THE COOLEST HOUSE ON CARAVAN!

1278 Angelo Drive

This newly built Mid Century-inspired Contemporary estate is spectacular on so many levels. The home has great natural light, very high ceilings and truly breath-taking views. You may have seen homes with an infinity pool, but an infinity spa? It's a feel-good home; great energy and style. The only short-coming (and in my mind it's not a major concern), is getting to the home. Like most view properties, it takes a bit of a drive up into the hills to reach a property with such a view. In addition, the last section of Angelo drive leading to the property is steep and and a bit winding and narrow, but once you're there it is more than worth it!

(Per the MLS) Dazzling ground-up new construction by the renowned architectural firm of Shortridge & Associates, AIA. This ultra-sophisticated home exquisitely showcases the use of brick, walnut, and concrete walls and floors. Soaring Ceilings and frame-less glass windows and doors allow for unobstructed panoramic views of Los Angeles. Gourmet Arclinea kitchen, media room, large open living and dining rooms. Enormous master suite with sitting/office area and balcony. Three additional luxurious bedroom suites. 4.5 baths. Infinity pool and large outdoor entertaining area. All details and finishes are of the highest quality and design. Sensational!

For showings and more information contact Steve Frankel of Coldwell Banker at 310-278-4100 or Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-367-2322.



Submitted to The Westwoodian by Mickey Kessler

The Coolest House on Caravan!

3921 Scadlock Lane, Sherman Oaks

List Price $799,000

This charming, yet stylish Mid-Century architectural home was new on the market at Tuesdays Brokers open house. It has high ceiling and many walls of glass making for a home with abundant natural light and volume. I think this was the best value I saw on Caravan yesterday and I believe it will sell soon, likely with multiple offers so don't wait!



Per TheMLS:
Sited on a generous, quiet lot, this quintessential three-bedroom two-bath mid-century home, designed by Pollack & Kahn, exudes warmth and sophistication reminiscent of homes of the era. The open plan seamlessly connects the living and dining rooms, which are complemented by cork floors and a fireplace. The kitchen features CaesarStone counters, stainless appliances and custom cabinetry. Walls of glass and clerestory windows discreetly merge the indoors with the outdoor gardens, sitting areas and city views below.

For showings or more information please contact Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-442-1398 or Mkessler@verizon.net, or the listing agents: Billy Rose and Blair Chang of Prudential California Realty at 310-777-7800.

Honorable mention goes to 10259 Rochester Ave. in Westwood. Listed for $1,075,000, the home could use some updating (baths, kitchen), but it is charming and has good charcter with hardwood floors, etc. It is priced like a fixer, however it is in "somewhat" move-in condition, and although by no means luxurious, I think it's a very good value.

For showings or more information please contact Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-442-1398 or Mkessler@verizon.net, or the listing agent: Jan Reichman of Coldwell Banker at 310-278-4100

THE COOLEST HOUSE ON CARAVAN

Tuesday, July 13 2010

11500 Orum Rd.

Bel Air

Hampton in Bel Air! this fantastic property rests at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac on a private knoll overlooking all of Los Angeles. Spectacular 180 degree views from downtown to the ocean. Includes 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, great room, beautiful gourmet kitchen, huge media/family room & guest house. Gated & private this magnificent home has been totally renovated with top quality throughout. Features a large motor court, huge flat grassy yard & sparkling pool. This is a very special property! (per Themls)

What most impressed me about this home is its expansive sense of openness, combined with a feeling of privacy, a rare combination. The house is perfectly placed on the property, with great outlooks from nearly every room and the back yard is very well planned, both landscape and hard scape. A very pleasant breeze was rising up over the bluff when I visited the home.






As you can see from the photos that this home is finished with quality materials, it has great natural lighting and is very inviting. Not at all austere or imposing, this home lives very luxuriously and is well suited for formal events, yet one could feel equally comfortable putting their feet up on the living room table, or curling up on the couch. It must be a joy to entertain at this home. The home has a great view of the Getty, however my favorite aspect of the is the wide unobstructed expanse it takes in. You really have to experience it first hand. (per MK) For showings or more information please contact Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-442-1398 or Mkessler@verizon.net, or the listing agents: Jana Jones Duffy and Fred Holley of Coldwell Banker at 310-285-7535 or 310-285-751.

CLASSIC SPANISH HOME! OPEN SUNDAY MARCH 28th 2-5 PM!

Classic Spanish 2 bed/1.5 bath home offering tremendous square footage for the price! Original detail and character are preserved in pristine condition featuring: wood floors, coved ceilings, rolled archways, classic tile and moldings. Formal entry opens to huge step-down living room with high, beamed ceiling with wood trusses, wood-burning fireplace, arched picture window.

Enjoy the Sun-filled formal dining rm with 2 skylights & walk-in china closet/pantry. Huge family room addition w/ high, beamed ceilings. Master bedroom featuring walk-in & wardrobe closets. Service porch w/ extra storage opens to covered patio & large, private yard.

