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Norma Toering's Palos Verdes Blog

Norma's Palos Verdes Real Estate Blog on Trulia

By Norma Toering | Agent in 90275
  • Hot deals in Palos Verdes, but very few steals.

    Posted Under: Home Buying in Rancho Palos Verdes  |  September 18, 2009 3:20 PM  |  302 views  |  No comments

     Few days pass without a contact from a hopeful buyer wanting a single family home in Palos Verdes at a price that simply does not exist, even in a real estate market that has slipped from the lofty pinnacle of 2006 prices. 


    So what does constitute a hot deal in Palos Verdes?  Here are a few things I look for in this market:

    Properties priced below $1,000,000 in Palos Verdes Estates:  It does not happen often, but when it does it is always worth the time to investigate the property.  I saw one yesterday and my guess is it will be in escrow within a week---maybe sooner.

    Houses with hidden views: It is surprising the number of times a stunning view is hiding behind a wall without sufficient windows, a chimney or overgrown shrubbery. 

    Homely houses with head-turner views:  Yes, the kitchen and baths may be original, the wallpaper, shag carpeting and acoustical ceiling tiles may make you shudder, but you can change those features.  The view cannot be added later. 

    Small house on big lot:  Palos Verdes is full of canyons and rolling hills. You may love the three bedroom ranch just as it is, but your future buyer sees a master bedroom addition, swimming pool and guesthouse potential when they gaze at your expansive lawn.


    If you're looking for a home in Rolling Hills under $2M there are several to choose from, but if you're looking for a home under $1M there are none to show.  If you want a home in Rancho Palos Verdes under $900K we can show you several (Eastview with the option of PV Schools has several under $700K), but the coastal location, top rated schools, spectacular topography and accompanying views provide a strong foundation to support the value of real estate on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

    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 Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.


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

    Rancho Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Blog - Palos Verdes Houses
    La Quinta Area Lots for Sale - View Homes in Palos Verdes

    Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team.

  • How to Win at the Entry Level Home Purchase Game in Palos Verdes CA

    Posted Under: Home Buying in Palos Verdes Peninsula  |  August 28, 2009 2:50 PM  |  193 views  |  No comments

    The competition is keen for entry level homes in Palos Verdes.  It is not surprising parents want top-rated schools for their children, and year after year the Palos Verdes Unified Schools appear on a variety of "best" lists.  There is not doubt about it---the demand for the PV schools keeps steady pressure on the supply of entry-level homes in Palos Verdes.Palos Verdes coastline

    Location plays a lead role in determining real estate value, and the stunning hilltop coastal location of the Palos Verdes Peninsula is often breathtaking and always valuable.  This makes the land underneath the entry-level homes pricey. A three bedroom house often has a million dollar price tag. 

    Yesterday I showed Palos Verdes homes priced under $900,000 and was impressed with the variety and availability.  However, from an original show list of seven homes, two went under contract before my buyer could tour them. 

    There are dozens of multi-million dollar homes to choose from, but only a few under one million dollars.  The competition can be fierce so be prepared to change your approach when buying a home in an area and price range where the supply is limited and the demand is high. 

     A few small changes in your offer may increase your success rate.  If you have identified the house you want to purchase make sure the offer you write reflects cooperation, flexibility and consideration for the seller's needs.  If you want to close in 30 days, but the sellers need 60 days, that's an easy way to score cooperation points and still win the prize.

    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 Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.


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

    Palos Verdes Real Estate Agent Blog - Palos Verdes Homes
    La Quinta Area Lots for Sale - View Houses in Palos Verdes
  • Trust, but Verify is Smart Business for Buyers

    Posted Under: Home Buying in Rancho Palos Verdes  |  June 11, 2009 11:27 AM  |  254 views  |  1 comment
    I gave a prospective buyer some information regarding zoning on raw land I have listed for sale.  He politely listened and said he wanted to verify my statement with the city.  He's my kind of buyer.  I work the same way.

