Think housing is recovering? Think again.

(Fortune) -- Americans purchased homes at a surprising clip in April, but don't let that fool you into thinking the housing market is back.

Although economists were expecting a month-over-month increase of 5.5%, the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday that sales of previously owned homes rose an unexpected 7.6%. That continued a yearlong rise in housing activity and marked the highest number of sales recorded since November of last year.

It also follows a drumbeat of similarly rosy economic news signaling the possibility that the United States may be on the economic mend. Government spending has helped spur factory production. A rising stock market and an improving job market have led to greater consumer optimism, which has stimulated spending. Further reports on housing and durable goods orders, due out later this week, will likely give consumers even more reason to feel confident that a recovery is at hand.

But prospective home buyers, particularly those tempted to think of real estate as an investment again, should tread with caution. One critical obstacle to a housing recovery remains intact: supply. Until the number of empty homes starts to shrink, prices could still fall further.

Moreover, notes Joseph Foudy, a professor of economics and management at NYU's Stern School of Business, we're coming off of an artificial bump from the first time home buyer credit, which expired last month. He predicts the second half of this year will see sluggish economic growth and that housing prices, at best, will be flat for the next few months, while commercial real estate "is likely to see significant declines."

Government life support

Indeed, first-time buyers accounted for nearly half of the homes purchased in April. Buying has also been spurred by historically low mortgage rates, which have been kept modest by the Federal Reserve's recently expired $1.25 trillion mortgage-securities purchase program and by lenient lending standards at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). In all, the US government, through Fannie Mae (FNM, Fortune 500), Freddie Mac (FRE, Fortune 500) and the FHA, underpins about 95% of the mortgage market. "This is a market purely on life support, sustained by the federal government," noted FHA's head, David Stevens, at the Mortgage Bankers Association conference yesterday. His agency is tightening lending -- which could take more buyers out of the market.

Optimists are pinning their hopes on a continuation of low mortgage rates. They note that rates could remain low because of concerns that debt problems in Europe portend a wider slowdown. Low rates help to reinforce demand. But even if these optimists are right, low rates only have so much of an effect. Despite the average 30-year rates now hovering around 4.8%, the Mortgage Bankers Association noted last week that the number of people seeking mortgage purchase applications had dropped more than 27%, reaching a level last seen in May 1997.


More importantly, what underpins those low rates also matters. Housing prices are unlikely to rise if unemployment does, or if incomes stay stagnant. And concerns in Europe could end up destabilizing housing prices further, which would dent consumer confidence -- not a good cycle to begin a recovery.

Also, an unintended consequence of the European debt crisis is that Libor, the benchmark borrowing rate that banks charge each other, has been on the rise, with Citigroup saying recently that it could end up a full percentage point higher within the next few months.

That would be bad news for the real estate market in a number of ways. Libor sets the rate for about $370 trillion in debt-related financing worldwide, including a host of consumer credit cards, home equity lines, student and small business loans, and adjustable-rate mortgages, as well as derivatives, such as credit swaps. A rise in Libor would mean higher rates on adjustable-rate mortgages. More importantly, it could raise the debt load of already-strapped consumers, reducing spending and further increasing mortgage delinquencies.

And delinquencies already account for more than 10% of all mortgages. These defaults aren't just on subprime ARMS anymore either, with prime fixed-rate loans now representing 37% of all delinquent loans. Moody's forecasts about 1.9 million homes will be taken from their owners this year, with a little over a million more going back to the banks in 2011. These can be added to the 6.3 million vacant homes currently sitting idle across America.

Many defaults have yet to be figured into the housing market because banks are sitting on them or they are being held back due to government programs like the federal Home Affordable Modification Program. LPS Applied Analytics has estimated that banks currently have about 1.1 million foreclosed homes in their inventory and that another 4.8 million mortgages are likely to end in foreclosure. At some point these homes will go on the market, further depressing prices.

But they won't be alone. Regular sellers have been coming out of the woodwork. NAR reported that the number of previously-owned homes placed on the market has risen quickly (reaching more than 4 million now) and that this inventory continues to far outpace the number whittled away through sales. The additional inventory is not a "healthy" development, said their chief economist, Lawrence Yun.

And it's just going to get worse. As analysts at Zillow noted last week, U.S. homeowners are so confident in the value of their homes that many of them plan to put up for-sale signs in their front yards. Zillow said that 7% of homeowners they polled were "very likely" to try to sell their homes in the next twelve months if the housing market seemed to be improving.

If 7% of all homeowners hit the market, that would equal about 5.3 million homes, more than the number of existing homes that sold all of last year. That's a lot of housing. Buyer beware.

After foreclosure: How long until you can buy again?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Walking away from a mortgage you can still afford to pay has consequences; everyone knows that. Your credit score is shot and it can be impossible to get credit.

Some homeowners, no doubt, believe that the credit score hit is worth getting out from a deeply underwater mortgage. They may owe, say, $500,000 when their house value is only valued at $350,000. And, they figure, there's no way it will ever be worth what they owe so it's better to get out from underneath the burden.



After default, they reason, they can raise their FICO scores by paying all their bills on time and eventually finance another home purchase.

Don't count on it.

While homeowners who default due to economic hardship, such as a job loss or divorce, normally must wait two to five years before buying a home again, walkaways may face double that time.

"It could be well over seven or eight years before [walkaways] are able to obtain a mortgage to buy a home again," said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association.

How foreclosure impacts your credit score
"Credit scores are only one component of a complete credit decision," Brinkmann said. "[In these cases] credit scores are not a good indicator of their willingness to continue to pay their mortgage."

But future underwriters will scrutinize their records very closely, and if they find no precipitating factors leading to the defaults -- no job loss, no health issues --the repaired credit score won't overshadow the black mark of a walkaway.

"If you made a strategic decision to default on paying your mortgage, it will work against you," said Bill Merrell of the National Association of Review Appraisers and Mortgage Underwriters.

Merrell, who teaches underwriting, said banks are looking at several factors in determining whether to grant mortgages: the amount of money borrowers have in the bank; employment histories; payment history.


However, banks may be far more lenient if the default resulted from factors somewhat beyond the borrower's control, such as from local economic problems. "They'll give you more consideration if it's job related," he said. But, he added, banks look at strategic defaults "very negatively."

That said, it's not impossible to get a loan. Banks still want to make interest payments, so they might be willing to gamble with a walkaway.

"It might be a little more difficult for them to borrow, but [banks'] drive for market share -- to profit from making loans -- will trump that caution," said Keith Gumbinger, of the mortgage information publisher HSH Associates. "I don't think we'll see a full denial."

It's hard to foresee the state of mortgage lending six or seven months from now, let alone seven or eight years into the future. So lenders may look at applications from one-time strategic defaulters and say, "Yes, they walked away but it's a whole different market now," according to Gumbinger.

Even so, lenders may require more from borrowers who walked away than those who didn't.

"To the extent they could get a mortgage," said Brinkmann, "they can count on needing a heavy down payment."

The lenders may ask for 30% down or more. That would provide enough collateral cushion that the bank could get all or most of its money back in a foreclosure.

The Housing Market - Where We Stand Now

After a few years of depressing information out of the U.S. housing market, this month’s data continues to be mixed. Is recovery truly in the works? Here’s what the numbers say:
Foreclosures

According to numbers from real estate data firm RealtyTrac, foreclosures in January were down, the second consecutive monthly drop. The national foreclosure rate fell to one in every 409 U.S. households, representing a ten percent decline from December.

RealtyTrac’s executive was not convinced this is a true sign of recovery though.

"January foreclosure numbers are exhibiting a pattern very similar to a year ago: a double-digit percentage jump in December foreclosure activity followed by a ten percent drop in January," James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, said in a statement.