Other features incl: great closet space, ceiling fans throughout, extra insulation, retrofit bolted found, copper plumbing (almost throughout, per seller) & home orchard. Serene, mid-block location, flexible floor plan allows for easy addition of 3rd BR & 2nd full bath (see floor-plan in photos). Westwood Charter School.

For more information please contact Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-367-2322 or email at mkessler@verizon.net.

Tomato Mania is Back!

It's that time of year again. Spring is here and with the change of season it is time to start planting my vegetable garden and my garden would not be complete without tomatoes. If you've grown tomatoes previously and would like to expand your horizons when it comes to varieties of tomatoes or, if you have never grown tomatoes and would like to give it a try, I highly recommend a visit to Tomato Mania this weekend in Encino.

Tomato Mania is a wonderful festival devoted to the endless variety and joy of growing tomatoes. The event takes place in Encino at Tapia Brothers farm, located at 5251 Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, phone-(818)905-6155 and runs from this Friday, March 26th through Sunday March 28th.

If you've never grown tomatoes because you think it will require too much work, effort and/or space, let me tell you that tomatoes are surprisingly easy to grow and don't require nearly as much effort, space and attention as you might expect. They can be grown successfully in ground, in pots or containers, they don't require frequent watering and home-grown tomatoes taste incredible! Far superior to anything you can buy at the market. All things considered, the only requirement needed to grow most varieties of tomatoes is a sunny location.

Tomatos come in two plant types, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants are typically smaller bush-shaped plants of a manageable size. One popular feature of determinate varieties is that many strains are well-suited for growing in containers and pots. Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand grow on long rambling vines and for that reason, are typically grown in ground.

Many tomatoes are hybrid varieties. These are tomatoes that have been commercially bred to perform well in commercial farms. They are bred to be hardy, disease resistant, productive plants bearing sturdy, consistent, well-formed fruits of very acceptable flavor. Some hybrid varieties are: Big Boy, Beef Steak, Early Girl, Celebrity and Patio. Heirloom tomatoes on the other hand, are grown from seeds that have been handed down from generation to generation, often from small farms and independent growers from all over the world. Heirloom tomatoes are known for their wide array of colors, shapes, sizes and wonderfully distinct flavors. Some examples of heirlooms are Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Green Zebra and Moskvich.

Whether you decide to plant determinate or indeterminate, heirloom or hybrid, most all varieties grow pretty much like weeds. Typically, they don't require watering more than 2-3 times per week and they don't typically require additional feedings, fertilization or nutrients to produce great tomatoes. In fact, tomatoes tend to grow at their best when they are not being overly pampered. The only additional advice I would offer is plant your tomatoes deep in the ground. A unique feature of tomato plants is that they are able to root off their stem. With that in mind, plant them deep enough in the soil such that you are leaving just 3-4 inches of top growth above ground. Oh, and cut off any branches that will be below the soil line. This will make for a larger root system and a stronger plant.

By the way, If you can't make it to Tomato Mania this weekend, another great resource for tomatoes and every other gardening need is Green Arrow Nursery, located at 8845 North Sepulveda Blvd., North Hills, phone- (818)894-8301 (located a few blocks north of Roscoe Blvd.). They offer a huge variety of heirloom and hybrid tomato plants as well as an exceptional selection of vegetable and herb plants and fruit trees and bushes. They also sport an knowledgeable staff who provide expert advice and information (ask for Cindy for vegetables and Mike for fruit trees).

I wish you a wonderful spring season and I encourage you all to celebrate spring the best way I know how. . . Go outside and grow something!

New Townhouse Listing in Westwood! 10793 Ashton Ave. Unit #3

List Price- $865,000

This is an extensively upgraded three bedroom townhome with over $250,000 of improvements (per Seller). It features a huge living room and eat-in kitchen with bamboo floors. The kitchen also features a Viking stove/oven, Caesar stone counters with glass tile backsplash, glass front cabinets, Bosch dishwasher and more.

The master suite has bamboo floors as well and also features high ceilings, a built-in work station, remodeled bath with double porcelain sinks, steam shower with Carrera marble and a walk-in closet with custom wood drawers. There are two additional bedrooms, a loft and over-sized roof deck.

The living room opens to a remodeled flag stone patio with tropical gardens. The unit is climate controlled by central air and heating system and the secure garage features side-by-side parking and extra storage. This listing is located in the Fairburn Avenue school district.

This is a very special townhome that you won't want to miss. For more information, photos and showings, contact Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-367-2322.

Interest rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday September 25th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of September 25th, 2009for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.875%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$729,750) -5.125%

And there is a fixed 10-year- 5.5%

with the best deal for a 5-1 arm for loans under $417,000-3.5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage
at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday September 18th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of September 18th, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.875%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$729,750) -5.125%

And there is a fixed 10-year- 5.5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage

at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday September 11th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of September 25th, 2009for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.875%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$729,750) -5.125%

And there is a fixed 10-year- 5.5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

Interest Rate Update!

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday June 26th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of June 26, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 5.25%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$729,750) -5.50%

Jumbo loan (loan amount over $729,750)- 6.625%

And there is a fixed 10-year- 5.5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

New Listing in Westwood!

