Palisadian Joe Halper joined the Board of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation—which operates with a mission “to preserve and enhance public recreation and parks for the diverse people of Los Angeles.”
“A Korean War veteran, Joseph has a 40-year professional career in the field of recreation and parks that encompasses that of head of the largest public urban recreation and park systems in the country, New York City and Los Angeles County,” according to a statement. “Most recently, he served as member of the LA City Board of Recreation Parks Commissioners. Joseph has received many honors, such as being a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and receiving a Swedish knighthood.”
The Pacific Palisades Newcomers and Friends recently collected and donated 1,000 pieces of professional clothing for The Bodega Rack at Santa Monica College’s Back to School Wardrobe Drive. The group began working on fulfilling a Holiday Gift Wish List for Happy Trails for Kids—“to make dreams come true during winter camp.” Happy Trails for Kids, a program for kids in foster care, is “designed to bolster self-esteem, promote team-building and leadership, and offer experiences that help youth transition into healthy and productive adults.”
Photos courtesy of Peggy Levin
The Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS announced that Palisadian author and mental health advocate Diana Daniele joined its board in November.
Photo courtesy of FACTMS
“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Daniele to our board,” said Dr. Randy Pardell, FACTMS president. “She brings her immense and infectious energy, as well as both keen knowledge of and direct experience with transcranial magnetic stimulation. We positively anticipate the release of Diana’s memoir, which describes her moving mental health journey culminating in her finding TMS, which ultimately healed her treatment-resistant depression. Her book will provide inspiration and comfort for those who suffer from this devastating illness.”
FACTMS, established in 2022, has a mission to “support education and research relevant to transcranial magnetic stimulation, raise public awareness of TMS therapy and its benefits, and to increase treatment access, especially in underserved areas worldwide.”
Palisadian Patrick Whelan hosted dinner in the Swarthmore Room at Palisades Village and then a screening at Bay Theater to celebrate the release of Bradley Cooper’s film “Maestro,” which is about Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre. Whelan teaches a course, “Music and the Mind,” each spring at Harvard University Extension based on a set of lectures delivered by Bernstein at Harvard in November 1973 titled, “The Unanswered Question.”
Photo courtesy of Patrick Whelan
Palisades Charter Elementary School hosted its annual fundraising Yee Haw Fall Festival on November 4 at the school’s campus. Festivities included food trucks, a DJ, carnival games, corn maze, cake walk, bake sale, prizes and more.
As winter approaches, we all look for ways to bolster our immune system, including choosing supplements for support.
If you’ve ever walked through a health food store or Whole Foods supplement aisle, you may have wondered why some supplements are two or three times as costly as their counterparts at CVS, Target or Costco. Is it just a scam?
The sea of options can be confusing, so let’s dig into how to find quality supplements that actually work.
Understanding Supplements: Not All Are Created Equal
Is purchasing higher-priced supplements merely investing in costly urine? There are several justifications for why certain supplements often command a higher price.
Bio-Availability: The Key to Supplement Effectiveness
Think of bio-availability like a VIP pass: It helps nutrients cut the line for easier bodily access. The effectiveness of a supplement is not just about the ingredients listed but also how well your body can absorb these ingredients.
Many less expensive brands use tablets, which are less absorbable, making them challenging to digest. In contrast, high-quality supplements usually come in more bio-available forms, like capsules, powders and liquids, ensuring that you’re not consuming nutrients that pass through your system without any benefit.
Binders, Fillers and Additives
For cost-effectiveness, many lesser-quality brands include binders, fillers and additives like magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide. This makes the supplement cheaper, but often these binders also bind the nutrients within.
Also be wary of artificial ingredients. For instance, some adult or children’s multivitamins contain artificial colors and sweeteners, chemicals you or your child don’t need to ingest.
Misleading Marketing
Companies often use enticing marketing strategies to promote their supplements. Phrases like “Fresh from Farm to Table,” accompanied by images of vibrant fruits and vegetables, give the false impression that a supplement is entirely food based. In reality, they often mix lab-derived nutrients with tiny amounts of food or herbs.
It’s essential to differentiate between true food extracts and those merely mixed with food derivatives. Truthfully, the majority of nutrients in supplements are lab-derived. This allows for precise standardization, ensuring you get the exact dosage stated on the label.
