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Rodeo Realty President Syd Leibovitch Quoted In The Los Angeles Times Discussing The Spring Real Estate Market

House sold signThere has been a lot of conversation lately about what the housing market will look like this spring. After a year of emphatic recovery in 2013 in which prices saw double-digit increases in the Los Angeles area, there is some concern that this spring’s season will be less robust. Recent numbers from DataQuick show that prices in February were mostly flat and sales fell. However winter is traditionally a slow month for housing sales but year-over-year data has been low.

For their article on the current state of the market, the Los Angeles Times turned to Rodeo Realty President Syd Leibovitch to get his take on local real estate. He told the Times that he predicts a busy spring, especially as inventory concerns start to ease around the Southland. Syd predicts a busy spring noting that more homes have come on the market and some are selling well above asking price, noting that the demand influx is starting and ” it seems to be starting big time.”

As California’s economy and unemployment situation continues to improve it will likely also boost the housing market. For the complete story, please visit the LA Times website.

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Rodeo Realty In The News

Rodeo Realty agents and their properties are frequently featured in some of the top publications in the area and around the globe. Below is a sampling of recent press:

 Agent Mentions:

Jay Stewart Samilin was quoted in the LA Times on a story about how student loan debt is impacting young buyers.

Wendy Furth was quoted on HSH.com giving her tips for how to tsell an imperfect house.

Ron Tanzman was profiled in the Wall Street Journal as part of a story regarding luxury home owners renting part of their homes out.

Chelsea Robinson was featured in RISMedia discussing her experiences using Facebook for advertising.

Jon Lichterman and his Craftsman listing were included in an article on curb appeal for Craftsman homes.

Ben Salem was quoted by Reuters on the value of outdoor patios.

Syd Leibovitch was quoted in the Los Angeles Times on the spring buying season.

Carol Wolfe was featured in Ventura Blvd. magazine.

Joe Goldin was quoted about homes on Candy Cane Lane.

Joe Babajian, Josh Flagg, and Peter Maurice were included in the list of top 25 agents in Los Angeles as listed by The Hollywood Reporter.

Josh Flagg gave OK! TV a tour of his home.

Nikki Hochstein was quoted in the LA Times in an article on the rise in Silicon Beach housing prices.

Natalie Alchadeff was quoted in the Virginian-Pilot about the sometimes confusing world of real estate lingo.

Carmen Mormino was featured in The Acorn for his real estate sales in Westlake Village.

Sam Kwasman was quoted in the LA Daily News on the decision to return North Hills West to Granada Hills.

Josh Flagg was interviewed by The Real Deal on selling real estate in Los Angeles.

Peter Maurice and Josh Flagg were quoted in The Hollywood Reporter in a story on L.A.’s hottest neighborhoods.

Rodeo Realty won the award for Best Brand Integration at the LuxuryRealEstate.com Awards for 2013.

Steven Bijan Mesbah was quoted in the Reno Gazette-Journal regarding his work with Vegas developer, Siegel Group.

Mona Cohen was featured in the October/November issue of Brentwood Focus magazine.

Ron Tanzman was quoted in the LA Times on the government shutdown’s effect on the real estate market.

The sale of Josh Flagg’s condo was featured as an LA Times Hot Property.

Josh Flagg was profiled in Haute Living magazine discussing his favorite places in Los Angeles.

Rodeo Realty’s purchase of the former Palisades Post building was mentioned in the Palisades Post.

Tai Savet was honored for his work with the Rock Life group to help fight bullying in schools–The Acorn

Rodeo Realty’s Josh Flagg appeared on ABC News to discuss a new trend in luxury real estate, lavish real estate videos.

Agent Ken Marker was featured on the VH1 program “Marrying The Game” showing a house to Tiffney and “The Game.”

How To Win A Bidding War–Wall Street Journal

Home Price Rebound Has the Look of a Boom–LA Times

Americans Gambling On Rates With Most ARMs Since 2008–Businessweek

 

Properties In The News:

Barbra Stover’s sale of the Dr. Jerry Buss house was covered by the Los Angeles Times, Realtor.com, and other outlets.

Ben Salem’s sale of Joe Hahn’s Brentwood home was featured by the Los Angeles Times Hot Property section.

