The Best Local Pie Shops | LA Eats

Planning to host Thanksgiving? Remember, no Thanksgiving feast is truly complete without a delicious pie! To help you find the perfect dessert, we’ve compiled a list of the finest pie shops in and around Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley. Keep reading to discover the top spots for picking up a Thanksgiving pie in these areas.

Los Angeles Area

Knowrealitypie

Location: Eagle Rock

This award-winning pie shop is renowned for its handcrafted pies, a testament to their quality and craftsmanship. They also feature delightful mini pies, perfect for one or two people. With an array of unique and tantalizing flavors, this shop invites you to explore every taste profile they offer. Their selection includes innovative creations like sweet potato cornbread pie, espresso chocolate pecan pie, triple berry cabernet pie, among many other distinctive flavors.

Cake Monkey Bakery

Three pies are on display at Cake Monkey in Los Angeles.

Location: Mid-City and North Hollywood

Cake Monkey’s brilliant better-together pie, featuring layers of pumpkin and pecan, might just steal the show this holiday season. Also in the lineup: a rich butterscotch pudding pie with a graham cracker crust and a cider-roasted apple pie with a flaky double-cheddar crust. Place your orders online by noon on November 23 for pick-up at either the Mid-City or North Hollywood locations. Vegan and gluten-free options are available as well.

Westside and Beach Communities

Winston Pies

Location: Brentwood and Marina Del Rey

Winston Pies stands out as one of the top pie shops in the area, offering a delightful array of pies in various sizes. Whether you’re looking for a single serving or a pie large enough for twelve, they’ve got you covered. Among their popular selections are the Funfetti pie and the Caramel Twix pie. With their extensive range of flavors, you’re sure to find a pie that perfectly suits your taste at Winston Pies.

Sweet Laurel

Location: Pacific Palisades

Dessert enthusiasts will be delighted by Sweet Laurel, nestled in Pacific Palisades. This charming sweet shop caters to various dietary preferences with its exquisite selection of paleo, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free treats. For the month of November, they’re offering a special, limited edition twist on the classic apple pie, adding a unique touch to this traditional favorite.

San Fernando Valley Area

Creme Caramel LA

Situated in Sherman Oaks, this bakery is famous for its unique selection of upside-down pies. They offer a variety of these inverted delights, including flavors like strawberries n cream, cookies n cream, and pumpkin spice upside-down pies, among others. With a wide range to choose from, each pie offers a distinctive twist on traditional favorites.

Sweet Lady Jane Bakery

Using only the freshest ingredients, handpicked and prepared by their skilled team, this bakery specializes in pies that perfectly capture the essence of the Thanksgiving season. Their menu includes seasonal favorites like the pumpkin cheesecake pie and the classic pumpkin pie, each crafted to enhance your holiday celebration.

Conejo Valley Area

Suburban Pie & Treats

Renowned for their meticulously handcrafted crusts, this bakery offers an array of delectable pies, featuring flavors like blueberry, lime, and pear. They incorporate fresh fruit into each pie, enhancing the overall flavor and creating a truly scrumptious taste experience.

 

Economic Update | Week Ending November 16, 2024

Inflation ticked up in October – The Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that consumer process increased 2.6% year-over-year in October, up from a 2.4% year-over-year increase in September. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, increased 3.3% year-over-year, unchanged from its September annual increase. The Producer Price Index (PPI) also increased in October. It measures wholesale prices which increased 2.4% year-over-year in October, its highest level in 4 months, and up from a 1.9% year-over-year increase in September. The Core PPI level came in at a 3.5% year-over-year increase in October, up from a 3.3% increase in September. These increases were in line with analysts’ expectations as increased retail sales, consumer confidence, and other data pointed to the economy picking up. They forecasted inflation heating up a bit. In fact, Fed Chairman Powell spoke on Thursday. He also spoke about the signs of strength in the economy. While he said that the Fed still intends to continue moving down to more neutral rates, he stated “the economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates.” We have seen long-term bond yields and mortgage rates increase sharply since the first Fed rate drop in September due to signs that the economy appears to be picking up steam.

The chart below shows the CPI rate since 2021. Even though it moved up last month, it’s still much lower than it has been over the past two years.

