The following is an article published on the Front Page of the South Bay Daily Breeze about my husband Bruce's and My efforts to have an off-leash dog park built on the Palos Verdes Peninsula ( See http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15724075?source=rv ) Peninsula landfill dog park plan curbed By Melissa Pamer Staff Writer Dogs and their owners frolic on the beach below Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes Sunday. (Steve McCrank / Staff Photographer) Longing for a place to let their pets run free, dog park advocates on the Palos Verdes Peninsula last year thought they had found a way to avoid the area's pervasive not-in-my-backyard sentiment: build a canine facility on a former landfill. Not so fast, officials with Los Angeles County have said. The news that a dog park would n... 08/10/2010

The Silver Spur area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates (Area 176 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 2nd Quarter of 2010 : Properties Sold: 9 Address                   Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#  Sold Date  Days on Mkt. 26545 Mazur DR          $785,000 4 2.00 2,034 $385.94 1956 S10039577 6/11/10    10 5938 Flambeau RD      $825,000 3 2.00 1,662 $496.39 1959 S10001027 4/14/10    92 5332 Ironwood ST        $827,500 3 2.00 1,723 $480.27 1956 V10003147 4/29/10    98 26418 Dunwood           $850,000 3 2.00 1,637 $519.24 1956 V10038665 5/27/10    20 27108 Freeport RD        $860,000 4 2.00 1,670 $514.97 1958 S10039239 5/05/10   19 3 Silver Spring DR         $899,000 3 2.00 1,595 $563.64 1957 V1... 07/26/2010

The Crest area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates ( Area 174 in map below )had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 2nd Quarter of 2010 : Properties Sold: 7 Address                             Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft.$/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#  Sold Date    Days on Mkt. 5609 Seaside Heights DR     $950,000 3 2.00 1,988 $477.87 1966 S10048560 6/21/10     2 5618 Scotwood DR               $970,000 5 3.00 2,468 $393.03 1965 V10045985 4/30/10     0 29289 Whitley Collins        $1,100,000 5 3.00 2,488 $442.12 1963 V09022484 6/15/10  420 29281 Whitley Collins DR   $1,139,000 4 3.00 2,448 $465.28 1963 V10052525 6/23/10     4 28924 Moro Bay DR           $1,200,000 5 4.00 3,677 $326.35 1966 V09121729 4/23/10  118 28424 Meadowmist DR       $1,2... 07/26/2010

Palos Verdes Drive North neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Peninsula and Rolling Hills Estates, CA in June 2010. Active listings: 26 Homes are currently for sale priced from $849,000 to $3,100,000. Pending sales: 12 Homes are in escrow around PV Drive North priced from $695,000 to $2,599,000. June sales: 2 Houses sold in June 2010: Ferncreek Dr $1,256,000 Cartesian Cr $1,415,000 Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper. South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Es... 07/23/2010

Yesterday my real estate sign went up on a client's lawn.  He said he knew he had talked the talk a long time before walking his talk when his five year old saw the sign and quizzed her mother in perfect real estate lingo, "When did we put our house on the market?" After all, moving is a family affair!   Today we begin the dance of selling their current home and finding a replacement home.  It will be a whirlwind undertaking beginning with a broker open house today, house hunting on Saturday and a public open house on Sunday.     After relating the story about his daughter he ended his email with, "Let's move!"  And that we will do.   Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of ... 06/17/2010

The newly built Silver Spur Court condo project located at the corner of Silver Spur and Crenshaw  had suspended sales due to poor initial sales of the units and litigation relating to cost over-runs and debt problems. A public auction has now been scheduled on July 11, 2010. Silver Spur Court18 Courtyard condos, ranging in size from 1,700 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft.  with original prices ranging from $930,000 to $1.7 million.        If you are interested in participating in the public auction process, please call me and I will be happy to arrange a tour of the units and to help you understand their current market values and to help you through the entire process as well as attend the auction with you. Additional information on the Silver Spur Condos relating to the upcoming auction on Jul... 06/13/2010

Palos Verdes Drive North neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rolling Hills Estates & the Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA in May 2010. Active listings: 21 Homes are available for sale in the PVDN area priced from $849,000 to $3,100,000. Pending sales: 15 Houses are in escrow priced from $899,000 to $2,599,000. May sales: 6 Homes sold in May 2010: Pascal Place $1,120,000 Montecillo Dr $1,130,000 Roessler Ct $1,168,000 Shady Vista Rd $1,250,000 Bridlewood Cr $1,275,000 Club View Ln $1,350,000 Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper. So... 06/11/2010

