Malibu City

It is a special week of celebration for Malibu, California for its 20th anniversary as an incorporated city.  Truly remarkable that Malibu maintains its rural standings — the clean ocean air, healthy natural foods, hiking, beach sports, horse back riding, fishing sports, relaxed lifestyle, etc.  What are you waiting for?
In the midst of all the high tech hustle and bustle, it is a relief that one can come and refresh their inner beings and come to a sense of “the why we exist” state.  Malibu has all the modern conveniences — the television- Verizon FIOS [super fast internet connection], most areas has water, electricity, phones, gas, internet and high technology available. 

If one chooses a rest from high technology - Malibu offers a refuge to the tired soul.  It is a perfect place to rest with no television or radio [it is still available but some people prefer to just enjoy conversation and scenery] – where people enjoy reading from hardcover books or paperbacks [fast becoming a thing of the past] and they enjoy doing things together [annual Chili-fest, annual Easter egg hunt for children, summer open air movies at Bluff Park]. Neighbors who care about each other — sometimes giving that helping hand whether it is a cup of sugar, couple eggs or that ride to go somewhere close by.  This is not the country — but close enough and still go into the city within 20 minutes for shopping, movies, etc. 

The Malibu Patch wrote an excellent article about the how and why this wonderful City came about – a link is provided so just click on the link titled “Malibu remains a Rural City”.  Malibu remains a highly solvent city, excellent public school system, clean air and natural resources, land – ocean to enjoy, plus upscale markets and stores to supply anything you wish.  Moreover -Malibu is close to Santa Monica, Calabasas and Westlake Village — what more can one want?

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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If you are trying to sell a home with a small amount of space it is important to know how to maximize its potential for all to see. Most starter homes have less space and when it comes time to sell it is important to know how to make a home’s space as useful as possible, not to mention as large as possible.

Here are some helpful ideas:

• Paint. When choosing paint pick light, neutral colors and stick to one or two colors that flow from room to room.
• Light. Lighting is an important feature in any home, try to make your home as bright as possible. To best utilize your space implement wall mounted lighting and avoid floor lamps.
• Furniture. Small, clean lines are best when choosing furniture for smaller spaces. Likewise furniture should be arranged to maximize the space in any room. In addition, if it is possible try to add built-in shelving and cabinets to corners and hard-to-use spaces throughout your home.
• Mirrors. Lastly, mirrors make any room appear larger, often creating a mirage of sorts and doubling its size in the minds eye.

The past couple of years have been a great time for people to move up from a starter home to a bigger home. Low mortgage rates and lower home values have helped make this transition feasible for many. For home buyers who need to sell in order to buy, maximizing a home’s space can be an instrumental move. Make the most of what you have to work with and showcase your home’s potential.

Click here to read an article from Realty Times on storage solutions for small spaces.

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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Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

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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Beach Toys

Fannie Mae is initiating a new requirement effective June 1, 2010 as part of its “loan quality initiative”. Los Angeles Times reports on May 16, 2010 that it “requires lenders not only to pull two credit reports for each mortgage transaction but to perform additional verifications of borrower occupancy plans for the property, Social Security numbers and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, among other changes.”

In a quick summary – the borrower should practice self restraint and resist any compulsive shopping for the new home until the loan has funded and closed.  This would include the urge to open new credit lines at a furniture store, department stores, car purchase, a line of credit, etc.

This applies to any home purchases with a loan anywhere in the United States – not limited to just Malibu, CA or Calabasas, CA or Pacific Palisades, CA.

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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Housing trends are always changing, however currently with an aging population it is clear to see that baby boomers will play a vital part of the future of the housing market in Malibu and the nation.

Baby boomers are looking for low maintenance homes in mixed use, active lifestyle communities – Malibu is definitely an active lifestyle community! For sellers, it is important to plan for this change – as we wrote, you can as a seller prepare for a future housing market.

There is also another trend which is not so widely reported – that of the aging Generation Y – This generation is larger than the baby boomers, making up 68 million people. This tech savvy group is looking for walkable communities which are also environmentally conscious – they want Green Real Estate!

Also, the Urban Land Institute predicts there will be two major changes beginning in this new decade in our country that will affect the housing market.

The first is that home appreciation will slow. The report predicts annual appreciation of 1 percent to 2 percent. The second change is that the record-high U.S. homeownership rate will decline from 69 percent to 62 percent.

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

New FEMA Flood Maps may not sound the most exciting news story – however they are of utmost importance to all areas of real estate.

Yes the climate here in Malibu and southern California itself does not usually lend itself to flooding, the federal government is now requiring tens of thousands of residential and commercial property owners in the region to purchase flood insurance due to new maps that claim they are located in high-risk flood zones.

The new flood maps are part of a nationwide initiative started by the Federal Emergency Management Agency seven years ago to pinpoint lands likely to flood in a “100 Year Storm” which has a 1% chance of occuring each year. In developing the maps, FEMA conducts a Flood Insurance Study to calculate a community?s flood risk, the agency states on its Web site. The study includes statistical data for river flow, storm tides, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and rainfall and topographic surveys.