"If history repeats itself we will see a surge in the numbers over the next few months as lenders foreclose on delinquent loans where neither the existing loan modification programs or the new short sale and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure alternatives works," he said.

The states still getting hit hardest by foreclosures are Nevada, Arizona, California, Florida, Utah, Idaho, Michigan, Illinois, Oregon, and Georgia.
Home Sales

Existing home sales were down again in January, falling 7.2 percent from December, based on data from the National Association of Realtors. According to the Census Bureau, new home sales hit an all-time record low in January, plummeting 11.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 309,000 units. That is the lowest rate of sales on record. Foreclosed homes and short sales continue to attract more buyers than the higher prices of new homes.
Fannie Mae

The government-sponsored entity, which has been under government control since September 2008, recently announced it will need another $15.3 billion in bail out money from taxpayers. Fannie Mae, one of the largest mortgage finance companies in the country, had $216.5 billion worth of non-performing, toxic loans on its books as of December and just reported total 2009 losses of $74.4 billion dollars. Fannie and Freddie Mac, the other mortgage GSE , have been instruments in getting bad loans out of the investment markets, but apparently couldn’t take on the nation’s problems without eventually dealing with them as well.
Interest Rates

Mortgage rates stayed low for the entire month of February, but there is plenty of talk as to what will happen after the Federal Reserve stops buying up mortgage-backed securities at the end of March. Most say the laws of supply and demand suggest rates will rise, perhaps by a half to a full percent. Yet, based on recent statements by officials, there is reason to believe the Fed and the Obama Administration are perfectly willing and ready to step back in to aid the housing market if rates do start to rise, which would in turn bring lower rates again.

While no one is ready to say the housing market is back to normal, things are at least better than they have been during some periods over the past two years. The question is whether they will continue to improve or head south again.

More homeowners turn to mediation after foreclosure

By Jeff Schweers, USA TODAY
PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. — When Mark Weeks was laid off from his $90,000-a-year construction job 2½ years ago,he vowed to hang onto his family's house here, where he'd lived with his wife, their three children and two dogs for the last six years.

But his new job as a safety officer for a Cocoa, Fla., crane rental company barely paid a third of what he used to make, and he wound up unable to pay his mortgage. At first, he tried, unsuccessfully, to get mortgage-holder Wells Fargo to defer or lower his payments.

Wells Fargo filed foreclosure proceedings in December, when Weeks was six months behind on his payments. Weeks hired a lawyer to fight it and move the case to a court-appointed mediator — which he sees as the best last hope for getting Wells Fargo to agree to lower his monthly payments.
All foreclosures on primary residences in Florida automatically go to mediation."We just want them to work with us because we can't make it right now," Weeks said. "We weren't asking them to give us a home for free."

Teri Schrettenbrunner, head of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Communication, said the bank is committed to helping homeowners facing true financial hardship stay in their homes they can afford, but, as is the case with all lending institutions, it has to honor the terms of its contract with the investors. "We are bound by the contracts we have with ... whoever owns the loan on the back end to do what they find acceptable in modification," Schrettenbrunner said.

Millions of working and middle-class homeowners are facing a similar predicament. An estimated 10% of all home loans are delinquent by 60 days or more, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported this month.In Florida and Nevada, two of the states where the housing crisis has hit hardest, the rate was over 20%, the MBA said.

Court-ordered mediation may be the best last option for thousands of homeowners in the foreclosure pipeline, as programs targeting the estimated 6 million delinquent home loans have been slow to put a dent in the crisis.

"Foreclosure mediations hold out the hope of removing major obstacles that have hindered efforts to slow the spread of the foreclosure epidemic," says Geoff Walsh, a staff attorney specializing in housing, foreclosure and bankruptcy issues for the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) in Washington, D.C.

The Home Affordable Modification Program, President Obama's $75 billion initiative to prevent foreclosures begun last March, has granted 300,000 permanent modifications through April, according to the program's latest report, released May 17. The report also estimates 3.275 million delinquent loans are eligible for the program.

In addition, HOPE NOW, an alliance of 38 private lenders started in 2007, reported in April that 2.9 million permanent home loan modifications had been offered since the program began.

While foreclosure starts dropped 5% in the past year, the number of home loans that were delinquent by 60 days or more increased 40%, from 2.85 million to 3.99 million, says Faith Schwartz, executive director at HOPE NOW.

The biggest hurdle to getting a loan modified has been getting the loan servicer or lender to actually sit down and negotiate with the homeowner, says Sean DeVries, an Orlando-based loan workout specialist.

"There is no established path to get a good, sustainable modification," he says, noting that he went through nine fax numbers for a recent SunTrust client.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., introduced legislation in December that would require any lender receiving federal insurance to go into mediation. It has been assigned to a committee, but no further action has been taken.

Many states have already passed similar measures.

"It's been very mixed, because it depends on the way the state mediation program is set up," says Walsh.

NCLC looked at 12 new or pending state statutes, he says, and "The range is incredible." Some require nothing more than the servicer checking a box on a form that says they attempted to contact the borrower. Others require servicers to show on paper their calculations comparing what they'd lose by foreclosing on a house vs. modifying the loan, he says.

"That gives the homeowner the basis for challenging whether it's a reasonable foreclosure," he says.

According to a January NCLC report:

•The Nevada Assembly approved a mediation program that took effect July 1, allowing homeowners to request mediation on non-judicial foreclosures and appointing more than 150 mediators for the program. It requires the servicer to produce several documents, including evidence that it has the right to sue and documents showing how they calculated eligibility for a loan modification.

•Maine started a foreclosure diversion program in January, setting guidelines for scheduling sessions, granting stays of proceedings and determining good-faith participation. It also authorizes sanctions on the lenders if they don't follow the newly imposed rules, including dismissal of the lawsuit.

•The New York Legislature in November amended its mandatory settlement conference law "to include all foreclosures of loans secured by borrowers' residences."

It also requires the lender to bring documents to the conferences, including payment history and itemization of the amounts needed to catch up on and pay off the loan.

Florida is consistently in the top five states for foreclosure filings, with 350,000 a year. The Florida Supreme Court issued an administrative order in December requiring all its 20 circuit courts to adopt rules for mandatory mediation on all residential foreclosures, based on a task force's recommendations.

The 18th Circuit Court in Brevard County, Fla., made mediation mandatory in March 2009, before the state Supreme Court's order. In the ensuing 12 months, 59 of the 317 cases referred to mediation have reached a modified loan payment plan, said Ollie Lyons, the manager of the mediation program there.

HOUSING MARKET: Track the rise, fall and ... rebound?
CLOSE TO HOME: Real estate markets across the USA

"The main thing we've done is, people are able to sit down at the table and actually talk to other people," she said.

But it's stressful, she said. The state hasn't added money to the mediation programs, and there are not a lot of mediators for the overwhelming number of foreclosures, she said. "I am overwhelmed and burned out, like all mediation supervisors," Lyons said.

Eric Hammonds, a Fort Lauderdale attorney representing Weeks, said mediation forces the lenders to the table. "That's a good thing, because what happens in mediation (is) we get the actual contact person."

Experts see underlying weakness in housing

By Bill Briggs
msnbc.com contributor
updated 11:08 a.m. ET May 26, 2010

The housing market had a spring fling with buyers hoping to find bargains using the now-expired government tax credits and record low interest rates.

Now it's back to reality.

The sweet sales pace of March and April, many experts agree, will sour by mid-summer, and the national housing downturn has not yet ebbed.

“Anyone expecting a robust rebound in the housing market ... will be sorely disappointed,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist for the online real estate database Zillow.com.