Due to the great turnout of dog park supporters at tonight's Rolling Hills Estates City Council meeting,  the City Council on a 4 to 1 vote ( with only Judy Mitchell opposed ) agreed to send a letter to Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe strongly recommending that the County of Los Angeles work towards providing a dog park on the former Palos Verdes Landfill site.  Major Tem Steve Zuckerman and Mayor John Addleman made comments that they have never seen a larger turnout of the public in support of another community issue.   Bruce and I would like to thank all those who were present, especially those who spoke including the following that gave me their names after the meeting, including the Fine Family ( Art, Christine, and Erica ), Mary Ashla, Kim Van Biene, and Olga Jones.  You we... 06/08/2010

  At the next City Council Meeting of the City of Rolling Hills Estates next Tuesday night June 8th beginning at 7:30 the City Council will vote as to whether to accept the Parks and Activities Commission's recommendation to submit a letter of support to the County olf Los Angeles to construct a dog park on the former Palos Verdes Landfill site.  See Dog Park Proposal - Rolling Hills Estates for the detailed proposal prepared by my husband Bruce Megowan. The City Council chambers are located azt Rolling Hills Estates City Hall at 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North, just west of Crenshaw Blvd. This is a key vote in our attempt to get a dog park developed on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and it is important that as many dog lovers as possible attend the meeting to show support from the community. 06/04/2010

  Foreclosure Report for Rolling Hills Estates & Palos Verdes Peninsula, California during May 2010. Total single family homes for sale in RHE/PVP: 22 Homes Foreclosed/bank-owned homes for sale in RHE/PVP: 1 Home Pre-foreclosure homes for sale in RHE/PVP: 1 House Short Sale listing homes for sale in RHE/PVP: 0 Homes Foreclosure related and short sale listings make up 9.0% of the current homes for sale in PVP/RHE. RHE/PVP - Foreclosure/Short Sale by Neighborhood (Active Listings) Palos Verdes Drive North: 2 Houses Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze... 05/28/2010

The Parks and Activities Commission of the City of Rolling Hills Estates agreed at their meeting tonight to recommend that the City Council of RHE send a letter to the County of Los Angeles in support of the proposal to construct a dog park on the former Palos Verdes Landfill site.  This proposal, prepared and presented by my husband Bruce Megowan at the Commission meeting, can be viewed at my web blog entry Dog Park Proposal - Rolling Hills Estates If you would like to show your support for this proposal, please send an email to the following email addresses of the City Council of RHE as well as the city manager and director of parks for the City: JohnA@ci.rolling-hills-estates.ca.us ; SteveZ@ci.rolling-hills-estates.ca.us ; SusanS@ci.rolling-hills-estates.ca.us ; JudyM@ci.rolling-hill... 05/18/2010

Palos Verdes Drive North neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA in April 2010. Active listings: 26 Homes are available for sale in the PVDN area priced from $870,000 to $2,999,900. Pending sales: 9 Houses are in escrow priced from $915,000 to $1,879,000. April sales: 4 Homes sold in April 2010: Westvale Rd $800,000 Rainbow Ridge Rd $900,000 Vista Real Dr $1,050,000 Pascal Place $1,218,000 Previous Palos Verdes and San Pedro Market Reports Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.... 05/14/2010

The following is a proposal which my husband Bruce and I have presented to the City of Rolling Hills Estates for the construction of a dog park on the former Palos verdes landfill Site: DOG PARK PROPOSAL- PALOS VERDES LANDFILL SITE - ROLLING HILLS ESTATES Community Benefits •1)    Allows dogs to exercise and socialize safely. Puppies and adult dogs need room to run, and enclosed play areas permit them to do so while preventing them from endangering themselves and others (for example, by running into the path of an oncoming vehicle). In addition, dogs who are accustomed to playing with animals and people other than their owners are more likely to be well-socialized and react well toward strangers. •2)    Promotes responsible dog ownership. Dog parks prevent off-leash animals from infring... 05/12/2010

