Endre Barath,Jr.

I do not want to sound radical or revolutionairy, we need to look at the recently passed Building Restriction Laws.

There has been a lot discussion about ‘Mansionization Curbing in Los Angeles', prior to the Market turning. Subsequently there were legislation that passed and were signed into Law. I am a firm believer we need to revisit or modify some of these regulations. Please do not misunderstand my point I am trying to make. I have watched numerous oversized boxes, which contractors called houses on small lots, sprouted up everywhere, from Beverly Hills to Beverlywood. I am not in favor of building oversized boxes.

I am all for having tastefully designed homes on any size lots. My concern is, that with the downturn of the Real Estate Market we have lost another buying segment from the Market, the Small Developer, who can only afford to buy one home, then either add on to the existing structure or tear down and build from scratch.

I am all for modifying the Los Angeles Building Restriction as " a one-size fits-all policy" this needs to be revisited. There should be a Scenic Review Board, just as there is one in The Beachwood Canyon area. (For the tourists or non locals, that is where the famous HOLLYWOOD sign is located)

I am going to use Marina Del Rey's Silver Strand and the Marina Peninsula as examples, where this Manisonization restriction would not make any sense at all. Generally homes have an average lot size of 3,150 sq ft. The oversized lots are somewhere between 3600 sq ft to 5400 sq ft. The living sq ft of the homes have approximately 3500sq ft to 5000sq ft. of living space.

In spite of the close proximity of neighboring homes it is very desirable to live here and visitors from all over the US and the world come and marvel at the beauty of this local beach side community. How is this possible? The answer is easy. The homes were designed by visionary Architects. They are all different, but tastefully designed and built.

In conclusion, I suggest community Architectural Review Boards approving or modifying new constructions in the Micro Communities of Los Angeles.

Please feel free to add your comments pro or con.

If you are a consumer living inside or outside of California and are considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to give me a call at 310.486.1002(USA) or email me at EndreBarath@themls.com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com

It is hard to believe another 30 days flew by. Many events occurred and the Media has been relentless in reporting how bad the Financial Markets are and continues reporting about the Real Estate Market being slow at best.

So let us look at the facts. My last report was August 29, 2008 let me summarize what has occurred.

June-July (30 day period) there were 16 Condominiums that SOLD

July- August (30 day period) there were 19 Condominiums that SOLD

August - September (30 day period) there were 17 Condominiums that SOLD

As of today there are 36 Condominium that are Pending. Interestingly last month there were the same amounts of Condominiums pending. Due to the financial turmoil it appears that the days of 30 day Escrow period is of the past. Now it takes about 45 days to 60 days for a Transaction to close unless it is an all cash transaction.

In spite of the turbulence in the Financial Market and tightening of the availability of credit this past 30 days has generated 17 sales and matched last months pending. By the way the least expensive Condominium this month was $475,000 and the highest price Sale was $1,525,000.

Hope you find these numbers intresting. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know, as well as if you are intrested in other areas and the statistics.All information I took from the Multiple Listing Service's Data base(MLS-CLAW)

If you are a consumer living inside or outside of California and are considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to give me a call at 310.486.1002(USA) or email me at EndreBarath@themls.com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com

The other day I had what I call a truly International Real Estate day. One of my earliest clients I met in Los Angeles e-mailed me and wanted a synopsis of the Real Estate Market. He lives in Thailand now and wanted to know how the market is, whether it is a Seller's or Buyer's market, since he would like to sell his Land in Malibu, CA.

Same day I received an e-mail from a buyer from New Zealand. They wanted to get information, since they are considering relocating to Southern California, (some where in Los Angeles County). They had a lot of questions.

Then I had to follow up on my Seller's question with my German Realtor contact,' how is the Market in Germany?', what are challenges that we will be facing by Listing the Condominium.

Another client of mine lives in Paris, France and he e-mailed wanted to know, is this a good time to start building his home?

I have a Lease Listing in West Hollywood and the Landlord is in Singapore, I sent him an Applicant's information and we were discussing the pros and cons of renting to this person.

