Real estate and homes for sale in the South Bay

Homes in the Beach Cities and South Bay

Hermosa Beach Ed Foundation Raises a Record $1.3M

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As a Hermosa Beach parent and a proud supporter of the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation we wanted to pass along the good news from the good folks at the HBEF.

See information on Hermosa Beach schools.

 

Hermosa Beach Education Foundation (HBEF) President Carol Kluthe announced the organization’s 2018-19 fiscal year end results at $1.34M gross and $1.25M net. These results surpass HBEF’s 2018-19 fundraising goal of $1.2M, and are 20% ahead of last year’s efforts and 17% ahead of the best year on record for HBEF.

At the School Board meeting on July 10th, Kluthe presented a check for $1.1M, the largest amount ever presented by HBEF to the schools. The bulk of HBEF’s donations come from its Annual Giving fundraising efforts, combined with events like Skechers Walk and Hearts of Hermosa, sponsorships from the business community and new grant money received this year.

With the dollars, HBEF is fully funding again for next year every teacher for the district’s popular enrichment programs such as Sparks and Idea Lab, librarians, music teacher, PE, and Middle School electives like Art, Spanish, Tech, and STEAM.

With the additional money raised this year, HBEF will be funding a new Assistant Principal at Valley School who will have a social-emotional wellness focus for the district. Spanish will roll out to 7th grade students in their wheel of electives providing every 7th grade child an opportunity to learn the basics of the language and culture.  New computers in STEM Labs were supported by a grant from HBEF, along with the newly created teacher Google Certification Fund, the new bereavement fund, and mid-year grants to district for art and Accelerated Reader & Math programs.

 

HBEF also made a contribution to its endowment of $100,000 bringing the endowment’s market value to $2.5M.

 

“HBEF exists to fill a large gap in funding, but our passion is to help drive the quality of education in this community,” said Kluthe. “I am incredibly proud of the HBEF team, our volunteers, the Hermosa community, parents, staff, and the local businesses and sponsors who were there with us every step of the way. We truly raised the bar, and I could not be more excited for where we are heading.”

 

A Complete List of 2019-20 Funding by HBEF Includes:

  • Salaries of 9 Educators
  • New Assistant Principal with social-emotional district focus
  • Accelerated Reader & Math program for both 2018-19 and 2019-20
  • Additional funds needed for new computers in STEM labs
  • A newly created Teacher Google certification fund
  • A new bereavement fund for students who have lost a sibling or parent to aid with tutoring or counseling.
  • $100, 000 to the HBEF Endowment

 

Coming Soon – Luxury Home for Sale 1510 E Oak El Segundo

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Welcome to the good life in El Segundo.  This beautiful home, built in 2011 and meticulously maintained, offers the finest in coastal luxury living.  1510 E Oak sits on a 6,582 foot lot in the heart of El Segundo.  Enjoy high end finishes throughout from the gleaming hardwood floors, spacious gourmet kitchen, grand entryway and more.  Top of the line Viking appliances in the gourmet kitchen with lovely bay window showcasing lush landscape and artificial turf. Beautiful hardwoods, granite counters and spacious bedrooms with ceiling fans and built-ins. Fantastic location near Washington Park and the quaint downtown area. Perfectly placed on a beautiful tree-lined street with covered back patio, fireplace, built in spa and barbecue area.

  • Price:  $2,300,000
  • 5 bedroom, 6 baths
  • 3,822 square feet
  • 6,582 foot loot
  • hardwood floors
  • Gourmet kitchen

Contact listing agent Keith Kyle with Vista Sotheby’s International via phone, text, or email for details or to set up a private showing before it hits the market.

1510 E Oak Photo Gallery

     

Built in 2012 & meticulously maintained, this beautiful home offers the finest in coastal luxury living. Enjoy 5 spacious bedrooms, each with ensuite bath & over 3,800 square feet of living space. Enter through the double doors with etched glass to the luxurious foyer & grand staircase. The formal living room offers a multitude of uses and features vaulted ceilings, fireplace & outdoor patio.  Perfect for entertaining, the incredible great room opens to the formal dining room, kitchen & backyard patio. The gourmet kitchen is a chef’s dream with top of the line Viking Professional stainless appliance, 6 burner stove, side by side refrigerator beautiful granite, gleaming cabinetry & more. Off of the great room sits a main level ensuite bedroom ideal for guests. Head upstairs to 4 spacious bedrooms all bathed in natural light. The spacious master bedroom is simply incredible with vaulted ceilings, private balcony, fireplace & more. The master bath is something to behold with soaking tub, huge shower and beautiful vanity area. 3 additional bedrooms, each with a private bath offer plenty of room for friends and family.

Design Dilemas When Remodeling a Home

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Homeowner’s often love to remodel and it’s usually money well spent.  That’s not always the case.  Many times we’ll walk through a home and what the seller or owner thinks should increase the value will actually do just the same.  Sometimes it may be something that was trendy at the time and then sometimes it’s just a remodel that never had resale value in mind.  Here are some ideas that didn’t hold up to the test of time.

Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach

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Excercise and Fun at Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach

Who would have thought that in a town with a seemingly endless beautiful sand beach, one of the best places to go get some exercise would be on a hill….or more precisely a big sand dune. As there is some structure or another on just about every part of Manhattan Beach, most people are unaware that the hills we see and live on along the coast are really just big sand dunes. One great place to find this out is a small park just North of Rosecrans known as Sand Dune Park. The park is certainly aptly named as the main feature of the park is a big 100 foot high sand dune. As if running through sand isn’t difficult enough….try it on a big slope! The dune isn’t all that long but it sure feels that way about half way up the slop. It’s a fantastic way to get some quick exercise while enjoying the weather outdoors. It’s better than any stairmaster and certainly much better for the knees.

In addition to being a great workout for you, it’s a great place to bring the kids. There is a great little playground for the kids with swings and slides, and the city has designated the left side of the hill to be an area for kids to run and play.

Parking can sometimes be a challenge after work hours and during the weekend….and watch out for the streetsweeping signs. The park is located at 33rd and Bell in the Manhattan Tree Section and the park hours are 8:00AM – 7:00PM during daylight savings, and open till 8:00PM the rest of the year. The streets leading to the park and the park itself are nestled in a quiet neighborhood, so please be courteous.

Sand Dune Reservation System (from the city of Manhattan Beach website)

The implementation of the reservation system is expected to help keep the use of the Sand Dune at a sustainable level for the neighborhood and reduce maintenance costs. The next time you visit the Sand Dune, you may also notice some fencing along the north edge that is in place to protect a vegetative colony of a native, but very rare, flower called the Orcutt’s Yellow Pincushion. The Manhattan Beach Sand Dune Park is a treasure for many people and purposes and we hope that you will use and enjoy it respectfully! Sand Dune reservations cannot be made over the phone or in person, they must be made online, including payment.

Sand Dune Fees:
Manhattan Beach Residents: $1.05
Non-Manhattan Beach Residents: $3.16

SEASON SAND DUNE RESERVATION TIME SLOTS
Winter
(November 7th through January 31st)		 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM*
*3:00 PM time slot is 1.5 hours long to accommodate daylight saving time.
Spring
(February 1st through March 12th)		 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM,
4:30 PM
Late Spring/Summer
(March 13th through September 30th)		 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM,
4:30 PM, 6:00 PM
Fall
(October 1st through November 6th)		 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM,
4:30 PM

 

  • Reservation Rules
    • Making a reservation will ensure a full hour of dune usage if patron arrives on time.
    • Patron must be present within the first 10 minutes of the reservation time with their picture ID.
    • If patron has not arrived within 10 minutes of the reservation, the reservation slot will be released to older adults (age 55+), Sand Dune Membership holders, active public safety officials, or military personnel (both active and retired).
    • Personal training of any kind is strictly prohibited. M.B.M.C 12.48.054
  • Patrons 13 and over
    • All patrons age 13 and over must have a reservation to use the dune. M.B.M.C.12.48.100.
    • Reservation times are for one hour only, per day, per patron.
  • Children 12 and under
    • The dune and dune family play area are open seven (7) days a week from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM for all children 12 and under only; no reservation required.
    • All children five (5) and under require full-time adult supervision in the family play area. M.B.M.C.12.48.054
    • The use of any substance or device other than standard cardboard for sliding down the dune by children only is prohibited. M.B.M.C.12.48.053.
    • No more than 20 children allowed on the dune at a time. M.B.M.C. 12.48.054
  • Walk-Up Hours
    • Older Adults (55+), Active Public Safety officials, or Military Personnel (both active and retired) may use the dune on a walk up basis, no reservation needed.
    • In order to ensure online reservations are honored, walk-up participants will be allowed on the dune 10 minutes after each reservation time slots if it has not reached its capacity of 20 people.
    • A picture ID with date of birth must be presented and will be checked to verify age/employment status (if military or public safety).
    • Walk up hours entitle participants to 50 minutes of dune usage
  • Sand Dune Membership
    Beginning January 2015, monthly memberships for use of the Sand Dune will be available year-round for purchase. Monthly memberships can be purchased one month at a time, or all at once for the year. Previous rules regarding usage of the Sand Dune still apply:
    • A monthly Sand Dune membership will be sold for those interested in using the dune multiple times
    • In order to ensure online reservations are honored, Sand Dune Members will be allowed on the dune 10 minutes after each reservation time slot if it has not reached its capacity of 20 people
    • A picture ID must be presented and will be checked

Redondo Beach 2 on a Lot Townhomes Explained

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Something fairly unique to real estate in Redondo Beach is what’s known as two on a lot townhomes.  When most people think of townhomes they envision a row of identical looking homes with shared walls, lots of neighbors, and a big HOA.  Redondo Beach 2 on a lot townhomes are dramatically different and many buyers from out of the area have trouble wrapping their heads around what this means.

