Both the Malibu Surfside News and The Malibu Times reports on June 10, 2010 that the Planning commission approves a permit for the construction of a private road that “would re-establish a link between the northern and southern sections of Rambla Pacifico Road.”

The road that connects Pacific Coast Highway to the Rambla Pacifico neighbors had slid in 1984 and remains closed.

In the Malibu Surfside News, page 3 — Scott Dittrich who is the president of the Lower Rambla Pacifico Road Owners Association reports “the road design has been approved by the city geologist since it actually improves the stability of the hill that slid in 1984.”  There are 72 members in this organization.

There will be a “construction of a 20 foot wide, 1800 linear feet long, private access road to re-establish a linkage between the northern and southern sections of Rambla Pacifico previously destroyed by a landslide.”  It is not the intent to “create a private gated community. Only a section of the road approximately 155 feet in length that lies within the former slide area is to be gated.”

Most of this $3.2 million cost will be funded privately by member contribution – approximately $50,000 per household.  The road will be maintained by the same association. Malibu Times further reports that “a five foot wide trail easement has been granted to allow for the re-establishment of the Malibu Pacific Trail. People will be able to access the trail through small entries located next to the vehicular gates on foot, bicycle or horse.”

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

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Reporter, Bill Koeneker for the Malibu Surfside News reports on page 3 in April 15, 2010 edition that he noticed a growing trend.  He has noticed that “many new purchasers nowadays are tearing down the existing homes and replacing the older structure with usually larger residences.”

He cites several examples such as a Broad Beach owner who received planning commission approval to “demolish three adjacent houses totaling 10,356 square feet, merging the three contiguous properties in order to build an 11,210 square foot single family home with attached garage and greenhouse, 249 square feet of covered porches, paddle tennis court, swimming pool and spa.”

Another Broad Beach owner wants to tear down his existing home built over 3 lots and instead build a “new, two-story, 28-foot tall, 11,315-square-foot residence including an attached three car garage, 2,284 square feet of covered porches and decks.”

Another homeowner who lives along the 27000 area of Pacific Coast Highway seeks approval “for a demolition permit and construct a new, two-story, 28 –foot-tall, 8704-square-foot single family home with attached garage and 898-square-foot basement, a swimming pool and a sports court.”

There are benefits to the environment by “replacing or eliminating aging or possibly failing septic systems with state-of-the-art, mini-water-water packages.” It also reduces car trips per day by having fewer residences and increases water conservation landscaping and utilization of newer landscape irrigation system.

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

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Malibu tends to bring up mental images of beautiful beachfront mansions and beautiful bluff ranches, not 200 relatively modest tract homes.

Well, these tract homes are something different. Malibu West was featured in the LA Times for its design and functionality that is still current today – Constructed back in 1962 near the Pacific Coast Highway it is made up of traditional and modern units many of which are restored to their original design. Malibu West was designed by award winning architects who designed the homes with the future in mind – yes they may ooze retro, but, in all honesty the free flowing open floor plans and light filled design is as current today as half a century ago.

Situated on small lots of around 10,000 square foot many at the time were shocked at size. However to avoid a cookie cutter appearance there were several flood plans containing three, four and five bedroom homes. With the style and construction material of the units being varied throughout the development to avoid things looking to uniform.

Inside the modern units, indoor-outdoor living is the name of the game with double entry doors, an atrium, glass walls, flowing floorplans with original sale prices at $32,500 these were homes not to be missed!

The development also features a modern 6,500 square foot beach club for homeowners sitting on almost an acre on the Pacific Coast Highway. The homeowners association is very strong and careful in preventing certain types of development to maintain the spirit and feel of the neighborhood.

This is definitely a development to think about! After nearly 50 years its homes have stood the test of time!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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As reported by Malibu Surfside News – a coyote visit resulted in the dealth of a small dog in the Big Rock area of Malibu.

To ensure that you can minimize your chance of an encounter you need to get educated!

