Tag Archives: beverly hills

11 Cool things to do on the 4th of July in Los Angeles 2019! Scroll down to #11 for Revi’s personal favourite!

11 Cool Things to do on the 4th of July in Los Angeles (2019)

Scroll down to #11 for Revi’s personal favourite!

by Revi Mendelsohn

July 4 is just around the corner! Do you know what you’re doing on Thursday? Scroll down to the last one to see my personal favourite 4th of July Fireworks spot in Los Angeles!

Whether you want to visit a Los Angeles Landmark, attend a festival type party, view an outdoor movie, see a traditional fireworks show, or savor a gourmet dinner followed by pyrotechnics, we’ve got you covered.

Below is our quick, easily scannable list of 11 fun things to do in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 4, 2019. Enjoy!

1. Rose Bowl, Pasadena

See fireworks at the Rose Bowl. Americafest is still going strong after 93 years! Doors open at 5:30, but parking lot fun starts at 2pm. The events end at 9:30.

2. Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Park

The biggest free Independence Day block party in Los Angeles is back at Grand Park this July 4. The annual affair promises a day of picnicking, music, and dancing, all culminating with a massive fireworks display above Downtown L.A. The event will feature two stages with DJs, live musical performances, 40 food vendors, and for the first time ever a 75-foot Ferris wheel for attendees to ride (paid tickets required).

The party begins at 3 p.m. and the fireworks go off at 9 p.m.

3. Pacific Palisades

Palisades Rocks the Fourth returns for 2019 with its annual community event featuring music, activities and more. On July 4 at 4 p.m., the gates of Palisades Charter High School will open for a fun-filled day featuring food trucks, family-friendly activities and a festival stage concert program. The main stage kicks off at 6 p.m. for two-and-a-half hours of live music, followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $10. Children under 2 can attend for free.

4. Woodland Hills

Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, hosted by Valley Cultural Center, returns to Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hillswith a breathtaking fireworks display in the heart of Southern California. Gathering over 60,000 people from 6 to 9:30 p.m., this party includes delicious munchies from more than 20 local restaurants, arts and crafts from local vendors and businesses, and a free concert, all topped off with a 15-minute spectacular fireworks show. Attendees may bring blankets, low chairs (under 3′ height), tarps and pillows to hang out on the grassy lawn. Admission is free; however, VIP packages are available that include a reserved seat for $20, a reserved seat + parking pass for $35, or backstage seating for $100. Tickets can be purchased via the link above.

5. Long Beach

Spend Independence Day aboard the Queen Mary for a day full of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, delicious food, carnival activities, arts and crafts, and more. The festivities lead up to one of Southern California’s best firework shows synced to patriotic music. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. off the stern of the ship. Tickets sell out every year, so advance purchase is recommended.

6. Monterey Park

The City of Monterey Park Presents: Fourth of July Entertainment & Fireworks with a day-long holiday celebration full of fun for the whole family. Taking place Thursday, July 4 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Barnes Park, this community event includes music by Bulletproof Soul from 7 to 9 p.m., food vendors, and its annual fireworks show at 9 p.m.

7. Topanga Canyon

Celebrate Independence Day in an old-timey fashion in Topanga Canyon. Theatricum Botanicum’s 5th Annual Independence Day Old Fashioned Barn Dance and Barbecue features innocent pleasures from days of yore, like a pie-eating contest, watermelon seed-spitting contest, horseshoes, and more.

8. Marina Del Rey

Reputedly the best fireworks show on the Westside is July 4th at the Marina, with two prime spots in Marina del Rey ideal for watching the show, complete with synchronized music. The 20 minute fireworks show starts at 9pm.

9. Hollywood

Watch an outdoor movie. Cinespia at Hollywood Forever is hosting a screening of the classic E.T. followed by fireworks.

