Rodeo Realty

October 7, 2016

Rodeo Realty’s Westlake Village agent Kathy Smiley gives tips to first-time homebuyers

“A Click Away Remotes”, an online shop for garage door openers, remotes, and other home improvement products, has a blog where they generally post tips, ideas, and DIY projects. This week, the company gave quick tips on “How to buy your first home in 2017”.

The website provided a guide for first-time homebuyers and also reached out to six top U.S. realtors for more tips. Kathy Smiley of Rodeo Realty Westlake Village was one agent featured on the blog.

“#1 thing to know before buying your first home is the actual condition of the home and how much money you can reasonably expect to spend to get it up to your standards,” said Smiley. “I help all my buyers, especially those buying their very first home, by referring them to inspectors and tradesmen who are reputable and give honest estimates on potential repairs and projects.”

In the Q & A, Smiley also provided tips for those looking for a real estate agent.

“Look for an agent who is active in your market area with both buyers and sellers,” said Smiley. “A well-rounded agent with experience on both sides of the fence will be better equipped in negotiating for you successfully. He or she will share with you what to expect from the seller regarding price, terms and concessions. Also, don’t necessarily choose the agent with the most recent sales. Many agents who have large teams in place will not be there to give you one-on-one attention. Often it’s better to choose an agent who does fewer sales but has experience and expertise in the marketplace. Not every agent feels the need to be a super-producer, but a good agent will be your super-hero!”

To read the entire article, click HERE.

October 4, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Tregg Rustad fronts Los Angeles edition of Top Agent Magazine

The new Los Angeles issue of Top Agent Magazine is out this week with Rodeo Realty’s Tregg Rustad as the cover Realtor.

The Beverly Hills agent fronts the publication and is featured within, with stories about his very first sell, his real estate team, and his life.

“The most interesting part of Tregg Rustad’s work is putting the pieces of a real estate transaction together,” said Top Agent Magazine. Rustad’s attitude and expertise have earned him and his partner, Peter Maurice, a ranking as Rodeo Realty’s top team, states the article.

“Year after year, the Wall Street Journal and Real Trends rank them as one of the Top 12 real estate teams in the Greater Los Angeles area…and one of the Top 250 teams in America, out of 1.1. million Realtors® nationwide,” said Top Agent.

According to the feature, in the 15 years that Rustad and Maurice have been working together, they’ve closed 1,300 transactions, representing almost $1.3 billion.

Before becoming a real estate agent, Rustad worked in film production. He tells the magazine that he wanted something different, so he got his real estate license between movie productions and sold his first property to a writer on one of the shows.

“I started selling real estate at 22 years old with a network of zero,” Rustad tells Top Agent. “Part of the benefit of starting young as I did is that I was open-minded about who I worked with. No deal was too small. For example, I sold a one-bedroom condo to a client in 2002 and have done five transactions for him since, as well as six or seven for his friends and family. Word of mouth is the best way for me, because people come with trust.”

In the article, Rustad also talks about his real estate partner, Maurice—who was a studio lawyer for 10 years before he got into real estate.

“We built our practice with the same dedication to excellence and client satisfaction that you should expect from your attorney,” said Rustad.

During his spare time, Rustad tells the publication that he enjoys relaxing with his wife and daughter, and also loves to surf, hike, and go camping. He also likes to buy and remodel property—which he says gives him real world experience he can share with his clients.

The article closes off by stating that it’s important to Rustad to be efficient and professional from the first phone call to the close of the transaction.

“My first 10 years were about learning,” said Rustad. “Now halfway through my second 10, it’s about perfecting and expanding. My last 20 will be about having the business where I want it to be and enjoying the benefits.”

To read the entire feature on Tregg Rustad, click HERE.

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October 4, 2016

Rodeo Realty’s Woodland Hills agent Shane Nichols covers California edition of Top Agent Magazine

Featured this week in the California edition of Top Agent Magazine is Rodeo Realty’s Woodland Hills agent, Shane Nichols.

