The Los Angeles City Parks Commissioners have approved funds for a list of improvements at both Averill Park and Peck Park in San Pedro. $681,688 has been allocated to repair several items in Averill Park including a broken pond pump, improving walkways and the park's gazebo, and the installation of pedestrian lighting.                                   Averill park pond (photos courtesy of sanpedro.com)       The 74 acres Peck Park  at 560 N. Western Ave. will be receiving $451,209 for new baseball and football scoreboards, upgrades to the existing baseball fields and bleachers, tennis court lighting improvements, replacement of air conditioning and heating systems in the rec center, as well as improvements to the park's parking  lots.  The work will commence in about three months. One... 06/05/2009

A Charity Benefit to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes will be held at the resort Saturday evening June 27th at six thirty in the evening. Proceeds from the event will be used to benefit the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, and is sponsored by the Peninsula Committee Childrens Hospital, Terranea Resort and Lowe Enterprises.       Tickets for the event are $250 per person and may be obtained by making reservations at 310-544-8084. Other levels of sponsorship are also available, and the Resort is also offering event and overnight packages. For more information about the Terranea Resort, visit my website at http://www.maureenemgowan.com 06/05/2009

Donald Trump has deposited $400,000 as a deposit on the $4 million purchase of an 8.5 acre of land owned by the Palos Verdes Unified School District. This land purchase is part of a 2004 settlement of a lawsuit between Trump and the School District which called for Trump to lease the land for $1million a year and then to purchase the land. The money, however, can only be used by the School District for Capital Improvements, by law, nad will not be available to meet the large projected budget deficits due to State budget Issues.  Trump National Golf Course For more PV School Info  as well as buying or selling a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 06/05/2009

Don't fprget tp return you mail-in ballots by the June 23rd deadline.  The ballot measure is to approve an additional parcel tax of $165 per parcel in addition to the current parcel tax of $209 per year. The new parcel tax is expected to raise approx. $3.3 million, and the School Distrcit plans to utilize the funds as follows: • Provide advanced academic programs in math, science and technology • Keep neighborhood school facilities and grounds clean and well-maintained • Retain qualified and experienced teachers and school employees and minimize layoffs • Keep classroom technology up-to-date • Provide advanced educational programs that help local students get into the best colleges and prepare for successful careers • Continue funding for physical education, music and art programs •  Ke... 06/05/2009

The June 2009 real estate scene is still no summer picnic, but sellers are more realistic with their expectations and prices.  One battle won!  After maneuvering this market for a couple years prospective homeowners now know a buyer's market does not mean sellers are giving property away; it does mean there are buying opportunities not present a few years ago.  In short, buyers and sellers are moving closer together.    A short bridge is easier to build than a long one; it takes less time and energy too.  I've seen the battle fatigue in sellers, buyers and agents (present company included).  I've seen, and presented, offers with such a large money gap the chances of the offers being accepted were about the same as me swimming the English Channel.  Not a chance that is happening, and tho... 05/29/2009

At the Tuesday meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission, Marymount College made a surprise decision to remove its contentious plans for 2 new dorms from their proposed expansion plans.  The rremaining plans include a new athletic center, a new library, as well as other facilities that would more than double the existing footprint of the college.  After reviewing the revised plans, the Planning Commission chose to continue their deliberations to their meeting on June 9th. Even with these plans for the dorms removed from Planning Department consideration, the College can still appeal that component of the plan directly to the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council.  Marymount College Expansion area Expansion of the college has been met by vigorous opposition by a group of area res... 05/28/2009

Nearly 40 South Bay schools performed among the top 10th of campuses across California in a statewide academic index released by education officials Thursday.  Check statewide rankings according to the Daily Breeze Newspaper article."Just as the data showed last year, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula school districts saw all of their campuses make the top tenth."    Those are some impressive tests results for local school systems and it is even more impressive to see the year to year data. As a former teacher and parent of four Palos Verdes Unifed School District graduates, I am not surprised by the tests results.  Although there are many wonderful privates schools on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the performance of the public schools has a direct impact on ho... 05/27/2009

