Author: Rodeo Realty Media Team

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Home Tips: Safer at Home

Just because you’re home doesn’t mean the coronavirus can’t follow you inside. By now, we all know the basic steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are urging people to follow in their daily lives:

    • Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds – or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
    • Keep your distance from people in general (a radius of six feet is suggested), but especially from those who are sick.
    • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then dispose of it in the trash.
    • If you are sick, stay home.
    • If you have symptoms such as a dry cough or fever, seek medical advice.

Which, while providing necessary guidance, still leaves unanswered questions for people now sheltering in place. Among them:

WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED, IS IT SAFE TO HAVE GRANDPARENTS BABYSIT THE KIDS? 

In a word, no. Although recent data suggests younger adults and teenagers are not as immune to the effects of COVID-19 as first thought, the virus nevertheless presents the greatest risk to older adults and people already suffering from such chronic medical conditions as lung disease. For example, as of mid-March, when there were about 2,500 cases in the U.S., adults over the age of 65 accounted for roughly 80 percent of the reported deaths.

HOW CAN I HELP OLDER LOVED ONES FEEL LESS ISOLATED?

During this crisis, don’t overlook the mental wellness of your loved ones, particularly the elderly. If grandma and grandpa cannot see their grandchildren in person, arm them with digital devices, even if they aren’t terribly tech-savvy. The Apple iPad Pro 9.7, for example, is both high-end and user-friendly, bolstered by a brilliant display. For a device, even more, stripped down in its simplicity, there is the GrandPad for video chatting and photo swapping.  

HOW DO I STAY FIT AND HEALTHY IF I CAN’T EXERCISE?

With gyms shuttered and outdoor activities dramatically curtailed, fitness pros are turning online, offering live-streaming classes and free trial apps for anyone who wants to stay in shape. For a more challenging routine, Orangetheory offers a variety of at-home workouts daily. Boxing studio Rumble is hosting workouts on Instagram Live while CorePower Yoga is streaming free classes. Indoor cycling titan Peloton is also offering a free 90-day trial of their classes, which range from cycling and running to yoga and meditation. Lastly, for seniors, the AARP has several fitness videos posted on YouTube. But whatever you choose, don’t stress. Studies suggest a five-minute workout once a day is all you need to maintain your status quo.

I HAVE SANITIZING WIPES AND TOILET PAPER, WHAT AM I MISSING?

The coronavirus isn’t a cyber-attack, but what would happen if your phone or laptop broke and stores weren’t open to selling you a replacement and online delivery became so overwhelmed, it would take days or weeks to courier a new device to you? If you are now working remotely – or need to stay in contact with a family member digitally – you should consider spending on a back-up phone, batteries and any spare parts for the electronics you rely on.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN THE HOUSE – AND WHAT ARE THE HOTSPOTS?

Experts suggest you clean your home every few days – but pay special attention to the areas and objects that receive the most human contact: doorknobs, light switches, countertops, even TV remotes. As for dish and bath towels, wash them every day after you use them.

SHOULD I MAKE MY OWN HAND SANITIZER?

For all the talk about making your own hand sanitizer – and a lot of what is discussed online wouldn’t be effective, anyway – soap and water should always be your go-to. (Just like people have been doing to battle viruses for most of history; the first soap was manufactured by the Babylonians in 2800 B.C.) Only if the soap isn’t available should you consider a substitute. If you do have to do it yourself, it needs to be at least 60 percent alcohol. (Most online formulas combine rubbing alcohol, which is 99 percent alcohol, with aloe vera gel and lemon juice.)

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LA Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

Among the many businesses bearing the initial economic brunt of the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. With eateries closing their doors daily as they are reduced to serving only delivery or takeout, we wanted to highlight some of the local ones that remain open. Order in or call ahead for pick-up – the food is delicious and you’ll be supporting a business in need during challenging times.

