Tracy’s LA Real Estate

It’s Halloween!
Check out all the details for a completely different Halloween experience at http://greenfair.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/neighbohood-green-fair-flier-october-2009.pdf

This is really incredible—there are 13 single-family homes currently on the market in the MLS in the Eagle Rock 90041 community right now, October 30, 2009. Of them, 4 are short sales, 1 is an unfinished project that has been on the market for 621 days (!), and another is new construction that has been on the market 372 days (another !)  I have been selling homes in Eagle Rock for 20 years, and I have never seen the inventory so low!

Last week, 2 homes came on the market and sold in multiple offers for considerably over asking. One property listed for $460,000 had 20 offers, 1 listed for $649,000 had 14 offers. They both sold for considerably over asking price. What does this tell you? There are at least 32 buyers who are still looking for a home right here in Eagle Rock, folks!

 

 

If you have been thinking about moving, now could be your time. Some things to consider:

Do you have enough equity to sell for what the market brings you right now?  Those who bought or refinanced in the last 5 years may still owe more than they can get today. The reality is that the prices in Eagle Rock did drop an average of 20-25% from the peak years of 2005-2007. That house that was listed for $460,000 sold for $715,000 in 2006. So even if a frenzied buyer pays $600,000 for it, it’s still a great deal in the big picture view.

 

 

Are you ready to accept what the appraiser evaluates on your home? Remember, the lender is the biggest X factor in the home sale transaction today. Appraisals are very difficult to negotiate, lenders are very nervous about making loans. Even buyers with great credit and 20% down payments have lender issues. I could write an entire article about the appraisal challenges I’ve experienced this year and I’m sure every other Realtor who has sold a home in 2009 can, too.

Do you have a place to move to? It’s very difficult to buy and sell at the same time now. In fact, it’s always stressful unless you have the cash to buy first, close escrow, then sell—and then you have the stress of not being sure what you will net from the sale of your home. You have to be willing to move to a rental if you don’t quickly find what you want. Sellers are not very willing to sell to buyers with a contingency.

 If you can say yes to these questions and are ready to start packing, let me know!

Just listed this week: 329 Vista Place, Highland Park, 90042, $399,000.
Here is a hidden gem in the hills of the Garvanza neighborhood of Highland Park. For more information about this historic neighborhood, check out the Neighborhood Project from LAist at http://laist.com/2007/08/06/the_neighborhoo_2.php. From the wide front porch to the patio in the back, enjoy the outdoor spaces perfect for dining al fresco with views of your own private gardens.
Built in 1903, this 2 bedroom, 1 bath Craftsman cottage has wood floors, central air and heat, updated electrical and plumbing, and a finished attic that offers a great spot for storage or perhaps office space. Freshly painted inside and out, this is move-in ready. Located on a walk street north of Meridian, the lot goes street to street. Auto access and parking is off Fisher. There is a driveway long enough to park 2 cars plus a 1-car garage that houses the laundry. The lot is completely fenced and private. This is a regular sale and if you move really fast, you could still qualify for the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit which expires November 30, 2009.
Open today, Thursday, from 10-2. Also open Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm. We’ll have cookies!

The City of Los Angeles has long had a reputation for unbridled development and a disregard for the treasures of the past, but you would never know that if you first looked at the City’s own preservation website, www.Preservation.LaCity.org.  Here’s a great link from that website to a brochure on Caring for Your Historic Home: http://preservation.lacity.org/files/HPOZ%20Rehabilitation%20Guide_0.pdf.  Perhaps one reason the Office of Historic Resources, a part of the Department of City Planning, appears to have its act together is because the former head of the Los Angeles Conservancy, Ken Bernstein, is now the Manager. 

Also on the website is a list of all the Historic Preservation Overlay Zones in the City as well as a list of proposed HPOZs.  Another link is Search for a Property, http://www.preservation.lacity.org/status which gives instructions how to research possibly historic properties through the City’s websites. 

