October 2010 
There are 17 blog entries for October 2010.
Hallo-weekend Opens (10/30-10/31)
Saturday, October 30th, 2010 at 5:08pm. 140 Views, 0 Comments.
They really should give people off Monday when Halloween falls on a Sunday. But no.
So here's looking forward to a rough Monday when he kids are crashing, the grownups are remembering they're not in their 20s anymore, and hopefully you're not picking up after someone's "tricks" on top of all that.
You think the weekend's all about costumes and candy? Don't miss a couple of the new offerings in town before you snap those batteries into your LED candles.
To plan out your weekend tours, try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach Reporter list of opens (which may not be as complete).
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics &…
So here's looking forward to a rough Monday when he kids are crashing, the grownups are remembering they're not in their 20s anymore, and hopefully you're not picking up after someone's "tricks" on top of all that.
You think the weekend's all about costumes and candy? Don't miss a couple of the new offerings in town before you snap those batteries into your LED candles.
To plan out your weekend tours, try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach Reporter list of opens (which may not be as complete).
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics &…
Current DOM Champs
Thursday, October 28th, 2010 at 6:04pm. 170 Views, 0 Comments.
Halloween's approaching, and there's plenty of deadwood – don't be scared! – on the market.
Yesterday we looked at a few listings that were at least trying to draw notice with a cut or two (of the non-bloody variety). Here we ask who's lingered the longest, whatever cuts they've made. Will this be the year for any of them?
Nearly 500 DOM
We had almost forgotten that 913 Highview was still on the market. Maybe buyers have, too.
MBC's last major reference to the property was in early December 2009, noting that it "looks like it'll hang around for the holidays, and sometimes that means the sellers mean to make a deal at some point."
"At some point" – we weren't thinking Christmas 2010 at the time.
The home is elegant, newer (2004 build) but relatively compact…
Yesterday we looked at a few listings that were at least trying to draw notice with a cut or two (of the non-bloody variety). Here we ask who's lingered the longest, whatever cuts they've made. Will this be the year for any of them?
Nearly 500 DOM
We had almost forgotten that 913 Highview was still on the market. Maybe buyers have, too. MBC's last major reference to the property was in early December 2009, noting that it "looks like it'll hang around for the holidays, and sometimes that means the sellers mean to make a deal at some point."
"At some point" – we weren't thinking Christmas 2010 at the time.
The home is elegant, newer (2004 build) but relatively compact…
Not Settling In
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at 4:01am. 185 Views, 0 Comments.
If you're still on the market at Halloween, you've got issues. Linger past December 1, and buyers know you mean to sell, though your price may not have hit the bargaining stage yet.
A few newer price chops hint at real motivation by some sellers. But will they be enough to close 2010 with a title transfer?
3116 Manhattan Ave. (3br/3ba, 3300 sq. ft.) has cut 24% from its overly ambitious start at $3.1m, returning recently at $2.350m after a flopped deal.
As MBC said in our first reference, the home:
offers big ocean views, yet tends toward the wacky, with a remodel of a 1940s home that's got odd angles, decor and that rarest of MB finds: an indoor tree. The garage-door mural is yet another bonus.
513 17th (3br/3ba, 1700 sq. ft.) earned mention as…
A few newer price chops hint at real motivation by some sellers. But will they be enough to close 2010 with a title transfer?
3116 Manhattan Ave. (3br/3ba, 3300 sq. ft.) has cut 24% from its overly ambitious start at $3.1m, returning recently at $2.350m after a flopped deal. As MBC said in our first reference, the home:
offers big ocean views, yet tends toward the wacky, with a remodel of a 1940s home that's got odd angles, decor and that rarest of MB finds: an indoor tree. The garage-door mural is yet another bonus.
513 17th (3br/3ba, 1700 sq. ft.) earned mention as…Surprises Here in the 4th Qtr.
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 at 4:12am. 118 Views, 0 Comments.
Among the most recent crop of new deals are a few mild surprises, some bigger surprises, and some just simply good deals that don't hold that level of intrigue, but are interesting nonetheless.
Just about the least surprising recent sale was someone's quick grab of 594 29th (3br/2ba, 1425 sq. ft.), the major fixer that MBC pointed to in a recent "Weekend Opens."