Nichols is covering the front of the magazine and is also highlighted throughout the publication.

In a 6-page spread, the premier real estate magazine gives an in-depth look at Nichols career and his success.

“With a natural ability to sell and a strong drive to achieve goals, Shane Nichols has set himself apart in the southern California Real Estate market,” said Top Agent Magazine.

The magazine mentions Nichols previous career in sales and how that led him to become a Realtor®.

“The year 2015 was his first full-time year in the business, and he was recognized at Rodeo’s yearly awards ceremony as one of the Top Producers of a company with 11 locations and over 1,200 agents,” said Top Agent. “That’s impressive.”

To demonstrate how the real estate agent goes above and beyond his client’s expectations the magazine also published two of Nichols’ Zillow reviews.

“…We interviewed 4 different agents, Shane was first,” said one recent seller. “After we had interviewed everyone, we came to the conclusion we definitely wanted Shane to sell our home.”

The review ended by saying, “When all is said and done, we couldn’t be happier with everything he did for us. We gained a great Realtor® and lifetime friend.”

The article closes off by stating that Nichols passion for the real estate industry stems from the people he gets to help.

“I’m in a service profession for a reason: I enjoy helping people,” said Nichols. “And finding them that home of their dreams is a pivotal part of what I do and why I enjoy it.”

To read the entire feature on Shane Nichols, click HERE.

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October 1, 2016

Economic update for the week ending September 30, 2016

Stocks have huge swings, yet end the week up slightly, and end the month down slightly – Despite large daily swings, stocks were pretty stable this month. The last two days were indicative of what we have seen with stocks down sharply Thursday only to be up sharply Friday. Higher oil prices helped stocks this week, and falling health and banking stocks hurt markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 18,308.15 up from 18,261.45 last Friday. The Dow was down from 18,400.88 on August 31. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,168.27, up from 2,164.69 last week. It was unchanged from 2,170.95 on August 31. The NASDAQ closed the week at 5,312.00, up from last week’s close of 5,305.75. The NASDAQ closed the month up from 5,213.22 on August 31.

U.S. Treasury Bond yields flat this week and just slightly higher for the month – The 10 year U.S. Treasury Bond yield closed the week at 1.60%, down from 1.62% last Friday. It was 1.58% on August 31. The 30-year U.S. Treasury Bond closed at 2.32%, down from 2.34% last week. It was 2.23% on August 31. Mortgage rates follow bond yields so we watch bond yields closely.

Mortgage rates unchanged this week – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on September 29, 2016 showed that average mortgage rates from lenders surveyed for the most popular mortgage products were as follows: The 30-year fixed rate average was 3.43%. The 15-year fixed average rate was 2.72%. The 5/1 ARM average rate was 2.81%.

California Association of Realtors releases 2017 housing forecast – Key points in their report were: Prices would continue to increase, but at a more tempered rate. They feel prices will rise 4.3% in 2017, compared to a 6.2% increase in 2016. The median price will rise to $525,600 in 2017, up from $503,900 in 2016. The number of sales would be flat, up just 1.4% in 2017. That would equate to 413,000 units, up from 407,300 units forecasted in 2016. The 30 year fixed would rise slightly to 4% in 2017, up from an average of 3.6% in 2016.

September 29, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Peter Maurice mentioned in The Hollywood Reporter

The Hollywood Reporter recently came out with an article, “Hollywood’s Newest Home Trend: Safe Rooms.”

According to THR, a glance at luxury real estate listings reveals that there’s an increasing demand for safe rooms—particularly high-end designs with luxurious interior design details and amenities.

Mentioned in the article is Rodeo Realty’s Beverly Hills Estates Director, Peter Maurice. A quote by him is emphasized in the story and used as a pull quote—attracting attention and drawing the reader into the piece.