Although sales of existing homes and new homes rose for two straight months in March and April, values are still weakening, according to the widely watched Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index reported Tuesday.

Case-Shiller’s composite of 20 U.S. cities found a “renewed weakness” in housing prices amid climbing foreclosure rates and the end of the tax incentives.

“The correction is definitely not over,” said Benjamin D. Clark, a Salt Lake City broker and president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

Spring sales have been boosted by historically low interest rates and a federal tax incentive that was worth up to $8,000 for home buyers who signed purchase agreements by April 30.

Sales of existing homes rose 7.6 percent in April on top of a 7 percent increase in March, according to the National Association of Realtors, which touted “a return of buyer confidence with stabilizing home prices.”

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales of new single-family homes jumped 14.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units. That was after a 29.8 percent surge in March, the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

But Clark said many agents believe the federal tax credit “merely postponed, delayed, or softened a meaningful and inevitable correction.”

“I don't know if low interest rates alone will keep existing home sales on the upswing,” he said.

Under the federal incentive, first-time home buyers got an $8,000 tax credit and repeat home buyers got a $6,500 credit for home purchases in which binding sales contracts were signed by April 30. (Qualified buyers have until June 30 to complete their purchases.)

Clark said some agents believe the looming expiration of the tax credit merely pulled some business forward.

Indeed, a recent report by the Mortgage Bankers Association indicated that cheap loan rates — tamped even lower by concerns over Europe’s economy — have not filled the void left by the tax incentives. Mortgage applications for home purchases fell 27 percent in the week ended May 14 to the lowest level since May 1997.

Still, the happy vapors of the tax incentives will, on paper, continue to inflate home-sale stats nationally for the next five weeks, analysts said. That’s because many of the homes that went under contract in April had closings scheduled for May and June.

“We’re expecting a barn-buster June in our closings,” said Ted C. Jones, senior vice president and chief economist at the Houston-based Stewart Title Guaranty Company. “In fact, we had an internal memo go out saying no one can take vacations in June.”

Mortgage rates fall to lowest level of the year

Turmoil in the stock market and the European debt crisis are making life easier for American homebuyers and families looking to refinance: Mortgage rates are inching closer to a record low.

The window of opportunity may close soon. Home loan rates will rise if investors grow more confident and shift money out of the safety of government bonds, which influence mortgage rates.

For now, though, rates are tantalizingly low. The average 30-year fixed-rate loan sank to 4.78 percent this week, the lowest this year and barely above the record of 4.71 percent set in December. And 15-year loans are at their lowest rates in two decades.

"Strike now," suggested Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

Some homeowners are doing just that. Applications to refinance surged this week to the highest level in seven months, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Anxiety over the European crisis has caused global investors to snap up Treasury bonds, which they view as much safer than other investments. Treasury yields have fallen as a result, taking mortgage rates down, too.

When the crisis eases, and especially if the American economy recovery stays on track, expect investors to move out of bonds and back into stocks. That would make mortgages more expensive.

"If the economy finally really shows sustained improvement, rates are definitely going to go up," said Fred Chamberlin, a consultant with Alpine Mortgage Planning in Eugene, Ore.

He suggests that homeowners looking to refinance move fast and not hold out for even lower rates. "If you want the bottom, the only way you're going to know it is when you've missed it," Chamberlin said.

As cheap as mortgages are these days, the number of loans being taken out to buy homes remains at its lowest point in more than 13 years. One reason is that a special tax credit for homebuyers expired last month. Many people had rushed to sign contracts by then.

Another obstacle: trouble qualifying for a mortgage. Borrowers need solid credit and a down payment of at least 3.5 percent. Banks tightened lending standards after millions of borrowers fell into default and foreclosure during the housing bust.

"They're really looking with a magnifying glass," said Steve Mevorah, a loan officer with Icon Mortgage Inc. in Las Vegas. "They're trying to make sure that they are flawless loans."

Analysts had expected mortgage rates to rise when the government ended a program designed to bolster the housing market. Instead, they fell because of fears that Greece would default on its debt.

Also keeping rates low is the government's decision last year to provide unlimited support through 2012 for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which buy mortgages and package them into securities and help keep rates low.


Investors "are very comfortable with the guarantee that is in place," notes Credit Suisse mortgage strategist Mahesh Swaminathan. "That, for all practical purposes, is very strong government support."

Since the financial crisis ended, mortgages of all types have become more affordable — from the 30-year fixed to adjustable varieties.

The premium that borrowers pay to take out "jumbo" loans for more expensive homes has dropped by a full percentage point since late 2008, to just 0.8 percent, for instance.

Home construction up, building permits fall

WASHINGTON - Construction of homes surged in April to the highest level in 18 months, fueled by buyers capitalizing on an expiring tax credit. Permits for new construction sank, signaling the rebound could fade.

Low mortgage rates and two tax credits — up to $8,000 for new buyers and $6,500 for current owners who buy and move into another home — have boosted home sales this year. To receive a tax credit, borrowers had to have a signed offer by April 30 and must close the deal by the end of June.

The rate of home building has now risen more than 40 percent from the bottom in April 2009, though it's still down 70 percent from the decade's peak in January 2006.
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Without the tax credit, analysts say home sales will slow in the second half of this year. High unemployment and tight lending standards will likely help keep many buyers away.

The report Tuesday from the Commerce Department said the rate of construction of single-family homes and apartment buildings rose 5.8 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 672,000. That was up from an upwardly revised March level of 635,000. The rate, the highest since October 2008, was driven by a 10 percent increase in single-family home building.

A separate report Tuesday showed wholesale inflation remains tame. Prices fell 0.1 percent in April, the second drop in three months. Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, rose 0.2 percent, the Labor Department said. But over the past year, core prices are up just 1 percent.

The absence of inflation pressures means the Federal Reserve can keep interest rates at record lows to bolster the economic recovery.

In the Commerce report, the government said building permits, a gauge of future activity, sank 11.5 percent to an annual rate of 606,000. That's the lowest point since October 2009.

Still, a survey Monday showed homebuilders are feeling more optimistic. The National Association of Home Builders said its housing market index, which tracks industry confidence, rose three points this month to 22, the highest reading since August 2007. Readings below 50 indicate negative sentiment.

In March, sales of new homes rose 27 percent in March. That was the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

A four-decade low stockpile of new single-family homes, combined with low interest rates and prices, has made home buying affordable, said Sal Guatieri, an economist with BMO Capital Markets. That means that even without the tax credits, housing starts should rise modestly.

"Until the foreclosure wave ebbs and the overhang of unsold existing homes abates, the recovery in homebuilding will be subdued, Guatieri said.

For April, food costs dipped by 0.2 percent. It was the first decline in nine months. And it came after a 2.4 percent surge during the previous month — the largest gain in 26 years. The March increase reflected the impact of a winter freeze in Florida that damaged citrus and vegetable crops.

Energy prices fell 0.8 percent in April with gasoline prices down 2.7 percent.

The rise in core inflation followed two straight months of 0.1 percent gains. Household appliances posted a 1.9 percent jump, the largest since October 1974. Passenger car prices rose 0.6 percent. It was the biggest such increase since June.

Economists predict a report on consumer prices on Wednesday will also show slight price pressures. They are predicting overall prices and core inflation will both post 0.1 percent gains.

The recession has banished inflation for now. The more than 8 million jobs lost over the past two years has left workers without the bargaining power to boost wages.

In addition, companies, facing slack demand and idle plant capacity, have lacked the ability to raise prices.

Home prices stabilize in 60% of U.S. cities

LOS ANGELES - Home prices rose in nearly 60 percent of U.S. cities in the first quarter of this year, as the housing market started to stabilize thanks to billions of dollars in federal spending.

