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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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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Pacific Palisades is famous for many things, its picturesque setting, well manicured lawns and great climate. However it is not too famous for is it Wharf!

Wharf? I hear you say! Yes, back in the late 19th Century, Long Wharf was a deepwater port for tall ships with a 4,720-foot wooden pier (contructed 1893) that extended into the ocean from the mouth of Potrero Canyon. The wharf was dismantled after a debate between Long Wharf and San Pedro on which should be Los Angeles “official harbor” San Pedro won in 1897 and Long Wharf was taken down.

Well, lifeguard Andrew Greger was scuba diving off the south end of Will Rogers State Beach three weeks ago and he discovered what appears to be an anchor from the late 1800s.

He decided to raise the anchor to put in the Lifeguard HQ garden. However, once back on dry land they realized that the anchor could be of historical interest and they have invited experts to come and study the artifact.

The lifeguards at Will Rogers and Topanga State Beaches would like the anchor relocated to Will Rogers, so that it can be displayed alongside the rock monument and railroad tie that memorialize the Long Wharf.

Ernest Marquez, co-author of ‘Port of Los Angeles: An Illustrated History from 1850 to 1945, said that ‘Anchors were placed a distance from the wharf with a buoy attached for vessels to tie to if there was no space at the wharf,’

Definitely an interesting development! Now readers of this blog know more on the history of this desirable area.

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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Pacific Palisades residents Brynn Thayer and and husband, David Steinberg, have sold their longtime home for $2,995,000. The couple bought the house in the mid 1990′s and have decided to sell the home as they have relocated to Bel Air.

The property in Pacific Palisades contains a 3,300 square foot post-and-beam house, built in 1972. It contains four bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms and sits on a heavily treed lot of about half an acre.

The property is ideal for entertaining. Inside there are three fireplaces in the gated four-story home, which also featured ocean views from the master bedroom suite. Outside, there is a terrace and patio areas providing additional space.

Pacific Palisades is well known for its great local environment of leafy streets and beautiful properties.

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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This stunning Pacific Palisades home owned by famous movie producer Dylan Sellers has been listed for sale at $2.995 Million.

This luscious property is a new construction and is set in a beautiful lot surrounded by plenty of greenery. The main home is a five bedroom four and a half bathroom property which has a great inside and outside flow and features gorgeous views of the surrounding area – including mountain and ocean vistas. The interior of the property has a homely feel and features custom tile work, walnut floors and three fire places! (Click here to see the virtual tour and here to see the MLS page.)

This property takes advantage of the bright and sunny climate enjoyed by Southern California with lots of natural light. The home is a spacious 3,990 square feet and the Mediterranean flair is enhanced by the drought resistant planting of agave and olive trees in the grounds. The rear of the property has a private garden with a free form pool and spa giving the new owners a chance to cool off from the hot Southern Californian Sunshine!

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.

Happy Thanksgiving from Judy Kunisaki and the team in Malibu, California, USA!

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with family and friends and be thankful for the great country that we live in and all that we have. It is a chance for us to celebrate our past, present and future.

However, it is also a time to spare a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves. The holiday marks the start of the Christmas season with many getting out the decorations and starting on putting up those Christmas lights!

Malibu Surfside News has released its Happy Thanksgiving issue and Malibu as usual for this time of year celebrated the holiday in glorious sunshine.

Whatever you do this holiday season, be safe and enjoy yourselves.

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.

The holiday season is almost here! Which means that the Pacific Palisades Junior Womens Club is starting its annual signature event again. The Home Sweet Home Tours, where tours of distinct local homes can be had.

On Sunday the opportunity to tour three distinctive historic homes was undertaken. Donations and monies raised are all donated to good causes and over the years the Club has supported many local charities and organizations including the Palisades Recreation Center, Palisades branch library, and the Palisades/Malibu YMCA. Tickets are available by visiting www.ppjwc.com

Of the three properties visited there was a range of styles, from Spanish to New England, and even Old England! The romance of the spanish riviera is encapsulated in 15527 Via De Las Olas, where there are vaulted ceilings, gorgeous tilework as well as antique wood doors.

New England’s charm is represented in 530 Toyopa Drive in a fresh, clean white and black look. Light pools in the six bedroom property taking advantage of its leafy setting.

930 Kawaga Street is bringing up the Old World England theme with authenticly created suits of armour, stained oak wood flooring as well as a traditional brick and mortar fireplace.

Anyone who thought Southern Californian real estate was dull should think again! These three properties show what variety there is available. 

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

Fall is finally apon us, the memories of those lazy summer days begin to fade and here in southern California the sun still shines, but the weather just gets a little bit cooler – ideal for those DIY projects!

With the holiday season approaching now is definately the time to start looking at your home and planning ahead.

Speaking of the sun still shining here in LA, with higher energy costs these days, many people are investigating and investing in using solar energy. Read the great article courtesy of Realty Times in my September Newsletter on selecting your solar system contractor.

Also, with the recent government shakes ups in the Real Estate sector there is a great article on what the housing and economic recovery act of 2008 means to you. (an important read!) as well as information on how the Federal Government is making rules to prevent bad loans in the future.

If you are interested in Westside real estate, and are looking to purchase a property in Malibu, Beverly Hills Post Office or even Pacific Palisades then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional Real Estate advice in the region. Call the office on   310-317-8396   or via her online contact form.

 Pacific Palisades  has long been heralded as a great exclusive enclase in the Los Angeles Westside area. However this month the Los Angeles times has decided to review the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in its Real Estate section.

The article goes on to explain the history of the Palisades, which dates back to the early 1920′s where a group of methodists established the neighborhood. The Palisades has always maintained an exclusivity compared to other areas due to its enviable position in the Santa Monica mountains. During World War II the Palisades became home to many German artists and other such professionals who fled Nazism.

Of course these days the small town vibe is echoed by most in Pacific Palisades and many Celebrities have or have had homes here including: current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O’Donnell as well the late former President Ronald Reagan.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in Pacific Palisades or the surrounding area in or around Malibu then please contact Judy Kunisaki on 310-317-8396.

When people think Malibu and celebrities they generally thing of gorgeous palatial properties with a large carbon footprint. However in the case of model Cindy Crawford this is not the case.

Cindy Crawford has decided to go green and help do her bit for the environment. Particularly in championing water filtration systems rather than bottled water. (Over 50 billion plastic water bottles are used by americans each year) Crawford decided to get involved in the campaign to go green because of her children. She sends them to a very environmentally conscious school which uses solar energy and promotes recycling. Crawford says that more people are becoming environmentally aware and particularly the younger generations who are growing up not taking the environment for granted. She says that it shows that doing just the little things can make a big difference.

It seems that southern California is leading the way in environmentally friendly housing as a new home built in Pacific Palisades show. Malibu of course if planning to be Fossil Free by ’33 as outlined by its new mayor in May 2008.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Malibu or Pacific Palisades areas in Southern California please contact Judy Kunisaki on 310-317-8396.