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There is no better destination than one of LA’s many, many Farmer’s Markets when it comes to getting fresh produce. From Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, Studio City, and beyond, there is a bounty of markets to choose from throughout the week. Check out our farmer’s market guide for this week’s Out & About.

Los Angeles Farmer’s Market Guide

Hollywood Farmers Market

Most people don’t come to Hollywood for the fresh produce, but you can if you happen to be local or near the area. Taking place every Sunday from 8am to 1pm, rain or shine, Hollywood’s farmer’s market has a lot to offer. The market includes over 70 farmers and artisans, with live music and other pop-up surprises on occasion. The Hollywood Farmer’s Market was also one of the first farmers’ markets to start up in California. 

Silver Lake Farmers Market

Most Angeleno’s know that Silver Lake has a bounty of artisan items from street corner to street corner. That’s why it should come as no surprise that the neighborhood market is the place to be while you peruse produce. If you do venture to the Silver Lake farmers market, you’ll have no shortage of fantastic vintage clothing finds and jewelry stands. Highlights beyond the fashion digs include delicious mason-jarred goat cheese and amazing citrus vendors.

Westside Farmer’s Market Guide

Beverly Hills Farmers Market

If you’re looking for a quality community farmers market, the Beverly Hills market offers just that. From music performances from the local school band to food options that are quintessential 90210, stop by on any given Sunday. If you’re hungry, you can’t go wrong with the French Crepe Kettle Corn stand. As far as produce goes, more than 60 vendors typically take up the stretch between Third Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. What’s even better? They have a Kids Zone that perfect for even the littlest shopper with pony rides and a petting zoo. While some activities were halted due to the pandemic, you can still expect some measure of fun at BH’s beloved farmers market.

Santa Monica Farmers Market

Shopping for produce by the sea? Yes, please. The Santa Monica Farmers Market is a go-to choice for local chefs, thanks to its bounty of fresh produce and items. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays; you’ll find plenty of options at this market located along Arizona Avenue. Enjoy your grocery stroll while taking in the nearby air and ambiance of the sea. Just don’t forget to take advantage of Santa Monica’s free parking for the first 90 minutes. Because who doesn’t love free or reduced-priced parking? 

Brentwood Farmers Market

One of the great things about this farmers market, besides being wide open and spacious, is the variety of items you’ll find. The Brentwood Farmers Market has no shortage of stunning fresh flowers and produce. Located south of San Vicente Boulevard, the market has become a staple for area locals as a Sunday activity. 

Valley Farmer’s Market Guide

Studio City Farmer’s Market

If you happen to be a foodie, the Studio City Farmer’s Market happens to be the place for you. Set up right along Ventura Place every Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm, the market has become a must for food-lovers around town. From slices of Margherita pizza courtesy of Olive Wood Pizza to the gluten-free bakery, there’s something for everyone. Even if you are not hungry, you’ll have an easy time picking up groceries with their array of fresh options.

Altadena Farmer’s Market

If you can make your way to Loma Alta Park, you’ll find dozens of booths with plenty of local produce and finds from creative artisans. The Altadena Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday late afternoon and evening. Enjoy delicious finds like locally raised meats and handmade charcuterie at this valley staple. 

Burbank Certified Farmers market

While the Burbank Certified Farmers’ Market is smaller than those mentioned above, it makes up for its size in quality offerings. Literally, all of the produce they offer is certified California-grown. From delicious artichokes and avocados, fresh cheeses for fresh cheeses, they’ve got it all.

If you are hungry for something different in LA’s plethora of cuisine options, we have you covered. With as many restaurants as there are Bird scooters, we’ve decided to simplify your choices of the week by dishing out the best places to grab a bite, from power lunches to elegant fare. Read below for our delicious spots throughout L.A., the Westside, and the Valley of great restaurants.

Los Angeles

The V Tree Silverlake

Location: 3515 W Sunset Blvd  Los Angeles Ca 90026

If you’re looking for vegan food that’s full of heart and soul, look no further than The V Tree. There are many great restaurants in LA, but The V Tree offers something different. The plant-based food comes curated by celebrity chef, Chef Velvet and you can taste the difference. The restaurant offers a rich cultural experience with entrees like the Bourban Baked Ribz that are unbelievably delicious and meat-free.

