One of the many aspects of what make the Beach Cities of Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo Beach and El Segundo so special is the small town community feel they offer.  Each is different but in general people really enjoy living in these towns and never does it show more than in the holiday season.  Last week kicked it off with the Manhattan Beach holiday walk and pier lighting.  Stores were open and giving out goodies, there were reindeer, carolers, and loads of families.  The Manhattan Beach pier was lit with Christmas trees and the roundhouse building at the end, which houses the aquarium and cafe was lit with it's usual green lights to look like a tree itself. There's just something unique about the smell of Christmas trees and smell of the ocean....welcome to the beach!   Keith Kyle is a... 11/20/2012

I had written long ago about one of the unique places to exercise in Manhattan Beach....sand dune park.  As much of the sand section in Manhattan and Hermosa is actually built upon a sand dune, it seems that one of the few untouched areas became a great place to exercise (and socialize as it turns out).  The park sits on the east side of the hill (dune) that separates the sand section from the tree section.  It's popularity was part of what made it fun, but as it sits in the middle of a neighborhood, it also had consequences.  The park was closed for a time while the tried to come up with a solution that would allow people to use the park but not quite so many at a time as they were using it at all hours and basically irritating the local homeowners and parking was always a challenge.  ... 11/13/2012

Beach Cities - Luxury Home Sales Report for October 2012   Norma (310) 493-8333 October 2012 was a strong month for luxury home sales in Manhattan Beach, CA.  8 Single family homes priced over $2,000,000 closed escrow during the month.  The most expensive sale closed at $7,050,000 for a remodeled home with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms on The Strand. The Beach Cities of Hermosa and Redondo recorded no sales of luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 for the month of October.     11/13/2012

For luxury home buyers wanting it all, the hill section of Manhattan Beach may be the ideal location to call home. According to Keith Kyle, top realtor with South Bay Brokers, "Manhattan Beach hill section real estate offers something that the sand section doesn't....space. While the goal for many home buyers is to live near the ocean and ideally have views of the ocean, the lots sizes closest to the ocean doesn't allow for much, if any, outdoor space. By comparison the lots in the hill section are often far larger, offering luxury home buyers tremendous ocean views, while still allowing for a large home and a large yard." Click here to view the current homes for sale in the hill section of Manhattan Beach. Currently there are 7 active homes for sale ranging from just under a millon dol... 11/13/2012

Best of both worlds united:  Cupcakes Couture & the Manhattan Beach Creamery As some of you know I have written about Cupcakes Couture a while back (http://actvra.in/LD  ) as well as about the Manhattan Beach Creamery (http://actvra.in/CDZ  ) Diane and I were heading to the “old location of Cupcakes Couture and we were so surprised that the establishment was closed, upon further investigation we saw the sign that they moved and consolidated with Manhattan Beach Creamery. We were a bit disappointed not having the intimate environment of the “old” Cupcakes Couture place that is life though. So we immediately headed to the corner and the place was mobbed not all for Cupcakes mind you. This was November and the Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt was flying out the door. Diane and I said we better ke... 11/08/2012

With the low inventory and high demand, the few short sales that appear on the market don't seem to last long. We've tracked the Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach short sale and foreclosure market for the past few years and we are now at a several year low with only two "distressed" sales currently active on the South Bay MLS. In recent months the few short sales and foreclosures in these areas are generally pricing and selling closer to market value. Below are the two current foreclosures, one each in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. The condo in Hermosa Beach is located in the condo/hotel The Beach House Hermosa Beach and is unusual due to it's condo/hotel aspect which only allows owners to stay a total of 90 days a year. This challenge makes financing almost impossible which is par... 11/08/2012

  26 Manhattan Beach single family homes sold during September 2012 of which four were priced over $2,000,000. The most expensive sale was 2812 The Strand. The 3,060 sq. ft. home sold for $6,200,000. The property consists of two, 3 bedroom / 2 bath living spaces (duplex) and as indicated by its address is just steps from the sand and surf. Currently there are 21 luxury single family homes for sale in Manhattan Beach. Twelve single family homes priced over $2,000,000 are currently in escrow. 10/24/2012

