Manhattan Beach Homes Open March 26-27 2011

Of the Manhattan Beach homes open to the public this weekend, just the three below are new listings. Use the links to the right to see a list of the other homes in Manhattan Beach and Manhattan Village that will be open.

For more pictures and additional information for the homes below, click this MLS link. Please post a comment to let us know what you think about these homes.

1202 Tennyson Unit 3 Open SUN 2-5 ($759,000, 3br/2.5ba, 1755sf, listed by Mickey Roughen – South Bay Brokers). This townhome is part of a 16-unit complex (two 8-unit buildings) built in 2005. Unit 8 (not quite as nice as this one) sold last December for $755,000. Unit 4 (again not as nice as this one) in the other building at 1208 Tennyson is currently in escrow as a short sale – listed at $759,000. Monthly HOA fees are $186. This unit has been updated with wainscoting and built-in cabinets. There is also a good-sized front porch. You can see a bit of ocean from the master bedroom. The other 2 bedrooms share a balcony. The listing agent is related to the owner, who purchased this townhome in 2006 for $900,000.

937 27th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($1,899,000, 5br/4ba, 3150sf, listed by Darrin O’Hanlon – NW Real Estate Brokers). This home is actually coming back on the market after previous attempts to sell. The home was built in 1999. The current owners bought in 2007 for $1.9m and remodeled it in 2008. It was listed in late 2009 for $1.99m eventually coming down to $1.799m in July 2010. Based on recent sales of comparable Tree Section homes, the increased list price appears ambitious. According to tax records, the lot is 3,990 sf – smaller than most Tree Section lots. The distressed walnut floors and gourmet kitchen are nice. But the master bath still has gold fixtures, painted wood trim, and a messy plaster job (aka “custom wall treatment”). The lot is deep allowing room for the patio and back yard (with artificial grass). There is a bonus room (or 5th bedroom) on the basement level with the garage. Three bedrooms (each with their own bath) and laundry room are on the top level. Living areas and another bedroom are on the middle level.

1619 3rd St. Open SAT & SUN 2-5 ($2,250,000, 5br/4.5ba, 4547sf, listed by June Emerson- South Bay Brokers). This home was built in 2006 on the 7,500 sf lot. There are city/mountain views from the master bedroom and housetop views from the front of the house. Two of the upstairs bedrooms share a Jack & Jill bath, but have their own vanities. The master bedroom and bath share a dual-sided fireplace. There is a large laundry room upstairs with lots of cabinets. The entry and living room are open to the second floor. The property has a large, flat, grassy back yard with a patio. This home last sold in 2007 for $2,564,500 to professional hockey player, Brad Stuart. Go see this one.

Give me a call, Janie Sue Nagy at 310-707-8762, if you would like help buying your Manhattan Beach home.

ID Theft From Rental Listings

Are you looking for a place to rent? Beware of scammers who are using your application information to steal your identity. To lower your guard, a home is offered at an unbelievably low rent on Craigslist. They get pictures and a description of a home for sale from the internet. Read the full article >>

To avoid this situation:

1. Don’t fill out an application, until you have been inside the home. If a landlord is renting his own property, he should be able to let you in to see the home.

2. Deal with reputable companies. Real estate agents who lease homes and brokers who manage property are licensed by the State of California. Ask for their Department of Real Estate License number (actually they are required to provide it when they first contact you) and look it up online.

3. Ask a local real estate agent to look up the property for you. There should be no cost to have an agent help you find a home that is listed for lease on the MLS - they are paid by the landlord.

Scene Around Manhattan Beach #9

Have you seen this scene around Manhattan Beach?

This fishy metal art piece is somewhere in the Hill Section of Manhattan Beach? If you know where it is, post the location as a comment. Share your skills of observation and knowledge of Manhattan Beach trivia.

About once a month this blog will include an eye-catching Manhattan Beach sight, and ask observant readers to identify the location. Find the answer among comments to this post, within a month.