The median sales price for previously occupied homes rose in 91 out of 152 metropolitan areas tracked in the January-March quarter versus a year ago, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday.

There were double-digit price increases in 29 cities — a sharp improvement from the fourth quarter of last year, when prices rose in about 40 percent of cities.
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The tax credits — $8,000 for new buyers and $6,500 for current owners — helped gin up home sales this spring as many buyers raced to purchase a home in time to qualify before the incentives expired at the end of April.

Sales of previously occupied homes surged in March after a three-month decline caused in part by harsh winter weather.

In all, about 2.2 million households had used the first-time buyer credit as of late March at a cost of $16 billion, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Washington D.C.-based trade group credited the government incentives for generating about one million additional sales, helping to bring down the inventory of unsold homes.

"Without that tax credit, if we had an additional million unsold homes on the market, the inventory would be so out of whack that we would be seeing prices continuing to decline and we might still be in recession," said NAR spokesman Walter Molony.

With the housing tax credits now over, many experts anticipate home sales will soften in the near term, and that could syphon some of the momentum in home price increases.

Prices also could be hurt as banks unload their backlog of foreclosed homes. And despite rising prices, nearly a quarter of all U.S. homeowners with a mortgage still owe more on their loans than their homes are worth, according to CoreLogic.

That's why many housing experts project home prices will remain almost flat for the next two years, according to a survey of leading economists by The Associated Press last month.

The NAR is projecting prices will increase "very modestly" in the second half of this year, assuming unemployment and the economy don't take a turn for the worse, Molony said.

The national median price was $166,100, or 0.7 percent below the first quarter of last year. Sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties made up 36 percent of all sales.

Agent/COO, former actress selling Greater Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park 5BD for $2.1M

Christopher Barrett and Luanne R. Schedeen have listed for sale a five-bedroom, five-bath home at 204 N. Rossmore Ave. in Greater Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park for $2.1 million.

The 5,674-square-foot house was built in 1923. Jeremy Stuart is the listing agent for the property.

Mr. Barrett is COO and co-founder at Strike.TV, an internet television website. He also serves as COO and president at Metropolitan Talent Agency and MTA-Interactive. Prior to MTA, he formed McCartt-Oreck-Barrett with two other partners which eventually evolved into what is known now as the Metropolitan Talent Agency.

He also worked as an agent at The J. Michael Bloom Agency's Los Angeles office. He began his entertainment career as a performer at the age of six.

He earned his bachelor's degree in drama from Pace University.

Ms. Schedeen is an American actress professionally known as Anne Schedeen. She was best known in the role of Kate Tanner in the 1980s sitcom "ALF."

She currently works as an antiquer and decorator in Los Angeles.

According to BlockShopper.com, there have been 408 home sales in Greater Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park during the past 12 months, with a median sale price of $622,000.


Address: Single Family204 N. Rossmore Avenue

Free Concert 6/4/2010 Downtown Dahlonega

Stay with us 6/4/2010 and attend the First Friday Night Concert Series featuring the Remember When Band. They will perform favorite songs from 1940 to 1980. The concert will be held in Downtown Dahlonega’s beautiful Hancock Park. Bring lawn chairs for a great evening. Arrive early, enjoy excellent downtown shopping, and pick up your picnic from any of downtown’s popular restaurants. Members of the Remember When Band are: Laura Bartlett, Pat Sandhagen, Sally Schiff, Carey Woodall, Lyman Hammond, Tim Horne, Doug Schiff, Clyde Gaddis, and Robert Sandhagen.

The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Dancing and socializing are encouraged. Admission is free.

Return to Cedar House Inn for a great night’s sleep and a wonderful breakfast the next morning.

Park district offers summer day camps

Summer Day Camp registration, sponsored by Hancock Park District, is being accepted for 6- to 12-years-olds.

Registration is at the park district office, 1424 E. Main Cross St.

The camps include:

• Budding Naturalist: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15-16, for 6- to 8-year-olds. Outdoor exploration at Oakwoods Nature Preserve including animal tracks and signs, activities, crafts and games. Register by June 7. Cost is $25.

• Pioneer: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 15-16, for 9- to 12-year-olds, pioneer life in the 1800s at Litzenberg Memorial Woods. "Exploring the Past" will include making a wooden boat and a treasure hunt. Register by June 7. Cost is $25.

• Junior Naturalist: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 22-24, for 8- to 12-year-olds, explore the natural world with a nocturnal animal theme at Oakwoods Nature Preserve and Riverside Park. Register by June 14. Cost is $35.

Campers receive morning snacks and should bring a packed lunch. Participants will receive a summer camp backpack.

Registration forms are available at the park district office or can be downloaded from the park district website, www.HancockParks.com.

Payment is required at registration. No refunds will be given, except for camp cancellation because of low registration.

For more information call the park district office at 419-425-7275.

Hancock Park versus Silver Lake!

i believe that both hancock park and silver lake have some of the best public elementary schools in the city. hancock park is very old money hollywood (especially jewish), while silver lake's recent gentrification offers more diversity in both race and economic status. HP has more stately types of mansions, while silver lake is somewhat known for it's modern architecture (by modern i mean 50s/60s modern). i think it's a toss up personally.

Both are interesting neighborhoods. Like above, Hancock Park is very much old-money, a lot of Orthodox Jews, beautiful old mansions. Silverlake also has great architecture. The neighborhood where my aunt and uncle have lived for over 30 years has a lot of nice refurbished craftsman homes and bunglos from the 1920s to 1940s. Silverlake is a good neighborhood and has improved drastically over the past decade and a half you still have some entrenched gang elements in both Silverlake and Echo Park (ExP). Crime like break-ins and muggings have been a big issue around my relatives within the past year. That said, I've never once felt unsafe in Silverlake. Both neighborhoods are in the city and deal with the same issues of crime all other large cities face.

To be honest, I think the decision now rests on what home you want to buy (or whatever your living situation may be). Both are great neighborhoods. I personally love the vibe, energy and diversity of Silver Lake. Congrats on a wise decision.

I say hancock park. Great location. Close to all areas. Great restaurants on melrose, near the Beverly center, farmers market, etc. Cedars Sinai is a great hospital. You have alot at your fingertips, which will help when you have kids.

Silverlake is great but harder to access some areas. When I used to commute to Santa monica from silverlake it could take me over an hour on surface streets/freeway. And if I took the freeway at night, if there was a game at staples center, it could take me up to 2 to get home.

Sharon Stone Lists Beverly Hills Home

her Beverly Hills home at a tremendous loss of over than 2 million. Wish that being said, its still a wonderful piece of real estate.

The home has 6,640 square feet of living area, along with 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, with a delightful open layout with great outside grounds plus an exceptional pool area.

Sharon Stone has put this house on the market for $8,995,000.

Address Location: N. Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, California

Seinfeld's Costanza Hits Bicyclist In Hancock Park, Doesn't Appear To Be At Fault

He might have played a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" on television's most-enduring (or at least endearing) comedy series, but it appears that Jason Alexander was not to blame for hitting a 14-year-old bicyclist Tuesday morning in Hancock Park, police told LA Weekly.

The accident happened at Wilshire Boulevard and June Street about 7:19 a.m. when Alexander was behind the wheel of a vehicle that apparently struck the school-bound boy, said Los Angeles police Lt. Daniel Whitman. The boy's father rushed to the scene and took him to County-USC Medical Center, where the teen was reported to be stable, Whitman said.

"It looks preliminarily like the bicyclist might have been at fault," Whitman said.

Alexander was not cited. He played George Costanza on NBC's Seinfeld, the L.A.-based, New York-set show "about nothing," from 1989 to 1998. We imagine such a scare like the one he experienced on Wilshire Boulevard Tuesday would cause major shrinkage. We just hope he wasn't driving Jon Voight's car.

