Resources, News
and Blog
This is the journal of Alejandro Espitia: short, plain-language notes on the questions buyers, sellers, and investors ask most. No jargon, no padding, just the honest details that usually get skipped.
Buying a home: your step-by-step roadmap
From pre-approval to the final walkthrough, here is how a home purchase really unfolds, one clear step at a time.
Selling with confidence: getting your home ready
Small, honest preparations that help your home put its best foot forward when buyers walk through the door.
A first look at real estate investing
The fundamentals of rental properties, flips, and long-term holds, written for a thoughtful first step.
Real estate and home mortgage rates in California and Pasadena
A sourced summary report on closed, active, and pending transactions in California, a Pasadena breakdown by property type, and current mortgage rates, refreshed October 29, 2026.
What to do this week in Pasadena, California
A warm guide to Halloween weekend in Pasadena, October 28 through November 1: a free MUSE/IQUE concert at Ambassador Auditorium, Trunk-or-Treat at City Hall, Dia de los Muertos at the Pasadena Conservatory and Villa Parke, Old Pasadena Halloween and the One Colorado Spooktacular, Carved's final nights at Descanso Gardens, and Gustavo the Shy Ghost at the Norton Simon.
What to do this weekend in Pasadena, California
A verified Pasadena Halloween weekend guide for October 31-November 1: UCLA hosting Nevada at the Rose Bowl, Old Pasadena Halloween and the One Colorado Spooktacular, the last day of Halloween at Kidspace, the Pasadena Fall Flea Market, Dia de Muertos at All Saints Church, and Carved’s final nights at Descanso.
Cost of Living in Pasadena, CA
What a Pasadena budget really looks like: home prices, rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation, with every figure labeled and notes on what to verify.
Best Neighborhoods for First-Time Buyers in Pasadena
Where entry-level buyers actually find value in Pasadena, from Madison Heights and Northwest Pasadena to East Washington Village and Hastings Ranch.
Pasadena Property Taxes: What Homeowners Pay
Proposition 13, the 2% assessment cap, Mello-Roos and special assessments, and what a new Pasadena buyer should really budget for the tax bill.
Pasadena School Districts and Schools: A Buyer's Guide
How Pasadena Unified School District assignment and open enrollment work, and the notable elementary, middle, and high schools to know by name.
Pasadena vs. Neighboring Cities: Where Should You Buy?
Pasadena compared with South Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, Glendale, and Arcadia on price, schools, commute, and taxes.
Trending restaurants in Pasadena right now
The Pasadena tables everyone is talking about this October: Mike's Red Tacos opens its first Los Angeles-area location on Del Mar, Levant brings Mediterranean to the Orangewood Center, The Daily Catch lands on East Colorado, Thaim and Dalah add new Thai kitchens, and Love Baked Wings keeps Old Pasadena buzzing.
Live music in Pasadena this fall
The Pasadena Symphony opens its season with Brahms Symphony No. 1 at Ambassador Auditorium on October 24, and K-pop group PLAVE brings its first U.S. show to the Pasadena Civic on November 14, with dates, times, and ticket links.
Newly opened bars in Pasadena to know
Vegan Wine La Cave, the all-vegan French wine bar on Green Street, and Bar Del Mar by Granville, Pasadena's rooftop bar with San Gabriel Mountain views, plus the names topping the hot-new-bars lists.
New Pasadena restaurants to watch this month
A warm guide to the newest Pasadena-area tables this month: Jay Ann Thai Street Food lands in South Pasadena, Milk Brew pours Japanese milk-brew coffee downtown, Nana's Green Tea opens its first California matcha cafe in Old Pasadena, Kissa by Motto brews near South Arroyo, and Cheesesteaks by Matu serves its Wagyu Philly on East Colorado.
Live music in Pasadena this November
Live music in Pasadena this November: Moby and Underworld co-headline an open-air show at Brookside at the Rose Bowl on November 7, the Pasadena Symphony plays Beethoven Symphony No. 7 at Ambassador Auditorium on November 14, and PLAVE returns to the Civic that same night, with dates, times, and ticket links.
Hidden new bars in Pasadena to know this fall
Hidden new bars in Pasadena this fall: The Cellar, an underground wine library beneath Colorado Boulevard, Ladies and Gentlemen, the password-only basement speakeasy, Osa Rooftop above the AC Hotel, plus The Speakeasy and the zero-proof shop Burden of Proof in South Pasadena.