The location of the "Falling Coconuts" sign in Scene #8 from February has been given in a comment to that post.

Opens March 19-20 2011 (Part 2 of 2)

There are so many new listings to highlight this week, I had to divide the homes into 2 blog posts. This is Part 2. Be sure to see the previous post for Part 1. All the homes listed below are open to the public this weekend. Use the links to the right to see a list of other homes in Manhattan Beach and Manhattan Village that will be open.

For more pictures and additional information for the homes in this post, click this MLS link. Please post a comment to let us know what you think about these homes.

Back For The Spring Rush

These three homes were offered for sale until late last year. After being taken off the market for the holidays, they are back again, with a reset to the Cumulative Days On Market.

594 30th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,299,950, 4br/3ba, 2108sf, listed by Mike Dunitz – NW Real Estate Brokers). An offer was just accepted yesterday for this home, so it may or may not still be open for viewing. It was listed from June to November 2010, with the last price $1,369,000 at that time.

1908 Elm Ave Open SAT & SUN 1-5 ($1,595,000, 4br/2.5ba, 3516sf, listed by Mike Baker – RE/MAX Beach Cities). This older Tree Section home was listed from July to November 2010, starting at $1,590,000 and ending at $1,499,000. Manhattan Beach Confidential reviewed the return of this home last Wednesday. The kitchen has been remodeled before coming back to the market, but the home still has an 80’s feel with gold trim in the bath and oak finishes throughout. The lot is 4,480 sf.

3101 Vista Dr. Open SUN 1-4 ($1,829,000, 3br/3.5ba, 2363sf, listed by David Caskey – Shorewood Realtors). This 2-on-a-lot, freestanding townhome was previewed in the BMBH October 15, 2010 post. It was built in 2003 and last sold in 2007 for $1,850,000. The other townhome in this pair (3100 Alma) last sold in May 2009 for $1,857,500, but it is larger and has better ocean views. 3101 Vista was listed for 3 weeks last October with an asking price of $1,799,000.

Other New Listings Open This Weekend

1727 11th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($959,000, 3br/2ba, 1610sf, listed by Donna Westgate – Prudential CA Realty). This single-level home was built in 1961. The kitchen and baths have been remodeled from the original. It is livable, but could stand to be refreshed. The lot is 6,000sf. It last sold in 2003 for $859,000.

1713 Ruhland Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($1,199,000, 3br/2ba, 1848sf, listed by Lynne Lear – Shorewood Realtors). This one-level home in the Mira Costa Section has been nicely updated (original home built in 1962) and is move-in ready. There is a separate structure in the back with 2 finished rooms (400sf of the total 1848sf).  The lot is 7,500 sf and in addition to the extra building, it has a large grassy back yard with mature trees and a deck.

2603 Pacific Ave. Open SUN 2-4 ($1,199,000, 3br/2ba, 1457sf, listed by Jack Cummings – Shorewood Realtors). This Tree Section home is move-in ready. The original house was built in 1961, but the kitchen and baths have been recently upgraded. The vaulted ceilings give it a sense of space. This home is located just a half block from Veteran’s Parkway.

1437 6th St. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($1,575,000, 4br/3ba, 3204sf, listed by Chris Broadhurst - Shorewood Realtors). The 7,500 sf lot includes a terraced back yard (patio on the lower tier and a large grassy area a few steps higher). The two-level home was built in 1992 and the kitchen has been upgraded with top-of-the-line components since then. It is an attractive, move-in ready home. The property to the west of this lot is used for the City of Manhattan Beach water tower and reservoir. The water tower also supports public safety communication transmitters and receivers. The park-like area next door provides a measure of privacy for this home and allows light and ocean breezes to flow from the West. This home last sold in 2003 for $1,145,000. Go see it.

