What Makes Highland Park, CA a Great Place to Live

The Northeast Los Angeles area of Highland Park’s is often compared to Brooklyn, full of character and art, but doused in sunshine. This bohemian neighborhood is close in proximity to Los Angeles metro and downtown, making it a popular choice of housing for career businessmen and businesswomen. The area’s growing popularity has made homes in Highland Park a blazing hot commodity.

Gentrification is occuring throughout Highland Park as its older, historic homes are being fixed up with modern touches to match the imaginative shops and cafes springing up in the business district.Public transportation is made easy through the Metro Rail Gold Line, which aids in transporting commuters throughout the city of Los Angeles.

On the map, Highland Park, CA runs along the north bank of the Arroyo Seco, just east of Mount Washington. Eagle Rock can be found north of Highland Park with Pasadena on the east.

It isn’t a coincidence that the areas immediately surrounding Highland Park are also experiencing intense renewed interest from those wanting to purchase something affordable in Los Angeles as far as homes go. Piggy backing on the popularity of Highland Park, neighboring Mount Washington real estate has been through the roof, while homes in Pasadena, CA and Eagle Rock have consistently been in demand for the past several years.

Highland Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles. Being located above the Arroyo Seco, it is full of hills and large oak and sycamore trees, which give it a comfortable, suburban feel. The neighborhoods in Highland Park look suburban, but they have an urban edge. They are not known for glitz and glamour like many Hollywood Hills neighborhoods. Residents, new and old, are working hard to dust off these neighborhoods and shine them up into classic buildings that look like they did in the 40’s and 50’s. Highland Park is a melting pot,with residents widely varying in age, ethnicity, occupation and social status.

One of the main streets in Highland Park is York Boulevard. Classic barbershops and unique vintage stores align York Blvd. with the gorgeous and plentiful street art murals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The combination of creativity and history paint a picture that sets Highland Park apart from any other neighborhood in Los Angeles or anywhere else.

The business district of Highland Park consists mostly of mom and pop shops. Instead of “Barnes and Noble”, you will come across “Pop-Hop Books and Print”,which is owned by people who have a passion for books. The shopping experience in a place like this is much more enriching and personalized than one in a brand name company. There is an assortment of vintage clothing stores to match the buildings and streets in this neighborhood.

Many classic cars can be seen in this area, as it once was the hot rod hot spot of Southern California. Each store, café and restaurant is full of proprietors trying to make a living and keep their business afloat by providing personable customer service tailored towards the unique and varied population … from hippies to hipsters, professionals and artist types and more.

Highland Park is accessible via the 110 freeway and the Gold Line on the Metro Rail. Highland Park is a great place to work, live and play. For those interested in either buying or selling homes in Highland Park and surrounding areas, it is highly recommended to hire a real estate agent who specializes in the area.

The Artistic and EclecticNeighborhood of Echo Park

Echo Park is a stylish, trend-setting neighborhood in Eastern Los Angeles that is continuously growing more original in its art, music and food culture each day. This unique neighborhood is close to downtown and is loved by Angelenos because of its creative nature, restaurants, shopping, nightlife and stunning views.

Echo Park is a perfect place to wear progressive new outfits and bring retro pieces back to life. This hip, bike-riding neighborhood is centrally located in Los Angeles making it a gateway to a slue of other cool, eastern neighborhoods. Because of its burgeoning popularity, homes in Echo Park command top dollar, making Echo Park a consistent seller’s market. Such is the demand to live in this hip area that the distinctive character homes maintain their value through the ups and downs of the real estate market.

Echo Park is located north of downtown and south of Hollywood just east of Silver Lake. Echo Park is connected to some of the most important freeways including the 101, 2, 5, and the 110. Owning a car is easy with all of the street parking and freeway accessibility. Bicycling and public transit are also popular methods of transportation for Echo Park residents yearning to travel near and far.

Echo Park’s rolling hills and independent attitude may not be as lustrous as Downtown or as glamorous as Hollywood, but the overall experience is enriching and unique. Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park is stock full of thrift shops and dive bars, providing entertainment for two different walks of life. Dodger Stadium is one of the main sources of life in Echo Park, providing it with entertainment, light and life.

