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        <title>MB Confidential</title>
        <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/author/dave-fratello/</link>
        <description>Manhattan Beach Real Estate Blog with Market Data and Expert Analysis, News, Opinion, Listing Reviews and Open Houses. By Dave Fratello, Manhattan Beach Broker with Edge Real Estate Agency.
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    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-411-41226.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-411-41226.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Manhattan Beach New Listings (4/11-4/12/26)</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
And we're back in the swing with several new listings in town this week, including one at $19M and another at $25M. 


For a mere 1/10th of that price, consider our new listing at 3211 N. Valley – asking $2.499M and open both days this weekend, 1-4pm. 


Our reviews below are brief, of necessity, as we were operating our own brokers' open and did not visit all the other new listings.


Open house times for new listings are listed below, but you can also click SEARCHES then &quot;Open Houses&quot; at the top of our site, which displays all the Manhattan Beach open houses. There are also links right at the top to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach opens.


----------------------------------------


PLEASE NOTE: Below, we present listings new to the Manhattan Beach market this week, via the MLS. They are listed and brokered by a variety of agents and firms. The name of the listing broker and agent for each property, along with any contact information supplied through the MLS, is displayed with each property, next to the price. Blog author Dave Fratello of Edge Real Estate Agency is not the listing agent unless so stated with the listing. Excerpts of the listing agent's description of each property are provided in quotes.


Click on any property address or photo to open a new page with full listing details, all photos, listing broker and agent information, and other MLS information. Any observations and comments about listings represent the professional judgments and opinions of the author, Dave Fratello, not the listing brokers or agents. Please see our blog disclaimer.


----------------------------------------


Tree Section





 3211 N Valley (4br/2ba, 1461 sqft.) is a designer-perfect delight, with everything &quot;done&quot; and simply ready for the next people to come in. And most people are surprised by the pleasant outdoor space.


Notable: As you review photos, the 3D tour or floor plan, the downstairs area now has 2 bedrooms, but it was designed as one (the primary). This condition could be restored if a buyer preferred that. 


From the official description:


&quot;Step into modern elegance in this fully remodeled, Spanish-inflected 4-bedroom home with lots of quiet, private outdoor space. The top floor offers a bright and open great room, balancing crisp, white walls with dark-stained beams and newer, warm wood flooring. An open, modern kitchen features premium stainless steel appliances (KitchenAid fridge, oven and dishwasher, Miele range), quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash and custom cabinets. Two bedrooms are upstairs, including a sizable room with walk-in closet and greenbelt views, and another with western views across the whole Tree Section. Both share an updated bath with tub shower featuring subway tile.&quot;


&quot;Downstairs, two beautiful bedrooms share a highly upgraded bath highlighted by imperial marble floors and counters, with a large, walk-in shower and two sinks. A surprisingly spacious backyard can be accessed from the upstairs deck or a downstairs bedroom, offering a mix of turfed play area and a flagstone-paved area with inspiring outdoor fireplace, the perfect gathering spot for cool spring and summer nights. Stay comfy year-round with central heating and air conditioning. Many more recent upgrades and designer touches, including California Closets throughout the home, epoxy flooring in the garage and ADT security system with new Google Nest cameras. All of this in an incredibly convenient Manhattan Beach Tree Section location across from the greenbelt (Veterans Parkway), the popular woodchip path that leads straight to downtown Manhattan Beach in one direction, and is just minutes from the revived Manhattan Village Shopping Center in the other. Don’t settle for less, when this home offers so much more&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


3211 N Valley begins at $2.499M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


3211 N Valley is listed by Dave Fratello, Edge.


 


 1729 Pacific Avenue (3br/3ba, 2850 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;Stunning Coastal Cape Cod Retreat in the Tree Section Don’t be fooled by the address-this beautifully maintained home enjoys a prime 18th Street-facing entrance. offering both charm and privacy in one of Manhattan Beach’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Showcasing timeless East Coast Cape Cod style, this light filled residence features hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting and three inviting fireplaces that create warmth and character in every living space. The thoughtfully designed floor plan offers all bedrooms upstairs, large walk in closets that provide ideal separation between living and private areas. The chef’s kitchen is a true center piece, complete with a large center island, premium Thermador appliances, built in-desk, pantry and seamless flow to the outdoor yard area. Sliding doors off the living room open to a spacious patio-perfect for al fresco dining, weekend barbecues, and relaxed coastal living.The detached two-car garage includes a versatile loft for storage, plus an attached workshop-ideal for hobbyists creatives, or anyone needing extra functional space. Set on a generously sized lot and meticulously cared for with recent updates, this home is move in ready and offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and functionality.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (Video)


1729 Pacific Avenue begins at $3.400M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


1729 Pacific Avenue is listed by Emily Piemonte, Estate Properties. 


 


 664 Rosecrans Avenue (3br/4ba, 2679 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;[N]ewly built 2022 contemporary retreat defined by a calming aura, refined design, and elevated finishes. Serene, private, and thoughtfully composed, the home unfolds through a natural flow, paired with seamless living and abundant natural light. Designed as a true escape, privacy windows, lush landscaping, and the intentional positioning of living and sleeping spaces create a tranquil, immersive environment. Entering through landscaped gardens, you are welcomed into an enclosed sunroom designed for organic living (adding an additional 323 SF). Floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, and ceiling-mounted heaters allow year-round use. Sliding LaCantina doors connect seamlessly to the living room, enhancing indoor-outdoor flow. Hardwood floors add warmth, while 12-foot ceilings, 7.5-foot custom doors, and an open-concept layout define the main level. Recessed lighting is integrated throughout, complemented by Pella double-pane windows and interior fire sprinklers. The kitchen is both functional and refined, centered around a tiered 10-foot quartz island with dual seating. Custom cabinetry by Coastal Cabinets with drawer-within-drawer inserts enhances usability, while premium appliances include a Miele 48” dual fuel range with steam oven and warming drawer, Bosch dishwasher, built-in Miele microwave, plumbed Miele coffee system, and Dacor panel refrigerator and freezer. Also on the main level, find a powder room and a flexible guest bedroom or office with ensuite bath featuring an oversized glass shower and heated floors.&quot;


664 Rosecrans Avenue begins at $3.500M and is open Sun. 2-4pm.


664 Rosecrans Avenue is listed by Lauren Forbes, Compass.


Sand Section





 3216 The Strand (5br/8ba, 7454 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;An exceptional architectural achievement... [s]et along the iconic Manhattan Beach Strand, this remarkable residence overlooks one of the world’s most prestigious beaches with panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. A mahogany-clad circular staircase makes a dramatic first impression, linking the middle-level entry to the top-floor living spaces, while four levels of soaring 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows and doors bathe the home in natural light. Unique to the Strand, this estate offers bedrooms on all four levels. The top-floor outdoor living and dining area offers sweeping ocean views and uncommon privacy from the beach below, enhanced by bronze folding louvered panels that control light and protect the space from the elements. The west side features a beach room with an impressive bar, bronze shelving, lounge area, and pool table, while the east side includes a fully equipped gym and spa retreat. The level below offers a home theater, additional living area, wine cellar, and tasting room. With a striking beachfront façade framed by four two-story mahogany “masts,” the home preserves ocean views while providing privacy for the primary suite and Strand-level beach room. This extraordinary residence captures the essence of luxury Strand living.&quot;


3216 The Strand begins at $24.995M.


3216 The Strand is listed by Giovanni Altamura, S C Real Estate.


 


 2108 Grandview Avenue (4br/3ba, 2333 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;Nestled in the highly sought-after Gas Lamp District, just two blocks from award-winning Grand View Elementary, this charming Sand Section beach house offers the perfect blend of vintage character and thoughtful modern updates. The main home features two bedrooms and a full bath downstairs, along with a spacious primary suite upstairs complete with a private sitting area, ceiling fan, large walk-in closet, separate dressing area with built-ins, and a bath with skylight, dual sinks, and dual showerheads. The remodeled kitchen offers excellent storage and counter space, a pantry, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a five-burner stove, and a built-in microwave, with dining options at the kitchen dinette, in the spacious dining area, or outdoors on the private deck. Additional highlights include a cozy living room with a fireplace and built-in storage, a detached studio above the two-car garage ideal for guests, office, or in-law use, plus a generous basement room perfect for an art studio, workspace, or extra storage.&quot;


2108 Grandview Avenue begins at $3.199M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


2108 Grandview Avenue is listed by Antoinette Hopper, Vista Sotheby’s International Realty.


  


 4308 Crest Drive (5br/3ba, 1638 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;Perched high on one of Manhattan Beach’s best ocean view streets, this rare 1920s corner lot coastal property offers timeless charm, panoramic ocean views, and exceptional versatility. Located in the heart of North Manhattan Beach, the property presents a unique opportunity for both lifestyle buyers and investors alike. The main residence features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, showcasing classic beach cottage character with warm architectural details, abundant natural light, and refreshing ocean breezes. Elevated positioning along Crest Drive allows for stunning coastal vistas and unforgettable sunsets. Complementing the main home is an attached 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit which ideal for guest accommodations or flexible living options. Rich in history and full of character, this property offers a rare chance to own a piece of Manhattan Beach’s past while capitalizing on its future upside. Just moments from the sand, downtown, and award-winning schools, the location is second to none.&quot;


4308 Crest Drive begins at $3.995M.


4308 Crest Drive is listed by Brett Zebrowski, eXp Realty of California Inc.


 


Hill Section





 500 N Poinsettia Avenue (5br/8ba, 8389 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;[C]ustom-built home in the Hill section of Manhattan Beach. Its vantage point sitting atop a “T” street with a 75ft (approx.) wide frontage and oversized lot presents this home with expansive views from Palos Verdes Peninsula to Malibu. Exquisite details abound in this elegant French-styled tri-level home, featuring imported materials and fine finishes that add an element of luxury and sophistication. The first level includes a billiards room with a coffered ceiling, wet bar, three TV’s, and a built-in humidor cabinet with lighted cigar display. This level also includes a wine cellar with tasting room, a home theater, a guest bedroom, and access to a large garage that can accommodate up to 8 cars with an automated vehicle turntable for ease of parking. The garage has floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a storage room and a workbench area. The next level encompasses the main floor with a formal entry, a grand spiral staircase and four bedrooms. The primary suite offers a split-level space with adjoining sitting room, two fireplaces, separate walk-in closets and a private outdoor terrace with a water fountain and gym room. This level also includes a laundry room, a computer alcove, and a family room that opens up to an outdoor pool deck surrounded by lush greenery with a heated, salt-water pool and fountain feature, a spa, outdoor shower, basketball half-court and outdoor fireplace. The upper floor of the home with beautifully drawn light throughout showcases grand-scale living spaces including the formal living room and upper family room, two fireplaces and outdoor decks with sunset views of the ocean.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (Video)


500 N Poinsettia Avenue begins at $18.900M.


500 N Poinsettia Avenue is listed by Kristi Frey, Strand Hill Properties.


 


 710 Manhattan Beach Boulevard (3br/3ba, 1676 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;Panoramic ocean views, warm hardwood floors, and extensive modern renovations—this is the kind of home that makes you pause mid-conversation just to watch the sunset. Located in the prestigious Manhattan Beach Hill Section, you can find coastal living, privacy, and walkable trails, shops, and restaurants —not to mention the beach— just outside your front door. Tucked into one of South Bay’s most sought-after pockets, this location offers a rare balance of peaceful, elevated living with off-the-charts walkability—just moments from the Greenbelt, downtown Manhattan Beach’s top restaurants and boutiques, and the sand. Morning coffee strolls, sunset dinner plans, and spontaneous beach days are all right at your fingertips as well as the option to enjoy sweeping ocean views from the comfort of your couch. Opening the door to your new home, the entry level features two bedrooms—ideal for kids, visitors or a home office—connected by a beautifully finished Jack-and-Jill bathroom with Quartzite countertops and custom cabinetry.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


710 Manhattan Beach Boulevard begins at $2.699M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


710 Manhattan Beach Boulevard is listed by Edward Kaminsky, eXp Realty of California, Inc.





 720 Manhattan Beach (2br/3ba, 1844 sqft.) was coded as a Sand Section listing but it's part of the same building as the listing above (710), and both are in the Hill Section, so we've moved it here.


