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Rodeo Realty Voted Best Real Estate Company

The numbers are in, and Rodeo Realty was voted the “Best Real Estate Company” by readers of the Los Angeles Daily News! Here’s a snapshot of the the award we received at our corporate headquarters in Beverly Hills.

Syd Leibovitch founded Rodeo Realty in 1986. It’s now one of the largest independently owned residential real estate firms in California, with more than 1,000 agents and 11 offices in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Affiliate companies include: L.A. Mortgage, Encore Escrow and Progressive Title.
Thank you to the Daily News, readers of the Daily News, our clients and our agents and brokers!
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Save the Reefs Save the Oceans Gala 2011

Photo courtesy of Reef Check California
Stretching over 1,000 miles, California’s coastline is the gateway to a unique and often under-appreciated marine ecosystem, according to the international non-profit organization Reef Check. Offshore, just below the surface, kelp forests and rocky reefs play home to a vast array of marine life that supports a variety of human uses.
Unfortunately, like reefs around the world, the rapid growth of California’s population, coastal development, pollution, and overfishing have placed increasing demands on these nearshore resources. Many organisms that were previously common in high numbers, like abalone, are now almost gone.
What does this have to do with real estate? Well, these natural resources are one of the biggest reasons people choose to purchase homes, launch businesses and otherwise stake their claim on the Golden State’s coastal communities. Preserving the health of our reefs, coastline and ocean is critical for the future of California.

If this is an issue close to your heart, consider attending the Reef Check Foundation’s “Save the Reefs, Save the Oceans Gala 2011” on Friday, September 16. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and the organization is seeking donations for an auction.
Reef Check California -the local branch of the worldwide organization- aims to build a network of informed and involved citizens who support the sustainable use and conservation of our nearshore marine resources. To accomplish this, volunteers are trained to carry out surveys of nearshore reefs providing data on the status of key indicator species.

Photo courtesy of Reef Check California



Photo courtesy of Reef Check California



 




The benefit will take place at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica. It will be a casual “toes in the sand” evening featuring never-before-seen footage from the world’s leading underwater filmmakers. There will also be an opportunity to meet some of the thousands of volunteer divers who monitor these essential natural resources.
The evening will recognize the contributions of three “Heroes of the Reef,” each having demonstrated an exemplary commitment to ocean conservation.
For more information visit: http://reefcheck.org/events/gala2011/ or call Reef Check at: (310) 230-2371.
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Marion Davies' Former Home in Beverly Hills

The former residence of Marion Davies in Beverly Hills has sold for $9.3 million. See it in L.A. Times Hot Properties at: http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-hotprop-marion-davies-20110728,0,7359696.story. The villa-style mansion north of Sunset Blvd. is said to have originally been purchased for Davies by William Randolph Hearst.

 
The home was once owned by Harry Cohn, early president and production director of Columbia Pictures. And it was owned by the late screenwriter, novelist and playwright Aleen Leslie and her husband Jacques Leslie, a prominent entertainment lawyer.

Built in 1923, the 6,100 square foot home is situated on approximately 1.5 acres of greenery close to the Beverly Hills Hotel. It has 5 bedrooms, 5-and-a-half baths, circular drive and a crafted two-story entry.

Upon entering the home, there is a step-down paneled living room with leaded windows, fireplace and detailed plaster ceiling. Across the back of the house is a grand salon with doors opening to a large portico, tree-rimmed garden and pool.

Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin are just a couple of the Old Hollywood film icons said to have once visited the estate. Peter Wendel of Coldwell Banker was the listing agent. Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty in Beverly Hills represented the buyer.

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Home of the Week: Secluded Spanish-style Estate

This Spanish-style home, located east of La Cienega and south of Santa Monica Blvd. on L.A.’s Westside, was originally built in 1928. The large compound consists of the main house, which has 3 bedrooms and 2.75 baths, and a detached second architectural house with 2 bedrooms and two baths.

 
The main house features a formal dining room, round breakfast room with rotunda, high-end kitchen, and living room with ornate fireplace. The second house has two stories, fireplace in one of the bedrooms, large terrace, gardens, fountains and exterior entertaining spaces.
 
The mini estate/compound is hedged, double gated and extremely private. It’s perfect for celebrity home buyers, according to listing agent Rob Johnson of Rodeo Realty’s Sunset Strip office. The property is priced at $3,295,000. Rob Johnson can be contacted at (310) 461-0400.
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Rodeo Realty Moves Headquarters to Beverly Hills

Rodeo Realty is moving its headquarters office from 600 North Sepulveda Blvd. in Bel Air, Calif. to 266 N. Beverly Drive in prime Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210. The new location is in close proximity to the company’s Beverly Hills branch at 202 N. Canon.

266 North Beverly Drive – Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210

The headquarters office is home to Rodeo Realty’s administrative offices, advertising department, graphic design department, print and mail shops, information technology department and public relations department.
The main number, (310) 471-2600, and other headquarters office numbers will stay the same.

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QR Codes and Real Estate

As most real estate agents, home buyers and home sellers know, technology plays a major role in marketing homes these days. Social networking, the Internet, smartphones, and other gizmos and gadgets, are all staples of the trade. Some agents estimate 80 percent or more of home buyers begin their property searches online.

Rodeo Realty has always been on the cutting-edge of marketing technology. So in an effort to take another step forward, we are beginning to use what’s known as QR codes. The bar codes, which kind of look like figures out of the 1980s video game “Space Invaders,” will soon be included on all of the company’s newspaper advertisements.

