Leave a comment » Wallace Neff Classic in Pasadena California - Luxury Estate for SaleSee a Wallace Neff renovated estate near CalTech. Luxury real estate homes for sale in Pasadena California.Last week, I had the opportunity to tour 1649 Lombardy Road in Pasadena California. This gracious home resides among the Pasadena estates that are minutes from the Huntington Library in San Marino and CalTech in Pasadena. Wallace Neff, the architect known for developing the "California" style of homes excelled himself when he designed this estate in 1924. Since then, this luxury home has been tastefully renovated and is now waiting for a new owner. READ MORE: Top 10 Luxury Estates sold in Pasadena in 2009 Estate Property Details:5 Bedrooms and 6 Baths House was measured to be over 7,300 sq. ft. per agent's brochure Lot size is 23,425 per assessor Formal Dining Room Amazing Great Room with an Open Kitchen Game Room 3 Car Garage Zoned HVAC System Double Gated Driveway and much, much more...
As you walk through this home, the attention to detail and the use of materials throughout is breathtaking. Take a look at some of these photos, courtesy of Laurie March.
Peace and tranquility with lush landscaping and use of wood floors throughout...
Library/Ofice... love the nook for the books and tons of light through the windows. http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/00A71B 
Posted on February 05, 2010 10:32:45
Posted by:
 Irina NetchaevSubscribe to receive Comments via RSS Feed from our site. |
1 comment » 2009 Real Estate Sales Recap and Pasadena Home Sales Forecast for 2010Real estate home sales analysis in Pasadena and surrounding neighborhoods. See real estate statistics for 2003 through 2009.As 2009 wrapped up, it's interesting to see how Pasadena and surrounding cities real estate market performed. So instead of writing our monthly report, I wanted to take a look at the last few years of home sales. Last year was difficult for many families, short sales and foreclosures were showing up in both low end and high price spectrum of the real estate market. However, 2009 presented many opportunities for both investors, first time home buyers, as well as long term renters waiting for prices to come down to a point of affordability. The prices have not moved down as much as expected in Pasadena California and surrounding neighborhoods, but the interest rate remained historically low and coupled with tax incentives, home buyers were out in force. Let's take a look at the home sales statistics below. Pasadena Home Sales 2003 through 2009:Throughout this year, I've been saying that Pasadena was very low on inventory. The moment a home came up on the market, if it was priced correctly, it was gone immediately. We were expecting to be hit with a wave of foreclosures, but that never realized. We've seen some bank owned properties hit the real estate market, but moratorium after moratorium kept the majority of the foreclosures from hitting the streets. There's been a lot of talk of "shadow" foreclosure inventory. The inventory of foreclosure homes that are still sitting on bank books. 2010 might be the year for the shadow inventory to be released especially in the higher priced end of the market. As you can see, 2009 had a higher number of home units sold at 841 an increase of 28% over 2008, but still far short of the 1,300 to 1,400 units in 2003 and 2004. Take a look at the average listing price per square foot vs average sold price per square foot. This pretty much tells you the story of the Pasadena real estate market in 2009 - multiple offers! Prices were bid up by the buyers and on average the price per sq. ft. was almost 22% higher than the original listed sq. ft. price - pretty darn amazing! The actual average closing Pasadena home sales price was at $900,582, way higher than 2008's $851,702. Don't let anyone tell you that there are no home buyers out there. The home buyers are there and ready to buy. The prices are right and the financial conditions - interest rates, government tax incentives are making this a perfect storm for many. Pasadena California Single Family Homes Sales - 7 year analysis (2003 - 2009)
Read More: See all Pasadena homes for sale Pasadena Condo and Townhouse Sales - 7 year analysis (2003 - 2009)A similar situation with condos and townhomes, the volume of home sales is down, but not as signifcantly as we see in Pasadena's single family homes. Pasadena condo and townhome buyers are seeing prices at the 2004 level. Think of rolling the home prices back 5 years - not bad! It is taking longer to sell these condos and townhomes, but still less than 3 months. Remember the post about whether or not we are in the buyer's vs seller's market? We are still in a pretty strong seller's market - these properties are selling if priced correctly.