From the official description:


&quot;Experience effortless beach living in this beautifully designed end-unit townhome, ideally located in the heart of downtown Manhattan Beach. With ocean views, abundant natural light, and multiple outdoor spaces, this home offers a seamless blend of style, function, and coastal energy. The entry level features two spacious bedrooms, including a serene primary suite with a walk-in closet, spa-like bath, and direct access to a private patio. This lower outdoor space is both versatile and unique, perfect for creating an outdoor gym, lounge retreat, or organized gear area with room for bikes, boards, and more. A second en-suite bedroom and conveniently located laundry complete this level. Upstairs, the main living area is bright and open with soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and a clean, modern aesthetic. The kitchen, dining, and living spaces flow effortlessly to an ocean-view terrace, ideal for entertaining or relaxing with coastal breezes and sunset skies. A spiral staircase leads to a lofted flex space with a closet and additional ocean views, offering the option for a home office, creative studio, or potential third bedroom. Positioned on the quieter 11th Place side of the building, this home offers both privacy and proximity.&quot;


720 Manhattan Beach begins at $2.599M.


720 Manhattan Beach is listed by Kristen Novoa, Vista Sotheby’s International Realty. 


East Manhattan Beach





 1210 Keats Street (3br/2ba, 1278 sqft.)


From the official description:


&quot;Experience the best of coastal living in this beautifully renovated, south-facing 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, just moments from the sandy shores of Manhattan Beach. Nestled in one of the South Bay’s most sought-after communities, this residence seamlessly blends modern upgrades with relaxed beachside charm. This home has it all from the sophisticated entertaining space to the family friendly kids play area. Take notice of the superb design and overall flow. Step inside to discover a stunning, fully updated kitchen featuring sleek cabinetry, elegant Calcutta quartz countertops and backsplash along with stainless steel appliances—perfect for both everyday living and entertaining. The home opens to a sun-filled backyard oasis, where lush greenery and mature trees create a peaceful, private Zen inspired retreat. Whether you're hosting summer barbecues, enjoying outdoor dining, playing with the kids or unwinding under the stars this space is designed for true California living. The spacious primary bedroom features custom shelving and rear yard views. The additional bedrooms are ample in size and are adorned beautifully. Both bathrooms have been thoughtfully remodeled with stylish vanities, modern fixtures, updated lighting, and refined finishes throughout.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


1210 Keats Street begins at $2.295M.


1210 Keats Street is listed by Gustavo Cardenas, Berkshire Hathaway HomeService.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:55:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/why-is-redfin-so-wrong-about-the-sand-section.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/why-is-redfin-so-wrong-about-the-sand-section.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Why is Redfin So Wrong About the Sand Section?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



We were looking at a newspaper article the other day. It made several alarming claims about home sales trends in the Sand Section of Manhattan Beach. 


The figures didn't seem real, but they were sourced to Redfin at this page.


Sure enough, that page displays some grim-looking data about the Sand Section:





We dug into each of the stats that Redfin displays here, and found that they're not just misleading due to a small sample size (one month) – the data are fully, inexplicably, outright wrong. 


Redfin's Claims


Redfin warns that sales volume in the Sand Section was down in February by nearly 45, and the median price was down 29.2. 


Homes were really sitting around, with a &quot;median days on market&quot; of 182. 


What what what??


The data didn't feel right. We assumed that the core of the problem was a very small sample size – one area of town, during the shortest month of the year, compared with the same short month last year. 


There's room for all kinds of noise and chaos in small sample sizes. We know this. 


But actual data show that Redfin is not just using limited data.


They're using incorrect data. 


Sales Totals: Wrong


Let's start with sales. 


Redfin reports 16 sales in the Sand Section in February 2026. 


The MLS shows, actually, just 6 sales during the month. Here they are (from our market update spreadsheets):






ADDRESS

BD/BA

SQFT

LOT

CLOSED PRICE

$PSF

DOM

START $

SOLD






113 35th


5/4


2,772


2,696


$6,100,000


$2,004


N/A


$5,555,500


02/27/26




4216 Highland Avenue B


2/3


1,429


na


$1,910,000


$1,396


217


$2,255,000


02/26/26




724 13th Street


6/7


4,844


2,999


$5,650,000


$1,238


280


$6,495,000


02/25/26




1902 Highland Avenue


4/2


1,954


1,807


$2,683,000


$1,203


8


$2,350,000


02/20/26




124 41st


3/3


1,474


1,350


$1,780,000


$1,187


8


$1,749,000


02/17/26




2400 Alma


4/4


2,818


3,513


$6,000,000


$2,200


N/A


$6,199,000


02/10/26






(We might note that 724 13th is technically in the Tree Section, but the agent input it as Sand, so there it is.)


We tried, but could not find, 10 more sales. Only the 6. 


For instance, we checked MLS records for all sales of all kinds – including residential income properties, which aren't always reported with residential sales. We used our tax-records research service (Realist). We checked with our title company. Every source showed 6 sales. Another data tool, &quot;Realtors Property Resource,&quot; found only 5. 


We tried to be charitable to Redfin and imagine that maybe they meant something else.


Was it total sales citywide in February? No, that was 24. Was it total sales west of Sepulveda? No, that was 13. 


How about Sand Section sales for 2 months of 2026, January and February combined? Nope, that was 10.


So, no, there weren't 16 sales in the Sand Section in February 2026. 


Sales Drop: Wrong


When Redfin said there had been 29 sales in the Sand Section in 2025, was that right? 


No, again. The total was 14. (We ran all the same checks as noted above.)


Was Redfin close when they said that sales had fallen 44.8 year-to-year? 


In horseshoes, maybe. The actual drop from 14 to 6 sales was 57.


The only thing really correct here was the direction: Down.


(And no, we're not too worried about &quot;trends&quot; in these one-month samples.)





Median Price: Wrong


That Redfin page displays the median sale price for the Sand Section in February 2026 as $3.257M, and says this represents a decline of 29.9 year-over-year.


Again, no.


If we're going to be doing one-month snapshots like this, won't the data be crazy? Yes 


Median Sale Price (Sand Section) in Feb. 2025: $5.712M


Median Sale Price (Sand Section) in Feb. 2026: $4.166M


That's a drop of 27 year-over-year, but what are we even talking about? 


Here at MBC, when we publish median-price data, we always use a 12-month sample. That means we could miss some newly developing trends, but the overall numbers are solid. 


We tried to look at different ways of crunching median prices for the Sand Section, expanding gradually out to a 12-month sample. We even tried looking at citywide data. None were super close to the $3.257M that Redfin reported, as our chart here shows:





The Whopper: Days on Market


The Redfin chart about the Sand Section tells an especially gruesome tale when it says that the &quot;median days on market&quot; for the Sand Section stood at 182 days, a jump of 70 days year-over-year.


Hey, Siri, what's the most polite way to say, &quot;What the Frick and Frack?&quot;


Because, once again, NO


What that stat sounds like is &quot;how long active listings of homes are sitting on the market.&quot;


More days = a weaker market, and a buyer advantage. And 6 months-plus? Huge buyer advantage


We looked back at our own 2/28/26 spreadsheet of active listings in the Sand Section. (We keep the receipts for moments like this.)


There were 23 listings active, with most (17) listed for fewer than 30 days at the time. One listing had 96 days, one 100 and one had 176. 


The median DOM for active listings was not 182. It was 24.


&quot;Median Days on Market&quot; might also describe the &quot;age&quot; of listings that go under contract.


That's a good market measure: How long does it take for a listing to get absorbed?


Maybe that was closer to 182 days?


You already know: No.


This is actually a stat that is routinely tracked. Think of it as &quot;time to contract.&quot;


In the month of February 2026 in the Sand Section of Manhattan Beach, the median days on MLS before going into escrow was 8 days. 


Not 182 days.


8. 


We Come Not to Bury Redfin – But They Make It Hard


Longtime readers know that MBC is pretty supportive of Redfin's approach to real estate. They were there at the beginning, when MLS data was first being freed up for the masses. They've often advocated well for consumers and transparency. They have great tech, and therefore tons of loyal users. (We have some questions about some of their recent alliances, but let's save that.)


We might not even care that some arcane segment of their website produces crappy data, because, really, who's trolling around in the depths of some automated &quot;market update&quot; machine? 


Turns out, the media are trolling around, then republishing Redfin stats, and thereby misleading the public. 


And the truth is, we know that tons of consumers are looking at automated stats that appear alongside listings they are interested in on various real estate websites and apps, Redfin and Zillow chief among them. Consumers tend to be trusting, and think: These guys – these tech companies – these bots – know what they're talking about, because they use highly refined algorithms to do volumes of math that mere humans can't do. 


Now, what we're saying is: There's certainly potential for websites powered by machine learning, algorithms, artificial intelligence, etc., to provide better data than you can get from an actual person who works in the field. 


And yet you might be very wrong to assume that just because there's tech, or a website, or a brand name involved, that their data is good. 


Even the Big Boys can really lay an egg on you.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:58:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/first-big-over-asking-sale-of-26-in-east-mb.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/first-big-over-asking-sale-of-26-in-east-mb.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>First Big Over-Asking Sale of '26 in East MB</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


Maybe the Tuscans are back?


That might be overstating one lesson from a recent sale at 113 S. Herrin (5br/5ba, 4354 sqft.). 


One thing that's for sure: The newly closed sale here at $4.500M, fully $605K above asking, is the second-highest over-asking margin of the year among Manhattan Beach sales. 


That's a pretty nifty accomplishment for a 2008 Mediterranean with heavy Tuscan accents and a recent interior whitewash, but no major changes from original condition. 


Asking $3.895M, the listing closed out 15.53 above asking, which we'll round up to 16.


We kinda saw this coming with the initial reaction by buyers to the home. We warned you in our weekend review of the home:




There seems to be quick activity on this one – take a look if it might be a fit.&quot; 




Meantime, the Tree Section has had its 15-percenter on Oak (1728 Oak at $2.525M, 15 over asking). That home is a 1981 original that mostly begs for updates.


Somehow, that one beat out the gorgeous, must-have, multiple-offer sensation at 1717 Pacific, which got 13 over asking ($3.399M -&gt; $3.826M). (&quot;Beat it out&quot; percentage-wise, not in price, obviously.)


The greatest margin over asking in the Sand this year was perhaps unexpected: A modest and water-damaged 1902 Highland (4br/2ba, 1954 sqft.), on an oversized 1800 sqft. half lot, which went 14 over asking at $2.683M. 


