for sale in the Country Club area of RPV: (See all homes in Rancho PV) Homes in escrow in "Country Club":Homes that sold in the last 12 months in "Country Club":Palos Verdes Housing Market Indicator - June 2015 06/11/2015

 Palos Verdes Drive West neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in June 2015.PVDW is home to many of the mega mansions in Rancho Palos Verdes. With its miles of ocean frontage it is the perfect setting for many of the elite ocean view homes hugging the Palos Verdes coastal area. Oceanfront Estates and Marguerite Drive are two neighborhoods to explore if you're in the market for a Rancho Palos Verdes luxury home.Homes for sale in the PV Drive West area of Rancho Palos Verdes:  Homes in escrow in the PV Drive West area of Rancho Palos Verdes: Homes that sold in the last 12 months in the Palos Verdes Dr West area: Palos Verdes Housing Market Indicator - June 2015 06/10/2015

Palos Verdes Drive South neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in June 2015.The south side of Rancho Palos Verdes is fast becoming the resort side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula as the location is home to Terranea Resort and Trump national Golf Course. The neighborhood is graced with some of the most breathtaking view on the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula.Palos Verdes Drive South homes for sale: (See all Rancho Palos Verdes homes for sale) Palos Verdes Drive South homes in escrow:Homes that have sold in the last 12 months in the PV Drive South area under $1.5M:Homes that have sold in the last 12 months in the PV Drive South area over $1.5M:Palos Verdes Housing Market Indicator - June 2015 06/09/2015

Mira Catalina neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in June 2015.The Mira Catalina neighborhood is home to Marymount College, a four year college, and the area enjoys spectacular views of Catalina Island. Mira Catalina Elementary School is located in the neighborhood and is within walking distance of most of the homes.Palos Verdes homes for sale in Mira Catalina: (See all RPV homes for sale) Mira Catalina homes in escrow:Mira Cat. (Palos Verdes) homes that have sold in the last 12 months:Palos Verdes Housing Market Indicator - June 2015 06/08/2015

Palos Verdes Drive East neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA in June 2015.The Palos Verdes Drive East neighborhood is known for its large lots and lower density than many neighborhoods on "The Hill". Although there are pockets with a subdivision feel, the area is known for its country atmosphere. It also has one of the best locations for easy freeway access. A wide variety of styles and prices are available.Palos Verdes Drive East area homes for sale: (See all Rancho Palos Verdes homes for sale) Palos Verdes Drive East area homes in escrow:Palos Verdes Drive East, RPV homes that have sold in the last 12 months under $1M:Palos Verdes Drive East, RPV homes that have sold in the last 12 months over $1M:Palos Verdes Housing Market Indicator - June 2015 06/07/2015

High school graduation is the culmination of 13 years (yes, kindergarten counts) of an 18 year old's educational life.  It deserves a big celebration.  The Palos Verdes Peninsula High School Class of 2015 received a rousing send-off last night.  Grandson #1 was one of over 600 graduates who received diplomas from one of the top five public high schools in California.  Let me repeat that--one of the top five public high schools in California! - Norma Toering, Broker/Owner of Charlemagne Intl Properties310-493-8333 - A Top Palos Verdes REALTOR -  "Best Public High Schools ranks 14,431 high schools based on dozens of key statistics and 4.6 million opinions from 280,000 students and parents. A high ranking indicates that the school is an exceptional academic institution with a diverse set o... 06/05/2015

Real estate customer service is not dead.  At least not at Charlemagne Int'l Properties located in Rolling Hills Estates, CA.  Although, one may wonder if calls are not returned and details are left unattended causing home owners to feel the weight of the myriad of details involved in selling a Palos Verdes property seem to rest solely on the seller's shoulders.  As one seller recently commented, "Who knew selling a house involved so many moving parts and so much time?"  At Charlemagne, we make every effort to reduce the stress and burden of selling your Palos Verdes property."Thanks for being such a great agent on all our deals! I sure do appreciate more so that you are one heck of a professional in this field who has always had our best interest in mind." I think one of the reason rea... 06/04/2015

  We often receive questions about places to board horses on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The Portuguese Bend Riding Club in Rancho Palos Verdes is always on my list of suggested stables.Josh and I were previewing new listings in the gated neighborhood recently and took the opportunity to feature the equestrian amenities in this short video clip. The entrance to the gated neighborhood is off Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.  The landscape is majestic with rolling hills and ocean vistas. There are riding and exercise rings as well as miles of trails throughout the neighborhood.  If you're searching for a beautiful area to both board and ride your horse, the Portuguese Bend neighborhood is an excellent choice. Yes, the Pacific Ocean is across the street from the Portug... 05/31/2015

I recently read an article about the various ways people prefer to connect online.  Reading blogs ranked high with millennials to boomers and all ages in between.  Those are words of comfort and confirmation to this blogger. So what's the secret sauce when it comes to writing a blog readers will return to time after time?  Variety is high on my list.  If you post only market reports, walls of words or content of little value, then your blogging experience may not provide you much satisfaction or return on your investment of time and energy.  You need both to continue to blog over the long-haul. Bruce Hicks recently asked me to be his Sensei Mentor for Dick's contest.  Time is short and Bruce needs to post multiple posts to fulfill a blogging commitment.  Producing a body of blog posts t... 05/26/2015

I did my usual morning "pulse of the market" check-in, even though it's Memorial Day.  The real estate market does not take a day off and sometimes a holiday generates more activity than a run of the mill Monday.  There were a few new listings, price reductions and backup offers reported on today's MLS hotsheet.  Needless to say, our local inventory is fluid and changes are reported daily. Palos Verdes currently has 167 single family homes for sale.  These properties are scattered throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The MLS reports 245 closed sales for the year as of May 25, 2015.  Quick math tells us Palos Verdes homes are selling at the rate of 50 single home sales per month give or take a few properties. Some months do produce slightly more sales than others, however the best tim... 05/25/2015

