Real Estate in the Beach Cities: California: Redondo Beach

South Redondo Beach Short Sale and REO Update - July 21st 2010

With a marked increase in short sale and bank owned listings in South Redondo Beach opportunities abound.  There are currently 20 distressed homes on the market in South Redondo with 17 short sales and 3 bank owned properties.  Of the 20 homes there are 6 single family homes, 8 condominiums and 6 townhomes.

In addition to the 20 homes in South Redondo there are 26 short sale and bank owned listings in North Redondo Beach.

Click below for more information on individual homes.

Keith Kyle is a licensed Realtor, short sale specialist and Top Producer with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach.  He serves his clients throughout the South Bay and his websites KeithKyleHomes.com, ManhattanBeachLuxuryRealEstate.com and FindYourSouthBayHome.com offer the most comprehensive real estate websites in the South Bay with free MLS access, current home listings, open houses, recent home sales information and more.  Keith can be reached at 310-251-2344 or by email at info@KeithKyleHomes.com.  For more information on the South Bay, visit my Beach Cities Real Estate blog.

As many of my clients are from out of the area or out of state, they seem to have a notion that the South Bay is simply one big city and there aren't all that many differences between Manhatgtan Beach, Hermosa Beachand Redondo Beach.  The reality is that even within these cities the individual neighborhoods vary quite a bit.  Due to the sheer size of the city, Redondo Beach is one of the more varied communities in the South Bay in terms of types of housing, size and age, and price. 

The area just east of Hermosa and just South of Manhattan (see Golden Hills Map)is a hilly section of Redondo Beach known as the Golden Hills.  Knowing the areas pros and cons is an important step in determining whether the Golden Hills is the right area for you.  The homes in the area have a not entirely flattering nickname and are called "tall and skinnies".  Drive down any street in the area and you'll see why.  When the homes were originally built the area was subdivided into 25x100 foot lots.  With no alleys in the rear, this means that the frontage of the home required a 2 car garage and as you'll notice, the homes look somewhat similar.  So here's the pros and cons of the area.

Pros:

1. You get a bigger house for a lower price.  Many of the homes in the area are in the 1700+ square foot range with spacious living rooms, open kitchens and good sized bedrooms.
2. Prices for these 1700+ square foot houses generally start in the high $600k range and newer, larger homes can sell for over $1,000,000.
3. Location is excellent.  Being just east of Hermosa Beach, means that the Golden Hills is very close to the beach.  Saying it's a walk or bike ride is a bit of a reach, but it's not far off.  Being this close to the beach means cooler summers and warmer winters......and who doesn't like that.
4. Upgrades.  Many of the homes in the area have been very nicely upgraded and well taken care of.  Those that haven't can be purchased for an even greater discount.
5. Price.  Look just west in Hermosa and the price jumps considerably.  Try to find a home this size in other parts of Redondo and expect to pay $100k more.

Cons:

1. The biggest complaint that I get to the area is the bedroom configuration.  With a 25 foot wide lot there's only so many options the original builders had.  The general layout is living room (often with vaulted ceilings), kitchen and master bedroom upstairs, and garage and 2 bedrooms downstairs.  The master on one level with the other bedrooms downstairs is often an obstacle with families with small kids or expectant parents.
2. Proximity to your neighbors.  Again with lots 25 feet wide, and front doors usually needing to be on the side of the house due to the garage, don't generally mean much room between you and your neighbor.
3. Lack of street parking.  With 2 car wide driveways in front of every 25 foot wide lot, it doesn't leave much room for curbs.  On the other hand a two car garage plus 2 driveway spaces may make that a non factor.
4. Small yards.  Generally these homes have a small yard in the rear without a front yard to speak of.  Again this can be a positive or a negative, depending on your situation.

Overall the Golden Hills offers a great opportunity to own a good sized home, at a good price and just a short drive to the beach.  See Recent Golden Hills home sales.

For more information on the area of Golden Hills or other neighborhoods in the South Bay, feel free to contact me.

Keith Kyle - Realtor, e-Pro - South Bay Brokers- 2501 N Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-251-2344 - Keith.Kyle@SouthBayBrokers.com

For real estate information, open houses, and FREE MLS access visit www.KeithKyleHomes.com

Well with the holidays winding down and the market getting ready to ramp up it's time to take a look at some South Bay real estate markets to see what is happening in the world of short sales, bank owned homes and other distressed properties.

North Redondo Beachhas seen the bulk of the distressed sales in the South Bay and there are currently 9 active properties.  Of the 9 homes all are short sales except for the home at 506 Phelan, Redondo Beach which is a REO or bank owned home.  6 of the properties are single family homes and 3 are Although much has been made of both short sales and bank owned homes read our post on Short Sales and Bank Owned Homes and what the difference means to the home buyer.  While current traditional North Redondo Beach home listingsfar outweigh the number of distressed sales there are some tremendous opportunities for home buyers looking in this area.