Wax Paper

2902 Knox Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
This solid little shop has carved out a reputation for itself among sandwich fans. Recommendations: the Ira Glass (avocado, cheddar cheese, alfalfa sprouts, red onions, and garlic aioli, although you can also add meat), the Audie Cornish (black forest ham on a baguette) and their titanic twist on the classic Italian hoagie known as the Larry Mantle (bologna, salami, and pecorino pepato cheese).

Go Get Em Tiger


230 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004
For a coffee or your first bite of the day, there’s this shop tucked away in Larchmont Village. Whatever time of day it is, you can’t go wrong with the baked egg with chorizo, which probably qualifies as a meal in its own right.

Woon Kitchen


2920 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Before it moved into its brick and mortar space located in historic Filipinotown, Woon started as a family-run pop-up whose only intention was to share their mother’s Chinese comfort food. Inspired by Shanghainese and Cantonese cuisine, the selection is relatively small but no less tasty – from the fried tofu fish cakes stuffed with fish paste, cilantro, green onions to the soy veggie wraps served with Worcestershire sauce or red vinegar.

Burgers Never Say Die

2388 Glendale Boulevard, Unit A, Los Angeles, CA 90039

For those who aren’t familiar with Burgers Never Say Die, it began life as a burger stand before breaking out to become a local sensation. So there’s never been a better time to find out what you’ve been missing, even if you’ve never been a burger-and-fries guy or gal.

Homestate

4624 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027

This low-key, Texas-style eatery serves up breakfast and lunch with tacos like the picadillo (grass-fed ground beef, potato, carrots, and pickled jalapeno), the brisket (shredded brisket, guacamole, and slaw), the vegetarian Brazos (black beans and Monterey Jack) and the trinity (organic eggs, bacon, potato, cheddar). One note: they are only taking online orders now.

Tallula’s


118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica CA 90402
Influenced by Executive Chef Saw Naing’s Burmese and Indian heritage, the homestyle menu fuses those flavors with traditional Mexican cuisine. Dishes come both hot (like the vegetable masala enchiladas with blue corn tortillas, green garlic, and spiced tomato sauce ) and cold (the Baja kampachi ceviche with strawberry hibiscus aguachile, red onion, and jalapeno).

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Valley Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

Among the many businesses bearing the initial economic brunt of the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. With eateries closing their doors daily as they are reduced to serving only delivery or takeout, we wanted to highlight some of the local ones that remain open. Order in or call ahead for pick up – the food is delicious and you’ll be supporting a business in need during challenging times.

Conejo Valley

Kabab Plus Mediterranean Fusion Grill

50 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard No. 2, Thousand Oaks, 91360
For three decades, this family-owned business has been part of the Thousand Oaks community, serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The kababs, marinated with natural ingredients, are served with basmati rice, hummus, salad, and grilled pita. They also offer gyros, wraps, salads, and protein bowls, along with other sides, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.

Sesame Inn

3327 W Kimber Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Serving up classic Chinese fare since 2000, this eatery is located inside Kimber Plaza. Chef’s specials include the sesame crispy shrimp battered in butter then sautéed in honey sauce, the lightly-breaded lemon chicken, and the triple-meat kung pao with shrimp, chicken and beef sautéed with red peppers, peanuts, and mushrooms.

Bottega Italian Deli

3184 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
This eatery, specializing in genuine Italian, opened in 2015 from the same owners as Trattoria de Roma in Tarzana and Piccola Roma in Woodland Hills. Sandwiches include the Italian sausage with melted Scamorza cheese, homemade marinara, peppers and onions, and the L’Americano, with Prosciutto, roast beef, ham, pastrami, Swiss cheese, roasted peppers, and mayo.

San Fernando Valley 

Furn San Restaurant and Bakery

11146 Balboa Boulevard, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Since opening in 2013, this family-owned restaurant has been serving homemade Lebanese food to the community. Promising to give customers the most authentic experience available in Southern California, plates include falafel, Mediterranean beef sausage, gyro as well as beef and chicken shawarma. There are also vegan options with both grilled vegan chicken and grilled plant-based protein. All come with a choice of two sides, pickles, turnips, and fresh saj bread.