Tuesday night, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, on a 4 to 0 vote approved a plan to loan back up to $8 million in hotel tax fees due to the City over the next 27 months, to be repaid to the City with interest by the end of 2013, with the possibliity of an extension.  The developer of the resort stated that the loan was needed in order for the Resort to obtain additional financing necessary to provide funds during the Resort's initial ramp-up period. The City Council is set to vote on a final ordinance at its meeting on June 2nd. Newly landscaped hotel grounds at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Robert Casillas/Daily Breeze Staff Photographer) About 100 residents attended the packed meeting, with most of the two dozen or so speakers indicating their support for the plan.... 05/27/2009

I've been a member of Zillow's real estate community since 2006.  On individual homes their Zestimate values can be way off---sometimes too low and less frequently a bit on the high side.  However, for general statistics they provide some great information.  This information was taken from an email I received from Zillow today: According to the latest Zillow Real Estate Market Reports, home values in Rancho Palos Verdes decreased 9.9% in the first quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter of 2008.  Nationally, home values decreased 14.2% during this same period.  Most Homeowners No Longer in DenialAccording to our just-released Q1 Homeowner Confidence Survey, 60% of U.S. homeowners believe their home has lost value in the past 12 months. In reality, 80% of U.S. homes have declined ... 05/26/2009

Something that I really worry about is what will happen to interest rates once the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage backed securities and Treasury Bills. These Federal Reserve purchases are the main thing keeeping interest rates on conventional mortgages so low, but the Federal Reserve can not keep this up forever.  Without a private market coming back to life to purchase mortgage backed securites,  the Federal Government is the only thing that is providing capital for new mortgages.  That is why I am telling my buyers that now is the best time in the foreseeable future to buy a home while cheap financing is still available. For more information about Financing a home purchase,  visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 05/25/2009

My husband Bruce is providing this look back at Abalone Diving off of the Palos Verdes coast. The most obvious landmark that harkens back to the 60''s and '70's when scuba diving really took off is Abalone Cove located along Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes.   Abalone Cove My husband used to dive off of Abalone Cove and Lunada Bay in the late 1960's and during the 1970's when abalone were plentiful along our coastline.  Unfortunately, abalone were overfished for many years, mostly by commercial fisherman, and it is now rare to see Abalone steak on a seafood restaurants menu.   Young Abalone at Abalone Farm We miss the uniques flavor of abalone. After vigorously tenderizing the abalone by hammering it with a tenderizing hammer or mallot, it became very tender and had an ab... 05/23/2009

One of the fondest memories I have growing up in the West Los Angeles area was of the Helms Bakery Truck stopping at our house. My mom would buy fresh bread, but what I remember most was the great donuts and other pastry treats that they sold.  It was almost as good as the ice cream man when he drove up with a "toot-toot" of his horn.   Helms Bakeries operated in Culver City from 1931 to 1969, when it closed. Who can forget the long wooden drawers filled with goodies such as cookies, pastry and donuts.                                      Un;fortunately, those days of door to door service are gone, along with the milk man. For some vintage Helms Bakeries recipes, click here For information about buying and selling real estate on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, visit my website at http://www... 05/23/2009

The homes in the Eastview neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes are selling like hotcakes.  Inventory is down, sales and pending numbers are up, the Jacaranda Trees are in bloom---it must be spring! April 2009 real estate statistics for Eastview: Active Listings:  13 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $529,000-$2,150,000. Pending Sales:  9 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $637,000 to $899,000. April Sales:  2 Single Family Homes closed escrow:   2026 Mendon Drive - $675,000;  1849 Avenida Aprenda - $785,000.   Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pe... 05/21/2009