It is not an uncommon sight to see equestrian activity on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Yesterday as I was going about the daily business of life I saw a young rider exercising her horse at the Dapplegray Riding Ring. As I made my way along Palos Verdes Drive North I saw several riders on the trail that parallels the street. As I waited at the traffic light at the entrance to Rolling Hills another group on horseback crossed the street. If you're a horse owner Palos Verdes is a wonderful place to live. Rolling Hills, the gated community at the top of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offers exceptional equestrian estates. The hills are laced with riding trails that snake deep within the canyons and rise to the peak of the hills. A ride through Rolling Hills will include views of the stunning So... 05/03/2010

  Foreclosure Report for Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Peninsula, California during April 2010. Total single family homes for sale in PVP/RHE: 29 Homes Foreclosed/bank-owned homes for sale in PVP/RHE: 0 Homes Pre-foreclosure homes for sale in PVP/RHE: 0 Houses Short Sale listing homes for sale in PVP/RHE: 0 Homes Foreclosure related and short sale listings make up 0% of the current homes for sale in PVP/RHE. RHE/PVP - Foreclosure/Short Sale by Neighborhood (Active Listings) Palos Verdes Drive North: 0 Houses Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Br... 04/30/2010

The Palos Verdes Drive North area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula ( area 165 in map below )had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 1st Quarter of 2010 Properties Sold:  14 Address                     Sales Price       BR BA  Sq.ft.  $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#  Sold Date  Days on Mkt. 26633 Westvale RD        $725,000     2 2.00 1,183    $613 1949 V09091594 10/19/09      47 4039 Montaigne WY        $925,000     3 2.00 2,133    $434 1971 S09075979 11/20/09     95 2206 Estribo DR           $1,000,000     5 3.00 1,894    $528 1957 V09116856 12/23/09     58 4005 Rousseau Lane    $1,010,000     3 2.00 2,220    $455 1972 V09084198 10/09/09     50 14 Hitching Post           $1,050,000     4 4.00 2,847    $369 1963 V09107115 11/28/09     51 4023 Montaigne Wa... 04/19/2010

The California Association of Realtors has published the following fact sheet for the Home Affordable Program Foreclosure Alternative ( "HAFA" ), which is a government program which provides incentives and guidelines to participating lenders to encourage them to work with borrowers who are delinquent on their loans: Note that I have modified this fact sheet for recent changes to the original HAFA program ( see my recent blog entry Changes to Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program ("HAFA") Guidelines ) What is HAFA? HAFA is a government-subsidized Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program for distressed homeowners to sell their homes to avoid foreclosure, even if the sales price is not enough to pay off their existing mortgage loans. Under HAFA, a participating lender wi... 04/13/2010

Rolling Hills Estates Home Sales for First Quarter 2010 Rolling Hills Estates became Los Angeles County’s 60th municipality back in 1957 when it was incorporated.  At the time, the population was only 3,500.  Today there are that many single family homes, townhomes, and condos.  The city is characterized by bridle trails, white fences, vast open spaces and, of course, rolling hills.  The city stretches into five distinct areas with respect to the local real estate multiple listing service, including Palos Verdes Drive North, La Cresta, Crest, Peninsula Center, and Silver Spur.  For the first quarter of this year, Rolling Hills Estates home sales have tripled from 10 to 30 from last year.  Comparing median sales prices may be problematic given the relatively low number of closed sales la... 04/09/2010

The Palos Verdes Drive North area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula ( area 165 in map below )had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 1st Quarter of 2010: Properties Sold:  14 Address                               Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft.  $/Sq.ft  26071 Marina Drive            $875,000   2   2    1,603    $546 2267 Carriage Drive            $900,000   4   3    2,112    $426 26864 Eastvale Rd              $945,000   4   3    2,037    $464 14 Sorrel Lane                    $970,000   3   2    1,572    $617 41 Silver Saddle Lane          $980,000   4   3    2,224    $441 37 Santa Bella Road            $992,000   3   3    2,078    $477 8 Buckskin Lane               $1,100,000   3   2    2,182    $504 6 Strawberry Lane             $1,100,000   3   2... 04/06/2010

Interest rates have moved up over the last week or so by about one-quarter to three eighths of a point.   The increase occured at the same time as the Federal Reserve's termination of the purchase program of mortgage backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I have predicted this movement in rates over the last several months in previous postings as I was very concerned as to what will happen to interest rates as the government programs providing capital for new loans phases out. It is hoped that the private sector will once again start to buy mortgage backed securities as the housing market begins to stabilize, however it is still too early to tell if that will happen. In the meantime, concerns over potential inflation as the economy begins to recover has led to an increa... 04/02/2010