WeekendLetter

• Sat2 to 3 PM

  Armory Center for the Arts · 145 N. Raymond Ave.

  Last day of all the ways to hold tender this land, four artists thinking about land, memory and repair in the wake of the Eaton Fire. The curator leads a free walkthrough; RSVP is recommended. Admission is always free.

• Sat5 to 9 PM

  Gold Bug · 38 E. Holly St.

  The shop turns 19 with an art installation and a mentalist in the parlor room. Mark Gibson's short shows are by donation, and the proceeds go to his family's rebuild in Altadena after the fire.

• Sat8 PM

  UCLA hosts Purdue at the Rose Bowl

  If you live near the Arroyo, plan around evening traffic. Rideshare drop-off is not allowed at the stadium; the shuttle runs from the Parsons lot in Old Pasadena, where parking is $24.

• Sun10 to 11 AM

  One Colorado · 35 Hugus Alley, Suite 200

  A free sound bath with guided breathwork and live cello, upstairs from the courtyard. Bring a blanket.

On Wednesday, September 16, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by a quarter point, to a range of 3.75% to 4%. The vote was unanimous, and the committee's own projections leave room for another increase this year. The next decision is October 28.

The Fed does not set mortgage rates, but mortgage rates listen to it. Freddie Mac's weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 6.95% on Thursday, up from 6.76% a week earlier and 6.26% a year ago. The 15-year averaged 6.26%.

If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, nothing about your payment changed this week. If you have a home equity line of credit, it is worth a look at the next statement: most HELOCs float with the prime rate, which usually moves with the Fed.

Read together, these describe a market that is still active but less forgiving. About half of Pasadena homes sold above their asking price in August, while one in four listings needed a price cut along the way. In a market like this, the starting price does a lot of the work.

A citywide median blends Linda Vista and Lamanda Park into a single number. Your own street may tell a different story, and that is usually the more interesting one.

• Oct 15Insurance

  FAIR Plan rates go up

  The California FAIR Plan's approved average increase of 29.1% applies to dwelling policies written or renewed on or after October 15. It arrives on your own renewal date, not all at once, and it varies by property: homes with more wildfire exposure see more. If your premium is paid through your mortgage escrow, a higher premium can raise the monthly payment at the next escrow review.

• Oct 31Rental owners

  Pasadena rental registration closes

  If you own rental property in Pasadena, the city's 2026 registration cycle opened September 1 and runs through October 31. The Rent Stabilization Department lists which units are covered.

• Nov 1Property tax

  First property tax installment due

  LA County mails the annual secured property tax bills in October. The first installment is due November 1 and becomes late after the close of business on December 10.

• Nov 30Assessment

  Last day to request a Decline-in-Value review

  If your home's market value on January 1, 2026 was below its assessed value, you can ask the LA County Assessor for a temporary reduction. The review is free and uses form RP-87. It matters most for recent buyers: Prop 13 caps yearly increases in assessed value at 2%, so owners who bought long ago usually sit well below market.

Before the fall wind season, walk the five feet around your house. Dry leaves, bark mulch, stacked firewood, a wooden bench against the wall: anything that burns and sits that close is where embers catch. Clear under the deck too, and check that the vents still have their mesh screens.

It is good for the house, and it can count for the premium. These items are on the FAIR Plan's list of wildfire discounts, twelve in all, which together can take up to 16.4% off the wildfire portion of a dwelling policy. Private insurers offer their own versions under California's Safer from Wildfires rules. Your broker can tell you which ones you already qualify for.

Most of us drive Colorado Boulevard as an ordinary local street, on the way to groceries or the freeway. This year the street carries more history than usual: two anniversaries of the road, and one of the city around it.

The Pasadena Museum of History tells the story in Where History Meets the Road, on view through January 24, 2027. 470 W. Walnut St., Thursday to Sunday, noon to 5. Admission $9, free under 18, free parking.