There are currently 292 Single Family Homes for sale in Palos Verdes.  13 of those homes are located in the Silver Spur neighborhood. April 2009 real estate statistics for the Silver Spur area: Active Listings:  13 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $837,900 to $1,175,000. Pending Sales:  7 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $725,000 to $1,020,000. April Sales: 3 Single Family Homes sold:  5915 Flambeau Road - $730,000;  5510 Bayridge Road - $790,000;  6032 Groveoak Place - $810,000. Inventory is down, pendings and closed sales are up for the Silver Spur neighborhood. Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rollin... 05/20/2009

I was in a number crunching mood this morning so I cruised around the MLS and picked up a few interesting numbers: 290 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently for sale in Palos Verdes. 82 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently in escrow. 106 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes have sold year-to-date. The Peninsula Center neighborhood currently has 8 single family homes for sale, 4 single family homes in escrow and no homes closed escrow during the month of April 2009.   If a new addition to the family has you searching for a larger home contact me and I'll help with the house hunting chores. Previous Market Reports Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and... 05/16/2009

I was in a number crunching mood this morning so I cruised around the MLS and picked up a few interesting numbers: 290 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently for sale in Palos Verdes. 82 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently in escrow. 106 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes sold year-to-date.   Here are the real estate numbers for the Crest neighborhood: Active Listings:  9 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $975,000 to $1,328,000. Pending Sales:  5 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $899,000 to $1,374,000. April Sales:  1 Single Family Home closed escrow:  5656 Whitecliff for $931,000. Previous Market Reports Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, p... 05/16/2009

I was in a number crunching mood this morning so I cruised around the MLS and picked up a few interesting numbers: 290 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently for sale in Palos Verdes. 82 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes are currently in escrow. 106 Single Family Palos Verdes Homes have sold year-to-date. The buyers market of months past is not looking so strong these days.  It's true the luxury market is still a bit stagnant but the rest of the price ranges are moving at a healthy absorption rate. Now for the specifics of the Los Verdes neighborhood for the month of April: Active Listings:  12 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $999,000 to $1,599,000. Pending Sales:  4 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $799,000 to $1,325,000. April Sales:  2 Single Family H... 05/16/2009

TERRANEA RESORT CASITA  FOR SALE           100 TERRANEA WAY, CASITA #4 , BLDG. 28$2,890,000This property is one of a select few in the first row of casitas in the brand new Terranea Resort( the first building to the left of the main hotel facility in the picture below ) with incredible views of Catalina and the ocean. The unit has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms totaling 2,040 sq. ft. and is located in the first row of casitas right above the cliffs with incredible ocean views. This property is a private party sale from the original purchaser from the Resort and offers a great opportunity to acquire the property at a significant savings over the current list prices by the Resort developer of comparable Casita properties.   For detailed information on this property, visit http://terraneacasit... 05/15/2009

Here's the monthly update for home sales in the La Cresta neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes for April 2009: Active Listings:  19 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $990,000 to $3,150,000. Pending Sales:  4 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $949,000 to $1,595,000. April Sales:  2 Single Family Homes sold:  27 Country Meadow Rd. - $1,650,000;   5 Moonmist - $2,000,000. If you are shopping for a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, or other real estate in Palos Verdes, contact Norma Toering & Team for help with finding the best home for you.  With four cities and seventeen separate areas on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, it's a good idea to enlist a professional to help you with your search for the perfect Palos Verdes home. Previous Market Reports Norma Toering & Team ... 05/13/2009

Three Palos Verdes homes in the Country Club area of Rancho Palos Verdes are in escrow; it is nice to see Palos Verdes real estate selling as we roll into summer.  Country Club real estate statistics for home sales during the month of April 2009: Active Listings:  15 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $1,219,000 to $3,450,000. Pending Sales:  3 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $1425,000 to $2,199,000. April Sales:  0, but May numbers will show home sales in the neighborhood.  If you are shopping for a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, or other real estate in Palos Verdes, contact Norma Toering & Team for help with finding the best home for you.  With four cities and seventeen separate areas on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, it's a good idea to enlist a professional... 05/13/2009