Keith Kyle is a licensed Realtor and e-Pro with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach and is very active in the short sale real estate market.  He serves his clients throughout the South Bay and his websites KeithKyleHomes.com and FindYourSouthBayHome.com offer the most comprehensive real estate websites in the South Bay with free MLS access, current home listings, open houses, recent home sales information and more.  Keith can be reached at 310-251-2344 or by email at info@KeithKyleHomes.com.  For more information on the South Bay, visit my Beach Cities Real Estate blog.

Come by on Thursday October 15th from 12-2 to have a look.

Keith Kyle | South Bay Brokers | 310-546-7611| www.KeithKyleHomes.com 1809 Phelan, Redondo Beach, CA Charming 3 Bedroom Redondo Single Family Home for Condo Price 3BR/1BA Single Family House   offered at $525,000 Year Built 1957 Sq Footage 912 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Floors 1 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size 3,000 sqft HOA/Maint   DESCRIPTION This is your opportunity to own a wonderful single family home in North Redondo Beach for less than most condos. The home has been meticulously maintained and lovingly taken care of. The home features a bright and open kitchen and dining area, hardwood floors, a private patio and back yard and is located walking distance to parks, shopping and dining.....and just a short drive to the beach.   see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Hardwood floor - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - garage - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Welcome home Bright bedrooms Living room Private patio and yard Bright and open kitchen 2nd Bedroom Contact info:   Keith Kyle South Bay Brokers 310-546-7611 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Oct 13, 2009, 8:02pm PDT

There are endless reasons that the South Bay and Redondo Beach are great places to live, and without question the proximity to the ocean is one of them.  Redondo Beach offers a wider variety of options than neighboring Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach as it's zoned to allow higher density housing in some areas.....meaning larger condo complexes.  Some of the most ideal complexes are located in South Redondo Beach just off of Catalina and are known as The Village or Seascapes I, II and III.  All of the Seascape Buildings are also known as the Village (they're actually all on Catalina but the addresses are on The Village) All of the complexes have Homeowners Associations with relatively high HOA dues to cover the various landscaping, pools and some insurance, but if you're looking for an affordable way to have a beach home, they may be ideal for you.  All three buildings offer some fantastic ocean, Catalina, and harbor views and are centrally located just a short walk or bike ride to the beach, marina, restaurants and shops and parks.  Keep in mind that some of my comments are just opinions on what is both good and bad about the buildings based on my observations and feedback from my clients.

Seascape I

Seascape One is actually located between Seascapes II and III and consists of 210-250 The Village.  It was built in 1978 and is just east of King Harbor and the Redondo Beach pier.  Many of the units have fairly unique windows that allow for plenty of light and breezes.  The smallest units are 1 bedroom 1 bath with around 577 square feet with the largest units being 2 bedroom 2 bath with just over 1600 feet.  Values depend primarily on the location and view as well as the upgrades that the owners have done over time. 

Pros:  Location, location, location.  Seascape I is central to everything and you truly don't have to get in the car on the weekends.  It's directly adjacent to the marina and the Redondo Beach pier and has a large grassy park just outside your door.  Some of the units are very nicely remodeled and some have tremendous ocean views (although those unblocked view units rarely come on the market.  This is an affordable way to live by the beach or use a rental unit.  See additional pictures of an ocean view unit at 240 The Village.

Cons:  The complex is a little maze like and finding your way around isn't always simple.  The complex also has shared laundry with a laundry room near the elevator on every floor.  Another negative is that there seems to continually be an assessment in addition to the HOA dues and currently all of the planters and ponds have been undergoing continual work.  Unlike Seacapes Two and Three the complex is not gated (although the parking is)

Seascape II

Seascape 2 was built in 1980 and looks a bit more modern than Seascape I.  The units are much larger with the smallest one bedrooms just a bit over 900 square feet and the largest condos having 2 bedrooms plus a very good sized loft (with an additional balcony) and just at 1900 square feet.  Seascape 2 consists of the buildings with 100-160 The Village addresses and is the furthest north of the oceanfront/oceanview buildings.  The complex has a very nice pool area and is walkable to just about everything imaginable.  Seascape 2 also has some townhome units with larger square footage and attached garages.  Many/most of the units have been extensively remodeled and many have stunning ocean and harbor views.

Pros:Again the location is excellent with shops, restaurants, gyms and the beach just a stroll away.  The complex has a very nice vacation like feel to it and is ideal for those looking for a beach home, second home or just wanting a primary residence at the beach....without the price tag of many other oceanview properties.

Cons:There are often assessments and the monthly HOA is fairly high and currently around the mid $400s as of this article.  It's a fairly large complex and often a bit confusing to find your way around.  Although the views can be stunning some of the units are a bit further back with a service road and a few buildings in front of the views of some of the lower units.