To complement that website, I offer you the Should I Stucco My Wood Frame House?  brochure that I had updated a few years back.

shouldistuccomyhouse

In my 20 years as a Realtor, I’ve heard that question more than any other when the conversation turns to properties in Eagle Rock. The Mansion, often referred to as the Bekins Estate, is located at 1554 Hill Drive, between Dahlia and Loleta. Well folks, a large number of members and guests of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society found out what’s been going on straight from the source last night at the Society’s public meeting at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock. Mr. Robert Kvassay gave a slide show update on the property that has been in his family since 1965.
In the last 2 or 3 years, the grounds, which had fallen into a state of advanced disrepair, began to show signs of attention. Slowly, the years of neglect were trimmed back, and it seemed like every week a new fountain or walkway or flower bed appeared.
Not long ago, a new wall surrounding the Hill Drive side of the property appeared along with a new sign announcing the name “Chateau Emanuel.” It turns out that Emanuel was Robert’s father, and this restoration has been a labor of love honoring his parents, Emanuel and Maria Kvassay.
Public records show that the property consists of 2.81 acres (according to Robert it is almost 4 acres—there are probably additional lots with separate parcel numbers), the house was built in 1925, and consists of 5577 square feet. Here is the history of the property according to the Historical Society Fall, 2009, newsletter, and to Mr. Kvassay’s remarks.
It was originally built by Martin Bekins, the founder of Bekins Van Lines. When he died in 1933, his widow, Kathryn Cole, sold the house to Wilfred “Bill” Lane. Mr. Lane had invented a “shotgun” process to improve production of old oil wells by fragmenting the rock they penetrated. He also donated and supported a Boy Scout camp in Big Tujunga Canyon. In the neighborhood, he was known for handing out ice cream on Halloween. His widow, Hazel, sold the property to the Kvassays in 1965.
Maria and Emanuel grew up in what is now Slovakia. He was a math teacher and bought forest lands which yielded lumber and wood products. They emigrated to the United States after the Communists took over their country and appropriated their holdings. They lived in another house in Eagle Rock near MaCastle at the other end of Hill Drive before purchasing the 1554 Hill Drive property. Emanuel started the Sierra Packaging Company, which Robert still runs today. Maria was a talented seamstress who owned several dress shops including Mary’s Fashions in the Eagle Rock Plaza. They were both active in the movement to free Slovakia from Communist rule, and entertained dozens of dignitaries at their home, including Shirley Temple Black, Edward Teller, and Lech Walesa. They were active in the Republican party and worked to help other immigrants come to this country, and become citizens.
The family attended St. Dominics Church in Eagle Rock, and the 3 sons grew up in Eagle Rock. Two of the sons currently live at the Hill Drive property.
There are 3 houses on the property:
1. The gardener’s house is about 1200 sqft.
2. The carriage house is 2-story, about 3300 sqft, and the driveway actually goes through it.
3. The3-story main house is about 6000 sqft. It has 2 full kitchens, one is on the lower level adjoining a large ballroom.
The estate has a large swimming pool and spa, 3 rose gardens, 2 fire pits, 6 full kitchens, 7 bars (and, ironically, the family doesn’t drink), a bistro, a croquet court, a stage, a grotto, and a fish pond. According to Robert, he has restored and updated the property, but hasn’t really built anything new. Many locals remember the observatory which used to be at the top of the property, and now the mystery is revealed: Robert built that observatory many years ago and then when it fell into disrepair, he dismantled it and donated the telescope to the Telescopes in Education project at Mt. Wilson Observatory. One of the fire pits is now on the pad where the observatory was, right next to the croquet court. There are many retaining walls all over this multilevel property and they were all made of recycled concrete salvaged from places all over the city. He used an inventive method to replace the yards and yards of handrails along the walkways—he filled a firehose with cement, then cut the hose off after it hardened.
The property requires a tremendous amount of time and money to keep up. The lawns take 6 hours to mow. He said that after it rains it takes two days to clean up the grounds. And how about this utility bill: $3500 per month for water and power! Whew!
And now I have a little scoop for you: you can see all the photos we saw last night at www.chateauemanuel.com!

