Studio City Blog

Volunteer with us

As you know, the SCRA is an all volunteer organization that depends on its’ many members for support both financially and physically. We always welcome persons who appreciate what we do. If you wish to give back to your community, as so many of our volunteers do, please contact us.

We need both leaders with ideas and workers with just a few hours to donate to our worthy causes. Our committees can always use help with mailings, office work, and filing.  If you have more time, you might want to contribute by sitting on one of our standing committees such as Beautification, Golf & Tennis, Planning & Land Use, or History Project. Just email us or call our office at 818-509-0230.  Leave your name and phone number and someone will return your call and answer your questions as soon as possible.


Community Volunteering Opportunities

Holiday Parade Volunteers
The Studio City Residents Association has stepped up to become the host for the 2009 Studio City Holiday Parade in order to keep this special event alive for residents across Studio City.  "Studio City Holiday Parade: Stars Shine Bright" will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2009.  The SCRA needs volunteers to help make the parade a reality.  If you would like to volunteer for the parade committee to just to help the day of the event, please contact our parade coordinator, Ann Husvar, at 818-990-0722 or by emailing StudioCityHolidayParade@gmail.com.


We need an Event Organizer
The SCRA board wants to continue the very popular "Concerts In the Park" and is looking for a volunteer to chair the committee and organize three summer concerts. The event structure is already in place and the new chair will be guided by prior organizers. Please call the SCRA office at 818-509-0230 or e-mail us.

Pay Station Parking Meters on Ventura Blvd.
The Studio City Residents Association and its members are trying to get the enforcement times changed for the parking meters on Ventura Boulevard.  We are asking the city to reduce the hours from 8AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and go back to free parking on Sundays and Holidays.  Please support this cause by calling or emailing Councilwoman Wendy Greuel:

Council District Valley office number 818-755-7676 - Fax 818-755-7862 or e-mail Greuel@COUNCIL.LACITY.ORG

Investing in Studio City real estate is a sound decision. The houses are attractive, they are available at affordable prices and the neighborhood is great too. You can choose from various Studio City homes for sale – condominiums, single family units, townhouses, condotels, etc. So, how do you choose what kind of Studio City property you can afford to buy? Well, you can start by placing your finances under scrutiny.

Before investing in Studio City real estate, it might be a good idea to secure a pre-qualification from your bank. This will help you know what mortgage rates will apply to you, and know what size down payment you will need to make for any Studio City property. Banks and lenders prefer that, ideally, you use no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income towards housing costs; meaning mortgage, taxes, and insurance.

Another scale you can use to gauge what kind of Studio City houses you can invest in is the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). DTI is calculated by dividing your monthly house payment and/or total liabilities by your income. Usually banks require a DTI limit of 30/45 or lower.

Also, when looking at Studio City homes for sale, remember that you have to prepare for unexpected costs. While a pre-qualification is a good indicator, not everything will always show up on the credit report. Prepare for all kinds of contingencies, and arrange for some extra money for everyday expenses and unexpected demands.

Therefore, before you get serious about looking at Studio City homes for sale, you need to carefully determine your acceptable price range, and take a close look at your likely rate of interest for a mortgage. If you are unprepared with regard to these details, you can miscalculate what you’ll be able to afford, and ultimately jeopardize your transaction.

Buying a house can be complicated, in many ways. There are so many things to be considered and discussed, and each decision has to be reviewed with utmost care. Even so, it is difficult to escape some of the more common mistakes that consumers make when buying houses. Those looking at Studio City real estate also are likely to face these problems, so let’s find out how to deal with these potential issues.

When looking at Studio City homes for sale, you are bound to fall in love with some the very first time you see them. However, don’t let that cloud your judgment. You may find something that looks adorable… exactly like your idea of the perfect house… but you still need to be diligent before you make the final decision to invest in any Studio City property.

While looking at Studio City houses, many people are tempted to buy something bigger and more lavish than their original intention. While a bigger house may appeal to you, are you sure you’ll be able to afford the monthly mortgage and other costs such as moving, furnishing, possible renovation and annual maintenance? You need to cross check your debt-to-income ratio to see what kind of Studio City house you can afford to buy.

When dealing with Studio City realtors, be extremely cautious and wary. Chances are you’ll run into fast talking agents who’ll attempt to confuse you with jargon and intricate details about Studio City houses. Don’t take their word for it. Arm yourself with relevant information so that you can verify all that you’re told about the Studio City real estate market.

Before you start looking at Studio City houses, get yourself pre-qualified for a loan. Consult your bank and lender and find out what you can afford. Order your credit report well in advance, and check your credit rating. If you do not have a favorable credit rating, it might be difficult to get a good finance rate.

Studio City is considered to be one of the more exclusive places in which to live, thanks in part to the prevalence of Hollywood celebrities, and the high class services that are available to its residents. Whatever kind of property you may be looking for, you are sure to find it among the Studio City homes for sale.

So what exactly are your options when it comes to Studio City property? What is it that the Studio City real estate market has to offer you? Well, if you prefer to live in a residential complex then a condominium or a condotel in Studio City might appeal to you. Independent dwelling units are available which come with access to certain common amenities like pools, gymnasiums, and jogging tracks.

Another type of Studio City property that is highly sought after is the vacation home. These are more like getaways or seasonal accommodations, and people who invest in this kind of real estate in Studio City are not looking to make it their primary place of residence.

The most common Studio City property is the single family residence. It is typically built to accommodate one family, and doesn’t include a common area. It is an entirely independent unit and shares no walls with the neighboring properties. These single family residences are among the cheaper properties to finance, and you’ll find no shortage of choices when you look at Studio City homes for sale.

If you want something that combines privacy with a sense of community in Studio City real estate, then a town house may just suit you. No doubt it is a single family dwelling, but it does have common walls with the neighbors. There is open space in front of and behind the property, and like a condominium you have access to a common area such as pool, spa, tennis courts and more. However, the banks consider these Studio City town houses to be single family units; therefore the mortgage financing is more affordable.

With so many options to choose from, it is no wonder that Studio City property and Studio City homes are so much in demand.

The Multiple Listing Services is like a centralized database of practically all the homes that are up for sale not only in Studio City or California, but throughout the whole of the United States. In fact, putting up your house on the MLS gives it maximum exposure, much more than what you’d get from conventional ads and postings.

If you are looking to buy in Studio City, you’d benefit greatly to look up a realtor who’s a member of the Studio City MLS. Not all realtors have access to an MLS. In order to gain access, you need to be a member of a local Board or Association of Realtors, and the NAR or CREA, (the National Association of Realtors in the US or the Canadian Real Estate Association in Canada).

By accessing the Studio City MLS, you’ll be able to look up important details about Studio City homes for sale such as photos, specific location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, special amenities and listing price. With so much relevant information available at your disposal, you can imagine how convenient it can be to hunt for Studio City property.

If you have a house in Studio City and plan to list it on the MLS, we’d like to office a word of advice. Lenders and banks hesitate to finance a house that has been on the MLS in the last six months. However, if you were to list your Studio City property as a ‘for-sale-by-owner’ home, you’d have less trouble when looking to refinance it.