Naturally, the Hill Section had an entry early this year in this over-asking sweepstakes. 


That was none other than 811 6th, a corner-lot Craftsman with a flawed floorplan that was probably more just a lot sale, 14 over asking ($9.750M -&gt; $11.100M). 


We'll pause to note here that only one of the homes in this list so far was totally move-in ready: 1717 Pacific. (Move-in ready, yes, but actually rented out for now – at $16.5K/mo.)


The others were fixers and/or lot sales. Isn't that an interesting factor with the over-asking sales?


And then comes the champ for this first part of 2026: 600 15th (7br/4ba, 3031 sqft.). 


For reasons not easily understood, the out-of-area agent listing this property – located up a few doors from a recent $12.5M sale – put this fixer/lot sale up at just $4.655M. 


Remove those MB bubble blinders for a second, and we can all appreciate that, yes, $4.6M is a lot of money for any house. 


But not for one right here in the Martyrs area... as the market showed.


Multiple bids came, and it sold 29 over asking at $6.000M.


So if you're pursuing records in Manhattan Beach this year, 29 is the over-asking figure to beat. 


(Intriguingly, this is another of the over-asking sales that really didn't qualify as move-in ready – could be a major fixer or lot sale. Wouldn't you like to know which? The buyers for 600 15th would, too. Word is they're not settled on a direction yet. Martyrs location was the first priority.)


What's that?


You're saying no one really keeps &quot;records&quot; for over-asking price sales? 


You are correct.


It's really a market indicator.


Many instances of under-pricing this year seemed to result from sellers and agents pricing cautiously – too cautiously – only to be overwhelmed by buyer interest. 


Pricing is mostly a backward-looking process, and looking back at the second half of 2025 would have given anyone pause. The year had ended almost listlessly. 


Listing agents underestimating demand means local professionals just could not see where current buyers were at, until they tested the market. 


One regular reader offered an opinion on this phenomenon recently:




In this market when you sell a deal in a few days of multiple offers it means that you priced it way too low that's it. Doesn't mean you did anything special. It's kind of like a surfer going out and claiming that he's creating the 10 ft waves.&quot;




Yep, it sure looks easy. Just price low and watch multiple offers drive the price up.  


No competent realtor really plays it that way, though, and few sellers want to risk &quot;underpricing.&quot; (&quot;What if that's all we get?&quot;) 


When homes sell far above asking, it often means there's something in the market environment that the sellers and listing agents haven't yet been able to see – not that everyone's playing games. 


And that describes early 2026 pretty well – there was something out there early this year that was unexpected. Let's see how it continues now. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:21:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-44-4526.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-44-4526.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Manhattan Beach New Listings (4/4-4/5/26)</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
This week the southern part of the Hill Section gets another early-aughts Mediterranean, the Sand Section gets a bunch of lot sales and there's something new in the Trees and the Village. 


Given the Easter holiday, plan your open house visits for Saturday – only 4 out of 15 listings holding opens this weekend will have a Sunday open.  


Open house times for new listings are listed below, but you can also click SEARCHES then &quot;Open Houses&quot; at the top of our site, which displays all the Manhattan Beach open houses. There are also links right at the top to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach opens.


----------------------------------------


PLEASE NOTE: Below, we present listings new to the Manhattan Beach market this week, via the MLS. They are listed and brokered by a variety of agents and firms. The name of the listing broker and agent for each property, along with any contact information supplied through the MLS, is displayed with each property, next to the price. Blog author Dave Fratello of Edge Real Estate Agency is not the listing agent unless so stated with the listing. Excerpts of the listing agent's description of each property are provided in quotes.


Click on any property address or photo to open a new page with full listing details, all photos, listing broker and agent information, and other MLS information. Any observations and comments about listings represent the professional judgments and opinions of the author, Dave Fratello, not the listing brokers or agents. Please see our blog disclaimer.


----------------------------------------


Hill Section





 109 S Poinsettia Avenue (4br/5ba, 5586 sqft.) is a classic of the genre: An early-aughts Hill Section Mediterranean, with a creative reverse floorplan (&quot;upside down layout&quot;) that features some pretty darn nice ocean views from the top level. 


All 4 bedrooms, plus a family room, are spread around downstairs on the circular periphery around a central staircase. The primary opens to the backyard, and its bath is appointed pretty much as you'd expect from a 2002 Hill Section Mediterranean.


Go downstairs to find a craft room, small home gym and some storage in a modest basement space.


Up on the top floor, the design is again one with rooms spread around the outer edges of a circle, with an open central space. 


The great room toward the rear brings you to the views and balconies. In the Hill Section, no doubt, the best views are those oriented southwest, capturing Palos Verdes and (many days) Catalina. This home's vantage point is nearly perfectly southwest, with no obstructions, thanks to the hill dropping down.   


One obvious reference point for this listing is last year's 212 John (6br/8ba, 6754 sqft.), built at around the same time in a similar style, with lesser views, which sold for $9.700M (after being floated for $13M). There, the home and lot were larger and there was a pool, but this one compares favorably on most counts and comes along at a brighter time for the Hill Section.


From the official description:


&quot;Located in the prestigious Hill Section of Manhattan Beach, this stunning Mediterranean estate ... combines timeless architecture, exceptional space, and an ideal coastal indoor/outdoor lifestyle. A dramatic entry welcomes you with travertine floors and a sweeping curved staircase, setting the tone for the home’s elegant design. The ground level features four bedrooms and a spacious family room that opens to the west-facing backyard, creating seamless indoor/outdoor flow. The backyard includes a jacuzzi and offers plenty of room for a pool, making it ideal for outdoor living and entertaining. The primary suite opens directly to the backyard, creating a private retreat. Upstairs is the main living level designed to capture the panoramic views, featuring the kitchen, family room, formal dining room, ocean-view office with custom wood built-ins, theater room, and a flexible space that could serve as a fifth bedroom. The open floor plan flows to a large ocean-view terrace, perfect for entertaining, dining, and enjoying sunsets over the Pacific with views of Palos Verdes and Catalina. Hardwood and travertine floors run throughout the home, and a basement level provides additional space ideal for a gym, wine cellar, and extra storage.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


109 S Poinsettia Avenue begins at $9.750M and is open Sat. 2-4pm.


109 S Poinsettia Avenue is listed by Jennifer Caskey, Compass.


Sand Section





 3205 Bayview Drive (5br/6ba, 3766 sqft.) is effectively a $6.5M lot sale. 


The deck jutting out from the current triplex allows you to sample the views that might be possible from a new build – presumably from an even higher vantage point. (Buyer to verify for themselves, thanks)


Did we say triplex? Yes. The state's &quot;no net loss&quot; rule would appear to require any new build to contain 3 units, also. The listing carefully describes this scenario: &quot;it is believed that one could build a single family home with an ADU, and JADU, with 3-4 car parking.&quot;


(A &quot;JADU&quot; is a &quot;Jr. ADU.&quot; Parking is not always required for ADUs.) 


From the official description:


&quot;Offered for a very limited time. The owner is considering development options of their own. Properties this special often sell off market and you never get an opportunity. A dream lot in one of the most sought after areas of the Manhattan Beach sand section. 33 1/3' X 105' - nearly 3500 square feet of land with superlative Bayview view potential. It has very protected views not normally seen on interior lots. Buyer to verify development potential with the City, but it is believed that one could build a single family home with an ADU, and JADU, with 3-4 car parking. Truly amazing It comes with a totally usable remodeled triplex, or more like a Single Family home on Bayview with a detached duplex that sits atop a 3 car garage on Manhattan Ave. The super cool Contemporary Ocean-View home is a remodeled coastal gem, and boasts what is probably the single best ocean view deck in Manhattan Beach. Its surprisingly very private, with around 1000 Sq Ft, a fire pit, dining area, BBQ, and panoramic coastal vistas. It must be experienced to be fully appreciated, and it will make you dream of what a third story deck would offer The 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home spans 2,350 sq. ft. and offers the perfect blend of luxury and beachside living, just steps from the Pacific Ocean and The Strand.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


3205 Bayview Drive begins at $6.499M and is open Sat. 1-4pm.


3205 Bayview Drive is listed by Robert Freedman, DOMO Real Estate.





 921 Highland Avenue (5br/4ba, 3107 sqft.) is a double lot downtown adjacent to a walkstreet. 


It's unfortunate that the current building is deemed &quot;functionally obsolete&quot; in the listing, because you always love to see the older homes preserved when possible. What can someone do anew here in this spot just steps from town?


From the official description:


&quot;921 Highland Ave presents a rare opportunity to acquire a double lot walk street property west of Highland in South Manhattan Beach—one of the most sought-after and tightly held locations in the coastal market. Opportunities in this sub-market are extremely limited, with walk street properties west of Highland rarely coming available and double lot offerings almost never seen. Ideally located on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Highland, the property is just a few hundred feet from Manhattan Beach Boulevard and downtown, offering exceptional walkability to the beach, shops, and restaurants while still maintaining a quiet walk street setting. The property includes a 1932 Spanish-style home that is functionally obsolete due to environmental conditions and will be sold as land value, presenting a clear opportunity for new construction in a premier location. Offered as either a full double lot or as a single interior walk street lot, providing flexibility for a range of build options. Parking lots to the west off Bayview Drive create unique view corridors and a more open feel than typically found on walk street properties, allowing for enhanced light and orientation that is uncommon in this sub-market.&quot;


921 Highland Avenue begins at $10.500M.


921 Highland Avenue is listed by Bryn Stroyke, Bayside.


 


 3204 Crest Drive (3br/4ba, 2260 sqft.) is the third Sand Section listing in a row here that is touting its own teardown potential. 


Anyone got a nice, livable house in the Sand Section? There's buyers for that, too


From the official description:


&quot;Unlock the potential of this rare 3 + Den/Office + 3.5-bathroom fixer or teardown opportunity, perfectly positioned just a few streets from the beach. Enjoy panoramic ocean views from the large top floor deck, which includes a hot tub, and spacious primary bedroom with its soaring ceilings. There is a bedroom on each floor, each with its own bathroom, offering privacy across all floors. Additional features include outdoor spaces on every level, 2-car garage parking, and a fireplace. Conveniently located near a walk street for quick, easy access to the beach, businesses, and cafes. Whether you're looking to renovate or rebuild, this property delivers the ideal canvas for your dream beach residence. Experience the best of Manhattan Beach living with stunning ocean views, an exceptional location, and endless possibilities.&quot;


3204 Crest Drive begins at $2.495M and is open Sun. 12-2pm.


3204 Crest Drive is listed by Pam Szabo, Sotheby's International Realty.


 


Tree Section





 2422 N Ardmore Avenue (4br/4ba, 3017 sqft.) is a corner-lot remodel at the intersection of Pacific and Ardmore (the official description says the home is &quot;[t]ucked into the highly sought-after Tree Section.&quot;


This property was not on the broker tour Friday, so we haven't yet visited to review.