Quality Labels and Guidelines
Key certifications include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ensuring sanitary, well-controlled processes. Third-party auditing of these certifications is the gold standard.
Third-Party Auditing
This process verifies that a supplement meets standards for quality, safety and label accuracy. Organizations like NSF International, USP (United States Pharmacopeia) and ConsumerLab.com conduct such testing. However, third-party testing doesn’t assure quality in terms of ingredient types.
Special Mentions, Herbal Supplements and Probiotics
Herbal Supplements: Variations in purity and potency are common. Products may not accurately reflect labeled herb quantities and could be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals or pollutants. Poor growing conditions or incorrect harvesting can diminish effectiveness. Processing and storage methods also impact herbal potency. Furthermore, mislabeling and adulteration with cheaper or unrelated herbs are prevalent problems in the industry.
Probiotics: Different strains provide buried benefits, so it’s crucial to select a probiotic that caters to your health needs. Effective probiotics contain live organisms in adequate quantities. However, many products don’t maintain their potency, due to time or improper storage, and may not contain the live count as advertised. Storage conditions are important, with some needing refrigeration. These bacteria must survive stomach acidity to reach the intestines and deliver benefits. High-quality probiotics often have protective coatings or delivery systems for this purpose.
Variability in Supplement Ingredients
The bioavailability of vitamins and minerals varies depending on their specific forms. Many vitamins and minerals come in cheaper, less absorbable forms. Some of the common offenders include:
B vitamins: Many people better absorb methylated forms. For example, the methylated form of vitamin B6 is Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate (P5P). This form of B6 is the active form that the body can utilize immediately without the need for conversion. The more commonly used form, Pyridoxine, requires conversion by the liver into P5P before it can be used by the body.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is often more effective than vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), being more readily absorbed and converted by the liver.
Magnesium: Magnesium oxide, commonly used in multivitamins, is poorly absorbed. Better alternatives are magnesium glycinate, malate, citrate and l-threonate.
Zinc: Zinc oxide, while common due to its cost effectiveness, has lower bioavailability. The best forms in terms of absorption are zinc picolinate, zinc citrate and zinc gluconate.
Calcium: Calcium citrate is more easily absorbed than calcium carbonate.
Become an Informed Consumer
Research your supplements for their practices and testing. Quality truly matters—from bioavailability and clean ingredients to proper storage and third-party testing. Remember, the cheapest option may not always be the most effective. Prioritize supplements that deliver genuine benefits, ensuring your investment in health is truly enhancing your wellbeing.
Julie Graham is a national board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) and is also pursuing her functional medicine certification (AFMC). Her advanced training includes pre-diabetes, diabetes prevention and resolution, and women’s hormonal health. Reach her at julie@butterandsunshinewellness.com or visit butterandsunshinewellness.com.
By Damon Raskin, M.D. | Special to the Palisadian-Post
Q:I keep reading and hearing about mystery respiratory illnesses going around, including long-lasting coughs. What is happening here in the Palisades and does it seem to be anything out of the ordinary? Is there something we need to be looking out for?
Along with the twinkling lights and festive cheer of the holiday season, coughs and cold symptoms are rampant at this time of year. These respiratory illnesses are like the Grinch who can steal the fun and frolic of these special times, and turn them to misery with unrelenting sniffling and hacking.
I have been inundated with patients with coughs over the past few weeks, but this has been no different than in years past. We do not need Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes, and we can stay away from the Mayo Clinic because there are no mysterious respiratory illnesses in the Palisades.
The common cold, which is usually caused by rhinovirus or adenovirus, along with Covid, influenza and RSV are all peaking during the winter months. As more of us are gathering, traveling and celebrating, these illnesses are being transmitted like wildfire.
All these conditions can cause a cough, and even after the acute illness improves and you start to feel better, the cough can persist for several weeks. Some patients’ coughs are shorter and some much longer depending on many factors, including whether the patient has underlying allergies or asthma, a smoking history, or are on medications that may impair the immune system.
With any cough that persists, I highly recommend seeing your medical provider to check you out, especially if the cough is severe, lasts longer than a week, or is associated with fevers, shortness of breath, or pain in your chest. While some coughs are viral, others can be part of a bacterial infection and even represent pneumonia. Your healthcare provider should be able to diagnose the etiology of the cough and may need to do some testing to help with that.
