Among the most modest homes you'll find in Manhattan Beach real estate are the old 3br cottages.
In the postwar boom, that was the basic home style, so many date back to the 1940s and 50s, originally.
In the time since, a lot has happened in Manhattan Beach.
Sometimes these old cottages are only prized for the dirt underneath them. But often, you'll see there is still plenty of interest in a simple 3 bedroom house that's "just enough" for a family, and "not too much" on price.
We'll take a look here at some 3br cottage sales in East Manhattan Beach, where it seems 3br homes are less endangered -- that is, more likely to be restored/updated than razed for new construction.
East of Sepulveda, many lots are 7500 sqft. (mainly in the Mira Costa section), but those are not our focus. (Once again, this is because land value for a 7500 sqft. plot tends to skew the market toward teardowns.)
We're going to focus on those on modest 5000 sqft. lots.
Recent East MB Sales of 3br Homes on ~5000 sqft. Lots
1650 22nd (3br/2ba, 1265 sqft.) is on a corner lot that's just about 5000 sqft.
Its sale last week at $1.620M came after multiple offers drove up the price $125K.
That's just short of $1,300/PSF.
The 1952 build was sleekly modernized as a flipper project in 2014. (It sold in July 2014 for $1.195M. The buyers from then added a spa, great landscaping and more.)
Do check out the full set of photos. That was a special offering. Even more impressive: The potential liability of busy Redondo Ave. in front did not hold back the interest or the pricing.
Closer to Pennekamp and Mira Costa, there was just a sale at 114 S. Herrin (3br/2ba, 1600 sqft.).
It has closed for $1.595M.
It was also an overbid situation (+$45K over asking).
Lot size is smaller than usual, just about 4300 sqft.
There have been nice renovations to this home, though the kitchen still wants an update. That is to say, there's still upside.
A few blocks east, on a quiet block at 1757 5th (3br/3ba, 1175 sqft.), they just sold a 3br for $1.550M.
Picture that: 3 baths within less than 1200 sqft.
The recently updated home clocked in at $1,323/PSF. This one is on a 5000 sqft. lot.
You want another small one with a high PPSF?
Look at 1345 11th (3br/1ba, 1075 sqft.).
That's just one bathroom! In the olden days, that was fine.
Overall, the home is nicely renovated inside, if original in floorplan. The outdoor areas want some updates.
Sale price: $1.370M in July this year.
It was another overbid situation, with this one selling $71K over asking.
That's $1,273/PSF. And still just one bathroom.
Over in Liberty Village, there are 3 recent sales to look at, all on Manzanita:
1505 Manzanita (3br/2ba, 1350 sqft.) was recently updated for resale.
They opened up the walls, modernized the kitchen and baths, and gave the interior the look of a modern, beachy cottage.
Sale price: $1.565M. And that's $1,166/PSF.
1908 Manzanita (3br/2ba, 1625 sqft.) was not updated. The listing enticed buyers to come "[t]ake a step back in time" to see how things used to be circa 1969 -- a casual dining booth crafted with orange vinyl, bright 1960s wallpaper and wood paneling being among the period details. (See more photos here.)
Upgradeable, the home sold for $1.477M.
And the biggest sale on Manzanita recently was 1604 Manzanita (3br/2ba, 1470 sqft.).
This one's a little bigger than 1505, a block away, the major modern remodel.
It's updated and opened up, but not nearly as modern as 1505.
Sale price: $1.605M and $1,093/PSF.
Yes, that was an overbid situation, too. Sale price jumped $46K over asking.
There are a couple more eye-openers from just the past few months. (Every sale in this post is less than 6 months old.)
Look at 1806 Marine.
That's the 1800 block.
It's Marine.
OK, you got that.
This home was almost like new construction.. a truly complete remodel. It has 3br/3ba, 1600 sqft. on a 5075 sqft. lot.
The sale price: $1.700M.
That's $1,061/PSF on Marine. Wow.
And on a different street with some traffic, look to 1510 2nd.
At 1510 2nd (3br/2ba, 1515 sqft.), the lot size is just 4800 sqft.
The 1961 cottage had been upgraded at some point by opening up the walls to the kitchen, and bringing the kitchen and bath more current. They were aging again, however, falling behind in style.
This one sold in March for $1.460M.
Surely, that was too much for land alone. The full-size Mira Costa lots (7500 sqft.) are going in the $1.5-$1.6M range.
So there was value in the cottage, right?
Alas, over the past week, a demo crew has razed the house for new construction, after all. It's gone.
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Below you can browse all closed sales of East Manhattan 3br cottages, latest sales first.
The data here go back a little more than a year, to November 2017. (Email readers will need to view this post online to see the listings display.)
East Manhattan 3BR Sales (Lot Sizes < 6000 sqft.)
(Click any photo to see the whole property.)