Design company owners list 3BD home for $1.199M

Julius Bhang and Jane J. Bhang have listed for sale a three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home at 142 N. Lucerne Blvd. in Greater Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park for $1.199 million.

Jennice Anne Tronciale, of Sotheby's International Realty Inc., is the listing agent for the property. Julius and Jane Bhang acquired the property for $506,000 in April 2000. The home was built in 1920.

Mr. Bhang is a partner and co-founder of the design studio, Gatemark Design. Prior to this, he worked with RTKL Associates and Sussman/Prejza & Co., an internationally renowned environmental graphic design firm. His expertise is in design detailing, wayfinding programming and project management for high profile projects.

He obtained a degree in political science from UCLA and environmental design from the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California.

Ms. Bhang is also a partner and co-founder of the design studio, Gatemark Design. Prior to this, she worked as design director and creative director with Equity Marketing, Saban Entertainment, Fox Family and Disney/ABC Cables Networks Group. Her expertise is in marketing graphics, trade event signage, displays and branding for major entertainment companies.

She also is an alumnus of the Art Center School of Design.

Country Club Park, Los Angeles

Geography and Transportation

Country Club Park's is bounded approximately by Olympic Boulevard to the north, Western Avenue to the east, Pico Boulevard to the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard to the west. The district is bordered by Olympic Park to the west, Wilshire Park to the north, Koreatown to the east, Harvard Heights to the southeast, and Arlington Heights to the south. Major thoroughfares in the district include Olympic Boulevard and Country Club Drive. Most of the district is in ZIP code 90019.
[edit] The Neighborhood

While some homes are modest, many of them are comparable in size and splendor to what you would see in Hancock Park. Country Club Park is a generally upscale district of single family homes, Art Deco bungalows and apartment buildings.

The area was developed from the 1910s onward as a whites-only neighborhood, currently with whites still in the neighborhood many of which are gentrifying the area, but now also has populations of blacks (particularly in Lafayette Square), Asians (near Koreatown), and Latinos (throughout the district but especially in Mid-City), making it one of the city's most diverse areas. Some of the district's more affluent neighborhoods are quasi-gated communities, with access from the major thoroughfares barred by wrought iron fences.

The neighborhood has plenty of apartment buildings that vary in appearance from well-maintained to badly in need of maintenance. However, the jewel of Country Club Park has to be the area around the intersection of 12th Street and Westchester Place. The network of streets surrounding the grounds of the Claretian Retreat Center contain some of the nicest homes in the neighborhood.

According to the LA Conservancy, from 1899 to 1905 the 250-acre (1.0 km2) Los Angeles Country Club was the primary feature of the neighborhood. The club was moved to Wilshire Bouelvard (just west of Beverly Hills), allowing Isaac Milbank's Country Club Park real estate company to subdivide the land for housing.

The brochure goes on to explain that "most of the homes in the area were built in the teens and twenties. Rows of intact and well-maintained Mediterranean “villas,” Tudor castles, Craftsman bungalows and late Victorian Queen Annes harmoniously line the streets, nurtured by the residents’ pride in and care for their neighborhood."

Most of Country Club Park was developed between 1910 and 1930. Originally segregated, it was one of the first affluent communities to allow African American residents, making it an early destination for upwardly-mobile blacks. Notable residents of the neighborhood have included Mahalia Jackson, Lou Rawls, Lena Horne, Hattie McDaniel, Tuskeegee Airman Celes King and many others.

RESTAURANT TO CLOSE AFTER 13 YEARS

Café du Village served its last eggs Benedict April 18, after nearly 13 years of bringing that certain je ne sais quoi to Larchmont Blvd. “That’s life,” said Serge Peri. “We knew it could happen.”

Les pancakes, homemade corned beef hash and breakfast in general were popular, said Peri at the eatery at 139 N. Larchmont. He was one of three owners who were given notice in early April by landlord David Adelipour.

They had been open month to month since 2007, when their lease expired and the owner asked for much more than the $5,500-a-month rent.

The space is about 1,000 square feet including a back patio, estimated Peri, who added they had agreed on higher rent but then with the economy downturn renegotiated again last year.

The Rossmore Ave. resident is looking for a location to open a new restaurant in the Silver Lake or Culver City area. He opened Café du Village with his cousin Jerome Peri, who also teaches at the L.A. Tennis Club, and his brother Roland, soon after arriving in the U.S. in 1997 from his native France.

In his youth Serge’s parents bought a home in the French countryside, and with no experience, opened a restaurant. “It became famous,” said Serge. “We got lucky.”

Years later Larchmont would benefit from the same winning combination: good food and a friendly, country-like atmosphere.

“In the name of Café du Village, I want to thank the Larchmont community for 13 years of very good times,” said Serge

Los Angeles: 10 Best Walking Neighborhoods.

This top 10 list is as scientific as it can be with one person compiling the facts from a sampling of some Los Angeles residents. (Read: those I come into contact with — a diverse, albeit narrow group.) So as with science, my findings are totally debatable.

So I present: The 10 Best Walking Neighborhoods in L.A., with a couple honorable mentions thrown in.

Got others? Let’s hear your opinions. Unlike stodgy scientists in labcoats, I can be swayed without Petri dishes, or excruciatingly long documentation in wording suitable for the SATs.

While the list is in numerical order, that’s only for the sake of order. I repeat, the numbers are arbitrary. No need for West Side Story-type rivalries to ensue. Los Angeles, let’s be neighborly….

1. Between the Ocean and Lincoln, Washington Boulevard and Just North of Montana.
If you think I’m going to slice and dice this area of Venice and Santa Monica, you’re nuts. The whole thing is great: Abbot Kinney, the Venice Canals, Main Street and Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, and all along the water. So I’m counting it as one. (The beach is like pizza, even when it’s not so good it’s still good.).

2. Bronson Canyon.
So many options — especially for a culinary outings. You can hike up the canyon or walk to the Bougeois Pig for a coffee. You can eat some really good chicken at Birds (and enjoy a divine Cadillac Margarita) or get yummy pre-prepared foods at Gelson’s Market. Pass a lovely evening at La Poubelle (even though in French it means “garbage bin”), or get some eggs or late night grub at 101 Cafe. For the post-meal walk, there are quiet streets with lovely homes. You even have the choice of an easy stroll or taking on some hills. Oh, and don’t forget the Scientology people-watching. (Why do they walk around in pairs looking at the flora and fauna?)

3. Charleville and Beverly Drive to Robertson and Olympic.
This part of L.A. has quiet, charming streets and lots of local shops to sample: salons, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. You can walk this area and enjoy the flowers, palms, manicured lawns and chirping birds. You live in Los Angeles for this — take advantage!

4. Vermont and Franklin.
You’ve got the great bookstore Skylight Books, the famous pies from House of Pies, and blocks of charming neighborhood to explore. You can even head up to Griffith Park if you are feeling particularly jaunty, or you can leave the car behind and walk up to the Greek Theatre for great summer shows. You can also hit Barnsdall Park with its amazing art program. This park with the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house makes a great picnic spot to enjoy a lovely day or find your inner Renoir. You won’t believe you are on Hollywood Boulevard. But back to the pies, don’t skip the pies. They are that good.

5. Larchmont and Beverly Boulevard.
You have blocks of quiet, gorgeous streets to roam and the lovely shops on Larchmont to sate your window-shopping habit. You can also venture up to Melrose for Hollywood-classic restaurant Lucy’s El Adobe or an Astroburger. Wander this part of Hancock Park for hours to enjoy winding avenues, old Hollywood homes and sunshine.