For example, I now have a machine in my office that with a single nasal swab can determine if a cough is caused by the flu, the common cold, influenza or Covid. Because finding out the type of infection can make a difference in medication management, proper diagnosis is important, especially in the early stages of the illness. For some patients, a chest X-ray can find an underlying pneumonia, which may require antibiotics.
Of course, there are other common reasons for a prolonged cough, which have nothing to do with infections. These include allergies and asthma as well as postnasal drip. Interestingly, acid reflux can also be a common cause of a prolonged cough, which many patients find surprising.
There are numerous things you can do this time of year to help mitigate your risk of getting sick, but nothing is foolproof. Washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask in appropriate situations, and encouraging any ill family members to stay home from work or school to help prevent the spread of infection in the community are all good measures.
Getting the annual flu shot can often help as well as the updated Covid vaccine. For those patients 60 years and up, speak to your doctor about getting the new RSV vaccine to protect you as well.
My holiday wish is that we all hear more sounds of carols and jingle bells in town rather than sneezes and wheezes.
Walking the Kigali Eco-Park
Photos courtesy of David Grinsfelder
After Years of Friendship, Contributing Writer David Grinsfelder Met a Longtime Pen Pal
By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Special to the Palisadian-Post
I don’t recall exactly what I said to my parents after receiving my birthday gift at 8 years old, but I remember being livid as I read them my childlike riot act. I had been asking for a Game Boy for months. How could they be so cruel to get me something that barely counted as gift?
The gift in question—an envelope—was not really a present at all. When I opened the envelope, staring back at me was a picture of a young kid about my age and a letter from a Christian nonprofit called Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado.
As I sounded out the words one at a time, I learned that the boy’s name was Daniel, and that he and I were to be pen pals. Confused, I put down the letter and pulled out the last item from the envelope: an 8.5” by 11” sheet of lined paper, split in half to accommodate to Daniel my note and the Kinyarwanda (the official language of Rwanda) translation to be provided by the nonprofit.
Exchanging gifts
I can’t say I was very enthused about writing that first letter. Where the heck was Rwanda anyway?
I hastily scribbled something out, slipped it into the envelope and mostly forgot about Daniel for the remainder of the summer. But in late August, a few days before I started third grade at Calvary Christian School in Pacific Palisades, an international letter addressed to me arrived.
For an 8-year-old who had never received a piece of mail before, this was a big moment. All of a sudden, someone from across the world was writing directly to me.
“Dear David … ” began the letter, and in the next few paragraphs, Daniel told me about his family (he has three sisters and two brothers), his village in the Lukomo district of Rwanda’s northern province and his favorite pastimes (shooting marbles, playing hide and seek, and group activities at church). He even listed his favorite sport as soccer, which instantly made him “cool” to a kid who lived and breathed the AYSO Region 69 All-Stars soccer program.
Over the next 10 years in the Compassion International program, Daniel and I exchanged dozens of letters (164, to be exact), slowly but steadily developing a unique yet genuine long-distance friendship.
Our experiences and upbringings were diametrically opposed, but our shared values and hobbies provided a foundation upon which our friendship grew. My parents, for their part, made a monthly donation that allowed Daniel’s family to purchase medicines, school supplies, and the occasional goat or chicken.
When Daniel turned 20 years old in 2016, he aged out of the child sponsorship program, which would no longer provide the necessary administrative and translation services to facilitate our communication with each other.
I was seriously troubled by the thought of losing touch with Daniel and—after facing a few hurdles when I reached out to the program coordinator asking for Daniel’s contact information, and with Daniel’s consent—we decided to begin our correspondence via email.
At first, his responses were slow and sporadic, but fortunately his English was sufficient that we could actually carry out a conversation. As time progressed and Daniel moved from the village of Lukomo to the capital city of Kigali to pursue better work opportunities, we moved our communication to Facebook Messenger, and in June 2020 we exchanged numbers on WhatsApp.
