Upcoming Los Feliz listing

I'll let readers here know ahead of time that I plan to have a new listing in the coming week, a $2.5 million home in Los Feliz. It's a large, fabulous old home with the potential to be a truly premium property with a little fix-up.

Buyers, buyers, buyers...

With all the buyer activity going on, I'm not surprisingly working with several buyers. Of course, some of the buyers in the more affordable price ranges always pose the most challenges here in pricey Los Angeles.

In each of the following case, we've seen everything on the market and a few things off the market. Below are the more difficult needs some of my buyers. If you know of something off the market like any of these, please let me know:

• Land to build a new home in the Hollywood Dell neighborhood, could be a tear-down.
• A duplex, triplex or fourplex under $700,000 in a decent neighborhood anywhere from downtown to Santa Monica.
• A 2-bedroom condo or larger loft under $500,000 in downtown.
• A 4-bedroom home or condo under $700,000 in West L.A. or vicinity.

I'm always working with many buyers, and I'm working with more than this now at ALL price levels, so if you know of anything available off the market, please let me know, I just might have a buyer.

People are buying again!

Ask any active real estate agent these days and they'll tell you buyer activity really spiked in July and August.

No question about it but the end of the summer has seen much more real estate activity here in Los Angeles than at any time this year. Phones are ringing. People are turning out at open houses. Offers are being written. And people are putting property in escrow.

It's pretty clear from talking to clients and other agents that people have been seeing the prices come down to the point they are starting to say: "I want that house at that price! That's better than where I live now! I want to buy!"

My personal experience bears this out. I am currently working with several buyers. While recently setting up showings on seven properties downtown, I found two already in escrow and two more with offers on them. This past week, while showing property in West L.A., out of four properties, two had offers. This coming weekend, I'm heading out to see duplexes and triplexes with another client, and again, when I called to set up showings on 10 properties, two were in escrow and three had offers.

And my own listings are suddenly getting many more calls than before!

I don't know how long this will last, but right now, people clearly are buying again.

My newest listing

My newest listing is a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4,200 square foot home in the hills above Studio City. Asking price is $1.75 million. Here's a little more about it:

This Studio City Hillside Mediterranean Estate has views from nearly every room, contemporary interiors, killer kitchen, hardwood floors, bright and open floorplan. Huge master has a high-beamed ceiling, dual walk-ins, soaking tub with views, sitting area. Many usable balconies, another private entertaining patio and tons of modern amenities: Viking Stove, Sub Zero Fridge, flat screen TVs. Formerly celebrity-owned home with extensive security. Close to great private school. For Lease @ $8,000/mo