Kenneth Village

is just your average, small town village where everything you need is contained in just a few blocks and everyone you see is someone you know.  Except this one is located in the heart of Glendale.

Farmers Market

This weekend marks the first Farmers Market in Kenneth Village and I am sure this is going to become another honored neighborhood tradition like the Fall Fesitval and the Parking Lot Movies.  Farmer’s Market is Friday from 3PM to 6PM in the parking lot behind/next to Yoga at the Village.

Here are just a few of my favorite spots in the village:

Audrey K -

Woman’s Apparel and Accessories.  This is the place to come for retail therapy.  Emphasis is chic feminine style with a slight mid century vibe, this place is hip, cool and very affordable.  Audrey used to be a buyer for a major department store and this girl knows how to pick out the very best stuff!  Go to her site an bookmark it because she has frequent events and sales.  They are not to be missed.

Yoga at the Village -

owned and operated by the indomitable Elyse Briggs, Yoga Village has become the nexus point for the truly interesting people in the neighborhood…

This is an excerpt from the community section of my main website www.kendylyoung.com.  For more about the **very** interesting Yoga at the Village and many other great Kenneth Village tidbits CLICK HERE

To find your dream home close to Kenneth Village take a look here:

This event is open to all residents of Los Angeles County.

This is the perfect way to either prepare your home for sale or tie up loose ends at the close of escrow.

No one wants those old paint cans, even if it is the perfect match for the bathroom.  You last painted that puppy in 1962 and, trust me, the paint in that can aint’ helpin’ nobody.

Same goes for the old car battery, the used motor oil and the dozens of somewhat used bug killers and plant treatments.  You think the new buyer wants them, but that’s a story you tell to cover up your laziness.

This is the event for you!  Bring all that old, nasty stuff in the garage.  You can also get rid of the two dozen old cell phones (although, really, donate those little gems to the nearest battered woman’s shelter) the ancient computers from 1st quarter ‘09 and that useless analog television.

Your buyer thanks you, your Realtor thanks you and the earth thanks you.    Doesn’t it feel good to do the right thing?

Active on the MLS for more than 120 days, these Glendale homes have lost that “shiny new thing” cachet- but that does not mean that can’t be a great deal for someone!

Would the seller sell for substantially below list price if presented with a strong offer? Is this home quirky in a way that works for you, but not the masses? Is it a short sale (groan) that is just about to lose it’s current buyer because the bank took to long to answer?

Take a look at this list of Overlooked Opportunities… is your dream home or investment here?  Do you want pictures?  Details?  CLICK HERE and type in the address.

They have had several really low offers (listed at $799k and offers at $720k) and are feeling disheartened.  Should they pull the home off the market?  Should they make a “hail mary” price reduction?  Are they even willing to do that?

Click on the video to see the shocking happenings for this week!

Like it or hate it, there is a story behind these color choices! Wouldn’t you love to know what it is?

We all know that a professional home inspection is very important,  but what can you discover before you go into escrow?  Can you use that information during the negotiations on the sales price?  Take a look.

as I was perusing my morning news today.  It made me think, I write about smokin’ hot deals all the time- does anyone know what I mean?

When it comes to residential real estate, a great deal is really in the eyes of the beholder.  A cute 4 bedroom Spanish with a big yard located across the street from an elementary school is ideal for a young family, but the virile playboy would shudder in horror.

You Look Mah-velous

So, how do you spot a great Glendale deal?  Ultimately you have to know what a great deal is for you, as an individual.

Know your priorities

What do you want from this house?  Here are the most common things I hear from my buyers:

1. Convenience.  Move in condition, close to “life” and work, great storage
2. Investment.  A home that will hold it’s value or even increase with some work
3. Personal.  A home that fulfills purely personal desire- aesthetics, prestige, specific space like studio or guest house or specific schools.
4. Fulfillment.  A home that reflects your accomplishments in life

They are all important…

But everyone has a unique way of assessing their priorities.  That is why a home, priced low by the “comps”, is a screaming deal to some and a horrific train wreck to others.

Great!  Now what?

Ask yourself, if I were to buy a home today, what would I want from that home?  Once that basic question is answered, do the following:

1. Figure out your budget- I know this sounds like too much work for a casual looker, but the internet has great tools and deals are easier to spot if they relate to you.
2. Create an automatic listing search- the system sends you listings in your area and price range automatically.  This is a great way to passively stay in touch with the market
3. Follow me on twitter, Facebook and, of course, this blog.  I post great deals and “coming soon” listings all the time.

After a very short while, deals will just scream out to you.  You’ll start saying, “That might be a good deal to some, but I wouldn’t pay two dollars for it!”

Go Forth and Buy…

Or not.  Residential is highly personal and you should buy if the time is right for you.  But, if it is the time for you, you can buy with confidence.

That way, when Great Aunt Millicent says, “You paid too much for that shack!”, you can smile and ignore her.  You know a great deal and you know she is full of….

304 Santa Inez Way, La Canada

This gorgeous mid-century home in La Canada appears to be wholly un-remuddled and I can’t wait to see it in person.

The listing agent states that this is believed to be an Eichler home (buyer to verify for themselves, of course). I’ve sold a LOT of Eichler homes in Northern California, and this one sure fits the bill.

The Facts:

304 Santa Inez, La Canada, CA
4 bedrooms
2 Baths
1768 Living SF
8381 Lot SF
1956 Yr Blt
Offered at $690,525
Open House Scheduled 6/21/09 1-4pm Tell the agent I sent you!!!!

The state of our local real estate market is really pronounced here, in La Crescenta.  Listing inventory is waaaaay down and the number of homes entering escrow is brisk.

Look at the Sales Pending numbers- see how that number keeps rising?  This is becasue short sale transactions are so common in La Crescenta.  A short sale escrow can last 2, 3 or even 4 months.  And, at the end of it all,  there is an even chance it won’t close escrow at all.

Here’s a list of available homes in La Crescenta.

I posted a link to an article on my Facebook buisness page (go ahead! click the link and join me on Facebook!) that talked about Obama’s latest thoughts on regulating the mortgage industry.

Based on recent experience, I think Obama hardly need step in. The banks are getting so ridiculous about the loans they WON’T make it is freaky.

Where a great buyer can’t buy a great house

Case in point: a well educated buyer finally finds a home that delivers great value for the price. But, he can’t buy it because FHA will not lend on any home that has been held for less than 90 days by the homeowner. The idea is the seller is making a big profit for doing nothing.

This is not just for FHA. Most of the lenders are prone to episodes of knicker twist over this very situation.

Here’s the problem!!!

These investors buy large packages of foreclosed homes, often for pennies on the dollar. The reason the banks do this is they bundle the good homes with the true stinkers- homes they couldn’t unload for free- and the investor takes the gamble that they can make enough on the package to turn a profit. The profit turned on one of the “good” homes doesn’t tell the whole story.

The crazy making fact.

The banks KNOW why and how these investors are making huge profit on a few of these homes. They created the situation in the first place, and yet they turn around and penalize the same people who helped them unload their debts. Why? Because, like the prostitutes in “Pretty Woman”, they say when, they say where, and they say how much. And they don’t kiss on the mouth.

Who is really hurt?

Ultimately, the ones who are most hurt are the first time buyers. Excellent homes at excellent prices will go to investors because they are the ones with the cash. A lower pool of potential buyers might also mean lower sales prices and the vicious cycle continues.