La Canada Real Estate

One of Many Reasons to Move to La Canada

I know most people don't sit around thinking how lucky they are to live where they live. For the most part I don't either. Tonight was an exception. We went to Memorial Park with the kids and some close friends. We had dinner and like the probably one thousand other people that were there waited for the fireworks. It was a beautiful night. Looking at my children and friends as the fireworks went off, I realized how lucky we are to live in this small town with this small park with a small fireworks show that we all come together to see every year. It is a relatively small event as far as LA goes, but it made it clear to me what is so special about La Canada. Our incredible community comes together in these very simple ways...dinner and fireworks in the park. So 1950's. I am grateful to live here and have the opportunity to raise my children in a town that embraces the small yet important moments. I don't have any photos as they cannot capture the magic of that moment. You had to be there.

Things to do this weekend

This is a big weekend in La Canada that began this morning witht he community breakfast and ends Memorial Day with Music in the Park. Tonight we will be taking the kids to see Puss in Boots at Memorial Park. The show starts at 8:30. Other activities:

Sunday:

Lanterman Museum open house 12:0-4:00

Dinner, Jazz and fireworks at Memorial Park beginning at 6:00 pm

Monday:

YMCA Fiesta Run 7:30 am at Descanso Gardens

Veteran's Memorial Service at Memorial Park 9:00 am

Memorial Day Parade on Foothill 10:30 "Celebrating 100 Years of Chamber Service"

Afternoon in the Park starts at 12:00 and goes through Music in the Park that ends at 6:00. Captain Cardiac will be playing. Bring a picnic and enjoy!

I frequently get asked for referrals and "where can I get a...." Lately friends have been asking where to get Adirondacks. Last year, a lovely gentleman donated a fabulous Adirondack dog bed to a Pasadena Humane Society auction I was working on. His wife passed away 20 years ago and he has been building beautiful Adirondacks ever since. His living room is full of them. Of course I lost his card and only remembered that he lived on the corner of Arroyo in Pasadena. Yesterday my friend Lori and I set out to find him and there he was! In his garage building more fabulous Adirondacks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So...if you need a sturdy Adirondack for the summer, call Kenneth Colborn 626-799-3600. You will love him and his chairs!

La Canada Market Activity This Week

Inventory has ticked up in La Canada this week with 72 homes on the market. 10 of them are new:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1BhUPDkAp1HB1hbhVRO0OEM%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=173510786

1987 Hilldale looks charming. One of our first homes in LCF was on Hilldale. The street borders Montrose and backs up to the freeway. 1601 Verdugo sits on a busy street. 5214 Crown references the NSP program:

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg

While we have had several foreclosures and short sales in recent years, the out-of-area agent does not understand that we hardly need neighborhood stabilization. The house last sold in 2007 for $960,000. There was a first for $768,000 and a second for $95,000. The first NOD was filed less than a year later. The lender bought the property back in February for $1,114,810. 1352 Salisbury is very cute and backs up to commercial property on Foothill. 5653 Bramblewood sits above Angeles Crest. 5276 Gould was previously listed with another agent for $1,550,000. It has been staged and now has a lower price. The house sits at the end of Gould. It does not have much usable yard but has gorgeous views. 425 Richmond is a beautiful home. It is priced where it is due to the fact that it backs up to the tire store on Foothill and has some freeway noise. 4322 Bel Air last sold in 2003 for $1,375,000. I like the location. 4809 Hillard was on last year for $1,950,000 and did not sell. This is a charming home with a great guest house. 4200 Chevy Chase last sold in 2002 for $2,500,000. It was a much smaller house then. Also actually where I met my husband 20 years ago. He was renovating the house for the client and I was painting flowers in the bathroom. Seems like a lifetime ago. Anyway...the house looks amazing now and has been expanded and completely updated. I am guessing no more flowers on the wall in the master bath.

3 homes went into escrow this week in La Canada:

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5036 Westslope sold withing a week of coming on the market. 306 Oriole was listed in April for $1,999,999 and sold within a week of reducing the price to $1,859,000. 4357 Encinas also had one reduction before selling.

6 homes closed escrow this week in La Canada:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1Op1CUmSJqZputQ7389q%2FVE%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=173510786

4613 Alveo was on last year for $799,000 and did not sell. The owners re-did the kitchen and bathroom floors before putting it on the market this time. 2125 Bristow last sold in 2011 for $770,000. Price was higher this year. 1717 Bonita Vista last sold in 2010 for $1,269,900. The kitchen was renovated this time around. 4533 La Granada was listed last year for $1,775,000. The low price per square foot reflects the location. 5022 Alta Canyada was listed in February for $2,795,000. It went into escrow quickly then fell out. The price was reduced after that and a few weeks later went into escrow. 5328 Angeles Crest last sold in 2002 for $1,710,000. It sits on a private drive on the south side of the Crest.

The market seems to be slowing just a bit as we head into summer, though I predict a big surge beginning in late July and buyers begin to panic about buying in time to register for the schools. Have a safe and Happy Memorial weekend!