Szechuan Place


9250 N. Reseda Boulevard No. 8, Northridge, CA 91342
This eatery serves up American-style Chinese food – including kung pao and General Tso’s Style chicken – as well as house specials like shredded pork in Szechuan sauce. For an appetizer, dabble in either the dumplings or the spicy wonton soup.

Hugo’s Restaurant

Studio City 12851 Riverside Drive, Valley Village, CA 91607

Founder Terry Kaplan bought Hugo’s when it was still a butcher shop in 1975. According to the restaurant’s site, his vision was to “to have a family of co-workers who cared for each other in a genuine way” while producing original, memorable dishes. Hugo’s eventually became a full-fledged restaurant in 1980 and today, still makes its meals from scratch, including pasta like the vegan mac and cheese (fusilli pasta with garlic, sliced mushrooms, and sweet peas) and entrees like the Chicken Carciofi (chicken breast in olive oil with artichoke hearts and spinach).

Santa Clarita

Pierogi Spot


26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
This family-run restaurant offers pierogi with a range of options – from onions and cheese to jalapenos and spinach – as well as such other authentic fare as polish sausage, stuffed cabbage, and beef stew. This is the second location for the owners, who have operated the Polka Restaurant on Verdugo Road since 1994.

Temakitto


28126 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
The self-described “first established Japanese Burrito restaurant in Southern California” serves up inventive dishes with tuna, crab, salmon, Mongolian beef and pork belly. Sushi pizza and tuna nachos are also on the menu of this colorful cafe.

Kebab Grill


18517 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Fresh Mediterranean fare is on the menu at this spot – from the beef and chicken shawarma to the lamb skewers. If you prefer your shawarma as an appetizer, you can order the shawarma fries topped with a mix of three kinds of cheese, choice of chicken or beef and sour cream.

 

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Out and About: Virtual Tourism

There’s never been a better time to explore the world. From the Louvre to the Smithsonian to the Guggenheim, the largest museums around the globe are now as close as your screen, thanks to the arrival of virtual tours designed to carry you through their corridors and exhibits. For a population increasingly isolated as current events unfold, this online arena offers a welcome reprieve from confinement and the chance to glimpse cultures, civilizations and works of art that might have otherwise gone ignored. From Manhattan and Paris to London and Sao Paulo, here are 10 museums to seek out – without ever having to step foot in an airport. 

British Museum: London

And now for something truly epic, this legendary museum’s interactive virtual tour of the world’s history spans roughly two million years. Along the way, you can explore the religions, conflicts, and triumphs of a multitude of civilizations that have dotted our planet through the ages. Additionally, the museum, which is closed due to the pandemic, allows virtual tourists to wander its halls and discover artifacts including the Rosetta Stone. If that still leaves you unsatisfied, supplement the virtual tours by listening to A History of the World in 100 Objects, a podcast narrated by the museum’s director Neil MacGregor.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.

Especially for kids, you can’t go wrong with dinosaurs, fossils and mysterious creatures from the depths. So take them along for this virtual tour and embrace the adventure.

The Louvre

The world’s largest art museum, this Paris landmark, located on the Right Bank of the Seine, measures more than 782,000 square feet and displays more than 38,000 artifacts and works from prehistory to the present – all of which can be appreciated from your home now.

African American History and Culture: Washington, D.C.

This museum and its 35,000 artifacts set out to do nothing less than telling the story of America. Although the virtual tour offers only a glimpse of all that the museum has to provide visitors, it’s impressive nonetheless.

Russia’s State Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg, Russia

This stunning video – remarkably filmed in 4K in one continuous take on an iPhone 11 Pro – spans more than five hours as it carries you through this museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. All told, the tour covers 45 galleries and 588 artistic masterpieces.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence 

One of the most prestigious art museums in Italy and the world, the Uffizi Gallery sits adjacent to the Piazza Della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. Built-in 1560, its treasures include works from the Italian Renaissance, all of which can be explored here.  