Read More: Pasadena's New Construction Condos for Sale See all Pasadena Condos and Townhomes for sale South Pasadena Real Estate Data 2003 through 2009:South Pasadena home sales were on fire... great school district and a small town, family oriented atmosphere was driving real estate sales last year. The volume went up drastically from 2008, but buyer were much more finicky. South Pasadena is known for older, character homes. The homes that were staged and updated sold immediately with multiple offers. Homes that had deferred maintenance or were not presented as well as they should took a bit of time to sell. South Pasadena Home Sales - 7 year analysis (2003 - 2009)
Read More: See all South Pasadena homes for sale South Pasadena Condo and Townhouse Sales - 7 year analysis (2003 - 2009)There were really some amazing deals to be found in South Pasadena's condo and townhome market. First of all, families were able to buy homes within one of the top school districts in the area for as little as $349 per sq. ft. On average, a So Pas home buyer would need a bit over $500,000, but that's still half the price of a single family home. One of my lucky home buyer clients, were able to buy a 3 bedroom townhome for only $420,000. That would have been truly unheard of a few years ago. The best advice for families that are waiting to get into the South Pasadena real estate market is to be prepared - work with a real estate agent that cares about your needs, get pre-approved and be available to view properties as they come up on the market.
Read More: See all South Pasadena condos and townhomes for sale San Marino Home Sales Analysis for 2003 - 2009:This has been a truly amazing year for San Marino real estate. Prices held quite well and homes were selling higher than they did in 2007! San Marino is known for its huge lawns, amazing school district and a very close-knit community. With Huntington Library, Lacy Park and luxury estates, it's truly an amazing place to live. A home buyer still needs a bit over $1.7 million to get an average priced home. There are homes available in the low 1 million dollar range and sometimes one can find a home under a million, but for the most part these homes need quite a bit of attention. San Marino was not immune to foreclosures. We did see two foreclosure homes - both homes sold over a million still. If you are interested in tracking potential foreclosures in San Marino, bookmark this San Marino foreclosure post. It will update, real time as new foreclosures come up on the market. It's also interesting to note that there are no condos or townhomes in San Marino. However, there's a complex of townhomes on the border of Pasadena and San Marino that is assigned to San Marino schools. There are also certain homes in San Gabriel and Pasadena that fall under the San Marino schools boundaries.
Read More: See all San Marino homes for sale San Gabriel Real Estate Home Sales Statistics 2003 through 2009:Well San Gabriel didn't fare as well as some of the other cities near Pasadena. It's taking longer to sell a home as well as the price sold has rolled back to 2004 levels. This is great for home buyers. Inventory of homes has increased and there's quite a bit of choice. Even though, we are seeing multiple offers on some of the homes, overall buyers are able to find a home to fit their needs and check book. Homes are being priced fairly and are selling close to aslking price - just a percentage or so below. San Gabriel Homes for Sales data for 2003 through 2009
Read More: See all San Gabriel Homes for Sale San Gabriel Condos and Townhomes for salePrice per square foot has decreased to $271 for San Gabriel condos and townhomes, but the average sales price is actually a bit higher than in 2008. Home buyers are getting more square footage for their money. The selection of condos and townhomes is quite nice. Inventory has doubled from last year and is higher than the year prior. Home buyers are nicely surprised with the choice of homes. This can also be seen in a longer marketing period of 105 days compared to previous years of only a month or less on the market.
Read More: Search San Gabriel Condos and Townomes Monterey Hills Condo and Townhome Sales 2003 through 2009:I was actually quite surprised to see the inventory increase towards the end of 2009. Monterey Hills condo and townhome owners have been holding on to their homes and not putting them on the market. However, we did see quite a bit of distressed sales in the area which helped increase the inventory. The price per square foot fell under $300 to $277 and is rolling prices back to the 2003 level. Folks working in downtown LA or have kids attending USC love Monterey Hills for its geographic convenience. A lot of investors are itching to buy units because they are so easy to rent and are conveniently located minutes from South Pasadena and Pasadena. Overall, I think that we'll see more foreclosures and opportunities in 2010 in Monterey Hills. There's definitely "shadow" inventory to be found next year. We will be watching closely.