    At the time of the listing the seller gave me the pertinent information regarding the lot.  When I inquired about the zoning, he gave it to me.  Since it was not stated on the tax assessor's records I called the planning department to verify the seller's information prior to listing the property on the MLS.  The seller was correct, but by personally speaking with a city official I was able to proceed with the confidence and knowledge the information represented was correct.  Trust, but verify is an excellent way to build consumer confidence and trust in the real estate industry.

    The days of glib conversation and unverifiable statements in the real estate industry are over, or at least they should be a thing of the past.  Consumer confidence is at an all time low.  They simply don't believe what we tell them.  We must trust each other in order to achieve common goals. 


    It takes time to build trust; but today when that prospective buyer walks into city hall and finds the zoning is exactly as I represented it to be, I believe his trust factor in me, my industry and my word will edge upward.  The offer we discussed will also edge closer to fruition.

    Norma Toering and 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 Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

    Palos Verdes Homes Blog - Palos Verdes Real Estate Website
    Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Search - More information about Palos Verdes
    Palos Verdes Horse Property Blog

    Boitano Palms - Coachella Valley Equestrian Lots


     
  • So You Want to Buy a Home in Palos Verdes

    Posted Under: Home Buying in Palos Verdes Peninsula  |  May 16, 2009 1:30 PM  |  266 views  |  No comments
    The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a unique place to live.  Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and situated high on a hill above the flat lands below, the views are varied and breathtaking.  Aside from the stunning topography and serene location I believe the views are unsurpassed in the Los Angeles area, and one of the primary reasons residents come to Palos Verdes and rarely leave.Trump National Golf Course in Palos Verdes
     
    A few of the many amenities the Palos Verdes Peninsula offers its residents are:
     
    The Climate:  San Diego lays claim to "the perfect climate" but in my opinion, Palos Verdes is as close to perfect as this former Midwestern woman ever needs.  Marine air from the open sea bathes the area with gentle ocean breezes and moderate temperatures throughout the year.  Only a few winter days require bundling up "Back East Style" and on a few summer days Santa Ana winds bring a dry heat reminiscent of the desert. Coastal fog makes its appearance periodically and yes, we have a few rainy days, but all in all those sunshine filled days you see in the movies are the real deal. 
     
     
    The Schools:  Peninsula residents are justifiably proud of the Palos Verdes Unified School District that serves all four cities and unincorporated areas of Palos Verdes.  Test scores are consistently in the top 10% of all California schools and approximately 90% of the student body goes on to higher learning upon graduation.
     
     
    The Location:  Owning a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula ensures you will be close enough to Los Angeles to enjoy all the advantages of living near a major metropolitan area, yet so very far removed from the daily hustle and bustle of urban congestion.
     
     
    The Views:  The homes of Palos Verdes enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the Los Angeles area.  The variety of views include panoramic ocean, Catalina Island, Los Angeles Harbor, city lights, coastline, whitewater, mountains and the coveted Queen's Necklace view.
     
     
    Buying a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a wonderful adventure.  There are a variety of neighborhoods, four separate cities and a wide variety of styles and prices. Welcome, and enjoy your search for a home in Palos Verdes.  When you're ready to start viewing homes it would be my pleasure to help you discover the right neighborhood, the right street and the perfect house for you and your family.

    Palos Verdes Quick Links



    Norma Toering and Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
    (310) 493-8333   Office Phone (310) 831-0800

     Find Norma on: Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Email Norma

    Palos Verdes Property Blog - Palos Verdes House Website
    Palos Verdes CA Homes Search - More information on Palos Verdes

    Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team.

    Norma's Rolling Hills Houses Blog - Palos Verdes Property
    Rancho Palos Verdes Homes for Sale  - Palos Verdes Estates Homes for Sale

  • The Value of a View on the Palos Verdes Peninsula

    Posted Under: Home Buying in Palos Verdes Peninsula  |  April 28, 2009 1:51 PM  |  249 views  |  No comments

    The Value of a View in Palos Verdes by Norma Toering

    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 property on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

    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 Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.


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

    Palos Verdes Property Blog - Palos Verdes House Website
    Palos Verdes CA Homes Search - More information on Palos Verdes

    Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team.

    Rolling Hills Houses Blog - Palos Verdes Property
    Rancho Palos Verdes Homes for Sale  - Palos Verdes Estates Homes for Sale

 
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