Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Real Estate Appraisal, Los Angeles, California, Mary Cummins.

Mary Cummins is a real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California with 38+ years of experience. Cummins provides real estate appraisals for banks, lenders, mortgage brokers, Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), lawyers, Courts, factors and private parties for lending, lawsuits, probate, estate planning, divorce and all types of litigation. Cummins provides 1004, 1073, 1025 and other form reports, narrative reports and historical appraisals besides real estate research and appraisal advice.

Showing posts with label los angeles. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Official End of Pave Task Force by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

As soon as Trump became President the PAVE Task Force pages disappeared. I wrote about that here. I stated it won't change much because the PAVE Task Force never really did much except smear and defame appraisers. July 11, 2025 HUD officially terminated the PAVE Task Force and all its "programs." Article. This also won't change much for the same reasons. All the programs PAVE stated they initiated already existed. From the article and HUD press release.

"In a statement announcing the task force’s demise, HUD said this endeavor “exemplified government overreach by increasing bureaucracy using various tools aimed at addressing so-called systemic biases in the home appraisal process.” The agencies questioned the task force’s concerns regarding the systematic undervaluation of properties in nonwhite communities, citing American Enterprise Institute data that determined similar disparities occurred in white communities that shared a similar socioeconomic status." Press release from HUD https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-25-092

HUD cited the AEI data which proves the underlying premise of the PAVE Task Force was 100% false! This is so huge! This shows that Andre Perry is a total fraud who helped push the false narrative to promote a political agenda and make money for himself. I've been stating this since I first saw Perry speak at the Finance Committee and read his ridiculous book. I was so glad to see the AEI research factually and eloquently put into words and charts everything I was seeing and thinking.

HUD added that current laws that address housing discrimination, including The Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, will continue to be enforced. These laws existed before PAVE. I support these actions. There will still be Reconsiderations of Values because they existed before PAVE. All of the fair housing regulations still exist. Appraisers are still not allowed to "low ball" anyone. There are still appraiser regulations, licensing and enforcement. HUD just ended the nonsense smear campaign about the alleged "old white racist male" appraiser "lowballing blacks and Latinos." As I stated before appraising is a math formula. We don't know the races, colors, religions... of the parties involved. We look at properties only. It's a math formula.

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate is a certified residential licensed appraiser in Los Angeles, California. Mary Cummins is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate appraisers and has over 35 years of experience.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary, Cummins, #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, certified, single family, condo, condominium, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, fha, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, brea insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, 1073, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls, historical appraisal, facebook, linkedin

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Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Saturday, June 28, 2025

HUD Slashes Appraisal Requirements by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

UPDATE: I just saw a notice from an AMC which is a little different than the press release. It states while we no longer have to take photos of the attic and crawl space but we still have to inspect them and report. While we can use MLS photos for comps we still must go view the comps. While we no longer have to take angled or side photos we still must inspect and report. While we don't have to list remaining economic life we still have to list effective age. One can figure out remaining economic life based on effective age. This would mean there's no real difference in the amount of work and reporting involved for appraisers. Looks like a fluff press release that won't change much.

ORIGINAL: June 27, 2025 HUD Secretary Scott Turner released the below press release entitled "HUD Slashes Red Tape to Homeownership Financing Costs." Some of that red tape is related to home appraisals which made some appraisers happy. The press release linked below links to the June 27, 2025 Mortgage Letter which details the rescission of the appraisal requirements, i.e. "Rescission of Outdated and Costly FHA Appraisal Protocols." Some of these changes would disrupt the home loan markets. Below are a few of the changes.

This was crossed out. ~~(I) Economic Life/Section 223(e)The Mortgagee must confirm that the term of the Mortgage is less than or equal to the~~ ~~remaining economic life of the Property.~~ Appraiser not longer has to include economic remaining life. This could be an issue if the loan is 30 years but remaining economic life of property is less than 30 years. This happens with some older homes in average condition not to mention older mobile homes. Older mobile homes generally can't get loans for this reason. I could see people walking from loans when they're underwater just like during the Great Recession.

FHA Minimum Photograph Requirements.

Only front and rear photos are needed. No more angled photos to show all four sides. Sometimes you really need to see all four sides. People generally don't repair the sides as much as the front. I always include photos of the sides whether they ask for them or not. It takes maybe five more seconds.

