Norma Toering's Palos Verdes Blog

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as is the value of a view. This is one of the great puzzles of selling view homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. We have a plethora of views. There are varying degrees of views, there are up close and personal views and there are some homes with pastoral views (some buyers consider this a non-view when compared with a panoramic view). What’s an agent to do when asked to place a value on a view?

The Views of Palos Verdes:

The Queen’s Necklace view is one of the most sought after on the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula. Many residents of Palos Verdes Estates are fortunate to enjoy this amazing sight from the comfort and convenience of their home. It is a combination of Pacific Ocean meeting the encircling lights of the Beach Cities and beyond all the way to Malibu. Toss in snow capped mountain in the background on a clear day and few would disagree this is a million dollar view.

The Blue Pacific and Catalina Island is another very popular view in Palos Verdes. A drive along Palos Verdes South will soon reveal why Lowe’s chose to build one of the most spectacular resorts in Southern California overlooking this view. Terranea will open this summer and the views are incredible and inspiring. Donald Trump’s golf course is located nearby and enjoys the same view.

City lights is an undeniably romantic view. The lights of the Los Angeles Basin and Los Angeles Harbor sparkle throughout the night and twinkle like millions of strands of holiday lights. Palos Verdes is affectionately referred to as “The Hill” by locals and nowhere is this more evident than when you are looking down at the glittering lights of the night.

Other views include coastline, whitewater, bluffs, hills. parks and so much more. Some are from atop “The Hill” and others are so close you can almost dip your toes in the water or hear the surf. There is no doubt views add value to Palos Verdes Property. It also adds beauty, serenity and joy. Those intangibles may be one of the greatest gifts of owning view property on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Sell Smart, Buy Wise and Live Well

Norma Toering & Team - Broker Associate at RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333- Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

PalosVerdesLifestyle- Norma's award winning Palos Verdes real estate blog since 2007. Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

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California is a large state both in size and population.  Our urban cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego are world renown.  The area is blessed with some of the most stunning natural beauty the world has to offer.  We claim the majority of the coastline along the Pacific Ocean on the west coast.  We have stunning mountains, mesmerizing deserts, rivers, lakes and parks.  Yes, California is larger than many countries.

Relocating to California can be a daunting experience.  Over twenty years ago when I received the news we were relocating to Los Angeles I was less than thrilled.  My experience with Los Angeles consisted of one smog-filled summer trip during the mid 1970s, and frankly I did not care if I never saw Los Angeles again.  I should explain, my arrival coincided with those hot Santa Ana winds that feel like a blast from a furnace and also usher in soupy, smog filled skies.  It only happens once or twice a year and lasts for a few days before the wind reverses and the coastal breezes return once again. For me, Los Angeles failed miserably when it comes to that first chance to make a good impression.

What a difference a decade or two can make!  The second time around I knew I needed to live near the coast for cleaner air, and with the addition of four children, I needed top rated schools.  After looking in several areas and having more than one agent point me in the direction of Palos Verdes, I ventured onto the Palos Verdes Peninsula and am still here.  What a find!  It's not the LA you know from Hollywood movies or the Beverly Hills Housewives.  It's quiet here.  If you're seeking the limelight or the bright lights this is not the place for you. 

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy the gift of living close to the sea in a California coastal community with one of the top-rated school systems in the State, then perhaps you should investigate the Palos Verdes Lifestyle the residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula enjoy.  Once here, I'm guessing there will be no regrets.

I'd love to be your guide.  I'm a convert, not a native with no experience living in other parts of the USA.  I've lived in the Midwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic and the South. I've traveled the world and I still smile when I arrive home to my serene little pocket of Los Angeles--the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

As my tour bus snaked its way along the Amalfi Coast in Italy I listened to the other passengers ooh and aww over the amazing views, I thought to myself, reminds me of Palos Verdes. The Italian verison may be a little more dramatic with steeper hills and one-way roads with hairpin curves, but the high bluffs with blue water below share undeniable similarities.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as is the value of a view.  This is one of the great puzzles of selling view homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  We have a plethora of views.  There are varying degrees of views, there are up close and personal views and there are some homes with pastoral views (some buyers consider this a non-view when compared with a panoramic view).  What's an agent to do when asked to place a value on a view?

The Views of Palos Verdes:The Queen's Necklace view is one of the most sought after on the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula. Many residents of Palos Verdes Estates are fortunate to enjoy this amazing sight from the comfort and convenience of their home. It is a combination of Pacific Ocean meeting the encircling lights of the Beach Cities and beyond all the way to Malibu.  Toss in snow capped mountain in the background on a clear day and few would disagree this is a million dollar view.

The Blue Pacific and Catalina Island  is another very popular view in Palos Verdes.  A drive along Palos Verdes South will soon reveal why Lowe's chose to build one of the most spectacular resorts in Southern California overlooking this view.  Terranea Resort adds a much needed hotel to the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the views are incredible and inspiring.  Donald Trump's golf course is located nearby and enjoys similar breathtaking views.

City lights is an undeniably romantic view. The lights of the Los Angeles Basin and Los Angeles Harbor sparkle throughout the night and twinkle like millions of strands of holiday lights.    Palos Verdes is affectionately referred to as "The Hill" by locals and nowhere is this more evident than when you are looking down at the glittering lights of the night.

Other views include coastline, whitewater, bluffs, hills, park, bridge and so much more. Some are from atop "The Hill" and others are so close you can almost dip your toes in the water or hear the surf.  There is no doubt views add value to Palos Verdes Property.  It also adds beauty, serenity and joy.  Those intangibles may be one of the greatest gifts of owning property on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The last big holiday of summer is but a memory and the kids are back in school, but if you live in Southern California you don't have to put your beach toys away yet.  Our California summers lingers on well into October most years--sometimes even longer.  I've served Thanksgiving dinner outdoors on more than one late November day.

