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Phase 2 of the Palisades and Eaton Fires cleanup is underway
Phase 2 of the Palisades and Eaton Fires cleanup is underway If you are not aware, Phase 2 of the cleanup of the Palisades and Eaton fires is currently underway after completion of Phase 1, which began on January 28, and involved the removal of toxic chemicals. Phase 2 includes the clearing of debris such as chimneys, ash, trees, foundations, and “up to six inches of contaminated soil.” The deadline for property owners to submit a right-of-entry (ROE) form in order to opt in for free cleanup is March 31, 2025. If you do not Opt In, the cleanup will be on you. It’s also very important to note that if you choose to opt out, you CANNOT change your mind and opt in. Further deadline and submission information can be found at this link https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/roe/ If you need help filling out your form or have additional questions, please call the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Hotline at 844-347-3332. You may also email PalisadesFire@dpw.lacounty.gov or EatonFire@dpw.lacounty.gov. To learn more about Phase 2 please visit this link https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/phase-2/ If you prefer not to read the link, here is the short answer: A Right of Entry (ROE) form is required if you want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do work free of charge. Those opting out should also submit the form to avoid delaying work in their communities. The US Army Corps of Engineers has established a Debris Call Center to help answer questions regarding Private Property Debris Removal. Hours of operation are from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM; call 213-308-8305 for assistance. If you have additional questions or would like further details, the link is extremely thorough and you should be able to find everything that you need. Thank you to the Army Corps of Engineers for leading these critical cleanup efforts! I have been asked by many clients and out-of-area agents what is going on with insurance issues that they have been reading. That will be a future post with much detail, but I can provide a quick short answer here: State Farm, California’s largest insurer, recently requested permission to instate an “emergency” insurance premium increase of an average of 22% for homeowners. Today, the insurance commissioner rejected this request and asked the company to provide more information at a meeting later this month. “State Farm’s customers need real answers about why they are being asked to pay more and what responsibility the company’s leadership is taking to get its financial house in order,” the commissioner said in a statement. In brief, this is a dynamic situation where things are evolving day-by-day and minute-by-minute. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you need additional help or have questions. If I don’t have the answer, I have contacts with whom I can put you in touch that can help. If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach...
read moreBook Review by a Beverly Hills Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr.
Book Review by a Pet Friendly Beverly Hills Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr. a Beverly Hills Realtor Tickle Me with Love a Book Review. In addition to being a Realtor, I also love to read. Recent changes to my daily social media routine have paved the way for me to get back to my bookshelves by opening up my evenings to reading, so without further delay, I give you my first book review. In practicing full disclosure, short stories have never been my genre. With that said, my friend and published author, Ricki McCallum, a while back sent me a copy of her book, Tickle Me with Love, a book of Christian poems and short stories. Since they are short stories and poems, this book is an easy read for anyone. My goal was to read one or two chapters a night which I had no problem doing. Ricki covered a lot of ground with this book, and every chapter, be it story or poem, was excellent. As is the norm with short stories, each chapter is an independent subject – reading, fear, pets, God and Christmas just to name a few and I mention them in no particular order. Probably the most important aspect, at least to me, was that I found this book to be very uplifting and even funny at times, the more I kept reading . Needless to say, Ricki converted me to never overlooking a book of short stories again. I was actually sorry to have finished it so quickly. If you have not read this book and are looking for a fun and easy read, you need to add this to your reading list; particularly if you are short on time, this would be perfect read for you. I met Ricki over a social media platform to which I used to belong. Our interactions led us to a friendship for which I am grateful. Stay tuned for future book reviews from this Pet Friendly Beverly Hills Realtor where I will be sure to cover Ricki’s full-length novels, Snow Fire and its follow-up sequel, Snow Fire 2 Revenge & Justice. You can find Ricki’s Books on Amazon or htttps://www.RickiMcCallumBooks.com or https://www.castnetpress.com I think you will enjoy her books! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit my website at https://www.endrebarath.com. A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or...
read moreMusings by a Pet Friendly Beverly Hills Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr.