6. Fountain Between La Cienega and Fairfax.
This area has some of Los Angeles’ most unique homes, but it’s not for the faint of heart as it is on quite a hill. While not an easy walking spot, it is an enjoyable one. You have stores of every possible kind, tanning salons (a given), smoothie shops, hotels, dry cleaners, dog stores and more. Actually, this area dips to Santa Monica and up to Sunset, so you can really get your walk on. And there are unique places to find, like William S. Hart Park — a former ranch left to the citizens of Weho to enjoy when its cowboy-star owner passed away.

7. Melrose and La Cienega.
Now I don’t mean that particular intersection, but if you are on these blocks, head away from the main roads and you’ll discover lovely streets to roam. There are also tons of coffee shops, restaurants and now, high-end stores as well. But really, the homes and streets around here are the draw. Most people think of this area as where to go for Urth — or what you drive through to get to Sunset or Beverly Hills. They are missing out. It’s so lovely for a walkabout.

8. Silver Lake.
The area around the lake is so charming and relaxing, you won’t believe you are seconds from Downtown. Stroll the lakeside, detour up some hillside lane and get lost in the maze of micro-neighborhoods. You’ve got streets and local spots to explore, amazing homes to find (the architecture of some is crazy) and a variety of people and styles. Added bonus: amazing views when you get to higher ground.

9. Echo Park.
C’mon, people, this area even offers walking tours! And yes, I am talking about the actual Echo Park and area surrounding it. It’s got Los Angeles history (you’ll feel like you stepped back in time here), Hollywood history (Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Gilligan’s Island” were shot here) and good, fun things to see and do. In the summer there is a paddleboat competition (genius) and it’s a nice place to roam. Surprise find: Santa Monica isn’t the only place with great stairs to climb, either.

10. Baldwin Hills.
People love to run from other parts of L.A. over to this part of town to get in a great workout and enjoy one of the best views of Los Angeles. This plot of land was the site of the first Olympic Village in 1932, when the Summer Games were held in L.A.. And you know that back then they could have picked pick anywhere, so that’s saying something. Baldwin Hills has often been called the Black Beverly Hills as Ray Charles, Tina Turner and more recently John Singleton lived in the area. The neighborhood’s big, old homes always make me feel like I’ve stepped back into the ’50s. And the views and history of the area (its Baldwin Hills Village complex is a National Historic Landmark) make it one of L.A.’s best.

Honorable Mentions:

Hollywood Dell.
Not many people know about it, which is why it’s so lovely. The area is a hilly collection of roads, and when the reservoir was open it was a great several-mile loop with great views of Hollywood estates. After the rains a few years ago it closed, but it’s still worth the walk around the neighborhood and what is, to my mind, the best view of the Hollywood sign.

Little Tokyo in Downtown L.A.
There are great gardens, Buddhist temples, museums (including the Geffen Contemporary), restaurants and more to explore. Walking tours, too. It’s an L.A. cultural gem.

Free Things To Do In Los Angeles

Free activities here and free activities there! Wherever you look, LA’s got your budget covered. The first installment of 100 free things to do in Los Angeles is to get out there and do stuff. So what are you waiting for? Discover LA today.

1. Cruise Mulholland Drive: One of the world’s most famous scenic drives, Mulholland winds from the Hollywood Hills across the spine of the Santa Monica Mountains west to the Pacific Ocean (almost). More details.

2. Check out the PCH: The Pacific Coast Highway is a sun-drenched road that hugs the coastline and is undoubtedly one of LA’s signature drives. More details.

3. Experience the Sunset Strip: No other road has the multiple personalities of this two-mile stretch on Sunset Boulevard. See what’s hot on the Sunset Strip.

4. Step into Hollywood history: The forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has been one of the most popular free attractions since the 1920s when, during the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s “King of Kings,” actress Norma Talmadge accidentally stepped in wet cement.

5. Get photographed with Samuel L. Jackson: Speaking of Grauman’s, now that Madame Tussauds Hollywood is open, you can sidle up to the man himself, sling an arm around him and get your photo taken — your friends back home will never know that it’s Jackson’s wax figure.

6. Walk the walk in Venice: The most amazing street entertainers in the world are here — chainsaw jugglers, swamis on rollerblades, street dancers…you name it. Get the local’s perspective on Venice.

7. Window shop Rodeo Drive: Treasure hunt and star gaze along famed Rodeo (pronounced “row-day-o”) Drive in Beverly Hills, home of the rich and super rich. See other shopping neighborhoods in LA.

8. Watch TV live: Be a part of a studio audience on your favorite television shows and game shows like “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Tickets are free but must be obtained in advance. Get on a game show.

9. Treepeople: This LA-based nonprofit organization has helped spearhead the ecotourism industry by offering numerous opportunities for visitors to volunteer. For more than 30 years, Treepeople has helped plant and care for trees while educating people about the environment.

10. Tour Downtown: Downtown LA has so many free cultural sights, it’s become one of the best places to sightsee for free. See what’s available.

11. Follow the paparazzi: Witnessing the paparazzi portion of the star-making cycle is an authentic LA experience — and totally free. Check out the top places to celeb watch.

12. Star gaze at Griffith Observatory: The exhibitions and displays found in the painstakingly renovated Griffith Park hot spot are all free, as is an introductory video about the building and its contents.

13. Visit Kat Von D’s “LA Ink” tattoo shop: At the shop, which operates under the name High Voltage Tattoo, there’s never a lull. Fans of the show pop in regularly, entering the store just to see where the show takes place and to find show merchandise to buy. Learn more about reality TV sightseeing.

14. Explore LA’s Fashion District: For people-watching alone, LA’s premier shopping destination is an experience all its own. Read more about the LA Fashion District.

15. Dance, dance, dance: You don’t always have to pay a cover charge to get into LA’s dance scene. Great clubs without covers can be found in most neighborhoods with a little poking around. Check out the hottest nightlife haunts.

16. Explore Exposition Park: Five major attractions within walking distance of each other is a rare occurrence in LA, so take advantage of the USC/Exposition Park area with this walking tour.

17. Explore LA’s architecture: Los Angeles is full of architectural treasures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as more recent additions. Get more info about LA’s cutting-edge architecture.

18. Enjoy LA’s murals: These city treasures tell stories of the cultural past, present and future, of the hopes and dreams of the City of Angels. Visitors can find many of LA’s murals in Metro Stations, or visit the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles for complete information.

19. El Pueblo Historical Monument: Learn about LA’s birthplace at the site of its original settlement in 1781.

20. Olvera Street: Visitors shop, listen to mariachi music, watch folklore dances and dine at several authentic Mexican restaurants. Tour the Avila Adobe, the oldest existing house in LA. Other restored historic buildings include the Old Plaza Church and the Old Plaza Firehouse.

21. Leimert Park Village: Located in the heart of the Crenshaw district, Leimert Park Village lures tourists with the distinct African American culture of its shops, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants and jazz clubs. Read more about Leimert Park.

22. Downtown LA Art Walk: Check out the latest and hippest at the Downtown LA Art Walk, which occurs the second Thursday of the month. Get the scoop on the top galleries.

23. Abbot Kinney First Fridays: Support locally owned businesses in Venice by stopping by what is becoming one of LA’s top art walks. Read more about the art walk.

24. Chung King Road Art Walk: Discover the modern side of Chinatown by checking out the art walk at Chung King Road. The scene is surprisingly hip and young. See what galleries to visit.

25. San Pedro Art Walk: San Pedro’s 1st Thursday Art Walk has flown under the radar since its conception in 1996, but in the last few years, both locals and cruise-ship tourists from the nearby Port of Los Angeles have flocked to the area to experience San Pedro’s tight-knit artists’ community, impromptu street performances and conversation-worthy art — all classic ingredients for a great art walk. Get more information.