Consumers can download a mobile phone application that allows them to take a picture of the QR code. After taking the picture, the mobile phone automatically downloads a Web site with property listings.
Rodeo Realty’s QR code
If the consumer plugs in their geographic coordinates, the application will also allow them to view listings within a 10 mile radius from where they’re standing. In addition to including QR codes on newspaper advertisements, Rodeo Realty plans on placing them on For Sale signs. Our in-house information technology (IT) department can provide QR codes for agents creating property Web sites.

Is this just a fad or a legitimate and long-term tool for advertising? Data shows a significant increase in the use of QR codes. Scanning grew 1,200 percent from July to December 2010, according to the mobile payment and marketing company Mobio Identity Systems.
Scanning codes to receive information on a product or service makes up for 87 percent of usage. Payment scans only make up for 5 percent. This is good news for real estate agents, since Rodeo Realty’s codes will primarily be used for information about properties.
Sample of how QR code might look on Rodeo Realty sign.
The majority of QR scanning is coming from individuals in the 35-44 years of age bracket, according to Mobio. And steady adoption is being seen amongst all age brackets between 18 and 54 years of age.
Rodeo Realty’s IT department is constantly developing new ways to help agents and their clients effectively use technology to market their properties. Stay tuned for more information about the IT department, QR codes, and other technology tools of the real estate trade.
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Top Residential Real Estate Firms in the San Fernando Valley

The latest edition (July 18-31, 2011) of the San Fernando Valley Business Journal http://www.sfvbj.com/ includes a special report on residential real estate and a ranking of the top residential real estate firms in the greater San Fernando Valley area.

Titled “Reviving the Housing Market,” the report includes stories about the mortgage industry, agents sounding off about the region’s housing market, real estate schools, the moving industry, and the importance of price point in selling homes.

As for the list of top firms, Rodeo Realty ranked #1 in the greater San Fernando Valley area based on sales volume in the region from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. The business journal also included some great quotes from company owner Syd Leibovitch and Rodeo Realty agent Carol Wolfe.

Here is the list of top firms.

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Chris Cester Selling Hollywood Hills Home

Judith Ledford of Rodeo Realty in Beverly Hills is listing Australian rocker Chris Cester’s Hollywood Hills home for $1,135,000.

Cester is drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Jet. He has also contributed soundtrack material to movies and television shows such as Drillbit Taylor, Spider-Man 3, Chuck and CSI: NY, among others.

The 3 bedroom, 2 bath gated Spanish-style home was built in 1937 and sits on a private cul de sac. It has hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen and al fresco dining patio. The plus size lower level has a second master, office/den, 3/4 bath and its own entrance and deck.

The home also includes a large flat front yard, views, and a floor plan that can accommodate a variety of entertaining styles. It’s surrounded by mature landscaping and has a two car garage with extra storage and a two car carport. Judith Ledford can be reached at (310) 623-8774.

And just in case you’re curious about Mr. Cester and the band Jet, check out this clip from an appearance on the David Letterman show.

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Carmageddon and Real Estate

As real estate agents or folks buying and selling homes in the greater Los Angeles area, what are you doing for the so-called “Carmageddon” this weekend?

The apocalyptic term refers to a 10-mile section of the 405 freeway, one of the busiest stretches of pavement connecting the Westside of Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley and beyond, being closed for construction.

Sepulveda Blvd. parallels a section of the 405 freeway slated for closure this weekend. Here’s a little sample of afternoon northbound traffic on Sepulveda when the 405 freeway is open!

Will L.A. experience gridlock on a level never seen before? Or will the weekend just be a small bump in the road?

Syd Leibovitch, Rodeo Realty’s founder and owner, was quoted in a USA Today story about the closure. See the original story here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-07-12-traffic-LA-405-closing_n.htm?csp=hf

Here’s what Leibovitch had to say.

Neighborhoods affected include super-expensive homes north of Sunset Boulevard, where prices can run $25 million to $50 million, says Syd Leibovitch, owner of Rodeo (pronounced Row-DAY-oh) Realty.

With so much money on the line, he and his agents aren’t heeding the warnings.

“We’re going to leave our offices open that weekend, and we’re just going to hope for the best,” he says. “It’s going to be a nightmare for them, but they’re still going to show (homes).”

So there you have it. For many real estate agents, life goes on as normal. And you never know, some of that diverted traffic may just end up driving by your open house.

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Featured Home of the Week – Two Luxury Homes in One

This custom home, situated on a 17,542 square foot lot in Northridge, Calif. , is essentially two luxury residences in one. The property has a 4,100 (approx) square foot living space with 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths. It also has a 2,100 (approx) square foot residence with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and separate entrance.
The latter is currently being used as a work-at-home office space. The property has a pool house with bath and kitchenette, which can be used as a guest quarters.
The wheelchair/handicap accessible property features luxury touches throughout, including: two master suites -one with balcony and fireplace; elevator; 36-inch doorways; formal entry; recessed lighting; crown moldings; family room with media center; master retreat; 2 zone alarm system; intercom; loft; study/office; and cook’s kitchen with granite counters.
There are three custom marble fireplaces, custom Italian tile, and plantation shutters. The formal dining room overlooks a Japanese garden with water feature. And the professionally landscaped backyard has a pool, spa, fruit trees, automatic sprinklers and separate irrigation meter.
Shawn Mathews of Rodeo Realty is the listing agent. The home is priced at $1.2 million. For more information, please contact Shawn Mathews at (818) 640-2285 or visit the property Web site at http://www.9561bothwell.com/
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