 There was a parade of people going in and out of the new listing on Marguerite Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes during Tuesday's tour of new listings.  This was no surprise as the modern style home with its ocean front location and $7,850,000 price tag was certainly tour worthy, and I'm sure it was on almost every agent's must see list for the day. While checking out the view from the master bedroom I looked up and saw these two lovebirds doing the same.  I'm sure they approved! If you'd like to check out Palos Verdes homes with a view, Josh and I certainly know where the best ones are located.  We'd love to help you find the right one for you.  Call or email us at ToeringandTeam@gmail.com and we'll provide you with a list of the best of the best Palos Verdes view homes currently for sale. 05/23/2015

 I always find a reason to purchase peonies when they are in season.  They are one of my favorite flowers with their big showy blossoms and their heavenly scent.  Since my trip to Trader Joe's with their display of buckets filled with budding peonies coincided with a real estate closing today, two bunches of the budded beauties found their way into my cart. Thanks to the two "Joes (TJ's and coffee) my morning meal was mingled with delicious scents, inspiring beauty and a hefty dose of gratitude for my third closing with this client in the past 12 months.  It's good to take a moment to savor life's little moments!   05/21/2015

Forget about fifteen minutes of fame. The average home showing takes less than ten minutes.  If your home captures the heart and soul of the prospective buyers they may stay longer.  If not, they are gone in under five minutes.  Yes, your house is staged whether you know it or not. The image of your home is frozen in time in the buyer's mind.  Images of the style, the furnishings, the condition, the smell, the amenities and the ambiance are locked away for future consideration or rejection.  These components make up the overall "staging" of your property at the time of each showing. When you grant permission to show your home you are issuing tickets to a show.  Consider it your personal Broadway production.  Just as a theatre patron expects to be entertained and have an unforgettable ex... 05/17/2015

The rocky beaches of Palos Verdes may not be lined with white sand, but there are other treasures to be found.  My grandson found a lucrative spot for sea glass and I promised to remember the exact location for the next time we are on a sea glass hunt in Palos Verdes.  As I noted some visual clues, my daughter captured a photo of Thomas finding another piece of sea glass and me mentally marking the spot!  05/15/2015

The level of inventory of homes for sale of 91 homes in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes at the end of April is up about 26% compared to the end of April last year. The average number of homes sold per month over the last 3 months of 30 homes per month, is up 36% compared to the same 3 month period last year. There are 45 homes in escrow at the end of April, forecasting strong sales over the next two months .       The following is a list of the 36 homes sold during the month of April 2015:         The average price per sq. ft. for homes sold in Rancho Palos Verdes over the last 3 months of $548 which is approx. 9% higherr than the comparable period last year.     The average list price of homes offered for sale of $2.1 million is now 5% lower than this time last year. The average price ... 05/14/2015

It's not simply a house you're purchasing when you move to Palos Verdes.  It's the lifestyle as well.  It's a given the coastal location is breathtaking.  The school system consistently ranks as one of the best in California, but lifestyle rankings are more subjective and more difficult to gauge.Tuck this little note away in the decision making corner of your gray matter:  A hike along the coastal bluffs on our way down to the beach for our annual Mother's Day sea glass hunt, was highlighted by the sighting of two whales heading north for the summer.  The low tide allowed the grandchildren to observe tidal pools and discover all those little gifts of the sea.Yes, we found some sea glass, and so much more that really cannot be measured. 05/11/2015

Reasons People Want to Live in Palos Verdes:1)  Few places on earth are more beautiful. 2)  The Palos Verdes Unified School District is one of the top public school systems in California. 3)  It is located in Los Angeles County, and is close to all the urban conveniences, but is a coastal retreat far from the hustle and bustle of city life. 4)  The climate provides many days of sunshine, a few of rain, but snow is a rare occurrence. 5)  The coastal location provides easy access to beaches.  The Palm Springs desert towns are an easy 2.5 hour drive and ditto for the mountain ski destinations. 6) Housing choices run the gamut from condos to grand estate homes.  There are beach cottages, rambling equestrian estates and hillside villas.  Prices range from condos under $500,000 to mega-millio... 05/10/2015

If you are familiar with the Palos Verdes Peninsula you know most of the horse property and equestrian estates are located in either Rolling Hills or Rolling Hills Estates.  Palos Verdes Drive East also has some properties zoned for horses.  Few people equate Palos Verdes Drive South with horse property. Palos Verdes Drive South is now recognized as the resort side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  A drive along PVDS will take you pass Donald Trump's golf course, the Portuguese Bend Beach Club and Terranea Resort.  While gazing at the stunning ocean views you're apt to miss the gated entrance to the Portuguese Bend enclave, an equestrian neighborhood complete with boarding stables and miles of riding trails, on the opposite side of PVDS. When I first moved to Palos Verdes over twenty year... 05/09/2015

13 Palos Verdes luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 sold during April 2015.  The breakdown of sales by city: Palos Verdes Estates:  7 Rancho Palos Verdes:  4 Rolling Hills:  2 The top price paid for a Palos Verdes luxury home during April 2015 was $7,785,000 for an Oceanfront Estates home of nearly 8,000 sq. ft. located in Rancho Palos Verdes.For more information, or to sell or buy a Palos Verdes luxury home, contact us at ToeringandTeam@gmail.com.Palos Verdes Luxury Homes ($2M - $5M): Palos Verdes Luxury Homes ($5M+):  05/08/2015