It’s Lilia’s Chilean Pebre. According to Wikipedia, “Pebre is a Chilean condiment made of coriander (cilantro), chopped onion, olive oil, garlic and ground or pureed spicy aji peppers. Pebre is most commonly spooned on meat, usually from a barbecue.”
Lilia makes the Pebre right there in front of you with her Cuisinart food processor. Wearing plastic gloves, with her fresh washed cilantro, parsley, and scallions in the tubs in front of her, Lilia can barely keep up with the demand for her tasty sauce .

Her co-worker hands out generous samples spread on slices of French bread, and you have to buy a jar once you taste it. It tastes fresh, green, garlicky, a little spicy but not too much. Lilia says it’s good with potatoes or with chicken. My imagination went to a nice chicken or beef stew laced with the sauce. Or maybe just ladled over a grilled steak or fried eggs. It was great with the bread, and I read that Chileans eat it mostly just like that, as a spread on bread. For $6.00, you get a pint jar of Pebre with a list of the ingredients and a chicken recipe, if you wish. Yum. The Eagle Rock and Roll Farmer’s Market is a certified farmer’s market you can check out at www.pdmarkets.com, but just go to the Eagle Rock Plaza on Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm.

Many people are asking if now is a good time to buy real estate, especially those who have lost money and equity in the recent mortgage crisis. Bernice Ross lays out an excellent analysis of how buying for the long term is a hedge against inflation http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/berniceross/breaking-down-buy-vs-rent?page=0%2C1.  There are many other important reasons to consider as well, though they aren’t as easily quantifiable.

Pride of ownership is key to this discussion. And I don’t just mean that when you own, you take better care of your property. That tends to be true, but in a way it’s all about self-expression. My home is an extension of me—my accomplishments, my creativity, my style. Whether you have an architect design your home from the ground up to your specifications, you buy a home in a development , you have an historic home that has all the original details preserved, or you buy a starter home that needs a lot of work, you will imprint something about you and your personality on that property, even if it’s only on the inside. Home tours and open houses are popular because so many of us love to see what other people have done with their homes. 

Pride of ownership is also about civic involvement, security and freedom. As homeowners, we have more of a stake in our communities. If a new commercial development threatens to change the character of our neighborhood, we are much more likely to show up and protest, or vote, or question how it will affect our property values. It even affects how likely we are to pick up litter from the sidewalk. If we feel like the sidewalk is ours, we’ll pick up the trash. Otherwise, the city should be doing it. 

If you have ever gone door to door for a community issue, the most common response from the non-property owner is “Oh, I’m just renting here.” Most renters have a temporary feeling about their home—and they should, because the landlord can ask them to move out. Even in a rent-controlled area, there are ways to move a tenant out. If you own your own home, it is yours to keep as long as you make your payments and pay your taxes. That means a great deal to many of us.

At the end of the day, with any rent vs. buy analysis, if you own your home free and clear you have a place to live regardless of its value and if you rent you don’t. Many of us are a long way from being mortgage-free, but small steps taken every day move us forward on the path to freedom.

There are 25 active listings today, October 7, 2009, priced from $129,000 for a gutted fixer that requires a cash offer to $825,000 for a 4 bedroom home with a pool located above Hill Drive. Most of these properties have been on the market over 2 weeks, some over 6 months. The field is open for a well-price home that is in decent condition in a good location, folks. Call me…

Eagle Rock, Northeast Los Angeles, and occasional forays into Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena

This is my personal, subjective, and sporadically updated guide to local food and drink establishments located mostly in the Northeast Los Angeles area, branching out to Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel. Asterisks indicate that one of us on my team has been there, tasted the food, and likes it. Call the restaurant for current hours. Several of the Highland Park entries were taken from a brochure made by Amy Inouye at Future Studio, 5558 N. Figueroa St, 90042. FutureStudio@sbcglobal.net www.chickenboy.com

Antojitos Guerrero 5623 York Blvd. 323.254.6118

Salvadorean & Mexican, 4-taco special

La Abeja 3700 N. Figueroa St. 323.221.0474

Mural by Leo Limon, the artist who has painted the cat faces in the LA River for 35 years!