What is a coyotes? Well, they area a small wild canine weighing only 20-45lbs with thick fur making them look larger. They are fast – really fast, an can run at speeds of up to 40mph with a great ability to leap over tall structures – even 6 foot fences. Mating season is February and March with females giving birth in April and May. They are most active at dawn and dusk.

Make sure to check your crawl spaces and any outbuildings at the time of year as this is likely where they will nest.

Cover all garbage cans, compost piles, put away the pet food, clean the BBQ and of course make sure to lock the doggie door when your pet is not using it. Also, be prepared with your landscaping – a fence may not be much of a deterrant but it can help.

On the plus side, coyotes actually have a great benefit in an urban environment – they naturally keep the rodent population down, which keeps disease under control.

Do not think that you can kill one without penalty – they are protected as wild canines by state law with a $7000 fine for harming them. On the flip side do not purposefully feed them! This is also against the law.

All in all, with us encroaching on their natural habitat it is no wonder that sightings and encounters are becoming more common. However by taking some of these measures and preparing yourself then you can be ahead of the game!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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According to the LA Times on June 1st the library will close for a $5.7 million renovation in order to qualify for certification under the LEED rating system - the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design system developed by the US Green Building council.

The renovation will last until September 2011 and will be the first project in the city to meet the standards for sustainable design, construction and operation. HOWEVER! Do not panic! Library services will still be available through the internet and by a book mobile parked just outside the library.

In addition to the green renovations, there will be an new feature – an outdoor reading area and patio connected to Legacy Park. Approximately $5.2 million for the project was provided by the council from the library’s fees while the rest is to be raised by the Library Task Force.

Definitely exciting news for Malibu, the community and the Library!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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Great news from the Malibu Times, Malibu City Council has made an appointment to the planning commission of a new Commissioner and there is further discussion on the proposed plan of the multi-million dollar renovation of the new city hall.

Malibu resident Roohi Stack is the new commissioner, Stack is involved in many local groups including the Point Dume Marine Science School PTA and the Junior League of Los Angeles.

Stack says that “the role of the Malibu Planning Commission is to provide informed decisions on residential and commercial building projects that are good for Malibu environmentally, socially and economically…Malibu is a unique and wonderful community.”

On the subject of development, with the remodel plan of the new city hall estimated to cost $5 million, the council will continue discussion and possibly vote on whether to finance the project through the obtainment of certificates of participation not to exceed $7 million. Certificates could be sold as early as March 8th.

An exciting time is ahead for Malibu!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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There is a flood of development and permitting going on in Malibu at the moment! Christmas may be right around the corner, but the media is full of growth for Malibu!

 U2’s Guitarist has developed a Web site promoting the five-home development for above Malibu’s Serra Retreat as environmentally friendly - The project calls for five homes in unincorporated county land just outside Malibu city limits, and has received international media attention because one of the partners in the ownership is David Evans, known to music fans as U2 guitarist The Edge. A proposed 1,600-foot long private road that will connect the City of Malibu to the development is not up for Coastal Commission consideration. The Malibu City Council in January chose to delay a vote on that road until the Coastal Commission rules on the homes.

As described on the Web site, the project consists of five LEED-certified homes that will sit on a Sweetwater Mesa ridgeline. They will be made of “sustainable building materials,” and feature “passive design techniques to minimize energy use.” – although whether the homes and their design will satisfy environmentalists remains to be seen, what is for sure is that this is a great development in a beautiful area.

In addition to this there is also a meeting by the city council earlier this month voting on whether to approve a coastal development permit and various zoning amendments for a proposed project located at 30732 Pacific Coast Highway. The project consists of three components: a development standard for beach front lot width to conform to the certified Local Coastal Program and Local Implementation Plan; development standards for the proposed four-lot subdivision to conform to the certified LCP; and the four-lot subdivision in conformance with the certified LCP. No physical development is proposed at this time and subsequent development of each lot will require a CDP from the city.