200 Shell Open SUN 1-4 ($1,799,000, 3br/3ba, 1708sf, listed by Robyn Biener & Alicia Greene – South Bay Brokers). This 3-level, El Porto home was built in 2006 and offers ocean views. It is on a 1,350 sf half lot. The custom-built home was designed by Louie Tomaro and has many high-end finishes. It also has a 3-stop dumbwaiter. Go see how efficiently space is used in this home.

1418 2nd St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,199,000, 4br/3.5ba, 3721sf, listed by David Caskey – Shorewood Realtors). This home last sold in 2008 for $2,149,000. It is a beautiful, newer, Craftsman style home – built in 2003 by Mike Woodcock. The home is on a flag lot at the rear of the property, so it is quite private. The lot backs to Pennekamp Elementary School, but sits high above the school grounds. The vacant lot to the east is also school property. The 9600+ sf lot includes the 160-foot driveway. It has a large grassy back yard and nice views from the master bedroom at the back of the house. There are also city/mountain views from the front.  At the front of the house, the upstairs hall has a window seat big enough for a single bed. You will find high quality woodwork and custom cabinetry throughout the home. Go see this one.

616 17th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,775,000, 5br/4ba, 3640sf, listed by Cindy Shearin & Bill Mar – NW Real Estate Brokers). This big, beautiful home has an ocean peek view from the front deck off the master bedroom. It is located on a stretch of 17^th Street that does not have through traffic. The home was built in 1952 and was extensively remodeled in 2004. The large lot provides a front yard and a big grassy back yard with a pergola-covered brick patio. The custom cabinetry is nicely done throughout the house. Two bedrooms are on the ground level and three upstairs. This home is definitely worth a visit.

Give me a call, Janie Sue Nagy at 310-707-8762, if you would like help buying your Manhattan Beach home.

Open Houses March 19-20 2011 (Part 1 of 2)

There are so many new listings to highlight this week, I had to divide the homes into 2 blog posts. Most of the homes listed below are open to the public this weekend. I threw in a couple exceptions just to make sure you knew about them too. Use the links to the right to see a list of other homes in Manhattan Beach and Manhattan Village that will be open.

For more pictures and additional information for the homes in this post, click this MLS link. Please post a comment to let us know what you think about these homes.

Funky Sand Section Homes
These two homes are for sale within a block of one another. Neither is on a walk street or has ocean views and both have garage access off Valley, which tends to be a pretty busy thoroughfare. One is an “amazing opportunity” the other is a “fabulous opportunity.”

817 N. Valley Dr. Open SUN 1-4 ($999,000, 2br/2ba, 1420sf, listed by Sheri Fejeran & Julie Lyon – RE/MAX). The 2-car garage has black & white checkerboard tile. The laundry area is accessed from the garage. There is direct access from the garage to a bonus room on the lower level. The bonus room is configured with a second kitchen and opens to a patio behind the home. There is also a bathroom on the lower level with a corner jetted tub (but no shower). Take care on the interior stairs, the handrails are missing. Upstairs are the living areas, 2 bedrooms and a bath with a tiny sink. One of the bedrooms has built-in shelves and a very small closet. The other bedroom has a deck with exterior spiral stairs to the patio below. The home was built in 1955, but has been updated so you could move right in. The lot is 1,710 sf.

905 N. Valley Dr. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($849,000, 2br/2ba, 1296sf, listed by Gio Altamura - South Bay Brokers). The trustee is wasting no time getting this property to market. The owner died just a month ago. The home is being sold “as is” and it definitely needs work (new carpet, paint, a rail around the upper deck). There is a den with patio access downstairs along with a bath. The living areas are upstairs with 2 bedrooms and another bath. In addition to the 2-car garage, there is parking for 3 more cars in the driveway. It was built in 1963 on the 2,270 sf lot.

Custom Floor Plans in the Tree Section

These 2 Mediterranean homes offer unique features and floor plans that differ from the spate of recently constructed spec homes in Manhattan Beach. If you are looking for something unusual in the $2.3M range go see these homes.