The street scene no longer has to include a portion of the subject. Then the street scene could be from anywhere and not subject's street. It doesn't take any extra time or effort to include a tiny portion of the subject on the side of the street scene. This doesn't save any time.

Attic and crawl space photos no longer needed. Sure hope someone inspects the attic and crawl space which can hide a lot of expensive damage and problems such as water damage, mold, roof issues, previous fires, original pipes, foundation issues... I've been in attics where I saw holes going to the outside, sagging roof supports, lack of insulation, burn marks, mold, mildew...that weren't caught in any inspection. While it's a hassle carrying a ladder to look in the attic I think it could be important. A head and shoulder view is all that's needed so you could use a stick to prop up panel and use selfie stick to take the photo. If it's no longer needed, I'm sure they'll reduce appraiser fee so while it may be less work, there will probably be less pay.

Photos of common areas of 2-4 units no longer have to be included. Photos of condo common areas also no longer needed. I've seen a lot of 2-4 units and condos with major deferred maintenance in the common areas. This could have a large effect on value especially considering the recent major condo issues with huge special assessments, inadequate insurance and zero replacement budgets. It only takes a few minutes to take common area photos.

Appraiser no longer has to comment on upward or downward future market trends in detail. This will be horrible if we head into another real estate recession like the Great Recession. The 1004MC form, also known as the Market Conditions Addendum, was introduced by Fannie Mae in November 2008 and became a requirement for all one- to four-unit property appraisals delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting April 1, 2009. It was created in response to the 2008 housing crisis to standardize the analysis and reporting of market conditions by appraisers. As it is it's not mandatory with many loans. I still use it to figure out general time adjustments besides AI.

This was crossed out. ~~Additional Appraisal Requirements for 223(e) Mortgages (09/14/2015)~~ "223(e)" refers to a section of the National Housing Act that allows for the insurance of mortgages in older, declining urban areas where there is a need for affordable housing. This section specifically facilitates the purchase, repair, rehabilitation, or construction of properties in these designated areas." Many can't get these loans for good reason. The cost to repair the home is more than the final value of the home. It's not a good investment for the government. The borrowers could end up under water and walk then we have another real estate recession. This has happened before.

This next part could be very problematic as it could allow construction in some flood zones. This will be a huge issue as the government unwinds FEMA and climate change increases. This is a big issue in Florida, Texas, the south. It has to do with building above the high tide line which has been rising for years. People shouldn't build in those areas because they will lose their home in the next storm and now FEMA won't even help them. Many areas in Florida are at risk of losing their roads and highways to sea level rise and storms.

"Rescinded the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) for New Construction Eligibility. Rescinding the FFRMS restores the previous established policy, thus removing what would have been limits on the land available for development and eliminating increases in the cost of construction for FHA-insured single-family properties, which would have exacerbated the insufficient supply of affordable housing for the next generation of homebuyers."

Here's another troubling change. "Rescinded the Mandatory Pre-Endorsement Inspection Requirements for Properties Located in Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas. Modifying FHA disaster inspection requirements aligns FHA’s policies with industry standards and allows lenders the discretion to assess property condition and determine appropriate risk-based actions prior to endorsement. This update reduces costly and unnecessary delays and will improve the bandwidth of home property inspectors that are often overwhelmed following a natural disaster."

I remember the 1994 earthquake in LA. I had inspections scheduled but no phone to contact clients to see if I should change the appts. My first two appointments were totaled by the earthquake. I later had to do reinspections for properties in the middle of financing to make sure they weren't damaged. Most were damaged. Not only that but values plummeted after the earthquake. Why would the government want to give the same loan amount to a property which is probably greatly devalued or worth almost nothing? The government has to bail out the loans and banks.

From the same press release, "During the first Trump Administration, HUD made targeted technology investments through FHA Catalyst that have substantially improved FHA’s collateral valuation analytics. As a result, FHA is now able to extend the benefit of these investments to borrowers, lenders, and taxpayers in the form of streamlined appraisal procedures, lower costs, and quicker turn times."

FHA Catalyst and AVMs: The FHA Catalyst system, which HUD has invested in, is a platform designed to modernize the FHA program by facilitating the electronic submission and processing of appraisals. It has also improved FHA's collateral valuation analytics, which suggests a role for AVMs within the FHA program.

