by cgilles | May 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
Today, the City of San Pedro is a quiet bedroom community that sits overlooking the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach at the south east side of the Palos Verdes hills. Because it is located beside the blue Pacific Ocean, with it’s own ambiance and unique personality, people are drawn to the community due to its somewhat convenient location to downtown Long Beach, and to strategic areas of Los Angeles. The San Pedro real estate properties are diverse for sure and consist mostly of older single family homes down closer to San Pedro’s downtown area, and newer condo complexes, large estate type homes in the quiet neighborhoods located on the hillsides overlooking the town and the harbors. Some land parcels are still available for development, as well as many upscale town homes. Much of the area of the community is overlooking the harbors and is made up of these diverse residential neighborhoods. Residential properties are priced according to age, size, type, location, amenities, etc., and range in price starting from about $200,000 and go up well over the $2m mark or higher for some of the bigger estate sized homes in the hills.
In years gone by, San Pedro was a wild sort of town, with plenty of U.S. Navy Sailors, whorehouses, hookers, bars and booze. The community has changed over the years to what is today; a more refined and upstanding proud community of middle class Americans, living in a quiet peaceful setting and enjoying life to the fullest.
There is plenty of action and things to keep you busy when visiting the town, including Ports O’ Call, a village designed in New England style. Numerous restaurants, cafes, chic shops, many ‘one of a kind’ type shops, national brand retail outlets, entertainment, night clubs, bars and other conveniences that you can find in a modern city. You can take boat excursions around the bay, day trips to Catalina Island, or helicopter tours that go all over Southern California, depending on the time of year. There are also several museums and numerous historic landmarks to visit. Because of its great location at the end of the Harbor (110) Freeway, you are just minutes and a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Malibu, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium and all famous Los Angeles and Southern California attractions.
by cgilles | May 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
n the city of Torrance located near Maple Avenue and Sepulveda Blvd. is the community of New Horizons-Southbay. The several hundred condo complex is situated on an over-sized piece of property and includes a 9 hole golf course, 2 pools, wood working shop, ceramic (kilns) shop, a full gym with facilities for men and women, tennis courts, billiard room, and more.
This complex was built in the early 1960s and is boasted as the first planned California Condominium Complex. Another similar complex was built at the same time just north of Santa Barbara. This is a 55+ Senior Community with all modern amenities, a clubhouse featuring a large kitchen, auditorium, library, and several card rooms. The property is absolutely beautiful with plenty of walking trails and sidewalks that meander through the two story and bungalow buildings. The units are 1,2,3 bedrooms and most have 1 1/2 baths. Some units even have 2 garages, but all have at least 1 enclosed garage space. The entire facility is all electric. Walking around this large neighborhood reminds one of being in one of the beautiful condo complexes in Palm Springs.
The complex is operated by a HOA, managed by the homeowners themselves. There is much pride in both the community and in the way the complex is managed by volunteer homeowners themselves. There are condos available for sale or for lease from time to time, but not many people want to move once settled down here.
by cgilles | Feb 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
If you listen carefully, people are still in conversation as to why they wish to get involved in the South Bay real estate market and eventually buy a home.
The #1 reason is still the fact they want to own the place they live in. And, they just want to be a homeowner. The tax considerations, growing equity over time and being able to renovate and remodel to their tastes or as they see fit, is part of being a homeowner. Even after the few bad years in the real estate market that we have all experienced, the vast majority of people want to invest in their own place to live.
The #2 reason is that many want to buy now and then move later. This is a partially market-based sentiment, of course, as the rationale for buying right now is that prices and interest rates are low.
The #3 reason is that they don’t want to have to move anymore. Many people bought homes at the top of the market and many ended up selling the home for less than they bought it for, and of course, many went underwater and lost the home to foreclosure. Loss of jobs, re-location and other reasons, including rising gasoline prices and prices of other items did not help the situation.
This all proves that owning real estate, especially the home you live in is still an American dream that lives on and on
by cgilles | Jan 26, 2012 | Uncategorized
One of the best kept secrets in the South Bay is the Hollywood Riviera section of Torrance and the ‘way back’ connection to Hollywood. Homes in the area are located on the slopes of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and many have incomparable coastline views. There are 180-degree views that can include the ocean, beaches, mountains and city lights of numerous cities across the Los Angeles basin! This is the city of Torrance, but it’s zip code is that of Redondo Beach. The area is located between Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes Estates and extends the city boundaries to the ocean where the County owns and operates a lifeguard tower and a parking lot at the shoreline. The residents of Hollywood Riviera are part of the award winning Torrance school district.
Hollywood.jpgAerial view of the Hollywood Riviera Beach Club taken on July 27, 1930.
Back when the original developer first had the thought about building homes in the area now called Hollywood Riviera, his idea was to get the then Hollywood trend setters and stars to consider this area to live in and grow from there.
Today, the ‘Riviera’ has wonderful older traditional single family homes, condominiums, town homes, and even some apartments, especially down the hill closer to PCH and to the beach south of Riviera Village. Riviera Village has retail shops, specialty shops, restaurants, coffee cafes, grocery stores, medical and professional services and other offices and services.
In summary, there are Hollywood Rivera homes with spectacular ocean views, and homes that are situated on hilly, quiet rural-like streets. Housing prices will vary according to location, size, age, etc., and offer prices to fit just about all budgets. There is something for everyone in the Hollywood Riviera, including peace, privacy and much seclusion if that is what you are looking for in a home.
by cgilles | Nov 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
Hermosa Beach is only 15 blocks wide, east to west, and 40 blocks long, north to south with Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) running almost right down the middle. Hermosa means “beautiful” in Spanish, and Hermosa Beach is just that, a beautiful little city. It has flat, sandy beaches that are ideal for sunbathing, volleyball and surfing. The beach here tends to be wide and great for sand sports. The Travel Channel has named Hermosa Beach as “one of the Top 10 Beaches” in Southern California. The Hermosa Beach pier is located at the end of Pier Ave. and has great entertainment options, nightspots, bars, lounges, and restaurants. The residents of Hermosa Beach are living the true California beach lifestyle and lovin’ it.
The housing options in the Hermosa Beach real estate market are diverse with some great real estate bargains available in just about all of the different neighborhoods too.
West of PCH, there are mostly single-family homes with some apartments and condos. East of PCH, on the gradual hilly slopes you will find middle class and upper middle class neighborhoods of more custom type single family homes. There are many multiple housing options in this area also. Hermosa Beach real estate options consist of single-family detached homes for sale, estate properties, condominiums, foreclosures, land and townhouses near the beach. Hermosa Beach is a beautiful place to live, work and raise a family. There are residences on the Strand, bungalows scattered throughout the town, and multilevel homes in the hills with ocean views. Hermosa Beach offers a variety of Southern California options for any lifestyle.
There are many corporations and various industries in Hermosa Beach including professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services, educational, health and social services, manufacturing, information technology, finance, insurance, real estate and rental, and leasing, and of course beach and surfing related businesses.
by cgilles | Nov 11, 2011 | Holidays, Redondo Beach, Uncategorized, Veteran's Day
Today is the day that we Honor our Veterans — Those men & women who have chosen to defend our country; many who have sacrificed their lives. To all who have served … THANK YOU! “When you stand to pledge allegiance, when you hit your knees to...