Open Houses in La Canada This Sunday

For MLS version

Download 5.27.12 for printable version

 

La Canada Market Activity This Week

We have 66 active listings in La Canada. 3 of them are new:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1PMzZCbJ9fmpW5I2nOZyhJo%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=123867343

1607 Verdugo...would be location-ally challenged if not for the price. Looks cute. 5036 Westslope is a lovely 3 bedroom home with a pool. It is in excellent condition with one of the bedrooms converted to a den. It can easily be converted back if you need the third bedroom. 4849 Alta Canyada is bank owned. I have to admit I have not seen it as it looks like a set from Deliverance. All of those rooms and unfinished guest houses and strange elevations. This is not a house you want to see all by yourself. The lender bought it back at auction in 2011 for $704,000.

6 homes went into escrow in La Canada this week:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1GHvUvQ9ylfxkreyUX6TGyo%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=123867343

4634 La Canada is small but charming. It came on the market on Mother's Day (when slacker agents were not paying attention) and sold 16 hours later. Great marketing on the part of the listing agent must have driven the price up at least several thousand...say, into the low $500's. As a LCF homeowner I thank the listing agent for this fabulous low comp. As a LCF agent I thank the listing agent for this fabulous low comp. It will certainly help on appraisals as the rest of the low end is going up in value, this one is the new dead wood that makes appraisers so easy to deal with. Note to sellers and trustees: listing with an out-of-area agent who comps us to another city is not a good idea. At least make them wait to look at offers after caravan when everyone who is a mother/has a mother is not celebrating on a traditionally slow Sunday afternoon. Yes, I am upset about this one yet also feel like a slacker because after my 2-hour open house on Hampstead I blissfully turned off all hand-held and laptop devices in order to spend time with the family....totally missed it! 4900 Crown is a short sale. Hard to show with stuff everywhere. The sad thing about most short sales is that homeowners have long since given up. You can see it and feel it when you walk in the house. 5160 Solliden is in escrow after almost a year. 1229 Flanders is suprising. It last sold in 2006 for $1,170,000. It is an old hunting lodge that has been added onto and updated. The pool is in the front yard. 846 Wiladonda sold with multiple offers. Ah, the power of price per square foot. 4429 Woodleigh also sold with multiple offers. The front walls give the house privacy and the back yard is beautiful with a pool and pool house.

3 homes closed escrow this week in La Canada:

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1369 Journey's End was originally listed for $949,000. It was reduced to $889,000 before selling. 4909 Alminar sold quickly with multiple offers in a market starved for "new" and "updated." 1931 Tondolea last sold in 2003 for $1,365,000. It was on the market for over 3 weeks before selling.

This week my beloved assitant Jenny Sukys is out of town for a college graduation so there will be no open house print-out. I can tell you that I will be open at 4336 Chevy Chase with my fabulous stepdaughter/food blogger Holly cooking up treats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out her blog:

http://www.lolewomen.com/blog/2012/05/04/spicy-salmon-with-citrus-salsa/#more-4481

We will be there 2-5 on Sunday

http://www.4336chevychase.com/

Deanne Anderson will be holding our beautiful listing at 4019 Hampstead open from 2-4 on Sunday

http://www.4019hampsteadroad.com/

Hope to see you all on Sunday!

Open Houses in La Canada This Sunday

MLS Version

Download 5.13.12 for printable version

 

La Canada Market Activity This Week

We have 69 active listings in La Canada. 4 of them are new:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1O1o%2Fe09m%2BZ73yzmD2rNYiM%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=117471179

4930 Angeles Crest closed in January for $622,500. The current owners have removed carpeting, refinished floors and updated the kitchen and baths. I am going to guess (because I do not know for sure) that they spent about $100,000 updating the property. No matter how much you do to or recreate this house, you cannot take away the major issue that it is on Angeles Crest. That being said, other properties have been sold at a higher price per square foot recently. My mom lives on Pacific Coast Highway. I just take issue with living on a Highway...others clearly do not. 4725 Rosebank (Sagebrush) was last listed in 2010 for $1,199,000. It is now listed as a short sale with a $1,110,000 first against the property. 5288 Gould last sold in April 2011 for $2,650,000. 4336 Chevy Chase was last on in 2009 for $3,700,000-$3,400,000. It is now on at a much more reasonable price.

5 homes have gone into escrow in La Canada this week:

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5391 Godbey came on in November for $899,000. It was reduced in February and is now in escrow. 4639 El Camino Corto last sold in 2004 for $1,015,000. 5030 Castle was on last year at the same price but did not sell. 331 Baptiste was on for something like a minute. Buyers are desperate for 4 bedrooms with a pool! 510 Starlight Crest last sold at the end of 2010 for $1,530,000. A bit of upgrading since but basically the same house. They had 3 offers this time around.

