I’m so excited that we closed the purchase of 318 N Citrus, representing the coolest buyers we had the honor to represent as buyers for the second time! I’m loving representing buyers! We have 2 buyers in backup position and 2 buyers waiting for sellers to hopefully agree to the price our buyers will hold out to pay. We’re seeing buyers wanting to buy and sometimes acting slowly, cautiously, with contemplation, and waiting a beat to decide for sure to commit. It fascinates me to consistently see that both buyers and sellers are overwhelmingly over-the-moon thrilled at the close of escrow when the transaction is done. Especially the people who take so much time to contemplate..once the sale is final and committed, everyone across the board is so hyper elated and thrilled. There is definitely a universal element of people experiencing some level of doubt before a transaction that predictably turns into apparent and expressed extreme happiness by the time the transactions close.
I’m super excited about Nechama’s new listing at 745 Sunset in Venice! The house had a 3500 sq ft addition to it completed in 2025 and now it’s 4107 sq ft and absolutely beautiful! I love all the exquisite imposing steel windows and doors that also happen to make sunlight pour in everywhere! Besides the aesthetically beautiful architectural design throughout, this house has bells and whistles like an outdoor jacuzzi, firepit, BBQ, and cold plunge. The primary suite has ultra high ceilings, a fireplace, a private balcony, and both a wet and dry sauna in the en-suite bathroom. Located just minutes from the beach and Venice shopping, this house is a super cool vibe all around!
I’m super excited that Nechama scored 119 S Highland for our lucky buyers who happen to have the best taste and will definitely take a fabulous house back to its glory! I have fond memories of Shabbat lunch at this house and all the recipes my Mom picked up from her friend E. who used to host our family for meals in the spacious dining room when I was a young girl. We know our buyers will love that house for years to come!
Devin’s listing at 1149 N Formosa went into escrow with multiple offers! The smart winner of the bidding war is lucky to soon own this architectural gem with loft living overlooking Formosa park in the heart of West Hollywood! We’re considering applications for 131 S Martel. We leased one unit in 5670 Wilshire and we have applications in hand for another unit on that property. We leased a fabulous house off market on Reeves and a house on market on Citrus + places on Alcott and Tennessee. We have new leases coming at 147 S Poinsettia, 132 N Detroit, and 159 S Sycamore. Many owners are still hanging on to low interest rates and leasing vs selling. Many tenants are spending less money on housing by leasing vs buying. Our personal belief is still that it’s way better long term to buy rather than to lease because with paying out of pocket 20% down on a purchase, and appreciation capture on 100% of the home’s value (including the leveraged part) real estate is historically (and from lots of experience) the absolute best investment in the world!
I went on a listing appointment this week where the seller is in his 90’s and interviewing agents to sell his house after he dies. He and his wife (still the love of his life with dementia in a nursing home) have no kids and no heirs so they plan to donate all their money to their college alma maters. The seller thought it might be interesting to negotiate the commission for after he dies, to gain more money for the college scholarship fund. We discussed deciding now if he would want to sell the house “as is” or prepared for sale (since he won’t be here to manage). Choosing to hire an experienced agent and to prepare the house for sale is the most sure path to net the most money for their colleges who will be the beneficiaries of their funds, and way more lucrative than discounting commission. It’s super cool and a complete honor to meet with people almost a century old!!! Also cool that we happen to have the same alma mater.
On my mind this week is the way My Mom followed a self-created dinner schedule that she consistently kept through my childhood. Sunday night, she sometimes fried salami and eggs to serve alongside leftovers! Monday night was beef; I remember butter-soft minute steak in mushrooms + onions with Spanish rice on a weekly rotation. Tuesday night was chicken, most commonly paprikash chicken with nokedli + peas or the extended era of perfectly trussed rotisserie chicken with homemade nokedli toasted in bread crumbs. Wednesday night was dinner at Grandma’s. Thursday night was burgers with Hungarian thinly sliced and stacked roasted potatoes! Friday afternoon snack was homemade kokosh cake or apple or blueberry pie. Weekday dessert was occasionally nagymama’s homemade Apple Cherry Strudel (My Mom’s Mom would stretch homemade flaky dough paper-thin across her entire Brooklyn breakfast room table!) and Hungarian Gombotz with prune lekvar coated in sugary breadcrumbs. It’s been at least 40 years since I’ve had gombotz and I can close my eyes and vividly taste + smell those little pillowey pockets oozing with piping hot filling and covered in sugary crunch! The women in our family have clearly been expressing love through homemade food for generations and it’s solidly passed on to my girls now too! We love the kitchen!
Wishing all an awesome week ahead!
Xoxoxo,
Sheri