Forbes named 9380 Sierra Mar one of its top luxury spec homes for 2014.

LA Confidential featured Nanette Marchand’s Newport Beach listing.

The LA Times noted the sale of Anjelica Huston’s Venice home. Mary Kay Nibley was one of the listing agents.

Hooked on Houses featured Joe Babajian’s listing at 616 N Foothill.

Curbed LA featured a rustic charmer listed in Sherman Oaks by Jesse James Johnson.

Pete Rose’s Sherman Oaks home was featured by TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

A Buff & Hensman architectural home listed by John Galich and Dan Schott was featured by Curbed LA and on Curbed National.

Peter Maurice was the buyer’s agent for a home sold by Venus Williams, as reported by the LA Times.

Joe Babajian’s listing of Villa Fiona was covered by NBC News and Zillow as well as HGTV’s Front Door.

A John Byers design in Santa Monica listed by Wendy Kirshner was featured in Curbed LA.

Tom Otero’s rental of Adam Carolla’s home was featured by Trulia.

Ben Bacal’s listing on Sierra Mar was covered by Curbed LA and Pricey Pads.

Two properties listed by Orit Maimon and Joe Babajian were featured in a story on romantic homes in the LA Confidential blog.

John Galich and Dan Schott’s listing of a home formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres was mentioned by the Los Angeles Times.

Peter Maurice and Tregg Rustad’s listing of the George Duke estate was covered by the LA Times.

Megan Ellison’s purchase in the  Hollywood Hills in which Ben Bacal was the buyer’s agent was featured in the LA Times, Curbed LA,  Zillow, Realtor.com, Haute Residence,  and the Real Estalker.

Pete Rose’s home, listed by Gloria Hicks, was featured in the LA Confidential’s list of celebrity homes.

A property sold by Lilach Basson was the third most searched property on Redfin in 2013.

917 Loma Vista and 9152 Janice Place were featured by LA Confidential.

Jennifer Winchell’s Mulholland listing was chosen as a house of the day by Curbed and featured in Details.

Barbra Stover’s listing of the Jerry Buss estate was covered by the Los Angeles Times and Realtor.com.

An architectural home in Venice was recently featured by the Zillow blog.

Verna Cornelius was the listing agent for the sale of producer Cassian Elwes’ home to Jeremy Sisto as reported by the Trulia Luxe Living blog.

Tai Savet’s rental of Omarion’s Studio City home was mentioned by the realtor.com blog.

Karina Smirnoff’s purchase was covered in the LA Times.

Barbra Stover’s sale of Downtown Julie Brown’s house was covered by the Redfin blog.

Ben Bacal’s sale of Megan Ellison’s properties in the Bird Streets was covered in the LA Times Hot Property section.

Joe Babajian and Judy Cycon’s sale of Kent Kresa’s home was featured as an LA Times Hot Property.

Jayceon “Game” Taylor’s listing in Glendale was featured as an LA Times Hot Property.

Pete Rose’s listing in Sherman Oaks was featured as an LA Times Hot Property and in Philadelphia Magazine.

Mark Mothersbaugh’s purchase of retail space in Chinatown was noted in the LA Times Hot Property section.

The sale of Jenna Fischer’s home was featured as an LA Times Hot Property.

An equestrian paradise in Agoura was chosen as the Home of the Day–Curbed.com

Mischa Barton’s Beverly Hills home–Redfin blog and Realtor.com and Zillow.com.

Downtown Julie Brown’s Marina Del Rey home–Huffington Post and PopSugar.com

Anton Yelchin Sells Family Home In Tarzana–LA Times and Realtor.com

Beverly Hill’s Priciest Homes: 1146 Tower Road–Beverly Hills Patch

Wayne Brady Buys In Pacific Palisades–LA Times and Realtor.com

Mar Vista Fixer Sells For Over $1 Million–Curbed LA

Marina Del Rey’s Priciest Homes: 5003 Roma Court–Marina Del Rey Patch

A Sherman Oaks home belonging to Brad Turell, an executive vice president at Paradigm and was featured in the LA Times Hot Property section  and as a home of the day in the Wall Street Journal.