26. Little Ethiopia: Discover the refreshingly authentic scene in Little Ethiopia, where you can smell tumeric and paprika and hear colorful African pop blaring from store radios. Read more.

27. Little Tokyo: Lovers of all things Japanese will have to make Little Tokyo a stop. Take a self-guided tour of the National Historic Landmark District’s cultural sights. Get more info.

28. Chinatown: For many, the best way to approach Chinatown is as an urban adventure — not into China, but into a distinct culture both Chinese and American. As the first established Chinatown in America, the area quivers with cultural history, woven into a now-modern and bustling community. Check out the guide.

29. NoHo: The NoHo (for North Hollywood) Arts District is a square-mile area that is quickly turning into one of LA’s artsier communities with several galleries, public art, live theaters, boutiques, vintage clothing stores, ethnic restaurants and outdoor cafes. Check out the must-sees.

30. Watts Towers: Watts Towers represent 33 years of work by an Italian immigrant construction worker who made the project his life. Similar in many ways to the style of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the 17 interconnected structures represent a striking example of the American Naive art movement.

31. Get close to the sign: Feeling uninspired? Try changing your perspective on a familiar sight. While the Hollywood sign’s grounds are barred from public access, you can walk or drive near it to get great angles for photos. From Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, go north on Beachwood Drive; turn left at Ledgewood Drive and twist and wind uphill. Then go right at the three-way intersection onto Deronda Drive.

32. Tour the Los Angeles Central Public Library: The Los Angeles Central Public Library reflects the Egyptian-style architecture mania that swept the country in the 1920s post-King Tut discovery.

33. Discover fossil fun: At La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, the site of the richest discovery of Ice Age fossils in the world, more than 100 tons of fossilized bones representing nearly 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have been unearthed from pools of sticky asphalt dating back to prehistoric time.

34. Stroll the historic Farmers Market: The LA Farmers Market opened at the corner of Third and Fairfax in 1934 and retains much of its original flavor — the freshest produce, made-to-order peanut butter, gourmet meats and cheeses, corned beef and hot donuts — while adding a few modern touches (Brazilian barbecue, Cajun chicken, sushi).

35. Hollywood Walk of Fame: Since the 1960s, more than 2,300 terrazzo and brass stars have been unveiled on Hollywood’s major sidewalks.

36. Korean Bell of Friendship: Intricate reliefs represent spirits and goddesses of liberty, victory and peace, while architectural details impart the colorful nature of Korean culture. Best visited on a clear, sunny day for a picnic and a stroll, the area features pristine views complemented by the yachts and charter boats of the harbor below.

37. Visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels: This is one of LA’s most innovative buildings, and although it’s the third-largest cathedral in the country, it’s able to inspire visitors with its warm, inviting interior perfect for introspection. Read more about the cathedral.

38. Self-guided tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall: Take a brief tour of the concert hall’s highlights, complete with architectural facts and historical trivia to look for when you visit.

39. Venice canals: Winding through quaint little (and very expensive) houses, the canals feature arched bridges, the occasional gondolier and LA’s beautiful weather, all of which contribute to the serenity of the canals. All in all, it’s a great place to cruise along on a bike. Start between Washington Avenue and Venice Boulevard.

40. Visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery: At the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, fans still gather every August 23 to pay homage to Rudolph Valentino. Cecil B. DeMille and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. also rest here. Plus, catch free movies here during the summers.

41. Step back in time 100 years: The Victorian era had its influence on local architecture, as evidenced by the homes in the 1300 block of Carroll Avenue in Angeleno Heights.

42. Bradbury Building: The one-of-a-kind interior features a five-story atrium finished with glazed bricks and wrought-iron grillwork (including the cage elevator that will be familiar from the many movies filmed here).

43. Watch the ceremonies on Hollywood Boulevard: The best way to see your favorite celebrities up close and personal is to check out the bimonthly handprint ceremonies on Hollywood Boulevard. Visit the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for more info.

44. Keeping up appearances: Sephora’s stores offer Express Service, a free, quick makeover. It’s a nice stop while you’re experiencing some of LA’s quintessential shopping malls, such as Glendale Galleria, the Beverly Center and Hollywood & Highland Center.

45. Neat market: The network of free farmers markets throughout Los Angeles has helped bring fresh-from-the-field produce to urban neighborhoods. Some of the most popular are open on Sundays, including the famous original Los Angeles Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax. Other great markets include the Hollywood Farmers Market (Ivar and Selma Avenue), Hermosa Beach Farmers Market (900 Valley Drive), Studio City Farmers Market (Ventura Place and Laurel Canyon Boulevard) and the Santa Monica Farmers Market (2640 Main Street).

46. Start “stairing”: The hills of Los Angeles inspired early housing developers to connect streets via sets of stairs, which often led to now-defunct trolley car stops. An online search with keywords “Silver Lake Stairs” connects you to several online communities that share tips and locations of favorite climbs.

47. Get fit with Fido: The city of Los Angeles operates nine dog parks where your canine friends can roam off leash. These fenced areas within parks offer a variety of facilities for humans and animals. Get more information about LA dog parks, or learn more about pet-friendly LA.

48. Ramp it up: The city also operates seven skate parks that offer a haven for skateboarders seeking challenging terrain. Check out the best skate parks in LA.

49. Build your beach body: Venice Beach is world famous for its funky folks, but it’s at least as well known for Muscle Beach, home to amateur and professional body builders alike.

50. Night hike: For years, the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club has been leading guided hikes through the many trails of Griffith Park. http://angeles.sierraclub.org/griffith/index.asp.

51. Learn to swim: At select facilities, the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks offers Operation Splash, free summer swimming lessons sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. www.laparks.org

52. Get self centered: Sahaja Yoga Meditation Center in Sherman Oaks offers free weekly meditation classes in English, Spanish or Farsi. The free 90-minute workshops and guided meditations are scheduled three nights a week and once on Saturdays. For a schedule, check out http://sahajayogala.org/FreeClasses.htm

53. Banning Residence Museum: The 1864 Greek Revival residence, the Banning Residence Museum, is the former home of General Phineas Banning, the “father” of the Los Angeles Harbor.

54. California African American Museum: The California African American Museum’s exhibitions enhance public knowledge of African-American contributions to society.

55. California Science Center: Through hands-on experiences in the galleries at the California Science Center, you’ll learn about human inventions and innovations, the processes of living things and more. Also features a seven-story IMAX theater.

56. Fowler Museum at UCLA: Exhibitions from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, past and present, lend a unique and intriguing atmosphere to Fowler Museum events.

57. Getty Center: Overlooking the California coastline and the L.A. skyline, the Getty Center surrounds guests with breathtaking views and a world-class art collection including European paintings, contemporary photographs and decorative arts.

58. Getty Villa: An educational center and museum in Malibu dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.

59. Hollywood Bowl Museum: New exhibit of the renovation of the Hollywood Bowl bandshell and great moments in classical music, jazz, and rock & roll.

60. Homestead Museum: Historic site featuring two homes dating from the 1840s and 1920s and a private cemetery.

61. Los Angeles Maritime Museum: Located in San Pedro, inside the former Municipal Ferry Terminal building, this museum is dedicated to celebrating the maritime history of coastal California.

62. The Paley Center for Media: More than just a museum, the Paley Center is an institution dedicated to educating the public and exploring the intersection between media and society. It leads discussions about television, radio and emerging platforms and the cultural, creative and social significance of these expressions.

63. Santa Monica Museum of Art: The Santa Monica Museum of Art organizes dynamic exhibitions of contemporary art in all mediums and across disciplines, complemented by outstanding educational programs for people of all ages.