The increased use of AVMs could be problematic as we all know how deeply flawed AVMs can be. The borrowers who will agree to an AVM value will have older homes in less than average condition without upgrades, views and in less than desirable locations in a neighborhood. These homes would receive a higher AVM value than market value by a live appraiser. Borrowers with fully upgraded, remodeled home on prime lots with prime views would get a lower AVM value and probably get a loan elsewhere. This means most AVM loans could be under collateralized. The resultant loans would be riskier for the government and investors not to mention the stock market.

I see some red flag issues with these recent HUD changes. They will reduce the confidence in real estate appraisal valuations, home loans and the real estate market in general. It will also upset asset backed securities markets and the stock market. Lenders, banks will make a lot more money at the expense of the homeowner and US tax payer. Similar loosening of regulations and changes were made before the Great Recession which is what caused the Great Recession. History has a tendency to repeat itself. We don't seem to learn.

While HUD can make administrative changes on its own sometimes they need the approval of Congress to make major changes in housing programs and funding. Maybe there should be some oversight on these changes such as the Finance Committee. In this new era of the government making executive orders without any approvals, oversight or even investigation this will probably stand as is.

"HUD Slashes Red Tape to Cut Homeownership Financing Costs

FHA eliminates 12 costly and burdensome policies in sweeping rollback"

https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-25-086

"Rescission of Outdated and Costly FHA Appraisal Protocols"
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2025-18hsgml.pdf

Marhttps://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2025-18hsgml.pdfy Cummins of Cummins Real Estate is a certified residential licensed appraiser in Los Angeles, California. Mary Cummins is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate appraisers and has over 35 years of experience.

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Mary Cummins

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Court Rules Fair Plan Fire Policy Coverage Regarding Smoke Damage is Illegal by Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser

Court Rules Fair Plan Fire Policy Coverage Regarding Smoke Damage is Illegal. Items don't have to be destroyed to be considered a loss. The damage doesn't have to be visible by human eye. Exposure to toxic smoke, fire, ash can destroy soft or porous items. The insurer stated they won't appeal. Insurance experts state this will cause insurance rates to rise. Case Number: 21STCV20095 Plaintiff Jay Aliff, Defendant California Fair Plan Association.

"In a landmark decision, a Los Angeles judge has ruled that California’s home insurer of last resort (California Fair Plan Association) is violating state law by how it treats smoke damage claims — a policy that homeowners have long complained shortchanges them, including, most recently, victims of the Jan. 7 firestorms.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stuart Rice on Tuesday said that the California FAIR Plan Assn.’s policy violates the insurance code because it provides less coverage than what is required by the state’s Standard Form Fire Insurance Policy, which provides coverage for all “loss by fire” damage without making any distinction for smoke damage.

Since 2017, the plan has required that fire claims must result in “direct physical loss” as defined by “permanent physical changes” to a property, which owners allege has made it more difficult to be compensated for smoke damage.

The plan issued a notice to its customers that year that said the new definition of direct physical loss “will result in the denial of claims that might have been paid under prior policy wording,” Rice noted in his decision in a case brought by a former Mono County property owner.

“This notice seems to admit that the CFP Policy is less favorable to insureds than the Standard Form Policy,” the judge wrote in declaring the policy illegal."

#wildfire #smokedamage #marycummins #realestateappraiser #fairplan #fire

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-06-25/landmark-ruling-judge-says-that-californias-insurer-of-last-resort-is-shortchanging-smoke-damage-victims-la-wildfires

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Mary Cummins

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Government Must Pay for Eviction Moratorium Losses, Court Ruling, by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Court Rules Government Must Pay for Eviction Moratorium Losses. A federal court just ruled 7-3 that governments are responsible for lost rent due to eviction moratoriums. It is considered illegal taking of property which is against the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution. I feel this should also apply to some rent control measures.

Here's what this means: If you lost rental income during Los Angeles' eviction moratoriums over the past five years, you might be entitled to compensation. You'd still have to sue to be compensated. If the ruling stands I'm sure there will be class action lawsuits.

The case is Darby Development Company Inc et al v. United States, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 2022-1929. Those moratoriums were so unfair especially to small mom and pop landlords. Many were forced to sell their buildings because they couldn't afford to keep them. Many tenants lied about Covid affecting their income to get free rent. Some never paid back the rent. Some just left.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-must-face-claims-over-pandemic-ban-residential-evictions-2025-06-06

Based on the below actual order this will probably go to the Supreme Court. SCOTUS would then decide if the order was properly authorized or not. If they decide it was properly authorized, this may be overturned. Scroll down to see the original order which is lower on the page.

