March 2011 
There are 22 blog entries for March 2011.
March to the Beach
Thursday, March 31st, 2011 at 9:07pm. 172 Views, 0 Comments.
74 degrees, clear and dry... that makes for the first beach day of the Spring – on the last day of March, and baseball's Opening Day, no less.Here's a quick snapshot from the MB pier in early afternoon. Crowds may swell further when school lets out.
Our hearts go out to the droves and droves of people who, apparently having no gainful employment, made their way to the sand instead of a cubicle somewhere.
On tap tomorrow on the other coast: A "late season Nor'easter," with 7 states facing winter storm warnings.
Winter what?
New Walkstreet Markups
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 10:45pm. 139 Views, 0 Comments.
Looks like we could spend a good chunk of the week discussing various walkstreet homes and the extra money they're seeking now.
This week there's one bogus re-list price increase with a clock reset at 224 34th (4br/4ba, 3700 sq. ft.), which has been on public offer since January.
We took note of the listing when it was new because it's a 2006 (peak-year) purchase looking for a 2011 resale for slightly more than was paid 5 years ago. (See "Not Rewinding on 34th.") If they were to pull that off, it'd be some kind of news, with most resales these days closer to 2004 prices.
Here's the recent history:
This week there's one bogus re-list price increase with a clock reset at 224 34th (4br/4ba, 3700 sq. ft.), which has been on public offer since January.We took note of the listing when it was new because it's a 2006 (peak-year) purchase looking for a 2011 resale for slightly more than was paid 5 years ago. (See "Not Rewinding on 34th.") If they were to pull that off, it'd be some kind of news, with most resales these days closer to 2004 prices.
Here's the recent history:
- Aug. 2006 sale price (public records): $2.925m
- Sept. 2006 sale price (MLS): $3.000m (inflated for reporting purposes because buyer's agent did not take a
Markup for a Walkstreet Lot-Plus
Monday, March 28th, 2011 at 9:10pm. 163 Views, 0 Comments.
Our natural skepticism was on display a few weeks back as we took a look at 324 8th, a 1-1/2-size lot (4050 sq. ft.) on a flat walkstreet near downtown.In "Flat But Up," we noted that the next-door lot at 316 8th – same unusually large size – had sold for $2.150m in Sept. 2009. It's now a construction site. When they finish the home there, it could be worth $4m or more.
So here came 324 8th, set in off Crest by one (and a half) lot(s), asking for 21% more than the neighboring lot had gone for, with a start at $2.6m.
A deal posted last week at 324. From what we're hearing, the sellers got a bump over the corner-lot neighbor's price, but not quite the huge bite they were looking for.
Though we haven't got the actual deal price, we'll expect something nearer to…
Sunday Opens (3/27)
Sunday, March 27th, 2011 at 2:40pm. 139 Views, 0 Comments.
It's Sunday, Sunday – before that came Saturday and Friday, Friday – and it's time to decide on a seat as you make your way out to some opens.
So many of last week's open houses were washed out by last week's hurricane high-intensity rains, it's as if people were spooked from debuting new offerings this week.
Well, the forecast is somewhat better, and this week may be the first chance, practically, to see some homes that were first on the board a week ago. We'll reprise our writeups on a few listings from last week for that very reason.
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.
As…
So many of last week's open houses were washed out by last week's hurricane high-intensity rains, it's as if people were spooked from debuting new offerings this week.
Well, the forecast is somewhat better, and this week may be the first chance, practically, to see some homes that were first on the board a week ago. We'll reprise our writeups on a few listings from last week for that very reason.
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.
As…
Do-Overs in the Hills
Friday, March 25th, 2011 at 3:03pm. 165 Views, 0 Comments.
You've seen them before, now you're seeing them again.
Three "new" listings in the Hill Section are familiar to some degree. Will they have greater success finding buyers this time?
913 Highview (3br/4ba, 2360 sq. ft.) has location going for it, and size working against it.
We called it "elegant" at some point during its previous 500+ DOM, which spanned June 2009-Nov. 2010. MBC readers have reported back positively on the home, too, though with reservations as to its overall size.
The location offers a peek at the ocean along with treetop views, plus the increasingly coveted quick walk to downtown and the beach.
The issue in past listings of 913 Highview has always been price. It was purchased for $1.910m in Feb. 2005, but made its first splash on the market…
Three "new" listings in the Hill Section are familiar to some degree. Will they have greater success finding buyers this time?
913 Highview (3br/4ba, 2360 sq. ft.) has location going for it, and size working against it. We called it "elegant" at some point during its previous 500+ DOM, which spanned June 2009-Nov. 2010. MBC readers have reported back positively on the home, too, though with reservations as to its overall size.
The location offers a peek at the ocean along with treetop views, plus the increasingly coveted quick walk to downtown and the beach.
The issue in past listings of 913 Highview has always been price. It was purchased for $1.910m in Feb. 2005, but made its first splash on the market…
South End Options Surprise
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 8:19pm. 139 Views, 0 Comments.
Looks like your blog author may need to munch on some plastic some day soon.
It was not quite 3 weeks ago when we posted "South End Options Diverge," taking some approving note of a price cut at 424 3rd (to $1.695m) and suggesting that nearby 204 Morningside was substantially overpriced at $1.895m.