While much of the South Bay and Manhattan Beach real estate markets suffer from low inventory and high demand, making it difficult for many buyers to find the right home, Manhattan Village has seen an abundance of listings in the past month.  There are currently 4 homes on the market, 2 of which are court homes and two are town homes.  In addition a plan 5 estate home is soon due to come on the market as well.  In addition there are currently 3 court homes in escrow as well as 2 estate homes, which are actually single family homes located in a different area of Manhattan Village.  Manhattan Village is a gated community in the coastal community of Manhattan Beach and home prices generally range from the low $700,000s to over $2.0M for certain estate homes. The chart below shows the recen... 10/21/2012

As the rest of Southern California continues with the stifling heat, why not cool off and head to the beach?  While in Manhattan Beach come and tour a few of the magnificent homes and who knows....maybe you'll eventually you won't just be visiting.  This weekend offers some great open houses hightlighted by two beautiful oceanfront townhomes in Manhattan Beach at 4114 and 4112 The Strand.  Prices on this weeks open house range from $790,000 for a court home in Manhattan Village to $8.2M for the 8 bedroom Strand home.  Visit our Manhattan Beach MLS listings site to view any and all of these wonderful properties. Day Time Address Description Price Sun. 1-4pm 4 Santa Cruz Ct. 2 BD, + Den, Sharp, Manhattan Village $790,000 Sun. 1-3pm 1357 Voorhees Ave. 3 BD, 1 BA, All Upgraded! $949,900 Sun... 09/21/2012

Norma Toering's Beach Cities Luxury Homes Update - August 2012   - Norma (310) 493-8333 The ever popular beach cities of Manhattan and Hermosa Beach both posted luxury sales over $2,000,000 during the month of August.  Redondo Beach did not post any single family homes priced over $2,000,000. If you are interested in buying a home in the coastal communites of the Greater Los Angeles South Bay give Norma Toering and Team a call to help you find the best buys in the beach communities.  Luxury homes in the beach cities of Los Angeles:     09/08/2012

Real estate agents spend a great deal of time (and money) generating leads. Without leads, a full pipeline and a sphere of influence our business is drier than the Sahara in summer. Without leads we have no one to sell, to close or earn a commission. We are always selling, but when you think about it, isn’t everyone?   We must sell ourselves during a job interview, in our relationships and anytime we go after something we really want. Sometimes it is a simple process, sometimes the selling process is ongoing over a lifetime. Selling is not an embarrassment, it is a necessity of success.   Norma Toering & Team received a referral last week. The genesis of that referral began 20 years ago this month when I dropped my oldest son off at the University of California at San Diego. As luck wo... 09/04/2012

Homes sales report for the Mira Costa neighborhood in Manhattan Beach, California during July 2012. Homes for sale: 13 Homes are listed for sale priced from $799,000 to $2,899,000. Pending sales: 15 Houses are in escrow priced from $750,000 to $2,899,000. July sales: 4 Homes sold during July 2012 in Mira Costa: Address Sale Price Bed/Bath Sq. Feet. Lot Year Built Days Listed 1750 11th St. $1,000,000 4/2 1922 7501 1952 0 1659 3rd St. $1,150,000 4/3 2801 7456 1982 4 1617 Mathews Ave. $1,565,000 5/4 3340 7470 1993 14 1717 9th St. $1,585,000 4/3 3226 7500 1987 22 Homes for sale in the Mira Costa area of Manhattan Beach: 08/26/2012

