Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 4, 2010

13

HOMES AND PROPERTY

 MountainViews-News Saturday, December 4, 2010 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people whoe create them Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand 


Highland Oaks.... Enduring Value in Arcadia


The phrases that repeat 
and repeat and repeat 
on home sale brochures 
for the Highlands 
and Highland Oaks 
neighborhoods in 
northeast Arcadia revolve 
around a recurring theme 
taken from a recent 
brochure for a home 
recently listed and sold by 
Dilbeck Realtors: 

Highly Desirable Highland Oaks!

This well built custom has been the treasured family 
home for nearly half a century, in a neighborhood 
where excellent schools, love of our San Gabriel 
Mountain foothills lifestyle and surroundings plus 
carefully maintained communities have always 
been top priority.

The Highlands and Highland Oaks have stood the 
test of over half a century, with a “perfect storm” 
of highly desired amenities. Indeed, several one or 
two owner homes come on the market each year as 
elderly owners reluctantly leave their homes of 50, 
60 or even more years for the likes of Royal Oaks 
in Bradbury, sometimes assisted living or when a 
surviving spouse moves nearer to extended family.

The neighborhood has always been manicured, 
with a beautiful stone sign announcing entrance 
to “The Highlands” on Santa Anita Avenue. The 
expansive, grassy Santa Anita boulevard, bordering 
the community on the west, is the beautiful result 
of the retirement of the train service that once used 
the wide median. 

This boulevard is also one of the portals into the San 
Gabriel Mountains, which also provide spectacular 
views and a panoramic backdrop for many Highlands homes. Hiking, camping and spectacular drives 
are just minutes up the grade road leading into Chantry Flats trailhead and the Angeles Forest. 

Grocery and sundries shopping is convenient, with Ralph’s, Fresh N Easy, Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS 
all less than a mile away. Mall Shopping is a hop skip and a jump to Santa Anita Mall. Bus service to 
the Gold line train in NE Pasadena or the Metrolink El Monte Station service is regular and convenient 
from the edge of the neighborhood.

The pride and joy of the neighborhood are its local public schools, Highland Oaks Elementary and 
Foothills Middle Schools. Highly regarded and high performing as an entire district, Highland Oaks 
rated a stellar 957/1000 on the Academic Performance Index in 2010, the highest in the district. The 
entire report can be viewed online: http://arcadia.schoolwisepress.com/reports/2010/pdf/arcadia/perf_
en_19-64261-6011167e.pdf . The local 6th-8th graders at Foothills Middle School tested at a 967/1000 
in the same 2010 testing period, again the highest in the district. (http://arcadia.schoolwisepress.com/
reports/2010/pdf/arcadia/perf_en_19-64261-6061246m.pdf)

A new listing just came on the market, less than a block from Highland Oaks Elementary, a dream 
location for parents who demand an excellent education without the burden of chauffeur services. 
Listing agent, Susan Miali of Coldwell Banker commented, “Although Arcadia has been subjected to a 
market downturn in its real estate values, the impact has been minimal compared to surrounding areas. 
The award winning public school system, and the excellent Police and Fire Departments combined 
with the prime location and mountain views make it a perfect place to live.” 

Miali continued, “Of the 15 designated neighborhoods in Arcadia, the Highlands is one of five with 
Homeowners Associations (HOAs). Although the HOA membership is not mandatory to homeowners 
in that neighborhood, the Highlands has over 70% voluntary participation of 854 homes. The $25 dues 
help support the newsletter, printing, postage and insurance. 

The Highlands Home Owners Association is not a traditional association, as there are no common 
areas to manage. Its main purpose is to help maintain the continuity of the neighborhood. Before a 
homeowner takes their plans for a remodel/new construction to be approved by the city of Arcadia, 
it must have the stamp of approval from at least 3 of the Architectural Review Board at the Highlands 
HOA. One of the directors, Jeff Bowen, told me they review about 65 homes a year.”

Reflecting on the seller’s purchase years back, she commented, “When I sold them this home over 10 
years ago, we all recognized the value of Arcadia property. Like so many others here in the Highlands, 
the sellers take pride in their home and have improved it with attention to detail, great taste and quality 
upgrades over the years... not only to maintain and enjoy, but to increase the value.” 

“These homes built in the 1950’s have ‘great bones’ and were built with high quality materials that have 
and will stand the test of time with regular maintenance,” Miali continued. “A perfect example of a true 
Arcadia ranch style home, it features hardwood floors, large rooms in a traditional configuration of 
formal living and dining, plus a private bedroom wing. The large deep lots are always a draw in this 
area of Arcadia.”