Brandon and Leah Jenner Buy in Malibu–Trulia Luxe Living

Buff & Hensman Back on the Market--Curbed LA

Designer House in Marina Del Rey–Curbed LA

The Ford Estate–Architectural Digest

The Ford Estate–LA Times

The Ford Estate–Hooked On Houses

The Ford Estate: Home of the Day–Wall Street Journal

Michael Lehrer-Designed Townhouse–Curbed LA

The Estate of Carlos Spiga–Woodland Hills Patch

Joe Hahn of Linkin Park lists in Los Angeles–LA Times

 

 

 

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Rodeo Realty Agent Eydie Herrera Appointed to SRAR Governmental Affairs Committee

EydieHerreraRodeo Realty is pleased to announce that REALTOR®, Eydie Herrera has been appointed by the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, Inc. (SRAR) as a Committee Member to the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAF) for a second term.

A REALTOR®since 1995, Eydie has experience in working with government officials both professionally and personally. She previously worked for the Navy’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare (CAW), and served as a liaison for the Center with high ranking military officials, local and congressional representatives. She also represented her community with a number of issues related to business growth and quality of life issues for residents. She tackled issues such as; cell tower placement, safety and security issues and was key to the development of policies that would protect the community when Walmart made a request to expand their liquor department.

In her role serving on the Governmental Affairs Committee she will have input on legislative matters, environmental and community issues that are of concern to property owners and REALTORS® with primary emphasis on local issues.

The general purpose of the GA Committee is to take positions and offer input on legislative matters, along with environmental and community issues that are of concern to property owners and REALTORS® with primary emphasis on local issues; to develop and maintain close relationships with legislators representing the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys through frequent meetings and correspondences.

Eydie said, “There is a much larger group of appointees this year than in previous years.” “The GAF has a plan to increase the communication between REALTORS®and the community and to be instrumental in providing a ‘grass roots’ effect on legislative issues that we champion.”

Eydie looks forward to expanding her ability to serve her community and can be reached at 818-486-6451 or re@remadeasy.com.

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Rodeo Realty President Syd Leibovitch Completes Visits With Top European Agents

Syd with Prestige Real EstateReal estate is in many ways a universal language and luxury real estate even more so. Rodeo Realty President Syd Leibovitch spent the last week in Europe, meeting with directors of some of the top real estate agencies in both Paris and Vienna. It was important to Syd to connect with these influential leaders face-to-face. Often we talk to people online, through email, or over the phone but there is still nothing like a meeting in person, preferably over a good meal, to create a real working relationship. 

In Paris, in a meeting arranged by Prestige MLS, Syd met with Hugues de la Morandiere of Agence Varenne, Richard Bellanger of Haussman Prestige, Joseph Arida of Odgamm Prime Realty, and Thierry Tocaier of Ternes Elysees Immobilier. In Vienna, Syd met with Thilo Boerner of Boerner.at and other Viennese agents.

The meetings paved the way for future collaborations between Rodeo Realty and leading international agents. We can’t wait to welcome members of Prestige MLS when they visit Los Angeles for a tour of luxury real estate in May.

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Luxury Videos Sell Rodeo Realty Properties

carraraplLast summer Rodeo Realty agent Josh Flagg appeared on ABC to discuss the trend of luxury real estate videos used to sell properties. Since then the creation of these videos has only increased and Rodeo Realty agents have created some lavish movie-style videos highlighting not just the beauty of the properties but also the lifestyle that the home creates. The results have been extraordinary. A few of our recent favorites:

Recently Rodeo Realty agent Ben Salem had a on the market for a while and it had a few offers but the pictures didn’t tell the whole story. He shot a lifestyle video that showed the home’s hiking trails, garden, and more. He had another brokers open and was flooded with brokers who said their clients had seen the video. He’s now fielding multiple offers. Now he’s sold on lifestyle videos to sell luxury homes!

Rodeo Realty agent Jennifer Winchell has also used video to showcase the views and pool at her listing at 7080 Mulholland Dr. The video brings attention to some of the home’s more extraordinary features including the custom LED lighting and the wall of water at the entrance. The video also allows the viewer to see what the home looks like in different types of light, showing both the glittering city lights as well as the peace of a tranquil sunset.

