Do you know where the Hollywood elite make their real estate investments grow?

Focus: Marvelous Bel-Air

By Ruben Perez

Some people and some places are truly transcendent; they rise above the rest of the world, creating their own reality. Lovely and lush, Bel-Air is one of those places. In a market that shows decreasing numbers; Bel-Air’s exclusive estate homes continue to demonstrate their value and desirability.

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains just west of Beverly Hills and north of the UCLA campus, Bel-Air shines as a modern paradise. It’s lush landscape and spectacular winding streets create an air of exclusivity that is not skin deep.
The homes in Bel-Air are typically not visible from the street. Instead a passer by will see stately gates opening on to lengthy driveways which culminate in spectacular secluded homes with jaw dropping views.

The area is largely populated by Hollywood elite and the spectacularly wealthy. Bel-Air’s bucolic landscape coupled with its close proximity to all of Los Angeles and the Westside communities makes this a haven for those desiring “La Dolce Vita!”

If you are interested in making Bel-Air your place of residence please allow me to show you the mystic and the magic that is currently available in local real estate.

http://www.rubenperezhomes.com/

The Secret to the ideal LA lifestyle resides in this famous zip code

Focus: The Beauteous Beverly Hills

By Ruben Perez

While there are many superlative neighborhoods on the Westside of Los Angeles, there is one that stands out to the world as a shinning example of beauty, grace and luxury. It is none other than Beverly Hills. Arguably the most famous zip code in the world, Beverly Hills has earned its coveted status with graceful tree lined streets, majestic mansions and spectacular villas. Is it any wonder that so many entrepreneurs, professionals and Hollywood executives choose to make Beverly Hills their home?

The Beverly Hills residential area is characterized by stunning estates of palatial proportion with spectacular landscapes to match. Equally noteworthy is its commercial district, sporting exclusive salons, designer boutiques and world class dining. Without a doubt, the Beverly Hills shopping district is the place to see and be seen.

Beverly Hills’central location places it within close proximity of all the major studios as well as Century City, Downtown LA and the beach. In a world of, "Location, Location, Location!" Beverly Hills takes top prize. If you are ready to make Beverly Hills your home address, give me a call and I will show you what this lovely and exclusive area has to offer.

As part of my commitment to giving back I will donate a portion of my commission from the sale of your home to the charity of your choice. Choose me as your realtor and together we can make a difference.

www.RubenPerezHomes.com

When it comes to hip, hot and in demand what LA neighborhood is a hit?

Focus: Spectacular Sunset Strip Hills

By Ruben Perez

Savvy investors recognize that there are several communities on the Westside of Los Angeles that continue to break records as prices soar and housing demand continues to grow. The prime real estate in these areas is under constant demand as home owners seek out these exclusive neighborhoods.

The Sunset Strip Hill is one such area. This eclectic and unique area on the Westside is the Los Angeles equivalent of New York City’s SoHo District. Sometimes referred to as the West Hollywood Hills, it is widely considered the “hippest” section of Los Angeles. Rising from the rejuvenated night life featured on the famous Sunset Strip and majestically gracing the hills above, the homes of the Sunset Strip Hill are characterized by their cutting edge design, their incredible ability to provide privacy and their jaw dropping views.

The population is largely young, artistic, successful and in the entertainment industry. Close proximity to the majority of the studios as well as carefully designed homes that maximize privacy makes this area a favorite among the rich and famous.

One of the most sought after neighborhoods in the West Hollywood Hills is the “Bird Streets” neighborhood, aptly named after streets such as Thresher, Bluejay and Oriole. This area is especially coveted for its close juxtaposition to Beverly Hills as well as its wide streets and view protecting building restrictions.

If you are looking for the ultimate in privacy while living in a vibrant and diverse artist community, The Sunset Strip Hill could easily be your dream destination.

If you are interested in viewing homes in The Sunset Strip Hill area please use the information below to contact me. I would be delighted to show you all of the spectacular and unique properties that are currently available in the area.

As part of my commitment to giving back I will donate a portion of my commission from the sale and or purchase of your home to the charity of your choice. Give me your business and together we can make a difference.

http://www.rubenperezhomes.com/

Smart Marketing Trumps the Trends

Smart Marketing Trumps the Trends

By Shannon Perod

We’ve all heard the doom and gloom reports about the state of the housing market. For a home owner looking to sell their property, there seems to be no good news. In fact, putting a home up for sale in today’s market could give any home owner a healthy dose of fear. Rebecca Nagorski was one such home owner, “It was with great trepidation that we placed our property in Santa Monica on the market in early winter. Just this week we closed escrow. The property was only on the market for one week; we had multiple offers, and the property sold for above asking price. This was not the experience we anticipated.”

To what does Nagorski attribute her success? Her realtor’s marketing strategy. “Our realtor, Ruben Perez, was able to guide us through this time of real estate uncertainty, helping us to come up with the proper price, and put together a very aggressive and professional marketing strategy.” says Nagorski. Mr. Perez not only helped his client to determine a price that would invite foot traffic and multiple bids, he also commissioned photography of the property and then used it to develop a web site for the property. A savvy real estate marketer, Perez spent money to create a media blitz that culminated in a spectacular open house event complete with valet parking. Clearly, the strategy paid off. While having a house sell in just one week with multiple offers was something rather common place a few years ago, it certainly is not the norm in today’s market.