Gigi’s

Location: 904 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

With the superb ambiance of a chic New York hotel bar tucked away on Sycamore Avenue, you’ll find Gigi’s. The elegant establishment opened last year and has maintained its spot as one of the best restaurants to join Hollywood’s burgeoning restaurant scene. For drinks, the La Parisienne cocktail will quench your thirst. The glass is a mixture of clementine vodka, vermouth rouge, pomegranate, grapefruit, balsamic, and dehydrated kalamata olive. For food, everything on the menu is delicious, but you can’t go wrong with the seafood tower of Regiis Ova caviar.

Daybird

Location: 240 N Virgil Ave Suite 5, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Taking it down a scale to something more casual, Daybird serves as the perfect spot for lunch or dinner to go. The Silverlake eatery serves tasty chicken similar to Taiwanese-style Hot Star chicken, but even juicier. From chicken tenders to sandwiches, you can keep yours mild or take it up to extreme spiciness.

Westside/Beach Communities

The Draycott

Location: 15255 Palisades Village Ln, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

If you have yet to venture to the Caruso’s Palisades Village, The Draycott will give you every reason to plan a visit. The family-friendly brasserie is not only one of the best restaurants in the area; it’s also an incredibly stylish one. Offering Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner, you’ll find plenty of California-inspired dishes to choose from. 

Pasjoli

Location: 2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

An elevated French restaurant from award-winning chef Dave Beran, Pasjoli pays homage to French cuisine. Enjoy dishes like table-side pressed duck and lightly-cooked scallop in a caviar beurre blanc. The food proves to be as elegant as the restaurant itself.

Nobu

Location: 22706 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

What dining list would be complete without one of the best restaurants in town? Nobu not only serves up sushi that’s truly hard to compete with, but the oceanside views are also unlike anything else. Iron Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese delicacies are beloved, making Nobu a constant go-to for a seaside favorite. Just make sure you book in advance, as the restaurant is busy 99% of the time.

The Valley

Raffi’s Place

Location: 211 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205

Receiving a Michelin Plate Rating in 2019, it comes as no surprise that Raffi’s Place lands on our list as another one of the best restaurants in the valley. The restaurant opened in 1993 and has been a go-to for authentic and delicious Middle Eastern cuisine. The Koobideh (Luleh Kabob) is a menu favorite, with quality ground beef that has been charred to perfection. Either way, whichever item you choose on the menu, you’ll enjoy your meal at Raffi’s Place.

 

King’s Burgers / Got Sushi?

Location: 9345 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

We know what you’re thinking. Sushi and Burgers? What may sound strange has become one of the best restaurants in Northridge for casual dining with fantastic food. The burgers are as good as you’d expect. For sushi from the counter, you can’t go wrong with the salmon belly with caviar and onions. 

Mom Can Cook

Location: 18358 Soledad Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91387

Santa Clarita’s Mom Can Cook offers regional Thai home cooking served in a warm, family-owned spot. At Mom Can Cook you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and truly delicious food. We recommend the Siamese Northern Style Noodles or the Mom’s Special Pad Thai.

Brent’s Deli

Location: 19565 Parthenia St, Northridge, CA 91324

When it comes to living in L.A. there are certain eateries that are a must before you can be considered a local. Brent’s Deli in Northridge is one of them and one of the best restaurants for a pastrami valley-wide. The deli has been a staple since the ’60s and rightly so. Order the black pastrami Reuben and thank us later.

Sushi Note

Location: 13447 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Something that Sherman’s Oaks is never short of, is great restaurants. And so is the case for Sushi Note. Head Chef Kiminobu Saito offers thoughtful sushi creations that bring pure joy to this classic cuisine. Enjoy Japanese market fish like the Tai Yuzu, made with red snapper, yuzu, rocoto paste, pink peppercorn. The entire menu at Sushi Note is noteworthy.

One of the great things about California is its varying weather. That’s why it is the perfect time of the year for nature hikes. In this week’s blog, we are sharing LA’s best waterfalls that are worth the trek. Read our Out & About and take some time to reconnect with nature!