“Safe rooms have become an important luxury ‘checklist’ item for high-end sales and more common request in the past five years,” said Maurice.

a-bathroom-mirror-doubles-as-a-door-to-a-walkin-closet-safe-room-embed — *Creative Home Engineering uses bookcases or mirrors as entries to converted home theaters, master suites or wine rooms.*

Many celebrities are said to have secret entries in their homes—A-listers from Lady Gaga to the Beckhams boast the feature. Mark Zuckerberg reportedly is building a stand-alone safe room inside his Palo Alto compound. L.A. Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan has one with thumbprint entry in the Pacific Palisades home he listed on the market this year. Sandra Bullock, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez also have a safe room.

With safety and security a persistent concern across the country, some builders of safe rooms are seeing a boom in sales.

Tom Gaffney, president of Gaffco Ballistics, tells THR that his company has installed safe rooms in New York and Los Angeles for celebrity residences that start at $250,000.

“Our clients tend to have a higher sense of the lack of security in the world today.”

According to THR, Nick Paster of American Saferoom Door Co., said home theaters, master suites and cigar and wine rooms are most preferred for safe-room conversions.

To read the THR article on safe rooms, click HERE.

The article is scheduled to be published in The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine and should appear in the next issue, which is expected to come out October 12.

September 28, 2016

Nadeau Los Angeles To Host Free Meet And Greet With Interior Designer Leslie Whitlock

Nadeau Los Angeles will be hosting a meet and greet with L.A. interior designer and home stager Leslie Whitlock on Saturday, October 1 from noon until 2 p.m.

Whitlock, who has worked with the likes of Calvin Klein, will be staging interiors for multiple rooms and discussing how to infuse environments with warmth, creativity and one’s personal style.

The meet and greet will include snacks, beverages, music and an informal Q&A session. Nadeau Los Angeles will also be raffling off more than $500 in furniture and accessories.

The event is free and open to the public. Bring your questions and get ready to learn some insider tips designers charge a fortune for!

To RSVP, click HERE.

Nadeau Los Angeles is located at 176 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles 90036

For more information on Whitlock, read this LA Times article HERE.

Also, visit his website HERE.

Information provided by Nadeau.

September 27, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Roger Perry lists former home of Amber Rose

A home once occupied by model, author, and now TV talk show host Amber Rose is on the market for $5,099,000. Rodeo Realty’s Beverly Hills agent Roger Perry has the listing, which has been featured in Architectural Digest and Pursuitist.

Rose lived in the 9,300+ sq. ft. contemporary home for about a year before purchasing a house in Tarzana. The also feminist activist and fashion designer gave People magazine a tour of her pad during her stay there. During her at-home interview, Rose showed off her shoe closet, her son’s room and her massive theater room.

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Since moving out, the Los Angeles compound has been remodeled. The 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom property has an enormous living room that connects to an informal area and a dining room. The chef’s kitchen boasts European finishes, Caesarstone countertops, and all Miele appliances including a built-in fridge and a wine tower. The east wing of the home includes the theater room, two bedrooms, and a junior master suite that opens up to an outdoor patio area and connects to the gym. The vast master suite has an endless closet and dual, luxurious baths. On the west wing, there’s another bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, plus an office/lounge areas. The home also includes an attached one-bedroom guesthouse that has a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room. Other additional features of the home include a pool and spa, a private gazebo, 8 security cameras, and parking for 8 cars.

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Rose, 32, is best known for her high-profile romances with Kanye West and Whiz Khalifa, whom she married in July 2013 and divorced in 2014. “Muva Rose” as she’s known to her fans, also has a non-profit organization, the Amber Rose Foundation, which is dedicated to female empowerment and equality.

Currently, MUVA is the Executive Producer and host to her own VH1 show, The Amber Rose Show. She is also a cast member of Dancing with the Stars season 23.

The home is also available for lease at $25,000 a month. For more information on the property, click HERE.

To read the Architectural Digest article on this home, click HERE.
Pursuitist, HERE.

