‘Whether it’s cold or whether it’s hot’ People who wonder why housing is so expensive in Los Angeles overlook one obvious reason: No snow.Yes, it’s raining here today, but on New Year’s Day Los Angelenos and their dogs walked along the beachfront beneath crystal clear blue skies and brilliant afternoon sunshine. Natives wore lightweight jackets while tourists sported shirt sleeves.Yes, a 900-square-foot house built in 1940 costs upwards of $400,000. But no one has to shovel that dirty mushy wet stuff off the driveway and it’s perfectly seasonable to plant snapdragons and daffodils in December.– Marcie Geffner