1801 Palm Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($2,299,000, 4br/4ba, 3893sf, listed by Dave Caskey – Shorewood Realtors). This home is on the corner of one of the most desirable Tree Section streets. The home was designed by Joyce Flood and built in 2000. Some interesting features are the patio with outdoor fireplace, basement playroom with wine alcove, and spacious master suite. The lot is 5,020 sf. This home last sold in 2004 for $2,325,000.

1706 Pacific Ave. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,379,000, 5br/4ba, 4634sf, listed by Bob Lane – Shorewood Realtors).You will notice the octagonal Saltillo tiles as soon as you enter the house and then look up to see the beautiful ceilings. Another memorable feature is the lodge-sized stone fireplace in the family room. With closets everywhere, this home has plenty of storage space. Though the lot is large at 7,150 sf, much of it is taken by the long driveway that leads to a parking pad and 3-car garage behind the house. There is a small courtyard as you enter the house and a small walled patio area in the rear. The home was built in 1991.

One House Apart in the Hill Section

Both of these homes have panoramic views to the north of the city and mountains. Each is on a 7,200 sf lot with large grassy back yards. And both have air conditioning.

913 8th St. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($2,099,000, 4br/3ba, 2854sf, listed by Kristen Novoa – Shorewood Realtors). This 2-level home is built with lots of diagonal walls. You can see them clearly on the floor plan included with the MLS pictures. It was built in 1948 but has been remodeled and updated so that it is move-in ready.

923 8th St. ($3,099,122, 5br/4.5ba, 4350sf, listed by Robert Freedman – RE/MAX Beach Cities). This home was built in 2005 and sold new for $3,350,000. It was listed in 2010 for $3,599,122. After a couple of months on the market without selling, it was leased. Now you have another chance to purchase this newer Spanish style home or lease it. It is not open this weekend, but your agent can arrange for you to see it.

Under $700K in the Mira Costa Section

1450 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Unit C Open SUN 12-4 ($529,000, 2br/2ba, 930sf, listed by Denny Arroyo – Shorewood Realtors). This is actually a re-list with a different agent. This condo has been for sale since last July. Originally listed at $559,000, it was reduced to $539,000 in November. It has been competing with the condo above it (Unit D - most recently listed at $549,000). The building was constructed in 1976, but this unit has been completely updated and is move-in ready. If you keep the doors and windows closed, the noise from Manhattan Beach Blvd. is not bad. It is a block west of Polliwog Park, so there are not any park views from this level. The unit comes with an individual 2-car (tandem) garage with a lockable storage room. There is no direct access from the condo to the garage. HOA dues are $200 per month. There is only one home priced lower in all Manhattan Beach – a 1br/1ba condo farther east on Manhattan Beach Blvd.

1652 2nd St. ($659,000, 3br/2ba, 1716sf, listed by Hady & Hassana Chahine – RE/MAX Beach Cities). If you look at the pictures, you’ll understand why this one is not having an open house. It is a serious fixer and full of stuff. The one-level home was built in 1959 and not much has changed since then. If you are looking for this type of property, give me a call and I’ll arrange for you to see it. The lot is 5,150 sf. It is being sold as is and is priced accordingly. The only single family home in Manhattan Beach priced lower is a 2br/1ba on a half lot (1801 5th St.).

Sort Of Open in the Sand Section

2719 Manhattan Ave. Open SAT 1-3 if you RSVP ($4,995,000, 4br/4.5ba, 3460 sf, listed by Uni Mayesh – Shorewood Realtors). There will be no anonymous visitors to this high-end home, unless you have a disposable cell phone. You can visit the home during the open house hours, if you RSVP. You or your agent can call or text to Uni at 310-569-6535 to let her know you plan to visit. This contemporary home has stunning ocean views from the living areas on the upper level. It was designed by Pat Killen and has been featured on the Sophisticated Snoops Tour and in several home magazines. It was built in 2002 and the floors are showing some wear, but it is still beautiful. There is garage parking for 4 cars plus 2 driveway spaces. The lot is 2,400 sf and just steps to the beach.