MASP, Sao Paulo 

Considered Brazil’s first modern museum, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit boasting a collection of more than 8,000 works, including sculptures, paintings, and photographs from across continents. 

Guggenheim Museum, New York 

As renowned for the skylight and spiral staircase at its center as its vast collection of art, now you can explore both, thanks to Google’s Street View feature. 

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located on the left bank of the Seine, this museum is housed in a former railway station and features mostly French works dating from 1848 to 1914. Take their virtual tour and browse masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Focused on Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations and culture, this museum features more than 20 exhibit rooms, complete with Mayan artifacts. 

  

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Streaming: 10 “Grade A” Shows & Movies to Stream

Moviegoing, with its elbow-to-elbow maneuvering room, is not socially distant. Which, of course, is one of its great pleasures: watching a story unfold on a big screen in the dark, surrounded by strangers. So it’s no surprise the experience itself is changing in these difficult times, as cinemas are shuttered and studios scramble to adjust. Already NBCUniversal has announced movies still in release, including the hit The Invisible Man, will arrive this week on VOD platforms. Given this, here’s a rundown of what else is available to stream from home.

Frozen 2 (DisneyPlus)

When you have children with nowhere to go, you need a friend like Disney. In addition to a library that spans decades of animated and live-action family fare, this streamer released Frozen II this past weekend only a few weeks after it arrived on DVD and Blu-ray. The sequel picks up with Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf on a journey to learn the origins of Elsa’s magical powers. FOR AGES: All ages.

I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)

As it opens with a traumatized teenage girl with telekinetic powers wandering a small-town street, comparisons to Carrie are inevitable. But this new paranormal series isn’t Stephen King’s thriller about a prom queen with demons. And it’s not the X-Men either. Which explains why this clever, soulful spin on adolescent self-discovery has emerged a breakout hit. Sophia Lillis stars as Sydney, a high school student in rural Pennsylvania who realizes she has superpowers. It’s also a quick binge: each episode is a mere half-hour. FOR AGES: 16 and up.

One Strange Rock (DisneyPlus)

Think of this as Earth’s biography. Will Smith narrates as the series, propelled by the cinematic style of producer Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), plunges across amazing terrestrial spots and to the heights of the International Space Station. The show lives up to its National Geographic pedigree, but with Aronofsky’s involvement, it also proves a stylish, at times troubling fever dream almost as volatile as the planet itself. FOR AGES: 10 and up.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)

If you haven’t had a chance to sample this Emmy-winning comedy, there’s no better time to catch up on its breezy first three seasons. Rachel Brosnahan stars as a 1950s housewife turned unlikely stand-up comic. Brosnahan radiates charm, but it’s the supporting cast – including Alex Borstein, Marin Hinkle, and Tony Shalhoub – who take the show to creative heights. FOR AGES: 18 and up.

Locke and Key (Netflix)

Based on the graphic novels from horror author Joe Hill (NOS 482), this supernatural series involves three siblings who discover their home is a portal to a universe of magic and mystery. Despite Hill’s involvement, the drama is less a fright fest than a teen-friendly fantasy. In other words, if you’re looking for a Stranger Things fix, this might suffice. FOR AGES: 13 and up.

Spenser Confidential (Netflix)

Beantown’s Mark Wahlberg – who once made an online video tutorial on Boston slang – goes home for this buddy comedy loosely inspired by the works of the late private eye author Robert B. Parker. He stars as Spenser, a disgraced ex-cop fresh out of prison who investigates a murder alongside a quietly-intense mixed martial arts fighter called Hawk (Winston Duke from Us and Black Panther). FOR AGES: 18 and up.

Bob’s Burgers (Hulu)

Neither as farcical as The Simpsons nor as nihilistic as Family Guy, this long-running animated comedy about an oft-beleaguered family man living his dream of operating his own burger joint has wit, heart and a deep, abiding affection for life’s oddballs. If you’ve somehow managed to miss it this past decade, or simply want to revisit favorite old episodes, Hulu has curated 10 seasons – or 188 episodes. FOR AGES: 13 and up. 

