Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Palos Verdes--Discover the Secrets of Southern California's Best Kept Secret Luxury Location

Many Southern California communities enjoy worldwide recognition. Is there anyone in the USA who has not heard of Beverly Hills or Malibu? However, it is not unusual for people to stare with no sign of familiarity when I mention the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

It's quiet here. We don't have street lights.


Around the Hill
Our street signs are small and kept to a minimum. There is nothing showy about the area, unless you consider panoramic ocean views, soaring hills dotted with coastal homes and a stellar school system entitles us to bragging rights.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a unique place to live. Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and situated high on a hill above the flat lands below, the views are varied and breathtaking. Aside from the stunning topography and serene location I believe the views are unsurpassed in the Los Angeles area, and one of the primary reasons residents come to Palos Verdes and rarely leave.

A few of the many amenities the Palos Verdes Peninsula offers its residents are:

The Climate: San Diego lays claim to "the perfect climate" but in my opinion, Palos Verdes is as close to perfect as this former Midwestern woman ever needs. Marine air from the open sea bathes the area with gentle ocean breezes and moderate temperatures throughout the year. Only a few winter days require bundling up "Back East Style" and on a few summer days Santa Ana winds bring a dry heat reminiscent of the desert. Coastal fog makes its appearance periodically and yes, we have a few rainy days, but all in all those sunshine filled days you see in the movies are the real deal.

The Schools: Peninsula residents are justifiably proud of the Palos Verdes Unified School District that serves all four cities and unincorporated areas

of Palos Verdes. Test scores are consistently in the top 10% of all California schools and approximately 90% of the student body goes on to higher learning upon graduation.

The Location: Owning a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula ensures you will be close enough to Los Angeles to enjoy all the advantages of living near a major metropolitan area, yet so very far removed from the daily hustle and bustle of urban congestion.

The Views: The homes of Palos Verdes enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the Los Angeles area. The variety of views include panoramic ocean, Catalina Island, Los Angeles Harbor, city lights, coastline, whitewater, mountains and the coveted Queen's Necklace view. Buying a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a wonderful adventure. There are a variety of neighborhoods, four separate cities and a wide variety of styles and prices. Welcome, and enjoy your search for a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The Homes: The homes of Palos Verdes range in price from under one million to multi-million dollar estates on ocean front lots. There are villas in the hills, equestrian properties in Rolling Hills and beach houses in the Portuguese

Bend area. Luxury homes are scattered throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Estates at Trump National offers new homes with ocean views and Terranea Resort offers new homes by the sea. If you're looking for a coastal lifestyle, Palos Verdes will not disappoint.

I hope this article aids in your house hunting quest. When you're ready to start viewing homes it would be my pleasure to help you discover the right neighborhood, the right street and the perfect house for you and your family.



Norma Toering - REMAX Palos VerdesNorma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800


PalosVerdesLifestyle- Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Palos Verdes Luxury Home Sales--January thru July 2011

The Palos Verdes luxury / high-end home market is alive and well in 2011. As of late July, 20 homes sold for $3,000,000 or more in three of the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula this year.

Palos Verdes Estates was at the top of the luxury home leaderboard in Palos Verdes with 11 homes sold. Prices ranged from $3,000,000 to $9,150,000.

The gated City of Rolling Hills claimed the next spot with 7 luxury homes sold in 2011. Prices ranged from $3,000,000 to $7,250,000.

Rancho Palos Verdes luxury home sales topped out at 2 year to date. With sales recorded at $3,200,000 and $4,999,000.

During the same time period in 2010 only 7 luxury homes in Palos Verdes sold for $3,000,000 or more.

If you're in the market for a luxury home in Palos Verdes there are still many to choose from--47 high-end homes are currently listed for sale.

Norma Toering - REMAX Palos VerdesNorma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle- Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.

Subscribe to Norma Toering's ActiveRain blog Norma Toering and Team on Facebook


Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team. Google Norma Toering What is your home worth today - Norma Toering

Palos Verdes Homes Blog - Palos Verdes Houses
Palos Verdes Horse Property - Palos Verdes Realtor Agent
Colorado River CA Land - View Homes Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Coastal Homes - Rolling Hills Estates Home Search
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Good News--Palos Verdes High End Homes Post Consistent Sales as the Market Recovers

The stock market had a few unpredictable mood swings this week and I detected lightly masked nervous tones from clients. Some questioned whether they should move forward with listing their house. Others wondered if they should rush to lock in the new lower interest rate, or cancel their existing offer and wait for prices to plummet.

