Sat, Nov 09, 2024, Doors at 7:00 PM Music at 8:00 PM Tickets
In November of 2007, Carole King and James Taylor performed at the Troubadour in honor of its 50th anniversary. The concert was a reunion of the two artists, who performed regularly together at the West Hollywood rock club in the early ‘70s.
Honoring the legacy of both performers and their legendary musical collaboration, Stephen Bock of the stellar James Taylor tribute band Taylor Made joins forces with Carla Buffa of the popular Southern California Carole King tribute band Sweet Seasons.
Sat, Nov 16, 2024 Doors at 7:00 PM Music at 8:00 PM Tickets
Chicago native and our very own San Pedro local, Windy Barnes returns to the Annex to grace the stage with the music of Whitney Houston, followed by a full set of some of the best songs of the 1970s.
Fri, Nov 22, 2024 Doors at 7:00 PM Music at 8:00 PM Tickets
Experience the classic rock of Led Zeppelin in the intimate setting of the Grand Annex. “To be able to get swallowed up by these songs in a smaller venue is where the power is,” says Clementine, Zepparella’s founder and drummer.
Hear favorites like “Dazed and Confused” and “Whole Lotta Love” and less often covered songs like “The Rover.”
Sat, Nov 23, 2024 Doors at 7:00 PM Music at 8:00 PM Tickets
Kyshona blends blues, soul, rock and folk to express uplifting themes of hope and empowerment. Her 2024 album Legacy is a moving musical manifestation of her own genealogical research, incorporating choir performances and sermons from her family archive. The Boston Globe and The Tennessean have praised how Legacy plays with various genres originating in early African American history to call back to and honor Kyshona’s ancestors.
One may think that with advances in infrastructure and healthcare, lead poisoning is a thing of the past. That’s not quite true, especially given the potential age of some homes. Lead-based paint was quite popular prior to 1978, and may still be present in homes built before then. That was less than fifty years ago, and homes can last quite some time, so there are still a lot of homes built before 1978.
That’s why there are regulations in place. Federal law mandates three specific actions when selling a home built before 1978. One is disclosure obligations. The seller must provide any information they are aware of regarding the use of lead-based paint in their home, including any test result and abatement efforts. The second is a required form in the contract that outlines information about lead-based paint. Finally, buyers will have up to ten days to conduct a lead inspection or risk assessment. In anything is found, this will be necessary for their repair or mitigation negotiations.
You may also be wondering what exactly lead poisoning looks like. The symptoms can differ between children and adults, and are much more severe for children. In either case, they occur due to exposure over a period of months or years. In children, lead poisoning can affect brain development, leading to slowed growth, learning disabilities, or behavioral issues. It can also cause hearing problems. In adults, lead poisoning can result in high blood pressure, muscle and joint pain, digestive issues, and problems with memory or concentration.
30 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-376-9833
Andy & Renee play as a duo every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
Andy & Renee and the full Hard Rain band will perform Sunday, Oct 27th and Dec 29th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Banana Leaf & Beach Cities Social House
1408 S Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Andy & Renee play every Thursday from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, October performances are scheduled for Thursday, Oct 10, 17, 24, & 31 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Terranea Lobby Bar
100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Andy & Renee will perform as a duo on Saturday, Oct 19 and on Monday Oct 28 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
King Harbor Yacht Club
200 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Andy & Renee will perform as a duo for a Members Only party Friday, October 25th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
Holiday Cookie House Concert
Andy & Renee accompanied by Marty Rifkin on the pedal steel perform at this annual event. In addition to the music, and the typical buffet, there will be generous helpings of Renee’s homemade cookies!
Sunday, Dec 1 @ 5:00pm at the home of Renee Safier & Patrick Summar, 516 N. Francisca Ave., Unit C, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Tickets available soon!
New Year’s Eve Party with Hard Rain
You don’t want to miss Andy & Renee and the Hard Rain Band for this New Year’s Eve extravaganza. An evening of music and merriment at the Grand Annex with champagne for all!
Tuesday,, Dec 31 @ 8:00pm at The Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731.
The most important part of purchasing a home is closing day, when the official transfer of ownership takes place. If you are prepared, it should go smoothly. However, one missing document means a failed or postponed closing, so review your closing documents ahead of time. Closing day will involve executing the paperwork, paying any required fees, and ultimately getting the keys to your new home. Plan on having your ID, evidence of homeowner’s insurance and your closing cost funds. If you are not sure about anything, ask your agent or make a call to the closing office.
There are also a few things you should make sure to do ahead of time that don’t involve bringing a physical object. Confirm the closing fees before you arrive, and have any questions for your lender answered. Prior to the closing meeting, review the seller’s responsibilities and make sure they have been satisfied. Your agent can provide you with the final completion documentation for any seller obligations. If you pay attention to these details and all is in order, you should be able to walk away with keys in hand.
At the end of the third quarter for the real estate market in the Los Angeles South Bay, 4,958 homes have sold, compared to 4,959 sold during the same period in 2023. Essentially, that is 0% growth. Median prices, however, have climbed over 5%, despite the high interest rates.
Sales activity across the South Bay was mixed, though in a narrow range. The Inland area saw 2% fewer home sales on a year to date basis than last year. At the same time, the Palos Verdes Peninsula gained 2% over 2023. The Beach area was up 1%, while the Harbor area came in flat.
