Los Angeles Living

There are a lot of free events going on in Los Angeles during the summer months, too many to mention.  Here are some of the highlights.

Let’s look at some of the summer events in Los Angeles and surrounding cities:

Culver City Music Festival

 This is the 17th annual Culver City Music Festival which takes place from July 7th to August 25th every Thursday from 7:00 p.m, in the courtyard in front of City Hall.

The program includes rock ‘n roll, jazz, reggae, salsa and more.

Marina Del Rey Summer Concerts

This is the 10th annual Marina Del Rey Summer Concert series which takes place in Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, 90292.

Thursdays, July 8, July 22, August 5, and August 19 will feature classical music starting at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday schedules are: July 17 with Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension; July 31 with James Darren, August 14 with Oscar Castro Neves, and August 28 with Cleo Laine.

Santa Monica Twilight Dance Series

This is the 27th year of theSanta Monica Twilight Dance Series.  The Series is every Thursday, starting July 7th, at 7:00 p.m. through September 8.

Check out the full line up and enjoy wonderful music under the stars.

Concerts on Canon in Beverly Hills

These take place on Thursday nights at 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. at 231 N. Canon, Beverly Hills.

Music includes, jazz, folk, reggae and latin.

Pershing Square Summer Concert Series

In the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the Pershing Square Summer Series this year is pure retro and take place every Saturday from July16 to August 20th.  The lawn will be open at 7:30 and concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.

Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer Museum in Westwood

Although these concerts are now over, tickets include unlimited free admission to the Hammer Museum in Westwood through October 31 and also other benefits.

There are many more free summer events in Los Angeles,  but these should keep you busy for awhile.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate – Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate – Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate – Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate – Culver City single family homes, Culver City condominiums
• Palms/Mar Vista Real Estate - Palms/Mar Vista single family homes, Palms/Mar Vista condominiums
  
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single family homes, Silver Lake condominiums
  
• Echo Park Real Estate – Echo Park single family homes, Echo Park condominiums

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

Read more: http://www.homejane.com/free-summer-events-in-los-angeles.html#ixzz1TLXN5eLx

A 10 mile stretch of the Los Angeles I-405, the San Diego Freeway is schedule to be closed for a 53 hour period on the weekend of July 16-17 as part of the improvement project.

I-405 Closures will be as follows:

Northbound I-405 – 10 miles between I-10 and U.S. 101

Southbound I-405 – 4 miles between U.S. 101 and Getty Center Drive.

Motorists traveling during this time are advised to use alternative routes: 5,15,23,55,57,101,118,126,210,605 and 710 freeways.

Ramps in the area will begin shutting down on Friday, July 15th from 7:00 p.m., and the freeways will be closed at 10:00 p.m. This closure will continue through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18th.

If you are thinking of using Sepulveda Blvd. this will only be possible for local residents as it cannot accommodate the huge volume of diverted traffic.

If you are planning on traveling that weekend, plan ahead. Traffic is going to be severe.

Learn more about the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project

HGTV’s renovation show is searching for savvy DIYers for the 3rd season of this show in Los Angeles.

If you are a Los Angeles homeowner and think you can do a better or cheaper job than a General Contractor, then you are who they want. The goal is for you, the homeowner, to source high–end materials on the cheap, take on the bulk of the labor yourself and manage your subcontractors to get the best quality work at below market prices.  When the renovation is done, HGTV’s experts price out the job based on the quality.  If their estimate is higher than what you spent, you pocket the cash difference.

The  BIGGEST winner took home $40,000.

Auditions are happening Now.  If you are interested you  should fill out the online application at:  http://www.highnoontv.com/casting_apply_new.php?application_id=3

Here’s what is required:

If You Are…

• Planning on renovating a space in your home
• Handy and have the know-how to pull of a renovation project
• Able to complete your renovation in 4-5 weeks on your own budget
• Ready to be your own General Contractor by finding the best possible prices on everything from materials to appliances
• And willing to do the bulk of the work, but sub-contract labor when necessary

For more information about HGTVs “Professional Grade” visit:  http://www.hgtv.com/professional-grade/show/index.html

You love golf and you are moving to Los Angeles.  Where are you going to find the best courses?