Feeling somewhat confident about that Morningside opinion, we said: "Your blog author might have to make a lunch out of his keyboard if Morningside sells close to that start price."
Well, 10 days later, 204 Morningside posted a deal, and this past Sunday, the more easily anticipated deal at 424 3rd posted as well.
So both homes are now in escrow, and the question regarding the Morningside listing is becoming something like: "How do you…
It was not quite 3 weeks ago when we posted "South End Options Diverge," taking some approving note of a price cut at 424 3rd (to $1.695m) and suggesting that nearby 204 Morningside was substantially overpriced at $1.895m.
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| 204 Morningside Dr. |
Well, 10 days later, 204 Morningside posted a deal, and this past Sunday, the more easily anticipated deal at 424 3rd posted as well.
So both homes are now in escrow, and the question regarding the Morningside listing is becoming something like: "How do you…
Letter: Fmr. City Mgr. 'Very Drunk' in 'Disruptive' Incident
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at 10:25pm. 169 Views, 0 Comments.
Since it happened in December 2009, the abrupt resignation of former MB City Manager Geoff Dolan has been something of a mystery, though the decision has always been called "mutual" between the city and its longtime former head. (See, for instance, "Dolan to receive $195,000 in severance," Easy Reader, Jan. 6, 2010.)
A set of documents released publicly today for the first time, and available online here at MBC within about an hour of release, sheds some light on what may have prompted the former city manager to skip town.
Earlier this year, it became known that an "anonymous letter" addressed to then-Mayor Portia Cohen and others was apparently received prior to Dolan's resignation, and it appeared likely to contain details that would be relevant to the…
A set of documents released publicly today for the first time, and available online here at MBC within about an hour of release, sheds some light on what may have prompted the former city manager to skip town.
Earlier this year, it became known that an "anonymous letter" addressed to then-Mayor Portia Cohen and others was apparently received prior to Dolan's resignation, and it appeared likely to contain details that would be relevant to the…
Andalucian at Poinsettia Makes a Deal
Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 10:07pm. 153 Views, 0 Comments.
The custom home at the corner of 2nd and Poinsettia in the Hill Section has been called Andalucian, Montecito and just plain Spanish.
Soon, it will also – finally – be called "home" by a buyer who has come along nearly 3 years after the home was first offered for sale.
Here at MBC, where we've been noting the progress of 114 N. Poinsettia (5br/6ba, 6400 sq. ft., including basement) since its first launch, we've called the home, simply, "beautiful," and its views special. But we've fretted rather openly that the home was dramatically overpriced at times.
The listing came out at $7.750m in May 2008, which will really look incredible when you see where it's been since.
MBC readers voted the home the most likely, out of 3 high-dollar listings current in August…
Soon, it will also – finally – be called "home" by a buyer who has come along nearly 3 years after the home was first offered for sale.
Here at MBC, where we've been noting the progress of 114 N. Poinsettia (5br/6ba, 6400 sq. ft., including basement) since its first launch, we've called the home, simply, "beautiful," and its views special. But we've fretted rather openly that the home was dramatically overpriced at times. The listing came out at $7.750m in May 2008, which will really look incredible when you see where it's been since.
MBC readers voted the home the most likely, out of 3 high-dollar listings current in August…
Weekend Opens (3/19-3/20)
Saturday, March 19th, 2011 at 8:02pm. 154 Views, 0 Comments.
As the inventory starts to really grow now, the week's debuts are heavy with interesting, higher-priced homes in the Tree Section.
A few of this week's listings are quite near each other, so you may find it easy to dash from one to the other, whatever the weather may be.
There's a little something extra for your weekend reading over in the new South Bay Confidential column in the Daily Breeze. This week the column follows up on how last week's calamities impacted some local open houses.
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.
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics…
A few of this week's listings are quite near each other, so you may find it easy to dash from one to the other, whatever the weather may be.
There's a little something extra for your weekend reading over in the new South Bay Confidential column in the Daily Breeze. This week the column follows up on how last week's calamities impacted some local open houses.
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.
As always, click on any highlighted address for more pics…
When/How Readers Learned of the Tsunami
Friday, March 18th, 2011 at 2:32pm. 216 Views, 0 Comments.
Our thanks go to MBC readers for participating in a poll that may have seemed a bit off-topic, less so the closer you happen to live to the beach.
We were curious how people got information about last Friday's tsunami warning, and if that information was timely. Officially, the first waves were expected at about 8:30am.
The responses we got provide some interesting insight into media habits, while showing that nearly 9 out of 10 poll respondents did receive timely warning through whatever means.
Let's look first at how people got the news.
If you work in a field related to mass com- munications (as your blog author does in his "real job"), the dominance of TV as an information source should be no surprise. Yes, the internet is big and ever-present, but the…
We were curious how people got information about last Friday's tsunami warning, and if that information was timely. Officially, the first waves were expected at about 8:30am.
The responses we got provide some interesting insight into media habits, while showing that nearly 9 out of 10 poll respondents did receive timely warning through whatever means.
Let's look first at how people got the news. If you work in a field related to mass com- munications (as your blog author does in his "real job"), the dominance of TV as an information source should be no surprise. Yes, the internet is big and ever-present, but the…