1. Escondido Falls

Location: Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu

The Santa Monica Mountain valley has some of the best that nature has to offer in So-Cal. With that in mind, it’s no wonder Escondido Falls lands at the top of our best waterfalls list. Take a stroll along the parks winding creek, and you’ll find inviting oak trees, flowers, and butterflies. Beyond this being a beautiful trail, the waterfall itself provides a breathtaking experience. Rolling along a mossy green rock wall, you’ll find the main attraction, Escondido Falls. Take in the tranquil sound of falling water that breaths life into the surrounding bountiful greenery.

2. Millard Canyon Falls

Location: Altadena

If you want a hike that’s equal parts short and enjoyable, you’ll find that at Millard Canyon Falls. On this abbreviated hike, you’ll be guided along a beautiful stream that leads to the location of the waterfall. Another bonus about this trail, besides the 1.5 miles it takes to reach the falls, is how easy it is to do with kids. At Millard Canyon Falls, you’ll have the perfect family outting.

3. Solstice Canyon Falls

Location: Malibu

This 2.1-mile hike is another nature trek fit for the entire family. What is unique about Solstice Canyon Falls is not just the waterfalls but the land itself. The park includes two notable and now abandoned homes that visitors often flock to. The first home (what’s left of it) is the Keller House built entirely of stone and belonged to the original canyon owners. Paul Williams built the second home along the trail for grocery store magnate Fred Roberts. The home itself was destroyed in the 1982 canyon fire, but what’s left still provides an exciting glimpse it what was once there. At Solstice Canyon Falls, you’ll find all of the elements of nature you could want on your journey to the park’s 30-foot falls. 

4. Sturtevant Falls

Location: Sierra Madre

If you seek a break from the urban jungle, you’ll find a worthy escape at Sturtevant Falls. The hike is about 3.5 miles, beginning at the Chantry Flats trailhead in the vast Angeles National Forest. You will be amongst all that nature has to offer during your trek, from stunning foliage to wildlife nestled amongst the forest trees. There are a few obstacles along this trail, like inclines and stream crossings, so wear your best hiking boots. Once you’ve gotten through these short hurdles, you will be mystified by the 50-foot Sturtevant Falls, which delicately flows into an inviting circular.

5. Paradise Falls

Location: Thousand Oaks

This hidden gem in the valley makes for a perfect daytime outting. Consisting of four different paths, you’ll find the Moonridge Trail, Tepee Trail, Wildwood Canyon Trail, and Indian Cave Trail. This trek includes stunning views of the Arroyo Conejo canyon that you’ll enjoy on your way to Paradise Falls, an impressive 40-foot cascade. Enjoy your lunch at the Wildwood Canyon Trail before approaching the Indian Cave Trail in half a mile. This trail includes some interesting history due to its tunnel. Park officials believe it was once used by Chumash Indians. Also, if you happen to love birds, you’ll get the chance to spot some stunning one’s on this hike, especially during migration season.

Open House Guidance

All counties

1. Face masks are required while inside the house. Today’s CDC face mask changes for vaccinated people does not apply, and does not change the requirement of face masks at all times while at the open house

2. All visitors must maintain at least six feet social distance with the exception of people living together in the same household while inside the home.

3. You are required to post the Posted Rules of Entry PRE and the BPPP on the door.

4. As of this moment either the Property Sign In form (PSI)or a PEAD ALL is still required. This could change any day.

5. As of now you are still required to clean and sanitize. The new rule is to clean anytime anyone touches anything, and at least once per day. We expect a change to this very soon. Either way you are required to have hand sanitizer at the entry and around the house.

6.  No refreshments should be served or consumed inside the home, as that would require removing the mask. You may serve outside, but everything should be individually wrapped servings. No self-serve.

7. You may use brochures.

8. The number of people permitted to be inside the home at any time is defined as a percentage of the maximum occupancy. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what the maximum occupancy is. There is precedence for us to adopt a formula tied to house size. The formula is two people per bedroom and one person for each additional room.

So, if it’s four bedrooms plus a living room, family room, dining room, two baths, and kitchen the maximum occupancy would be 14. Four bedrooms x 2 = 8 + 1 living room + 1 family room + 1 dining room + 1 kitchen + 2 bathrooms = 14

Currently, Los Angeles County is in the Yellow Tier. Yellow tier permits 59% of maximum occupancy not to exceed 50 people for an indoor gathering. So, with the above home 14 x 50% would be up to 7 people in the home at a time.

