by cgilles | Feb 22, 2014 | a-South Bay, Blog, Manhattan Beach, South Bay Homes
Manhattan Beach lead the strong rebound in California’s luxury housing market in 2013 as sales of homes costing $1 million or more soared 45% to their highest level in six years. ayres-manhattan-beachAccording to La Jolla based DataQuick, 39,175 homes costing $1 million or more were purchased. Manhattan Beach recorded 439 million plus sales, the most in the state in 2013. Even some undeveloped lots sold for $900,000. Malibu had the most expensive sale in 2013, $74.5 million for an 8 bedroom, 14 bath beachfront estate on almost 5 acres. This was also the most expensive sale in the U.S. at the time and a record for Malibu. In some communities, including Santa Monica, all of the sales last year were $1 million or more according to DataQuick.
by cgilles | Feb 18, 2014 | b-Tips, Blog, New Housing, Real Estate, South Bay Homes
Good news for the South Bay Real Estate Market. Well Fargo has lowered its FICO score standards from 640 to 600. This means that more people can qualify for mortgage loans that do not have perfect credit. You can be pretty sure that other lending institutions will follow the lead of Wells Fargo.
“The goal is to increase access to credit, especially for low- and moderate- income borrowers and first-time home buyers,” said Tom Goyda, a bank spokesman. “These are fully underwritten, fully documented loans, consistent with FHA program guidelines and responsible lending principles.”
by cgilles | Feb 16, 2014 | a-El Segundo, a-Hermosa Beach, a-South Bay, Blog, Redondo Beach, South Bay Homes, Torrance
One of the best kept secrets in the South Bay is Redondo Beach’s Hopkins Wilderness WILDERNESS PARK2Park. This eleven acre camping, picnic and study park is located just where Sepulveda becomes Camino Real in Redondo Beach(see our Map below). It sits high upon the El Segundo Sand Hills. You will find meadows, water streams and ponds housing turtles, crayfish and bullfrogs, Wilderness Park welcomes visitors as well as day and overnight campers (reservation required). WILDERNESS PARK-map
There is no entrance fee for day visitors with the park being open six days a week (closed Wednesday) from 10:00a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily.
This is a great place to take the children to introduce them to Nature. You can even camp over night if you wish. But if you are not that ambition they have wonderful camp site for picnics.
It is worth a trip just to see what is offered at this unique city park and once you do see it , I guarantee you will be back.
by cgilles | Feb 14, 2014 | Events around Los Angeles, Holidays, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day
Fun Things to Do Around Long Beach this weekend
by cgilles | Feb 7, 2014 | a-South Bay, Blog, San Pedro
San Pedro will again host the “Tall Ships Festival” in 2014, scheduled for August 20th thru the 24th. A dozen ships from all over the world are expected to sail into the Port of Los Angeles for the 5 day festivities.ship
The timing of the event will help to showcase the new $40 million dollar addition to San Pedro’s waterfront; the “Downtown Harbor Project” featuring a new harbor and new landscaped town square, still under construction just north of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
More than a quarter million people are expected to turn out for the festivities. A port spokesman said that the port is drawing more and more visitors each year with all of the new activities and events taking place there.