The volatility prompted me to check the facts provided by the local MLS statistics. After all, news stories hype the hysteria of the moment, but recent sales and pending sales tell the quiet story and lets us peek at the unemotional side of what's happening inside the workings of the local real estate market. So step behind the curtain with me and view of snapshot of Palos Verdes high end home sales for 2011 year -to-date.

Palos Verdes $2,000,000-$3,000,000 High End Home Sales for 2011:

A total of 32 homes in the price closed escrow this year. City breakdown is as follows:

Palos Verdes Estates: 15 Single Family Homes Sold

Rolling Hills: 4 Single Family Homes Sold

Rancho Palos Verdes: 3 Homes Sold

Palos Verdes Peninsula (unincorporated area of PV): 2 Homes Sold

Rolling Hills Estates: 1 Home Sold

During the same time period in 2010 (January 1-August 13) 33 homes in the price range sold. 32 this year--33 last year. How's that for consistency? If you are searching for one of the most stable real estate markets in Southern California, the coastal cities of the Palos Verdes Peninsula remains a highly desirable choice.

Norma Toering - REMAX Palos VerdesNorma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle- Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.

Subscribe to Norma Toering's ActiveRain blog Norma Toering and Team on Facebook


Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team. Google Norma Toering What is your home worth today - Norma Toering

Palos Verdes Homes Blog - Palos Verdes Houses
Palos Verdes Horse Property - Palos Verdes Realtor Agent
Colorado River CA Land - View Homes Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Coastal Homes - Rolling Hills Estates Home Search
Photos of Palos Verdes - Palos Verdes Videos
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes - Beach Cities Homes

Palos Verdes Homes--Luxury Is in the Eye of the Beholder--High-End is a Price

When it comes to homes, luxury is in the eye of the beholder, but high-end usually means the upper echelon of the price range for the area. A spa bathroom complete with sauna and soaking tub meets the definition of luxury for many but such amenities may also be found in a mid-price range Palos Verdes home.

Life is full of many little luxuries with blurred lines between necessity or indulgence. One man's luxury is another's requirement. If a prospective buyer asks to see luxury homes in Palos Verdes the next step is to have them define what constitutes luxury for them. Maybe it is a view, maybe it is space, maybe it is style. Often it is a very personal combination of many factors.

On the other hand, if prospectives buyers tell me they want to purchase a high-end home in Palos Verdes my first question may be, "How high?" Homes in Palos Verdes run the gamut from a low of $579,900 (located in Eastivew area of Rancho Palos Verdes) to a high of $14,900,000 for a villa in Palos Verdes Estates.

My first objective is to set realistic expectations and establish what amenities must be included, then select the homes representing the very best value in their price range whether it be high-end or a home of more modest means.

For me, the luxury bell rings when I see a massage table set up and ready for use in a private residence. I immediately think, these people know how to live. That's my idea of luxury but luxury is always in the eye of the beholder.

Luxurious amenities are often found in high-end homes, but I remember a modest cottage with a stunning ocean view, (lovely, but not high-end by PV standards) and on the deck was a massage table. What could be more luxurious than listening to the surf as a private masseuse worked out the kinks of the day?

Norma Toering - REMAX Palos VerdesNorma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle- Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Chosen by MovingCost.com as one of the best Los Angeles realty blogs. Awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Lender411 blog review. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.

Subscribe to Norma Toering's ActiveRain blog Norma Toering and Team on Facebook


Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Search for Homes in Palos Verdes California on Toering and Team. Google Norma Toering What is your home worth today - Norma Toering

Palos Verdes Homes Blog - Palos Verdes Houses
Palos Verdes Horse Property - Palos Verdes Realtor Agent
Colorado River CA Land - View Homes Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Coastal Homes - Rolling Hills Estates Home Search
Photos of Palos Verdes - Palos Verdes Videos
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes - Beach Cities Homes

Norma Toering & Team - Palos Verdes Homes