Silver Lake Area Real Estate News And Information: July 2009

Restore your Silver Lake home with parts from Silver Lake Architectural Salvage

A lot of people find themselves buying fixer-uppers these days. Many short sale listings and bank owned REO properties can be in major disrepair at the time of sale. There are alot of craftsman and California bungalow homes in Silver Lake, and Echo Park. If you'd like help locating one, click here to search for Silver Lake properties. Chances are if you buy one in a distressed sale, it's going to be needing some help.

If you are a lover of old architecture, do not despair.  Sure, you can spend a fortune for brand new (read, "expensive") reproductions of doors and windows, or you can pick up the real Mc Coy, add your own elbow grease and end up with the real thing as it was originally built!

 People throw away all kinds of things. When it comes to architectural salvage, one man's junks is definitely another man's treasure.  There are places where you can find all kinds of architectural pieces to restore your craftsman, Victorian or California bungalow back to its original beauty. One such place can be found right here in Silver Lake.

 Silver Lake Architectural Salvage, owned and operated by Bruce Baken and Alan Teman, opened in 2005. You'll find it just South of Sunset Blvd at 1065 Manzanita Street. You can't miss the yard full of all kinds of doors, windows and miscellaneous old building parts.  Step inside the big white building for a huge selection of old built-ins, stained glass windows, light fixtures, claw foot tubs, sinks,  and all kinds of  odds and ends you thought were irreplaceable.

You can get sash weight for your double hung windows, old door knobs, cabinet hardware, door moldings, and hinges- you name it, they have it!  On my last visit I was stunned to see a completely restored stove that was probably originally built in the 20's. It was magnificent!   Can you tell I have a thing for old architecture and appliances?!

 My husband has been restoring some double hung windows for a 1920's- built Spanish building. We did the same thing on our Silver Lake property years ago but had to hunt all over Pasadena and East L.A. for parts.  He was thrilled to walk into Silver Lake Architectural Salavage and be able to find sash pulleys by the handful and even  5 perfectly sized window sashes at the incredible price of $5 each! Yes, there's will be stripping, sanding and painting ahead, but how wonderful to have original, beautiful working windows in place once again.  They're not kidding when they say "The don't make ‘em like they used to"!

New stock arrives at the store every single day so if they don't have what you are looking for the first time you go, keep checking back and eventually they probably will. You can ask the owners to notify you if something becomes available. If you're anything like me, after visiting Silver Lake Salvage once, you'll find yourself returning again and again.

For more information on Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com  

 Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater Village - there's a farmers' market for everyone! Where's your favorite Farmers' Market?

If you like the idea of buying straight from the source, then a famer's market is the way to shop for great fruits and veggies.  Residents of Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and Atwater Village have several choices and all on different days at different times. Lucky for us!  If you forget to pick something up at the Echo Park Farmers' Market on Friday, you can go to the Silver Lake Farmers' Market on Saturday or the Atwater Village Farmers' Market on Sunday.  If you're just a fan of outside shopping and variety, there's no reason not to check them all out!

Echo Park Farmers Market

The Echo Park Farmers' Market is relatively new, having started just 3 years ago in 2006.  This market is located at 663 Logan St, just a half block south of Sunday and it's help every Friday from 3-7pm.  You'll find a great variety of fruit and vegetables.  There's also a bread booth and a variety of cooked foods available from Empanadas to Flan. This is probably the least expensive farmers' market in the area. It's never really crowed and since it runs from 3 in the afternoon until 7pm it's not likely you have to worry about heat stroke in the summertime!

 Silver Lake Farmers' Market

Not to be outdone, Silver Lake has a farmers' market of its own. As a resident of the area I was a regular there every weekend. Parking is a bit sparse, but I always walked to and from the market with my own bags. It's one way to make sure you don't buy more than you're actually going to consume in a week. The wonderful variety is always so tempting that it's easy to get more than you can use before the next weeks' market.

