tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post7558494879452887618..comments2009-10-26T10:26:42.135-07:00MBWatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843420698796104143noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-76807275610720487802009-10-26T10:26:42.135-07:002009-10-26T10:26:42.135-07:00900 block of 1st St: 2700 sq.ft. 4 bd/3.5 ba ocean view home on 80X125 (10,00 sq.ft) lot is being sold by Owners, price reduced from $4,000,000 to $3,750,000. The owners got an offer for $4,500,000 two years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-33410817954288924152008-09-10T16:13:00.000-07:002008-09-10T16:13:00.000-07:00And soon to be quite a bit more broke than Manhattan Beach, thanks to Macpherson Oil, unless Ted Lieu can somehow come up with a solution that doesn't look like an ex post facto law.Huggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936978209524717226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-39312729442991918062008-09-10T16:00:00.000-07:002008-09-10T16:00:00.000-07:00Yes they are and HB is not only more affordable but also less snobby.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-2644636613113037752008-09-10T11:32:00.000-07:002008-09-10T11:32:00.000-07:00I don't think shoppingaround sounds like a snob. The fact of the matter is that smaller lots in MB fetch more money that the bigger lots in HB. I love both MB and HB, but they are two different communities. <BR/><BR/>BTW, what's up with Robinson School? Everyone seems to have a HO for it.mbsociopathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01154709173834631780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-78605767920514408422008-09-10T10:40:00.000-07:002008-09-10T10:40:00.000-07:00Shopping Around- Are you saying that the south end of Hermosa is not nice? You sound like a complete snob. Most people would give their right arm to live in any part of Hermosa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-62734443345112882262008-09-09T23:47:00.000-07:002008-09-09T23:47:00.000-07:00Unless you surf. Then it's better to be in the north.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-68947419078431708532008-09-09T23:13:00.000-07:002008-09-09T23:13:00.000-07:00Save your words, grasshopper.<BR/><BR/>South End is quiet. <BR/><BR/>Good night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-90259059241298357402008-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:002008-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:00There's definitely a view that South Sand is superior. My view is that MB residents have underlying perceptions for this: <BR/><BR/>South sand is seen as more "quiet." Yes, it borders Hermosa (but the nice, northern part), while North Sand borders El Porto (yes, still MB, but the almost-in-Chevron's-oil-tanks part). Also, North MB's Rosecrans Ave is a main ingress from the I-405 Freeway. So the north part of town is (at least perceived) to get more "outsider" traffic. (Very bad in MB.) I can't tell you if it's true, but having rented in El Porto when I first moved there, I can confirm that the north end can be very traffic-y, especially in the summer; whether the south is less so, I don't know.<BR/><BR/>While IMHO, all the public elementary schools in MB are very comparable, most parents in each section of town are rabid that "theirs" is the best. Robinson School (the one for So. Sand) probably has a bit more cache for some reason--again, sorry I can't tell you why. So another local "plus" for South.<BR/><BR/>I think another reason that South Sand has more cache is that most people drive through the rather luxurious Hill section to get there. So it "feels' like South is the "better half" of town (vs. the Trees and North Sand).<BR/><BR/>Lastly, the walk streets in the South tend to be flatter, so they are easier to walk (and leave your toys about).shoppingaroundnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-2753368353331700782008-09-09T14:34:00.000-07:002008-09-09T14:34:00.000-07:0012:51<BR/><BR/>yes, you are correct that I know little about MB (that&#39;s why I&#39;m following this blog!), but I don&#39;t quite understand how your statements address my &#39;inquiring mind wants to know&#39; about the big price diff between the north &amp; south sand. Is it just the case of homeowners pricing the house &#39;incorrectly&#39; or is so. sand really worth that much more than no. sand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-31629096341397339742008-09-09T12:51:00.000-07:002008-09-09T12:51:00.000-07:0012:44 p.m.<BR/><BR/>It is clear that you know very little about Manhattan Beach. The South sand area is where all the USC grads live. It's like heaven on earth down there. But unless you are one of them, you won't fit in. They do not accept non USC grads. They make their lives misearable. Actully just by them being there does that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-69835187449989220592008-09-09T12:44:00.000-07:002008-09-09T12:44:00.000-07:00is the south sand area worth 600k~1M more than the north sand area? I am just baffled at the difference in prices: 3020 Alma($1.395) vs 333 3rd($1.999) st &amp; 424 5th street($2.395). Is it the house, is it the elementary school, is it the lot? I&#39;m a bit baffled. With about $600k in the pocket, you can build a nice custom home and send your kids to good private school :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-44465795458195308502008-09-09T10:21:00.000-07:002008-09-09T10:21:00.000-07:00I think Zillow is a fine tool for your typical suburbs throughout the nation, but it really fails for Manhattan Beach.