El Arco Iris 5684 York Blvd 323.254.3401

www.Elarcoiris.com Popular with locals, good authentic Mexican food.

*Armon’s 5056 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.478.1440

Good solid American breakfast and lunch, also some Chinese fare. Nice neighborhood atmosphere, friendly waitresses, good daily lunch specials.

*Auntie Em’s 4616 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.255.0800

www.AuntieEmskitchen.com. Great breakfast and lunch, cookies, soups, indoor and outdoor seating, also excellent catering. New! Home delivery options. Vegetarian friendly but they also have good pulled pork sandwiches. Next door is their gourmet cheese shop. Occasional Market Dinners with wine suggestions you can buy from Colorado Wine Company—sign up for their email newsletter and catch the next Dinner, it’s fantastic!

*Bistro de la Gare 921 Meridian Ave. South Pas. 626.799.8828

www.bistrodelagare.com. Really charming, great French bistro food, wine bar, located right by the Gold Line.

*The Black Boar (formerly the Chalet) 1630 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.258.8800

This is one cool bar, no food served at all. English pub-like interior with great jukebox, good martinis, good selection of beers on tap and bottled, friendly staff.

*The Blue Hen 1743 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.5654

www.eatatbluehen.com. Vietnamese food, lunch and dinner. This restaurant supports local farms and sustainable farming practices, and it is good food, too.

*Brownstone Pizza 2108 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.4992

Good New York style pizza and you can also buy it by the slice! They’ll deliver if you’re local.

*The Bucket 4541 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.5654

Known for Basque-style hamburgers. Longtime Oxy hangout.

*Bulgarini Gelato 749 E. Altadena Dr, Altadena 626.791.6174

http://www.bulgarinigelato.com/. Voted best gelato by LA Weekly, a great write-up by Jonathan Gold, and I have to say I had some of the best peach sorbet in my life there. It’s the real deal, though I would rather be in Rome than Altadena sometimes, just sometimes.

Cacao Mexicatessen 1576 Colorado Blvd, Eagle Rock 323-478-2791

www.cacaodeli.com. Email: cacaodeli@att.net. Smell the made-on-premises tortillas as you enter the doorway and get ready to be transported to Mexico. Specializing in mole, but there is a variety of styles and flavors from all over the country. Take-out, eat-in, and catering.

*Café Beaujolais 1712 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.255.5111

Classic French bistro food, wine & beer. Extremely good.

*Café Culture 1359 N. Altadena Blvd. Pasadena 626.398.8654

Coffee house with good baked goods.

Café de Leche 5000 York Blvd. Highland Park 323-551-6828

www.cafedeleche.net. Remember how the Renaissance of Eagle Rock began with Swork’s Coffee? Here is a great new coffee place in Highland Park, though I’d have to say the tide began to turn here with Marty’s and the York Pub.

*Camilo’s Café & Catering 2128 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.478.2644

California bistro serving tasty breakfast, lunch, dinner. Also afternoon tea by reservation and excellent catering. Live music on Thursday evenings. Atmosphere is lovely, great for any occasion.

*The Capri 4604 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.3225

Good solid traditional Italian food, large portions, old-style Italian restaurant atmosphere.

*Casa Bianca 1650 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.256.9617

“The Best Pizza in Southern California.” It is good! Try to beat the rush, but they have chairs outside so you can just visit with your friends while you wait. Takeout is a good choice.

La Casa Princesa 4257 York Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.474.6860

Good coffee, food, free wi-fi, free music, what more could you ask for? Add friendly service and a large space and easy parking. Check it out!

El Chile 4017 N. Figueroa St. 323.221.5555

The only arepas (baked or fried cornmeal cake of traditional Colombian cuisine) on Figueroa, covered patio dining.

*Cinnamon Vegetarian 5511 Figueroa St. Highland Park 323.982.9480

www.CinnamonVegetarian.com. An international but mostly Southwest/South American menu, all meat-free. Very tasty food, a nice, clean, comfortable space, friendly service.

*Classic Thai 1708 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.478.0530

Charming atmosphere with outdoor seating, moderate prices, good Thai food.

