Tag: El Segundo real estate
I grew up in El Segundo and remember when CJ Bret went to high school here and went on to become a some-what legend in the professional baseball world. The El Segundo high school has been used since then in so many movies and became famous itself for its traditional high school looks. Our city has grown tremendously adding many apartments, condos, townhomes and many new custom built single family homes that encompass El Segundo Real Estate but still remains a single family home type of community with traditional neighborhoods, hilly tree lined streets and a quaint village type of downtown. Read More
So what does one do on Beautiful summer Saturday. Some go to the beach, some to the mall others unfortunately do house work and shopping but yesterday thousands of people congregated in an air- conditioned building to marvel at the key piece of the most expansive public works project in the history of Los Angeles. Yes it was the new 1.9 billion facility Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. The project is not completed yet, in fact it will not be until August or September. This did not matter to the thousands that took a sneak peek at the terminal. Not only locals view the facilities, but many came from afar just for curiosity sake. Read More
I just read this great article… 7 Banks Foreclosing on the Most Mortgages Most banks are servicing loans. This list includes the percentage of underwater loans the bank has in FORECLOSED properties portfolio. Check out this article to see who... 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
You have your down payment money put away, you think that your credit is tops and everything is a go to start looking for that new home in El Segundo you have been dreaming about. What could go wrong or what can stop you now? The keys to your dream home are as good as being in your hands, right? WRONG ! In this tough financial climate, some unexpected issues might scuttle the any deal you might put together and you need to be aware of what can go wrong. The tight financial climate has changed many of the things we took for granted for many years and today there is a crop of new concerns for those trying to buy a home. Such as the appraisal and Lenders holding up closing. 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
Once upon a time, back not too far, the city of El Segundo basically was a company town; owned and operated - lock, stock and barrel by Standard Oil. Everyone who lived in the city worked at the refinery, or one of the other Standard Oil facilities in town or close by. People came here from all over the world and went to work at the only employer in town. There were many mom and pop type support businesses like printers, hardware, tool shops, and plenty of businesses for automobiles and auto accessories, car dealers, but all were dependent on business that flowed down from Standard Oil. Beautiful El Segundo homes were built in great traditional neighborhoods, with tree lined streets, with hills and valleys. It was like living in a tiny community where everyone knew each other, but you were really living in a modern, up to date city within the everyday hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Wonderful schools, churches, recreation facilities, parks, police and fire departments, and a great old downtown section that everyone loved and still loves today. Read More