Read More: See all Monterey Hills condos for Sale As always, we will be providing monthly home sales reports for Pasadena and surrounding cities. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to call us should you have any questions about any of the real estate data above or need helping with buying or selling a home, condominium or townhome. IRINA NETCHAEV & ASSOCIATESPasadena Real Estate Agents 445 South Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 (626)629-VIEW(8439)http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/00A566
Posted on January 03, 2010 05:32:04
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Irina NetchaevSubscribe to receive Comments via RSS Feed from our site. |
Leave a comment » San Marino CA Real Estate Sales for June 2009San Marino's home sales and real estate statistics for June 2009San Marino real estate market did not show any drastic changes during the 2nd quarter of 2009. Number of homes available for sale has remained consistent in the mid 30s. Although the number of new listings decreased by 27% in June. The least expensive home on the market in San Marino is priced at $1,180,000 and is located at 1445 S San Gabriel Blvd. The most expensive San Marino home available for sale is priced at $5,600,000 and is located at 1505 Circle Drive. The most interesting sale this month was an estate priced at $862.73 per square foot with an asking price of $5,625,000 that sold in 81 days at full price! This San Marino luxury estate was located at 920 Avondale Road. Other interesting statistics:3 San Marino homes sold over asking price 2 San Marino homes were sold at asking price 11 San Marino homes were sold under asking price On average San Marino homes sold at 96% of asking price. Real estate statistics for San Marino for April through June 2009:
Data for San Marino real estate was taken from ITEC (Pasadena Foothill Association of Realtors) Interested in seeing what is currently for sale in San Marino? Specific information can be found at San Marino homes for sale post which is updated real time. Interested in seeing more San Marino Real Estate Reports: San Marino Real Estate report - five years in review 2003-2008 San Marino real estate report for May 2009 San Marino real estate report for March 2009
READ MORE: Pasadena Foreclosure Home List South Pasadena Foreclosure Home List
If you are thinking of buying or selling your San Marino home, please give us a call for a comprehensive and free consultation. We can be reached at 626-204-3340. IRINA NETCHAEV & ASSOCIATESPasadena Real Estate Agents 445 South Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 (626)204-3340
http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0099B7
Posted on July 13, 2009 08:04:41
Posted in San Marino, Real Estate Market Reports Posted by:
Irina NetchaevSubscribe to receive Comments via RSS Feed from our site. |
1 comment » Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2009 is here!This year's Pasadena's Showcase House of Design is in San MarinoActually, this year the Showcase House of Design is in San Marino right on the border of Pasadena and just steps from South Lake Avenue Shopping District. It is truly a magnificent Italian Renaissance Revival estate built in 1917. This gorgeous property was designed by the renowned Pasadena architect G. Lawrence Stimson and has over 10,000 square feet of living space and sits on 2 acres of land. Rumor has it that this estate belongs to one of San Marino's past city mayors. It's a huge honor to have your home selected to be the Showcase Design home. At the same time, it takes a lot of patience on the part of the owner because they have to move out months ahead of time to allow designers the time to work their magic.
It is interesting to note that Pasadena's Showcase House of the Arts is an all volunteer organization with members donating their time and talents since 1948. They originally started out as The Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee, and adopted the Pasadena Showcase House of Design as their annual benefit in 1965. It is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the nation. For more information please visit Pasadena's Showcase House website. I love visiting the Showcase House of Design each year not only to see the amazing transformation and vision of individual designers, but also to visit the shops and restaurant which is catered by Wolfgang Puck. The shops have the most amazing selection of beautiful, hand made gifts - perfect for Mother's Day! I always stop by Wick'd Bean Candle display and load up on my favorite scent - Champagne and Apricot. The Shops and Restaurant at Showcase hours are: Tuesdays 9 am to 5 pm Wednesdays through Friday 9 am to 9 pm Saturdays and Sundays 9 am to 5 pm. Closed on Mondays.