Most recently listed from Rodeo Realty agent Ben Bacal is 9380 Sierra Mar, a trophy home in the Bird Streets. This home caught media attention and received press mentions, not just for the beauty of the home but for the marketing materials. The luxurious infinity pool which is only enhanced by the addition of a lovely bathing beauty taking in the view.

These luxury properties are just a few examples of the innovative new ways properties are being marketed at Rodeo Realty.

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Sherman Oaks Office Is The Latest Rodeo Realty Renovation

photoRodeo Realty has been on a renovation journey, always innovating to keep pace with changing times. It began last summer when Rodeo Realty moved corporate headquarters to a new state-of-the-art facility on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. The new space represented an opportunity to start from scratch and create a new design that better reflected a boutique luxury real estate firm.

The design was such a success that it is now being adapted to other offices. At the end of last year Rodeo Realty Northridge was remodeled and now the Sherman Oaks office is the latest to receive a new look. The process began in late January and is now complete. Agents have a new fully modernized home base that offers not only a great place to work but a place to bring clients.  “Sherman Oaks looks fantastic!” says manager Jason Katzman.  “We now have a modern look with a high tech design.”

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Newest House of Cards Star Has Rodeo Realty Connection

MV5BMTk4MDcyNzM0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTg4MTAyMTE@._V1_SX214_CR0,0,214,317_Many people across the country spent Presidents Day weekend (and Valentine’s Day) glued to their televisions binge-watching House of Cards. The whole second season of the popular series was released on Netflix on February 14, prompting many people to skip the hearts and flowers and stay in for the machinations of the Underwoods instead. Early reports indicate that the Netflix saw a huge bump in viewing associated with the show.

At Rodeo Realty we were particularly interested to watch to see Mozhan Marnò who plays Ayla Sayyad, the tenacious journalist for the Washington Telegraph determined to get to the bottom of the Underwood secrets. Mozhan is the daughter of Rodeo Realty’s own Sophie Dabestani. Her daughter has appeared on many TV series before but there’s something special about appearing on a program that had everyone glued to their televisions all weekend long. Congrats to Sophie and Mozhan!

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Rodeo Realty Winter Conference Brings Agents Together To Learn From The Best

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This week, Rodeo Realty agents gathered for a conference to share knowledge and learn from some of the best. The keynote speaker was popular real estate trainer Rick DeLuca. Rick sold over 200 homes per year and was once the 8th ranked real estage agent in the country but he also has perhaps one of the most interesting stories in real estate, working first as a homicide detective before getting into the real estate market. When DeLuca says he’s seen it all, it’s clear that it is true. Although he entered the market at a time when real estate was booming, he soon had to weather one of the toughest markets ever. This helped him learn to develop the good habits that led him to future success. His goal is always to see what others are doing and then figure out how he can top that. It’s a philosophy that Rodeo Realty agents already believe in but it’s always good to have a reminder. Creating good habits is also about consistency and goal setting.  Connection doesn’t just happen when a person is buying or selling, it’s about listening, being available, sharing relevant data and helping people make informed decisions.

Throughout the conference agents shared tips and success stories. Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills Manager John Gould led a panel that featured top-level wealth management professionals. Agents Barbra Stover, Matthew Paul, and Desiree Zuckerman shared their digital marketing strategies while Carol Wolfe, Elyse Arbor, Tom Otero, and Judy Handler discussed hyperlocal marketing in a panel moderated by Rodeo Realty Sherman Oaks Manager Jason Katzman.

Rodeo Realty agents came away from the conference with many ideas and lots of energy to make 2014 the best year yet!

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Syd Leibovitch Named To The Los Angeles Business Journal's Who's Who List

Syd Leibovitch_CalabasasSyd Leibovitch, president and founder of Rodeo Realty was honored as one of the leaders in Los Angeles Residential Real Estate by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Their annual special report, “Who’s Who in Los Angeles Business” was published earlier this month. The report lists the executives in the biggest and most important companies and organizations across a variety of industries from aerospace/defense to software.

Syd studied economics and banking, and began selling real estate at age 23 while an NCAA track star at UCLA. He was a top selling Realtor in the area by the time he was 25 and opened his company that same year in 1986. He hasn’t looked back since and today devotes his time and energy into growing his company into a regional powerhouse.