Firstly, if you are going to live in the City of Los Angeles you are going to want to investigate the City of Los Angeles Public Golf Courses. They are beautiful courses and very inexpensive to play.

Green Fees at most courses are $30 for 18 holes during the week and $19 for Twilight rates.  Carts are $24 regular rate and $16 for twilight.  This is the resident rate.  A full Los Angeles City Golf green fee chart can be found here.  For a full description of the golf courses, rates, booking rules, visit the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

18 hole Los Angeles area golf courses

Rancho Park Golf Course
10460 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90064
310-838-7373

Rancho Park Golf Course, in the heart of the Westside of Los Angeles, is one of the busiest in the world.   It has been host to many Los Angeles opens, PGA Senior Opens and LPGA tour events.  You can also view celebrities at the driving range.  If you can even get a reservation, a round can take anything up to 5 and a half hours.  Take a book.

Wilson Golf Course
4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, 90027
323-663-2555

Harding Golf Course
4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, 90027
323-663-2555

Both Wilson and Harding golf courses are busy courses in Griffith Park, near Downtown Los Angeles.  Be prepared for long rounds here also.  Harding borders the L.A. Zoo, so don’t be surprised to see peacocks running around on the fairway.

Encino Golf Course
16821 Burbank Blvd.
Encino, 91436
818-995-1170

Balboa Golf Course
16821 Burbank Blvd.
Encino, 91436
818-995-1170

Encino and Balboa Golf Courses, are in the San Fernando Valley in Encino, just over the hill from West Los Angeles.  Encino is the more popular course, so Balboa is a little easier to get a reservation on.

Woodley Lakes Golf Course
6331 Woodley Ave.
Van Nuys, 91406
818-780-6886

Woodley Lakes Golf Course borders Encino and Balboa, and is the prettiest of the three.  It is close the the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, so you can see an array of birdlife on the course, amonth them egrets, herons, mud hens, ducks and more Canadian geese than you will see in a lifetime, which makes for a rather messy course.  You might also see Wiley Coyote and a family or racoons.  Like Encino and Balboa Golf Courses, Woodley can be extremely uncomfortable to play in the summer due to the oppressive heat.

Hansen Dam Golf Course
10400 Glenoaks Blvd.
Pacoima, 91331
818-899-2200

Near Burbank Airport, Hansen Dam Golf Course is another of the Valley courses to be avoided at the height of the summer heat.

9 hole Los Angeles area golf courses

Penmar Golf Course
1233 Rose Ave.
Los Angeles, 90291
310-396-6228

Penmar Golf Course, in Venice is a great 9-hole executive golf course.  If you don’t have a lot of time, and want to get in a good practice round, Penmar is the place. Penmar does tend to be a busy course, so book in advance if you want to ensure a time.

Harbor Park Course
1235 N. Figueroa Pl.
Wilmington,  90744
310-549-4853

Harbor Park Course is on the way to San Pedro. It serves the purpose of getting in a practice round of golf.

Roosevelt Golf Course
2650 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, 90027
323-665-2011

Like Wilson and Harding, Roosevelt Course is in in Griffith Park.  A good way to practice your game without taking up a full day.

Map of Los Angeles Public Golf Courses

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you’re new to L.A. Town. You’ll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs!

When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available.

If you are an absentee owner, you’ll need someone to handle all the details that you can’t handle remotely. That’s where I come in – I’m there when you can’t be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles.

Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate – Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate – Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate – Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate – Culver City single family homes, Culver City condominiums
• Palms/Mar Vista Real Estate - Palms/Mar Vista single family homes, Palms/Mar Vista condominiums
  
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single family homes, Silver Lake condominiums
  
• Echo Park Real Estate – Echo Park single family homes, Echo Park condominiums

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

The first, Farmer's Market in Los Angeles , and probably the most famous in the U.S., started in 1934. Since then numerous local farmers' markets have sprung up all over the Los Angeles area.

Farmers' Market at The Grove is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 pm, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m., Sunday, 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. Here are a few of these neighborhood markets where you can shop for fresh produce, flowers, breads, specialty items and much more....

Beverly Hills Farmers' Market - Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Check out the special events.