From the official description:


&quot;Lushly landscaped and elevated above street level, it captures sunshine from multiple exposures while maintaining a sense of privacy and presence. Inside, the layout feels both traditional and functional. A formal step-down living room with a fireplace welcomes you in, while the dining room is lined with beautiful windows that bring in abundant light, and open to the neighborhood views. Just beyond, a comfortable family room with its own fireplace, creates an easy everyday gathering space. A breakfast area besides the remodeled kitchen, looking out to the backyard. Upstairs, 4 generously sized bedrooms and total four bathrooms including the powder room, provide flexibility for families and guests. In addition, there is a dedicated office space or a great gym, ideal for working or working-out from home without sacrificing living areas. The primary suite stands out with its own fireplace, and the recently remodeled bathroom. It also has a large walk-in closet. Another full bathroom upstairs was recently remodeled beautifully as well. The backyard is designed for real living with room to entertain or relax.&quot;


2422 N Ardmore Avenue begins at $3.750M and is open Sat. 1-4pm.


2422 N Ardmore Avenue is listed by Bobby Syed, Coldwell Banker Realty.


East Manhattan Beach





 13 Catalina Court (2br/2ba, 1465 sqft.) spent several days as a &quot;coming soon&quot; listing on the MLS before going live. Often, listings use that status while they're still getting ready, waiting for pro photos and so on. 


This one? Still has just 2 iffy photos. But hope springs eternal. The description points to a year-old remodel by a &quot;professions designer,&quot; and wouldn't you like to see that?


From the official description:


&quot;This is a beautiful highly remodeled Plan '1' townhome. It is one of the most desired plans with it's open and light feeling. It features, newer hardwood floors throughout and was recently painted. The kitchen has high end appliances and newer kitchen counter tops with a snack bar adjacent to a nice size Dining area. The guest bedroom on that level also could double as a office with custom designed closet. The large Primary Suite has a private balcony and features a luxurious bath with walk in closet and remodeled Bath/Shower. Newer lighting throughout. Interior doors were replaced with solid core doors. The Living room has a newer marble fireplace and a newer wall TV that is included in this sale... This home was designed by a professions designer when it was remodeled about a year ago with high end finishes.&quot;


13 Catalina Court begins at $1.649M.


13 Catalina Court is listed by Nina Michaels, Vista Sotheby’s International Realty.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:26:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-market-update-for-33126.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-market-update-for-33126.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Q1 Bests 2025 - Manhattan Beach Market Update for 3/31/26</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


If you thought you'd have to wait a long time to see a first quarter that was busier for the Manhattan Beach real estate market than 2025's, you could be forgiven. It seemed crazy busy at the time.


But 2026 has just proved to be busier – by a smidge. 


With 89 new escrows, Q1 2026 had more new deals for homes inked than any year since go-go 2021, when mortgage rates were half or less than today's rates.


 


So what do we see here?


2026's first quarter beat out 2025 in a photo finish, 89 new escrows to 88. 


This year was above average, beating out the average from the 10-year period from 2016-25 (86) by 3 new deals. 


Those awkward post-COVID years are starting to look like they're in the rear-view mirror, with two years above average and those slower years, 2022-24, more and more looking like anomalies. (And here we're only speaking of 2024's first quarter. By Summer and Fall that year, a recovery was clearly under way in our local market, bringing momentum into the start of 2025.)


This can't be a complete surprise to regular readers here. 


After all, January took off like a rocket here, smashing records for dollar volume under contract for all years except 2025 – the single month with the greatest impact from fire-displaced buyers purchasing in Manhattan Beach.


February 2026 had more new escrows in Manhattan Beach than 2025, as we reported last month. 


But that was &quot;only&quot; a margin of 3 additional deals. In March, the improvement was far greater.





Last year, March saw 22 new pending sales. This year, 33 – a 50 increase year-over-year.  


As you look across several years' worth of data, you see that this year actually looks sort of average. 


And we'll take &quot;average&quot; if we can get it. 


All of this remains pretty amazing, in that 2025 ended without apparent momentum in the market. 


There were certainly bright spots in the Fall of 2025, which we called attention to when they seemed to cut against the trend toward slower sales pace and lower prices at some market tiers. 


But the reality is, the year ended with each quarter posting fewer sales than the one before it, a highly unusual pattern (seen in this chart). 


While pending sales were up year-over-year for Q1, closed sales were down year-over-year, at 76 this year. We have some hypotheses about why that might be, but we'll hold any speculation and do some more research. 


So, is this hoppin' activity going to just keep going as the Spring market takes shape? 


We'd hope so, but we also cannot be blind to, achem, external factors. (The real world, outside the bubble.)


A month ago, reporting on February data, we posed a sincere question about the market's activity level:




Might a shootin' war and escalating gas prices put a damper on it?&quot;




The answer, in the data, appears to be &quot;no.&quot; Nothing put a damper on March home sales activity here.


Of course, that &quot;shootin' war&quot; is still going on, and it's not just raising gas prices, but also hurting stock values and hitting mortgage rates, which have ticked up quickly. 


That will make for an interesting Spring, and, no doubt, a robust debate about expectations. 


We'll track the data. 


Below, our update continues with the Movers. &quot;Movers&quot; are the:


(1) newest listings,


(2) newest escrows and


(3) newest closed sales within each of our 2-week market update periods. 


Here are the Movers for March 16-31, 2026 (click any address to see the property):


------------------------------------------------------





New Listings (14)






ADDRESS

BD/BA

SQFT

LOT

PRICE

$PSF

DOM

START $

START






3204 Crest Drive


3/4


2,260


1,799


$2,495,000


$1,104


3


$2,495,000


03/30/26




320 31 Street


3/3


1,523


1,350


$2,850,000


$1,871


6


$2,850,000


03/27/26




2700 Elm Avenue


3/3


1,288


4,481


$2,599,000


$2,018


7


$2,599,000


03/26/26




3013 Oak Avenue


3/2


1,490


4,482


$2,799,000


$1,879


8


$2,799,000


03/25/26




448 23rd Place


3/4


1,837


2,715


$2,899,000


$1,578


8


$2,899,000


03/25/26




1808 Manzanita Lane


5/3


2,455


5,401


$3,175,000


$1,293


8


$3,175,000


03/25/26




3609 Walnut


5/4


3,780


4,643


$3,299,000


$873


9


$3,299,000


03/24/26




121 16th Street


4/5


4,188


2,700


$11,995,000


$2,864


9


$12,495,000


03/24/26




1756 Voorhees Avenue


4/4


3,033


7,507


$4,695,000


$1,548


10


$4,695,000


03/23/26




586 36th


3/2


1,568


5,205


$2,700,000


$1,722


12


$2,700,000


03/21/26




3512 Maple


3/2


1,899


4,641


$3,099,000


$1,632


13


$3,099,000


03/20/26




4308 The Strand


5/5


4,354


3,494


$8,849,000


$2,032


14


$8,849,000


03/19/26




4320 The Strand


3/6


3,592


1,558


$11,250,000


$3,132


14


$11,250,000


03/19/26




221 30th Street


4/5


4,554


2,699


$8,795,000


$1,931


16


$8,795,000


03/17/26






 


New Pendings (12)






ADDRESS

BD/BA

SQFT

LOT

PRICE

$PSF

DOM

START $

START






3521 Pine Avenue


3/2


1,664


4,638


$2,975,000


$1,788


21


$2,975,000


03/12/26




1940 N Ardmore


2/1


809


3,620


$1,650,000


$2,040


13


$1,650,000


03/05/26




2100 Pine Ave


5/5


3,180


4,481


$4,649,000


$1,462


3


$4,649,000


03/12/26




4117 Ocean Drive


5/3


2,804


3,500


$5,000,000


$1,783


12


$5,000,000


03/21/26




337 10th


5/4


2,804


2,707


$5,350,000


$1,908


4


$5,350,000


03/17/26




436 1st Street


4/3


1,912


3,006


$3,750,000


$1,961


21


$3,750,000


03/12/26




5 Cordoba Court


2/2


1,465


1,550


$1,549,000


$1,057


21


$1,549,000


03/12/26




1515 Artesia 2


2/3


1,363


6,743


$1,150,000


$844


106


$1,250,000


12/17/25




1320 Curtis


3/2


1,600


5,258


$1,995,000


$1,247


22


$1,995,000


03/11/26




1769 Gates


2/2


1,294


6,214


$1,999,000


$1,545


103


$2,150,000


12/20/25




213 Aviation Place


3/3


1,747


59,693


$1,485,000


$850


34


$1,525,000


02/27/26




5 Nantucket


3/3


1,970


4,028


$2,500,000


$1,269


21


$2,500,000


03/12/26






 


New Sales (25)






ADDRESS

BD/BA

SQFT

LOT

PRICE

$PSF

DOM

START $

CLOSED






2407 Manhattan Ave


3/4


2,264


1,351


$6,265,000


$2,825


17


$6,395,000


03/31/26




615 Aviation Way


3/3


1,844


7,511


$1,500,000


$867


86


$1,699,000


03/31/26




1530 8th Street


5/5


4,294


7,503


$4,150,000


$990


0


$4,250,000


03/31/26




3604 Laurel


3/3


2,712


4,642


$3,800,000


$1,475


52


$4,199,000


03/27/26




592 33rd Street


3/3


1,824


5,025


$3,500,000


$1,973


9


$3,599,000


03/27/26




2603 Pacific Avenue


4/5


2,325


4,484


$4,450,000


$1,785


0


$4,150,000


03/26/26




3112 Laurel


3/2


2,132


6,961


$3,050,000


$1,454


3


$3,100,000


03/25/26




1801 Pine Avenue


5/8


4,347


4,480


$6,396,250


$1,564


11


$6,800,000


03/24/26




1167 Magnolia Avenue


4/3


1,629


4,883


$2,577,900


$1,626


12


$2,649,000


03/23/26




1727 Ruhland Avenue


3/2


1,474


7,469


$2,400,000


$1,628


0


$2,400,000


03/23/26




3520 Alma


3/4


1,954


3,503


$2,995,000


$1,533


21


$2,995,000


03/20/26




229 7th Street


5/5


3,264


2,692


$5,670,000


$1,775


3


$5,795,000


03/20/26




207 S Poinsettia Avenue


4/6


3,741


6,252


$6,575,000


$2,125


48


$7,950,000


03/20/26




934 1st Street


6/9


6,847


10,090


$15,225,000


$2,227


63


$15,249,000


03/20/26




860 10th Street


3/2


1,659


6,004


$3,450,000


$2,080


0


$3,450,000


03/20/26




1647 Ruhland


3/1


1,075


7,496


$2,450,000


$2,140


1


$2,300,000


03/20/26




1450 6th Street


6/6


4,537


7,506


$5,200,000


$1,168


8


$5,300,000


03/20/26




2623 Laurel


2/1


804


4,270


$2,363,250


$3,047


0


$2,450,000


03/19/26




1816 9th Street


5/5


4,524


7,508


$3,910,000


$928


40


$4,199,000


03/19/26




213 Bayview Drive


5/6


3,040


3,332


$7,500,000


$2,467


52


$7,500,000


03/18/26




209 41st Street


3/4


1,884


1,348


$3,198,000


$1,697


5


$3,198,000


03/18/26




1819 11th


3/3


1,812


6,497


$2,000,000


$1,158


25


$2,099,000


03/18/26




624 14th Street


5/6


5,767


6,983


$9,350,000


$1,734


108


$10,750,000


03/17/26




1652 Voorhees


4/2


1,746


7,501


$2,500,000


$1,460


36


$2,800,000


03/17/26




11 Cordoba Court


3/3


1,916


2,282


$2,153,000


$1,147


0


$2,198,000


03/17/26






Here's the rest of our local real estate market update report for the period ending 3/31/26:


&gt; 59 active listings as of 3/31/26 (+4 from 3/15/26) 


&gt; 46 SFRs (+6)


&gt; 13 THs (-2)


See the Inventory list as of 3/31/26 here, or see the MB Dashboard for up-to-the-minute data.