Seascape III

Built in 1980 Seascape III feels very similar to Seascape II with a slightly more "vacation" type feel.  The condos are fairly large with the smallest 1458 square feet and the largest being the penthouse 2 bedroom with an ocean view loft and separate patio with slightly over 2000 square feet.  This is the furthest south of the Seascape buildings but still walkable to everything. 

Pros: Again the location is just ideal and the complex has a great second home or vacation feel.  Higher floor units have some tremendous views and many have been very nicely upgraded.  As with all of the Esplanade and Village buildings, prices have come down considerably as they have had a very high second home ownership in the past and have suffered quite a bit with some foreclosures and short sales forcing prices down which makes for an ideal environment for buyers

Cons: As with all of the Seascape buildings the HOA is quite high and the age of the buildings, coupled with their environment of sun and salt air, often make for additional assessments.  HOA is also fairly restrictive as to what can be done to the units, but this can also be considered a positive for many.

Keith Kyle is a licensed Realtor and e-Pro with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach.  He serves his clients throughout the South Bay and his websites KeithKyleHomes.com and FindYourSouthBayHome.com offer the most comprehensive real estate websites in the South Bay with free MLS access, current home listings, open houses, recent home sales information and more.  Keith can be reached at 310-251-2344 or by email at info@KeithKyleHomes.com

Activity seems to be picking up in the condo market of South Redondo Beachwith several homes having recently gone into escrow.  At the same time, however, inventory remains high in Seascape I, II, and III and The Village with 14 condos currently for sale.

As of May 1, 2009 there are currently 6 condos currently in escrow with 3 closed sales.  Price information is below.

Keith Kyle is a licensed Realtor and e-Pro with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach.  He serves his clients throughout the South Bay and his websites KeithKyleHomes.com and FindYourSouthBayHome.comoffer the most comprehensive real estate websites in the South Bay with free MLS access, current home listings, open houses, recent home sales information and more.  Keith can be reached at 310-251-2344 or by email at info@KeithKyleHomes.com

As many of my clients are from out of the area or out of state, they seem to have a notion that the South Bay is simply one big city and there aren't all that many differences between Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beachand Redondo Beach.  The reality is that even within these cities the individual neighborhoods vary quite a bit.  Due to the sheer size of the city, Redondo Beach is one of the more varied communities in the South Bay in terms of types of housing, size and age, and price. 

The area just east of Hermosa and just South of Manhattan (see Golden Hills Map)is a hilly section of Redondo Beach known as the Golden Hills.  Knowing the areas pros and cons is an important step in determining whether the Golden Hills is the right area for you.  The homes in the area have a not entirely flattering nickname and are called "tall and skinnies".  Drive down any street in the area and you'll see why.  When the homes were originally built the area was subdivided into 25x100 foot lots.  With no alleys in the rear, this means that the frontage of the home required a 2 car garage and as you'll notice, the homes look somewhat similar.  So here's the pros and cons of the area.

Pros:

1. You get a bigger house for a lower price.  Many of the homes in the area are in the 1700+ square foot range with spacious living rooms, open kitchens and good sized bedrooms.
2. Prices for these 1700+ square foot houses generally start in the high $600k range and newer, larger homes can sell for over $1,000,000.
3. Location is excellent.  Being just east of Hermosa Beach, means that the Golden Hills is very close to the beach.  Saying it's a walk or bike ride is a bit of a reach, but it's not far off.  Being this close to the beach means cooler summers and warmer winters......and who doesn't like that.
4. Upgrades.  Many of the homes in the area have been very nicely upgraded and well taken care of.  Those that haven't can be purchased for an even greater discount.
5. Price.  Look just west in Hermosa and the price jumps considerably.  Try to find a home this size in other parts of Redondo and expect to pay $100k more.

Cons:

1. The biggest complaint that I get to the area is the bedroom configuration.  With a 25 foot wide lot there's only so many options the original builders had.  The general layout is living room (often with vaulted ceilings), kitchen and master bedroom upstairs, and garage and 2 bedrooms downstairs.  The master on one level with the other bedrooms downstairs is often an obstacle with families with small kids or expectant parents.
2. Proximity to your neighbors.  Again with lots 25 feet wide, and front doors usually needing to be on the side of the house due to the garage, don't generally mean much room between you and your neighbor.
3. Lack of street parking.  With 2 car wide driveways in front of every 25 foot wide lot, it doesn't leave much room for curbs.  On the other hand a two car garage plus 2 driveway spaces may make that a non factor.
4. Small yards.  Generally these homes have a small yard in the rear without a front yard to speak of.  Again this can be a positive or a negative, depending on your situation.

Overall the Golden Hills offers a great opportunity to own a good sized home, at a good price and just a short drive to the beach.  See Recent Golden Hills home sales.

For more information on the area of Golden Hills or other neighborhoods in the South Bay, feel free to contact me.

Keith Kyle - Realtor, e-Pro - South Bay Brokers- 2501 N Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-251-2344 - Keith.Kyle@SouthBayBrokers.com

For real estate information, open houses, and FREE MLS access visit www.KeithKyleHomes.com