The Silver Lake Farmers Market is open for business every Saturday from 8am - 1pm. It's located at what locals know as "Triangle Park". That's the spot where Edgecliff Drive and Maltman Avenue intersect at Griffith Park Blvd. The actual address is 3700 Sunset Blvd - it would be hard to miss the crowd an canopies if you happen to be driving by down Sunset Blvd. on a Saturday morning.

 The Silver Lake Farmers' Market has a great coffee booth.  It's sort of a tradition with many market-goes to grab a cup of coffee, pick out a croissant or muffin from the bread booth and stroll around to peruse what's available that week.  Most of the booty is actually non-sprayed, organic produce. You can also get nuts, honey, cheese, and some really great homemade pitas and humus.  This market also has a great selection of live plants and cut flowers as well as some super prepared foods. The crepe booth gets rave reviews, as do the homemade empanadas.  It's also fun to check out the miscellaneous jewelry, clothing, pottery and other artisan offerings.  I recommend arriving at this market early to avoid the excess sun and moderate crowd you'll find as the day progresses.  Just remember, as much as Fido may like his morning walk, the farmers' market is for humans so please leave the pooch at home.

Atwater Village Farmers Market

So you don't get home from work early enough to make it to the Echo Park Farmers' Market on Sunday and decided to sleep in and catch up on housework Saturday so you can't make it to the Silver Lake Farmers' Market?  No problem! The Atwater Village Farmers' Market has everything you could ask for. Held at the Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot at 3250 Glendale Boulevard, the Atwater Village Farmers' Market is open every Sunday, rain or shine, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Featuring a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables direct from the framer, you'll also find fresh-baked bread, juices, flowers and more.  The Atwater Farmers' Market also has entertainment. There's live music, balloons and children's activities. You can also shop for home-made soup, candles and clothing.  Prepared food includes some mouth watering BBQ from  Bigmista that has a following all its own!

So no matter day works best for you, come out and pick up your recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and enjoy mingling with the locals. No matter which market you choose to attend, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.

 For more information on Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com  

 Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

Baller Hardware, A True Silver Lake Gem!

If you live in Silver Lake, Franklin Hills or Los Feliz, you've probably at some point wandered into Baller True Value Hardware Store at the corner of Tracy and Hyperion.  If you haven't been there yet- you really need to check it out.

I discovered Baller Hardware when I first moved to Silver Lake in 2001. My husband and I had purchased a fixer-upper just south of the Silver Lake Reservoir and had a lot of work on our hands. How fabulous to find this terrific little hardware store such a short drive from our new abode.  Not a fan of big box retailers, I tend to avoid Home Depot and Lowes as much as possible.  Baller Hardware is a small town store stocked with the normal stuff you'd expect to find in a hardware store but also a huge variety of the hard to find odds and ends.  On top of that the staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I've had questions answered about everything from how to rescreen a screen door to which garden spray works best for white flies. 

From the trucks I've seen in the small parking lot out front, I think a lot of contractors and local handymen have long discovered this little gem of a shop.  There's a sister store across the street on Tracy that sells all things art-supply so if you can't find what you want at one store you can invariably find it at the other. Plus it's nice to have the overflow parking though I don't recall needing it on more than a handful of occasions.

Whether you've just bought a foreclosure or live in a mansion in Moreno Highlands, you'll always need a tool, a nail, gardening supplies or a gadget of some kind. Before you jump in your store and make the trek to Hollywood, stop in at Baller Hardware. It's great to support a local business and it's a heck of a lot stressful to boot!

For more information on Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com  

Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

New Silver Lake Library Taking Shape and constructions appears to be coming along nicely.

If you've been anywhere near the corner of Glendale and Silver Lake Blvd, no doubt you've seen the progress being made on the new library.  A contemporary design of shiny silver and glass, the building designed by M2A Architects has a split level design and subterranean parking. 

 

The designers envision the building as a "Gateway to the Community" and are incorporating the eco-friendly green components that will allow it to earn LEED certification.   No doubt the library will be a great addition to the Silver Lake Neighborhood!

If you are up for a book sale, mark your calendar for Saturday, August 1.  You can browse and buy books from 10 am  - 2 pm catty-corner from the future library at the Citybank Community Center. 2450 Glendale Blvd. at Silver Lake Blvd.