Active listings by region of Manhattan Beach in this report:


&gt; Tree Section: 12 actives (+3)


&gt; Sand Section: 28 actives (+7)


&gt; Hill Section: 3 actives (flat)


&gt; East MB: 16 actives (-6)


We're also providing a report on closed sales by region of MB.


Sales data, including PPSF for all properties, are organized by sub-region of Manhattan Beach.


Here's a link to the spreadsheet: &quot;MB Pending/Sold as of 3/31/26&quot;.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:51:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/where-do-cash-buyers-buy-in-manhattan-beach.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/where-do-cash-buyers-buy-in-manhattan-beach.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Where Do Cash Buyers Buy in Manhattan Beach?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


We all had fun and learned something a few weeks ago, when MBC published an analysis of the increasing number of cash buyers for homes in Manhattan Beach. (Here's the original post: &quot;Share of Cash Purchases Rose for Last 5 Years.&quot;)


Our data, drawn from the MLS, showed that cash buyers made up a remarkable 45 of all home sales in 2025 in Manhattan Beach. That was the highest of the 9 years we charted, and the culmination of 5 years of consistent increases. 


A natural follow-up to that post would answer today's question: Where are all these cash purchases being made, within MB? 


Admit it, you've got some assumptions. It's good to be aware that you have biases


Let's start with 2025 data.





What we're seeing here is that most of the cash purchases within Manhattan Beach were made within the Sand Section: 34. 


But other areas aren't far behind. 


We grouped all of East Manhattan together, including Manhattan Village. That's a lot of territory. It's also 30 of the cash purchases in the whole city last year. 


C'mon. Did you pick East Manhattan to fall second in line? You didn't, did you? 


(To be fair, it really is a big chunk of town here.)


The Tree Section was just a bit behind at 28.


The Hill Section rounds out the total with 8 of all cash purchases. 


Remember, here we are looking at the share of all cash purchases in town. The Hill Section is a relatively small area with a pretty low number of annual sales, so even if every sale in the area were all cash, it wouldn't make for a large share of all the cash purchases in the city. 


We'll look at how many sales within areas are all-cash in a moment. 


First, let's look at two more sample years for the city as a whole. 


 


Here in the 2022 data, we see a notably larger share of cash sales in the Sand Section, up to 42, more in East MB (33) and a bit more in the Hill Section (10).


The Tree Section did not have as large a share of cash purchases in that post-pandemic year as it did just last year. Indeed, at 15, the Trees had almost half the share of cash purchases then, compared to 2025.


Let's take a peek pre-pandemic.





Before anyone knew what COVID was, the Sand Section was dominating cash purchases in Manhattan Beach, with 43 of all the cash sales happening there.


This might be a good time to note some data from our prior post, which showed that only 29 of home sales were all-cash in 2019. So the Sand Section had a slightly larger share of what was a much lower total number of cash sales.


We see similar proportions for the other areas, with East Manhattan in familiar territory at 28 of all cash sale, the Tree Section at 21 and the Hill Section down at 8. 


Now that we've looked at a sample of 3 years, let's combine all 9 years we studied in one chart.





These are the averages across all 9 years. By now you might find this pattern familiar: The Sand Section drawing the plurality of cash purchases in town (41), East Manhattan somewhat behind at 28, followed by the Trees at 23 and the Hill Section at 9.  


Now, what about the number of cash purchases within these areas of town?


This is something of a different angle. 


We'll drop all the data on you at once.





On this chart, you'll see how common cash home purchases were within each area of town for all of the 9-year span under study (2017-25). 


What jumps out? 


It's almost always the Sand Section and Hill Section with the greatest share of cash purchases. 


In recent years, you've seen 50, 60 and even 67 of homes sold within one of those prestige areas sold for cash.


That does not qualify as a surprise. Safe to say, that was probably one of your assumptions when you first opened this post. 


The Sand Section has most frequently had over 40 of home sales within the area go all cash. (To be clear, this is very different from cash purchases in the Sand Section also making up about 40 of homes sold for cash citywide.)


Interestingly, the Tree Section had mostly bumped around near 20 cash sales (and 80 financed) until 2023-25, when suddenly 40-plus of sales in the Trees were cash. Is that the new normal for our treasured suburbs west of the highway?The share of cash sales over on the East side has also ballooned.


Indeed, as the total share of cash purchases has risen these past 5 years citywide, it might be the fact that more of those sales are in the 'burbs than only the Sand and Hill that has been the main contributor. 


Last point: We threw a label on the chart saying &quot;COVID Market,&quot; because we were expecting to chew through the period of roughly 2020-22 for possible differences in the data. 


But the truth is, a drop in the share of cash purchases is only really evident for the year 2020 for the Sand Section, and 2020-21 for the Hill Section. This was a time when money was so cheap, even cash-capable buyers felt they had to borrow. The effect of ultra-low interest rates was almost gone by 2022.


---------------------------------


Nerdy Notes


Data compiled by Dave Fratello and MB Confidential from MLS-reported sales data. 


We downloaded absolutely all data in the MLS from all of the sales for 9 years in Manhattan Beach (2017-2025). Using a custom-built script, we sorted all of the sales by the type of buyer financing reported in the MLS by listing agents at the time of closing.


Agents have several options in the MLS to use to report buyer financing, but &quot;cash&quot; by itself is a pretty clear and self-explanatory category. A small number of transactions in each year's data simply have nothing input for the type of buyer financing. We have used the total number of sales as the denominator, and the known number coded as &quot;cash&quot; as the numerator, meaning some of these percentages might be higher if we had all of the data.


Nerdy artificial intelligence disclosure: Our &quot;script&quot; to run these calculations was built with help from A.I., but we never let A.I. do our writing or our math.


Instead, we build frameworks, scripts, calculators and mini-apps to automate the work that we have normally done by hand. We have visibility into each step of the process. We cross-check results. This way, we save time, but also have confidence in the data.


We imagine that's what everyone does, but hey, not sure
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:53:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-328-32926.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-328-32926.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Manhattan Beach New Listings (3/28-3/29/26)</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We're seeing something more like the normal pace again, with 10 new listings now as we're officially in Spring. 


The Tree Section, so often lacking sufficient inventory, gets 4 new options, while there's a new trophy property in the Sand (see the first listing below).


Open house times for new listings are listed below, but you can also click SEARCHES then &quot;Open Houses&quot; at the top of our site, which displays all the Manhattan Beach open houses. There are also links right at the top to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach opens.


----------------------------------------


PLEASE NOTE: Below, we present listings new to the Manhattan Beach market this week, via the MLS. They are listed and brokered by a variety of agents and firms. The name of the listing broker and agent for each property, along with any contact information supplied through the MLS, is displayed with each property, next to the price. Blog author Dave Fratello of Edge Real Estate Agency is not the listing agent unless so stated with the listing. Excerpts of the listing agent's description of each property are provided in quotes.


Click on any property address or photo to open a new page with full listing details, all photos, listing broker and agent information, and other MLS information. Any observations and comments about listings represent the professional judgments and opinions of the author, Dave Fratello, not the listing brokers or agents. Please see our blog disclaimer.


----------------------------------------


Sand Section





 121 16th Street (4br/5ba, 4188 sqft.) is a large modern low down on the walkstreet with protected views. 


From the official description:


&quot;Perched on one of the most coveted walkstreet 100-block lots in Manhattan Beach, this exceptional residence offers spectacular, permanent ocean views—a rare advantage created by its unique positioning adjacent to two 60’ x 45’ lots that preserve sightlines and enhance privacy. Originally reimagined from the studs by renowned architect James Meyer of Lean Arch, the home embodies a clean, minimalist aesthetic with a serene, light-filled ambiance throughout. Thoughtfully designed, it features 4 bedrooms plus a good as it gets ocean view office, 4.5 baths, plus a versatile lower-level guest suite with a custom Murphy bed—which can serve as the 4th bedroom (BTV). The top floor showcases breathtaking, unobstructed west-facing views stretching from Point Dume to Catalina Island. A stunning great room seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living, with expansive folding Nanawall doors opening to panoramic ocean vistas—perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying the coastal lifestyle. The primary suite is a true sanctuary, offering ocean views, a generous walk-in closet, and a spa-inspired bath complete with terrazzo floors, and an oversized frameless dual shower. The lower-level guest suite is equally impressive, featuring a custom Murphy bed, walk-in closet, and a stylish beach room with an entertaining bar, mini refrigerator, and ice maker. The ensuite bath is beautifully appointed with terrazzo flooring and a frameless glass tile shower.&quot;


121 16th Street begins at $12.495M.


121 16th Street is listed by Lee LeGrande, eXp Realty of California Inc.


 


 4117 Ocean Drive (5br/3ba, 2804 sqft.) becomes the third listing to hit the market this year on The Strand in El Porto. 


From the official description:


&quot;Overflowing with the timeless charm of classic Manhattan Beach cottages, this exceptional beachfront property in El Porto presents a rare opportunity to establish your roots on a truly remarkable piece of The Strand. Currently, an original 1939 duplex featuring two 2-bed/1-bath units facing The Strand, this property also has a detached 1-bedroom/1-bathroom unit overlooking Ocean Drive. Embodying quintessential beach ambiance, the interiors showcase hardwood floors, sun-kissed living spaces, and expansive picture windows framing panoramic views stretching from Catalina to the Palisades. The property offers much that can serve as design inspiration for a renovation project, or there is the option to make plans for a future new structure. The location is in a high-density zone, allowing for a multi-unit development site on the combined lots.&quot;


4117 Ocean Drive begins at $5.000M.


4117 Ocean Drive is listed by David Caskey, eXp Realty of California Inc. 


 


 320 31st Street (3br/3ba, 1523 sqft.) is an upgraded 3br with some views.


From the official description:


&quot;This exceptional single family residence captures sweeping ocean views and offers a highly versatile floor plan designed for effortless coastal living. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, the home includes a stunning upper level currently staged as a bedroom, opening to a private ocean view deck. This remarkable space may be enjoyed as a serene bedroom retreat or reimagined as a dramatic great room ideal for entertaining, relaxing, and taking in the expansive coastal vistas. Spanning approximately 1,523 square feet (BTV), the interiors are thoughtfully curated with warm bamboo flooring flowing through the main living areas, kitchen, and primary suite. The kitchen is both functional and refined, appointed with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a seamless connection to the living space. A striking fireplace clad in travertine creates a sophisticated focal point, anchoring the room with texture and warmth. The primary bath showcases handcrafted glass tile, offering a spa-like sensibility. Completing the home is a rare four car parking configuration, including a two car garage and two additional driveway spaces—an exceptional amenity this close to the beach.&quot;


320 31 Street begins at $2.850M and is open Sun. 1-4pm.


320 31st Street is listed by Jane Sager, Estate Properties.





 448 23rd Place (3br/4ba, 1837 sqft.) is an early 90s TH on a unique alley street near Grand View. The street is only a block long, giving it more of a neighborhood vibe than that of a mere alley. 


