WELCOME HOME
I was very moved by a news segment on NBC about a US war vet Burt Brandy who organized Welcome Home A Hero. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDm0XqX4GEY .

300 days last year he along with his follower met returning US soldiers at the Dallas airport. He meets them with flags,cookies,and warm embraces making their welcome very special. I sent this video out to everyone I knew suggesting we do something similar in LA. I got a lot of positive emails back and this morning I got a call from a friend thanking me -she was in tears. Being a mother of a soldier I knew she would be touched. Not only was she touched she actually got to see her son being greeted with a big hug. How wonderful for her to know that her son who has now served two years in the army was appreciated by his fellow Americans . I am now further motivated to organize Welcome Home a Hero Los Angeles. Email me if you are interested as well.
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Tags: caring, home, welcome

IF WALLS COULD TALK
You have heard the phrase “if walls could talk” to describe the secrets kept behind closed doors that would be revealed if walls could talk. There is a TV series based on this premise: If Walls Could Talk
- which shares nice and naughty lore from homes rich in history and even a song by Celine Dion .

I have been thinking that even if walls could talk they might not want to because they have their own secrets to keep. For instance do you know that the exterior redwood walls of the famed Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park are actually concrete stained to resemble redwood? Or that the sugar pine tree columns in the grand dining room are actually hollowed out columns that are filled with concrete and steel bar. These were the clever sleight-of-hand of Architect Gilbert S Underwood who designed the hotel to look like a wooden lodge while being fire resistant as well .He did not want his secrets to be known since he thought it would take away from the rustic charm of this National Historic Landmark.
Other walls have notorious and even noxious secrets to keep. According to studies reported Oct 30, 2009 by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) drywall imported to the US from China during 2004 and 2005 have higher levels of sulfur and strontium gases than US products. This drywall was used primarily in the south to rebuild after hurricane Katrina.Over 60,000 homes may contain this tainted imported drywall. In the last few years 1900 homeowners have filed complaints linking the drywall to medical ailments including headaches ,asthma and nose bleeds and metal corrosion. Surprisingly the CPSC have found no evidence so far that these emissions were to blame. Never the less US Safety officials have banned further imports and more detailed health report will be completed next month . Unfortunately for the walls (and China as well ) even if they can’t talk their noxious sulfur fumes have made homeowners aware of their skunk –like secrets.

What staging can do for a house ?

While I am accustomed with the notion of Spring Cleaning I have recently been made aware of two very worthwhile causes that required me to actually do Autumn cleaning and gleaning. On Sunday  I boxed a bunch of miscellaneous broken and outdated electronic hardware including an obsolete printer, 2 cell phones and a non functioning monitor all to be donated to an E -Waste Fundraiser for The Child Development Institute and the CDI Parents Association. You too can pull out all your old electronics (i.e. computers, cell phones, old laser cartridges, printers, cables) and drop them off at my office and by doing that you will be helping a great cause! All proceeds will go towards the purchase of planting materials in the Children’s Garden located at CDI’s future Early Learning Center in Canoga Park. Or plan your own E-Waste Fundraiser for your own favorite cause. What a novel way to rid of this annoying clutter.
As for the gleaning, Sunday  morning with my 13 year old daughter and 8 other volunteers we picked, sorted and packed over 200 pounds of persimmons for a remarkable organization called FOODFORWARD . FOOD FORWARD is an all volunteer grassroots group of Angelenos who are dedicated to easing urban hunger by literally gleaning produce from neighborhood trees to provide fresh produce for local food banks. Their current receiving partners are SOVA  and MEND POVERTY. Combined, they distribute the produce they glean to over 30,000 “clients” a month across Southern California. Do you have a large amount of fruit on a fruit tree that you can’t use or can’t pick? Please contact me so I can help you coordinate with a picking specialist at FoodForward.
Trust me besides making your property  less cluttered this Autumnal cleaning and gleaning can make you feel virtuous for the worthwhile charities you are benefiting.

