Dana Graham

Real Estate General Info Category

Things You Always Wondered About Palos Verdes

I wrote this in 2007, but to make it easier to find, I've moved it to the top of the heap: A lot of things have happened in Palos Verdes during my 77-year residency some of which, distressingly, are now ancient history. I see a lot of misinformation on websites by realtors attempting to portray themselves as Palos Verdes experts, but I am here to say that I witnessed most of the following myself and this is how it was.  I am...Continue Reading!

Sold! First Time For Sale by Original Owner in Valmonte

109 Via Ardilla is being offered for sale for the first time ever!  A lovely 3 bedroom 2 bath home in a really great, quiet location (Via Ardilla is a short street on which houses rarely come up for sale), with an updated kitchen and baths, cozy family room, spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace, and a nice wood deck overlooking the large flat back yard.  If you aren't aware, Valmonte is the quintessential family-friendly PVE neighborhood in which is...Continue Reading!

May 2017 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: The real estate market this year has not experienced the frenetic activity in the first half of the year that it has seen in the past 3 years.  Prices in Palos Verdes are still right around the all-time high of late 2007, having recovered from the sizeable dip they took from 2008 thru 2010. Let me take just a moment to brag:  the results for 2016 are in, and your humble correspondent was the #3 agent out of over 250...Continue Reading!

Potential Buyers Won’t Take a Shower at Your House

When you get ready to sell your house, you obviously want to do it right.  You will get advice from all directions, most of it well-meaning.  Some of the advice I see, however, after almost 30 years of doing this, I disagree with.  Here is what I tell my clients prior to going on the market: 1)  Make sure that all legal issues (title, loan, etc) that could throw a monkey wrench in the sale are cleared; 2)  It is important to bear in...Continue Reading!

Sold on Pleasant Hill Drive!!

Seems like everyone is waiting for Pleasant Hill Drive.  #6 is one of the original 7 Jack Cameron-built one level ranch homes being sold by the original owner.  We all moved in in early 1963 (we lived at #4) and Pleasant Hill Drive became a magical place -- ask anyone who grew up on that street in the '60's and '70's -- The Bloomfields, Grahams, Mealys, Lovemans, Reynolds/Sommersteins, Coopers, or Lindleys.  I won't bore you with all the stories, but...Continue Reading!

Sold in the Country Club.

This lovely home sold at the asking price.  30026 Avenida Celestial is the first house built on the street (1966) and is an absolutely enchanting trip to Big Sur.  Tucked away in the corner of the cul de sac, the mid-century design features more windows than Microsoft, is completely remodeled in the rustic style of the house, and has a blackbottom pool, spa, and koi pond with waterfall.  Skylites abound which, along with all the windows, really does bring the...Continue Reading!

#3 at Berkshire Hathaway for 2016!

Happy to be named #3 agent at Berkshire Hathaway for 2016 out of about 260, and #6 (out of thousands) in PV overall in listings sold. I am still the kind of agent I wished I'd found 32 years ago when I got into this business, which includes (unlike most other top agents) doing everything myself -- no assistants, transaction coordinators, secretaries, sub-agents. My clients get my 32 years of experience applied directly to their transaction. Call me at 310...Continue Reading!

March 2017 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: The real estate market continues to have a shortage of houses for sale, which has driven prices to record levels.  Any house under about $2.5 million that has not sold within a month in this market needs to have its price seriously examined.  You will see reports in the media that “Pending home sales fall to lowest level in a year” or something close to that.  The reason is not that the market is slow as you might infer;...Continue Reading!

January 2017 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: Happy New Year to you all!  The only thing that has changed in the real estate market since I last wrote is that interest rates have risen to the low 4%’s, which I know seems downright usurious these days.   There is still a dearth of homes for sale in Palos Verdes, which has supported prices at near-record highs. For the past 3 years the market in Palos Verdes has gone crazy from January thru June and then levelled off.  Prices...Continue Reading!

Ridgegate Lease — 28005 Ridgecove Ct

This is a lovely 2 bedroom 1.5 bath unit is leased.  Private patio, private 2-car garage with laundry, and with new paint and carpet throughout.  This complex has a 24 hour live guard + electronic gates.  2 pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, clubhouse, and lots of greenbelts.  $2800/month.Continue Reading!