Dana Graham

Palos Verdes Information Category

First Time for Sale — 1548 Addison Road, PVE — Sold in 1 Day!

[ngg src="galleries" ids="139" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]This is the epitome of the type of mid-century home that those of us who grew up here grew up in. This is a one-owner (for sale for the first time since 1955), updated and well-preserved, one level, 3 bedroom 2 bath home, on a large flat lot. The open beam ceilings give a feeling of spaciousness, while the see-thru masonry fireplace is also impressive. This home boasts impressive curb appeal, including the circular driveway and...Continue Reading!

A Meaningful Gift to History

A Meaningful Gift to History: A Donation from the Driver’s Seat. Dana Graham's Palos Verdes Historical Society Contribution$ In a gesture that perfectly blends history, heritage, and generosity, Dana Graham—lifelong Palos Verdes resident, local realtor, and President of the Palos Verdes Historical Society—was recently offered $5,000 to bring his 1929 Dual Cowl Phaeton Packard to the prestigious Bel Air Country Club. The invitation came from Jay Borzi, a former Rolling Hills resident and current Bel Air Country Club member, who wanted to...Continue Reading!

May 2025 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: I know I’ve discussed this before, but it bears repeating:  succinctly, the Number One agent may not be the best agent to sell your house; in fact, the odds are against it.  Speaking as someone in the business, some things are more obvious to me than they may be from the outside, and this is one of them.  The biggest agents, generally those who sell the most houses and who do all the advertising, more often than not, are...Continue Reading!

A Valmonte Landmark — Sold in 10 Days

You have probably admired this house if you walk or drive around Valmonte. That's no surprise as the architect was the famous Walter Swindell Davis, who also designed La Venta Inn and the former General Store (now Yellow Vase) in the Plaza, plus other notable Palos Verdes landmarks. Now is your chance to own a piece of Palos Verdes history. You could look a long time before you found another like this. With really impressive curb presence, this lovingly maintained...Continue Reading!

March 2025 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: As we say in the business “inventory is up”.  I’ve always disliked the term “inventory” because it makes houses sound like just a commodity, which they never are to me.  Each house is filled with decades of precious memories. Generally prices are at or near their all-time highs, prior predictions of doom notwithstanding.  As I discussed at the time, when Covid hit, pretty much everyone predicted that the market would tank.  What actually happened was that Covid restrictions and anxiety...Continue Reading!

January 2025 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: Not to beat it to death, but real estate prices were flat for most of 2024.  As you know, there was a big run-up in prices during Covid, the reasons for which I have discussed previously.  By all odds, there should have been a post-Covid price correction; but if there was, it was barely measurable.  One reason was the number of people who re-financed when interest rates were under 3% and don’t want to sell their house and give...Continue Reading!

November 2024 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: Real estate prices have flattened out in the past 6 months.  There is never any shortage of explanations for whatever the market does, so I won’t indulge in that here.  There is, however, a shortage of homes for sale, which is supporting the prices.  Interest rates have eased a bit, into the 5’s if you know where to go (I do), but there are a lot of folks who don’t want to give up their current sub-3% mortgage by...Continue Reading!

High Density Housing

As most PV residents are now aware, in its infinite wisdom, the State has dictated that every city must have "affordable" housing.  "Affordable" varies by city, but the fact that the State is using our tax money and something called the "Builder's Remedy" to bludgeon cities into compliance is disturbing.  The spirit of the California State constitution is that zoning is left to the cities and counties, but Sacramento has found a cynical way around it.  The artist renderings below...Continue Reading!

May 2024 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: Lest you think all I do is to write you an occasional letter, I was honored to be named the #1 Berkshire Hathaway agent in the South Bay for the first quarter of 2024, and in the Chairman’s Circle (the highest level) for all of 2023.  Thanks to all of you whose family homes I have had the honor to sell over the past 40 years. OK, done bragging.  I’m going to get into the weeds a bit here, but...Continue Reading!

March 2024 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: I don’t usually cover this sort of thing, but as I’m sure most of you know Wayfarer’s Chapel has been in the news lately, and in my capacity as President of the Palos Verdes Historical Society, I figured I’d include a brief mention.  Next to La Venta Inn, which recently had its share of excitement, Wayfarer’s is probably the most iconic building on the Peninsula.  Higher than normal rainfall has caused the landslide not only to accelerate, but also...Continue Reading!