*The Coffee Gallery 2029 N. Lake Ave. Altadena 626.398.7917

www.coffeegallery.com. Neighborhood coffee house with entertainment in the back room venue. Get on their email list, they have incredible talent performing, especially old folkies, acoustic guitarists and songwriters.

*The Coffee Table 1958 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.255.2200

www.coffeetablebistro.com. Sister to the one in Silverlake. Great space, good food, coffee and now beer and wine. Sensitive restoration of the historic building and old photos of Eagle Rock add to the ambience.

*Colombo’s 1833 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.254.9138

Prime rib, steak, seafood, pasta. Piano music every evening, dimmed lighting, full bar with the strongest drinks around, interesting paintings, old neighborhood feel. Now with some outdoor seating as well.

*The Colorado Wine Co. 2114 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.478.1985

www.cowineco.com. Neighborhood wine bar with tastings Friday evenings and Sunday afternoon. Buy a glass or a case. Sign up for the email list for John’s literary musings on the art and comedy of wine as well as details of the next tasting or art opening there. Twitter @CoWineCo.

*Dave’s Chillin’ & Grillin’ 2152 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.490.0988

www.daveschillin.com. Dave is passionate about his sandwiches and he has every reason to be. Fresh, tasty, a bargain—the Eagle Rock business model between two halves of a fresh roll.

*Elvira’s 1757 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.3216

Homemade Mexican food with lots of vegetarian options, prepared and served with love. Pepe Serna paintings decorate the walls.

Ernie Jr’s Taco House 2803 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.256.1298

One of the oldest restaurants around serving old-style American Mexican food. I have to mention that they put mayonnaise in their tostada dressing.

*La Estrella #3 6103 N. Figueroa Highland Park 323.982.0179

Colorful house, corner location, great tacos. Served open with shredded carnitas, limes and very inexpensive. Voted one of the top 25 Mexican restaurants in LA in 2004.

*Fatty’s 1627 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.254.8804

www.fattyscafe.com. Gourmet vegetarian food, excellent wine list, good beer. Some very amazing and delicious desserts as well. Open for dinnertime only, but you can just have dessert or a glass of wine if you like.

Felipe 6101 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.256.9784

Formerly Villa Sombrero, Felipe, the original property owner, has taken over and has done a reprise of some of his original dishes from the time it had more upscale Latin cuisine like lobster, grilled steak, chicken mole. They now have a liquor license.

*Firefly Bistro 1009 El Centro Ave. South Pas. 626.441.2443

www.eatatfirefly.com Exceptional New Orleans style cuisine, the signature dish is pecan-crusted catfish, oh yes. The occasional 5-course wine dinner is to die for.

*Folliero’s 5566 N Figueroa St, Highland Park 323.254.0505

www.Follieros.com Established in 1968, Tony Folliero still makes his own pizza dough every morning, though daughter Titina now runs the restaurant. Friendly staff, great thin-crust pizza, other yummy Italian dishes you will love as much as do the generations of Highland Parkers who still go there. Cash only! But beer and wine are served. Really reasonable prices.

*La Fuente 2256 W. Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.344.3796

Reliably good, satisfying Mexican food, recently reopened after a remodel. Full bar.

5530 Monte Vista St. Highland Park 323.258.6109

La Fuente #6 5552 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park 323.257.3564

One door south of Future Studio

El Huarache Azeca 5225 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.478.9572

A hotspot for locals and visiting foodies.

*Jamba Juice 5053 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.349.0670

One of the many signs that Eagle Rock has arrived. Healthy, quick juiced drinks. This is in a building that was not torn down by the Walgreen’s next door.

*Johnny’s Bar 5006 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.551-6959

Evilly good martinis. No food. Eat at the nearby York Pub or Marty’s and stop in here as part of your Highland Park Pub crawl.

*Larkin’s Joint 1496 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.254.0934

www.larkinsjoint.com. Contemporary California soul food in a juke joint atmosphere. Come here when you have no dietary restrictions, because this is good old fried catfish & greens, sweet potato pie, BBQ’d tri-tip kind of fare.

