Manhattan Beach Homes: Open March 2-3, 2013

The following newly-listed Manhattan Beach homes will be open to the public this weekend. 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 under “Open House Lists” to the right.

660 17th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($2,795,000, 4br/3ba, 3018sf, listed by Lauren Forbes & John Corrales - Coldwell Banker Residential). This house welcomes you with frosted windows featuring a musical theme. The Tree Section home was built in 1964 and is a bit dated.  The premium price is more for the location of the 4,996-square-foot lot than for the house. There is no through traffic on this quiet block of 17th Street that runs from Ardmore Ave. to a cul-de-sac next to American Martyrs School. The back part of the lot is terraced to accommodate the downward slope. The top terrace is a deck with an in-ground spa. The middle terrace is a brick patio. The lowest level of the back yard is grass

On the entry level of the home, there are three bedrooms and a hall bath. Two of these bedrooms open to the spa deck. One of the bedrooms has parquet floors. There is direct access to the two-car garage, where you will find the laundry hook ups.

On the top level, the family room at the front of the house has a bar, fireplace and doors to the front balcony. The living room is at the back of the house and separated from the kitchen by the dining area. The kitchen has older cabinets, counters and appliances. The bathroom configuration on the top level is interesting. A half bath off the family room has a pocket door to a full bath with dual vanities. That bathroom has a door to the hall and also a pocket door to the top floor bedroom, which doesn't quite seem like a master bedroom. A balcony at the back of the home can be accessed from the living room and upper bedroom. The house sits up high and has tree top views of the neighborhood. From the back balcony off the family room, there is an imposing view of American Martyrs Church.

473 29th St. Open SUN 2-4 ($2,699,000, 5br/4.5ba, 4165sf, listed by John Corrales & Lauren Forbes - Coldwell Banker Residential). This three-level home was built in 2003 by Strom. The lot is 2,699 square feet. A city easement provides green space behind the property about the width of an alley. The three-car garage, includes one tandem spot and has an epoxy floor. Two additional parking places are available in front of the garage. Also on the bottom level of the home there are two bedrooms, a hall bath and a theater room with a wet bar.

The remaining bedrooms and an office are on the middle/entry level. An office at the front of the house has a large picture window with excellent tree top views and a balcony. This room has a closet so it could also be used as a bedroom. The master bedroom has a huge walk-in closet and doors to the small back patio.

On the top floor at the front of the house a family room and casual dining area are open to the gourmet kitchen. A butler's pantry connects the kitchen and formal dining room.  The dining room has built in buffet and china cabinets and it is open to the living room at the back of the house. The living room has a wet bar and French doors to the back balcony. The top level also has a half bath. The home has high-quality finishes and beautiful hardwood floors and a dumbwaiter connects the three levels.

1909 Faymont Ave Open SAT 2-4 & SUN 1-3 ($1,299,000, 3br/2ba, 1821sf, listed by Rebecca Jones - The Real Estate Group). This home was originally built in 1950 on the flat, 5,313-square-foot lot. It had a major remodel in 1992. The second story addition suffers from a clunky design with too many lines going different directions. However, interior finishes from more recent remodeling are attractive. The upgraded kitchen has granite counters, travertine tile flooring, and stainless steel appliances. There is a nice, covered deck and a grassy area in the back yard. On the main level, there are two bedrooms and a hall bath. A central staircase leads up to the master bedroom and loft office. A balcony off the master bedroom overlooks Faymont Ave. The detached, two-car garage is at the back of the lot and an electric gate provides privacy.

1705 N. Rowell Ave. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($1,229,000, 3br/2.5ba, 2002sf, listed by Bonney Larson - South Bay Brokers). As you enter the house, notice the spiral brick pillars along the front walkway. This home was built in 1975 and has a split foyer design. Stairs lead up to the living spaces and down to the three bedrooms. The master bedroom at the back of the house has French doors that open to the back yard. The low-maintenance back yard is covered in pebbles and has perimeter landscaping. A small, step-down room off the master bedroom could be used as an office or sitting area. It has a walk-in closet. Entry to one of the other bedrooms is through the vanity area of the hall bathroom.

Laundry hook ups are in the attached two-car garage. Just off the entry and behind the garage there is a side deck which leads to a patio along the side of the house. Upstairs, the open living/dining room has large picture windows to take in roof top and mountain views. The kitchen is open to a breakfast nook which has doors to the back balcony. A spiral staircase leads from the balcony down to the back yard. The lot is 4,669 square feet.

228 40th St. Open SAT 2-4 & SUN 1-3 ($1,179,000, 3br/2ba, 1430sf, listed by Lynn Range - Shorewood Realtors). This home has returned after taking a break from the market since last June. It was built in 1933 on the 1,506-square-foot, half-lot. Back in 1933, when there was a lot of open space nearby, the one-car garage was perfectly adequate. In the El Porto neighborhood today, insufficient parking is a nuisance that is traded for proximity to the beach. This house was remodeled in 2004 and last sold in 2005 for $939,000. I did not see inside this home, but the listing says there are ocean views from the patio, living room and master bedroom. It is one lot west of Highland Avenue, next to a laundromat/dry cleaners and faces a commercial building. The El Porto Strand parking lot exits to 40th Street, so this street gets more traffic than most

461 36th Pl. Open SAT & SUN 2-4 ($925,000, 2br/2ba, 1050sf, listed by Michelle Plunkett & Judy D'Angelo - South Bay Brokers). This home is back after taking a break from the market since last June. This attached townhome was built in 1964 and last sold in 2008 for $999,000. The front faces north toward Rosecrans, which is a half-block away. Access is from the alley at 36^th Place through the garage or back gate. Above the oversized two-car garage, on the second/entry level, two bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bath.  The third level has a three-quarter bath and an open living/dining area and kitchen. The space is small but the ocean views are big. Refinery views are big too. Properties to the west are not currently built to full height, so it is not clear how the view might be affected in the future. Go see for yourself. HOA dues are $223 per month.

1304 Lynngrove Dr. Open SAT & SUN 1-4 ($799,000, 3br/1ba, 1084sf, listed by Emily Piemonte - Shorewood Realtors). If you are looking for a tear down or major fixer at a good price, go see this property. It is being sold for the value of the level, 5,398-square-foot lot. The home is original, vintage 1950. It looks like the third bedroom was added years ago. Properties like this one have been selling quickly and usually over asking price. You have until 5 PM Monday, March 4th to submit your offer.

In Liberty Village, where homes are generally well maintained, the deteriorating house next door at 1400 Lynngrove is creating an "eyesore discount." Who knows how long it will remain, but it can't last forever. A little farther down the block there is a brand new house being built.

742 Rosecrans Ave. Open SUN 1-4 ($700,000, 3br/1ba, 883sf, listed by Allison Snider - South Bay Brokers). Currently this is the lowest priced home for sale in Manhattan Beach. The listing is so new, there was no chance to preview it before this weekend. But, from the MLS we can tell it is a small house on a small lot (3,711 square feet) on a busy street across from the refinery. Access to the one-car garage is from the alley at 36th Place. There is room to park another car next to the garage. With a patio, fire pit and grassy area in the front yard, that is the place for outdoor entertaining. The house was built in 1955 and it has hardwood floors. The listing suggests that it "is a bit of a fixer but has great bones."  

If you are ready to take the next step to find your home in Manhattan Beach, call Janie Nagy 310-707-8762.