Also the city is deciding whether to approve a reconstruction contract for Malibu Canyon Road improvements. The project consists of resurfacing Malibu Canyon Road from Pacific Coast Highway to the city limits with an asphalt-rubber overlay. This project will improve the quality of the roadway and reduce road maintenance.

Malibu is also discussing an alternative wastewater treatment plan for the broader Civic Center area, after its assessment that septic systems are the major cause of pollution in Malibu’s watershed. More on this as it develops.

In short, you can see there is alot of action in Malibu at present and with green living and green homes being high on the agenda for most people it is no wonder that the development  championed by U2’s guitarist is making headlines!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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We have all heard the press shouting about how housing affordability has improved, well, here in California the news is great. The California Association of Realtors has exciting news to report. Their First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index stood at 64 percent in the third quarter of 2009 compared with 55 percent (revised) in the third quarter of 2008.

The minimum household income needed to purchase an entry-level home at $247,150 in California in the third quarter of 2009 was $43,500, based on an adjustable interest rate of 4.79 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. First-time buyers typically purchase a home equal to 85 percent of the prevailing median price. The monthly payment including taxes and insurance was $1,450 for the third quarter of 2009. This is fantastic news!

The income level figures are even more interesting. At $43,500, the minimum qualifying income was 19 percent lower than a year earlier when households needed $53,700 to qualify for a loan on an entry-level home.

However, despite this great news, things really are on the turn: The First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index declined 3 percentage points in the third quarter of this year compared with the second quarter of 2009, due to a 10.2 percent increase in the price of an entry-level home. (See our article about PRICES RISING IN THE AREA!)

This means that now really is the last chance to take advantage and snap up a great home at a bargain price in Southern California. Here in Malibu the market has not been this good for buyers in years!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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There is plenty of information about the new $6,500 tax credit for homebuyers circling the media and internet, despite that many potential buyers are still in the dark and unsure about eligibility and how to qualify for the credit.

Businessweek has decided to write an informed article on the subject which gives more detail on the specifics of the bill.

They say, in order to qualify for the $6,500 credit YOU MUST close by June 30th 2010 – and have the contract signed by April 30th 2010. The purchase price for eligible homes (The credit applies to 1-4 unit homes,) is capped at less than $800,000, after your purchase you complete an IRS form and mail it to the IRS and they will send you a check for your credit.

The credit is for home buyers that have lived in their current primary residence for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight years – previously those who were not first time homebuyers were not eligible for a credit. For single tax payers the income limit went up from $75,000 under the old rules to $125,000 under the new rules. For married tax payers, the income limitation went up from $150,000 to $225,000.

This is great news for the housing market here in Malibu California and nationally. As there are many baby boomers who are looking to downsize their home and this credit would be a perfect vehicle to encourage them to do so. Remember to get advice from your tax professional!

We will keep you updates as more develops!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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Exclusive 37 Acre Tuscan estate in Malibu offered for sale for $65 million.

This luscious estate property contains a 9,000 square foot home which is due for completion around spring 2010, as well as its own vinyard! is the most expensive listing on the Multiple Listing Service in the ocean side community. Only a few Los Angeles-area residences for sale are priced higher.

Rocky Oaks Estate consists of a nearly completed Tuscan-style home, a 9,500-vine vineyard (which first produced its own wine in 2006) and pads for a potential helicopter landing site, guesthouse and guard gate. Perched on a ridge line, the 9,000-square-foot house has 360-degree views. Its surrounding hillsides are filled with about 75 citrus trees, 50 fruit and nut trees, 100 avocado trees, 100 olive trees and more than 500 rosebushes.

The property features a 350 foot drive, and what will be (when complete) and infinity pool and spa, 5000 square feet of decking as well as an elevator to reach all three floors.

Watch this space as more on this listing unfolds, naturally its sheer size, features and pricetag are ensuring that it is receiving a lot of  media attention.

If you are interested in this property please contact us!

If you are interested in purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 or via her online contact form on her website.

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Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582