Hunters (Amazon Prime)

Al Pacino has embraced the new streaming reality lately – first, with a volcanic performance as Jimmy Hoffa in Netflix’s The Irishman and now with Hunters, his first regular series role as the leader of a band of Nazi hunters in the 1970s. If the subject matter sounds grim, the tone of the Jordan Peele-produced thriller is closer to Inglorious Basterds. FOR AGES: 18 and up. 

Love Is Blind (Netflix)

For fans of The Bachelor, this reality dating show follows 30 men and women who get to know each other from behind private pod walls before eventually coming face-to-face. As their relationship progresses, they need to decide if love is truly blind. FOR AGES: 16 and up. 

Stargirl (DisneyPlus)

Don’t mistake this for the superhero series coming soon to The CW as part of its DC Universe of shows. This Stargirl is a teen drama based on the 2000 bestselling novel by Jerry Spinelli about a free-spirited new girl in school who inspires other students to embrace their true selves and resist conformity. FOR AGES: 10 and up. 

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Games: Family Edition

Game night has evolved a lot since the days of checkers and Clue. Board games now range from intricate puzzles requiring the utmost strategic thinking to intense mythologies that draw in players for hours (and hours) to raucous adults-only laugh riots. So to say, in this era of social distancing, games are one way to pass the time is a disservice to their makers and the people who play, regardless of current events. Sit yourself and the kids down and break out any of the following 10 family-friendly games. You might end up having a great time, even stuck indoors.

Jax Sequence

As with life, all this takes to win is some luck and a little strategy. Participants play a card while at the same time placing a chip on the equivalent space on the board. The aim is to assemble five in a row: a winning sequence. Suggested for ages seven and up, the game is ideal for almost any setting since it can be played by as few as two people or as many as 12. 

Heist        

If you think spending a few days on a road trip with your family is a pressure cooker, what about trying to pull off a heist together? That’s the premise behind this game, which sets your team out to crack a safe. Expect as many twists, turns and close calls as an Ocean Eleven’s sequel as your team works to crack a safe. For ages seven and up.

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly

If you have several hours to wheel and deal, backstab and bankrupt, then the classic board game, which dates back to the Great Depression, offers all the pleasure and pain of Wall Street without leaving your living room. It’s recommended for ages eight and up, but honestly, you’re never too young to learn the value of money – or how to connive and claw to get some.

Not Parent Approved: A Card Game for Families            

If you’re in the mood for laughter without having to think about things, you’ll approve. A family-friendly variation on the adults-only Cards Against Humanity, this game challenges mischief makers to match a fill-in-the-blank question with a card from their hand. Silliness ensues.

Throw Throw Burrito Board Game                  


You don’t go into a game called “Throw Throw Burrito Board Game” expecting a master class in chess. The goal is simple enough: “collect cards and throw things at your friends.” Those things, as you might expect, are the ever-smiling burritos. And you lose points every time one strikes you. Recommended for ages seven and up.

Game Mashups – Candy Land Connect 4        

This mashup game takes the architecture of Connect 4 and adds some sweets straight out of Candy Land. Players try to line up plastic candies on the bottom row or vertically from the bottom. Recommended for children ages six and up.

Flying Sushi Kitchen Game    

For parents who find retrieving pieces of sushi with chopsticks a challenge, here’s a game to ensure their children develop vastly superior motor skills. The goal: snare levitating pieces of sushi out of the air and be the first player to assemble his or her platter. This one is recommended for children ages eight to 14.

Twister Scrabble Game

 

Another mashup of two classic games. In this one, for ages eight and up, the twister mat is actually a giant Scrabble board, with players forced to contort, twist and bend themselves into knots in order to spell out words.