Stock markets – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 43,444.99, down 1.2% from 43,988.89 last week. It is up 15.3% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 5,870.62, down 2.1% from 5,995.54 last week. The S&P is up 23.1% year-to-date. The Nasdaq closed the week at 18,680.12, down 3.2% from 19,289.78 last week. It is up 24.4% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.43%, up from 4.30% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.60%, up from 4.47% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields.

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of November 14th, 2024, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.78%, down from 6.79% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.99%, down from 6.00% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Have a great weekend!

Mortgage Rate Update | November 14, 2024

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of November 14th, 2024, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.78%, down from 6.79% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.99%, down from 6.00% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Economic Update | Week Ending November 9, 2024

Economic news this week centered around the election and the Fed. When word spread that President Trump had won the election the stock market surged on expectations of less regulation and lower corporate tax rates than had Vice President Harris won. The Dow gained over 1,200 points on Wednesday after Trump was declared the winner. Bond yields spiked as investors feared that tariffs would increase prices for imports and that fewer undocumented immigrants would raise labor prices, both of which could reignite inflation. For example, the 10-year treasury bond yield was 4.26% on election day, Tuesday, and jumped to 4.42% on Wednesday. Fortunately, on Thursday Fed Chairman, Powell announced that the Fed was dropping their benchmark rates by ¼% and stated a possibility of another drop in December as well as further drops in 2025. When asked if he anticipated the possibility of rate increases next year at a press conference, he said that he could not rule out anything but anticipates further drops not increases as the Fed brings rates to a less restrictive level. Both his statements and the digesting of the election results had investors feeling that the sharp rise in bond yields was an overaction and the 10-year ended the week at 4.30%, down from last Friday and just slightly higher than on election day. Next week we will get some important inflation news. The Consumer Price Index will be released by the government on Wednesday and the Producer Price Index will be released on Thursday. Should those indicate that inflation is still moderating it will be good for mortgage rates and bond yields.

Stock markets – Stock market indexes closed the week at record highs –Expectations of less regulation and lower corporate tax rates drove stocks to record highs in their best week of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 43,988.89, down 4.6% from 42,052.19 last week. It is up 16.7% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 5,995.54, up 4.8% from 5,718.80 last week. The S&P is up 25.7% year-to-date. The Nasdaq closed the week at 19,289.78, up 5.8 % from 18,239.92 last week. It is up 28.5% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.30%, down from 4.37% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.47%, down from 4.51% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields.

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 31, 2024, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.79%, up from 6.72% last week. The 15-year fixed was 6.00%, unchanged from 5.99% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Image

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Have a great weekend!

Mortgage Rate Update | November 7, 2024

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of November 7th, 2024, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.79%, up from 6.72% last week. The 15-year fixed was 6.00%, unchanged from 5.99% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Rodeo Realty Sure Start – November ’24 Schedule

**All Classes are taught at the Encino Office 17501 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316 except for Thursday November 7th which will be held at the Corporate Office 9171 Wilshire Blvd, Suite #321 in Beverly Hills**

Monday, November 4th
9:30 – 11:00: Real Estate Laws, Ethics, Responsibilities. MLS rules, NAR code of ethics
John Gould

11:15 – 12:45: Disclosure Requirements, Agent inspection duties, Risk management
John Gould

1:45 – 3:15: Listing paperwork, Seller Disclosures, TDS, SPQ, AVID, Lead Paint Disclosure, Water Heater Smoke Detector Statement of Compliance, Toxic Mold Disclosure, Earthquake Booklet, Carbon Monoxide Disclosure, etc.
Part 1
Wendy Cox

3:30 – 5:00: Continuation of Seller Disclosures –
Part 2
Wendy Cox

Tuesday, November 5th
9:30 – 4:30: Prospecting Boot Camp

Wednesday, November 6th
9:30 – 11:00: Unleashing the power of the mind. How to create your Real Estate Success!
Buddy Gordon

11:15 – 12:45: It’s all about habit. Practical day-to-day applications to make it all work.
Buddy Gordon

1:45 – 3:15: Anatomy of the transaction. What to do after the receipt for deposit is signed. Getting the escrow closed. Time frames. Keeping your clients informed. What to expect during Escrow? We’ll go over an entire transaction from start to close.
Part 1
Oren Barkan