The Showcase House Entry Hours: Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday - 9 am to 3:45 pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 9 am to 7:45 pm Ticket times are scheduled on the quarter hour. Closed on Mondays.
To order tickets, please call 714-442-3872 or visit www.pasadenashowcase.org
Ticket Prices are from $30.
READ MORE: Pasadena Real Estate Guide Do you have $52 Million to spare? Extraordinary Pasadena luxury estate http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0096E1
Posted on May 01, 2009 09:35:59
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Irina NetchaevSubscribe to receive Comments via RSS Feed from our site. |
Leave a comment » Pasadena California - Looking for Homes in Historical Neighborhoods and Landmark Districts?Pasadena offers many neighborhoods to choose from when searching for a homeMany people are flocking to Pasadena California because of its beautiful character homes and historic neighborhoods. Pasadena is a very walkable city and offers museums, top restaurants and bars, hiking trails. It is close to the mountains and less than an hour away from the beaches and skiing. If you are trying to decide which area to buy your Pasadena home in, this article will helpfully point you in the right direction. When home buyers think of buying in Pasadena, many divide the city into five quadrants: South of the 210 freeway - divided into South East and South West Pasadena and North of the 210 freeway with the dividing line in most buyers' minds serves as being West or East of Lake Avenue. The fifth quadrant is the San Rafael and the Pasadena Rose Bowl area. The neighborhoods North of 210 fwy in Pasadena include:West of LakeBranbury Oaks Branbury Oaks is bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north, Mountain Street to the south, Fair Oaks Avenue to the East, and Forest Avenue to the west. The neighborhood is bisected by Interstate 210. The main roads through the neighborhood are Hammond Street and Lincoln Avenue. Banbury Oaks is served by Metro Rapid line 762 and Metro Local lines 177, 260, 267, and 268, as well as Pasadena ARTS routes 31, 32, 51, and 52.
Garfield Heights Garfield Heights is the original tract name registered with the city of Pasadena in 1904. In 1998, the area experienced a revitalization after it was designated the city's second landmark district. The Garfield Heights Landmark District boasts one of the city's oldest intact neighborhoods with beautiful historic homes built mainly during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Garfield Heights is bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north, Mountain Street to the south, N. Marengo Ave. to the west, and Los Robles Avenue to the east. It has been featured in many publications including LA Magazines "10 Best Neighborhoods" and the Los Angeles Times. It is located less than 1 mile from Pasadena's shopping district in Old Pasadena and the famous Pasadena Rose Bowl. The neighborhood also lies below the majestic San Gabriel mountain range and is minutes away from hiking trails. The neighborhood is served by Metro Rapid line 762, as well as Metro Local lines 260, 268 and 687; and Pasadena ARTS routes 20, 31, and 32. Normandie Heights Normandie Heights is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is bordered by Woodbury Road to the north, Washington Boulevard to the south, Los Robles Avenue to the west, and Lake Avenue to the east. Orange Heights-Barnhart Orange Heights neighborhood is bounded to the West by Los Robles Avenue, to the East by El Molino Avenue, to the North by Jackson Street, and to the South by Mountain Boulevard. Orange Heights is served by Metro Local routes 268 and 687, as well as Pasadena ARTS routes 31 and 32. Read More: Pasadena's Orange Heights
Prospect Park (although it's actually West of 210) Prospect Park is a residential neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is bordered by Westgate Street to the north, Orange Grove Boulevard to the south, Rosemont Avenue to the west, and Lincoln Avenue to the east. Washington Square Washington Square is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north, Mountain Street to the south, El Molino Avenue to the west, and Lake Avenue to the west. It is notable for having been renamed several times, having been known as part of Orange Heights until the 1950s, then Clement Heights until the 1980s when it was shortened to CLEM, then Heather Heights until the late 1990s when it was given its current name. The neighborhood was built up gradually until the 1940s, when the last housing tract was built around Heather Square. Washington Square is notable for having one of Pasadena's oldest parks, Washington Park, which was reclaimed from a municipal dump in 1922. Woodbury Creek also runs through the neighborhood, though most of the creek now runs underground. The neighborhood is also home to two of Pasadena's oldest standing houses, which date from the early 1890s, and the one-time home of author Upton Sinclair . It is believed that the house belonged to him during his run for Governor of California. Washington Square is served by Metro Local lines 180, 268, and 485; as well as Pasadena ARTS route 20. The two major streets are Lake Avenue and Washington Blvd.