<BR/><BR/>I don't think Zillow takes into account factors like proximity to the sand, ocean views, walk streets, and all the other things that price MB homes differently than most cities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-72059625313959613992008-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:002008-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:00Zillow shows a zestimate of $1.5m for 424 5th. I don't think zillow is a great tool for pricing but it is interesting that it is a million dollar difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-35106915021489608032008-09-09T08:52:00.000-07:002008-09-09T08:52:00.000-07:00408 6th: $2.050m, closed 6/12/08<BR/><BR/>333 3rd is an interesting challenge to 424 5th – 2750 sq. ft. compared to about 1925 on 5th, and $400k less. Of course 3rd is not a walkstreet but if you want the South End and are looking at spending about $2m, 3rd is competitive and 5th is priced like it deserves several premiums on top of each other.MBWatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843420698796104143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-30305893573540129102008-09-09T08:42:00.000-07:002008-09-09T08:42:00.000-07:00isn't the house on 6th sold sometime in June this year? the market has soften since then. There is another house on 333 3rd that is 400k less than 424 5th (it's quite a bigger house too). What gives?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-88624740295038618282008-09-08T20:35:00.000-07:002008-09-08T20:35:00.000-07:00Re: 424 5th, this is a hard one to figure. 2:12, you're right about the lot value for the mid-walk-street lots, but when you pay "lot value" there's an inherent assumption that you're going to be building something on it that is bigger and better. It is worth paying lot value at $2m, plus another $400K, to end up with this beach cottage? Seems like that would be a tough one to swallow for many buyers. I know someone who might have been interested in that house - or the location, at least - but just thought the house was too small to manage. And it's not a teardown. I agree that it will be interesting to watch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-68967868924466000122008-09-08T14:12:00.000-07:002008-09-08T14:12:00.000-07:00Lot values on the south end walk streets are ~$2.0mm for 30x90s in mid-block locations. Look at the house on 6th street that just sold (the one with the "issue" that nobody would discuss). There are several other examples as well. 424 5th should sell around $2.2mm I would think - you have to place some value on the nice cottage they have there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-19266661944330987272008-09-08T10:18:00.000-07:002008-09-08T10:18:00.000-07:00MBWatcher<BR/><BR/>Do you think the owners of 424 5th are serious at that price? I wonder what their situation is. Could they just be testing the market? They will never get that price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-47836653568929889602008-09-08T08:22:00.000-07:002008-09-08T08:22:00.000-07:004:54, I agree with your assessment on 918 10th. The only thing going for this house is its backyard. The size of the house is not a real plus (it's just average for the Hills' section). No view (real minus) and it's on the 'wrong side' of the hill. Isn't 312 S. Dianthus (lower price than 918 10th with Ocean View) a better buy? BTW, what's wrong with 312 S. Dianthus? Seems like a good price for the house and its location, no?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-33309973565771948452008-09-08T07:55:00.000-07:002008-09-08T07:55:00.000-07:00IMHO, 424 5th....at more than $1200/sq ft in today's market ?? It's a cute house but it's LESS than 2000 sq. ft with NO VIEW and in the middle of the block. I think it's a long timer who loves his/her house and don't realize today's market reality. I think it'll linger for awhile till the price comes down substantially to today's price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-87984807250149135022008-09-08T04:58:00.000-07:002008-09-08T04:58:00.000-07:00424 5th IS cute-as-pie, but is it's walk street location worth $800k more? And hasn't the market cooled a bit since March of '07?<BR/><BR/>Seems pricy to me--especially after Labor Day....shoppingaroundnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-50740027683031522822008-09-08T04:54:00.000-07:002008-09-08T04:54:00.000-07:00I saw 918 10th. The house is huge and the lot is really huge. The interior feels very 1980's. Most MB buyers will gut the kitchen and most baths(if not all). The kitchen is also a wide galley-style and the adjoing FR is sunken. So we are talking about a major renovation if you don't like a galley kitchen--not just a new-cabinets-and-countertops job. <BR/><BR/>There's wallpaper in some rooms, so that has to come off before you can even paint. The strangest thing is the doors in the dining room to the outside are REALLY short--not sure why, but the mouldings do line up with the windows--maybe a miscalculation somewhere?<BR/><BR/>When I saw this, I also looked at the MRS. MBC pick on 2nd that just sold. (Sorry-don't remember the number offhand, but it was the nicer of the two that just sold). For virtually the same price, you (would) have a more modern home with OCEAN views! To me it was a no brainer--and apparently to the market as well as that one sold and this one is still lingering.<BR/><BR/>The only real plus here, IMHO, is if you really want a big yard, this house has it.<BR/><BR/>Also, I heard a comment from their realtor who indicated that the owners felt it would not be possible to recreate a home this size for this price; meaning, "Don't bother low balling us." But that was over a month ago...maybe "the times, they are a-changin'?"shoppingaroundnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-36042679572447275012008-09-07T23:29:00.000-07:002008-09-07T23:29:00.000-07:00672 19th is horrible. 'Nuf said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-2905521565931154582008-09-07T18:18:00.000-07:002008-09-07T18:18:00.000-07:00Thought I'd jump in with some thoughts on 424 5th, the walk street house...it's super-cute and nicely done in a beach theme. One thing that might not work for everyone though: It has a flip-flop layout with the bedrooms all on the entry level and the common rooms up on top. The master bedroom is the room that juts out onto the front (walk-street facing) patio. Not necessarily a deal-killer, but for our family (with aging relatives who don't want to have to climb up stairs when they come over for dinner) it would be extremely inconvenient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480121896192413359.post-52944696934085193422008-09-07T13:11:00.000-07:002008-09-07T13:11:00.000-07:0011:41-427 19th is a duplex...not the typical big family home most are in the market for...this attracts a smaller market and me thinks it's priced like everything else...too high...it'll sit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com