*Lemongrass 1952 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.258.8050

Simple, good Vietnamese food with beer and wine served. Featured dishes include banh mi (sandwiches), pho (soup), spring rolls. Inexpensive, fresh, delicious food. Sit outside and enjoy life in the heart of Eagle Rock.

Little Cave 5922 N. Figueroa St. 323.255.6871

Formerly Sir Richard’s biker bar and Hofbrau, now painted black inside and quite a hangout for local hipsters.

Mariscos Estilo D.F. Truck 4702 N. Figueroa St. at Sycamore Grove Park Highland Park

Blue truck, seafood tostadas, eat in park. Made to order.

*Marty’s 5137 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.256.2400

The gentrification of Highland Park began here. Yummy bar food like Kobe beef burgers. Bouncers dressed in black, valet parking. Yes!

El Metate 5305 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park 323.478.8383

Homemade tortillas, cart often in front after dark with huge sizzling fresh meat spit

*Mia Sushi 4741 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.256.2562

www.mia-sushi.com. Eagle Rock’s first sushi restaurant. Great food, decor, valet parking. For you no raw fish die-hards, there is a selection of cooked non-fish Japanese-style items that is very good as well.

* Minx Restaurant & Lounge 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale 818.242.9191

www.minx-la.com. Fine dining and cocktail lounge located on the border of Eagle Rock. Superb Sunday brunch, eat inside or out, enjoy music, great cocktails. They also cater. *August update: customer service has slipped here.

My Taco 6300 York Blvd 323.256.2698

Potato tacos, carne asada fries.

*Oinkster 2005 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.3892

www.theoinkster.com. “Slow fast food” is their motto. It’s really good and it’s really, really slow—the service, that is. House cured pastrami, slow roasted pork and chicken, fresh good food.

*Panang 1801 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.344.3796

If you’re feeling like you might be coming down with a cold, go have a nice big bowl of Thai noodles, a tall frosty beer and be happy.

*Polka 4112 Verdugo Road Glassell Park 323.255.7887

www.polkacatering.com. Jonathan Gold says, “Polka, a sweet Polish restaurant near where Eagle Rock fades into Glendale, is that rarity in Los Angeles, an authentic, home-style Eastern European restaurant of the kind so common in Cleveland and Chicago…”

*Pat & Lorraine’s 4720 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.7926

Local breakfast and lunch joint—it closes at 2:30 pm!

El Pescador 5230 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park 323.255.8164

Popular for after church brunching

*Petit Beaujolais 1651 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.255.5133

Great coffee, fresh croissants, very tasty breakfast and lunch, a perfect place to sit outside on a balmy day and just be in the heart of Eagle Rock.

*Santa Maria Barbecue 626.963.3935

All you can eat barbecues, parties, events. Simple fare and really tasty. Tri-tip top sirloin, chicken, beef ribs, beans, hot dogs or hamburgers, and that’s about it. They only cater. www.santamariagrill.com.

*Scoops 712 N. Heliotrope Dr. Los Angeles 323.906.2649

Gelato, vegan ice cream & sorbet. You can have a taste of whatever they have available that day. Wild tastes like Jack Daniels & Cream, Blackberries and mango. Worth the drive out of Eagle Rock!

*Senor Fish 4803 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.7167

Great fish tacos and other Mexican food. Good outdoor seating.

Spring Street Smokehouse 640 N. Spring St, LA 90012 213.626.0535

www.sssmokehouse.com The LA BBQ Guy is the Truck, and you can follow him on Twitter. They’ve been parking in front of the 7-11 at Highland View Ave on Colorado Blvd, giving away free samples of bbq. Of course you go back and buy some, it’s good!

*Spitz 2505 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.5600

Home of the Doner Kebab: lean meat, chilies, tzatziki, tomatoes & cucumbers in grilled focaccia, sweet potato fries. Good fast food plus gelato! Two Oxy grads went to Europe, loved it, and brought it back to Eagle Rock.

*The Spot 2032 Lincoln Ave. Pasadena 626.296.3184

(Formerly Vintage Café)

www.thespotpasadena.com. Now a catering business only, and really good.