Musings by a Pet Friendly Beverly Hills Realtor: Endre Barath, Jr. February generally has us thinking about love and Valentine’s Day. Well in the continued spirit of love, did you know that those who have pets generally experience an overall better quality of life? Anyone with pets I’m sure would agree. You could say that our pets are our devoted year-round Valentines. Why do I say that? Think about it- our pets offer unconditional love, companionship and loyalty. When you come home, your dogs furiously wag their tails and run around as if you have been gone for days, even if you have only been gone for half an hour. ( My human partner usually greets me by saying ‘home already?’)If you have cats, they offer their love more subtly, but there is nothing like their leg rubs (when they don’t trip you) and purrs or motoring as I call it. And they are all so content just to have you home and nearby. There is nothing more comforting to me than seeing our animals sound asleep; I know they feel safe, well cared for and protected.Quite simply, if you have the time for the pets make your home and your life better. While they enrich our lives, it is not a decision to be taken lightly: to adopt or rescue an animal. Make sure you have the time to give them and plan to commit to them for their entire lives.If you decide to adopt or rescue, please visit your local animal shelter or a reputable rescue organization, they will help you find the right pet for you.Please feel free to comment on this post about your own devoted year-round furry Valentine. I have been busy getting my website up to speed with my web designers in order that I can continue on my new ‘solo’ blogs about real estate overall, local real estate market reports and, to mix it up and make it fun and interactive, pets, cooking and back to reading posts.I am looking forward to old friend joining in and making new ones, and I appreciate your patience as I figure out my solo blogging. Any tips?If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties, that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties or vacant land in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Please feel free to reach out to me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com.A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or...
read moreBe Amongst the First to Read my Initial Blog Post on My Own Website!
Be Amongst the First to Read my Initial Blog Post on My Own Website www.endrebarath.com. It’s years since I posted on my own website. After being part of a platform for 17 years where I actually learned to blog, it’s time to branch out independently. Change is good, and with that said, I welcome your comments and thoughts as I venture on this platform continuing to spread the word on real estate and other topics. I will return comments as I did on the prior platform and look forward to engaging. Not to bore you with real estate posts, I plan to mix it up with pet friendly posts (being a pet-friendly Realtor and supporter of animal rescue) cooking recipes (since I am “realtor that cooks”), positive motivation (sharing words from philosophers) and hopefully books. A goal for 2025 is to get back to my passion of reading. If you follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter aka X, and Instagram, nothing will change as I will continue to push my posts out to those platforms. Then if you want to comment on my posts feel free to do so, nothing will change as I used to reply to comments on the previous platform I was on. Hence with this introduction, let me share a Motivational Post as my first blog. I have always been about having a positive outlook on life, work and relationships. With that said: Do not be discouraged if things get thrown in your way, may that be a small obstacle or a big obstacle. Figure out how to go around it or go through it! You will be glad when you get on the other side of the obstacle. (Endre Barath, Jr.) Loss is nothing more than change. Universal nature delights in change, all that flows from nature happens for the good. Similar things have happened from time everlasting, and there will be more such to eternity. (Marcus Aurelius’) Adversity Makes You Stronger. Most of all good things come through adversity. There’s a poem that says: Looking back, it seems to me, All the grief that had to be Left me when the pain was o’er Stronger than I was before (Unknown) Quote and poem from (John Wooden’s Book” A lifetime of Observations and reflections on and off the court) Remember, “No one’s more important than people”! In other words, friendship is the most important thing-not career or housework, or one’s fatigue-and it needs to be tended and nurtured.” Julia Child If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle the most challenging properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly. If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com. A portion of my commission will be donated to a local and reputable animal rescue organization or...
read moreWe are so inundated with bad information what is one to do?