New restaurants around Pasadena to know
New restaurants around Pasadena worth knowing: KazuNori's hand roll bar in Playhouse Village, Lunasia Signature's flagship dim sum room on Colorado, Javier's elevated Mexican at One Colorado, and BESS's natural Italian wines in Sierra Madre.
Free and local live music in Pasadena this month
Free and local live music in Pasadena this month: MUSE/IQUE's free Open House with Brandon Victor Dixon at Ambassador Auditorium on October 28, a free open rehearsal at the Pasadena Conservatory on October 27, punk at Old Towne Pub on October 16, and salsa and bachata at The Mixx.
New cocktail bars in Pasadena to know
New cocktail bars in Pasadena to know: The Dungeon, the hand-painted speakeasy lounge beneath Der Wolf, and 10 1/4, the tiny hidden whiskey bar reached by phone booth inside Freddie's 35er.
The Lock-In Effect: Why California Homeowners Aren't Selling
Why so few California homes are on the market: 76% of owners hold mortgage rates below 5% and are reluctant to give them up, and what the 7.40% rate and 3.7 months of supply mean for buyers and sellers.
New restaurants in Pasadena to know: late October
The newest Pasadena tables this week: WA-IRO, the Japanese bakery and cafe that opened its first U.S. location in Old Pasadena, Kwan Kitchen's Bangkok-style Thai near the Arroyo, and Chak De California's modern Indian on Colorado, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music in Pasadena: Halloween weekend and early November
A sourced guide to the music around Pasadena from Halloween weekend into early November: Old Pasadena Halloween, April Verch at Knox Presbyterian Church, Club 54's costume party, the Pasadena Community Orchestra's free season opener on November 6, and four indie nights at Sid the Cat Auditorium, with dates, times, and links.
New bars around Pasadena to know this month
Newer cocktail addresses around Pasadena this fall: Sid's Bar inside the restored 1928 schoolhouse in South Pasadena, Good Neighbor Bar in Altadena, and Matt Molina's Cannonball, with addresses, hours, and links.
New Pasadena restaurants to know: early November
A warm, sourced guide to the Pasadena tables trending into early November: Madre Maiz Taqueria in East Pasadena, Tosakko Ramen and Yakitori, the first U.S. outpost of a Tokyo ramen brand on Colorado Boulevard, Sichuan Street Food on Green Street, Miopane in Old Pasadena, and Ginjo Ramen, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music in Pasadena: late October into November
A friendly, sourced guide to live music around Pasadena from late October into November: the free Courtyard Collective sessions at Pasadena Commons on Friday evenings, the 31st annual Bach to Broadway concert on October 23, Noche de Live Banda on Colorado, Surprise Chef at Sid the Cat Auditorium on Halloween, and the Pasadena Conservatory concerts in early November, with dates, times, and links.
New bars around Pasadena to know: late October
A warm, sourced guide to the bars around Pasadena worth knowing this late October: Behind Bars, the hidden courtyard speakeasy in Old Pasadena, Bull And Barrel, the whiskey-and-cocktail den inside Alexander's Steakhouse that tops Yelp's hot new bars list, 1881, the revived jazz-and-cocktails club on Washington Boulevard, and The Lucky Tiki in Highland Park, with addresses, hours, and links.
New restaurants around Pasadena to know: late October
New restaurants around Pasadena to know this late October: Bingz Crispy 'Wich brings Beijing-style crispy bing sandwiches to San Gabriel, Mehfil Chai and Coffee pours Baltimore-born karak chai on Lake Avenue, and Lodge Bread Company is poised to open its Pasadena bakery on Lincoln Avenue in early November, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music and shows in Pasadena: mid-to-late November
Live music and shows in Pasadena for mid-to-late November: The Wildwoods at Healing Force of the Universe on October 30, David Sedaris at the Pasadena Civic on November 10, comedy nights at The Ice House, and free concerts at Pasadena Commons and the Conservatory on November 13, with dates, times, and links.
Hot new bars in Pasadena to know: late October
Hot new bars around Pasadena this late October: Bar Betsy, the Altadena cafe-by-day wine bar that the Los Angeles Times named among the best new bars of the summer, plus The Green Room on Mentor Avenue and this week's Yelp hot new bars list, with addresses, hours, and links.
Why the Best Deals Never Hit the MLS
The quietest California deals never reach the MLS. Alejandro sees 500+ off-market properties a month, mostly between $120K and $500K, and shares them first on his VIP Off-Market List.