In 2022, when my family began planning a trip to Kenya with my grandma, I immediately wondered if it might be possible to actually meet Daniel in person. Kigali, Rwanda, was only an hour flight from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
I broached the subject with my family, and then with Daniel via a WhatsApp video call. Both parties seemed open to the possibility and we moved forward with the plans to allow us to finally meet.
So, in August 2023, my father, my middle brother Matthew and I boarded a RwandAir flight to Kigali. All three of us felt the significance of the opportunity we were being given and discussed the upcoming encounter with great anticipation.
We met Daniel and his brother, Jean-Pierre, at the Magnificant Café in the Nyamirambo district of the capital city. Immediately upon entering the restaurant, we were enveloped by an emotional bear hug from Daniel, 17 years in the making.
His English seemed to have improved dramatically since the last time we spoke on the phone several weeks before. Meeting him in person was surreal—we already knew so much about each other. But for the first time, our conversations included body language and uninterrupted flow due to technical issues. It was as if I was meeting a brother that had been separated from me at birth. We felt a deep connection, but also a new and unfamiliar relationship.
Over the next two days, our group (me, my father, my brother, Daniel, Jean-Pierre and his roommate) traveled around Kigali, visiting museums, eating “local” food (Rwanda pizza), and visiting Daniel’s neighborhood and tiny single-lightbulb apartment in Kigali.
It was enlightening and deeply impactful to witness Daniel’s reaction to our adventures. There were parts of the city that neither he nor his roommate had ever visited, and going to dinner at the relatively nice restaurant was clearly a special and almost uncomfortable experience for him and his siblings.
Forty-eight hours in Kigali flew by in the blink of an eye. We finished our time together riding bikes through Kigali’s beautiful eco-park, watching the sun set over the “Land of 1,000 Hills” and trading music suggestions in the car as we headed toward the airport.
And just like that, Daniel walked away to catch a motorcycle taxi home, and with him went the energy and emotions of the previous two days. I was emotionally drained—our time together had given me so much to contemplate, mostly beautiful memories but also a few more serious musings.
Had I done the right thing coming here? There were moments throughout our time together where I noticed that Daniel, normally talkative and wearing an effervescent smile, would become more subdued, particularly when we visited or dined in places that could only be afforded with a salary well beyond what was available to him in Kigali.
And what was our relationship going to look like going forward? It didn’t feel right to go back to texting and the occasional video call. I wanted to be more involved in Daniel’s life, and I wondered if he felt the same way.
The future of our relationship will only be revealed with time. But after years of letter writing, emailing and WhatsApp texting, I feel appreciative to live in an era when two kids, one from the California coast and the other from a mountain village in Rwanda, can develop a friendship and ultimately have the chance to meet in person. I’m praying this is just the beginning of our story.
And—I guess my parents actually knew what they were doing when they decided against getting me that Game Boy all those years ago.
David Grinsfelder is a graduate of Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019). He currently lives in New York and Milan, Italy, working as a model and writing a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. The Grinsfelders have been Highlands residents since 1989.
ver Aztecs Patrol
Falcons Patrol
Photo courtesy of William Chapin
Local Scouts Report Their Experiences During Good Turn and Career Turn Trips That Took Place in 2023
William Chapin: Aztecs Patrol
ver Aztecs Patrol Falcons Patrol
Photo courtesy of William Chapin
My name is William Chapin, Patrol Leader of Aztecs Patrol, in our local Troop 223.
As a Patrol, we decided to help give back to our community by completing our Good Turn Trip at the Upward Bound House Community Garden and Farm. On October 18th, we spent the afternoon feeding hundreds of people, just by gardening.
As the afternoon came, we arrived at the garden, located conveniently in the heart of Santa Monica on Yale Street, ready to work. We were greeted and helped by a friendly garden helper named Brett, who we later learned has been dedicated to helping the garden for a long time.
After meeting Brett, we got geared up to start cleaning up the garden. As planting season had begun, our first task was to help set up the irrigation, which was crucial for keeping the vegetables healthy.
Some of my Scouts took initiative by cutting more irrigation pipes. They cut so much that Brett commented: “You cut me enough to last the whole season!”
While those Scouts were doing that, the rest of us started to attach the irrigation pipes to the main water. This job was a bit hard at first, but it turned out great.