Starbucks 4430 York Blvd, Eagle Rock 323-340-8059

www.Starbucks.com. Practically in Highland Park, this Starbucks has a drive through.

*Stoney Point 1450 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena 626.449.9715

www.stoneypointrestaurant.com. Italian-style cuisine, great atmosphere.

*Swork 2160 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.258.5600

www.swork.com. Good coffee, Free—note, Free wireless internet, kid-friendly hangout, a great community hangout, the first of the “cool factor” beginning of Eagle Rock’s commercial core.

*The Taco Spot 2005 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.4727

www.taco-spot.com. Really tasty, fresh Mexican food. Reasonably priced, good service, very convenient.

Tacos El Michoacoano 5933 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.258.0794

Authentic excellent Michoacan made from scratch

*Tommy’s Burgers 1717 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.982.1746

Some people in my family love Tommy’s. If you want a heart attack on a bun, you can start here.

Verdugo Bar 3408 Verdugo Rd. Glassell Park 90065 323-257-3408

www.VerdugoBar.com. Open 8 pm-2 am. A large selection of custom beers including Crown City Brewery. Art Deco interior. Look for the small “Cocktails” sign or you’ll miss it.

*York Pub 5018 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.255.9675

www.theyorkonyork.com. Another of the new bars along York Blvd, part of the renaissance of Highland Park and the birth of the cool. Lots of good beers, good food, good times, and now even open for brunch on the weekends. Even beer from the Craftsman Brewery in Pasadena is served, a major treat.

*Zankou Chicken 1415 E. Colorado Blvd. Glendale 818.244.1937

Some of the best fast food in the world. Garlic sauce, hummus, pita bread, rotisserie chicken, shwarma, it’s actually addictive.

FREE DELIVERY (most with a minimum order)

*Elvira’s 1757 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.257.3216

Italiano’s 6500 N. Figueroa Highland Park 323.255.6155

Also at 5101 York Blvd. Highland Park 323.255.0016

*Sicha Siam 4403 Eagle Rock Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.344.8285

Some of the best Thai food around, and they bring it to you!

*Thai Spirit 2617 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock 323.256.1644

*Two Guys from Italy 405 N. Verdugo Rd. Glendale 323.254.0404

Do you have restaurants you’d like to see included on this list? Do you have any real estate needs? Call Tracy King, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, at 626-844-2256 or email at Tracy@TracyKing.com. Check out my website at www.TracyKing.com. Please comment on my blog at www.TracysLARealEstate.com.

Market Update for Eagle Rock, 90041 and Highland Park, 90042

If you are looking today for property to buy in our little corner of Los Angeles, you know the pickings are getting pretty slim. What’s going on? The light finally switched on for those who qualify for the first time buyer tax credit and it shone on the November 30 deadline looming ahead. Whoops! If escrows take 30-60 days to close, it’s time! Well, folks, the sellers are not interested in your tax credit. They are beginning to have hopes that prices will go up. The inventory has dropped, prices appear to be firming up a bit, and there is nothing much to buy. In the last couple of weeks, many of the relatively inexpensive properties have gone into escrow.

Many fence-sitting buyers are still convinced that the floodgates are about to open and foreclosures are going to be dumped on the market.  We all have been talking down the intelligence of the banks and the people who work in them, but actually a few of them have some sense. My theory is that the banks are going to feed these cheap foreclosures out to us a bit at a time and let them get snapped up with all-cash-over-asking-price bids clear into the recovery. And we are seeing some recovery.

Look at this graph showing sales over the last 4 years through August 09 in Eagle Rock (90041)

 

The Average Sold Price for 8/09 was $429,000 (14 sold) and the average for 9/09 was $573,000 (7 sold. Thanks in part to my $1.1 million sale).

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for Highland Park (90042):

 

The average price for Highland Park in 8/09 was $319,000 (14 sold) and 9/09 was 306,000 (32 sold).

The bottom feeders have sucked up the debris here. What to do? Be patient, don’t have your heart set on the tax credit, and really get your priorities in order about buying property.

 

 

 

 

 

And, hey, sellers! Call me! I have some good buyers!