Party Bowl Party Game

From What Do You Meme’s line of family-friendly games, this one is perfect for outgoing players who enjoy Charades-like guessing antics. Words and phrases are tossed into a bowl, then guessed upon by others. Since it allows players to decide how racy they want the game if at all, it’s suggested for ages 12 and up.

Family Feud Trivia Box Card Game 

No explanation required. This trivia-box version of the enduring game show brings the feud home. Just remember, after the game’s over, you’re still going to be stuck with these people for a while longer. For ages eight and up, so the whole family can get in on what the survey says.

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Home Tips: Sick-Proofing Your Home

You may not have heard lately, but it’s still cold and flu season. This means as concerned as you are about the coronavirus, there are other germs galore equally intent on making you ill. The good news: most of them, including COVID-19, can be effectively dealt with by simple cleanliness, especially around the home. And while that has predictably created mass shortages of sanitizing products, it also requires more than a simple wipe-down. Here are a few ways to help keep your house a healthier place as you hunker down for the long haul.

WIPE SMART

Possessing the precious sanitizing wipe isn’t enough – you also need to wield it correctly. First, after cleaning, surfaces should stay wet for a few minutes, then be allowed to air dry. Second, the wipe should be discarded (no matter how diminished your supply is) as studies have shown reusing it will only spread germs rather than eliminate them. If you don’t have sanitizing wipes, try mixing five tablespoons of bleach in a gallon of water as a make-ready disinfectant. Using a vinegar solution isn’t potent enough, especially against COVID-19. 

Wipe your fEET

There’s little point to assiduously scrubbing your house down if you’re tracking in dirt and who-knows-what into the place every time you enter. Slap down a fresh doormat at every entryway and remove your shoes whenever you come inside. Better still, wash the soles frequently because, again, who knows what you stepped in out there.

WASH TOWELS AND LINENS

Linens and towels, which viruses and bacteria cling to, should be washed frequently in hot water. If someone in your home has been sick, a few extra steps are recommended, such as introducing bleach to your laundry – always follow the instructions on the label – and then sterilizing the washing machine itself. This can be done by adding bleach to an empty cycle of hot water, then running it a second time just to make sure the bleach has been drained away.

SANITIZE YOUR CLEANING TOOLS

After you’ve scrubbed and disinfected from one corner to the other, you aren’t finished cleaning until you’ve sanitized the mops, rags and any other items you may have used. Otherwise, you run the risk of having only captured the germs in your home – which you will then distribute around the next time you “clean.” Wash them with hot water and soap as well as a touch of bleach. And if possible, ditch your mops and brooms altogether for disposable cloth refills.

HUMIDIFY YOUR HOME

From cutting down on static electricity to keeping wood from splitting, there are many reasons to keep humidifiers around, especially during winter. But most importantly, a humidifier, like the Vicks mist humidifier pictured here on Amazon, can help eliminate flu viruses. And if you are suffering symptoms, a higher humidity level can soothe sore throats and sinus congestion.

 

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Economic Update for the Week Ending March 13, 2020

 

Stock Markets Entered Bear Market Territory

Its difficult to imagine that all major stock market indexes closed at all time highs on February 19, 2020. In less than a month the longest bull market in history has ended because of a virus that has caused a global pandemic. Investors have concluded that the cruise industry will be decimated. It’s probable that the airline industry will need a bail out. Retail, sports, entertainment, restaurants, private schools, and other business sectors will also suffer devastating losses. Demand for oil with cruise ships halted, flights cancelled, people staying home and not driving has caused a surplus in the supply of oil. OPEC had called for cutting production to keep an already over supply of inventory from increasing and stabilizing prices, but Russia refused, and oil prices saw their largest one day decline since 1991. By weeks end the Fed had announced how they would add liquidity to support the financial system, and help business lending. The House also passed an emergency package. The Fed action, and the prospect of congressional stimulus sparked a 2,000 point rally on Friday to end the week with less devastation to stocks by making up much of Thursday’s losses which was the largest one day percentage drop in the DOW, eclipsing Black Monday’s drop in 1987. To be fair, on the positive side major stock market indexes are still above their levels at the beginning of 2019. We have lost about one year of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 23,185.62, down 10.4% from 25,864.78 last week. It’s down 18.8% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,711.02, down 8.8% from 2,972.37 last week. It’s down 16.1% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,874.88, down 8.2% from 8,575.62 last week. It’s down 12.2% year to date.