Now with the irrigation complete, it was time to plant. Our Patrol found it so fascinating to learn about the types of vegetables that were being planted. They asked questions like “What plant is that?” It was such a wonderful thing seeing my Scouts so interested.
We planted so many plants, like lettuce, green onions, bunching onions, eggplants, and even beets! We learned how to properly plant, separate, and maintain the plants. It was such a great way to learn while helping such a great organization.
As you may expect, gardening is not clean, and most of our Scouts were tired and dirty after the end. But I think we all agreed that it was worth it to help our community, and we would definitely help again.
“I hope we can come here again,” said a few of my Scouts. Now, looking back on our service, it makes me smile knowing that myself and my fellow Scouts helped make food more accessible to people who need it.
Abigail Yoda: Fox Patrol
Fox Patrol Photo courtesy of Abigail Yoda
For the Fox Patrol of 223G’s Career Trip, we went to Woodland Hills Country Club. There, we learned what a general manager’s job entails, and we took a tour of the club, had a small putting lesson and ate pizza for lunch.
During the tour, we learned about all the things a general manager of a country club has to do. The general manager is responsible for each small part of a club. This includes the kitchen, golf shop, maintaining the golf course and much more.
After this, the general manager took our patrol out for a small putting lesson that lasted about 15 minutes. He let us keep the golf balls, too. Next, we ate lunch, which was personalized pizzas made by the club’s chef.
We learned that this job can help one give back to their community. Ultimately, this trip has opened our patrol’s eyes to an exciting career option in the future.
Max Szymanski: Falcon Patrol
Falcons Patrol Photo courtesy of Max Szymanski
On Sunday, October 15th, the Falcon Patrol from local Pacific Palisades Boy Scouts Troop 223 went to Will Rogers State Historic Park for their Good Turn Trip.
A Good Turn Trip is a community service event organized by the Patrol Leader for their scout group to give back to their community.
I chose to complete my community service event at Will Rogers State Historic Park as I enjoy leisure time at the park, mountain biking and hiking, as many families in the Los Angeles area do, so I wanted to give back to this local destination.
When the scouts first arrived at the park, they met with Ranger Taylor and Parks Maintenance Supervisor Harkless. The rangers gave us a speech of how the park was founded and some history behind Will Rogers.
Afterwards, the rangers told us they need help with cleaning the Historical Tennis Courts to prevent and mitigate damage to the courts. Scouts were delegated to sweep the courts removing leaves and dirt, and remove overgrown vegetation and weeds.
After an hour of working, they cleared the entire court and collected over ten 5-gallon bags full of trash, twigs, leaves, and weeds. They admired their work of the clean court.
All the scouts felt it was a productive morning, giving back to their community and learning how to spin a lasso.
Troop 223 is a prominent community organization where boys and girls learn leadership skills, outdoor skills and how to be outstanding members in their community.
Nali Weaver: Sea Otters Patrol
Sea Otters Patrol Photo courtesy of Nali Weaver
On November 19th at 11:00 am, my patrol, the Sea Otters, and I went to the Bel Air Bay Club and did a beach cleanup. We had lots of fun finding sandals, old toys and a bunch of weird pieces of trash!
In total, we walked along the beach for an hour and collected over five pounds of trash. This trip was successful because it was fun for everyone and it had a positive impact on the environment.
This was a great learning experience for my patrol because they saw how much trash was actually on the beach and in the ocean. It taught them that trash is very harmful to the beauty of the beaches and oceans in our world.
I was glad my patrol experienced this new perspective because it taught them the purpose of a Good Turn Trip: to help improve the lives of others.
Ryan Ruud: Seminoles Patrol
The Seminoles Patrol of Troop 223 recently donated self-care kids to the Salvation Army for their Good Turn Trip. For the trip, we made self-care kits with daily necessities, such as towels and toothpaste, and gave them to the Salvation Army.
Seminoles Patrol Photo courtesy of Ryan Ruud
If you were inspired by these stories and have a fifth- through eighth-grader, tour and join Troop 223 by emailing Greg Frost frostfamily@frostinvestigations.com (Boys) or Larry Kirven troop223girls@gmail.com (Girls).
One constant in life and real estate to expect is continuous change. Even when the real estate market seems to only be heading upward, underlying changes are usually beginning.