The revised Flood Maps have largely missed Maliubu – which is good news for Homeowners and those looking to relocate here as Flood Insurance can be expensive. According to FEMA on its website, it says that the West Coast rainy season usually lasts from November to April and it is during this time that flooding is a concern. Particularly with wildfires which plague the region.

All flood-risk maps that indicate whether a property is located in a high-risk flood zone are available online at www.fema.gov or www.floodsmart.gov – Check your home today!

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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How about a great view of the Pacific Ocean, right from your home!

Well, this property, owned by a Real Estate Developer in Malibu has just that!

It is a fantastic property just under 3000 square feet in the contemporary style and is only 4 years old! Very close to Las Tuna Beach. Inside features materials such as Brazilian Cherry wood, onyx and marble. The two story living area opens up with a stunning view over the Pacific Ocean!

The kitchen is no less impressive with a Wolf Range and large center island. The master suite occupies the top floor with office, dual walk in closets and a bath with spa tub.

The owner is Robert F. MacLeod, Jr. who  has served as president of Lowe Development Corporation, a real estate development company in Los Angeles. He is also the president of The Plaza at The Arboretum, an apartment building in Santa Monica.

This luxurious beach house is located at 19220 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and is listed for $4.895 million.
There have been 97 home sales in Malibu during the past 12 months, with a median sales price of $2 million. Beach houses are desirable no matter what the market is doing. If you would like more information on buying a beach house in Malibu then please contact us today.

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

There is little which sums up the Californian Dream more than a summer drive along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in a convertible with the radio playing out the sounds of The Beach Boys.

The folks at About.com have even produced a great guide entitled:

Driving California’s Malibu Coast: Santa Monica to Oxnard on California Highway One

This ready to go guide is a great way for those who know little about the area to explore the coast and have a great time stopping at interesting places along the way. Even if you live in the area this could be a great “stay-cation” idea. Total distance is only 49 miles and it will take between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete – depending on how many stops you make (at Getty Villa for instance) – you could make a day or even a weekend of it if you wish!

As they state: “You’ll find plenty of nice beaches along the way, good spots for a picnic or a walk. State Parks charge an entrance fee that may seem a bit steep for a quick stop, but areas marked Beach Access are free”

What a great way to have a day out – they even suggest turning the route into a loop and making a whole day of it with detours. Just remember to drive safe.

If you are visiting in the area you can also stop and look at purchasing a second home here so you can enjoy the summer beach lifestyle for a little bit longer!

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

History was made today when President Barack Obama signed into law the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which was passed by Congress on February 13th.

This comprehensive bill aims to stimulate America’s economy for the future. The $780 billion bill is made up of tax cuts, mostly for 2009 and spending programs in 2009 and 2010. Tax cuts make up approximately 35% of the bill.

Naturally there are some provisions for housing programs which we will detail here! After all, we are focused on what effects this will have on the Real Estate market both nationally and locally here in Malibu.

There is the very much welcomes modification of the Homebuyer Tax Credit which is for a home purchased between January 1st 2009 and December 31st 2009 worth $8000 to the purchaser. The requirement to repay has been eliminated and if any portion of the credit is unused when claimed on the personal tax return of the purchaser, then the purchaser will receive the difference by way of a check! This is great news!

Also, FHA, Fannie and Freddie loan limts will remain the same as 2008 limits – this was agreed with the provision for the HUD Secretary to make small emergency provisions on small local areas if needed.

Additionally $2 billion has been made available for Neighborhood Stabilization programs where communities decimated by foreclosures can purchase those homes and then make them livable and use them to assist individuals looking for a home in that area who earn below 120% of the areas income level.

In a housing related theme the bill also made provisions for investment in transport and infrastructure for communities to ensure America remains the front runner in having a mobile, educated and technology based population.

Here in Malibu, like most communities it will take some time for the Bill’s effects to come into play. Its passage into law will be watched with interest by all.

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.

Everybody these days is looking to be more green, however, how do you know if your home or projects you are doing to your home are green?

It seems like everybody is tooting green living and saving energy, you need to cut through the greenwashing and get down to the facts. Dispell the myths and understand more about the opportunity to save the planet as well as your wallet.

Being green in Real Estate is important as it is expected that 21% of the United States greenhouse gas emissions are from our homes. The California Association of Realtors has launches a new Green Website to answer all the frequently asked questions and educate consumers on green real estate.

The website: http://green.car.org explains it all! Many think that true green homes are unique or look different to others in the neighborhood, recent developers are showing how a green home may create 50-90% less waste or be more energy efficient and easier on your wallet through fetures such as solar power.

Also, teaching you how to green up your home before selling! – From the simple: changing light bulbs to energy efficient ones or the more labor intensive: changing the sink faucets to low flow models.

There is mine of information to read. With many homes in Malibu being green it is no wonder than many are looking at great ways to lessen their impact on the environment.

If you are interested in purchasing a property in Malibu,  Pacific Palisades or the surrounding 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.