Brentwood Farmers' Market - Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Century City Farmers Market - Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Culver City Farmers' Market - Tuesdays 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Echo Park Farmers' Market - Fridays 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Hollywood Farmers' Market - Sundays 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

La Cienega Farmers' Market - Thursdays 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mar Vista Farmers' Market - Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 .m.

Santa Monica Farmers' Market - Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Check out the special events.

Silver Lake Farmers' Market - Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Venice Farmers Market - Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Westwood Farmers' Market - Thursdays 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

West Hollywood Helen Albert Certified Farmers' Market - Mondays 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For Los Angeles oldest outdoor market you must check out

Grand Central Market. Established in 1917 Grand Central Market is a diverse, bustling area with over 38 vendors, where you can buy almost anything. Open 7 days a week 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you're new to L.A. Town. You'll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs! When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available. If you are an absentee owner, you'll need someone to handle all the details that you can't handle remotely. That's where I come in - I'm there when you can't be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles. Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate - Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate - Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate - Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate - Culver City single family homes, Culver City condominiums
• Palms/Mar Vista Real Estate - Palms/Mar Vista single family homes, Palms/Mar Vista condominiums
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single family homes, Silver Lake condominiums
• Echo Park Real Estate - Echo Park single family homes, Echo Park condominiums

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.

If you own Los Angeles rental property the IRS are going to want their share.

Even if you are a casual investor in Los Angeles rental property as of the beginning of 2011 any payment made to vendors over $600 must be followed with a 1099. Owners of larger Los Angeles properties have had to do this for many years, but when the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act (H.R. 5297) was enacted it extended the requirement to owners of any rental property.

What do you need to get from your vendor?

Any vendor who has worked on your Los Angeles rental property, and has been paid in excess of $600, needs to provide you with their name, address, and tax identification of Social Security No. Keep a record on the amount you have paid them and at the end of the year issue a 1099 for that amount.

Are their any exceptions?

• If complying with the requirements causes you a hardship.
• The rental is a temporary rental of your own property.
• The income from your rental does not meet the minimum income threshold.

The information on the second two points is not yet out. So stay tuned.

Who are defined as vendors?

Independent or freelance workers who provide real estate-related services: plumbers, painters, landscapers, etc. People who don't receive a W2 from you and to whom you have paid more than $600 over the course of the year. It does not have to be at one time, so keep track of what you pay, and if at the end of the year it exceeds $600, the out comes the 1099. There are penalties for filing late. You can get a 30-day extension for filing your forms with the IRS, but your vendors need to receive them on time, usually by the 31st of January, in order for them to do their taxes. If you are the managing small Los Angeles rental property make sure the owner knows about this new law.

Buying or Selling Los Angeles Real Estate

Buying or selling a Los Angeles home can be a daunting process in a city this size, especially if you're new to L.A. Town. You'll need a resident expert to show you around and help you narrow down the areas where you might like to live. I will help you find the perfect home in the right area to fit your lifestyle, budget and needs! When I list and sell Los Angeles homes for my clients I strive to make the experience a pleasant one. My mission is to provide outstanding service while utilizing the best practices and systems available. If you are an absentee owner, you'll need someone to handle all the details that you can't handle remotely. That's where I come in - I'm there when you can't be. I also specialize in lease property in Los Angeles. Westside Los Angeles Real Estate, including, but not limited to:

• Westwood Real Estate - Westwood single family homes, Westwood condominiums, Wilshire Corridor condominiums, Century City condominiums
• Brentwood Real Estate - Brentwood single family homes, Brentwood condominiums
• Santa Monica Real Estate - Santa Monica single family homes, Santa Monica condominiums
• Beverly Hills Real Estate - Beverly Hills single family homes, Beverly Hills condominiums
• Culver City Real Estate - Culver City single family homes, Culver City condominiums
• Palms/Mar Vista Real Estate - Palms/Mar Vista single family homes, Palms/Mar Vista condominiums
• Silver Lake Real Estate - Silver Lake single family homes, Silver Lake condominiums
• Echo Park Real Estate - Echo Park single family homes, Echo Park condominiums

For more information on how I can best serve your Los Angeles real estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or give me a call at 310-473-6919.