Historically the market has undergone major cycles every eight to 10 years, and many observers believe we are about at the point where another such period may begin. Yes, there are usually some signs that change is beginning. However, most often it is noticed in the rearview mirror, perhaps months after the transition has already started.
Here are seven potential indicators to expect: increasing inventory as compared with a decreasing rate of sales, a higher percentage of escrows falling out, fewer multiple offers, an increase in re-negotiation during escrow, a greater number of price reductions before offers are made, listings expiring or being taken off the market, and a decrease in the sale-to-list price ratios.
Careful observation of the current real estate market shows some evidence of all these changes as we approach the new year. How much of this may be due to the typical market slowdown in December is unknown. However, caution signs are on the horizon.
Homeowners who decide to sell during this time of maximum home values will benefit by being less aggressive in their expectations of the market than some have chosen to do recently. The gradual erosion of underlying market strength that had led to multiple offers on a high percentage of listings has become apparent. Also, even when multiple bidders exist, fewer are seen to engage on most listings, even when well-priced.
Though some strategies can be used to maximize the energy of multiple offers, it has become more challenging in today’s market even when a careful system is implemented to achieve this goal. Hence it is even more important to set the list price optimally to encourage multiple offers, yet not too low that will leave money on the table in the process. The agents most seasoned through having experienced and managed many such situations during the last several years will likely outline and help design an approach that may yield maximum results for any particular listing.
Another element to consider in pricing correctly is the seller’s “window of opportunity.” The average time on the market in Pacific Palisades is now about three to four weeks. During slower periods years ago, it was as long as four to six months.
Sellers may say they do not care how long it takes to sell their home and are willing to wait as long as it takes to get the price they want. However, if it remains on the market too long beyond the “window,” it is gradually perceived as having less value.
Though proper pricing is an essential, it is not the only element to consider in attaining the best results. Some homes do not do as well or even fail to get sold due to the way a house is prepared and presented, how well it is marketed, failure to take into consideration some of the locational elements, and, in some cases, insufficient information for buyers to know about in a timely manner.
Ideally, a collaboration between the sellers and an agent who experienced the difficult market of 2008-12 will lead to an overall strategy considering all the relevant factors they can anticipate. Such a process will optimize the seller’s bottom line and minimize unexpected bumps along the way.
Michael Edlen and his team have successfully managed the sales of hundreds of homes during the current “seller’s market” and are available for consultation at michael@edlenteam.com or 310-600-7422.
Hot Leasing, Cool Condo and Flat Single-Family Market
By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post
As of November 30, there were 68 single-family Palisades residences listed in the Multiple Listing Service, which is 11% higher than this time last year. So far this year 211 Palisades homes have sold, which is a 20% decrease over last year at this time. There are now 17 homes in escrow in the Palisades, which is the same as November 2022.
The average sale price per square foot is 4% lower compared with the same period in 2022 and is now at $1,614 per square foot. Median sale prices are currently $4.5 million, compared to $4.6 million a year ago—a decrease of 2%.
The lowest-priced available home is a three-bedroom, three-bath on Las Lomas being offered at $2,095,000. The highest-priced property is a six-bedroom, 12-bathroom house on Bella Oceana Vista asking $29,995,000.
The lowest sale price so far this year was a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath on Sunset, which sold for $1.8 million. The highest sale so far this year was a seven-bedroom, 11-bath on Capri in the Riviera, which sold for $24.95 million.
There are 10 condominiums/townhouses on the market (a 50% drop from last year) with a median list price of $1.2 million (a 29% drop from last year). Eight condos are currently in escrow.
There have been only 60 condo sales so far this year (a 42% decrease), ranging from $550,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath condo on Sunset to $5.25 million for a three-bedroom, three-bath unit on Palisades Drive in the Sea Ridge gated community. The median condo sale price is currently $1.3 million, which is a 24% decrease from last year’s $1.7 million median.
There are currently eight pieces of raw land available, ranging from a 13,664-square-foot lot off of Oracle Place for $848,000 to six acres on Casale being offered at $14,995,000. There have been four land sales so far this year.
There are currently 103 available leases in the Palisades, which is a 45% increase from this time last year. They range from a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit on Sunset Boulevard asking $2,750 per month to a six-bedroom, 14-bath, fully furnished home on Pampas Ricas asking $140,000 per month.