10. Hollywood Bowl

The Hollywood Bowl is famously one of the best spots in L.A. for watching fireworks. This July 4, a dazzling spectacle will set the skies above Hollywood aglow, capping a performance from Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

11. Cheviot Hills/Rancho Park/Century City REVI’S TOP CHOICE!

Watch Hillcrest Country Club’s annual fireworks show from Cheviot Hills Park. There are always plenty of families watching the show there. Bring a blanket and some snacks for the kids and get ready for a fun and free show!

Send me a message to tell me your favourite 4th of July spot! I will include it in next year’s list!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor 310-963-7384 [email protected]

The Mendelsohn Group | eXp Realty of California, Inc. Beverly Hills

BRE#01461233

Over the past few years we have seen a tremendous increase in Los Angeles area Real Estate prices. Over the past few months, we have seen less of an increase. Properties are now sitting on the market for well over 50 days, whereas in previous times, it would not be unusual for a property to go into escrow in under 14 Days on Market. We are seeing sellers who are banking on the same past market acceleration and are pricing their properties in anticipation of that increase. It is the exact opposite of the issues we were having in a quickly growing market where appraiser data was not catching up fast enough with prices. In some cases, this leads to difficulty in getting properties appraised for their sale price. We have the inverse happening now, where sellers are OVER pricing their properties. The result of overpricing your property is twofold. One is that it will sit on the market for longer and today’s savvy buyers look at Days on Market (DOM) when shopping online for Real Estate. Two is related to #1, in that when a property has over 30 DOM, buyers start to ask “What’s wrong with it?” and the property can acquire a stigma which repels certain buyers.

So what should you do if you a buyer? What about if you are a seller?

Talk to me.

I work with my clients individually and we consult together to come up with a customized plan suited specifically to their needs and Real Estate goals. There is no “one size fits all” answer when it comes to Real Estate Acquisition and Sale.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor 310-963-7384

The Mendelsohn Group | Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills

Top Ten Legal Mistakes Home Buyers Make

If you are working with a qualified Realtor, you should be receiving the guidance you need to make smart Real Estate decisions when you buy or sell. At the same time, you should educate yourself about the Real Estate process so that you understand the steps required. I truly love what I do and I enjoy teaching my clients about what I do and why I do it, and of course, how it benefits them. Some of the things that I handle by way of closing the deal are:

Taking the time to assess the buyer or seller at the other end of the deal. This helps us with making the right decisions with regard to how we market our offer, counter offer, and deal points.
Meeting with inspectors at your property to determine condition of the home. My extensive remodeling and construction experience allow me to provide you with realistic costs and timelines for repairs.
Meeting with the appraiser to provide the most appropriate comparables for the property you are buying or selling
Acting as a project manager with all of the players involved in the transaction. This includes, escrow officers, title officers, loan officers, multiple inspectors, retrofitters, contractors, etc.

Behind the scenes: What happens when you hire Revi Mendelsohn to sell your home?

You just spent an hour online looking at houses for sale in your area.

Some were amazing, and you were dying to see them in person, some not so much.

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between each of those sellers’ agents?

Why do some agents have amazing presentations, sell their listings in the first days on market, and others….not so much?

Have you ever wondered what happened BEFORE you the listing hit the market? Here is a glimpse into what happens “backstage” and “before the show…aka Open House” (Don’t forget to check out Before and After gallery too)

I will share with you some information about a recent listing that I had in Brentwood.

I have known the sellers for about 2.5 years now. They were referred to me by a past client.

B and A hired me to help them purchase their first home. Within 1 month of our search, we were able to find them the condo that they wanted to purchase.

Fast forward 2 years and B and A’s twins are now walking and talking and the family needed more space.

They contacted me in February of 2017 and told me that they wanted to start making a plan to move in the summer of 2017. Since they had purchased their condo in July 2017, they wanted to close no sooner than their second homeowner anniversary.

We met again in May and made a preliminary plan for their sale.

Here is a step by step list of how we made it happen for them.