We noted that the public viewing was to be the most cluttered and "borderline dangerous" open you'd be likely to attend, due to the excessive clutter left behind by the (dear departed) owners.
The attraction? As we said just 2 weeks ago:
Though the home's packed with junk, the paint and carpets old, the windows questionable, the yard overgrown and crowded, somehow, it's fairly easy to see through…
Just about the least surprising recent sale was someone's quick grab of 594 29th (3br/2ba, 1425 sq. ft.), the major fixer that MBC pointed to in a recent "Weekend Opens."We noted that the public viewing was to be the most cluttered and "borderline dangerous" open you'd be likely to attend, due to the excessive clutter left behind by the (dear departed) owners.
The attraction? As we said just 2 weeks ago:
Though the home's packed with junk, the paint and carpets old, the windows questionable, the yard overgrown and crowded, somehow, it's fairly easy to see through…
Sunday Opens (10/24)
Sunday, October 24th, 2010 at 4:02pm. 145 Views, 0 Comments.
People seem to make way for the pumpkins.
One way that's expressed is a new, unwritten rule: Don't debut an open house when the pumpkins are running.
This weekend marks the first we've seen in a while with nothing new under the sun (or clouds), though there are plenty of familiar offerings this weekend worth a look. Below is a small selection from among those which seem to be worth a tour if you haven't yet dropped in.
To plan out your weekend tours, try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach Reporter list of opens (which may not be as complete).
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics & details via Redfin. We ask MBC…
One way that's expressed is a new, unwritten rule: Don't debut an open house when the pumpkins are running.
This weekend marks the first we've seen in a while with nothing new under the sun (or clouds), though there are plenty of familiar offerings this weekend worth a look. Below is a small selection from among those which seem to be worth a tour if you haven't yet dropped in.
To plan out your weekend tours, try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach Reporter list of opens (which may not be as complete).
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics & details via Redfin. We ask MBC…
Creepy Carrie Hawks an HB Listing
Friday, October 22nd, 2010 at 2:25pm. 181 Views, 0 Comments.
Just the other day we critiqued some, er, creativity on the part of a listing agent – adding an imaginary pool to a set of listing pics.
At least that move was intended to help sell the house.
In a Hermosa listing that's just hit the MBC radar, a series of creepy pics may make you want to run, not walk, away from the home in question. And here, it would be no surprise to find that the listing pics were submitted by the owner.
Halloween comes early at 941 13th in Hermosa.
Allow us to introduce you to Creepy Carrie, the life-size doll who appears in 15 of the 25 listing photos.
If you dare scan the whole listing, you'll find Carrie lounging in bathtubs, standing on the wet bar, curtseying at the fireplace, scaling the shoe rack in the walk-in closet, and, of…
At least that move was intended to help sell the house.
In a Hermosa listing that's just hit the MBC radar, a series of creepy pics may make you want to run, not walk, away from the home in question. And here, it would be no surprise to find that the listing pics were submitted by the owner.Halloween comes early at 941 13th in Hermosa.
Allow us to introduce you to Creepy Carrie, the life-size doll who appears in 15 of the 25 listing photos.
If you dare scan the whole listing, you'll find Carrie lounging in bathtubs, standing on the wet bar, curtseying at the fireplace, scaling the shoe rack in the walk-in closet, and, of…
Sept. Sales Were Up, Medians Down
Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 4:06pm. 149 Views, 0 Comments.
The year 2010 has seemed to feature a drumbeat of positive news about local RE.
But the close of the third quarter tamped that down a bit.
Two months ago, MBC published a stream of data tied to the closing of July 2010, when MB seemed to buck several local and national trends. (See "July '10 Sales in MB.") We looked at July by itself, and grouped July with the 2 prior months to look at trends with a bigger n-size. One comment from that post:
More sales month-to-month and year-over-year, plus a rising median price? That's the trifecta. Maybe the most startling conclusion: when we looked at the biggest possible selection of data, covering all sales of SFRs, THs and condos in all of MB in a 3-month period (May-July), we found a 17% rise in MB's median price…
But the close of the third quarter tamped that down a bit.