Give me a call, Janie Sue Nagy at 310-707-8762, if you would like help buying your Manhattan Beach home.

Opens Houses March 12-13, 2011

If you are looking for a large, newer home, there are 3 new listings you can visit and choose your favorite style (1750 8th, 1314 9th, & 2604 Pine). The recently-listed Manhattan Beach homes reviewed below are open to the public this weekend. Use the links to the right to see a list of other homes in Manhattan Beach and Manhattan Village that will be open.

This MLS Link provides more pictures and additional information about these homes. I’d love to know what you think about these homes – post a comment.

1139 23rd St. Open SAT 2-4 ($689,000, 3br/1ba, 984sf, listed by Linda Dondero – Shorewood Realtors). This home was built in 1948 and is looking for someone handy to bring it up to date and make it beautiful. It is being sold “as is.” The lot is 5,197 square feet but feels smaller, because part of the back yard is a fenced off. The back part of the lot slopes down to Marine Avenue. One bedroom (currently used as a den) has a door to the kitchen and to the back yard. The accessible part of the back yard is bricked. If you are looking for a project, go see this single family home at an entry-level price for Manhattan Beach.

728 12th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($1,449,000, 5br/3ba, 2376sf, listed by Jim Lisi – NW Real Estate Brokers). This Tree Section home is on a 3,000 sf lot. It was built in 1960. Though the upstairs bedrooms and hall appear to be original, they have been well cared for. The kitchen and bathrooms have been recently remodeled. You could move right in. The big front deck is off the living room and dining room. The lower level has 2 more bedrooms and a large family room, with a door to the side yard. The back yard is paved and has built-in planters around the perimeter. This part of 12th St. does not get much traffic and it is not far to downtown and the pier.

1750 8th St. Open SAT 1-5 ($1,995,000, 6br/5.5ba, 4400sf, listed by Cindy Shearin & Bill Mar – NW Real Estate Brokers). This Cape Cod style home is absolutely gorgeous. It was built by Ken Johnson Development and presold during construction in 2004 for $2m. The buyers added significant upgrades to the finishes. The 7,500 sf lot is right next to a neighborhood parquette, which provides light and open space to the west. It comes with an outdoor fireplace and built in barbeque.

2301 Vista Dr. Open SUN 2-4 ($2,099,000, 3br/3.5ba, 2419sf, listed by Bryn Stroyke – Stroyke Properties). This is the rear townhome of the 2-on-a-lot development designed by Trace Wilson of Materia LLC and built by Mike Perryman of MAP Development. There are no HOA fees. The listing description is nearly identical to the front unit (2300 Alma), which is 100 sf larger and currently has an offer pending based on a listing price of $2.249m. Once that closes, we’ll have a better comparable for 2301 Vista.

2301 Vista provides a bit of data for real estate price trends in Manhattan Beach.

• Sold in 2002 (new) for $1.4m
• Sold in 2007 for $2.099m  
• Sold in 2009 for $1.9m 
• Just listed for $2.099m

It will be interesting to watch this one. Are prices up or down from 2009? Are we really back to peak 2007 prices?

1314 9th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($2,250,000, 5br/5.5ba, 4500sf, listed by John Corrales – NW Real Estate Brokers). This Craftsman style home was built by Odle & Sons Development in 2006. It sold new in 2007 for $2.4m. The home is big and the 7,500 sf lot is too. The house wraps around a side courtyard. Plus there is a patio in the back with a large pergola. The back yard has artificial turf. Inside, the master suite is quite large. Overall the home feels spacious, but there is no sense of wasted space. This is a comfortable, well-made home, worth your time to visit.

2604 Pine Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($2,399,000, 5br/4ba, 3400sf, listed by Darrin O’Hanlon – NW Real Estate Brokers). This Tuscan style home was built in 2006 by Gary Lane. It last sold in 2006 for $2.55m. On the same level as the garage, there is one basement room. The 4,480 sf lot allows for a patio plus a grassy area in the back yard. The home is beautiful, with high-quality finishes. The only design flaw I noticed was the bath off the room used as a nursery. It is so tight the door barely misses hitting the toilet.