U.S. Treasury Bond Yields

As stock markets continued to plummet investors moved money from stocks to the safety of bonds. The 10-year treasury bond yield closed the week slightly above last week, but still at their lowest level in 100 years, Monday’s yields dropped to the lowest in the history in America, but worked their way up in the end of the week. The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.94%, up from 0.74% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.56%, up from 1.25%, last week. We watch treasury bond yields because mortgage rates often follow bond yields.

Mortgage Rates at 40-Year Lows 

The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on March 12, 2020 reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.36% up from 3.29% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.77% unchanged from 2.79% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.01%, down from 3.18% last week. Usually, mortgage rates follow bond yields, but lenders have not lowered rates to the extent that bond yields have dropped. This week lenders actually raised rates because they did not have the staff to handle the volume of all the loans in process, as sales have been brisk, and refinancing has surged.

 

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Rodeo in the News: LABJ Ranks 5 Of Our Own Among Top Realtors in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles Business Journal released its annual list that ranks top agents in the Los Angeles Residential Real Estate Market. Five of Rodeo Realty’s own are featured on the list!

“For the agents who drive L.A.’s residential real estate market, the past year was defined by escalating growth, the rising presence of international buyers and record-breaking prices for luxe estates. The features that follow provide an in-depth look at the market’s key players and top sales as well as detailed data on the city’s leading brokers.” – Los Angeles Business Journal

Check out who is featured, below!

Congratulations to all, well deserved! See the rest of the list, HERE!

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LA Events: March 13- March 15

From a Broadway sensation to film noir tough guys to the return of The Strokes, there’s a concert, event or conference for you in Los Angeles and the Westside this weekend – whether you’re in the mood for dark, catchy pop or a jazz phenom’s fairy tale.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Hamilton

Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit almost immediately entered the pop culture lexicon. If you haven’t seen it, this is your chance to find out why. With hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and classic Broadway, Miranda tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  For details, go HERE.

VERITE with Arthur Moon

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

VERITE is California native Kelsey Byrne, whose style of catchy but moody pop first turned heads in the blogosphere. In 2017, she released her first full-length album, Somewhere in Between, on her own record label. For details on the show, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

22nd Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir

The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood, 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Dedicated to hard-bitten hustlers, sleek gangsters and vexing dames, the longest-running film noir festival in Los Angeles is casting its long shadow at the Egyptian Theatre with another sensational lineup of rare films. On Saturday, March 14, the festival unspools a five-film noir marathon: Out of the Past with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas; The Guilty with Don Castle and Wally Cassel; High Tide with Lee Tracy; The Prowler with Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes; and Try and Get Me, with Lloyd Bridges. For details, go HERE.

The Strokes

The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA

Indie princes The Strokes return to the City of Angels ahead of their first full-length album in seven years, The New Abnormal. Most recently, the group has been stirring interest with a stream of singles including Ode to the Mets and At the Door. Performing ahead of the group is rising rocker King Princess. For ticket information, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020

Cecile McLorin Salvant

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Jazz phenom Cecile McLorin Salvant blends bluegrass and jazz in the fairy tale Ogresse, about a human-eating monster who lives in the woods. And like all the best fairy tales, this one, told from the point of view of a young black woman, has a lot to say about the world today. For ticket information, go HERE.

Shordie Shordie

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

Once considered one of rap’s best-kept secrets, Shordie Shordie now appears on the cusp of big things. With his Baltimore trio Peso Da Mafia, he released projects such as What Matters Most (2017) and Never a Drought (2018). Their 2017 single Money Man became a sensation in their hometown. For details about this show, go HERE.

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