Order https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/22-1929.ORDER.6-6-2025_2526499.pdf

"This case presents the question whether the United

States can be liable for the unauthorized acts of its officials

under the Takings Clause.

On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (“CDC”) promulgated an agency order that

temporarily halted residential evictions in the midst of the

COVID-19 pandemic, relying on its authority under 42

U.S.C. § 264(a). The Supreme Court held that it was “virtually certain . . . that the CDC ha[d] exceeded its authority” under that statute. Ala. Ass’n of Realtors v. Dep’t of

Health & Hum. Servs., 594 U.S. 758, 759 (2021); see also

Resp. to Pet. for En Banc Reh’g at 2, Darby Dev. Co.

v. United States, 112 F.4th 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2024) (No. 22-

1929) (conceding that “the Supreme Court ultimately expressed the view that the moratorium exceeded the CDC’s

statutory authority”). As a result, the eviction moratorium

was enjoined. See Ala. Ass’n of Realtors, 594 U.S. at 766.

Despite the lack of statutory authority, the panel majority held that the order was not unauthorized for takings

purposes because it was done “within the normal scope of

the agent’s duties,” Darby Dev. Co., Inc. v. United States,

112 F.4th 1017, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 2024), effectively importing

the scope-of-duty standard from tort law into the takings

context.

Previous ruling with issues

https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/22-1929.OPINION.8-7-2024_2363309.pdf

Appellants: 104WWB, LLC, Azure Park Apartments, LLC, Bay Bridge Properties LLC, Belhaven Residential, LLC, Bella Estates Nevada, LLC, Capital City Interior LLC, Casas Adobes Partners V LLC, Darby Development Company, Inc., Decatur Point LLC, Encantada Apartments, LLC, GG Icon LLC, Grand Channel, LLC, GWR BH Holdings, Ltd., GWR Equities LLC, GWR Management, LLC, GWR Texas SE Partners, Ltd., GWR Trails Partners, Ltd., Hesperian Falls Partners LLC, Intercoastal Yacht Club, LLC, Lake Charlotte, LLC, Las Vegas Cameron Apts LLC, Logan Ventures of California Properties LLC, Mclean Investments, LLC, Orion Properties of West Palm Beach, LLC, Joanne Panek, Richard Panek, Paradise Square, LLC, R. James Properties, Inc., Michael Rak, Redwood Garden Properties, LLC, Ridge Falls Apartments, LLC, Riverbend Village Partners LLC, Shander International, LLC, Sunset Terrace Partners LLC, Regina Tillman, TSV Crossroads at Rochelle LLC, Veritas Equity Management, LLC, Villa East Properties, LLC, Villa Monterey Properties, LLC and Mohammad Zamanian to Doc No. [92].

Court of Appeals Docket #: 22-1929 Docketed: 06/24/2022

Termed: 08/07/2024

Nature of Suit: 512 Taking - Realty

Darby Development Company, Inc. v. US

Appeal From: United States Court of Federal Claims

Fee Status: fee paid

Case Type Information:

1) Civil US

2) -

3) -

Originating Court Information:

District: --14-1 : 1:21-cv-01621-AOB

Trial Judge: Armando O. Bonilla, Judge

Date Filed: 07/27/2021

Date NOA Filed: Date Rec'd COA:

06/06/2022 06/22/2022

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Mary Cummins

Saturday, June 7, 2025

How HUD Ended up Funding and Working for Private Nonprofit NFHA by Jeremy Bagott, Mary Cummins

Jeremy Bagott just wrote a great article about HUD, Zixta Martinez, the false narrative of the "racist appraiser" and the home loan industry. The article neatly assembles all the pieces of the racist agenda of Marcia Fudge and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA). Fudge was clearly racist against non blacks, Latinos based on her many public statements which I've shared here. Fudge falsely stated all appraisers are racist white men who intentionally devalue the homes of blacks, Latinos reducing their wealth by $156B. Fudge used HUD funds to support NFHA who has the same racist agenda. Fudge also hired NFHA employees to work at HUD. The home loan industry took advantage of the false narrative to convince HUD that non appraiser valuations such as AVMs, value acceptance should be allowed and standard so they could make more money and control the values. All these entities worked together for their own agendas of racism and/or money.