10511 Eastborne Avenue

This is the lowest priced home listed in Westwood, north of Santa Monica Blvd!

This bright, airy three bedroom (or 2 + den), 1.75 bath home with family room is very spacious and opens to tropical gardens, patio and a pool with spa. The home features hardwood floors, vintage moldings and central air & heat. The public record shows the homes square footage at apx. 1,450, however several rooms have been extended. The actual square footage of the home is likely considerably larger. The lot size, per public record, is 6,500 square feet.

The master suite is like a private retreat, with an over-sized spa tub and sliding doors that open to the pool area. This home is located in the Fairburn Avenue School district and is minutes from Century City, Beverly Hills and Westwood Village.

Although a little updating would do it well, this home is in move-in condition. Don't Miss!

For showings and more information contact Mickey Kessler at 310-367-2322 or mkessler@verizon.net.

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodianfor Friday May 15th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of May 15, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.625%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$625,500) -4.75%

Jumbo loan (loan amount over $625,500)- 6.5%


And there is a fixed 10-year- 5.375%


This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage
at 310-434-1703.


Posted by: Leesel Boulware

What's New in Westwood Real Estate?

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodianfor Friday May 8th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of May 8, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.75%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$625,500) -4.875%

Jumbo loan with a 5-1 arm (loan amount over $625,500)- 5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage

at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodianfor Friday April 10th.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of April 10, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.75%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$625,500) -5%

Jumbo loan (loan amount over $625,500- 6.5%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage
at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware

Interest Rate Update!!!

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday March 27th.


Rates are down slightly from last week. Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of March 27, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):


Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.625%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$625,500) -5%

And an Attractive 5-1 arm at 5%


This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage at 310-434-1703.




Posted by: Leesel Boulware

It's Spring! Time to Plant!

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Spring is a time of bounty and endless possibilities. It's the time of year when we enjoy some of the most wonderful of holidays and of course it's the time of year when I start my vegetable garden.

I used to have a garden as a kid, but for many years as a young adult my living situation would not permit having one. I have had a spring vegetable garden now for many years and I always look forward to it with great anticipation. Among other things it puts an exclamation point on Spring.

If you don't have a huge yard or intense sun light, don't worry. There are many ways you can have a satisfying garden with limited sunlight and space. You don't need to be a "flat-lander" either. As seen in this picture, you can have a successful garden on a steep hillside, on a terraced slope and even on a patio.

There are so many varieties of fruits and vegetables you can grow. As a rule I try to grow things that taste notably better than their counterparts in the markets For example: tomatoes, corn, beans, squash and melons (space permitting) and did I say tomatoes???

Homegrown tomatoes are the best! They're fun and easy to grow, usually disease resistant and taste so much better than the tomatoes you typically find at the market. And these days you can find hundreds of varieties for sale at your local nurseries and/or in online or mail order seed catalogs.

Their are in fact so many varieties that it can be a little daunting as to which plants to select. I like the heirloom tomatoes because they're unique, they have such exceptional flavor and at prices of up to $6.00 a pound in the local markets they're very cost-effective to grow.

A little background on heirloom tomatoes:
Heirloom tomatoes are grown from seeds that have been handed down within in a family from generation to generation over these many, many years, like a family heirloom. They are prized for their unique shapes, colors and above all- TASTE!

Here are my five favorite tomato pics:

1. Sun Gold- in my opinion this is the sweetest tomato of all. Literally sweet as sugar. They are large cherry-type tomatoes about the size of, (but a little smaller than) a ping pong ball. They are a light orange color and they grow in clusters like a grape vine.

2. Striped German- a very large, slightly flattened tomato with blotches of red, orange and yellow inside and out. Great tomato taste with a kick, great for sandwiches.

3. Yellow Brandywine- similar to the classic Brandywine tomato, similarly large in size but with a slightly mellow-er flavor. Also great for sandwiches.

4. Moskvich- a Russian tomato that has a very robust flavor. It is a medium size tomato with a uniform, deep orange-red color. Great for salads, sandwiches and capreses!

5. Cherokee Purple- a plum-shaped tomato with a deep brick red color with purple-brown shoulders. They have a mild tomato flavor, not quite as juicy as some of the other tomatoes listed here, but that makes them a good paste tomato.

Honorable mention- Pineapple, Great White, Green Marble, Moramoto and Rose.

Let me know, what's your favorite variety of tomatoe?

If you want to check out a great event where you can buy tomato plants and more visit Tomato Mania at Tapia Brothers farms in Encino from March 27th through March 29th and in Beverly Hills April 18th. Click here for more information about TomatoMania and other event locations and dates. For on line seed sales I've always had success with Johnny Seeds and their are many other resources on line as well. Just search Google and above all: get out there, plant your garden and have fun!

Interest Rate Update

Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian for Friday March 13, 2009.

Interest rates are down just slightly from last week. Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of March 13, 2009 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,525) - 4.875%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000-$625,00) -5.125%

Jumbo Loan (over $625,000) - 6.5%

There is also an apealing option of a 5-1 arm at 5.25%

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage at 310-434-1703.

Posted by: Leesel Boulware