There have been 248 leases so far this year, up 16% from last year. The highest lease so far this year was an eight-bedroom, 11-bath on Rivas Canyon for $85,000 per month and the lowest was $2,500 per month for a studio with one bathroom on Glenhaven. The median lease price is currently $10,000 per month, which is down by just 2% from this time last year.
Michael Edlen, an agent with Coldwell Banker, has been keeping statistics on Pacific Palisades housing prices for the last 37 years.
As we stand at the crossroads of 2023, the real estate landscape reflects a dynamic interplay of various factors that have left an indelible mark on property values, availability and the overall market sentiment. This year, the forces shaping the real estate trajectory in our neighborhoods seem more pervasive and impactful.
One of the pivotal elements shaping the Westside’s real estate narrative is the ever-fluctuating interest rates. In 2023, the market witnessed a delicate dance with interest rates that impacted both buyers and sellers.
The Federal Reserve’s decisions on rates influenced borrowing costs, thereby influencing the affordability of homes. Despite starting the year on a relatively stable note, the latter part of 2023 saw a marginal increase in interest rates, adding an extra layer of complexity to the market dynamics.
A major challenge reverberating through the real estate landscape was the persistent issue of limited housing inventory. The scarcity of available homes has been a defining characteristic of these neighborhoods, putting upward pressure on prices and intensifying competition among prospective buyers. This scarcity is not solely a local woe but a nationwide trend.
High prices—another defining feature of the Westside—have been a double-edged sword. While elevated property values indicate the desirability of these neighborhoods, they also pose barriers to entry for many aspiring homeowners. The challenge lies in finding a delicate balance that ensures the sustainable growth of property values without alienating potential buyers.
Inflation emerges as an instrumental factor in the real estate drama. The rising cost of goods and services has a direct impact on construction costs and home maintenance, putting additional pressure on property values as well as affordability in these sought-after communities. The combination of declining purchasing power and higher mortgage rates results in fewer buyers, which in turn, slows the market.
Enacted on April 1, Measure ULA, which stands for United to House LA, is a tax on all real estate sold at or above $5 million in the city of Los Angeles to pay for new homeless support. ULA requires sellers of properties valued at $5 million to $10 million to pay a 4% tax to the city, and sellers of properties at or above $10 million to pay 5.5%.
Subsequently following the implementation of ULA, transaction volume drastically fell off and inventory supply dwindled.
Turning our gaze beyond our Pacific shoreline, international conflicts have cast a shadow on the real estate market. Uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions abroad have led to fluctuations in investor confidence and, consequently, impacted the global economy. The Westside is not immune to these tensions and has felt the ripples of these uncertainties.
Closer to home, the anticipation surrounding upcoming elections has added a layer of uncertainty to the equation. Historically, election periods have been marked by cautious optimism and a “wait-and-see” approach from buyers and sellers alike.
The Westside has not been devoid of the ebb and flow of electoral cycles. As the community awaits the outcome of these elections, the real estate market is poised for potential shifts based on the new policy directions that may emerge.
On a macro level, in navigating these multi-faceted challenges, our community must collaborate on innovative solutions. Local government, real estate professionals and the community at large must work together to address issues of housing affordability, inventory shortages and market stability.
On a micro level, if you intend on selling, buying or renting, it is vital to work with a real estate agent who is experienced, knowledgeable and creative, capable of navigating the tenuous real estate terrain that is being reshaped almost daily.
In a nutshell, 2023 has been a year of twists and turns for the real estate market. As interest rates fluctuate, inventory plays hide-and-seek, and global and domestic factors throw in their curveballs, the Westside communities are holding their own in a shifting landscape, responding with adaptation and resilience, albeit at a slower pace.
Acknowledging and addressing the pitfalls and creatively overcoming them will help ensure we ride the waves and outlast the turbulence that develops.
Briar Pecsok is a sales partner at Amalfi Estates, whose team has sold over $2 billion in properties and was selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 10 teams in the country out of one million agents. If you are thinking of buying a home or selling your own, contact Briar Pecsok at 310-922-4241 or briar@amalfiestates.com.