10 homes have closed escrow in La Canada this week:

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4837 Carmel...another agent brought this to us months ago and we offered much less. It had to be cash and it came down to an affordability issue. We obviously did not prevail and the house went on the open market. Great location for the price and the house had potential yet was not livable at the time it went on the market. 4515 El Camino Corto last sold in 2008 for $718,000. It has been remodeled since. Under $1,000,000 we are seeing homes sell for well above expectations due to the volumes of buyers in the price range. Are they too young to remember 2006? or 1995? Or is it a sign of the times that our low end is shoring up to the high prices of yesteryear? I think the later as there are so few neighborhoods that offer "affordable" housing under $1,000,000 with great schools (San Marino and South Pasadena...fugetaboutit!). 911 Wiladonda sold at a premium for an older, not-updated home ($611 per square foot). 135 Inverness last sold in 2005 for $1,165,000. 3612 Karen Sue took a while to sell and had 2 big reductions (see "walkability" at the end of this post). 4536 Palm was last a lease for $5000 and sold off-market. 3987 Chevy Chase last sold in 2004 for $860,000 when it was a 2 bedroom. 2 bath in 1761 square feet. It is now a 2794 square foot 3 bedroom, 3 bath. 5236 La Canada Boulevard was a heart breaker. Listed too low encouraging more than 20 offers of hopefuls who could not compete with the almight cash that closed escrow in less than one week. Charming older home on a glorious lot. 515 Starlight Crest last sold in 2004 for the same price. Does this mean that we are now at 2004 prices? No. It is just one house and does not speak to the entire La Canada market. 5305 Harter is a great house in a tough location off of Angeles Crest. Not surprising that it sold through a West side agent (compared to the West side we are a STEAL).

OK...so back to this "walkability" issue. As Realtors we can barely say "family room" (let alone walk-in closet, a total no-no). Yet zillow has made "walkabilty" a big component in value today. For example, my listing at 4336 Chevy Chase get a relatively high score of 68, while my 4019 Hampstead gets a low score of 26. Really? Shoot down Commonwealth and across Flintridge Avenue and you are there! Yet Zillow and other sites are changing the way we look at and value real estate. Are we going to let the internet determine the value of a home? Perhaps. I have just reduced Hampstead, a truly wonderful house on a gorgeous lot because a few bends in Chevy Chase have marked a big red X on our "walk score." Look up Topanga Canyon with ocean views on Zillow...walk score 11. Pu-leeze tell me this is not the future of determining real estate values!!!

 

La Canada Market Activity This Week

We have 68 active listings in La Canada this week. 11 of them are new:

http://itech.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Itech&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=HFDsIaPvYtvwH3EvXf%2Fp1LfEnaWeXwL3K3MW2Snebg4%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=on&CurrentSID=141077440

5326 Godbey, a town home near the Country Club last sold in 2005 for $870,000. It is updated with granite counters. 368 Noren is a fixer on a view lot and is open today from 1:00-4:00. 4900 Crown is a short sale. There have been multiple NODs on the property beginning in 2009. 3710 Chevy Chase is a Ranch style home with a lovely pool area. It sits on the south end of Chevy Chase near the Glendale border. 846 Wiladonda has been added onto with a large upstairs master suite and a guest house. 5334 Angeles Crest is on a private drive just past the bend as you head up to the Country Club. 331 Baptiste has a lot of square footage for the price. 510 Starlight Crest last sold in 2010 for $1,530,000. 750 Forest Green was last listed in 2009 for $2,270,000. It did not sell. 4429 Woodleigh is close to the church and Foothill, yet is gated and private. 4293 Chevy Chase looks amazing...huge lot! Showings begin on caravan Tuesday.

5 homes went into escrow this week in La Canada:

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4921 Commonwealth is the short sale I reported on last week. 5030 Castle last sold in 2006 for $1,045,000. Since then a large guest house, garage and pool were added. It was listed last year for the same price but did not sell. Another example of a stregthening market! 4550 Lasheart has a tiny lot but is in a great location near LCE. 4831 Hillard is on a flag lot. 2251 Richey (in Sagebrush) sold within 5 days of listing.

8 homes closed escrow this week in La Canada:

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4831 Angeles Crest was originally listed in January for $799,000. 4819 Crown last sold in 2006 for $1,400,000. The price has dropped almost 25%. Contrast that with 4916 Rupert that last sold in 2007 and experienced only a 2% drop in value. The seller's had done very little to the house other than changing the center island granite in an already remodeled kitchen. 334 Starlight Crest has closed after being on the market for 2 months. 612 Hillcrest is in a great location. House needs work. 832 Lynnhaven sold quickly for $100,000 under asking. I was surprised as it is loaded with potential. Funky house but can be remodeled. 4721 Alta Canyada last sold in 2010 for $1,450,000 and has now closed 4% higher. While I do not think the housing market is climbing rapidly I do think it is improving. I am sure the former owner of 4819 Crown does not not agree with me...5206 Vista Lejana last sold in 2001 for $1,260,000.

Save the dates for Fiesta Days events in La Canada:

http://www.lacanadaflintridge.com/cham/events/EventsSked12.pdf

 

 

Open Houses in La Canada This Sunday

For MLS Version

Download 5.6.12 for printable version

 

 

Things to do this week in La Canada

This Friday May 4 from 10:00-7:00 is the 7/8 Spring Home Tour. 4 fabulous homes will be open for the tour. Tour and lunch tickets are available at:

http://www.lchs78.org.

All proceeds benifit the LCHS 7/8 PTA.