Colonel Gaddafi, dictator of Libya since 1969, arrived in New York this week for his first visit to the annual UN General Assembly. After 11 years of UN sanctions, Libya now holds a seat on the 15-nation Security Council and the presidency of the 192-nation General Assembly. Libya’s rehabilitation has been dented by Scotland’s release of the Lockerbie bomber.and the hero welcome he received in Libya. The American outcry over Libya’s reaction to the release has made it difficult for Colonel Gaddafi to find a place to stay in the NY area.
The Libyan leader originally asked to pitch his customary Bedouin style tent in Central Park but was turned down by city authorities. No overnight housing is allowed at the park. He then considered staying at a Libyan-owned mansion in Englewood, but this caused an uprising in this New Jersey suburban community. Colonel Gaddafi ‘s staff then made arrangements to stay at the Pierre Hotel but was reportedly uninvited when guests complained.
So desperate for a place to stay the Libyan officials actually posed as Dutch and Sri Lanka diplomats to try to find Colonel Gaddafi a place to stay.
Over Labor Day a “Dutch official” approached Jason Haber, a property agent on the Upper East Side of New York to inquire about renting the Barclay Mansion, a six-storey townhouse on East 78th Street. The property, which comprises three apartments, is owned by a family who bought it last year for $18.5 million. The triplex on the first three floors was available for $28,000 a month. Haber said that he never presented the proposal to the owners because the Libyans wanted all three apartments, which were not immediately available. Haber mentioned that the ruse was easily detected after a few conversations, since the accents did not match and also the e-mails had a Libyan address.
Last weekend a agent representing the very luxurious Vile Nova Heights estates was contacted by a “Sri Lanka official ” who offered to lease 2 adjacent mansions for over $60,000  for a 6 day stay. Being cautious and curious about the request to erect a tent on the property  the agent requested more information about the tenant to be. When none was forthcoming the agent alerted John Fitzgerald, the developer and lawyer of Villanova Heights. An inquiry was made and when it was determined that Colonel Gaddafi was indeed the prospective tenant the developer refused on the grounds “it’s just not good to deal with liars from terrorist countries.”
Tonight it was reported by ABC news that Donald Trump may have inadvertently rented property in Bedford, NY a ritzy New York suburb in Westchester county to Colonel Gaddafi. An ABC News helicopter filmed a large tent on the 113-acre Seven Springs estate, complete with rugs and patterned wall hangings. The Trump Organization owns the property which is
slated to be subdivided into multimillion-dollar homes. Trump Organization spokeswoman said in a statement. “The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Gaddafi. We are looking into the matter now,” Local officials onfirmed that Gaddafi was renting property in Bedford, but did not know if the dictator will actually stay in town. So why bother with the tent?

How do they do it every time? That’s the question I have been getting since 3903 Ethel, Studio City sold last month. It sold at $619/sq ft making it the most expensive per square foot property to sell in the Valley this year. How does Red Door Homes consistently build houses that, no matter the market, sell better than any others? Its simple: they build unique homes with thought and care for every detail. Established just 7 years ago, Red Door Homes’ early goal was to restore vintage houses. All around the city old charming houses were being torn down to be replaced by Mediterranean McMansions. These behemoths lacked warmth and even worse, quality of workmanship. In response Red Door Homes insisted on restoring the virtues and integrity of an older home (crown moldings, real hard wood floors, French wood doors and wood windows) and adding additional character with artisan carpentry , updated yet nostalgic kitchens and bathrooms ( yes even footed tubs). In the last few years, Red Door Homes have broken the restraints of remodeling by building new houses from the ground up. With their master designers and craftsmen they have created houses that blend historic details with state-of-the-art amenities. While deliberately not the largest house on a block, their homes are discernibly the most thought-out house on the block. Every inch of these houses combine practicality (pre wired for plasma, computer and surround sound) with warmth exuding from unmatched artisan details. Exquisite fixtures, top of the line appliances , Cararra marble counters and tiles, slate and walnut flooring are just a few of the hallmarks of a Red Door Home. Their houses become gracious homes that blend into their fine neighborhoods while also adding additional prestige.