The double lot next door at 2600 Pine is in escrow and an application has been filed with the city to build 2 new single family homes. So there is likely to be significant construction next door in the near future.

4314 The Strand Open SUN 1-4 ($3,250,000, 3br/3.5ba, 2649sf, listed by Jack Gillespie – South Bay Brokers). This 2-unit building was constructed in 1990. It is just a little over a block from the northern border of Manhattan Beach. 4314 is the lower 2 levels of the building, plus half the garage on the third level. The garage provides 2 tandem parking spaces for each unit. 4314 last sold in 2006 for $2,375,000. There are no HOA dues shown. If you are looking for a half-interest in an El Porto Strand property (because even though the condo is nice, the value is in the ocean-front lot) go check this out.

Give me a call, Janie Sue Nagy at 310-707-8762, for help buying your Manhattan Beach home. 

New Direction for Video Tours

Just when you thought you were doomed to quick and dirty home tours (in the style of Jim The Realtor), some agents are upping the ante.

Recently a local agent offered a different kind of home video tour that created quite a buzz. See Manhattan Beach Confidential post, "You Sexy Thing."

Now out of Australia, we are seeing movie production quality videos, with lingerie models to grab your attention. This one requires you to confirm you are over 18 to view it. 15 Queen Anne Court

So far this kind of promotion seems to be limited to high-end properties. What will we be seeing next as listing agents vie to get their video of a 1950's fixer to go viral?

Manhattan Beach Open Houses (3/5-6/2011)

New listings are starting to flow again, now that Spring is almost here. The recently-listed Manhattan Beach homes reviewed below are open to the public this weekend. Use the links to the right to see a list of other homes in Manhattan Beach and Manhattan Village that will be open.

This MLS Link provides more pictures and additional information about these homes. I’d love to know what you think about these homes – post a comment.

1316 Curtis Ave. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,059,000, 3br/1.5ba, 1571sf, listed by Joanna Bowling – Keller Williams PV). The original home was built in 1951, but it has been remodeled. A large family room was added at the rear. A large half-bath was added off the living room and the kitchen was expanded and upgraded.  Along the way a bedroom closet was sacrificed, so it is really 2 bedrooms plus an office. The back yard is entirely paved and has a small shed/play house. The only grassy area is what you see in the front yard. The property is higher than the homes behind it, so there is a more open feel to the back yard. The lot is 5,250 square feet.

1907 Pacific Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($1,079,000, 4br/2ba, 1376sf, listed by Chris Dodson & Jackie White – South Bay Brokers). This 1952-vintage, single-level home is move-in-ready. The kitchen and baths have been recently updated. It lacks a master bedroom, but if that is important to you, the 2 back bedrooms and bath could be reconfigured to create a large master suite without too much trouble. There is a small deck to nowhere overlooking the back yard. At one time it may have been accessible from one of the rear bedrooms, but now there is no access to the deck. The lot slopes down slightly to the rear and the grassy back yard is a decent size.

1204 20^th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,699,000, 5br/4.5ba, 4286 sf, listed by Ed Kaminsky – Shorewood Realtors). This home was built in 2002 on a 5,630 square-foot lot in the Manhattan Beach Heights area. It is pretty typical of the spec homes built at that time, in terms of floor plan and finishes. The home has been well cared for and it still looks new. Plus, there have been recent replacements for some appliances and the furnace. But it has one of my pet peeves – stair treads cut for inlaid carpet, rather than full treads with carpet on top. There is a patio off the family room and a bit of grass in the back yard. If you are in the market for a home with a celebrity pedigree, this home is owned by Ronnie Lester, Assistant General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. Go check it out, it’s ready for you to move right in.

