Blog
Many visitors to the SouthBay (and some locals) are not aware of the beautiful homes available in the Manhattan Village section of Manhattan Beach, at Marine Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd.(PCH). There are estate homes, town homes and court type homes. The Village is beautifully landscaped and... Read More
Unless you are looking for a single family home, or a home in a particular area like the beach, Torrance has a selection of senior housing like no where else. Condos, town homes, and beautiful apartments are just waiting for discriminating senior to come and experience the new and... Read More
Most people look at corner lots as a plus, however even though you might get a bigger sized lot for the same price, it might not be what you want in the long run. There is more upkeep and maintenance as the total front yard area is usually much bigger. On the other hand look at this Torrance Home for sale, It sits perfectly on a corner lot on Maple Ave. There can be the problem of people using the sidewalks on either side and then cutting across the yard. Traffic noise could be much higher due to having a home basically on two different streets, however if there is stop signs then it might be less. Corner lots are not preferred by people who have young children as they usually would rather have larger backyards for the kids to play in. You could have more parking on a corner lot. The lot is much larger. You would only have one neighbor on the front side instead of two. You would usually have more unobstructed views out your windows. Corner lots allow more light to come into the home. It really comes down to your own preference and the corner lot and home itself. There are pros and cons and each situation has to be looked at individually. Price of course will play a big part in the consideration. Read More
Shopping around and taking some time can pay off today when looking to find the best deal in mortgage loans for either purchasing or refinancing that new South Bay Home, however one needs to be aware of all of the costs involved and specifically the origination costs. Those costs can be as little as zero dollars and go all the way up to thousands. Talk to several banks and other direct mortgage lenders but also talk to mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers to get a clearer idea of what is available and who has the best all around rates. Read More
Well, it's almost that time of year to start looking for that "perfect pumpkin" to carve and to start thinking about a costume to wear for trick or treating, or that Halloween party. Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests and their children. Using a few safety tips and some common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season, keeping it as enjoyable for your kids as it is for you! The excitement of children and adults at this time of year can sometimes make them not as careful as they would normally be. Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons. They like the dressing up in costumes but mostly they like it for the candy and treats! Even some adults still like to go out trick or treating. It makes them feel young and happy again. The best rule of safety for Halloween is to use common sense, accompany your children while they are out trick or treating and don't eat any of the candy until you are back home, in the light and can see what you are eating. Be traffic wise, watch out for cars when cutting back and forth across the streets. If your kids are going out by themselves, have them follow a planned route and supply them with a cell phone in case of emergency. Have a set time for them to be home. Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to trick or treat without an adult. Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten track. Let them know to stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around. Know about any city curfews in your planned route of trick or treating. Remember, children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult if possible. If you have a group of kids going, get two or three of the parents to help by going along to keep their eyes on what going on around them. Read More
When we are getting ready to sell our El Segundo home, or even if we are just wanting to update our homes we need to know which improvement has the best return in value. Obviously some updates will bring in a better return in value than others. First and foremost is kitchen remodels which is always 100%. Doing high end kitchen remodeling is not always the best way to go either. Mid range or minor remodels of kitchens most often brings in best return in value according to Remodeling Magazine. Most potential buyers don't care if the new refrigerator is a built in Sub Zero type or something less. The same is true with having the 8 burner stoves, under mount sink or travertine floors. Granite counters are not necessary. Simple laminates, newer faucets and sparkling sinks sell. Buyers don't want leaky faucets or stained sinks. With regards to the cabinets; resurfacing is the best option and replacing the doors and/or hardware is the best way to go. The national average of recouped cost is more than 100% for bathrooms. New floors, fixtures and lights payoff. Buyers will shy away from buying a home if the roof needs to be replaced. Some other suggestions: Patch cement cracks in the sidewalks, resurface asphalt driveways, plant some flowers, caulk the windows and doors, replace doorknobs and locks, repair and paint broken fences. Overall, buyers want to buy a home that has no deferred maintenance, newer appliances, updated plumbing, electrical and heating (including a/c), modern conveniences and is ready to occupy. Read More
No amount of decorating can make a Hermosa Beach house feel like a home without using the right accessories. The correct accessories can be the icing on the cake - the touches that transform a space into a unique and personal reflection of its inhabitants. Good planning and some basic knowledge about decorating is essential when adding any accessories, for any occasion. You can also make your own accessories. This is a fun way and a cheap way to add some style to your home. For example, things like curtains, pillows and other items made up from any fabrics will soften a room and add comfort to a home. Many good books on the subject are available and are recommended whether you are new at this or an old pro. Books that cover floors, furniture, doors, windows, furniture arrangement, using flowers and bouquets, painting ideas, tools required, tips and many other ideas are available, as well as the going labor costs if you have to hire outside help. Read More
Not knowing how long to keep different things contributes to household clutter. Being very unorganized can cost you time and money also. Find out when things should be tossed out before spending time packing them for a move for example. Learn what documents you should keep and which ones should be shredded or tossed. Same with old medicines and prescriptions. Most of us keep closets and drawers full of old clothes that should have been tossed years ago. Makeup? Toss it out if its a year old or more. Same with spices in the kitchen. Toiletries usually are used up by the expiration date, but if not, use the 1 year toss out rule. A good way to save on everything you use is to get everything organized. All clutter will cost you time and money. If you don't know where something is, and you need it, you will go out and purchase a duplicate, costing extra money. When you have to look and look for something each time you need it, this is costing you valuable time. If you can get your items organized, your life will become much simpler and finding the things you want easier. Read More
Today we all understand the importance of protecting our home and families with a quality home security alarm system. Before buying a system, however, a Manhattan Beach homeowner, along with all homeowners, should talk to several good alarm companies as ask about the different types available. There are wired... Read More
Basically most condo and townhome developments will have a home owners association, or HOA, as well as some other planned single family home developments. HOAs are established to ensure that the CC&Rs are enforced and given to all of the homeowners so to maintain the quality and value of the property involved. The membership of the HOA is made up of all the homeowners who all are charged a mandatory fee. HOAs have the authority to enact and enforce certain types of rules regarding maintenance and design standards, including those established by city or county ordinances when the development was originally planned and constructed. The CC&Rs are the Covenant, Conditions and Restrictions that apply to the development and to each of the property owners who have purchased property in the particular development. When considering buying a property in any community or project that a potential buyer look into the CC&Rs and HOA operations along with their South Bay Realtor to get an idea of what costs are involved over and above the initial cost of buying the real estate property you are interested in. Read More