"VENTURA, Calif. (June 6, 2025) – Hanlon’s Razor is a rule of thumb that encourages people to consider incompetence over malice to explain the actions of others. It states: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” The charitable spirit of Hanlon’s Razor is strained to the limit in the case of Zixta Q. Martinez.

Who is Zixta Q. Martinez? She is the deputy director of the now-skeletal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She was placed on administrative leave in February. Her job reportedly pays her $259,500 per year. But as wasteful as it sounds, paying her not to work is preferable to having her at her desk and engaged in divisive mischief. Her banishment couldn’t have come soon enough. She now needs to be cashiered. We can only hope she never again sees the inside of a government office.

The University of Texas-trained lawyer and activist Martinez is also chair of an obscure federal committee tasked with overseeing the way states license real property appraisers in federally backed mortgages.

While on the job, Martinez self-promoted and peddled a poisonous canard known as “appraiser bias.” The DEI-influenced theory holds that an appraiser of one racial group cannot properly appraise real estate owned by someone of a different racial group. The nation’s 70,000 state-licensed appraisers are a key check on the banks, nonbank lenders, homebuilders and Realtors. Conveniently, the housing lobby has attempted to cash in on this peculiar madness of our times, as they would like to be rid of appraisers. It has resulted in a weird partnership of convenience in which members of the housing lobby have joined hands with militants, like Martinez, who harbor contempt for free markets.

Together they have been working to delegitimize and sideline appraisers in federally backed transactions. These odd bedfellows promote the falsehood that appraisers, rather than socio-economic factors, are responsible for America’s racial wealth gap. This scapegoating is about shooting the messenger. It makes a mockery of actual efforts to narrow the racial wealth gap."

Rest of the article is here.

https://mailchi.mp/e175acd7f69f/not-gone-not-forgotten-who-is-zixta-q-martinez-10899579

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Saturday, May 17, 2025

Villa de Leon Kauffman Estate 17948 Porto Marina in Pacific Palisades by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Villa de Leon, Kauffman Estate, 17948 porto marina, pacific palisades, california, real estate appraiser, anna fuchs, mary cummins, los angeles, getty villa, castellammare, italian revival, leon kauffman, kenneth macdonald Photo: Mary Cummins

Villa de Leon aka Kauffman Estate is located at 17948 Porto Marina, Pacific Palisades, California 90272. The home survived the Palisades fires. I believe it survived because the Fire Department probably thought it was part of the Getty Villa. It does have a cement facade and tile roof but it's not really fire resistant. Brush clearance was very good but the fire and winds were intense.

While I was there I noticed the front door was open. I was worried maybe someone was robbing the place as the owner doesn't live there. You need special permits to get to this area because of the fires. I have one of those permits. I then noticed a lovely lady weeding out front. I said over the fence "You have a beautiful house." She replied "someday it will be." I replied back "it's beautiful already." That was the owner Dr. Anna Rosciszewski Fuchs. She owns it in trust with her father Jan Rosciszewski who passed away in 2022 at the age of 94. I guess everything is relative. This is no denying that this is an amazingly beautiful home.

Villa Leon was built in 1926 for Austrian investor Leon Kauffman and his wife. It was designed by architect Kenneth MacDonald. It's currently a 35-room, 10,277 sq ft mansion in the Italian Revival style. The home was listed for sale at $14,995,000 and sold for $10,000,000 to the present day owners in 2005. Below original building permit says it has 18 rooms. It's 104' x 83' and 44' tall. It has a basement and three upper levels. Parking is underground. It is the Castle Rock tract lots 12-17. Home is on lot 12. Thomas Guide 630F6. APN 4416-015-062 Alternate addresses 17944, 17948, 17942 W Porto Marina Way. Tax states completed 1927.

Here is the basic plan of the home and property from ladbs.org The land issues are at the front near PCH.

Here are some more photos which I took yesterday.

Front door of Villa Leon 17948 Porto Marina, Pacific Palisades, California by Mary Cummins

Rear of Villa Leon 17948 Porto Marina, Pacific Palisades, California by Mary Cummins

Villa Leon 17948 Porto Marina, Pacific Palisades, California by Mary Cummins

The last MLS listing for property in 2005.