Two months ago, MBC published a stream of data tied to the closing of July 2010, when MB seemed to buck several local and national trends. (See "July '10 Sales in MB.") We looked at July by itself, and grouped July with the 2 prior months to look at trends with a bigger n-size. One comment from that post:
More sales month-to-month and year-over-year, plus a rising median price? That's the trifecta. Maybe the most startling conclusion: when we looked at the biggest possible selection of data, covering all sales of SFRs, THs and condos in all of MB in a 3-month period (May-July), we found a 17% rise in MB's median price…
Imagine a Pool
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 at 7:00pm. 145 Views, 0 Comments.
It's one of those rare luxuries – or liabilities – a Manhattan Beach home with a pool.
On our small lots we don't see many pool homes, and not even all the big lots – especially east of the highway – get pools built into them, either.
One East MB listing splits the difference.
At 1310 11th (6br/5ba, 5000 sq. ft.), a behemoth of a mid-90s house, you'll find a pitch that says the home offers a "POOL sized yard," complete with a photo of a pool.
Looking at the listing online via Redfin, or most other public search tools, that's all you see.
So why is the listing saying "pool sized" and the photo shows a pool?
Wouldn't you just say "pool in yard?"
No, you wouldn't, because there is no pool.
Only by examining the printed flyer or looking at the agents' version…
On our small lots we don't see many pool homes, and not even all the big lots – especially east of the highway – get pools built into them, either.
One East MB listing splits the difference.
At 1310 11th (6br/5ba, 5000 sq. ft.), a behemoth of a mid-90s house, you'll find a pitch that says the home offers a "POOL sized yard," complete with a photo of a pool.Looking at the listing online via Redfin, or most other public search tools, that's all you see.
So why is the listing saying "pool sized" and the photo shows a pool?
Wouldn't you just say "pool in yard?"
No, you wouldn't, because there is no pool.
Only by examining the printed flyer or looking at the agents' version…Weekend Opens (10/16-10/17)
Saturday, October 16th, 2010 at 8:00pm. 149 Views, 0 Comments.
Your blog author found himself with out-of-state work that made a Friday visit to open houses impossible. The Friday night period when the "Weekend Opens" feature is often written would be consumed with air travel. What to do?
This week, the solution is: a guest post.
The content below is provided by Janie Sue Nagy, an agent with her own blog who has taken to doing her own weekend summary of new and interesting opens, and we appreciate her work there. She agreed to provide the content below, with edits here and there by MBC.
We think she did a great job. Many thanks!
If you're going out, you can try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach…
This week, the solution is: a guest post.
The content below is provided by Janie Sue Nagy, an agent with her own blog who has taken to doing her own weekend summary of new and interesting opens, and we appreciate her work there. She agreed to provide the content below, with edits here and there by MBC.
We think she did a great job. Many thanks!
If you're going out, you can try this Redfin map list of open houses – you can sort by price or sub-region of MB by clicking the title on a column. Or click here for the more traditional Beach…
Foreclosures, Moratoria and MB
Friday, October 15th, 2010 at 4:02pm. 133 Views, 0 Comments.
About 10 years ago, when your blog author first went house-shopping in MB, one of the first questions we asked a prospective agent was whether he could help us look into some foreclosures.
"Foreclosures? There are no foreclosures in Manhattan Beach," said the agent.
We didn't quite believe him. Though foreclosure-search technology and data were hard to come by then (and our modem was a dial-up), we had access to some data about homeowners in distress and actually knew someone whose business was to "rescue" such folks and resell their houses for a profit. Certainly there were some foreclosures in MB.
We never found a good foreclosure (though we did buy a distressed property that we found ourselves). Still, that agent's response always hung with us.
…
"Foreclosures? There are no foreclosures in Manhattan Beach," said the agent.
We didn't quite believe him. Though foreclosure-search technology and data were hard to come by then (and our modem was a dial-up), we had access to some data about homeowners in distress and actually knew someone whose business was to "rescue" such folks and resell their houses for a profit. Certainly there were some foreclosures in MB.
We never found a good foreclosure (though we did buy a distressed property that we found ourselves). Still, that agent's response always hung with us.
…