From the official description:


&quot;Set on a quiet street in the heart of the Gas Lamp section, this 3 bedroom, 3.5-bath townhome is a short distance to the beach, downtown Manhattan, and Grand View Elementary — one of the South Bay's most sought-after school districts. The top floor opens to a large deck with ample seating, wrap-around kitchen, living area with fully functioning/inspected fireplace, and adjacent dining area warmed by oak hardwood floors throughout the home. Each bedroom has an ensuite bath along with a powder room for guests situated between the middle and top floor. The primary suite features a soaking tub, walk-in shower, dual vanities, private water closet, and walk-in closet. A secondary bedroom next to the primary room. The bottom floor entry-level bedroom works equally well as a guest suite or home office. Dedicated laundry room on also on the lower level. Recent updates include fresh paint, new white shutters installed by owner, new window screens throughout, and an air-conditioned two-car garage with covered carport — ready for a workshop, studio, or flex space.&quot;


448 23rd Place begins at $2.899M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 2-4pm.


448 23rd Place is listed by Rob Depaoli, Compass.


Tree Section





 2700 Elm Avenue (3br/3ba, 1288 sqft.) is a modestly sized, but recently rebuilt home with a great-room setup and smart configuration of beds and baths. 


From the official description:


&quot;This is a home that works now, with options for what's next. Set on a 40 x 112 lot in one of Manhattan Beach’s most established neighborhoods, this single-level home offers a rare combination of immediate livability and long-term flexibility. Originally built in 1955; current owners took the majority of the structure down to the floorboards in 2011. The home was rebuilt with almost all new framing and brought up to 2011 code with permitted improvements across all major systems, including electrical, plumbing, roof, and mechanicals. The result is a home with the character of its original footprint, but with the peace-of-mind and functionality of modern construction as well as a thoughtful flow that maximizes sq.ftg. The main living spaces sit under HIGH vaulted ceilings that allow for extra windows to bring in natural light, creating volume that makes this home live larger than expected. The kitchen is open to the dining and living spaces. Kitchen/bath cabinets were custom-made for the home by Coastal Cabinets. The lot itself sits elevated above neighboring properties to the south and southwest, creating a noticeable sense of separation... A detached rear structure provides additional flexibility for storage, studio or workspace (first to claim it makes it their &quot;she shed&quot; or &quot;man-cave&quot;)&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


2700 Elm Avenue begins at $2.599M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


2700 Elm Avenue is listed by Deanna Wallo, Real Broker.


 





 3609 Walnut (5br/4ba, 3780 sqft.) is a greatly oversized home that will want some upgrades.


It's priced accordingly, at $3.3M, which puts it PPSF well under $900/PSF. There have only been 7 sales in the last 4 years under $900/PSF in the Tree Section.


From the official description:


&quot;Welcome to 3609 Walnut Avenue, a beautifully situated home in the highly sought-after Manhattan Beach Tree section where coastal living meets timeless nature and charm. Perched high in the trees with beautiful west facing sunset and horizon views. This 3780 square foot home built by John Wisdom with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms offers an exceptional opportunity to enjoy one of the most desirable beach communities in Southern California. This residence features a bright and airy layout with 28' ceilings filled with natural light, complemented by generous living spaces designed for both relaxation and entertaining. The home showcases a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, perfect for enjoying the year-round sunshine and ocean breeze. A well-appointed kitchen opens to inviting living and dining areas, while the spacious bedrooms provide comfort and privacy for family and guests alike. There is a downstairs bonus area with an adjoining bedroom and bathroom that can be used in a variety of ways. There are 4 large bedrooms upstairs including the primary suite with a large walk in closet, a large soaking tub and shower and a wood burning fireplace that adds to the beauty of this room perched up in the trees.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


3609 Walnut begins at $3.299M and is open Sat. 1-4pm &amp; Sun. 1-3pm.


3609 Walnut is listed by Tad Thormodsgaard, eXp Realty of California Inc.


 


 3013 Oak Avenue (3br/2ba, 1490 sqft.) announces itself with some designer flair, which continues all the way inside. 


The home began as a basic, original cottage, and now has a primary suite and living-room add-on, with everything stylized nicely. 


The one thing held short from a fully modern renovation is the kitchen, which is smallish and tucked away, rather than opened to the living and dining spaces. Its style is also a bit of a mismatch, hearkening to the early 2000s with dark cabinetry and granite counters.


The backyard is another big attraction, with a built-in brick BBQ and bar, two seating areas including one around a firepit, and a hot tub. (Which we always find to be important.)


There's also a separate building in back with a fireplace – a bonus room that is not included in the square footage, but certainly offers options.


From the official description:


&quot;This inviting single-level residence blends timeless coastal charm with thoughtful updates and flexible living spaces designed for today’s lifestyle.Beautiful curb appeal and landscaped grounds set the tone as you arrive, while inside, light-filled interiors showcase beamed ceilings, recessed lighting, and warm flooring that create an airy yet comfortable ambiance. The main living and dining areas flow effortlessly together, offering an ideal setting for both relaxed everyday living and entertaining.The kitchen features rich cabinetry, stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, and generous prep space, all opening naturally to the home’s gathering areas. A separate family room anchored by a cozy fireplace provides an additional place to unwind and enjoy seamless indoor-outdoor connection.In addition to the primary living areas, the home offers a versatile bonus space of approximately 200 square feet, not reflected in the stated square footage, providing flexibility for a media room, home office, fitness area, or guest retreat.Bedrooms are well-proportioned and filled with natural light, while updated bathrooms feature clean, timeless finishes. The overall floor plan is both functional and welcoming, designed to maximize comfort and usability.The private backyard is a true highlight, thoughtfully designed with turf lawn, multiple entertaining areas, built-in barbecue, spa, and firepit - creating a relaxed outdoor environment perfect for hosting or enjoying quiet coastal evenings.&quot;


3013 Oak Avenue begins at $2.799M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


3013 Oak Avenue is listed by Daniel O'Connor, Compass.


 


 586 36th (3br/2ba, 1568 sqft.) is a moderately upgraded SFR on a street-to-alley lot.


From the official description:


&quot;First time on the market This fantastic location in the tree streets is currently home to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow. Inside, you will find a circular floor plan linking living, dining and kitchen spaces. The kitchen features a gas range and breakfast bar. There is a fireplace off the kitchen in a room that has been used for dining or sitting over the years. New carpeting has been laid in all three bedrooms. The spacious primary suite host 2 closets and plenty of sun. You'll find a laundry area tucked off a side hallway, and ample storage space. The rear yard boasts a 3 hole putting green, an easy care paver patio and turf lawn.&quot;


Click here to view virtual tour (Slideshow)


586 36th begins at $2.700M and is open Sun. 1-4pm.


586 36th is listed by Karen Walsh, Realty One Group West.


 


 


East Manhattan Beach





 1756 Voorhees Avenue (4br/4ba, 3033 sqft.) is a super custom single-level modern.


This one ran a couple of months last year at $4.895M, but is back $200K lighter now. 


From the official description:


&quot;Welcome to 1756 Voorhees Ave, a stunning, custom-built home completed in late 2022... with an open floor plan created for seamless indoor/outdoor living. Boasting 4 spacious bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, this home features high 12-foot ceilings, extra-large custom doors and windows, and floor-to-ceiling La Cantina pocket sliding doors that open to the meticulously designed outdoor spaces. The chef-grade kitchen is equipped with top-of-the-line Thermador appliances, custom cabinetry, and a large island, perfect for entertaining. Enjoy the California lifestyle with an outdoor kitchen, BBQ, sink, fridge, and a gas line for a pizza oven. The modern pool and spa include fire and water features, creating a resort-like atmosphere. A cozy firepit lounge enhances your outdoor experience. Inside, the home offers high-end finishes, including smart home features, central audio with Revel speakers, Lutron/Kasa light switches, and a central vacuum system. Other notable highlights include a 9'x5' custom pivoting front door, a finished garage with NewAge storage systems, a whole-house water filtration system, and surveillance cameras for added peace of mind. The home also includes an electric car charging system and built-in speakers throughout.&quot;


1756 Voorhees Avenue begins at $4.695M and is open Sun. 12-2pm.


1756 Voorhees Avenue is listed by Keven Stirdivant, Kase Real Estate.





 1808 Manzanita Lane (5br/3ba, 2455 sqft.) is a nice example of a Liberty Village original that has been upgraded – in this case by the addition of a 2nd floor. You can still &quot;feel&quot; some of the original floorplan with the 2 downstairs beds and front living room, but much of the rest of the house is newer. 


From the official description:


&quot;Nestled in one of Manhattan Beach's most desirable, picture-perfect neighborhoods, 1808 Manzanita Lane offers timeless charm, flexible living and an unbeatable location. This two-story home features 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a thoughtfully designed layout with multiple living spaces and room to grow. The main level includes a welcoming living room, an inviting family room, and a spacious kitchen that opens up to the dining area- perfect for everyday living and entertaining. French doors open to the backyard, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Two bedrooms and one bathroom on this level provide ideal space for guests, a home office, or multi-generational living. Upstairs, you'll find three additional bedrooms, including a spacious primary suite with vaulted ceilings, a walk-in closet and abundant natural light. The en-suite bathroom features dual sinks, a soaking tub and separate shower. A convenient laundry room is also located on the upper level. Beautiful hardwood floors run throughout the home, adding warmth and timeless character. Step outside to a private backyard retreat featuring a swim spa with a newly remodeled detached two-car garage, perfect for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying the Southern California lifestyle... This isn't just a home- it's your chance to live the Manhattan Beach lifestyle everyone wants.&quot;


1808 Manzanita Lane begins at $3.175M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 1-4pm.


1808 Manzanita Lane is listed by Jennifer Henderson, Powers Realty, Inc.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:47:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/the-property-tax-hack-that-isnt.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/the-property-tax-hack-that-isnt.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>The Property Tax Hack That Isn't</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We've observed something that seems increasingly common in Manhattan Beach home sales: Cash buyers opting to pay their agents' commissions themselves, rather than folding in those fees with the purchase price.


There's one obvious reason why it might seem more common in the past couple years: We've seen changes in real estate business practices, whereby sellers do not make any upfront commitment to pay any buyer-agent compensation, such as through the MLS.


Instead, the buyer's agent's fee is more visibly a part of the offer and negotiation. Considering this part of the process – how to pay their own agent – cash buyers conclude something like, &quot;Why should I pay tax on my agent's commission?&quot;


(The benefits we will discuss below really do not apply as well to financed buyers. When there's a loan, the tradeoffs involving hoarding cash versus using leverage would typically favor asking the seller to pay out of their proceeds.)


We recently interacted with a cash buyer who was very confident that he'd discovered a &quot;hack&quot; to the system. (His word.) Not only would he pay his buyer agent fees directly, but he'd also find out what the listing agent's fees were going to be, and pay those directly as well.


This would bring his purchase price – in this hypothetical transaction he was discussing – down by 5. Think of the money he'd save on taxes


&quot;It only grows and grows,&quot; he said.


So, we thought: How much money would he be saving on taxes? Does it &quot;grow and grow?&quot; And how much are other buyers saving when they try some variation of this tactic? 


And around here at MBC, you know what's next: Data, graphs, charts. Here we go 





In California, your property tax bill is tied directly to your recorded purchase price. Under Proposition 13 (1978), the assessed value can be increased by up to 2.0 annually, but no more. 


Because your assessed value increases, payments increase over time. But so do savings, if you have lowered the purchase price by using this tactic.


Our first chart here simply gives the annual property tax savings a buyer achieves by paying some commissions directly, instead of as part of the purchase price. 


