Manhattan Beach Homes: Open September 15-16, 2012

Six new listings are reviewed below. Feel free to add a comment and share your thoughts about these Manhattan Beach homes. Click on an address link below to see more pictures and MLS listing information about these homes. To see the Beach Reporter list of other Manhattan Beach homes which will also be open, click on the link to the right, under “Open House Lists.”

1034 Duncan Pl. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($2,290,000, 5br/4ba, 3164sf, listed by Michelle Miller – RE/MAX Execs Redondo Beach). This Hill Section home has been on the market since June 2012. But this is the first time it will have a public open house. The original list price of $2,400,000, was reduced to the current price in August.

Duncan Place is more of an alley between Duncan Ave. and 1st Street and you’ve got to consider that being right next to the mechanical units for Skechers will have some effect on the property value. The 4,520-square-foot lot is located just west of Sepulveda, right next to the parking lot for Skechers. But, it is still in the coveted Hill Section and it still has ocean views.

The house was built in 2000 by Campbell Development and has a reverse floor plan. The interior was designed by Christopher Lowell and the finishes are quite nice with arched doorways and recessed and coffered ceilings.  Large windows along the west and south side provide ocean views from the living areas on the upper level. The large chef’s kitchen includes a restaurant style oven and range and other high-end stainless steel appliances. It opens to the breakfast area and family room. The rear balcony, off the family room also has great views, but does not have stairs down to the back yard. (A supplement to the listing provides estimates for three alternatives to add exterior stairs.) There is also one bedroom on the upper level, currently configured as an office, with built-in cabinets. The remaining bedrooms and the laundry room are on the entry level.

The back yard is paved with stone to form a large patio with perimeter landscaping. Access to the back yard is through the master bedroom. There is direct access to the two-car garage.

1555 Voorhees Ave. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,775,000, 5br/3.5ba, 3830sf, listed by Hana El Sawy – South Bay Brokers). This Mira Costa Section home was built in1989. The back yard includes a patio, partially covered by the balcony off the master bedroom, and a grassy area. Because the 7,506-square-foot lot is at the crest of a hill, the back yard is less visible to neighboring homes.

All five bedrooms are on the second floor. The master bedroom is at the back. From the back balcony there are great views of the mountains and city lights to the north, when the visibility is good. A second master bedroom (or guest suite) is at the front of the house. Three other bedrooms share a hall bath. On the main level there is direct access to the three-car garage. The laundry room is off the kitchen and has an exterior door. The living room and family room are both one step down. Flooring is mostly carpet and tile. The kitchen and bathrooms have been updated. Plus the home has central cooling. It is super clean and move-in ready. Go see it!

424 30^th St. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($1,169,000, 2br/1.5ba, 1070sf, listed by Don Dogan – South Bay Brokers). This Sand Section home is located east of Vista Dr on a street that ends in a cul-de-sac just above Sand Dune Park. It is on a 1,350-square-foot half-lot. The original home was built in 1931 and has had additions over the years.There has already been a lot of interest shown and owners are planning to review offers on Monday and respond on Tuesday.

1212 18^th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($900,000, 2br/2ba, 1100sf, listed by Rob McGarry – South Bay Brokers). This single-level bungalow was built in 1948. The Manhattan Heights lot is 5,000 square feet. One of the bedrooms has an attached three-quarter bath with a modular shower. The other bedroom has a walk-in closet. The bathrooms have been remodeled and the kitchen has new stainless steel appliances. The kitchen opens to the dining room/den, which has French doors to the back deck. The small back yard has a patio, deck and small grassy area. There is a little alcove off the living room that could be a formal dining room or library/office. Laundry hook-ups are in garage. It is neat with newly refinished hardwood floors and is move-in ready.

4 Santa Cruz Ct. Open SUN 1-4 ($790,000, 2br/2.5ba, 1583sf, listed by Nina Michaels – South Bay Brokers & Leah Abraham – Beach City Brokers). This is a typical Manhattan Village Plan 2 court home. The two car garage is accessed from the courtyard with has guest parking spaces. The garage is a half-level below the main entry and has direct access to the unit. The foyer and a small living room are on the entry level. Doors from the living room open to a private patio. The formal dining room, half-bath, laundry closet, kitchen and den are another half-level up. Both bedrooms and a hall bath are on the top level. The master has an attached bath. Large closets for the master bedroom have sliding mirrored doors and are located in the bathroom. There have been a few updates to bath hardware and kitchen lighting and there are hardwood floors and shutters throughout. It also has air conditioning. HOA dues, including Manhattan Village amenities are $491 per month. This is a turn-key home.

644 Manhattan Beach Blvd. #9 Open SAT 1-4 ($550,000, 2br/2ba, 843sf, listed by Stewart Fournier & Randi Elasowich – EDG Real Estate).  This condo is one of 12 in the complex, which includes the building at 640 Manhattan Beach Boulevard. They were built in 1969. It is a sale in a hurry, with the lowest asking price of any active listing in Manhattan Beach. This is a short sale with a Notice of Default, so submit your best and final offer before Monday.

One of the bedrooms has an attached, three-quarter bath. A hall bath serves guests and the other bedroom. The small kitchen is open to the dining/living area. This condo is on the upper level, farthest away from Manhattan Beach Boulevard and right next to 11^th Place. It last sold in 2006 for $659,000. Upgrades have been made since then to the floors and kitchen. The last unit to sell was #10, which was a standard sale for $580,000 in April 2012. That unit had been plumbed for laundry hook-ups. There is assigned tandem parking for two cars in an open garage beneath the condos. Access to parking is from the 11^th Place alley. HOA dues are $200 per month.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Manhattan Beach (or neighboring cities)? Contact Janie Sue Nagy (310-707-8762) to get started.