A huge extra that’s always in high demand in our area is the separate, two room guest quarters with a 
3/4 bath, perfect for extended family, older children or guests. 

1642 Oakwood Drive, with 2341 square feet of living space, a pool, circular drive, remodeled kitchen 
and master bath and much more, was just listed at $978,000. For more information, contact Susan Miali 
of Coldwell Banker, Arcadia at 626-445-5500 or view the listing on her website, www.SusanMiali.com 

Chris Bertrand


OPEN HOUSE 12/04 & 12/05

Open Saturday & Sunday 2-4pm

22 W Hacienda Ave. Arcadia Gary Lorenzini $2,988,000

Open Sunday 12-2pm 

149 S 5th St. Montebello Gil Guzman $349,500

Open Sunday 12-4pm 

4531 Glenalbyn Dr. LA/Mt Washington Gil Guzman $899,000 

Open Sunday 1-4pm 

825 S Golden West Ave #7 Arcadia Hoss Nouhi $559,000 

1306 Greenfield Ave. Arcadia Imy Dulake $898,000 

11416 Cherrylee El Monte Phil Daniels $548,000 

11418 Cherrylee El Monte Phil Daniels $553,000 

11414 Cherrylee El Monte Phil Daniels $558,000 

3642 Amesbury Rd. LA/Los Feliz Jeannine Vukovich 

 & Nick Borelli $1,399,000

777 Manley Dr. San Gabriel Phil Daniels $575,000 

 

Open Sunday 2-4pm

2751 Glenrose Ave. Altadena Ted Javipour $349,000

2626 Longely Way Arcadia Dee Chou $828,000

1105 Rodeo Rd. Arcadia Peggy Fong Chen $1,688,000

29 Hacienda Dr. Arcadia Dee Chou $1,980,000

886 Fallen Leaf Rd. Arcadia Imy Dulake & 
Peggy Fong Chen $2,688,000

3453 Tannencrest Dr. Duarte Monica Quesenbery $525,000

1258 S Concord Ln. Glendora Gary Lorenzini $419,000

5409 Castle Knoll Rd. La Canada Flintridge Gary Lorenzini $1,009,800

3617 3rd Ave. La Crescenta Victor Mansour $473,900

57 Hidden Valley Rd. Monrovia Ash Rizk $1,168,888

6345 N Encinita Ave. Temple City Gary Lorenzini $775,000


Smooth 

Sailing


As a buyer, you want your offer to be accepted 
and your contract to close on schedule. 
However, in today's climate, you should expect 
some negotiation, and submit your offer with 
the following advice in mind. 

The financing contingency in your offer will 
state your loan total and anticipated interest rate 
and approval date. Strongly consider locking in 
that rate with the lender, as rates are still very 
low, and you'll avoid any future fluctuations in 
the market. 

Reserve funds now for your settlement costs 
at closing. Anticipate anywhere from 2% to 6% 
of the amount you're financing, plus your down 
payment (less any earnest money you offered as 
a deposit), which will be presented in the form 
of an official (cashier's) check. 

If your down payment funds are not in an 
immediately liquid account, keep things on 
track by moving the funds into your checking 
account at least a week before closing, so you're 
sure that you'll be able to access the money in 
advance of the closing date. 

Finally, try to avoid a closing date at the end of 
the month or the end of the year, as these are the 
busiest times for lenders and could cause undue 
delay in meeting your approval deadline for 
financing. Speak with your agent about other 
factors in crafting your offer and successfully 
closing on schedule. 

Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the top 
producing sales agent in Dickson Podley Realtor's 
Sierra Madre office for 2009, making the top 
10% at the company overall. Luther has been 
licensed and practicing real estate since 1992. He 
specializes in residential and income property in 
Southern California. Luther can be reached at his 
direct line (626) 695-8650 or at luther@tsinoglou.
com.

HOME DECORATING 
CONTEST!

Submit your entries for our 2nd 
annual Holiday Decorating Contest! 
Enter the address of homes we 
should consider for our 2nd annual 
contest. We’ll drive and evaluate 
the entries in our service area from 
Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, 
Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte on 
Monday and/or Tuesday, December 
13-14 between 5-9 p.m. Make sure 
your lights are on for us to take photos 
and make the awards! Send your 
submission addresses with street 
address, cross street and town name 
to C.Bertrand@MtnViewsNews.com