(As placeholders, we've used 2.5 fees for both the buyer agent and listing agent. In any transaction, fees are fully negotiable, and there are no &quot;standard&quot; fees.)


Did you think it would be a lot of money? The $2M buyer pays $554 less in Year 1 than they might have otherwise. Meantime, they pay over $21,600 in property tax that year. 


The benefits are somewhat larger at higher price points, and a bit later into ownership. 


For instance, the $4M buyer who pays 5 directly – getting a lower purchase price in exchange, of course – is banking annual savings of $2,649 by Year 10. They pay a bit over $50,000 in property tax in that same year.


The $6M buyer saves almost $1,700 per year at first if they paid 2.5 directly, and more than $3,300 per year if they paid 5 directly. 


Some quick reactions:




Some savings do exist. 


The savings are modest.


Savings grow with the size of tax bills, but there is no &quot;compounding effect&quot; by which tax savings grow exponentially over time.




That last bullet may or may not be a surprise to you, but it's true. We'll come back to it toward the end.


Let's go BIG in the next chart.





Now we're looking at the absolute Big Picture. How much do you save over time by employing this particular gambit? 


The $2M buyer has saved $22,482 total after 30 years, if they paid 2.5 directly. 


The $6M buyer who paid a full 5 directly has over $36,000 in savings after just 10 years, and hits nearly $135K in savings after 30. Results for the $4M buyer fall right between these figures, depending on how much they chose to pay directly. 


All of that is real money, no disputing it. It's just that, in context, it's not much. 


That $6M buyer who saved $135K has also paid almost $2.6M in property tax over the same 30-year period. They just didn't pay $2.7M.


The $4M buyer who paid 2.5 directly to save on property taxes does save $26,930 by Year 20, while having paid $1,050,278 in property taxes during that period. Better than $1,077,208


It is all so very relative. 


At risk of spooking you off any property purchase anywhere at any time, here's the total property tax due over 10, 20 and 30 years on properties of $2M, $4M and $6M with these purchase-price discounts built in:


 


Sure, that seems like a lot of tax paid. But at least you're in a city and state where property tax rates are stiffly controlled. Homeowners in many states have regular market-value reassessments.


It's worth noting that assessed property values at the end of 30 years end up thusly:


$2.000M = $3.551M


$4.000M = $7.103M


$6.000M = $10.655M


And we know that actual values tend to far surpass this formulaic, 2-per-year value increase, especially in Manhattan Beach. So the tax paid literally vanishes in the appreciation.


Impact on Monthly Bills 


Will you notice the savings while they're happening? 


Time for another chart.





Now we're looking at the change in a buyer's monthly payment as a benefit of having paid some commissions directly. 


The $2M buyer stashes away $46 per month right away after a 2.5 direct payment. 


The savings can reach $100-$300 per month at higher price points, and with higher amounts paid directly, even approaching $500/mo. for the $6M cash buyer who paid the most directly. (Although this is after 30 years of ownership.)


Do people notice those kinds of savings?


True story: In a prior career, we once had some projects involving a billionaire client. (The old-fashioned kind who built a business, not a tech god.) He wanted detailed financial reports, which we prepared and sent. After a few months, we got some feedback: Stop rounding the numbers.  


Yes, we had been using accurate, whole-dollar figures for line items, knocking off the cents to make the reports more readable. Evidently, he did not become a billionaire by having pennies rounded for him. Point taken. We never did that again. 


Now, if you're more the type who gets your burritos delivered by taxi, or lets someone else book your travel, &quot;devil may care&quot; about the costs, well, maybe you won't notice the $50-$200 range of property tax savings each month.


But it's something, right? 


Benefit Stays Flat Over Time





Remember that one line from the cash buyer who was talking to us?


&quot;It only grows and grows,&quot; he said of the tax savings he'd enjoy by paying 5 commissions directly, with a lower purchase price. 


Maybe he'd be surprised if he saw the numbers.


The reality is that the savings grow as the tax bill grows, but the savings never compound. (We're pretty sure he was assuming a compounding effect.)


A lower starting value buys you a permanent, modest tax discount, but it doesn’t build on itself. Some readers are saying &quot;duh,&quot; and some are saying, &quot;show me.&quot; So here you go, our last chart.


 


Every scenario here shows the same thing: You get 2.5 or 5.0 off the property tax bill in perpetuity, based on the amount you originally took off the purchase price, and that’s the whole story.


For something billed as a clever workaround, it’s remarkably flat. That's why we'd say paying commissions directly is a modest benefit, but not a &quot;hack.&quot;


This is all separate from the question of, &quot;Should you endeavor to pay less in property tax?&quot;


Your property tax payments go to Los Angeles County for distribution to local governments, schools and public safety. Most people have an aversion to paying any more than they have to, but this is the consequence – less local money for those purposes. Something to consider before &quot;hacking&quot; the system.  


 --------------------------------------


Nerdy Notes


Property Tax 101


As noted, in California, your property tax bill is tied directly to your recorded purchase price. Under Proposition 13 (1978), the assessed value can be increased by a maximum of 2.0 annually. Only new construction or major remodeling/additions can trigger an upward value adjustment while ownership remains the same. 


Assessments are the responsibility of county governments, which also collect and distribute property tax revenue. Although local property tax revenue can affect how some state funds are distributed, the money never goes to the state.


Assumptions


There are two vital numbers assumed to be steady throughout these calculations, which could or would vary in reality :


1)  Property tax rate. We used the Manhattan Beach property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26, which is 1.108359, throughout this analysis. (This page on MBC is kept as current as we can with the local tax rate, including line items.) In reality, this number varies ever-so-slightly from year to year. And our property tax calculations here do not factor in additional local charges, such as for bonds.


2) Appreciation rate (2.0). This is the maximum annual upward adjustment in assessed home value, per Proposition 13. We assume this maximum increase is made every single year. In reality, LA County might not always assess the full 2.0, and in down markets, the county has been known to downwardly adjust property values. (They can step back up later.) 


We also assume that a home remains more or less as it was at the time of purchase, with no major remodeling/additions or new construction that might trigger an adjustment in value at a later date.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:22:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/daring-works.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/daring-works.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Daring Works</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Building cycles run in waves, and each wave has trends.


At some point, 10, 20 or 50 years down the road, you can almost spot the vintage of a home:


That's a 90s Spanish.


That's a 70s Tudor.


Oh, an original postwar bungalow.


Early-aughts Caliterranean.


Hey, a mid-teens Cape Cod


Oh, man, the 80s were cruel.


And then, there are the rebels.


The iconoclasts.


They march to the beat of a different drummer.


They don't care what the trends are, or were. They're doing their thing. You can't suss out their vintage because they don't belong to any one time. 


If you don't like their music or their smoking, why don't you go outside?


(Side note: Did you know that Billy Idol just turned 70? And is alive at 70? Ye gods.)


We say all of this in appreciation of a newly-in-escrow home in the unlikely location of 1709 23rd St. (4br/3ba, 2842 sqft.) in Liberty Village.


Unlikely, just because the LV is a Mayberry-style neighborhood whose original, master-planned postwar cottages were purely purposeful.


But this home was a concept we've never seen before, and it is both engrossing and exciting.


And so different from the typical Liberty Village stock. Call it daring. 


This ground-up new build borrows architecturally from mid-century modern style. But you haven't seen this exact design anywhere. 


Enter down the side toward the rear, and you're inside the primary living space, which has the volume of a basketball gym. Maxed-out 2-story ceilings (28' per the listing) plus tons of windows keep the room bright. (The windows face north, so the residents won't be baking inside the house on a sunny day.)  


Up the stairs is a secondary living space – a loft described as an office, but perhaps destined to serve as a &quot;kids' living room&quot; up and away from the main family room. 


Of course there's a splashy kitchen with a central island. The cabinetry features a mix of warm woods and white boxes. 


Perhaps controversially, the &quot;dining room&quot; is designed as a central strip within the great room. This is where it will be, period, thank you. Likewise, the family room is oriented around the grand stone fireplace, and you will mount the TV on the stone, period, thank you. (Be sure to get one of those non-melty TVs.) 


The outdoors area on this 5700-ish sqft. lot is mostly designed as outdoor living space – no toddler soccer practice here. There's a built-in BBQ and paved hangout spaces, accessed through foldaway doors. 


How about bedrooms?


There's a large primary suite on the first floor. Yes, the first floor. Also on the first floor, according to the floorplan: An office with a powder room in the hallway (serving the first floor). It's shown as a baby room, as if it is the 4th bedroom listed as a part of the property. (No closet? No full bath?)


Upstairs, two bedrooms share a bath. Two sinks is a nice touch.


So, yes, the design is bold, the choices occasionally – as we said – daring. 


It's a one-of-a-kind floorplan, and one that would force some buyers to wrestle with how to live in it. 


But it's undeniably attractive, and it had big pull for that reason. Asking $4.499M, it lasted just about 2 weeks and is now under contract. 


The highest-ever sale in Liberty Village (east of Redondo is the real LV) was last year's resale of a 2016 build at 1401 Lynngrove (5br/5ba, 3588 sqft.) at $4.600M. That was 10 above the highest sale for new construction – 2104 Lynngrove (5br/6ba, 3598 sqft.) in 2024 at $4.195M. 


So it looks like 1709 23rd could slot in as the highest-ever new construction sale, despite lacking the bedrooms and square footage of its competitors for the crown. Is it going to beat 1401 Lynngrove by going over $4.600M? 


Even if it doesn't go over 4.6, this is not a bad potential outcome for an edgy new build.  


---------------------------------------- 


Postscript


We began to wax a bit about Liberty Village up above, just to contrast it with the new build. 


We have a little more to say that didn't fit the main body of the post.  


Liberty Village was developed right after WWII. There were just a couple of floorplans way-back-when, either 2br or 3br, and they were all built up in record time to help house the aerospace workers who would be needed across the street – and in the area – at major new aerotech manufacturing firms. 


About 10 years ago, on Manhattan Beach News – our sister site – we reported on a meeting of some Manhattan Beach &quot;Pioneers,&quot; people who'd lived in town 50 years or more. The article includes a video of a resident talking about buying their Liberty Village home for $9,995, with just $199 down – which was refunded to them via the GI Bill. 


(Where are programs like that today?)


The neighborhood has long been one of the lowest-priced &quot;entry-level&quot; areas of MB – although, of course, prices are no longer so &quot;entry level,&quot; by any common definition. 


You can still &quot;see&quot; the original homes throughout Liberty Village, with most having been updated – maybe added onto in strategic ways, but not demolished. 


New builds from scratch seem far more rare in Liberty Village than in almost any other part of town. 


But total rebuilds do exist One of our first listings ever was 2104 Harkness, a 1990 Spanish that didn't look much like any of the neighbors.


We later went on to represent two others sales in Liberty Village on homes that set records, 1900 and 1901 Lynngrove. Each was a fairly new build taking advantage of a rising market. 


There was a time when we thought we'd never see sales in Liberty Village over $4M, but you really should never say never. There have been two, and it looks like a third is on the way.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-321-32226.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mbconfidential.com/blog/manhattan-beach-new-listings-321-32226.html</link>
        <author>dave@mbconfidential.com (Dave Fratello)</author>
        <title>Manhattan Beach New Listings (3/21-3/22/26)</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
It's a kinda dry week for Spring, not too many new listings – although we do see 2 North End Strand listings, and 2 more on walkstreets. See below. 


Since it's a short week for new listings, we need to opine for a minute.


