Glendale is always a good choice… Or maybe more like, the safe choice. If we were to compare it to dating, Glendale is the one you take home to mom and dad. The one who will raise your kids and coach little league. Sure there are sexier options and more exciting locations out there you may want to date aka rent. But when you are sick of all the dating apps (Zillow) and are ready to wife-up… it’s time to settle down in Glendale.

Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Damon’s Steak House
Its proximity to Levi’s jujitsu class and the strength of their mai-tai really make it a top Glendale hotspot. There’s also a huge fish tank that my kids could stare at for a solid 10 minutes before Bo starts hitting the tank and we have to hustle them back to our table. Kitchy and old-school, it’s been around since 1937, with bamboo roofs, fake tropical plants, and a giant wooden canoe suspended over the tables. The crunchy coconut shrimp is a must-try.

Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung in the Galleria is the best thing that has ever happened to the Galleria. I went there the other night with a friend. We sat at the bar, ate soup dumplings, drank sake, and then attempted to hit Cotton On and Zara for our kids’ back-to-school shopping. We were having such a great time that the stores closed before we got there. But at least we got the soup dumplings, right? The restaurant is beautiful and the food is always delicious.

Fish King Seafood
I first went to Fish King because I was planning an oyster-shucking party and McCall’s didn’t have many oysters. The owner of McCall’s told me, “Go to Fish King; that’s where you get the best selection of fish.” When the owner of McCall’s gives you advice, you listen. Fish King does have a wide variety of fresh fish. What I didn’t expect was their to-go menu. You can grab some poke and miso soup for about $10. They also have a great seafood chef’s marketplace for cooking items.

Let’s talk about Glendale itself.
Glendale is its own city. Even though it’s very close to LA, it operates independently with its own city government. This means Glendale handles its own zoning and local services. One of the best things about Glendale is its strong focus on safety—having its own police and fire departments means they can handle emergencies quickly and personally.

Schools
The Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) runs several schools known for their solid academics and fun extracurriculars. Many schools receive high marks for their great teachers and supportive atmosphere. There are also cool programs like advanced classes, arts, STEM, and language immersion.

Ok now the real estate market
Here are the year-to-date stats through July 2024:

• Existing Single-Family Home Sales: 204 (+3% from last year)
• Single-Family Home Median Sales Price: $1.43M
• Active Listings: 43
• Median Days on Market: 17
• Sales to List Price %: 102.4%
• % of Active Listings with Reduced Prices: 23.8%

Here are a few sold highlights in different pockets:

Rossmoyne
1251 Rossmoyne sold in February this year. Rossmoyne is one of the best neighborhoods in Glendale, featuring a mix of architectural styles, including classic Mediterranean Revival and mid-century designs. It has beautiful Spanish homes on tree-lined streets with sidewalks and a strong sense of community. We love Nibley Park in Rossmoyne—it’s great for our small kids and for playing tennis.

Adams Hill
1218 Yale is in Adams Hill, which I sold just under a year ago. Adams Hill has a unique vibe. You get all the benefits of Glendale, like safety and great schools, but you’re also just minutes from NELA, so you still feel connected to the action. The community is tight-knit, and the neighbors are friendly. When I pitch different parts of Glendale, I always say Adams Hill feels very Echo Park Hills—cool, without actually being in LA.

Sparr Heights/Montecito Park
3320 Vickers is right in Montecito Park, next to Sparr Heights. Both neighborhoods are within walking distance of Montrose, where you can stroll down Honolulu Avenue which is frozen in time to the 1950s. There’s a cute old-school toy store, a non-chain bookstore, ice cream, and bowling. This property also harks back to the ’50s,  I love its bones and think it would be an incredible project and family home.

There are many other wonderful pockets of Glendale to explore! Let me know if you know of anyone looking for a new home and would like a guide!