1144 Walnut Ave. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,795,000, 5br/4ba, 3282sf, listed by Tony Barberi – RE/MAX Beach Cities). This home is located on a 4,480 square-foot Tree Section lot, next to a parking lot for the dry cleaners. It was built in 1999 and last sold in 2003 for $1,292,000. The back yard is mostly paved, with designer landscaping around the perimeter. It is a lovely home AND it has central air conditioning. Check out the MLS pictures then go see it.

1909 Magnolia Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($2,300,000, 5br/4.5ba, 3767sf, listed by Justin Jacobson – Horizon Realty). This home was built by Steve Legare in 2006 and sold in 2008 for $2,242,500. Since then a salt water pool/spa, built-in outdoor kitchen and cabana with bathroom were added in the back yard. Landscaping for the 7,310 square-foot lot is low maintenance. In addition to the hardscape in the back yard, the front yard has been xeriscaped. The home has also been personalized with a striking assortment of deep colors.  

3309 Ocean/3308 The Strand Open SUN 1-4 ($6,590,000, 4br/4.5ba, 3090sf, listed by Judy D’Angelo & Kurt Allen – South Bay Brokers). If you are looking for a Strand bargain, this is almost the lowest-priced Strand property listed for sale. (There is a 4-plex in El Porto listed for just under $6M.) It was built in 1952 and still looks like a vintage beach house. The lot is 3465 square feet. There are two narrow balconies, one off the master bedroom on the top level and the other off the living room on the middle level. The bottom level has two beach showers with dressing rooms. I like the laundry chute to the bottom level, where there is a huge laundry room. There are bedrooms on each level, 2 on the top, one in the middle, and one on the bottom. This home has a 3-car garage with additional parking for 2 more cars. If you are in no hurry to build your dream home, this one is livable, but definitely dated.

2504 The Strand Open SUN 1-4 ($7,190,000, 4br/5ba, 3416sf, listed by Susan Kaminski – Shorewood Realtors). The photographer for these listing pictures did an amazing job of avoiding the mirrors that cover so many of the walls of this home. Some of the mirrors are used to great effect, to reflect the ocean. Others are just scary as you meet yourself entering the home and turning corners. This home is located on a quiet part of The Strand, away from the surfer traffic farther north and away from all the activity closer to the pier. The panoramic ocean views are magnificent from the 3 decks and the living area. This home was built in 1956 but has been significantly remodeled. The lot is 3,498 square feet and the property includes a separate 1br/1ba rental unit with its own deck. There is a 3-car garage and parking for 3 additional cars.

I ran short on time and was not able to preview all of the new listings while they were open today for brokers. The homes below are also new listings that will be open to the public this weekend. Check out Manhattan Beach Confidential to see reviews for some of the homes below and another opinion of some of the homes above. See this MLS link for pictures and descriptions for these properties:

464 36^th St. Open SUN 1-4 ($1,389,000, 3br/3ba, 2142sf).

2404 Palm Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($1,400,000, 4br/2.5ba, 3074sf).

569 35^th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,250,000, 5br/5.5ba, 3712sf).

432 10^th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,799,000, 3br/3.5ba, 3015sf).

Give me a call, Janie Sue Nagy at 310-707-8762, if you’re looking for a home in Manhattan Beach.

Any new construction left in Manhattan Beach?

There are very few new homes still available that have not been lived-in. And, the list is dwindling. If you have not been keeping track, here is an update. A few of them will be open this weekend.

Click here to view the listing description and additional pictures for these new homes.

Sand Section

128 5th St Open SUN 2-4 ($5,499,000, 5br/6ba, 4313sf, 2010, 2696sf lot, 230 DOM, listed by Bob Salim – Classic Beach Properties). The owner tried selling the property with the previous structure, for lot value from Nov 2007-Feb 2008 (asking price $3,900,000). Since speculative builders were no longer gobbling up available lots by then, the owner built a new home to attract a different type of buyer. This new home was first offered for sale in July 2010 at $5,799,000 and has had just one price reduction. The listing declares that it is the “Only new construction left!!!”