See the current two on a lot townhomes for sale

Simply put a 2 on a lot townhome is a property in which the owner “owns” their home but instead of owning the lot or land outright…they own a 50% share of the lot.  When many of the original homes were built in Redondo Beach, the homes often enjoyed great lots of 7500 feet.  The original homes were simply beach bungalows or small duplexes.  As these R2 lots began to dramatically increase in value they were often purchased by builders looking to increase their return by building two homes on the lot.  Technically considered townhomes, or even condos due to the fact that the land is “shared” by the members of the homeowners association, for almost all intents and purposes they look and feel like single family homes.  See also 3 on a lot townhomes” in Redondo Beach.

Aerial View of 2 two on a lot townhome buildings. Closer home is attached and rear 2 are detached

Whereas a standard single family home priced around $1,400,000 may be 3 bed/2 bath and about 1600 feet and built in the 1950’s, these detached townhomes are generally newer, nicer and larger and often have 4 bedrooms, 3 or 4 bathrooms, 2000+ square feet and the built within the last 15 years.  They also often have all of the luxury finishes, such as master suites with walk in closets and jacuzzi tubs, gourmet kitchens with granite counters and stainless appliances, hardwood floors, recessed lights and laundry rooms.  In addition they have attached garages and most have smaller yards.

Other than the architecture and often a shared driveway they really do feel like single family homes.  As the “association” is simply comprised of the two neighbors the formalities are often only shared insurance and shared landscaping.   Sometimes even those are handled by the separate owners and for all intents and purposes it lives like a single family home.  As the structures are not attached responsibilty for upkeep often falls on the individual owner which limits some of the usual “HOA” challenges and annoyances.  Keep in mind that the HOA can never be disolved, but are often so informal they exist in legality only.  Both front and back homes are generally equally sought after as the front unit is often brighter but sits in front of the driveway the rear unit uses, while the back unit often has a bit more sense of privacy and often has a slightly larger yard.

Current Townhomes for Sale in North Redondo Beach

3 on a Lot Townhome – Redondo Beach Real Estate

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One of the property types fairly unique to Redondo Beach is the “3 on a lot” townhome. When most buyers, especially those coming from out of the area, think of a townhome they picture endless rows of identical looking houses. Many buyers reach out to me looking for a single family home in the area, but unfortunately, can’t always afford single family homes in Redondo Beach. I often recommend that they consider a townhome as they’ll generally get nicer, newer, larger and better location for a lower price. Most of the time this idea is quickly rejected but once I show them the concept of a “two on a lot” or “three on a lot” they become far more interested. A great number of the lots in North Redondo are fairly large for the area at 50×150. These lots originally had some type of bungalow or duplex built in the 50s and many were long ago sold and knocked down. Due to zoning rules in Redondo Beach, what replaced them were most often townhomes.   A “3 on a lot” townhome is a building in which 3 units share the lot.

These 3 on a lot townhomes are always connected, unlike some 2 on a lot situation, with shared walls between the front unit and middle, and back unit and middle. The most common details of the units are:

  • Front Unit – usually has some type of front yard that, while technically often “common use” areas, they are generally used only by the front owner. The units often have square footage of 1700-1900, 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath, at least one balcony, attached garage and one shared wall (garage below and often living room above. Most often there are two bedrooms and 1 bath downstairs, with the master bedroom, living room and kitchen upstairs. These units are often the brightest but also front the street.
  • Middle Unit – The middle unit is often the least expensive of the three units due to the multiple shared walls and no yard. Square footage is often between 1700-2000 square feet and either has the same configuration as above, or often times has 4 bedrooms with 2 downstairs, master upstairs and a very small 4th bedroom upstairs. Living room is often smaller in the middle unit.
  • Rear Unit – Usually the most expensive as they almost always have some type of private yard in back. Configuration is often the same as the front unit, but usually some type of sliding doors/French doors from one or both of the downstairs bedrooms accessing the backyard.

One aspect that many buyers find difficult to accept is the fact that there is an HOA. Unlike large complexes with management companies, HOA board meetings etc., the HOA on a 3 on a lot can be very low key and sometimes not even active. As the 3 owners collectively own a portion of the land, the HOA cannot be dissolved but in many cases it is inactive. In general they are informal affairs with the minimal HOA fees (often around $175 a month) covering landscaping and shared insurance and each owner covering maintenance, and other items separately. As with any property not wholly owned there are possible challenges and frustrations as owners (just like neighbors) don’t always see eye to eye on fixes, repairs like termite work, roof fixes, etc. Overall the benefit of the townhouse concept is that the same price that may purchase a 1100 foot 2 or 3 bed 1 bath house in need of work, can purchase a 1800 foot 3 bedroom 3 bath townhome that’s far newer. Real estate purchases almost always involve compromises and priorities and depending on just what’s important to a buyer in Redondo Beach, a 3 on a lot townhome might be an ideal fit.

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