Today, Syd has built Rodeo Realty, Inc. into the largest single-owner real estate firm in California and one of the largest in the country. The company now has twelve offices throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties and more than 1,000 licensed Realtors. Syd also owns established mortgage and escrow companies and is regularly interviewed on topics relating to the mortgage meltdown, home sales and prices. He is a popular expert witness and a reliable source consulted by the media for his expertise as a qualified leader in the real estate and mortgage industries.

 

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Economic Update For The Week Ending January 24, 2014 with Syd Leibovitch

economic update 01242014Stocks took a substantial slide this week as the Dow closed the week under the 16,000 mark with both the Dow and S&P 500 taking their worst weekly losses in over a year. There was a substantial selloff on Thursday as investors digested weak Chinese economic data and dealt with currency drops in emerging markets. Some economists are saying that this may be the beginning of a correction in the stock market after last year’s meteoric rise. The Dow closed out the week at 15,879.11 down -3.52% from last week’s close of 16,458.56. The Nasdaq closed at 4,128.17 down -1.65% from last week’s 4,197.58 close. The S&P 500 finished the week at 1,790.29 down –2.63% from last week’s 1,838.70 close.

Interest rates dropped this week awaiting the next meeting of the Fed later this month. The Freddie Mac Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed that the 30-year-fixed rate dropped to 4.39% from 4.41% last week.  The 15-year-fixed fell to 3.44% from last week’s 3.45%. A year ago the 30-year fixed was at 3.42% and the 15-year was at 2.71%. Loans over $417,000 are about 1/2% higher in rate.

The 10-year Treasury note yield rate continues to fall this week ending at 2.75%, after last week’s 2.84% close. It was 1.88% a year ago, but reached 3% in December.

The National Association of Realtors® reported that existing home sales were up 1.0% in December increasing to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.87 million in December from a downwardly revised 4.82 million in November. This is – 0.6%  below the 4.90 million-unit level in December 2012. For all of 2013, there were 5.09 million sales, which is 9.1% higher than 2012. It was the strongest performance since 2006. The national median existing-home price for all of 2013 was $197,100, 11.5%  above the 2012 median of $176,800, and was the strongest gain since 2005 when it rose 12.4%. The median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $198,000, up 9.9%  from December 2012. Distressed homes represented 14% of December sales; they were 24% in December 2012. Total housing inventory at the end of December fell 9.3%  to 1.86 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 5.1 months in November. I use these numbers to point out that the dramatic price increase we have seen has been similar though out many areas nationally.

 Realtor.com® released its final National Housing Trend Report for 2013 which showed that the median list price for December 2013 was 8.1% above December 2012, the median age of inventory was down by -5.1% and the number of units for sale was essentially unchanged. The total inventory of homes for sale in the United States declined from 1,846,155 units in November to 1,731,017 units in December, while month-over-month inventory rose from 101 to 112 days, and the median list price declined from $197,700 to $194,500. The median price for the Los Angeles-Long Beach MSA rose 28.5% for the year, up to $455,000 while the amount of listings fell by -9.75% to 19,633 and the median age of inventory fell for the year by 12.33% to 64.

DataQuick announced that California foreclosure activity hit an eight-year low in the fourth quarter of 2013 with a total of 18,120 default notices filed on houses and condominiums from October through December, down -10.8% from 20,314 in the previous quarter and down a whopping -52.6%from 38,212 from the same period of 2012. This marks the lowest number of default notices since 15,337 were filed in the fourth quarter of 2005.

The Pending Homes Sales Index for December from the California Association of Realtors® showed that pending sales dropped -25.2%  in December to reach 68.8 down from a revised index of 92 in November, based on signed contracts. Pending sales were down 16.8% from the revised 82.8 index recorded in December 2012. The share of equity sales in December dipped to 84.3%, down from 86.4% in November. Equity sales made up 63.4%  of sales in December 2012. The share of distressed sales to total sales in Los Angeles County was 18% in December 2013. It was 14% in November and 35% in December 2012.

We are seeing activity begin to increase dramatically. Over the last week our open escrow count has began to increase rapidly. We are also seeing what appears to me as another surge in prices. This is not unusual. It is common for prices to increase steadily from February to June or so and then flatten. I’d expect the same in 2014!

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