JOURNAL

Field notes from
California real estate.

Analysis and field-tested advice from our agents. No SEO fluff, no listicles — just what we'd tell a friend over coffee.

FEATURED · Neighborhood Guide

Studio City: sushi row, canyon trails, and three billion-dollar bets on the neighborhood

The studio lot that named the neighborhood is modernizing, 520 apartments are coming to Sportsmen's Lodge, and Carpenter Charter keeps anchoring demand. The short version of our Studio City field guide.

By Newmarket Edge · July 12, 2026 · 4 min read

Neighborhood Guide

Silver Lake: reservoir views, modernist pedigree, and a park plan worth watching

Hillside character homes around the reservoir, one of LA's best eating streets, and a 116-acre park master plan with no construction date. The short version of our Silver Lake field guide.

Newmarket Edge · July 12, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Sherman Oaks: where the Valley meets the Westside — and a subway is finally coming

Boulevard walkability, hillside quiet, and Metro's just-approved Sepulveda heavy-rail line with a Sherman Oaks station. The short version of our Sherman Oaks field guide.

Newmarket Edge · July 12, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Pasadena: Craftsman capital, its own school district, and the world's longest light-rail line

Gamble House pedigree, a walkable Old Town, the A Line's new reach, and the market pressure from the Eaton Fire rebuild next door. The short version of our Pasadena field guide.

Newmarket Edge · July 12, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Culver City: the studio town with an A-rated school district and a 4,500-unit housing pipeline

Its own school district, a walkable revived downtown, an E Line stop, and employment anchored by Sony, Amazon MGM, and Apple's 2026 campus. The short version of our Culver City field guide.

Newmarket Edge · July 12, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Hollywood, decoded: eight sub-areas, one global name, and what's really moving the market

The most recognized neighborhood name in the world is also one of LA's most misunderstood real estate markets. Here's the short version of our Hollywood field guide — and a link to the full one.

Newmarket Edge · July 7, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Woodland Hills is becoming the unexpected urban core of the western Valley

Oak trees and quiet streets, fifteen minutes from one of the largest sports and entertainment complexes on the west coast. Here's the short version of our Woodland Hills field guide.

Newmarket Edge · May 17, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

West Hills: the quieter, larger-lot alternative when Calabasas prices out

Wider streets, larger lots, and traditional Valley living against the Santa Susana foothills — without the Calabasas price tag. The short version of our West Hills field guide.

Newmarket Edge · May 17, 2026 · 3 min

Neighborhood Guide

Calabasas, decoded: home values, schools, and what's quietly moving the market

Fewer than 25,000 residents, but it punches far above its weight on home values and school quality. Here's the short version of our Calabasas field guide — and a link to the full one.

Newmarket Edge · May 17, 2026 · 4 min

Neighborhood Guide

Agoura Hills: top schools, a rural edge, and a world-first wildlife crossing

A true bedroom community straddling LA and Ventura counties, with some of the strongest public schools in the area — and the world's largest wildlife bridge rising over the 101. The short version of our Agoura Hills field guide.

Newmarket Edge · May 17, 2026 · 4 min

California Tax

The Prop 19 clock that almost nobody is talking about

If you inherited a California home before April 1, 2021 — and you're sitting on it — the math has quietly shifted under you. Here's what the next decision really costs.

Eric Plotkin · May 9, 2026 · 6 min

Buyer Strategy

Rent vs. buy in 2026 LA: the math has changed (again)

Mortgage rates are settling, rents have plateaued, and the calculator that worked in 2022 doesn't tell the truth anymore. Here's what the real breakeven looks like for an LA renter today.

De'Andre Willis · May 7, 2026 · 5 min

Seller Strategy

What a great listing photo actually costs you in 2026

After more than a decade and 150+ closings, I can tell you exactly how much a real photographer is worth and exactly where the diminishing returns kick in. Here's the rule.

Eric Plotkin · May 3, 2026 · 4 min