We are inundated with so much bad information, what is one to do? Observations about various things. There are so many internet portals, news media platforms that seem to have credibility, but they manage to provide bad information without any fact checking. What are we to do? How do we separate reality from fiction? No this is not a’ Political Post’, it is just an observation about bad information that could have been easily fact checked. My post was inspired by an article I read on Realtor dot com. The author made herself an “expert” about Frank Lloyd Wright homes. This is a contrarian post to that specific article, I just read on the internet. Keep in mind I live in Los Angeles and have been a Beverly Hills Realtor for 22+ years in the local market. I have always been fascinated with the fact that there are so many Frank Lloyd Wright homes that exist in Los Angeles. Hence, I followed the listing and sales history, just as a personal curiosity. Now keep in mind the author of this article is a food, wellness, and home writer. Her work has been featured in Healthyish, Prevention.com, Lifehacker, She Knows, and CafeMom It amazes me that she writes a Featured Article on Realtor dot Com and no one decides to “fact check her”. I totally disagree with her post as well as her message. People that can afford to buy Frank Lloyd Wright homes buy them as a piece of Art. Just to give you an example: there was a Frank Lloyd Wright home collector and he had more than four that I know of. He bought it not for profit but for his love of the Architect. Most of the buyers of Frank Lloyd Wright homes are not looking to make a profit, rather they buy them to preserve them and pass it on to future generations to the public and other Frank Lloyd Wright fans. Now with that said I remember when Ron Buerkle bought the virtual teardown home for about $4+ million dollars. We in the Real Estate Community were thrilled that he would bring it back to life. Yes, after he spent depending on who you talk to $10- $17 million dollars fixing it up. At some point in time he decided to put it on the market and sell it. Just to be clear this property has been on the market for 402 days as of this writing unlike what the author claimed well here it is check on the Days On Market for being transparent I am enclosing the link 2607 GLENDOWER AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90027 In case you can not see it here is the cut and paste of the listing dates: Contract Info DOM 402 List Date 07-09-2018 List Price $23,000,000 Orig List Price $23,000,000 Status Date 07-09-2018 Change Date/Type 04-09-2019 / Extended Sale Type Standard Here is the article in case you are interested, that I am writing the contrarian post about… https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/secret-curse-of-owning-a-frank-lloyd-wright-house?identityID=7855981&MID=2019_0816_WeeklyNL&RID=314075502&cid=eml_promo_Marketing_NonPRSL_WeeklyNL_cons.10918622_2019_0816_WeeklyNL-blog1franklloydwright-blogs_trends Claiming to have a property listed 30 days ago vs the reality of 402 days is just plain wrong. Where are the editors??? So, you might say what is your point?? Not trying to be nasty, I just want you to be cautious as to what you read on...
read moreTime Flies! Looking Back on Ten Years A Perspective by Endre Barath, Jr. Beverly Hills, Pet Friendly Realtor
This post was inspired by one of my Active Rain friends, Jeff D. Jeff asked us to reflect on and share at least 10 changes that took place in our lives during the past 10 years. Many who know me know that I am all about forward thinking and moving forward, rather than living in or looking back at the past. Yet, thanks to Jeff’s inspiration, I decided to journey back and see what took place the past 10 years of our lives. I am intentionally omitting the loss of both my and Diane’s parents as well as and animals and instead am focusing on “events” that took place in our lives, while also recalling some memorable events that took place around the globe. Without further ado: 2009: I was at the beginning stages of my journey on becoming a blogger. I abandoned my trusted typewriter for my first laptop . The global economy had just tanked, and as a Realtor I was striving to get my name out to the World Wide Web. My intent was to get referrals from this social platform known as Active Rain. I did not have the burning desire to become a real estate ‘writer’. Rather, I wanted referrals to specifically be known to buyers and sellers in the greater Los Angeles area. This change was new for me and it was the beginning of a long and interesting journey. Quite unexpectedly, I formed new (and what would become long) friendships. We exchanged ideas and yes, even picked up a few referrals. I realized just how vast a network the world wide web reached when international buyers and sellers found me due to my various blog posts. In January of that same year, CPT Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, thereby saving the lives of all 155 people aboard. 2010: A roller coaster of a year. I had listed and sold quite a few single-family homes in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as a couple of duplexes on LA’s West Side. My regular readers think of me as the international “go to” Realtor in Beverly Hills and vicinity. Contrary to popular belief, I do also sell homes, not just vacant lots, although my name does pop into the minds of most who are considering buying or selling vacant land in the Greater Los Angeles area. All these accomplishments were amplified by the World Wide Web. In December, I flew to Hungary and closed out a chapter in my life. The internet was helpful in keeping my business manageable, and I was able to sell a vacant lot despite losing and replacing my Blackberry on this particular trip. This was the same year that Julian Assange of WikiLeaks fame was arrested in London, England and the beginning of his complicated journey. 2011: I started to really grasp all that blogging entailed. I wrote many posts, and one in particular about “wood burning fireplaces in Los Angeles” continues to generate inquiries even today. Not wanting to embellish, I can safely say I’ve had more calls and emails from this post than any other post I have written. This was also the year that the most notorious terrorist was killed by Seal Team Six! 2012: I changed Brokers...