For those library lovers who haven't checked out the Edendale Branch yet, it can certainly fill the void until the new Silver Lake library is completed.

This nice little library was opened in the fall of 2004 so it's pretty new itself. It is located at the corner of Alvarado and Sunset Blvd right at the dividing line of Silver Lake and Echo Park at 2011 Sunset Blvd. Parking is limited but I've never had a problem finding a spot, or getting lost in a good book once inside.  There are always events taking place there with class for kids, adults and teens. Especially nice is the free Wifi- and you don't need to buy a $5 coffee to use it!

I think alof of Silver Lake residents are looking forward to opening day when they can stroll around the Silver Lake Reservoir, pick up a book or two and the new library and head on home listing to a pre-reserved book on tape!

For more information on Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com  

 Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

Silver Lake Condos for less than $500K, $400K, would you believe $300K?!

Units in some of these buildings were selling in excess of $600K just a year ago. If you have been thinking of buying a condo in Silver Lake near the Silver Lake Reservoir or near Sunset Junction or within walking distance to Silver Lake Farmer's Market and Trader Joe's, this could be a great time to buy!

How about a 2-bedroom unit in the contemporary style complex at the corner of Silver Lake Blvd and Glendale Blvd right across the street from Silver Lake's soon-to-be-open new library?  This property is just a hop skip and a jump away from the Silver Lake Reservoir Walking Path. It's also close to shopping and restaurants and part of the Ivanhoe Elementary School District. 

This complex of 26 live/work loft units was completed in 2005 and currently there is only one unit available. 2395 SILVER LAKE #7. This one is a short sale, but if it's the right unit for you it could certainly be worth waiting for! 

If you'd prefer a smaller complex closer to Sunset Blvd., how about nearly 1200 sf in the 4-unit complex at 1425 Silver Lake Blvd.?

This split-level one bedroom can be converted back to its original 2-bedroom layout if that's more you speed.  This complex has a large community green space out back for gardening, picnicking or simply hanging out until the Silver Lake Meadow finally opens to the public. Plus it's is just a few blocks from restaurants and shops on Sunset Blvd.

So you like the idea of living in a small 4-unit complex but 1425 Silver Lake is too small and you don't want to live on a busy street? Talk about more space! - How about a 3 bedroom, 3 bath at 3247 Descanso Dr.?  Just shy of 2100 square feet, this unit even comes with and attached garage and HOA dues are a mere $300 per month.  It's a perfect set up if you're thinking of bringing in a roommate or 2 to help pay the mortgage.

 
This complex is south of Sunset Blvd. but still just a short walk to Dusty's for breakfast or a bite of Mexican at El Siete Mares.

If you are a big fan of fresh fruits and veggies, how about a place just a short walk from the weekly Silver Lake Farmer's Market and Trader Joe's?  There are currently 3 units available in the Cedar Lodge complex at 2018 Griffith Park Blvd., all of which have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Priced at $439,900, $429,000 and $399,000, the highest priced unit is a bank owed REO while the other two are both regular sales and easy to show. $399K for a unit in this complex is a great buy.

For reasonable HOA dues you get resort style living with subterranean parking, pool, spa and a private park with trails, picnic tables and BBQ pits! 

So WHERE is that unit less than $300K I mentioned?

For a real bargain, check out the condos at 2344 and 2354 Fletcher. Across the street from the new Home restaurant on Riverside Dr. and within walking distance to the Silver Lake Reservoir and the new Silver Lake Library, choose from three currently available units. 

There's a complete remodeled 4-bedroom for $499,450, an upgraded 3-bedrooms for $429,900 and the cheapest unit in Silver Lake- a bank owned REO 2 bedroom, 2 bath for just 299,990!

Whether you're looking for a house, condo or income property, Silver Lake is a great neighborhood.  Search Homes for Sale in Silver Lake now!

For more information on real estate in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock and surrounding areas, contact Jenny Durling at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com  

 Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, Los Feliz
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com