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September 24, 2016

Economic update for the week ending September 24, 2016

Stocks rally as The Fed forgoes rate hike, but retreat on Friday – Stocks rose this week after The Federal Reserve announced that they decided to leave rates unchanged at the conclusion of their Open Market Committee Meeting. They did state that they were open to a rate increase soon. Stocks had a volatile two weeks as speculation of whether or not a rate increase was coming moved the market. It looks like we will see more of the same before the next Fed meeting. Stocks dropped sharply Friday erasing most of the week’s gains. The largest drops were in energy, and mining as oil dropped over 4% to $44 a barrel. Stocks were up for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 18,261.45, up from 18,123.80 last Friday. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,164.69, up from 2,139.16 last week. The NASDAQ closed the week at 5,305.75, up from last week’s close of 5,244.57.

Bond yields down slightly this week after three weeks of slight increases – The 10 year U.S. Treasury Bond yield closed the week at 1.62%, down from 1.70% last Friday. The 30-year U.S. Treasury Bond closed at 2.34%, down from 2.44% last week. Mortgage rates follow bond yields so we watch bond yields closely.

Mortgage rates unchanged this week – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on September 22, 2016 showed that average mortgage rates from lenders surveyed for the most popular mortgage products were as follows: The 30-year fixed rate average was 3.48%. The 15-year fixed average rate was 2.76%. The 5/1 ARM average rate was 2.80%.

Southern California home sales hit 10 year high in August – Data firm, CoreLogic reported that 23,278 new and existing single family homes sold in August in their 6 county Southern California region. That number represents a 10 year high and almost a 10% increase in the number of homes sold last August. The median price was flat in August, but up 6.2% from one year ago, according to CoreLogic.

California pending home sales show increase in homes under contract – The California Association of Realtors reported that the number of existing home sales increased 6.4% in August from August 2015 levels. Year over year the number of pending sales increased in all regions of the state with the Southern California region posting the largest gain, up 9.7% from August 2015. Pending existing single family homes include all resale detached and attached homes.

U.S. existing home sales ease up pace in August – The National Association of Realtors reported that the number of existing homes sold nationally declined 0.9% to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.33 million homes in August from a rate of 5.38 million in July. Year over year the pace of existing homes sold, which include all resale single family, condominiums, town-homes and co-ops, increased just 0.8% from a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.29 million homes last August.

Have a great weekend!
Syd

September 23, 2016

Advertise in Fall/Winter Issue of Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate Magazine

Don’t miss out on the Fall/Winter issue of Luxury Real Estate Magazine! Published only three times a year, this coffee-table-quality publication reaches a high-net worth audience through worldwide distribution of 50,000+ copies!

The issue is sent to many of the world’s most affluent households and individuals, each magazine showcases luxury homes from the finest national and international real estate specialists.

Issue – Fall/Winter 2016
Print Date – November 1st
Materials due – October 3, 2016

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Inside Cover – $2,995
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Back Cover -$3,495
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Quarter Page – $655
Agent Spot – $395
Significant Sale – $195

DISTRIBUTION DETAILS:

To view Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate’s 2016 Summer Issue, click here: http://www.luxuryrealestate.com/magazine

If you have any further questions or want to reserve space, contact our LUXRE Membership Manager, Brandie Holmes at 206.695.4843. You can also reach her at Bholmes@luxre.com

September 22, 2016

Rodeo Realty Nominated For Five Who's Who Luxury Real Estate Awards

Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate has announced the awards nominees for their 21st Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference.

Rodeo Realty has been nominated for: Best Overall Marketing Package, Best Website, and Outstanding Social Media Savvy.

Rodeo Realty is also being represented in two other categories. Beverly Hills agent Ben Bacal has been nominated for the “Significant Sales Award”.

Don Ashley of Studio City is also a 2016 award nominee for “Outstanding Rookie”.

The conference will take place September 27 – 30 at The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado. The awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner Friday.

Last year, Rodeo Realty received an award for “Best Website Innovation”. Bacal was the recipient of the “Billionaires Club” award.

View all 2016 nominees HERE.