Nicest house I saw this week that my clients didn't want to buy

This is 5908 Troost, North Hollywood.  It just came on the market for $469,500 and it's a 3+2, 1600 sf.  Yes, it's a flip, and a really nicely done one.  Check out the pictures on the mls.  It was the nicest house that I saw this week in the price range that my clients didn't want to buy.  I know what you're thinking: North Hollywood is sketchy.  But this area is improving pretty rapidly.  I sold a home just a half block away to clients last year, and they are deliriously happy there.  The North Hollywood police station is just down on Burbank Blvd. and "Noho" is turning into a fun destination.  True, the public schools aren't anything to write home about, but for those without children in this price range, this area -- and this house -- might be an excellent option.

Cute short sale for aviation buffs

(Disclosure: my client made an offer on this property. So have about a dozen other buyers. Currently, no more offers are being accepted. No, we don't know yet if our offer prevailed.) This cutie is 11558 Cantlay in North Hollywood. It's a 3+2, 1545 sf. short sale for $249,000. It's as nice inside as it is outside -- yes, hipsters, the style IS a little suburban. But...it has a spacious galley kitchen with new Corian counter tops and lots of storage, all the windows are new, new paint inside and outside, decent bedrooms, well maintained, attached two-car garage, nice backyard and side yard, etc. etc.

All around, this is a very nice home. If you like planes. It's just north of the Bob Hope airport. I mean just about 1000 feet from the runway. A plane landed while we viewed the home and I could count its rivets.

In spite of the location, this home sold for $507,000 at the height of the market.

We test-drive a new North Hollywood gastropub

As an occasional public service of this blog, we go out and research neighborhood hot spots so you won’t have to. Last night we visited the new-ish Federal Bar on Lankershim in North Hollywood, and we can confidently report that it is safe for you to visit, too.  This sort-of gastropub is a really welcome addition to the NoHo arts area and is just across from the train station.

Federal Bar has been elegantly carved out of an old brick bank building by the same folks who brought you the Knitting Factory.  It has a quasi-Prohibition theme and it’s slightly more upscale than your average gastropub hang.  There are two main rooms, each with its own long bar, plus an upstairs party room with its own bar and a stage.  The place was pleasantly busy when we got there at 5:00 – hey, we’re old – but the restaurant and bars were packed when we left at 6:30.  And if you’re single, or like beer, by all means just go for the lively bar scene.

The wait staff is stellar.  Our lovely server, Ashley (pictured above; she should be America’s Next Top Model) could not have been more enthusiastic or knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks.  She truly seemed to be on a mission to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.  And gracious manager Carl gave us a complete tour of both upstairs and downstairs.

The plan was for the three of us to have a drink and an appetizer.  One finely-made cocktail turned into, uh, more, with beer chasers all around – there are over 20 beers on tap.  And the appetizers turned into meals.  The menu features several reasonably priced small plates, burgers and entrees. Since we ordered a lot, our final bill wasn’t particularly small. The food was good and I especially liked my friend’s fish and chips.  My husband enjoyed his burger, too. 

The North Hollywood renaissance continues…

Homes in Burbank between $425k and $455k

I case you're wondering about the selection of 3 bedroom Burbank homes and condos in the $425,000-$450,000 price range, I just showed several. Here's my opinion.
1225 Frederic - approved short sale in a nice neighborhood. House looks like somebody tried to flip it and ran out of money. The front needs work, there's a one-car garage, and the pool has not been maintained and is a yucky green color. Kitchen is nice, though.
2268 Ontario - regular sale in this planned unit development across from Yahoo. Each house is a stand-alone with no common walls, but no yard either. The complex was built in 2001 and each unit is very spacious, with a modern layout.
1523 Valley - close to North Hollywood, and its a regular sale. Lots of improvements but the kitchen is small. It looks like it has been added on to several times over the years. Huge yard with pool.
4268 Kling - (pictured above) I love this complex (each unit has its own 2-car garage) because it's so well-maintained and in such a nice area. This unit is a particularly good deal for the complex and the kitchen has been redone.
1211 W. Orange Grove - this foreclosure is right across from Disney school. Looks okay from the outside, a little cobbled together on the inside. Big, green backyard. May be another flip where the owners ran out of money.