Orange County and Ventura County are in the orange tier. That calls for 25% of maximum occupancy not to exceed 25 people. So, with the above explanation 14 x 25% would be 4 at a time. This may be a hard number to do. We expect these counties to move to yellow soon.

(I feel it’s ok to round up to the next person)

This calculation may change as we all digest how to calculate the maximum.

This week in tech new’s we are talking about all things TECH, of course. From a new moon buggy underway for NASA to ditching likes on Instagram, let’s dive into the latest.

Sprawling New Google Campus Approved in San Jose

This week, Google received the go-ahead for a sprawling new campus in San Jose. The tech giant is set to build an 80-acre mixed-use campus in downtown. “Google will make the largest private sector investment in San Jose’s history — and just about any other city’s history,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a statement. The new campus includes plans for 7.3 million square feet of office space for 20,000 workers. Additionally, there will be 4,000 housing units, with 25% slated for affordable housing. There are also plans for 15 acres of green space, parks, and plazas. Lastly, the plans also feature 500,000 square feet of what the project’s website describes as “retail, cultural, arts, education, hotel and more.” 

GM and Lockheed Martin to Design New Moon Buggy for NASA

General Motors announced this week that it would be partnering up with longtime NASA contractor Lockheed Martin to develop new moon buggies. The two companies aim to aid NASA in bringing electric and autonomous vehicles to the moon this decade. The plans would allow Artemis astronauts to zip around the lunar surface with greater ease. The Artemis program seeks to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time in a half-century since the end of the Apollo program. 

Autonomous flight startup Seeks to Develop pilotless Cargo and Passenger Planes 

Merlin Labs announced this week that it had received the $25 million in funding for its next venture…pilotless cargo and passenger planes. Aviation services contractor Dynamic Aviation will aid in their efforts to begin putting its pilotless plane technology into commercial operation. While autonomous plans may sound risky, they are already reasonably common since many commercial pilots will handle the take-off and let the plane’s technology handle everything else. Merlin sees its remote pilots’ role as supervisory and meant to monitor dozens of aircraft in the sky at once. The autonomous software would handle the majority of the tasks, from communication with air traffic control to navigation.

Ford Boost EV Investment by $8 Billion

Ford is speeding up its investment in the electric vehicle sector. Earlier this week, the motor vehicle company announced it would expand its spending to $30B by 2025. This is an $8B increase from their initial investment in EV of $22B to be all-electric in Europe by 2030. Ford also announced their plans for an all-electric version of its Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs. The multitude of announcements from Ford this week comes as part of a new business plan Ford has rolled out called Ford Plus. The company has stated they are seeking to create “close, enduring customer relationships” that last beyond the purchase of a vehicle.

You Can Now Hide Likes on Instagram and Facebook

The moderately released and highly anticipated like-free Instagram and Facebook experience has arrived. After rolling out a soft test to select accounts, the company announced this week that all users will now be able to opt in or out of viewing likes. The new feature will allow people to disable seeing likes across all posts and with an option to hide their public like counts from others. 

Microsoft Teases Next-Gen Windows Announcement is Coming Soon

Significant UI changes are underway for Windows, according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in an announcement this week. The company opted to announce details on the operating system separately from this year’s Build event. At this week’s Build 2021, Nadella did tease what is underway for the tech company.“Soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators. I’ve been self-hosting it over the past several months, and I’m incredibly excited about the next generation of Windows. Our promise to you is this: we will create more opportunity for every Windows developer today and welcome every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to build and distribute and monetize applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon.”

We know what you are thinking. We missed a golden opportunity to line up Memorial Day weekend options. Not so fast; we have an entire Out and About blog for that. In this week’s LA Eats, we are spotlighting some of our favorite popular restaurants around town. You can thank us later; better yet, just thank and always tip your waiter (or uber eats driver).

Area: Los Angeles

Joy on York

Location: 5100 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

For a hip twist, unlike anything you could find at a chain restaurant, the food at Joy brings…well, joy. The Taiwanese eatery located in Highland Park serves up a unique take on known classics. From the Chiayi Chicken Rice to the Dan Dan Noodles, you’ll want to take home a little bit of everything. Luckily you can, as Joy on York currently only offers take-out and delivery.