EAST OF LAKE
Bungalow Heaven Bungalow Heaven is a landmark district in Pasadena, California. It is bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north, Orange Grove Boulevard to the south, Hill Avenue to the east, and Lake Avenue to the west. All of the commercial development in the neighborhood is on Lake Avenue and (to a small extent) Washington Boulevard. At the center of the neighborhood is McDonald Park. Bungalow Heaven is so called because of the hundreds of small craftsman homes built there in the 1920s, most of which still stand.
Historic Highlands Historic Highlands is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods known for it's tall trees and grand craftsman homes. There are over 700 renovated and restored craftsman and bungalow homes in this landmark district. It sits just north of Bungalow Heaven and has an annual architectural tour.
SOUTH WEST
Madison Heights Madison Heights is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is bordered by Del Mar Boulevard to the north, Alpine Street to the south, Los Robles Avenue to the west, and Hudson Avenue to the east. Madison Heights is served by Metro Local lines 177 and 267, as well as Pasadena ARTS route 20.
Old Pasadena
Photos from the 1800s show Fair Oaks and Colorado Street as the primary crossroads for the new city. But by two decades ago it was home to a great antiques store (Jay's), a bar or two that opened at 6 a.m. and many seemingly vacant storefronts. After 5 p.m. not a person was in sight. They might as well have rolled up the sidewalks.
Today Old Town is a dynamic shopping center at the heart of Pasadena. Jay's Antiques, alas, has moved away to be replaced with mall-favorites such as J. Crew and Crate & Barrel, along with other chain stores along Colorado. After dark the sidewalk traffic really picks up as people head for the dozens restaurants and clubs.
What locals know and visitors often do not is that the side streets off Colorado are where to find the more interesting shops and great dining. These smaller businesses are stocked with unusual items, and, in the case of restaurants, the owners have developed their own unique menus.
You will find more unique stores along Green St. which runs parallel to, and one block south of, Colorado.
One notable exception to the "go to the side streets" guideline is 21 Choices, a yogurt shop on Colorado that is like taking a time-trip to the 1970s. Put on your old Birkenstocks and stop by for a yummy dish of tart or sweet stuff.
Old Town is also on eof the few places in Pasadena where pedestrians can criss cross the road and cars come to an all streets stop.
As Old Town became revitalized, developers and builders saw an opportunity and began building apartments and condos within two or three blocks of Colorado Blvd. But condos and cottages are topics for another page on this website.