Nagorski adds, “This is not the time to use a realtor who will merely list your property on the MLS. In today’s market, you need a realtor who is willing to invest in the successful sale of your property. You need someone who knows how to navigate through the challenges of the current real estate market, all the way to closing! For this, I am very pleased to recommend Ruben Perez.” Certainly it would appear that having the right realtor in your corner can make all the difference in successfully selling in today’s volatile market.

Property address: 1043 4th St Santa Monica, CA 90403
Property Website: http://www.reddooronfourth.com/mls/

Sold Price: $2,905,000

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results

www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part V

Simply Beautiful Kitchens

By Ruben Perez

I’ve saved the best for last! In the first four installments of this series we’ve talked about inexpensive strategies to make your home shine in today’s competitive selling market. By now your home sparkles from top to bottom, it is a light filled clutter free haven. You have paid for a home inspection and made decisions about important repairs. The outside of your home is clean, and the landscaping is crisp and cared for. Your bathrooms sparkle and where necessary sport fresh new fixtures. At last it is time to talk about the most important room in the house, the Kitchen.

The Kitchen is more often than not the pivotal room in any home purchase. For that reason sellers often feel pressured to do a kitchen remodel before placing a home on the market. Here the watch words are keep it simple! An expensive kitchen remodel may create more foot traffic but the cost will more than likely be unrecoverable.

Instead of making large changes in the kitchen, think of spending wisely and moderately. Replacing appliances is generally not worth it. Historically, we know that buyers prefer to purchase these item themselves so they can make style and feature choices. Counter tops can also be a huge expenditure. I wouldn’t recommend making a change unless the counter is literally falling apart, again the client would probably prefer to make a choice as to color and materials.

Low cost cosmetic fixes of paint, tile and fixtures can significantly update a kitchen while keeping costs down. This is another room where a stager can really add the right touch, without the expense of a huge remodel. And as always the proper real estate professional will be able to advise you as to the standards set by comparable properties in your area. Today’s market is competitive, having an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of your competition will give you a strong advantage.

I hope this series has shed some light on how to make your home competitive in today’s market. As a real estate professional, I pride myself on being able to help people successfully buy and sell their homes quickly and easily. If you are ready to sell your home I hope you will contact me so I can help you implement these and other tips in order to sell your home with a minimum of stress and effort.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part IV

The Three T's

By Ruben Perez

So far in our tips for savvy sellers we’ve made some great strides toward preparing your home for today’s market. By now your home should shine in comparison to the competition. Thus far you’ve completed the “Clean Sweep” – you’ve de-cluttered, deep cleaned and created a spacious, light filled space with the help of a professional stager. You boldly moved through the “Knowledge is Power” phase and got a home inspection and began determining cost effective repairs with the help of your realtor. Next you took “The Outside Story” into consideration and enhanced your home’s curb appeal. Now we are ready to look at the all important bathrooms.

It’s important to realize that a full remodeling of bathroom is not only usually unnecessary, it’s probably not cost effective. What is cost effective is taking a really close look at the three t’s: Tub, Tile and Toilet. Because you have already done the deep clean, we can take a fresh look at sparkling bathrooms and see what has to be replaced.

Buyers like to see a bathroom that is ready for immediate use. They may want to remodel and update the look later but in general they prefer not having to do it before moving in. Quick inexpensive fixes consist of replacing any of the 3 t’s that aren’t up to par after the deep clean. A new toilet can be as inexpensive as $250, but could make the difference in how favorably your home is viewed by prospective buyers. In addition to the three t’s you will also want to be discerning with flooring and faucets. Again, relatively inexpensive to replace but powerful selling points for prospective buyers.

The key in the bathrooms is to keep it simple and cosmetic. Clean functionality is what will win votes with the buyers. Our last installment will look at the room where sellers are most in danger of making expensive, unrecoverable improvements: The Kitchen! Don’t miss my important advice about how to showcase your kitchen without spending a fortune.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part III

The Outside Story

By Ruben Perez

As a seller in today’s market your home needs to stand out from the competition. In our first installment “The Clean Sweep” we showcased the assets of your home by de-cluttering, deep cleaning and seeking the help of a professional stager. In our second installment, “Knowledge is Power” you took the reigns in hand and commissioned a home inspection. With the knowledge gained from the inspection and the help of a seasoned realtor, such as myself, you’ve begun to make decisions about potential repair investments. In looking at where repair investments are potentially worth the expenditure, let’s turn our focus to the outside of your home.

We all know that curb appeal is a powerful selling tool. The outside of your home needs to look fresh, cared for and inviting. This is an ideal time to have a word with your gardener or landscaping service about having the outdoor equivalent of the deep clean that occurred inside your home. Flower beds should feature color and vibrant vegetation. Lawns should be lush, trimmed and edged.

When looking to the outside you may find repairs that are worth considering. Remodeling Magazine in its 2007 Cost to Value Report found that wood window replacements and siding replacements were cost effective repairs, recouping an average of over ¾ of their cost. Of course before making such an expenditure I would always recommend discussing it with your real estate professional. They will be aware of the cost and conditions of comparable properties and will provide the best advice.

Clearly the appearance of the outside of your home is vitally important. It is the all important first impression for all potential buyers. The outside of your home should clearly state the pride of ownership that you have strongly felt while living there. It is always easier to overcome objections on the inside of a home, when the outside has made a favorable impression than it is to overcome a bad first impression with a stunning interior. In the next installment we’ll venture back inside to focus on bathrooms, where I will offer inexpensive alternatives to costly remodeling projects.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com