Pictured here is the Palisades home the couple sold in 2021. Photo courtesy of Compass
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer and TV producer David E. Kelley recently purchased a $10.6 million Mediterranean-style Pacific Palisades estate, according to the Robb Report.
Tucked away in the Riviera, the luxury residence, previously owned by famed winemaker Al Scheid, boasts five bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread out over 7,600 square feet, showcasing “immaculate scale and quality design,” according to the listing.
A private oasis, the just-over-one-third-acre lot is nestled behind tall trees that round its perimeter. Arched double front doors welcome guests into the home, where they are greeted with a “sweeping staircase” and high ceilings with classic wooden beams into the formal living space—complete with a fireplace. Across the entryway, a family room features custom floor-to-ceiling built-ins and coffered ceilings.
Located next to the outdoor patio, the formal dining room boasts vaulted ceilings and views of the outdoor veranda, enveloped in lush greenery, “providing a peaceful yet multi-functional dining and entertaining space.” The kitchen and breakfast area are accompanied by another family room, featuring a fireplace and bar. Outdoors, the backyard has a pool and spa.
Upstairs, the home has a long hallway—with ample natural light flooding in—and custom built-ins, which leads down to the primary suite. The primary suite features another fireplace, large bathroom with dual closets, and a balcony with views of the private backyard.
“There are three additional bedrooms with en-suite baths followed by a bonus room,” the listing read, “bringing forth endless opportunities for whatever your needs are.”
Gary Glass at Compass held the listing.
The acquisition is the latest in the celebrity power couple’s real estate ventures. Pfeiffer last sold a French-style Palisades estate for $25 million in 2021—earning the celebrity couple a $2.75 million profit after purchasing the home for $22.5 million in January 2020.
In November 2019, the celebrity duo listed another Mediterranean-style property located in the Riviera for $8.35 million, according to Variety. The couple listed the house a little over a year after purchasing it for $7.7 million in an off-market deal.
The couple also sold another Palisades home for $9.1 million to their neighbor Jim Crane, owner of the Houston Astros, according to Variety. The 3,211-square-foot residence has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The couple reportedly paid $8.15 million for the home.
Television producer Kelley has won 11 Emmys for TV writing. Pfeiffer is an award-winning actress, well known for her role in the 1983 film “Scarface” and her recent role as Janet Van Dyne in Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
The Honorable Judge Lawrence Waddington, respected jurist for the Los Angeles County Court system, passed away on October 28 at age 91.
Although he grew up during the Depression years, he had a very happy childhood in La Grange, Illinois. He attended Colorado College, was on the ski team and graduated with honors. He then continued to excel with his studies at UCLA law school where he graduated in 1956.
His first job was with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office where he was assigned to work with KCET to produce training films for police departments statewide, focusing on the fourth amendment and search and seizure protocol. He later wrote the definitive book on the subject “Arrest, Search and Seizure,” which is still in use today.
He continued his work for the Attorney General’s office before being appointed to the Municipal Court in 1973 and was elevated in 1981 to the Superior Court bench where he remained until his retirement in 1994.
While on the bench, he was also a popular lecturer, and as former California Supreme Court Justice Ronald George teasingly said, “He became regarded as the Cerebral Sultan of Search and Seizure and Master of the Fourth Amendment.”
He wrote many articles for the Los Angeles Daily Journal when a conservative interpretation of the law was required and served as adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Law. He also acted as legal content consultant for TV shows such as “Hardcastle and McCormick” (although his advice was not always taken if it didn’t fit the storyline!). He published multiple legal books and self-published two fictional crime novels.
After his retirement he was associated with JAMS, but also provided time to continue his lecturing with a particularly memorable engagement taking him and four other judges to Russia to demonstrate our democratic trial system.
He was awarded a Fulbright Grant to teach in Turin, Italy.
His many friends and family will always remember him as a brilliant, good humored and gentle man in all areas of his life.
He is survived by Jane, his loving wife of 46 years, his daughter Susan Guthrie (Edison), sons James and Charles, step-daughter Kelly Marine, and granddaughters Daria Guthrie and Jaia Acidera.
A memorial mass and reception will be held at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
By continuing to use our site, you understand that we use cookies to improve your experience and collect analytics data. To find out more, read our privacy policy here.