3516 The Strand Open to brokers FRI 12-2 ($8,500,000, 6br/5.5ba, 5550sf, 2010, 3499sf lot, 181+ DOM, listed by Michelle Sexton – South Bay Brokers). The current listing shows 181 Days on Market and a build date of 2010. But this piece of Tuscany on the Pacific was originally listed in April 2009 (during construction) with an asking price of $13,999,054 and a build date of 2009. It was relisted from November 2009-September 2010 with a build date of 2010. (For new construction that remains unsold toward the end of the year, sometimes the builder will delay securing an occupancy permit until the following year in order to claim a more recent build date for the home.) During that time the price declined from $12,999,054 to $9,850,000. This spectacular, one-of-a-kind home was built by Sexton Homes and features reclaimed architectural items from Italy and Greece plus all the bells and whistles you might want (see the listing description).

Tree Section

3524 Laurel Ave. Open SAT & SUN 2-5 ($1,799,000, 5br/4.5ba, 3200sf, 2010, 4640sf lot, 35+ DOM, listed by Dennis Moloney – Shorewood Realtors). This new home was described in the Best Manhattan Beach Homes post for open houses on October 1, 2010.

It was built by Dunn Construction and was first listed in April 2010 for $1,849,000, while still under construction. It was listed again from September 2010 – January 2011, still at $1,849,000 while the finishing touches were being applied. But that listing omitted the Assessor Parcel Number, so it does not appear in the MLS property history for the listing, making it appear that there was a sufficient gap in listings to reset the Days on Market. The current listing started in January 2011 for $1,799,000,

Hill Section

932 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Open SUN 1-4 ($929,000, 3br/3ba, 2075sf, 2010, townhome, 24+ DOM, listed by Carol Glover & David Salzman – Northwest Realty). This is one of two townhomes that share the lot with boutique commercial space. It was first listed in January 2010 for $1,100,000. There are HOA dues of $293 per month. The other unit (A), which is 25sf smaller sold for $920,000 in June 2010.

906 9th St. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($3,995,000, 6br/6.5ba, 5422sf, 2009, 7250sf lot, 314 DOM, listed by Bob Lane – Shorewood Realtors). This large home was first listed in February 2009 for $4,900,000. During its first year on the market, the price came down to $4,100,000. The home was relisted with a different agent in April 2010 at $4,695,000. Now at almost $1M less than the original listing price it is still looking for a buyer.

Mira Costa SectionNote: Both of the new construction homes in this neighborhood are owned by the same developer.

1525 Mathews Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($2,175,000, 5br/5.5ba, 4510sf, 2007, 7500sf lot, 43+ DOM, listed by Craig O’Rourke – Coldwell Banker Residential). This new home was described in the Best Manhattan Beach Homes post for open houses on January 22, 2011.

It has been on the market for nearly 4 years. The previous listing expired last September with an asking price $20K higher. When first listed in 2007, it was offered at $2.479M. Seller financing is available to sweeten the deal. A very similar home at 1510 Mathews, by the same builder with seller financing sold recently for $1.8M.

1616 Gates Ave. ($2,295,000, 5br/6ba, 5088sf, 2008, 7500sf lot, 475+ DOM, listed by Ross Cohan – Shorewood Realtors). This new home has been for sale since April 2008, when it was first listed for $2,750,000. There have been four price reductions over the years. For the right buyer, seller financing is possible. This home is not open this weekend.

These “new” Manhattan Beach homes won’t be available forever. Once they sell, if you want a new home in Manhattan Beach, you may have to build your own. Give me (Janie Sue Nagy) a call, if you'd like help buying or selling your Manhattan Beach home.

Best Real Estate Refinance Calculators

Using an online calculator to decide if you should refinance your home?

This article examines the accuracy of 10 refinance calculators you are likely to find with a Google search. Read the article at Best Real Estate Refi Calculators