Never in my wildest imagination did I dream fifteen years ago, that I would be able to conduct business as I did the other day. I remember going from one Real Estate Office to another in Boston, MA and asking other agents and copying in my notebook what the inventory was. Today I have clients from all over the world on MLS Automatic Programs and they are receiving Listings in their search parameters. The benefits of Internet, E-mail, Cell Phones, Blackberry, in other words Technology helps me day and night.

The Principals remain the same though, Client Contact, explaining the issues and helping Buyers and Sellers to make intelligent decisions we just have a better vehicle to deliver our service. Thank you Bill Gates and all the other creators of this fantastic vehicle.

If you are a consumer living inside or outside of California and are considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to give me a call at 310.486.1002(USA) or email me at EndreBarath@themls.com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com

One of the benefits of this Global Economy is the ability to purchase and own Real Estate Globally. The current Real Estate situation in Southern California makes it particularly interesting for International Investors to purchase Real Estate here. The strong Euro and weak Dollar makes an investment in Southern California very appealing proposition to European investors.

I have just referred a for sale property in Germany to a German Realtor (Deutscher Immobilienmakler). The Seller lives and lived in Southern California for the past 16 years and had the place rented to an elderly woman, who is moving into a Retirement home. The difficulties of finding an agent who was Customer friendly, trustworthy and local was not easy. From this experience I got the idea for this post.

If it was difficult and challenging for me, then I am confident for a German, Austrian or Swiss(German Speaking Swiss) Investor it is more challenging to find a patient, trustworthy and German Speaking/Writing Realtor (Deutsch Sprachiger Immobilienmakler).

If you are a consumer living in Europe and are considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills ,Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me a call at 310.486.1002 (USA) or email me at EndreBarath@TheMLS.Com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com with that said, I will summarize this in German below.

Einer Vorteil von den Globalisierung des Weltes ist die Moeglichkeit zu Kaufen Immobilien ueberall der Welt. Die heutige verbilligung der Immobilien in Sued Californien ist sehr interesant fuer die Staatsburgern von Europa, seit der Euro ist so Stark gegen den Dollar. Die groesste Probleme ist das grosse Unterschied zwischen Europaeischer und Californischen Verkaufs Regeln. Mann braucht einen Deutsch Spraechigen Immobilienmakler das die Fragen erklaeren kann. Wollen Sie Immobilien in Californien kaufen, bitte rufen Sie mich an oder schicken Sie mir einen e-mail.

Herzlichen Gruesse von Sonnige Californien

For someone who has moved around the world between Europe and within the continental US more then twenty times, I can safely say I am an expert at Relocating. My last move was a short distance from Century City, (Los Angeles) CA to Marina Del Rey, CA. Nevertheless I swore I will only move one possibly twice more in my life.

Needless to say I understand what it means to make drastic changes, to leave your family and friends and neighbors are sometimes emotionally painful. Then with that comes the anxiety to pack, what to get rid of and what to keep. (I am a pack-rat so I know the anxiety). Keep in mind the better organized, the better you plan ahead, the easier the Relocation will be. Also plan on things going wrong and the more you anticipate what could go wrong the more you plan for those possibilities the smoother the relocation will be.

I suggest a Plan of Action which should be written down i.e.: a Checklist. This can be done in advance before you get close to the Big Day. ( Moving - Day ). Things that you have to do to close the existing place down, from shutting down TV Service, Utilities, notifying the Post Office of the Change of Address the check list will be long and comprehensive. Then take that same Checklist and create a Start Up-List for the New Place that list will be easier. Before the Movers arrive everything should be arranged at both places.

The move across town is a lot simpler psychologically then across the country. Keep in mind it is just as challenging from a logistics standpoint, so do not be lulled in that you do not need to plan as extensively.

If you have Children and or Pets that makes it even more challenging. How to keep them from interfering with the move calls for its own plan of action. Then you have to plan for sustenance for the last few days at the old place and for the first few days at the new place. Take out will get old relatively quickly keep that in mind.

I could write a book and bore you to tears, instead I just want you thinking about all these mundane part of a' Move'. Then you will be exited how smooth it went and can enjoy your new environment and work on making new friends and exploring your new neighborhood.

If you are a consumer living inside or outside of California and are considering buying or selling investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to give me a call at 310.486.1002(USA) or email me at EndreBarath@themls.com or visit one of my websites http://www.endrebarath.com