read moreSummer Fun in Beverly Hills, CA
Summer Fun in Beverly Hills, CA. Beverly Hills is considered the “destination place” for many people from all over the globe. Tourists come to see many “attractions”, but the number one attraction is of course ‘Rodeo Drive’. Although Rodeo Drive is about two miles long most people are only focused on about three blocks of it. That is from Santa Monica Boulevard South to Wilshire Blvd. There was a time when the visitors would hope to run into some of the “Hollywood Celebrities”. The reality is the only celebrities you see, this part of town are the ones “who want to be seen”. Most are usually hidden behind the gates of their palatial mansions moving from point A to point B in darkened windows of the SUV’s that are driven by their trusted chauffeurs and bodyguards unnoticed by the tourists. The second most popular tourist attraction in Beverly Hills is clearly the Beverly Hills Sign North of Santa Monica Boulevard. The Mayor of Beverly Hills can often be seen doing a VLOG and he is enjoying the hundreds of thousands of visitors that are checking him out. Funny part about it is most of these visitors have no idea who he is and why is he doing a VLOG? They just know he must be a celebrity of sorts. There are many other attractions in Beverly Hills and not wanting to slight anyone all I can say is too many to name. If you forced me and said, Endre do not be politically correct what would the third place be? Well, if you force me, I must say it would be “The Shops”. They become a tourist destination place for many to be photographed in front or inside the shops. There are many people who will go home with happy memories of standing in front of these shops without stepping inside of them. Others will take advantage of buying some very expensive, clothing, handbags, shoes and the list goes on and on. To many tourists Beverly Hills has been on their “Bucket list” to visit and shop or just window shop. Those who have read my posts consistently know that I am very grateful to be able to say that my Real Estate Office is on 131 South Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA. I never take it for granted and I always appreciate what I have. Virtually every International Client that I have represented insisted on visiting my office, although I prefer lunch or dinner with them outside the office. Nevertheless, I smile when I see them take selfies and pictures of the front of my office as well as inside. It is all part of the fun. Now if you would like to be represented by a fun Beverly Hills Agent who calls Rodeo Drive as his place of work please reach out to me directly! Looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals? Please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real...
read moreHappy Independence Day! Wishing you a Safe Celebration!
Our Flag is flying high and we are celebrating our Freedom and wishing you a Happy Independence Day! Happy July 4th week! Believe it or not, 2019 is now half over. In summary, the first 6 months of the year have been a bit of a roller coaster for real estate in the greater Los Angeles area. In spite of mixed messages, here are a few facts we can celebrate as America approaches her birthday: The Department Of Labor reported that the weekly initial jobless claims fell to 196,000. This is the lowest number since 1969. It’s worth noting that in 1969, there were approximately 202 million people in the U.S. As of this writing, that number is up to approximately 327 million, so the jobless claim number is even more impressive. For those that have been concerned about recession earlier this year, in my opinion it is highly unlikely that we will see a recession in 2019 since the labor market is strengthening. Then of course there is the concern over interest rates. To clarify, consumer confidence and jobs help buy homes more than low interest rates. On this 4th of July holiday, please remember this is NOT a fun holiday for your pet(s). The loud bangs of fireworks are terrifying for them. Keep your pets inside and in your sight until the festivities are over. Consider playing classical music and/or having the TV on for them. The already overcrowded shelters will be overrun with lost pets, and you don’t want yours to be one of them. With all this said, I wish you (and your pets if you have them) a safe and relaxing 4th of July. Looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals? Please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 (m) or homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com I contribute a portion of my commission to local animal rescue organizations. ...