Interested in knowing where Red Door Homes is building next? Contact me. I am proud to be their exclusive listing agent

Tags: Red Door Homes, Restoration, Studio City

Earlier than usual this morning I was walking my dog hoping to avoid the heat and smoke from the nearby fires just north of LA. As usual I walked by a house I have been carefully watching being  transformed over the past year  from a  dull rental property to a pride of ownership showcase. I always had a personal interest in this house since this was the very first home I lived in when I moved to LA 24 years ago with my husband and 2 young sons. When I rented it years ago it was painted yellow over the  years it had been painted various colors including a hideous orange but now it  was pleasing beige with a handsome stone trim. Today , a gray haired woman was standing outside admiring the improvements so I stopped to complement her and when I mentioned that I had rented the house 24 years ago she immediately invited me in to see “what I have done with it”. She then confided that while this house had been purchased only to be an income property as she and her husband got older the lack of stairs  made this house more practical. 5 years ago  they simply  switched residences. ( A good reminder for all my baby boomers  clients –a single level home makes more sense.)  With the passing of her husband (a very thrifty man who had been our grumpy landlord) she had decided to make all the improvements she had dreamed about.  She proudly showed me that every room had received a makeover. I had remembered a dark paneled and linoleum floored step down family room now it was a sunny room with tile flooring and French doors. Gone were the brown shag  carpets of old exposing beautifully polished walnut floors. The culmination of the tour was the new kitchen with the mandatory granite counters and stainless  appliances. She made   special mention of  the custom breakfast nook that sat all 5 of her granddaughters. She told me that her sons were worried she was going to spend their inheritance on this  house. She had calmed them by reminding that the house will one day be theirs and she was indeed adding much value with her remodeling. She then proudly remarked “ that  for now  the house was all  mine  and I’m going to enjoy it”.  I thanked her for the tour and the memories. As I walked away I realized that while better for the neighborhood this lovely house now bore little resemblance to my first home in LA except for an address in common..

I saw a new way to finance a house written up in the LA Times.
The Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club is hosting an on life raffle benefiting 3 charities. The winner of this $100 raffle will pick a house of their choice valued up to $600,000 with additional funds of $400,000 for closing and taxes. The prize winner can choose any home for sale within the cost parameters anywhere in the U.S. except Hawaii and Alaska. There is one problem, tickets went up for sale in April and so far less than 1000 have sold. Atleat 15000 tickets have to sell or all moneys collected simply become a contribution to the Rotary Club. So one hundred dollars and some luck can get you a house, maybe. Check out details at www.houseofyourchoice.org

I saw a rental ad in the Jewish Journal (Aug 12-20, 2009) that really surprised me. In fact at first I thought it was a joke since in order to lease at 5053 Cartwright Ave, NHO (12 unit complex) you must have 1-2 dogs or 3-4 cats. I was curious enough to call to get the inside “scoop”. I spoke to Jerry, the friendly manager, who said that it was mandated by the landlord Judy Guth that all tenants be   pet owners. She had found that pet owners are better tenants staying longer and taking  better care of her apartments. One could think this was discriminatory but Judy a pet lover doesn’t care. In addition according to LA Assistant City Attorney Katie Buckland renting strictly to people with pets – just like renting only to people without pets – doesn’t meet the legal standard of discrimination.

While I had never heard about this mandatory pet policy before Judy had been doing this for the last 29 years and was even written up in the Daily News on the occasion of being named 2004 Manager/Owner of the Year by the Apartment Association of California.  For more information see YOU MUST HAVE PETS TO LIVE HERE. – Free Online Library and to rent in the complex call Jerry at 818-980-0220. To rent a pleasant 3Br+1.75 Ba house with a pool in Valley Village that will allow one pet ( but is not mandatory) contact me ASAP.