Dana Graham

Buyers Category

2425 32nd Street, Santa Monica — Lovely Sunset Park

Cute Pre-War (1937) 2 bedroom home in lovely Sunset Park.  Situated on a 40 x 160 lot with lots of lawn area, a 2-car detached garage, and plenty of charm, this house is priced to sell at $795,000.  Call me with any questions -- 310 613-1076.  [nggallery id=12]Continue Reading!

One Level Rancho Palos Verdes Townhouse

SOLD IN 10 DAYS!  Yes, this is one of those rare 1834 square foot one level townhomes at 77 Hilltop Circle (I had it taped and it's actually 1859 square feet).  Remodeled, view of the City, attached 2-car garage with direct entry, 2 bedrooms + den, atrium, formal dining, and the best part:  it's all on one level.  If you've been waiting for one of these, you probably know the floor plan.  These come up every couple of years (there are only...Continue Reading!

29 Ocean Crest Court, Rancho Palos Verdes

SOLD IN 5 DAYS!  Homes in the small, highly desirable complex of Sea Gate Villas rarely come up, and 3 bedroom ones are even rarer, but I have just listed this 3 bedroom 2465 square foot (large) unit.  It features large rooms, turn-key condition, a lovely view of the ocean and Santa Barbara Island (peek of Catalina), and a quiet privacy rare in townhomes.  In addition to the 3 bedrooms, there is a formal dining room, family room, living room, and direct entry from...Continue Reading!

Termites (and other exciting stuff)

There seem to be a lot of misconceptions about termites as it relates to real estate sales, so here's the straight scoop: First of all, there is no law that says that a seller must provide a termite clearance at close of escrow, so let's get that out of the way now.  There is, however, a strong custom that the seller do that. In the real estate context, a "Termite Report" deals not only with termites but with dry rot, fungus, etc,...Continue Reading!

As Seen in the Peninsula News February 23, 2012

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Short Sales — A to Z

Short sales have been in the news the last few years and I've handled some of them.  Whether you're selling or buying, there are a few things you should know before jumping in. Short sales are, by definition, sales made when the amount owed to lenders is greater than the market value of the property.  Given the decline in values the last few years, there are quite a few of them out there, as there were in the early 1990's under...Continue Reading!

The Top Ten Reasons Escrows Fall Out

When I got into this business 35 years ago, my office couldn't help but notice that my escrows almost never fell out.  They were so impressed that they had me give a series of classes on the subject to the newer agents.  500+ escrows later, my escrows still almost never fall out.  What follows are the Cliff Notes on why that is, without giving away all my trade secrets. First, by way of general explanation, every contract provides a buyer contingency period...Continue Reading!

Is It A Good Time to Buy? A Good Time To Sell?

I get these questions all the time.  This is one of those times when I can honestly say that it's a good time for either.  I know what you're thinking, but hear me out: If you're buying:  Interest rates have not been this low since the Earth cooled.  4%?  Are you kidding?  They've been low for a while now (tho not this low), and we've sort of gotten used to them.  When I got into this business in 1984 the best 30-year fixed rate loan was...Continue Reading!

Just Listed: Fully Remodeled Old Torrance Condo

Tired of sharing the laundry with 20 other people?  Tired of parking in that dingy subterranean garage?  Sick of having no storage space?  Frustrated with making offers on short sales that never happen? This is like a breath of fresh air!  Just listed is this really lovely 2 bedroom 2 full bath top level condo a short walk from picturesque Old Torrance.  Especially nice and unusual features of this unit, apart from its being completely remodeled and in move-in condition, are...Continue Reading!

The Thing About Loans

I'm sure anyone who has tried to get a real estate loan during the past 6 months knows this, but for the rest, it's a lot like going to see your proctologist and about as pleasant. All the old rules are out and the primary hiring criterion for underwriters appears to be that they must have been diagnosed with a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Want a second opinion? OK, they don't get out much either. To be fair, the...Continue Reading!