Homes sales report for the Liberty / Heights neighborhood in Manhattan Beach, California during July 2012. Homes for sale: 5 Homes are available for sale priced from $775,000 to $1,800,000. Pending sales: 6 Houses are in escrow priced from $879,000 to $1,449,000. July sales:  Two homes sold during July 2012: Address Sale Price Bed/Bath Sq. Feet. Lot Year Built Days Listed 1159 Chestnut Ave. $689,000 3/1 1282 4900 1947 11 1420 19th St. $905,000 3/2 1279 7003 1949 6 Homes for sale in the Liberty / Heights area of Manhattan Beach: 08/26/2012

Homes sales report for the Village neighborhood in Manhattan Beach, California during July 2012. Homes for sale: No homes are listed for sale in the Village area. Pending sales: Two houses are in escrow priced at $1,350,000 and $1,400,000. July sales: No homes sold in July 2012: Homes for sale in Manhattan Beach: (See all Manhattan Beach homes)   08/26/2012

No doubt about it, the Manhattan Beach housing market is hot, hot, hot! August 2012 finds only six single family homes for sale in this desirable coastal city priced under the million dollar mark. A home near the sand with a full on ocean view slides into the multi-million dollar category even if it is a fixer.   The beach cities lifestyle is not cheap, but who can put a price on waking to the sound of the surf, glorious sunsets, miles of sand and hiking/biking trails just outside your front door? The energy level in Manhattan Beach is high and in keeping with the home prices–you know you are in a great location with unlimited possibilities for the good life in a prime coastal location in Southern California. 08/26/2012

Manhattan Beach Real Estate Market Summaryand Statistics For August 2012 The Manhattan Beach real estate market continued to gain strengthas home prices and cost per square foot numbers increase. Average price per square foot for Manhattan Beach CA was $800, an increase of 14.4% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Manhattan Beach CA for May 12 to Jul 12 was $1,460,000 based on 152 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 4%, or $55,500,.......MORE http://www.manhattanbeachblogs.com/2012/08/23/manhattan-beach-real-estate-market-report-august-2012/   08/23/2012

Beach Cities Luxury Home Sales - July 2012 Update  Norma (310) 493-8333 July was a banner month for luxury home sales in Manhattan and Hermosa Beach.  What better time to shop for a home on or near the beach than during this glorious summer we're having in Southern California?  08/17/2012

Homes sales report for the Hill Section in Manhattan Beach, California during June 2012. Homes for sale: 9 Homes are listed for sale priced from $1,549,900 to $9,995,000. Pending sales: 4 Houses are in escrow in the Hill Section priced from $1,000,000 to $4,575,000. June sales: Three homes sold during June 2012: Address Sale Price Bed/Bath Sq. Feet. Lot Year Built Days Listed 1026 1st St. $1,350,000 3/2 2100 4806 1949 95 510 Poinsettia Ave. $3,425,000 5/5 4305 6501 2002 128 230 Anderson St. $3,950,000 4/5 6135 6500 2005 360 Homes for sale in the Hill Section of Manhattan Beach: 07/29/2012

42 Single family homes sold in Manhattan Beach during the month of June. The high and low home sale prices for this beach city were $5,850,000 for a five bedroom home on 5th Street and $725,000 for a two bedroom home also on 5th Street. Are sales up? Based on the number of homes sold last year during the same time frame the answer is no, but sales in 2011 were already robust in Manhattan Beach.  Sales for single family homes in Manhattan Beach during June 2011 totaled 45.  Available inventory remains low in Manhattan Beach as it does throughout the South Bay. If your personal timing indicates it is time to sell your Manhattan Beach home the local housing market is ready to receive fresh inventory with open arms and willing buyers. 07/29/2012

I'm often asked just what makes South Bay real estate so expensive?  Well sunsets like this in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach are certainly part of the reason.  Ahh the price of paradise......   Just another typical July night in Hermosa Beach.  This is a view north looking towards Manhattan Beach and the Manhattan Beach pier.  Imagine this being your nightly view which is the reality for the ocean front homes of The Strand and Esplanade in Redondo Beach. 07/26/2012