-clients told me their renovation budget

-I assessed what needed to be fixed in the house and prioritized the list based on Return on Investment

-reviewed the list and fit required items into their budget

-priced out each repair and helped client choose the service provider

-negotiated with service providers to get best value for seller

-created a renovation schedule and met with service providers to ensure work was completed

-checked on work and instructed service providers as needed

-once work was completed, sent photos to the client

-client arranged for service provider payment

-met with stager and had staging completed

-verified stager’s work and had stager make corrections…in this case, the stager was missing some items, so I went to the store and replaced/added some items.

-reviewed pricing and went over any new comps in the area. Reconfirmed list price.

-met with professional photographer at the property, discussed marketing strategy and target market.

-selected best photos for marketing the property

-listed the property in the mls and other syndicated real estate sites.

-sent out advertising on Social media and online

*This is a sample of the work that was done behind the scene—each listing is different and unique*

Want to see the results?

Click here to see the result of the sale described in this post

We offer an all in one solution to your home selling needs. Not every property needs to have renovation work done. In fact, we work with each of our sellers to customize their home selling plan to ensure that it meets their needs and goals for selling.

For more info or to meet with Revi, call or text 310-963-7384.

True or False?

TRUE OR FALSE?

Q. When you hire me to sell your home, all I do is place a sign in front of your house.

A. FALSE

As agents, we do so much more than just place a sign in front of your house when we sell it. In fact, did you know that my team and I handle over 500 line items for each transaction?
I put together a partial list of items that I typically handle for my clients when selling their home.

–CONSULT WITH THE SELLER to learn what their motivation is for selling. Some want do downsize, upsize or move to a different area or state. I have even determined after speaking with sellers that they truly do not need to move and I have helped them come up with a solution to make their living situation more suitable to their needs by referring them to lenders, decorators, etc.
–MEET AT THE PROPERTY AND REVIEW ITS CONDITION : This is a very important step as it is up to me as your agent to explain to you how the condition of your home will affect the price and timeline for the sale.
–MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE APPEARANCE AND CONDITION OF THE HOME: Once we agree to work together, we review options to make the home more appealing and marketable to potential buyers. A coat of paint can go a long way, as can decluttering and organizing. We have referrals to qualified service providers that can help you with organizing your home, providing you with a step by step plan for making your home the best that it can be. We also help plan out a budget for improvements. We will prepare a cost benefit analysis for each dollar spent and discuss the best use for your money and time.
–SET UP A CUSTOMIZED MARKETING PLAN: Each property has its own needs and appropriate style for marketing. With the use of the internet, social media, facebook ads, email campaigns, and in some cases paper marketing, we will ensure that your home gets the maximum exposure when it is ready to hit the market. We will hire a professional photographer to photograph your home and show it in its best light.
–EVALUATE CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS TO RECOMMEND THE BEST LISTING PRICE: We will provide you with a list of comparable homes that have already sold, as well those that are on the market so that we can determine the most appropriate price for your home. Selecting the most appropriate price will lead to the highest sale price in the shortest number of Days on Market.
–SET UP OPEN HOUSES AND SHOWINGS: We will plan out a timeline for you starting with when the home will be ready to photograph, MLS list date, Open house schedule, and approximate offer review and opening of escrow.
–CREATE AN ORGANIZED OFFER SPREADSHEET: We will share offer information in an organized and easy to understand method so that you are aware of all activity pertaining to offers on your home.
–REVIEW AND CONSULT WITH YOU ON THE OFFERS THAT HAVE COME IN: We will go over each offer and determine the best course of action for each one individually. We will advise you on how best to counter each offer to bring you the highest possible sales price and successful close.
–PREPARE ALL PAPERWORK REQUIRED FOR THE SALE OF YOUR HOME: We use electronic signing programs to save you time and paper. We will prepare all of the paperwork required to successfully close the sale of your home.
–LIASE WITH ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS: As your Realtor, we are essentially your project manager and we are here to ensure that the service providers involved are doing their job. We co-ordinate with inspectors, escrow, title, lenders, fellow agents, repair people, etc on your behalf to keep the transaction moving along.
–HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT MOVE: We will help plan out your next move and coordinate and advise on dates to help you transition to your next property. Whether you are renting, buying, or moving out of state, we have the resources to support and help you every step of the way.