Saso

Location: 37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Resing within the Pasadena Playhouse is a local gem that brings the best of the coast for a show of the senses. Chef Dominique Crisp provides a unique take on coastal cuisine with Basque Country influences. The Whole Fish Basquaise offers the featured catch from the josper with garlic crisp, chili, and premium olive oil. Not a seafood fan? Well, this seafood restaurant still has you covered with a Navarra Style Bone-In Steak that is truly sublime.

 

Morihiro

Location: 3133 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

At Michelin Star Chef Mori Onodera authentic Japanese restaurant, you will find something more than extraordinary food. As one of LA’s best sushi chefs, you can always expect the best the famed culinary expert has to offer. Morihiro offers an intimate setting in Atwater Village for affordable prices. With choices like Black Edamame to the more splurge-worthy Omakase, Chef Morihiro’s newest establishment will have you dining in every day of the week.

Area: Westside/Beach Communities

Ospi

Location: 2025 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291

There may be quite a few Italian options in the city, but Ospi in Venice is serving up something different. The sophomore restaurant of Jackson Kalb & Melissa Saka brings Southern Italian cooking and the region’s way of life into a refreshing setting. The ingredients are fresh, and the food is fantastic. From delicious pasta to Roman-style thin-crust pizzas, craft cocktails, and more, stop by one of Venice’s most popular restaurants today.

Nicolas Eatery

Location: 22333 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Nicolas Eatery makes you feel at home when visiting this local eatery from the Fanucci family. That’s not because of the setting, which is still equally welcoming, hello open concept kitchen. It comes from the family recipes being served up at the food truck turned PCH destination. While the restaurants offer dishes with French influence, the food provides a familiar comfort. Dishes like the Lobster Roll of asparagus are served with a side of fries providing an untraditional approach that works and tastes fantastic.

In the Kitchen

Location: 900 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90813

Newly opened in Long Beach, In the Kitchen serves up delicious Texas-style southern food, and they deserve the hype. From the stewed oxtails to the fried catfish and chicken noodle casseroles, the entire menu reigns supreme. If you are looking for a Southern cooking and hospitality destination in Long Beach, you’ll find it at In the Kitchen.

Area: SFV, Conejo, Santa Clarita

Porto’s Bakery and Cafe

Location: Burbank | Glendale | Downey | Buena Park

If you’ve lived in LA long enough, you know Porto’s is a true bakery staple. The Cuban-American bakery has served the local community since 1976, making it an obvious choice for popular restaurants in town. With favorites like the Chicken Empanada for savory and the Dulce de Leche Besito for sweet, Porto’s serves as the perfect spot for any craving.

Sabor Cocina Mexicana

Location: 23953 Newhall Ranch Rd, Valencia, CA 91355

Located in the Bridgeport Marketplace, Sabor Cocina Mexicana serves up impeccable reimagined Mexican dishes and craft cocktails in a hip setting. One visit to Sabor, and it’s no wonder it lands on the list of popular restaurants in Santa Clarita. Whether dining in or out, you’ll find that the food is authentic and delicious. Our favorites include the Costilla Colorado or Chile Relleno, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the menu items!

Lum-Ka-Naad

Location: Encino | Northridge

If you are seeking excellent Thai food in the valley, look no further than Lum-Ka-Naad. With two locations and a vast menu of options, the restaurant serves as a community favorite. Lum-Ka-Naad combines Northern and Southern style Thai cuisine from the owner’s home region’s. The result? Outstanding, to say the least. And to say the most, the Angel wings are out of this world, but we recommend choosing the turmeric shrimp soup to start.

Boneyard Bistro

Location: 13539 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Boneyard Bistro serves as a true-to-form and delicious option for BBQ in Sherman Oaks. The meats are cooked Santa Maria-style, which means they are dry-rubbed and grilled over red oak wood. You’ll enjoy any cut of meat that you choose, and if you don’t want meat, the bistro options are just as tasty. Most importantly the restaurant also offers 42 beer taps and over 100 craft bottles.

Daichan

Location: 11288 Ventura Blvd F, Studio City, CA 91604

A hole-in-the-wall treasure in Studio City, Daichan offers Japanese cuisine with an array of options. The scent of curry that floats through the restaurant lingers long enough to have you craving pretty much everything on the menu. From sizzling tempura to succulent Japanese-style poke utilizes the freshest ingredients. In other words, Daichan is perfect for a casual outing or date night.

