Los Angeles Living

Beverly Hills, is the world renowned home of the rich and famous. There is something for everyone in this beautiful enclave, including the best dining, shopping, and some of the most expensive real estate in the country.  In fact, 90% of Beverly Hills is zoned for residential use.  62% of the housing is apartments and condos, and 37% single family.

Beverly Hills, is almost entirely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, except for a small area of Doheny Dr. on the east which borders West Hollywood.  It is approximately 5.7 square miles in radius, with the approximate boundaries being the Los Angeles Country Club to the west, Whitworth Dr. to the south, Robertson Blvd., San Vicente Blvd. and Doheny Dr. to the East and the Hollywood Hills to the north. Beverly Hills is an incorporated city, with its own government, police, school district, etc. The city has some of the largest homes in the country.

North of Sunset Boulevard into the hills are the more expensive properties of Beverly Hills. South of Sunset is called “the flats” and the next division is Santa Monica Blvd. which creates sections know as north or south of the tracks, for the street car line that used to run through the area. South of Wilshire Blvd. becomes somewhat more affordable and contains a mix of single-family, condos and rental units.

Most residents live in the “flats”, south of Sunset Blvd. with the most expensive homes being in the hills. In fact, in 2007, Beverly Hills was listed as the most expensive housing market in the U.S. with a median price of $2.2 million.

Total Population

According to the 2010 census the total population of the city of  Beverly Hills is 34,109, with a total 16,394 housing units.

Beverly Hills Climate

Beverly Hills has a sub-tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 15 inches, usually between October and May.  Average winter temperature is 45-65°F  in winter, 53-77°F in spring, summer 61-83°F in summer and 60-77°F in fall.

What to see in Beverly Hills

The Golden Triangle with Rodeo Drive at its center is the place to shop, and be sure to visit Via Rodeo a European-style, cobblestone mini-mall.  There are many first class hotels to see, including the Regent Beverly Wilshire, featured in "Pretty Woman", the magnificent new Montage Hotel and the Beverly Hills Hotel with its world famous Polo Lounge. Make sure to go by the newer Renaissance City Hall and visit the beautiful library in the same complex.

Hospitals/Medical Centers Near Beverly Hills

The nearest, and one of the most famous hospitals in the country, is Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers,  UCLA Medical Center and Olympia Medical Center, formerly Midway Hospital are close by. There is also a huge concentration of doctors offices and surgery centers in Beverly Hills. You will not want for the best medical attention.

Useful Links

Beverly Hills School District

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce

Beverly Hills housing market reports

Map of Beverly Hills

Wilshire Corridor Condos For Sale - Ten Five Sixty Wilshire

There is a new listing on the Wilshire Corridor at Ten Five Sixty Wilshire.

It is a 2 bed 2.25 bath, 1,787 sq. ft. unit for $998,000.  HOA dues are $1,856 per month.

2 units have sold over the past year at Ten Five Sixty Wilshire for a median price of $932,500.  Average days on the market were 51.

There is one unit under contract.

5 units are on the market for a median price of $1,199,000.

Search condos for sale and lease at Ten Five Sixty Wilshire

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller:

You are about to make one of the biggest decisions of your life.  Your children have moved out, so you don't need such a large house.  But you have such happy memories. A lot of amazing things have happened in this home and it is difficult to leave it behind.  But you must.

Or, you are relocating for work.  Should you rent the house?  Do you want to deal with tenants?  Do you need the money for your new home?

Big decisions!

Now comes an even bigger one.  Who are you going to entrust with selling your prized possession?  There are so many agents to choose from.  You can choose a well-known "area expert".  They should be able to sell your house in a heartbeatk right!  Do you pick a "name brand" real estate company?  They must have buyers lined up out the door, correct!

Every realtor uses the Multiple Listing Service to advertise a new home for sale.  This listing is picked up by various sites, including Realtor.com, and even other real estate companies to include in their own marketing.  This is pretty effective, but also pretty passive marketing.

Before the world of  and other social networking platforms, this was how business was conducted.

However, this is a new world.  The world of social networking.  

Where are people starting their search for a new home?  Online.  Where are realtors most successful in marketing their properties?  Online.  However there are various ways of conducting business online. 
A realtor using the  network opens a whole new world for his or her seller.  A huge network of people, all over the country and overseas who are part of a team. Realtors, mortgage brokers, stagers and marketers.  A realtor using the network  has been indoctrinated into a whole network of sister sites where the listing will be showcased through syndication and localization.

Realtors using   are visible to people all over the world. 
With 163,512 members and the "juice" that it feeds to Google, the exposure is truly viral. I have been on Active Rain now for only three months and look at the visits I have received.

 will never leave you high and dry.  This is a community of experts in all areas.  It there is an unanswered question, and answer is forthcoming in a few minutes.

When you use an   realtor, you are using the world!

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Buyer,

Your are first-time buyers.  You are looking for an investment property.  You are downsizing and looking for a new home.  You are not sure where you want to live.  You may be moving out of state.  You want to know about a specific area.  You are not sure about the best mortgage.  So many questions.

You certainly should use a realtor who knows the area.  Should you use a "top realtor"? Should you use a "brand-name" company?   They can help, right?  Sure they can.

A realtor in the  network is part of a community.  If you are moving away you may not feel comfortable picking a realtor long distance.  You want to make sure that you are in good hands. If you use an  realtor you ARE in good hands.  You are in MANY good hands.  You can talk to someone locally who is part of the community who can put you at ease about whom you will be using, because your local contact is going to know a lot about that realtor because they are probably one of their direct associates.

If you are first-time home buyers, using a realtor in the  network gives you access to  all the information you are going to neeed.  They are associated with mortgage advisors, realtors who are experts in a particular area.  Answers to all your questions are a post away.

Mr. & Mrs. Buyer and Mr. & Mrs. Sellers,  is the now of home buying and selling.

To use the "Allstate" tag line - With Active Rain, You're in Good Hands.