This is just a sampe of the items my team and I handle for you when you hire us to sell your home.

Want more information or want to meet? Click here to set up a time to chat with Revi.

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor, The Mendelsohn Group

Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills 310-963-7384

I’m so pleased to report that we just opened up our 4th escrow for our latest buyers, after showing them just one property! I’m sure you are scratching your head and wondering, “How is that even possible?, it takes me 3 days of shopping just to find the right fit in jeans!”

Since 2004, I have been honing my skills so that I can help my clients determine what THEY want in their next home. Before we start shopping, I ask my clients to come up with a “TOP 5 dealbreaker list”.

We do that by using the following guidelines. The rules are the same for everyone, regardless of budget.

List no more than 5 things, in order of importance that are a MUST for your next home. (See examples below). It is possible that you will have more than 5 things that are important to you, but if we focus on the top 5 on the list, we will be more likely to find you your home in the most efficient manner. Feel free to list #6 and #7, as it’s always good for me to know as much about you as possible. Typically, we are able to get at least 3-4 of the top 5 deal breaker list items in your next home, assuming there is a limit to your budget and price range.

The list is NOT set in stone. It is a starting point, and it MAY change over time. By visiting properties both in person and online, you start to realize what you want and what you don’t want in your next home. For example, you may not even realize that having a spanish style home was even important to you when you first called me.

Keep me posted if your needs change during our search. It’s important that we are all on the same page so that I don’t show you properties that no longer meet your Top 5 needs.

TOP 5 dealbreaker examples:

Ricky and Janet

Under $2M
Three+ bedrooms, 2.5+ baths
West of the 405
Guest House or office space separate from main house
NOT on a busy street

Rachel and Jeff

Within 7 miles of work
Two+ bedrooms, 1.75+ baths
1400+ sq ft
up to $1M
Open concept living room/kitchen

Jonathan

Must be in Santa Monica
The biggest place I can get for under $700,000
Prefer HOA dues under $500 per month
Must have bathtub in bathroom (or place to put one)
1 bedroom is ok. (can we get two bedrooms?)

If you want to know more about how to work through and prioritize your “Top 5 dealbreaker list”, contact me and we can set up a time to discuss and work through it together.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor, The Mendelsohn Group

310-963-7384 cell/txt [email protected]

www.ReviMendelsohn.com

Click the icons to find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Today’s buyers have access to so much more information than they had just 10-20 years ago. Did you know that once upon a time if you wanted to know what was on the market, you had to actually KNOW a Real Estate agent in order to get access to the PRINTED BOOK of listings?

Today, that is no longer the case. If I put a listing on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), I can get it in front of thousands of potential buyers in a matter of minutes. Give me a few days, and I can get in front of tens of thousands of buyers.

When buyers look up listings, they almost always check Days On Market (DOM). They are looking to see how long a property has been sitting on the market before they consider the property as an option. As a Realtor, I do the same thing.

Why?

DOM can provide us with a tremendous amount of information when preparing our strategy to help our clients buy a property. The shorter the DOM, the less likely the seller will be willing to look at a lower price offer. The longer DOM, the higher the chance we have an opportunity. When I say opportunity, what I mean is that, the seller is likely tired of having their home invaded by visitor coming to take a look. They have to keep it clean as well as find a place to house the family pets during the showing or open house. They are likely ready to have an offer placed in front of them and move on with their lives.

The problem is…

When property has more than 14 DOM here in the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills area, people start to wonder, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?”. Every other listing has sold in the first 2 weeks, why is this one sitting?

There could be many things wrong with the house, but I would make a bet that it has to do with PRICE and PRESENTATION. If the house was priced right based on how it shows and its other attributes like size, location, surroundings, etc, it would have sold by now.

So what should you do?

