Linked Strand Sales Vie for Record High

It was just last year that Manhattan Beach saw its highest price ever paid for any home. 

Of course, it was on The Strand.

That was 1800 The Strand (5br/6ba, 5329 sqft.), which closed for $24.500M, in mid-July 2024. (See this post for more details and context.) 

Almost a year to the day later, a buyer has plunked down $25.725M on The Strand.

Except this time, it's for two adjoining properties.

And just a few doors north of that record-holder at 1800 The Strand.

1812 The Strand (2br/5ba, 3550 sqft.) is a modern style build first erected in 2006 (described in the listing a "nod to Brutalist architecture"). 

Right next door is a considerably older home at 1808 The Strand (1br/1ba, 1068 sqft.), which the listing describes as literally the oldest home on The Strand (built in 1922). (It's the little one to the right.)

1812 was asking $13.000M and sold for $25K less, $12.975M.

1808 was at $12.750M and closed for full price.

The agent representing both properties made clear that the two offerings present the "exceedingly rare potential for a side-by-side acquisition," which "could become one of the most extraordinary double-lot opportunities ever to come to market on The Strand."

With both properties closing at the same time with the same agent representing both listings and the buyer, you can go ahead and infer all you want – it's a double-lot "opportunity" that was not missed. (As for the agent, you might think, ahhhh, a chance to relax, take 6 months off, travel the world... but, nah.) 

Can the buyer merge the lots? You'd have to imagine that's the play, but the city, at least, will have to have it say. 

On this blog, we're not aware of any restriction on merging 2 lots. 

But there is precedent for buyers going big on the waterfront.

Nearly 20 years ago (time flies!), the merger of 3 lots on The Strand at 212 The Strand prompted a "mansionization" debate in Manhattan Beach, which led to a general limit of 2 lots to ever be merged in MB in the future.

(In 2009, we took a look at the nearly complete 212 The Strand in a post titled, "Big, Beautiful, Too Much?" We noted that the proposed building had "struck fear into the hearts of neighbors," for fear it would be too huge, but in execution, we said the home "does not dominate or overwhelm in the ways we might have feared. Count us as pleasantly surprised.")

212 The Strand is the home "floated" in November 2023 at a potential asking price of $150 million. (See this post from way-back-when.) It was subsequently leased for $135K/mo. and $125K/mo. in separate MLS-listed rentals. We don't see evidence in tax records that it ever actually sold.