Blog
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. Read More
There is one thing about living or visiting the South Bay area of Los Angeles and that is the fact that there is never a dull moment or wasted time looking for something interesting to do. Whether you are an adult or child, or in between, you will find something that is of great interest to you in the South Bay. Three of the most popular places to visit is the Manhattan Beach Pier, Redondo Beach Pier and the Hermosa Beach Pier. Lots of great places to eat, drink, shop and go fishing if you wish to. Visit the "Strand", our own private beach freeway that you can walk on, jog on, bike on, skate on and it goes all the way from Will Rogers State Beach, down to Torrance County Beach near Palos Verdes Cliffs. Plenty of bike rentals, skate rentals along the entire Strand. The Strand will terminate just north of Playa Del Rey at Ballona Creek but continues on north on the north side of Ballona Creek. Take a bike or auto cruise around the Palos Verdes Peninsula on Palos Verdes Drive West. Here you can take your time and wind around the beautiful hills overlooking the ocean and ultimately end up in San Pedro on the east side of Palos Verdes. Look across the Santa Monica Bay to Catalina Island, then when you get to San Pedro, you can cross the bridge and go to the Santa Catalina Island Boat terminal in Long Beach and get tickets to visit the island for more good times. Read More
I had the opportunity to tour CLEOPATRA : The Exhibition at the California Science Center near USC. 13,000 Sf of dramatic displays, the largest collection of Cleopatra-era artisans from Eqypt come alive! Cleopatra became the Queen of Eygpt in 51 B.C. at only seventeen years... Read More
Since home prices began falling a few years back, property appraisals have also been plummeting. Appraisal complaints have been rising steadily throughout the industry. Buyers and Sellers need to know that Real Estate Appraisers just report what the market is, they do not make or influence the market. Appraisals can come in low for a variety of reasons.You need to understand that appraisals are based on closed sales for a comparable home or property. A low appraisal can prevent you from buying or selling a home at the price you have negotiated or planned on. If the appraisal comes in really low, the buyer has the option of increasing the down payment to lower the total loan amount. A buyer can also use a low appraisal to re negotiate a lower price. Both buyers and sellers should do their research on values in their neighborhood. The sellers should always clue in the appraiser on recent sales and on any special features that might influence the appraisal, like improvements or special materials that make the property more valuable. The sellers should also be present when the appraisal is being done. Even when all of the above has been taken into account, some appraisals still come in short. The buyer usually pays for the appraisal and the buyer has the right to ask for another appraisal if the buyer isn't happy with the results of the first appraisal. Also, the appraiser should be a local appraiser so they are aware of the market conditions of the area. Read More
The City of Torrance Presents the 53rd Annual Armed Forces Day Parade May 19, 2012. Sat May 19 at 1:30 PM Over the years, the dedicated servicemen and women of the American military have insured that our freedom... Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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 Read More