New and trending restaurants in Pasadena to know
The Pasadena tables worth knowing this week: Deda brings Georgian khinkali and molten khachapuri to the South Lake Avenue district, HiHo Cheeseburger keeps its grass-fed Wagyu line moving on Colorado, and Tierra Caliente cooks family-style Mexican in Old Pasadena, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music in Pasadena: late October to mid-November
Shows around Pasadena from late October into mid-November: Theo Katzman at Sid the Cat on October 29, Heavens to Betsy on November 8, Jake Xerxes Fussell and Kate Nash mid-month, a Candlelight Queen and Beatles tribute on November 13, and salsa nights at The Mixx, with dates, times, and links.
New and trending bars in Pasadena to know
The bars around Pasadena worth knowing right now: Edwin Mills by Equator pours craft cocktails with live jazz in Old Pasadena, Der Wolf keeps the German beer-hall mood on Fair Oaks, and The Raymond 1886 serves its celebrated cocktail program, with addresses, hours, and links.
Fed Holds Rates Steady: What It Means for Pasadena Home Buyers and Sellers
The Fed held interest rates steady on October 28, keeping the federal funds rate at 3.75% to 4.00%. What the flat Fed, mortgage rates near 7.3%, and stable Pasadena home values mean for buyers, sellers, and investors.
Trending restaurants around Pasadena: early November
A warm, sourced guide to the restaurants around Pasadena trending as November begins: Uovo's fresh-egg pasta bar in The Commons on South Lake, Bone Kettle's Southeast Asian bone-broth kitchen in Old Town, and Neighbors & Friends: The Kitchen in South Pasadena, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music in Pasadena: early to mid November
A warm, sourced guide to the shows around Pasadena from early to mid November: mary in the junkyard on November 2, Greg Freeman with Trinity Ace on November 6, IAN SWEET on November 7, Whitmer Thomas on November 11, Sparta on November 12, and Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi on November 13, with dates, times, and links.
New bars around Pasadena to know: early November
A warm, sourced look at the bars around Pasadena worth knowing as November begins: Magnolia House, the craft-cocktail lounge in a century-old craftsman bungalow on South Lake, and Foothill, the East Pasadena restaurant and cocktail bar, plus the names topping the hot-new-bars lists, with addresses, hours, and links.
Trending restaurants around Pasadena: mid November
Restaurants around Pasadena worth knowing as November settles in: Lodge Bread Company opens its fourth bakery on Lincoln Avenue near the Altadena border, Bodegon No 69 keeps surfacing on the hot lists with its Peruvian comfort food in Old Pasadena, and Miya, Altadena's own Thai kitchen that rebuilt after the fire, with addresses, hours, and links.
Live music in Pasadena: late November
Live music and shows around Pasadena in late November: Haley Heynderickx, Patrick Warburton at The Ice House, Brennan Wedl with KCRW, Pedro The Lion, Passing Strange at the Playhouse, Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas, and Spanish Love Songs with illuminati hotties and Kali Masi, with dates, times, and links.
New bars around Pasadena to know: mid November
Where Pasadena is drinking this month: The Ice House's new bar, patio, and VIP lounge in its fully restored comedy club, and The 1894, the wine bar inside Vroman's with hyper-local beer and literature-inspired cocktails, plus the names topping the current cocktail rankings, with addresses, hours, and links.
More from Find Homes & Loans
Fresh picks from the Find Homes & Loans library: new bars and restaurants around Pasadena, live music, neighborhood spotlights, and buyer guides. Every link opens in a new tab.
Bars & Nightlife
Bar Betsy and the Newest Bars Around Pasadena
Bars to Know Around Pasadena: Rooftops and Speakeasies
New and Reopened Bars Around Pasadena: Fall 2026
New Bars Around Pasadena: Bacari and Cannonball
New Bars Around Pasadena: La Cave Dungeon
New Bars Around Pasadena: October 2026
New Bars Around Pasadena to Know This Fall
Newly Opened Bars in Pasadena, California
Restaurants
New and Trending Pasadena Restaurants: Fall 2026
New Pasadena Restaurants to Watch: Early November 2026
New Pasadena Restaurants to Watch: Early October 2026
New Pasadena Restaurants to Watch: Late October 2026
New Pasadena Restaurants to Watch: Late September 2026
New Pasadena Restaurants to Watch: Mid-November 2026
Trending Pasadena Restaurants: Late September to October 2026
Trending Restaurants in Pasadena, California
Live Music
Live Music in Pasadena, California: December 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: Early October 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: Late October 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: Late October to November 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: Late September 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: Mid-November 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: November to December 2026
Live Music in Pasadena, California: October 2026
Neighborhood Guides
Notes gathered under a big, warm sky