Reader's Question:
A local resident is trying to persuade me to jump into this "Historic Preservation Zone" that some in the city are pushing. I live in an old "historic" home built in the late 20's and we are being encouraged to jump on the band wagon and classify my neighborhood as part of a historical area. A lady came knocking on my door and mentioned that this redistricting would be a good way to maintain my property value or maybe even increase the value of my home. What's your thought on this?
Christian's Response:
Read, please, you know better. If your idea of fun is essentially having an HOA present in your neighborhood, knock yourself out. Don't come crying when heaven forbid you want to change your front door, paint your house green, re-landscape your yard, or change a light bulb. Why on earth would anyone want to place restrictions on their homes and be told what you can and cannot do? If you wanted that lifestyle, one would most likely opt to live in a gated community and let others tell you what kind of rocks and plants to use in your front yard landscaping. Although, my remarks are merely my personal comments and thoughts on the topic, don't take it as gospel. It's just my personal feelings on the subject that you asked about. To each their own.
Listen, I own properties outside of LA with HOA's, CC&R's and other homeowner restrictions. When my wife and I purchased our Los Angeles area home, we purposely set out to avoid that type of choke hold. For that reason alone we did not purchase in an area that offered those restrictions but we had our eyes set in that general area. It gets real old, real fast.
So what if you want to remodel your bathroom? Hire a contractor, get the appropriate permits, and off you go. Good luck after you have that "Historic" zone classification.
As to increasing the value of your home, it's hogwash. Many of us unfortunately are about to take a nice financial bath. If your neighborhood becomes the next historic district then great for you. You can place a nice shinny plaque on your front lawn to which no one will really give two squats about. This new, shinny bronze plaque does make a lot of people feel very good as it gives them a feeling of self entitlement and bragging rights.
Oh please, move past the stucco and explore real life. There is so much more value in life other than roof tops and who's lawn is better contests. It's always interesting to listen to some historical homeowners speak. You just have to laugh from within. The grandeur to which they speak of. The glory of their beautiful and rare home. Oh please.
Bel Air, Beverly Hills, La Canada Flintridge you are not. Many of these homeowners should drive down portions of Descanso Dr, Chevy Chase, Highland, Commonwealth and Berkshire in La Canada Flintridge. Now there you'll find HISTORY and elegance by the truck load. Next time this lady comes knocking at your door and lays the line regarding increasing your property value, ask her for a copy of her California appraisers license and her psychic friends network membership card.
Once you get past that, remind her of the current 10,000 foreclosures a day that are occuring nationwide. If I were a betting man, I place my chips on a value freefall based on the mounting foreclosure filings killing property values. Unfortunately, no city designation or bronze plaque will save you from the declining real estate market we are now facing.
A local resident is trying to persuade me to jump into this "Historic Preservation Zone" that some in the city are pushing. I live in an old "historic" home built in the late 20's and we are being encouraged to jump on the band wagon and classify my neighborhood as part of a historical area. A lady came knocking on my door and mentioned that this redistricting would be a good way to maintain my property value or maybe even increase the value of my home. What's your thought on this?
Christian's Response:
Read, please, you know better. If your idea of fun is essentially having an HOA present in your neighborhood, knock yourself out. Don't come crying when heaven forbid you want to change your front door, paint your house green, re-landscape your yard, or change a light bulb. Why on earth would anyone want to place restrictions on their homes and be told what you can and cannot do? If you wanted that lifestyle, one would most likely opt to live in a gated community and let others tell you what kind of rocks and plants to use in your front yard landscaping. Although, my remarks are merely my personal comments and thoughts on the topic, don't take it as gospel. It's just my personal feelings on the subject that you asked about. To each their own.
Listen, I own properties outside of LA with HOA's, CC&R's and other homeowner restrictions. When my wife and I purchased our Los Angeles area home, we purposely set out to avoid that type of choke hold. For that reason alone we did not purchase in an area that offered those restrictions but we had our eyes set in that general area. It gets real old, real fast.
So what if you want to remodel your bathroom? Hire a contractor, get the appropriate permits, and off you go. Good luck after you have that "Historic" zone classification.
As to increasing the value of your home, it's hogwash. Many of us unfortunately are about to take a nice financial bath. If your neighborhood becomes the next historic district then great for you. You can place a nice shinny plaque on your front lawn to which no one will really give two squats about. This new, shinny bronze plaque does make a lot of people feel very good as it gives them a feeling of self entitlement and bragging rights.
Oh please, move past the stucco and explore real life. There is so much more value in life other than roof tops and who's lawn is better contests. It's always interesting to listen to some historical homeowners speak. You just have to laugh from within. The grandeur to which they speak of. The glory of their beautiful and rare home. Oh please.
Bel Air, Beverly Hills, La Canada Flintridge you are not. Many of these homeowners should drive down portions of Descanso Dr, Chevy Chase, Highland, Commonwealth and Berkshire in La Canada Flintridge. Now there you'll find HISTORY and elegance by the truck load. Next time this lady comes knocking at your door and lays the line regarding increasing your property value, ask her for a copy of her California appraisers license and her psychic friends network membership card.
Once you get past that, remind her of the current 10,000 foreclosures a day that are occuring nationwide. If I were a betting man, I place my chips on a value freefall based on the mounting foreclosure filings killing property values. Unfortunately, no city designation or bronze plaque will save you from the declining real estate market we are now facing.