One of the more famous buildings in Old Town Pasadena is Castle Green. If you walk down Raymond from Colorado Blvd. you will see an enormous, ornate building -- the Castle Green. Once upon a time it was the smaller west wing annex (Yes, smaller!) of the Hotel Green, a luxury resort. The larger east wing is now gone but half the walkway between the two buildings remains. Castle Green was designed by Frederick Roehrig and opened in 1899. It now contains about 50 apartments. In November and April there are tours of the building. READ MORE: Pasadena's Castle Green
Pasadena Civic Center
Pasadena Playhouse The Playhouse District is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is Pasadena's premier entertainment and financial district; the headquarters of IndyMac Bank and Community Bank are located there, and Countrywide Financial keeps an office there. The Playhouse District is bordered by Walnut Street to the north, Del Mar Boulevard to the south, Los Robles Avenue to the west, and Hudson Avenue to the east, with a panhandle-like extension to Wilson Avenue. The district is also notable for its manhattanization, the legacy of extensive urbanization from the 1960s to the 1980s. At the Playhouse District's center is the world-famous Pasadena Playhouse, as well as Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena's oldest operating bookstore. Several shopping plazas surround the area. Pasadena Presbyterian Church, former home of KPPC-FM is also in this district. At the neighborhood's east end is the Ice House comedy club. Fuller Theological Seminary is located at the western end. Good things come in pairs in the Playhouse District. There are two live theaters (The Pasadena Playhouse and Boston Court) as well as two movie theaters (The Academy and Laemmle's Playhouse which show art and independent films) and two bookstores (Vroman's and Cliffs). Live theater has been presented at the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino just off Colorado since 1917. An acting academy is also part of the Playhouse and among its alumni are Dustin Hoffman, Mare Winningham, and Gene Hackman. The Metro Gold Line operates a station on Lake Avenue, just north of the neighborhood. The Playhouse District is served by Metro Rapid line 780; as well as Metro Local lines 177, 180, 181, 485, 686, and 687. It is also served by Pasadena ARTS routes 10 and 20, and Foothill Transit route 187.
South Lake District South Lake is a neighborhood in Pasadena, California. It is Pasadena's premier shopping district and home to the California Institute of Technology. South Lake is bordered by Colorado Boulevard to the north, the Pasadena-San Marino border to the south, Hudson Avenue to the west, and Hill Avenue to the east. The shops on the east side of South Lake Avenue are notable for being accessible from the street and from Shoppers' lane, a half-mile long alleyway that runs alongside Lake Avenue. Also located on Lake Avenue is a large Macy's department store built in early 1960s modern architecture and that has just been remodelled in 2009. At the center of the neighborhood is Caltech, Grant Park, and Tournament Park. South Lake is served by Metro Local lines 177, 256, 267, and 485. It is also served by Pasadena ARTS routes 10 and 20. Due to the location of Caltech, South Lake has been home to many in the scientific community. Some of the most notable residents were:
READ MORE: Urban living at its best in the South Lake District of Pasadena Other Pasadena NeighborhoodsLower Arroyo Seco Located South of the 134 Freeway and on the western end of Pasadena. This neighborhood is a part of San Rafael and is situated right next to the Arroyo Seco. The Arroyo Seco is a major tributary of the Los Angeles River, flowing out of the San Gabriel Mountains in the northwest corner of the City. Within the City, the Arroyo Seco passes through three distinct geographical areas: As early as 1887, the citizens of Pasadena recognized that the land surrounding the Arroyo Seco should become a park for the enjoyment and benefit of the public. Between 1911 and 1927, the City of Pasadena accumulated the land for what is now the Central and Lower Arroyo. In 1918 the Arroyo Park Committee, headed by architect Myron Hunt, suggested that a comprehensive plan be developed by noted landscape architect Emile Mische. The plan recommended that the Lower Arroyo be reserved for trails and bridle paths and planted only with native plants. In 1977, the City declared the Lower Arroyo to be a City Cultural Landmark.
Equestrian Uses Equestrians can enter the Lower Arroyo from the south entrance at the private San Pascual Stables or from the Hahamongna Watershed Park area to the north. Public horse rentals are not currently available in the Lower Arroyo Seco. Equestrians currently use Lower Arroyo Trails on both sides of the flood control channel.
Archery Range Trails
INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR PASADENA HOMES FOR SALE:New construction in Pasadena - condos built in 2008 or later!
For additional information about Pasadena, California, please contact Irina at irian@PasadenaViews.com. http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/009664
Posted on April 21, 2009 11:04:27
Posted in Area Information, Pasadena Posted by:
Irina NetchaevSubscribe to receive Comments via RSS Feed from our site. |
The Old Pasadena Historic District or as it is locally known, Old Town Pasadena, has been a shining example of the revitalization of a run-down city center. It is one of three major shopping areas in Pasadena. The other two shopping centers in Pasadena can be found on South Lake Avenue and Foothill in North East Pasadena.
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