3:30 – 5:00: Anatomy of the transaction – Continued
Part 2
Oren Barkan

Thursday, November 7th
**This will take place at the corporate office 9171 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 321 in Beverly Hills, CA 90210**

10:00 – 12:00: Corporate tour/Rodeo Tools
Corporate Staff

12:30 – 2:00: Digital Marketing – Social Marketing – One-on-One Technology Training
Corporate Staff

2:30 – 4:00: Geographical Farming plus Open House Techniques
John Gould

Friday, November 8th
9:30 – 11:00: Finding Homes to Show, Showing Property, Presenting Offers, Counter Offers, Multiple Offers
Marc Chorin

11:15 – 12:45: ZipForms and the forms library
Simon Pozi

1:45 – 3:15: Leases – Paperwork required. How to complete them. What are your responsibilities?
Kristy Fields

3:30 – 5:00: Home Inspection. What does the Seller have to do? Handling Requests for Repairs
Kristy Fields

Monday, November 11th

9:30 – 11:00: Listing Presentation, Part 1
John Gould

11:15 – 12:45: Listing Presentation, Part 2
John Gould

1:45 – 3:00: Residential Purchase Agreement
Part 1
Mark Shepard

3:15 – 4:30: Purchase Agreement
Part 2
Mark Shepard

Tuesday, November 12th
9:30 – 11:00: Escrow duties and process. Reviewing a buyer and seller closing statement. What the costs are for?
Encore Escrow

11:15 – 12:45: Loan products, down payment requirements, credit scores, how buyers are qualified, buyer’s closing costs
LA Mortgage

1:45 – 3:15: Title Insurance – reading a Preliminary Title Report
Progressive Title

Wednesday, November 13th
9:30 – 11:00: Psychology of Sales. Helping buyers and sellers make decisions.
Kyle Leibovitch

11:15 – 12:45: Psychology of Sales, Part 2
Kyle Leibovitch

1:45 – 3:15: Difference between Counteroffer forms – when is the acceptance – COP form – Other forms
Buddy Gordon

3:30 – 5:00: Disclosures included with RPA, Agency, Fair Housing & Discrimination Advisory, Possible Representation of More Than one Buyer or Seller – Disclosure and Consent, Wire Fraud & Electronic Funds Transfer Advisory, Buyer’s Investigation Advisory, Fair Appraisal Act Addendum, Consumer Privacy Act Advisory, Disclosure & Notice
Buddy Gordon

Thursday, November 14th
10:00 – 12:00: Texting Techniques with Scripts
Buddy Gordon and Mike Weaver

1:15 – 3:15: Go Door Knocking with Buddy and Mike
Buddy Gordon and Mike Weaver

4:00 – 5:00: Back to the office to make some cold calls together
Buddy Gordon and Mike Weaver

Economic Update | Week Ending November 1, 2024

Weekly Economic Update WEU econ

U.S. Hiring Stalled in October – The Department of Labor and Statistics reported that only 12,000 new jobs were added in October, down from a revised 223,000 new jobs added in September, and well below what economists expected. The two hurricanes and the Boeing and other related strikes were cited as the reason for the drastic drop. It is not possible to put a number on what hiring would have occurred in southern states that are still assessing damage from two devastating hurricanes in October, or how many strike-related job losses there were. Normally a drop in hiring like this would cause the stock market to drop sharply and bond yields and mortgage rates to drop as well, but it was exactly the opposite on Friday after the report was digested, as investors accepted the hurricane and strike excuse for the low jobs number. The unemployment rate was 4.1%, unchanged from September and down from 4.2% in August. Average hourly wages increased 4% year-over-year in October, down from a 4.2% annual increase in September, but still higher than the 3.8% annual increase in July and August.

Stock markets – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 42,052.19, down 1.15% from 42,114.40 last week. It is up 11.6% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 5,718.80, down 1.5% from 5,808.12 last week. The S&P is up 19.9% year-to-date. The Nasdaq closed the week at 18,239.92, down 1.5% from 18,518.61 last week. It is up 21.5% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.37%, up from 4.25% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.57%, up from 4.51% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields.

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 31, 2024, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.72%, up from 6.54% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.99%, up from 5.71% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Image

Have a great weekend!