Plat map of property

Old postcards which I am using under the Fair Use of Copyright Act taken from the MLS listing website. These were personal postcards which one is allowed to scan and post.

Old web archive the 2005 listing with lots of photos and a Flash swf video

I turned the MLS swf into a video but it sped up for some reason. It's a photo slideshow.

Below are a few photos from the MLS video from 2005. I am a member of the MLS. These photos are used under the Fair Use of Copyright Act.

https://web.archive.org/web/20060104071653/http://www.portomarinaway.com/

Pages from a 1928 Architectural Digest article about the mansion. Photos are in black and white because 1928.

https://web.archive.org/web/20060716014026/http://www.portomarinaway.com/history/ad/index_001.htm

Text excerpt from a book about the mansion

https://web.archive.org/web/20060713171849/http://www.portomarinaway.com/history/book/index.htm

Embedded Google map.

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Mary Cummins

Friday, May 16, 2025

75% of Lots in Palisades Flats Burn Area are Cleared by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

I'm in the Palisades burn area again today. They're making good progress clearing lots in flats and hillside areas. I'd say 75% of residential lots in flats are cleared. They're clearing lots in Castellammare starting at the bottom near PCH. They had to clear the roads first. The streets where they are clearing homes are one way because of the large trucks. Castellammare is one way today but Porto Marina is two way.

They cleared a lot of ocean side lots on PCH. They should have cleared those first so the debris wouldn't have fallen into the ocean. I believe that debris probably caused the algae to bloom more than normal. That's why we have such a horrible problem with domoic acid and marine mammals this year. So many animals are dying.

I went by Marquez school. They're adding a lot of modular classrooms to the parking and athletic fields. Looks like they're preparing to teach there in the fall.

The green on the burned lots is green hydroseeding. Green hydroseeding post-fire refers to the use of hydroseeding, a technique where a slurry of seeds, water, fertilizer, and mulch is sprayed onto burned areas to promote vegetation growth and soil stabilization. This method is a cost-effective way to revegetate burned land, reduce erosion, and prevent weed invasions. Some look yellow.

#palisadesfire #postfireappraisal #realestateappraiser #marycummins #palisades #losangeles #california @marycumminsrealestateappraiser @mary_cummins

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Attended the Appraisal Institute Women's Initiative (WIN) Committee Meeting today in Pasadena by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Was at the Appraisal Institute Women's Initiative (WIN) Committee get together at Mijares Mexican Restaurant in Pasadena. Thanks, Linda Whittlesey, SRA, Ariana Arredondo, MAI, Jennifer Hsu, MAI, ASA, Appraisal Institute - Southern California Chapter for inviting me. Great to meet other appraisers in person especially the trainees. Nice to talk about recent events and the market. Good seeing Ernie Lopez Chief Appraiser at East West Bank. He gave great advice to the trainees. #SCCAI #AppraisalInstitute #Networking #WINCommitteee #RealEstateAppraisal #marycummins #realestateappraiser

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Thursday, May 8, 2025

Housing Statistics Los Angeles City, County and All TheMLS.com Last 12 Months by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Statistics for all of themls.com which is LA City, LA County and many other cities combined. Closed, Sales Price, Months of Supply, Days on Market, Pending, Active for the last 12 months as of May 7, 2025 only for single family residences. This basically looks like normal seasonal activity. There are about three months of supply which is low, days on market decreasing, new listings increasing slightly, sales prices increasing, active listings increasing slightly. I did these stats because people in other areas were reporting more listings than normal, price drops, fewer closed sales, fewer pendings. That's not happening in Los Angeles overall but I have been noticing it in certain markets.

Higher priced homes are taking longer to sell and have price cuts. Lower priced homes as usual selling more quickly. Condos aren't doing that well. Sales price decreases, price cuts, more time on the market. This is due to increased HOA dues due to increasing reserves, needed repairs and insurance costs. Interest rates and a general unease about the economy also affecting sales negatively.

#themls #marycummins #realestateappraiser #losangeles #california This is the map area of TheMLS https://www.themls.com/vestamapareas/ CLAW MLS isn't as big as CRMLS but it's still a huge area. Just look at the number of listings at the top of each column in the charts below.

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Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Friday, May 16, 2025

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Thursday, May 8, 2025