Listen to your agent when they show you a listing that has high DOM. Before you ask, “What’s wrong with it?”, go in with an open mind, and see if you might like the house. With the right agent on your side, you might just be amazed at what can be accomplished. I have come across some incredible deals for my clients in a tight market. With the right approach, style and demeanor, lots can be accomplished in a tight Real Estate.

Would you like a customized strategy formulated for your home search? Would you like to learn how to WIN that next multiple offer situation? Give me a call at 310-963-7384 and let’s talk, or click here to set up an appointment directly in my calendar.

Regards,

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor

We are nowhere near Bubble Range!!

There are some industry pundits claiming that residential home values have risen too quickly and that current levels are on the verge of another housing bubble. It is easy to see how this thinking has taken form if we look at a graph of home prices from 2000 to today.

The graph definitely looks like a rollercoaster ride. And, as prices begin to reach 2006 levels again, it “seems logical” that the next part of the ride would be downhill. However, this graph includes the anomaly of the price bubble and the correction (the housing crash).

What if the bubble & bust didn’t occur?
Let’s assume that instead of the rise and fall in home prices that we saw last decade, we just had normal historic appreciation from 2000 to today. According to the 100+ experts that are surveyed for the Home Price Expectation Survey, normal annual appreciation for residential single family homes from 1987 to 1999 was 3.6%.

Starting with the median home price in 2000, we added 3.6% to it each year since then. Here is that graph intermixed with the above graph.

What this shows us is that, had the bubble and crash not occurred and instead we just had normal annual appreciation over this period, prices would actually be greater than they are today.

Bottom Line

There is no reason for alarm as prices seem to be right in line with where they should be.

Want to talk about what this means to you as a buyer or seller? Call Revi today! 310-963-7384

Source: Keeping Current Matters 2016

Top 5 Best Trick-Or-Treating Neighbourhoods on LA’s Westside

Halloween is always fun for the whole family, and the city of Los Angeles surely knows how to get in the spooky spirit! It’s become tradition in some neighbourhoods to decorate the entire block, or go all out for one massive haunted house. In a city known for its theatrics, it’s hard to choose the coolest spots to do your trick-or-treating this year. That’s why we’ve chosen the top 5 best spots on the Westside of LA for the family to experience spectacle, scares, and of course…CANDY!

Map of Cheviot Hills

1.Cheviot Hills

Almost all of Beverlywood and Rancho Park flock to Cheviot Hills to get the their thrills and treats every year. On Motor Avenue in particular, one house goes all out with decorations, music, strobe lights, and loads of kid friendly scares.

Map of Beverly Hills

2. Beverly Hills (Walden Drive)

The Famous Spadena House

There is no greater treat than visiting the famous Spadena House (more popularly k
nown as the “Beverly Hills Witch House”)on all Hallow’s Eve! The entire street seems to feed off the energy of the house, as everyone decorates and celebrates by giving out loads of candy. This is quite a popular spot on the big night, so be sure to get there early to beat the crowds.

3. Venice Canals

Map of Venice Canals

If you are worried about the dangers of traffic on Halloween (who isn’t?) than this is the perfect place for you! The four block area is magically spooky with pumpkins and twinkle lights strung along the canals, fantastic decorations, and plenty of the requisite sugar treats. Parking can be a hassle, but as long as you plan ahead it is worth a little parking search.

Map of Santa Monica

4. Santa Monica (25th Street)

Perhaps the most decorative of the bunch, the scene on 25th Street between Montana Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard will blow you away. This block has really taken to adorning their houses and yards with giant spiders, makeshift graveyards, and inflatable pumpkins!

5. Brentwood Glen

Map of Brentwood Glen

Just west of the bustling 405 freeway is the small pocket of Brentwood Glen – a surprisingly quite neighborhood full of young families. This is the perfect spot for your first time trick-or-treaters and all the little ones on the search for candy. The homes are very close to one another, and very few cars pass in the evening. Although it is quite, the neighbours still decorate with fun and kid friendly haunted houses.

Remember, always exercise caution when approaching a home, and be especially cautious when crossing the street. Stay safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN from The Mendelsohn Group!