read moreTop five first time home buyer questions in Los Angeles, CA
Over the years, these were the top five first time home buyer questions, I have been asked in the greater Los Angeles area. Now, in no specific order, let me list them and then address each of them: How safe is the neighborhood? What will the annual taxes be on this home? How much will I have to pay per month for the mortgage? What is the interest rate going to be on my loan? How much will my home be worth in seven years? Clearly these questions sound simple, but they are not that easy to answer in a sentence or two. Most first-time home buyers need, what I consider additional patience and even some hand holding. The extra kindness and caring will make the purchasing process so much smoother. How Safe is the neighborhood? This is not a loaded question; it is a legitimate concern. The issue is it is a subjective matter. Different people have varied tolerance to what they perceive as safe vs. unsafe. I always advise my buyers to drive by the area in the evening, weekends as well as weekdays to determine their comfort level. I also suggest checking with the local police department as to what the crime statistics are. Interestingly this is not just asked by Relocation Clients. Keep in mind Los Angeles consists of about sixty square miles of area and often first-time home buyers leave the comfort zone of where they were renting to a different area to purchase, because of affordability reasons. What will the annual taxes be on this home? Well this depends on where the property is located, it makes a difference if it is in Beverly Hills, Culver City or Los Angeles to name a few areas. Clearly a safe number without looking at the actual location is around 1-1.25% of the purchase price. Thanks to Proposition 13, our tax obligation is determined by the purchase price. There after minor tax increases are permitted based on inflation. This is probably the easiest question to answer from all five. How much will I have to pay per month for the mortgage? This question I prefer the lender to answer. Clearly deferring, because it all depends on a variety of factors. One factor, which has the largest influence on this is, how much will the down payment is the mortgage amount itself. It has a huge impact on the size of the monthly payment. Other factors include what type of loan it is and the list goes on and on. Not wanting to forget the interest rate influences this amount as well. What is the interest rate going to be on my loan? This question also requires a more complex answer. The short answer is it depends on your credit rating, coupled with the income you can generate. Also, it depends how large are your outstanding loan balances, to name a few. Again I defer the buyers to the Mortgage lender to get a better answer. How much will my home be worth in seven years? I always joke yes I was born in Hungary, but I am not a Gypsy and I do not have a Chrystal Ball as to what your home is going to be worth in seven years. One thing I can share...
read moreADU’s also known as Accessory Dwelling Units: The Hottest Craze in Los Angeles!
ADU’s also known as Accessory Dwelling Units. They are indeed the hottest craze in Los Angeles. In my observation, there are a few key pitfalls that you should avoid, when it comes to building an ADU’s. ADU’s are truly awesome: As a Los Angeles Realtor, I am all for adding ADU’s to your home. Someone who lives in Westchester, CA. 90045, I see the benefit of the additional space. If you live in a modest home ADU’s can add a huge benefit. When it comes to living square feet, to be able to add additional living square feet to your home is clearly a plus. There are some key points to consider before you jump on the bandwagon. First and foremost, please build the ADU with permits. Second, have your Architect or Contractor design it, by having interior access to the main house. These two points are critical, because when the time comes to sell your home you do not want to be surprised. In my opinion, should you decide to build the ADU without permits, for all practical purposes, you might as well not have it. Appraisers and Insurance Carriers do not consider the square feet as part of the original living square feet if it was not built by permits. Keep in mind, if you do not have direct access from the main house to the ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), then you can not include the living square feet to the total size of the house. This could be a huge surprise when you are ready to sell your home. Just as an example, most ADU’s are about four to five hundred square feet additions. Let us use an example: If your neighborhood is selling around $700-$800 a square foot that in simple mathematics could be a $280,000 -$400,000 price difference, when it comes to accessing your homes value. Alternatively, should you decide to only take half my advice think again. By building the ADU with permits and not creating a direct access to the main house, it will cost you. The ADU’s value would be comparable to a fancy “shed”,even if it was just newly built. In my market, that is Westchester, CA 90045, that would be around $10,000-$25,000. Another drawback, by to not having the ADU’s done with permits could be a problem during the sale of your home. Clearly you cannot have a stove or a toilet in the addition if it is un-permitted. Therefore, when it comes time to sell you need to hide it from the Appraisers. Let’s face it there is a stigma with doing things without permits. The perception is that it was a chewing gum addition rather than done by professional craftsmen up to current code. This in turn would make your home harder to sell. Accessory Dwelling UnitsLooking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals? Please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach...
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