Echo Park has a unique culinary arts scene that sets it apart from other Los Angeles communities. The food choices vary from vegan cafes to taco trucks to ensure that every flavor on the spectrum is represented.. “Sage Organic Bistro” is a vegan all-star restaurant in Echo Park that keeps its guests healthy and happy by serving non-dairy and meat items like shakes, burgers and Mexican cuisine. Echo Park also houses an assortment of cheap, yet delicious bakeries, pizza parlors, and cafes that appeal to the crowds who are looking to save a buck.

The food businesses in Echo Park share their hipster vibe with the clothing district, which consists of vintage shops, thrift stores and recycled fashion houses. One special clothing store called “The Echo Park Time Travel Mart” specializes in antique items and clothing while also doubling as a non-profit organization that tutors students to improve their creating writing skills. This is a great representation of the kind hearted, compassionate feel of this community.

This love is also felt on the street where wall-sized wheat pastes and vinyl occupy full brick walls. There are galleries and bookstores that host art shows and poetry readings, which can often turn into a music jam with a DJ. Every Friday there is a farmer’s market. The night is full of vibrant life. Live shows echo throughout the city and bars slosh away full of happy patrons. Echo Park is a progressive community that will continue to grow in life, love and art.

Homes in Echo Park vary in size and style, emphasizing older “character” homes such as California bungalows, Victorians, Tudors and craftsman homes. The sought after hillside lots are typically dotted with newer Mid-century homes. Fortunes have been made by those who have been long-time homeowners bought the homes when they were dirt cheap.

Echo Park has a lot to offer, but because of it’s enormous popularity, and because its streets are lined with older homes in historic neighborhoods, buying and selling real estate in Echo Park can be tricky. Real estate is a sizeable investment. Those interested in buying or selling property in Echo Park should consult with an experienced Echo Park realtor to obtain the best advice and representation in any transaction.

A Look at South Pasadena Real Estate

With its stunning homes, quality schools, low crime rate and idyllic tree-lined streets, the City of South Pasadena consistently boasts a scorching hot real estate market.

Nestled between Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles, the City of South Pasadena is located in the furthest West region of the San Gabriel Valley. So picturesque is South Pasadena that it has been, and remains, a favorite location for shooting motion pictures and television shows. Homes for sale in South Pasadena are very much in demand and the city itself has become one of the San Gabriel Valley’s most desirable locations to live.

South Pasadena, once a part of Pasadena, is a small city, taking up only three and one half square miles and has a population of only 26,000. It seceded from Pasadena and became incorporated in 1888. Nicknamed “the City of Trees”, it is a quaint and beautiful community. But charming and old-fashioned doesn’t mean that homes in South Pasadena aren’t extremely pricey and sought after. In 2015, the median home value is just over $864,000 and there’s good reason for it.

South Pasadena has a lot going for it. It is known for it’s outstanding public schools that are consistently ranked among California’s best. Its tree-lined streets are populated with historic homes designed by noted architects as well as a unique mix of custom-built homes dating back to the turn of the century. Its business district features unique small businesses, coffee houses, bookstores and artisan shops. It has more than 100 acres of parks and playgrounds. All of these features together make South Pasadena extremely “family friendly”.

Situated only ten miles from Downtown Los Angeles, the small city is convenient to both the 110 Pasadena Freeway (the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway) and the California 10 Freeway. The Los Angeles Metro Gold Line travels through South Pasadena.

South Pasadena is steeped in rich history. The city has cultivated its unique “small town” character as a result of tireless and dedicated efforts by residents to preserve its historic quality.

When choosing a South Pasadena real estate agent … experience matters

Because demand for homes in South Pasadena are typically high and inventory is typically low, real estate in South Pasadena has become a seller’s market. Both buyers and sellers, then, are advised to work only with a South Pasadena real estate agent who is experienced and intimately familiar with South Pasadena’s real estate market to represent them in the transaction.