Folks, we've talked about A.I. listing descriptions here a couple of times at least. (For instance, here.) 


We see hallmarks of AI writing all the darn time in listing descriptions everywhere.


Someone suggested that we should maybe write a guide to share all the secrets to spotting AI writing. (Come to think of it, that might have been an AI that suggested that)


One of the &quot;giveaway&quot; constructions you'll see ends with &quot;— perfect for....&quot; or &quot;— ideal for...&quot;


Another AI cliche is phrased something like, &quot;This is more than a home — it’s a lifestyle.&quot;


AI thinks those are clever and human-sounding. Which is why AI suggests them all the darn time. 


This week, that &quot;lifestyle&quot; phrase actually appears exactly that way in one of the new listings... one which also includes the &quot;– perfect for&quot; wording.


Another listing uses the &quot;—ideal for&quot; construction twice. 


But, y'know, people could possibly come up with that stuff themselves, too It sounds so human.


People, also, might describe a primary suite as a &quot;surreal retreat.&quot; Erm, maybe. 


Or maybe people should take a pass at their AI text with a skeptical eye?


Beware em-dashes with no spaces. (You can find them sometimes—looking like this.) They might indicate AI writing.


This week, only one listing description lacks em-dashes, but it's &quot;recycled,&quot; if you will, from a time before ChatGPT. (A prior listing from 4 years ago.)


Yes, AI writing is everywhere. But not all writing is AI. For instance, this. Hi


Open house times for new listings are listed below, but you can also click SEARCHES then &quot;Open Houses&quot; at the top of our site, which displays all the Manhattan Beach open houses. There are also links right at the top to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach opens.


----------------------------------------


PLEASE NOTE: Below, we present listings new to the Manhattan Beach market this week, via the MLS. They are listed and brokered by a variety of agents and firms. The name of the listing broker and agent for each property, along with any contact information supplied through the MLS, is displayed with each property, next to the price. Blog author Dave Fratello of Edge Real Estate Agency is not the listing agent unless so stated with the listing. Excerpts of the listing agent's description of each property are provided in quotes.


Click on any property address or photo to open a new page with full listing details, all photos, listing broker and agent information, and other MLS information. Any observations and comments about listings represent the professional judgments and opinions of the author, Dave Fratello, not the listing brokers or agents. Please see our blog disclaimer.


----------------------------------------


Sand Section





 4320 The Strand (3br/6ba, 3592 sqft.)  is a masterpiece on the North End Strand. It's an incredible execution on what began as a small (1550 sqft.) lot. 


They took advantage of the steep slope to make something above-and-beyond special with 5 floors. 


5 floors


The property traded in 2022 at $10.755M, tried last year at $12.500M, and is back with just a modest markup over acquisition.


From the official description:


&quot;In dreaming, designing, and executing this truly irreplaceable 5-story oceanfront property... all elements have been expertly woven together into the ultimate representation of absolute perfection. Earth, air, fire and water stand in a visionary blend of architecture, function, and timeless presence forever making a unique statement along one of the most sought after stretches of coastline in the world. The facade is bold and beautiful, dressed in durable micro-layered Richlite wood and R100 privacy glass, then subtly trimmed in steel. Sitting proudly overlooking expansive views of the horizon which stretch from Palos Verdes and Catalina to the Malibu coastline. Watch endless world-class surf in El Porto from one of the very best vantage points in all of Manhattan Beach - the private, open concept living room perched high above the Strand. Walls of floor-to-ceiling glass capture the shifting moods of the ocean presenting a different backdrop almost hourly. Open the room-height German-made Schüco 77 sliding doors to welcome the ocean air and expand the living area onto the deck beyond, where you can enjoy dramatic sunsets while soaking in your solid copper spa The modern kitchen is outfitted with a full suite of premium appliance brands: Gaggenau, SubZero and Meile. Pantry shelving and appliance storage options are expertly designed right into the sleek cabinetry custom made by Design Support Woodworking. A 3-sided glass Ortal fireplace expands views of the ocean while seated at the custom built-in dining table. The master suite showcases front-and center views, blackout curtains, and switch glass in the master bath. Dramatic and discreet up and downlighting is used extensively throughout. This custom home holds numerous surprises, such as a media room with nearly 20 foot ceilings, a 2-story green wall and koi pond, top of the line Crestron automation, a four-stop, Italian-made glass and steel elevator from Elevator Boutique...&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


4320 The Strand begins at $11.250M


4320 The Strand is listed by Bryn Stroyke, Bayside. 


 


 221 30th Street (4br/5ba, 4554 sqft.) is a late-90s Spanish on a North End walkstreet. 


It boasts a &quot;surreal&quot; primary suite and Venetian plaster as a luxury accent. 


From the official description:


&quot;Attractive South-facing walk-street Masterpiece in the heart of Manhattan Beach, just steps from the sand. This Architecturally striking property offers Unobstructed White Water Ocean Views from Palos Verdes to Catalina Island to Malibu... The expansive living room is framed by exposed wood beam ceilings and large arched windows that bathe the space in natural light while showcasing panoramic ocean vistas... The walls are finished with luxurious Venetian plaster throughout, adding a subtle warmth and attention to detail that elevates the home's sophistication. The chef’s kitchen is a showstopper, featuring marble countertops, sleek European-style cabinetry, and professional-grade Wolf appliances. A stunning outdoor entertainer’s deck is equipped with a built-in BBQ, a lighted fire pit, and comfortable lounge seating — perfect for soaking in golden sunsets over the ocean. The primary suite is a surreal retreat, offering a spacious sitting area, a private ocean-view balcony, and a luxurious spa-style en-suite bath with a soaking tub, walk-in rainfall shower, and custom his-and-hers wardrobes. The Venetian plaster continues in the primary suite, creating a seamless blend of elegance and warmth. Additional highlights include multiple sun-drenched terraces with ocean views, designer fixtures, and high-end finishes throughout. The spacious secondary bedrooms each feature en-suite baths, and the private garage offers ample storage. This is more than a home — it’s a lifestyle. Live the essence of Manhattan Beach with unmatched elegance and coastal charm.&quot;


221 30th Street begins at $8.795M.


221 30th Street is listed by Tim Lesser, Keller Williams Luxury.





 337 10th (5br/4ba, 2804 sqft.) is a walkstreet duplex very close to downtown. So close, in fact, that the garage backs up more or less to the Beach Vons. Close, K?


From the official description:


&quot;Set along one of Manhattan Beach’s most charming Walk Streets, 337 10th Street captures the essence of coastal living just moments from the beach and the shops and restaurants of downtown. Homes along this coveted Walk Street rarely come to market, making this a special opportunity to own in one of the South Bay’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Framed by a mature willow tree and a gated front yard, the home welcomes you with bright interiors, classic beach-house character, and inviting outdoor spaces. Entering from the Walk Street, a spacious front deck offers a wonderful setting to gather with friends and family or simply relax and enjoy the coastal surroundings. Inside, the home feels bright and welcoming with solid maple hardwood floors, beadboard wainscoting, bay windows, and a charming Dutch front door that enhances the home’s timeless beach-house style. The kitchen flows naturally into the dining and living areas, creating an easy layout for everyday living and entertaining. A walk-in pantry and recently updated appliances—including a dual wall oven, Bosch dishwasher, and Whirlpool cooktop—add both convenience and functionality... At the rear of the main level, a mudroom with laundry provides convenient access to the home’s rare four-car garage plus two additional off-street parking spaces, an exceptional amenity in downtown Manhattan Beach. Upstairs, ocean breezes and natural light fill three sunlit bedrooms and an additional flexible living space. The primary suite overlooks the quiet Walk Street and features an ensuite bath with dual vanities, skylight, glass-enclosed tub and shower, and a cedar-lined walk-in closet. Currently configured as a duplex, the property can easily function as a spacious single-family home. A separate two-bedroom guest residence offers exceptional flexibility and can connect to the main home to create a five-bedroom residence, or serve as private guest quarters, in-law space, or a source of rental income. Few properties offer the combination of Walk Street charm, generous parking, and flexible living found at 337 10th Street—an exceptional opportunity to enjoy the very best of Manhattan Beach coastal living.&quot;


337 10th begins at $5.350M.


337 10th is listed by Lauren Forbes, Compass.


 


 4308 The Strand (5br/5ba, 4354 sqft.) is a full-size, full-lot SFR that has been on the market off-and-on since 2023, even making a deal last Summer, which just didn't work out. 


From the official description:


&quot;Live every day like you’re on vacation at 4308 The Strand—where the ocean is your front yard and the rhythm of the waves defines your lifestyle. Ideally located in North Manhattan Beach, this exceptional home offers a premier beachfront setting with easy access to the best of Manhattan Beach, Venice, Santa Monica, Downtown Los Angeles, and LAX. Positioned along one of the most desirable stretches of coastline, the home features world-class surf just steps away, unobstructed white-water views, and a wide sandy beach. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets and panoramic ocean vistas—from Catalina to Palos Verdes and Malibu—from multiple decks designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living. This versatile residence can function as a five-bedroom single-family home or as a four-bedroom main home with a separate one-bedroom junior ADU—ideal for guests or rental income. The home offers soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and stunning ocean views from nearly every room. The gourmet chef’s kitchen features high-end appliances, custom finishes, and an expansive island. Additional highlights include three fireplaces, a designer vacuum elevator, custom railings, and a spacious laundry room. The lower level offers a private suite with its own bedroom, bath, kitchenette, and access to a landscaped outdoor yard—ideal for relaxing or entertaining. The property offers a three-car garage, two guest spaces, and optional permitted access to the gated El Porto lot – closed nightly for a uniquely private beach experience. A large storage room beneath the home offers flexible use, including the potential for a wine cellar. Energy-efficient features include fully paid solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall, keeping the average electric bill around $30 per month.&quot;


4308 The Strand begins at $8.849M.


4308 The Strand is listed by Molly Graw, Pacifica Properties Group, Inc.


Tree Section





 3512 Maple (3br/2ba, 1899 sqft.) was very original when sold in April 2025 for $2.200M. 


Now it's gotten the full treatment, and comes back about $900K higher.


From the official description:


&quot;Welcome to 3512 Maple Avenue, a thoughtfully redesigned coastal-inspired home blending convenience with functional living. Meticulously remodeled with an emphasis on efficiency and flow, this residence offers a smart layout that maximizes every square foot, complemented by a gorgeous Hemlock wood garage door that adds exceptional curb appeal. The well-appointed kitchen features premium Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, generous cabinetry, and clean, timeless finishes. Bathrooms are equally well designed, offering stylish details and ample storage. A dedicated laundry room with a sink adds everyday convenience. A separate living room provides additional space to relax or entertain, while the dining room is connected by barn doors - offering flexible options for open or more private gatherings. An inviting family room opens directly to the backyard, creating an ideal indoor-outdoor connection to a private, serene retreat complete with a new spa and pergola—perfect for relaxing or entertaining. Modern living is elevated with integrated smart home features, including app-controlled access to the spa, garage door, heating/AC system, and water heater. Electric car charger in the garage. A turnkey opportunity offering thoughtful design, smart technology, and coastal living at 3512 Maple.&quot;


Click here to view the virtual tour (3D)


3512 Maple begins at $3.099M and is open Sat. &amp; Sun. 2-5pm.


3512 Maple is listed by Martins Leikarts, Estate Properties.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:59:00 -0700</pubDate>
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