Median prices during the first nine months of the year recovered the losses of the same period in 2023. Last year, median prices fell nearly every month from January through September, only beginning to recover growth in September. This year the median price has shown a strong increase since the beginning, ranging from 4% for the Inland area to 8% for the homes on the Hill. The Beach and Harbor areas rose with 7% and 6% respectively.
It looks like this winter is going to continue the wild ride. The Federal Reserve lowered the prime interest rate by half a point in September. Then, after a positive employment report for September, mortgage lenders raised their advertised rates back up to where they were in mid-August! The national election will undoubtedly have it’s own impact, even here in our relatively placid part of the world.
Among the early market indicators which may give us a hint of where the market is headed, one not commonly discussed is the number of homes which don’t sell. The comparison is established by looking at the number of home listings which are expired, cancelled or withdrawn from the market versus those which closed escrow. During the first three quarters of 2024, out of 6,179 homes on the market, 4,958 of those sold. At the same time, 1,221 or, 20% of the total, failed to sell. These percentages are not significantly different than a normal year.
In a high turn-over market such as that of 2021, at best one might expect as little as 12% to not sell versus a slow-moving market where one might expect as much as 25% to fall off the market unsold. It would be fair to say the local market for real estate is languishing, but it appears to remain afloat despite volatile news in all corners of the world. The next issue of this newsletter will arrive after the national elections. There should be more to talk about then.
Beach: Sales Lag and Prices Leap
With 114 homes sold in September, the Beach Area sales jumped up 21% above August figures. The median price likewise took a 5% leap to $1,790,000 in monthly sales.
Comparing September 2024 home sales to the same month in 2023 reveals a less dramatic shift. The number of homes sold is 6% greater this year and the median price increased by 7%.
Year to date sales volume of 849 homes at the Beach showed a modest 1% increase over the first nine months of 2023. Monthly variations have been as high as 33% and as low as -27% during the first three quarters making the cumulative 1% value a bit of a surprise. Equally surprising in light of the 1% growth in the number of homes sold, is the 7% increase in median price to $1,787,500 for the same period of time.
Harbor: Sales Slow, Median Prices Up
Monthly sales in the Harbor area totaled 317 units in September, a 9% increase over the number sold in August. At the same time, the median price for Harbor area homes dropped 3% to $760,000.
Looking at year over year sales for the month of September showed a 27% growth in home sales over 2023 and a 2% increase in median price.
During the first three quarters of 2024 2,559 homes were sold in the Harbor area, compared to 2557 last year, registering as a 0% change. The median price for year to date sales came in at $780,000, a 6% increase over the same period in 2023.
Hill: Plenty of Red Ink
August was a particularly busy month in Palos Verdes real estate, so the 11% drop in sales volume for September was somewhat expected. Falling from 53 homes sold to 47 is a short fall, but the marketplace on the Hill is small, so percentages escalate quickly. The median price also took a nosedive from $2,150,000 to $1,700,000, a 21% drop. Interestingly, those prices are the highest and the lowest in PV for 2024.
September of last year was exceptionally strong on the PV Peninsula, both in terms of sales volume and price. As such, the relatively anemic sales of September 2024 brought lots of red ink. The number of homes sold fell by 16%, while the median price came down 13%
Year to date, PV has had five positive months and four negative months. Cumulatively, the Hill has a 2% increase in the number of homes sold, going from 481 last year to 491 this year. During the same nine months, the median price moved up 8% ending at $1,950,000 for the period.
Inland: Mixed Results on YTD Activity
Month to month home sales in the Inland area were modestly positive. With 128 units sold in September, the volume was up 9% from August activity. The median price gained 1%, coming in at $882,500 for the month.
Comparing September of 2023 to this September brings a 2% decline in the number of homes sold. The median price for the same comparison also dropped 2%.
The first nine months of the year arrived with 2% fewer sales than the same period last year. The Inland area was the only part of the South Bay to fall in sales volume or median price so far in 2024. Year to date the median price rose 4% above 2023, to $899,990 the slowest growth of the South Bay areas.
Beach=Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo Harbor=Carson, Long Beach, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City PV Hill=Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates Inland=Torrance, Lomita, Gardena
Whether it’s for guests, a house viewing or anything else, when you’re short on time and need to get your home looking presentable quickly, it’s all about prioritizing and simplifying. This is even easier if there are other people to assist you, and you are able to delegate tasks.
Prioritize high-traffic areas. This includes the living room, kitchen, and entryway, but most importantly, the bathroom. It’s often the most frequently used room by guests and the most off-putting when dirty, so it’s a top priority. Wipe down the sink, faucet and countertops and scrub the toilet. Replace the hand towel with a fresh one and empty the trash if needed. If you’re really short on time, use disinfectant wipes for speed. Unless you’re showing your home, there are probably rooms your guests won’t enter, such as bedrooms or home offices. If you don’t have time to clean them, just close the doors.
The next thing to do is remove clutter. A cluttered floor and tables makes any room feel messy. Even if you have an organization scheme in place, your guests don’t need to see all your personal items. Grab a basket and collect any things out in the open so they can be temporarily stored out of the way. This can be any number of unrelated things, such as toys, shoes, or paperwork, as long as they’re safely out of the way. You can deal with sorting it later.
There’s another way to quickly make your home feel more inviting that doesn’t involve cleaning at all.Light a candle or spray a fresh scent. It only takes a minute and creates a more welcoming atmosphere.