While celebrating Memorial Day weekend may not be 100% what we are used to just yet, there are still a number of ways to celebrate. This week’s blog is all about enjoying the weekend, whether you are staying in or venturing out. Enjoy the best that your local areas have to offer with our Out & About guide to Memorial Day weekend 2021!

Celebrating Memorial Day At-Home

Plan the Perfect Meal

This memorial day you can opt for classic meal options like a traditional BBQ or go for something with a bit of edge. If you plan to do the cooking yourself, we recommend this incredible line-up of suggestions from Country Living. From mouth-watering, Eggplant burgers to BLT potato salad, there are endless options to choose from on their recipe guide. 

Don’t feel like cooking? Well, lucky you that you happen to live in one of the most diverse culinary cities in the country. Support one of your local eateries with BBQ to-go. Eater LA has lined up the perfect list of the best places to order out from the westside to the valley. However you choose to dine, it will surely be the tastiest way of celebrating memorial day.

Set the Right Mood

There is more to decorating for Memorial Day than bunting. Even if you opt for a virtual celebration or small gathering, adding a smidge of decor can go a long way. We love the inspiration we found from Martha Stewart Living. This is, of course, no surprise when it’s coming from the ‘Queen of Celebration’ herself.

Turn the tunes up for your at-home fete with a shared playlist! Spotify makes it super simple to make and create a shared playlist you can send to your family and friends. Either way, this activity will be perfect for celebrating Memorial Day.

Celebrate Virtually

Whether you opt for a few fun virtual games or tuning into this year’s ceremonies online, we’ve got you covered. We have a few recommendations for those of you who want to bring the fun to your next Zoom. Try hosting games like trivia or a virtual scavenger hunt. If you choose the latter, it will need to be easy to find items in the home. How does that work? Just read the first clue and have everyone go look for and get their item. Count points based on the first person to return successfully after each clue.  

Honor the fallen virtually this Memorial Day with Forest Lawn’s live stream event. The celebration will be exclusively on their Facebook page and will include live music, along with the ceremonial wreath-laying. 

Celebrating Memorial Day Outdoors

Visit Your Local Beach

From Santa Monica to Malibu and Newport to Laguna, there is a bounty of beaches to choose from. Since it will likely be busy come Memorial day, we recommend planning before you go. This blog from Time Out highlights the best beaches LA has to offer with helpful insider tips like the price of parking.

Return to Where the Fun Is

Now that California theme parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios, and even the Santa Monica Pier have reopened, you can venture out again. We recommend planning for a safe return to these timeless traditions. Advanced tickets are now required for parks like Disney, which will only allow CA residents entry with no more than three households. Universal has similar rules concerning CA residents and household limits but will allow out-of-state guests as long as they are fully vaccinated and age 12 or older. Santa Monica Pier asks that patrons purchase their tickets online and ahead of time, as entry is not guaranteed due to limited capacity.

The California Association of Realtors reported that 27% of householdscould afford to purchase a $740,490 median-priced home in the first quarter of 2021, down from 35% in the first quarter of 2020, and unchanged from the fourth-quarter of 2020.

A median income of $131,200 was needed to make a monthly payment of $3,280. That included principal, interest and taxes on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a rate of 3.08%.

Condominiums and townhomes were more affordable. 40% of households were able to purchase a median price condo or townhome. It  required an annual income of $97,600 to make the monthly payment of $2,440.

Below is regional data for Southern California affordability.

 

California home sales and prices continue to surge in April – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales totaled 458,170 on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in April. That marked a month-over-month increase of 2.6% from the number of homes sold in March. Year-over-year the number of sales were up 65.1% from last April when sales dropped over 30% from April 2019 to an annualized rate of just 277,400 homes sold due to the pandemic.

The median price paid for a home in April was $813,980, up 7.4% from March’s $758,990 median price. Year-over-year the median price increased 34.2% from last April when the median price was $606,410. April marked the highest year-over-year gain in prices ever recorded.  It should be noted that even though the number of sales were down in April 2020 from the previous April because of the pandemic, the median sales price was up year-over-year, so a 34.2% increase is remarkable.

The California Association of Realtors tracks inventory levels based on how many months it would take to sell the active listings in all MLS systems at the current sales level. There was just a 1.6 month supply of homes for sale in April, almost unchanged from 1.7 months in March. There was a 3.4 month supply of homes for sale last April.