64. Travel Town Museum: Dedicated to the preservation and celebration of railroading in the western United States, featuring displays of historic steam locomotives, passenger cars and trolleys.

65. FIDM: The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising’s collection of more than 10,000 costumes, accessories and textiles from the 18th century through the present day includes film and theater costumes.

66. Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust: LAMH dedicates itself as a primary-source institution, one that commemorates those who perished and those who survived the Holocaust by housing the precious artifacts that miraculously weathered the war, the ghettos, and ultimately, the death camps.

67. Autry National Center: The center’s galleries explore broad themes relating to the history and diverse cultures of the American West.

68. Craft & Folk Art Museum: Primarily focused on folklore and folk art, the museum features exhibits that cover artistic expression from around the globe, showcasing a wide variety of cultures.

69. Hammer Museum: Collections include works by Monet, van Gogh, Rembrandt and Sargent. Also featuring lectures, symposia, film series, readings and musical performances.

70. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens: An oasis of art and culture on 207 acres. Explore breathtaking gardens, new Children’s Garden, Tropical Conservatory, Chinese Garden, four art galleries and a library showcasing collections of rare books.

71. Japanese American National Museum: Internationally recognized for its commitment to exploring the meaning of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by presenting and sharing the experience of Japanese Americans with exhibitions, public programs, award-winning museum store, and resource center.

72. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): With more than 120,000 works in its permanent collection, LACMA is the premier visual art museum in the western United States. With the recent addition of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, LACMA becomes the first encyclopedic museum with a dedicated facility for contemporary art, which is uniquely appropriate to Los Angeles.

73. Mak Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House: One of LA’s most significant cultural venues, the MAK Center for Art and Architecture is located in the historic Schindler House and features rotating art exhibitions about cultural issues, experimentation and invention.

74. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Downtown’s premier art museum features one of the best permanent collections in the country, with works by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Mark Rothko and more.

75. MOCA Geffen: With cutting-edge exhibitions, hands-on education programs and popular evening events, this is your source for inspiration and a must-see for contemporary art enthusiasts.

76. Museum of Latin American Art: With a focus on rotating exhibitions, the museum highlights significant contributions to the field of contemporary Latin American art. Meanwhile, its permanent collection anchors the museum with works from Wilfredo Lam and Alejandro Colunga, among others.

77. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: The museum, recognizable by its 1913 original fitted marble walls and rotunda, holds the title of being the third-largest museum of its type in the U.S., boasting more than 3.5 million specimens and counting.

78. Norton Simon Museum of Art: Permanent collection features European art from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century, including works by Raphael, Botticelli, Rubens, Rembrandt, Watteau, Goya, Monet, Renoir, Degas and van Gogh, and sculpture from India and Southeast Asia.

79. Skirball Cultural Center: At the Skirball, enjoy museum exhibitions — including the ever-popular Noah’s Ark at the Skirball — family programs, performing arts, world music, film, lectures, classes, dining, shopping and more.

80. Sunbathe at the beach: Take your pick, whether it’s to show off your tan or to relax in solitude.

81. Wander around Griffith Park: Griffith Park is the largest city park in the country — 4,107 acres — and provides a mix of free activities for the whole family. Picnic on one of the broad lawns or hike one of the park’s many free trails.

82. Discover LA’s wilderness: Los Angeles possesses a wealth of natural wilderness, which attracts avid hikers and bikers to such sites as Topanga State Park, Griffith Park and the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles. Find the best hiking trails.

83. Go surfing: Whether you’re getting on a board for the first time or you’re a seasoned rider searching for LA’s best breaks, there’s something for everyone. Find the best waves.

84. Birdwatching at Audubon Center at Debs Park: The new Audubon Center at Debs Park is the first LEED Platinum-certified building, which alone might be reason enough for a visit, but the true gem is getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnecting with nature.

85. Hike the Urban Trail: At any given time of day or night, the renovated walking path around the Silver Lake Reservoir is filled with joggers, walkers, strollers and dogs on leashes. With a crushed granite surface, the flat, two-mile path has become an outdoor gym for residents of the artsy neighborhood.

86. Relax on LA’s own “Riviera”: The Marina del Rey harbor offers spectacular views and many outdoor activities, including jogging, roller-skating, bicycling or just relaxing in the park.

87. Palisades Park: Palisades Park features some of the city’s most magnificent sunsets and views of the ocean. It’s one of the city’s oldest parks, and also one of the most beautiful. A jogging and biking path runs along steep cliffs overlooking the ocean, while palm trees are scattered throughout, adding to the peaceful landscape.

88. Stop and smell the roses: On UCLA’s campus you can enjoy three beautiful gardens for the price of nothing. Check out the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden and the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden, as well as Exposition Park’s Rose Garden near USC.

89. Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse: Perched above the Pacific Ocean, Point Fermin is often overlooked by visitors. But the 37-acre park and its coin-operated telescopes offer some of the best views along the coast, while the 1874 lighthouse makes for picture-perfect photo-ops. Picnic, go for a jog or just sit and lose yourself.

90. Free archery lessons in Pasadena: Bet you didn’t think of this one. Pasadena Roving Archers offers free lessons every Saturday. Visit www.rovingarchers.com for more information.

91. Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve: Located in Van Nuys, the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve debunks the myth that LA is a concrete jungle. In the reserve, it’s difficult to tell that you’re in the city at all. Groves of trees fill out the landscape, while a variety of wildlife — waterfowl, ducks, herons and more — go about their day.

92. Farm-fresh summer music at Farmers Market: It’s all about jazz and wholesome family fun at this annual summer music series. Combine great food from LA’s original farmers market with groups hailing from traditions such as Latin jazz, country swing, funk jazz and more. Thursdays and Fridays through September.

93. Grand Performances Summer Festival: At lunchtime, hundreds of Angelenos put down their work and take a cultural break with a bit of fresh air. Grand Performances presents 40-plus free performing arts events — music, dance and theater — as multicultural as their audience, giving local talent a chance to shine. Mid-June through mid-October.

94. Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season: Imagine watching dance, comedy, film and music performances in the midst of California weather, cypresses and chaparral, courtesy of The Los Angeles County Arts Commission. June to mid-October.

95. Pershing Square Summer Concert Series: In the high-rise heart of Downtown is a palm tree oasis known as Pershing Square, where the summertime brings neighbors, tourists and professionals together for lunchtime concerts, films on Fridays, kids events and sizzling Salsa Sundays. June through late September.

96. Live at Hollywood & Highland: This summer series gives you a chance to hobnob with the coolest cats of jazz while sampling the gifts of Bacchus and helping to end world hunger, all at the same time. Although it is a free event, wine tasting donations benefit Project Angel Food. June through late August on Tuesdays.

97. Twilight Dance and Music at the Santa Monica Pier: Hawaii, Jamaica, Britain, Argentina, Africa…these are just a handful of the exotic locations represented by the Twilight Dance and Music concert series this summer. Late June through late August.

98. Summer Sunset Music Festival in Culver City: The sun’s not the only thing that’s going down in Culver City during the summer. When the day ends, the music begins, bringing you an eclectic array of musical offerings including classic rock, bluegrass and even zydeco. Mid-July through early September.

99. Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer Museum: Indie 103.1 hand picks local upcoming bands to perform at the Hammer’s outdoor courtyard. In the past, bands such as Sea Wolf and Tokyo Police Club have played to a packed crowd. 2009 dates haven’t been posted yet, but check their site for updates.

100. Saturdays Off the 405 at the Getty Center: “Saturdays Off the 405″ (formerly “Fridays Off the 405″) takes over the museum’s courtyard, which boasts incredible nighttime views of the city. Grab a drink at the cash bar and then check out the musical guests, curated by Flavorpill magazine. May to September.