Results tagged “homes”

As the fire neared the city last night, firefighters last night took a stand. "The fire was threatening the city directly," Santa Barbara's Acting Fire Chief Andy DiMizio said via the LA Times. "Last night, all hell broke loose."

With the market so down, some are jumping into the ownership game. Via wire reports printed in the Daily Breeze: "A total of 4,590 homes sold in February, up from 3,468 for February 2008, while the median price of a home in Los Angeles County last month was $299,000, down from $460,000 in the same month a year ago, according to La Jolla-based MDA DataQuick. In Orange County, the median home price was $375,000, down 27.9 percent from the February 2008 median of $520,000, according to DataQuick. A total of 1,879 homes were sold in the county last month, up 27.7 percent from the 1,471 home sales in February 2008."

We first took notice of Timothy Dahl and his blog, Charles and Hudson, last month when he published his excellent home DIY City Guide to Los Angeles. Upon further exploration, his blog revealed a wealth of useful information for those looking to upgrade their home on their own. From snaking your own sewer line to buying a backyard fire pit and an electrical outlet orientation, there's a lot to learn from him. So we ask a few of our own questions about Los Angeles and more...

Residents, businesses and government have all lowered their water use over the past year, but the industrial sector has increased use by 22%, says the Mayor's Office today. Here's out the reduction breaks down citywide in Los Angeles:

Los Angeles City Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda began his address to the evacuees, volunteers, and members of the press gathered this morning at Sylmar High School by admitting "I don't have good news."

A proposal to tax home owners of properties larger than 5,000 square feet at least $1,000 annually will be discussed at a Los Angeles city council committee meeting today. If it makes it through the city process, two-thirds of voters would have to pass the tax (low and middle class vs. the rich?). "There are 6,336 single-family residences that exceed 5,000 square feet and 534 houses larger than 10,000 square feet. Taxing those residences would generate $15 million a year," reports the Daily News.

A condo near an Orange Line station dropped about $80,000 in Valley Village over the past month, but the epidemic is widespread. Property values of homes in the Valley have dipped 35 percent to leaving the median price of a previously owned house at $420,000 compared to the $650,000 seen in August 2007.

Usually, building codes are not at the forefront of state politics, but recently, as Los Angeles and other cities are setting their own building standards, a statewide standard was passed. It's a good step, but Schwarzenegger and environmentalists have differing views on if it is strong enough or not, even though it is the strictest in the U.S. "Nationwide, buildings consume 39% of energy, 12% of potable water, and 40% of raw materials, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. The structures are also responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions," explains the LA Times. New green building codes, which would reduce energy use by 15% and water landscaping use by 50%, for the state will go into effect in 2010.

    

The richest treasures are sometimes the simplest. Whether in need of a basic get away home or backyard reading room, Modern Cabana has done it with a great design of stunning minimalism. Part of the Dwell On Design Conference, the structure is one of the many offerings this weekend at the LA Convention Center (It's $50, but you can get in free).

       

At the Dwell on Design Exhibition this weekend (you can get free, check this post on how), various builders, designers and eco-friendly businesses are displaying their works of pride and joy. Within the LA Convention center room is a 1000 square foot home called the Hom Escape in Style. It's one steel building, manufactured in Los Angeles and thought up by a group of locally based designers from the KAA Design Group.

Just like last year, Los Angeles County comes out at the top of the list with the county with the most millionaires. However, as the Wall Street Journal notes, "Los Angeles County, while still in the lead, lost about 7,000 millionaire households."

Last August in LAist's Neighborhood Project series we looked at the hidden jewel of Northeast Los Angeles (NELA, for those in the know) called Garvanza. In an area rich in history and craftsmanship sit several majestic old homes, grand dames in the Craftsman style dating back to the late 1800s.

We've heard before that the sinking housing market would actually serve to increase the rent on apartments in Los Angeles, and we've had a few lively discussions about proposals to undo rent control laws. But who knew the rate increases would be so drastic? Today's LA Times is reporting on the going rates for a four-bedroom, eight-bath (eight???) Malibu beach house: $150 grand. Per month.

The famous Neverland Ranch, which has hosted thousands of children in the past, was set to be auctioned off on March 19th. But yesterday, Michael Jackson made a deal with the company he owed $24.5 million to, avoiding the auction and the rumors that David Beckham was going to buy into the property according to an Associated Press news report.

With all the recent hype about problems affording homes in Los Angeles and several of the Council members endorsing a plan to keep housing affordable, it appears that the City supports home ownership.

The relationship between real estate and the Hollywood Sign is as old as, well, the sign itself. Built in 1923 as a promotional billboard to attract buyers to make their homes in the hills of the burgeoning Hollywood community, the sign that once read "HOLLYWOODLAND" has become one of the most iconic landmarks in LA. Now real estate and the sign have a new possibility: 138 acres of land once owned by Howard Hughes that sits west of the "H" in the sign is up for sale for a cool $22 million.

Fire departments across the Southern California area were preparing for this all week and beginning at 3:30 a.m. this morning, another Malibu wildfire began. Here are the facts as of so far: 35 homes lost 220 acres burned Fire began near Malibu Lake on state park land About 100 homes in three communities evacuated No injuries were reported Evacuation Center set up at Agoura High School Do not evacuate to Zuma Beach as smoke is...