California weather is a still a powerful pull for residents east of the Golden State, even though we may have lost a bit of our economical glow, we still enjoy some of the best year-round weather in the United States.  Even when the economy looks bleak a picture-perfect day with blue skies and a gentle coastal breeze helps brighten the mood and lift the human spirit.  Weather has a deep impact on our well being, and this has been a year filled with life changing weather events throughout the USA and world.

A move to Southern California's pricey real estate may mean a smaller house but it will also mean fewer days confined within the walls due to inclement weather.  You winter wardrobe will not need to be as extensive or expensive as it was in cold country.  When I lived in Maine outfitting my four children for winter included a trip to L.L. Bean for new down-filled coats, hats, mittens, snow-pants, boots, turtlenecks, sweaters, long underwear, wool socks and other cold weather gear.  The only time you'll need most of these in Los Angeles is when you head to the slopes to ski.  It's a glorious feeling to step outside in January sans heavy winter coat--often a heavy sweater or lightweight jacket is all you need to protect yourself against the elements.  That's very freeing.  I'm not sure you can determine a dollar value for the pleasure of good weather--day in and day out.

We deal with weather every day, and in Southern California it is usually a pleasant experience--and that's a very big perk--climate counts.

Your Palos Verdes dream home may be more affordable than you think.  141 Palos Verdes single family homes  sold for under $1,00,000 in 2011 year-to-date.  During the same time period in 2010 125 single family homes sold.  At the height of the market a few years ago it was difficult to find a single home for sale on the Palos Verdes Peninsula under $1,000,000.  Now they are sprinkled throughout most neighborhoods in PV.

Yes, many of the homes need updating and their view may not be panoramic, but it is not unusual to find a Palos Verdes view home for under $1,000,000.  As a matter of fact, I opened escrow on such a house last week with a delighted buyer.

Currently there are 51 Palos Verdes single family homes for sale priced under $1,000,000.  Maybe one of them is your dream home just waiting for you to find it.

Homes inspections are similar to annual physical exams--the house receives a basic look from head to toe, systems are tested and examined and if there is any cause for concern, a deeper and more thorough probe will be conducted by a specialist in the field.  The qualified person will be called in to render a professional opinion after conducting the necessary tests.  A home inspection should move from a generalist's opinion to a specialist's findings in an orderly fashion. 

My favorite home inspectors deliver the facts and their findings in a professional manner without alarming prospective buyers with stories about the house from hell, residential money pits and other tales from the bowels of the internal workings of hundreds of houses.  The buyers are only interested in one home, the one they are contemplating purchasing.

Speculation can be a risky road to venture down.  I would never sell a home without having a home inspection from a generalist.  Sometimes a generalist's report reveals no major issues.  Often, the concerns noted in the inspection guide the buyers as to what their next step should be.  Upon the completion of the home inspection in a recent transaction, the buyer's opted to have three additional inspections by experts in the designated fields.  Armed with the additional reports their next move became crystal clear.

A fabulous home inspector raises my comfort level with the asset my clients are purchasing, and a multi-page report with photos certainly lets the prospective buyers see a house in a revealing light.  A home inspection is a session filled with education, counseling and a great ‘getting to know you' opportunity.  I encourage clients not to ignore suggested "further evaluation" recommendations made by a home inspector.  Tending to a present small problem now can ward off major issues in the future.

 My grandmother had a quilt filled with quotes, and the most apropos was, "A stitch in time saves nine."   Armed with a thorough home inspection buyers can save time and money, not to mention avoid the naiveté of not having the full picture of the property they are purchasing.

 

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. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty 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 Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Living in Palos Verdes - Palos Verdes Houses
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Palos Verdes Luxury Homes - Manhattan Beach Homes

 It is time for our mid-year real estate activity report for the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  In a nutshell, sales are up and inventory is low.  If you're contemplating selling a Palos Verdes property competition is at a near record low with well under 300 single family homes currently on the market.

In 1992 (according to one of my old newsletters) there were 758 active listings.  What a difference a decade makes!  Least we forget, the real estate market was slow in the early 1990s, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula was affected by the loss of middle management jobs in the shrinking defense industry.

Based on the number of sales during the first half of 2011 the "sparkle" is returning  to the Palos Vedes home sales maket.

Palos Verdes Neighborhood	Listings	In Escrow	Sold 2011
Lunada Bay	36	6	41
Monte Malaga	16	7	13
Malaga Cove	13	1	20
Valmonte	14	7	19
PV Drive North	22	7	20
Rolling Hills	19	3	10
PV Drive East	23	21	19
Mira Catalina	10	3	11
PV  Drive South	24	4	14
PV Drive West	17	4	7
Country Club	12	5	14
La Cresta	12	4	7
Los Verdes	9	6	12
Crest	6	4	10
Peninsula Center	6	2	11
Silver Spur	17	9	17
Eastview	17	11	25

 The 2011 summer market is sizzling.  This weekend I finalized the sale of a Rancho Palos Verdes home, leased a luxury bluff front home. wrote an offer on a San Pedro property and I'm preparing to write an offer on a single family house on Tuesday.  The demand for Palos Verdes property is increasing from this real estate agent's perspective!  For more information on selling or buying a Palos Verdes Property give me a call.

 

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. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty 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 Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Living in Palos Verdes - Palos Verdes Houses
Palos Verdes Horse Property - Palos Verdes Realtor Agent
Colorado River CA Land - View Homes Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Coastal Homes - Rolling Hills Estates Home Search
Photos of Palos Verdes - Palos Verdes Videos
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes - Manhattan Beach Homes