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The Forgotten Hollywood Relic Hidden in Runyon Canyon
You're hiking along a dusty trail in Runyon Canyon, the sun high overhead, when something unusual catches your eye—rusted metal, partially buried in the dirt. Most people wouldn’t think twice about it, but you pause. Turns out, these broken, rusted remnants are all that's left of a giant, glowing Hollywood relic: the Outpost Sign. A Forgotten Hollywood Landmark Picture this—it's the late 1920s. Hollywood is booming. Silent films are making way for "talkies," and the town is exploding with stars, directors, and ambitious real estate developers. One of those guys, Charles E. Toberman, had a vision: a luxury neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills called Outpost Estates. And what better way to advertise than with a massive neon sign? This wasn’t just any sign. It was 30 feet tall, glowing red, and stretched across the mountainside—big enough to rival the famous Hollywoodland sign (which would later become the Hollywood Sign we know today). At night, the letters blazed in neon, announcing the grandeur of the neighborhood to all of Los Angeles. The Lights Go Out The Outpost Sign lit up the hills for years, but then came World War II. The city enforced blackout regulations to prevent potential enemy bombers from spotting Los Angeles at night. The Outpost sign? Switched off. And just like that, the biggest neon sign in America at the time went dark. It never came back on. Over time, it was dismantled, piece by piece. Nature took over, and the sign was forgotten—except for a few rusted remains, scattered like a lost artifact from Hollywood’s golden era. The Hidden Remains Fast forward to today. Hikers in Runyon Canyon have stumbled upon chunks of old metal, tangled in the brush, half-buried in the dirt. You wouldn’t know it unless you were looking, but these are the last surviving pieces of that legendary Outpost sign. They’re beaten up. Rusted. Almost ghostly. But they’re still here—silent witnesses to Hollywood’s past. So, next time you’re huffing up Runyon, sweating under the California sun, keep your eyes peeled. You might just find a piece of forgotten Hollywood history rusting away under your feet.
Mansion Tax Lawsuit
There is hope that the Mansion TAX in Los Angeles will be overturned in this court challenge by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. For Inquiries Contact me now! +1 323-377-4961 johnmatukas63@gmail.com www.ezlamove.com
2024 Real Estate Year in Review Nation Wide
The data for 2024 is in, and once again, the housing market has taken many by surprise. As we move into 2025, two major trends have caught my attention. First, let's talk about affordability. Home prices rose a few more percent nationally by the end of 2024, and mortgage rates have hit their highest point in seven months, now exceeding 7% as we approach January. This means the typical mortgage payment for home buyers is starting 2025 at an unprecedented level of $2,290 for the beginning of the year. In recent months, the market experienced some sales growth compared to the previous year. However, this growth could be at risk if mortgage rates remain high through the first quarter. Homes are already spending 20% more time on the market compared to last year, underscoring the impact of affordability. The quickest way to address affordability issues is through a shift in interest rates. The second trend to observe is the potential increase in sellers entering the market in 2025. One of the BIGGEST factors in lack of inventory is many sellers do not want to upgrade to another home and give up an interest rate of 3% when they purchased just a few years ago. Over the past three years, following the pandemic, the market has seen a scarcity of sellers, with only 60,000 new listings per week compared to 80,000 in previous years. However, there are emerging signs that seller activity may be returning to normal levels.