Carol Gilles Realtor
Beach Cities Online — Your Trusted South Bay Real Estate Resource Led by award-winning Realtor® Carol Gilles, Beach Cities Online is your one-stop destination for buying or selling homes across Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, and the greater South Bay area of Los Angeles.
With decades of local expertise, Carol helps buyers find their dream homes and sellers maximize their property value through personalized service, deep neighborhood knowledge, and proven results. Explore the latest MLS listings, discover detailed community guides, and get expert insights into the dynamic South Bay real estate market.
Whether you’re searching for a beachfront property in Redondo Beach, a family home in Central Torrance, or downsizing in Palos Verdes Estates, Carol Gilles and her team are here to guide you every step of the way.
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Testimonials
Don & Sherri Wright
Carol Gilles is the most amazing realtor we have ever met in our lifetime! She has been helping us buy and sell property for many years. Whether you’re looking for an investment, A forever home or just curious about the market Carol should be your first go to! Carol is a knowledgeable, intelligent, professional, caring, understanding and kind hearted! She will fight for you! We bought our Forever home when the market was extremely competitive and there were at least 12 offers per home. The market for homes by the beach are always very competitive, but at the time we were buying it was more competitive then usual! We got our home because she was quick, efficient and made it happen.Carol Is Dedicated to Helping You Check All The Boxes
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Find your dream home with our personalized search and expert guidance. We offer a wide range of houses to fit your needs and lifestyle.
Condominiums
Discover comfortable and convenient condos in prime locations. We have options that suit your budget and preferences.
Multi-Unit Investments
Explore multi-family properties perfect for investment. Our listings provide diverse options to meet your specific requirements.
Real Estate Articles
New Horizons-South Bay-Torrance Best Kept Secret
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.
Tips on Ways to Squeeze More Miles From That Tank of Gas.
Most of us know these tips already, but forget some of them from time to time.
Keep your air filter clean and change it on a regular basis.
Change you cars oil according to the owners manual.
Check the fan belt. Is it too tight or too loose? This can affect your mileage.
Change your spark plugs regularly according to the owners manual. Worn plugs can make your car get less miles per gallon.
Try driving your lighter car. Heavy cars get worse mileage.
Only use the Air Condition when necessary.
Using your cruise control can increase mileage.
Don’t warm up your car. It isn’t needed and it will cost you money.
Check your tire pressure and keep the tires inflated according to the owners manual.
Reasons To Stage Your Home For Sale
If you’ve been thinking of selling your investment house or your South Bay home, you should make sure that you take full advantage of home staging trends. One of the best things about staged homes is that they sell in less time. Staged homes also sell for more money. A staged exterior will also draw viewers. Once a buyer has stepped inside of the home, he will know within a matter of seconds whether or not he likes the home. Staging the living rooms and kitchens will also help to sell the home. Staged homes will also attract more real estate agents and get more advertising as well. There’s no other way to look at it, other than staged homes sell. They attract more buyers, more real estate agents, and they give people the feeling of home. When you go out of your way to make the buyer feel that your home is his dream home, he will know it.
Buying Unfinished Homes
Unfinished homes present a great way to save a lot of money and get yourself a new home in the process. If the El Segundo home you are looking at has plans for a garage, you can save thousands if you decide not to go with the garage. Unfinished homes may have other planned on additions as well, in which you can save a lot of money just by leaving them out.
Always try to talk to the builder if possible and share your ideas of what to complete and what not to complete. If you are planning to get a mortgage, most banks will need to ensure that the home is up to local codes and in living condition. If the home is lacking quite a bit in terms of being unfinished, most banks won’t give you a mortgage. Most banks are also known to turn down unfinished home mortgages that they feel will have trouble selling in the event that you default. Banks have strict requirements when it comes to unfinished homes, which is why you should always check with your bank before you invest in an unfinished home. In most cases you can save a lot of money and still get a home that will provide years and years of memories for yourself and your entire family.
South Bay Real Estate is Like No Other
We all know that the South Bay area includes many beach cities and several inland towns and communities. Each community and city in the South Bay is unique in its own way and has something different to offer in the way of life style and atmosphere.
The South Bay has some of the most beautiful and user friendly beaches along our magnificent Pacific Coast. Bicycling, Walking, Jogging, Hiking, Surfing, Sailing and people watching make the South Bay a tourists delight for sure.
The South Bay is close to LAX, Downtown Los Angeles and the Entertainment Capital of the world, and having this great location that we have, puts us in a unique situation not only to live in but for the 1000s of annual visitors.
The South Bay cities have award winning schools, great restaurants, cafes and coffee houses. Just about all areas of the South Bay are family oriented, with plenty of wholesome activities and entertainment, including our world famous beaches in Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo Beach, Torrance Beach, San Pedro too. The South Bay is also diverse in many ways, including the South Bay homes, employment centers, activities and its people
Small Homes are Now In – No – Out Again
Today’s new home buyers may surprise all of us, because preferences regarding buying a home is changing. This comes directly from the International Builders Show held in Orlando in February, this year. We all though that home size were going to get smaller, but the experts say different.
New homes are being built with more amenities. More houses built in 2011 had four or more bedrooms, three or more bathrooms, three-car garages, finished basements, patios, and two stories. Maybe we are just getting a clearer picture of what the qualified buyers are looking for. Many people are out of the credit market for awhile due to the last few years of recession and depressed real estate market. So the answer now is: “Who is able to buy”?
In the much tightened lending environment of the last few years, buyers have had to be “superstar” qualifiers, with at least 20 percent down, a high credit score, well-documented income, and proof of established employment history.This type of credit situation has left many buyers, especially first time buyers out of the “Home Buying Equation”. The real estate pendulum swung to first time buyers with various tax credits, etc., now its swinging back to the established real estate buyers and they want it all, few downsizing. Builders build homes based on what the market demands. In the last few years many South Bay home buyers said that they may be downsizing, but look forward to either buying a much bigger home or building one soon.
