Weekend Opens (10/29-10/30/16)

By Dave Fratello | October 29th, 2016

Tree Section neighbors have known about the replica Halloween Town with annual light shows, music and assorted decorations. For 6 years, the show inspired by "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was at the corner of Palm and 19th Streets.

But now, with the small, old cottage razed and the site part way through construction of a large new home, where would the show go?

DigMB has the answer: It's gone East for a spell, relocated to 1625 18th Street, while the new home on Palm is being built. (See DigMB's post, "'Nightmare Before Christmas' Light Show Moves to 18th Street" for more about the history and more from the family putting on the show.)

Pop by this weekend or Monday (Halloween) at 6:30pm or 7:00pm for this one-of-a-kind local treat.

Also this weekend, you've got plenty of options for open houses. There are 41 active listings competing for your attention. The newest listings are featured below.

Our video this week features the new construction at 2109 Meadows and a Tree Section listing at 722 Rosecrans that is not listed as open otherwise, in addition to the first home on our list, 324 21st:

Some mobile users and email subscribers will need to use this link to view the video.

To plan your open-house tours for this week, use MB Confidential's online list of Manhattan Beach open houses (it's mobile-friendly!). Our open house link always appears in our weekly wrapups and on the main front page, under "Open Houses."

Below, click any address link to view all photos and property details. And don't forget, when previewing homes here on MB Confidential, you can click "Open All Images" right above the main listing photo to get immediate display of all the listing photos at once. Listings appearing here come from the whole MB market and may or may not be represented by MB Confidential author Dave Fratello.

Sand Section

324 21st (3br/4ba, 1900 sqft.) is a very typical townhome with some views of blue from the frontmost part of the living room and the reasonably spacious 3rd floor deck.

While it has some attractive features – some nice tile in the baths and newer kitchen appliances – the home is, overall, a fixer. It's a bit hard to appreciate, as the property is crowded with personal items. But that's just a boon to the buyer with vision who can see the bones and can map out the costs of a remodel properly. With that work done, you'd have a solid, typical townhome that's close to school, town and beach.

More from the official description:

"This custom two-on-a-lot townhome built in 1994, sits in the heart of the gaslight district in the sand section of Manhattan Beach just three short blocks to the ocean. Three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms with upgraded tile. The kitchen is loaded with solid wood cabinets and there are virtually new stainless steel appliances.. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout the upper living level and stairways, and a cozy fireplace enhances the living room. One of the best features is the oversized deck off the living space with really terrific ocean views. It offers some beautiful ocean views from the interior as well. The neighborhood is exquisite with its quaint gas lamps lining the street."

324 21st begins at $1.999M and is open Sun. 1-4pm.

Tree Section

1701 Oak (4br/3ba, 3575 sqft.) is a large corner-lot home that's been improved since we listed it briefly in June this year. The kitchen is revamped, as are countertops in the bath and wet bar downstairs.

This weekend, it's open both days.

Since this is Dave's listing, we try not to editorialize too much. Here's the official description:

"So much space for the money west of Sepulveda! This light, bright and open Cape Cod is on a corner lot with a high walkscore."

"Inside, the flooring is all nearly new, air conditioning is installed and custom-built media and wall cabinets in the family room give this home a distinctive feel. New countertops and appliances grace the kitchen. (Updated photos coming.) Backyard features gracious, shady trees, tiled patio and water-wise, no-maintenance artificial grass. Four bedrooms PLUS office upstairs. Bedrooms are all spacious, including, of course, the master suite, with high ceilings and treetop views. Along this corner lot, the home boasts a rare and distinctive set of redwood trees. Throughout, you will find wonderfully engineered small details, too. The walk to Pacific Elementary is just a few minutes. Absolute move-in condition."

1701 Oak starts at $2.300M and is open Sat. 1-4pm, and Sun. from 2-4pm.

Hill Section

931 Duncan Place (5br/5ba, 4920 sqft.) is custom new construction packed with surprises and thoughtful details. You simply have not seen a Manhattan Beach home quite like this.

The Hill Section alley location may be a point of concern at first, but this is not Boundary Place, where the Hermosa side is lined with garages, making for an unfriendly feeling. Many homes along Duncan Place are newer or improved and look great. That's a plus for 931 Duncan Place, which captures many neighbors in frame from its multiple view locations on the top floor.

Those views, from the master, kitchen/living spaces and ample decks – including wraparound patio – are pleasant and surprising. It's a wide and ample stretch of blue on the horizon that is always with you. It would appear that homes across Duncan Place won't impinge.

The home itself features a somewhat surprising layout to feature those views the way it does. The master and an office/bedroom are on the top floor, while 3 bedroom suites are all spread around the first floor. (They're not "guest bedrooms" off the first-floor living room; they're the principal bedrooms.) The prize here is that the master and master bath get some of the best views in the house. Each time you go to shower or brush your teeth, you'll see the Pacific Ocean.

Stylistically, the home's generally of a modern design but with a special flair and style that's unique to the builder. A fun and surprising experience. More from the official description:

"Brand new, one of a kind masterpiece... This home is anything but ordinary with amazing attention to detail & a real eye for design... Entering on the top level of this home feels like a breath of fresh air as you walk through double entry doors. Featured on this level is a living room w/ fireplace, wet bar & yard access + a beautiful master suite, office/bedroom & kitchen. The gourmet kitchen is a chef's dream, with a 60 inch viking professional range, double oven, walnut cabinets, Caesar stone counters, 2 full size sinks, 2 dishwashers and an expansive island. Enjoy ocean view sunsets while you entertain guests from the kitchen which opens up to the large patio. The patio has its own large outdoor dining area + sitting area for relaxing year round... The first floor has a large family room, 3 additional beds/baths, theater room, customizable wine room & laundry room. This home has a 3 car garage, enough room for 5 car parking, comes A/C ready and a large storage room off the garage."

931 Duncan Place begins at $5.800M and is open Sat. & Sun. 1-4pm.

East MB

2109 Meadows (5br/5ba, 3450 sqft.) is new construction on a 5000 sqft. lot that, for all the world, looks like a "Plantation" style home, but they're not calling it that. (See "How Much Longer for 'Plantation' Style?")

They do call it a "view home," based on the rooftop/treetop views available from the second floor overlooking East Manhattan toward the local aerospace companies. ("City & [mountain] views + sunrises....")

In all, a very solid, inspired home with some art to it. More from the official description:

Brand new view home w/dramatic Artisan siding... 2-story Living Rm w/captivating 22-ft bamboo-tiled fireplace & wet bar... Wide Euro-cut white oak floors t/o. Stunning island Kitchen w/slab marble ctrs, farm sink, Thermador appls--including 48” 6-burner range, drawer microwave & 55-btl wine tower. Shaker-style cabinetry accented by maritime-inspired pendant lighting. Family Rm w/4-panel bi-fold doors open to SW-facing lawn & lge patio. Approx 1000-ft priv patio/yard is tropically landscaped! ... Master ste (17x19) has Juliet balcony over backyd, koa wood ceiling fan, lge walk-in closet & priv bath w/tile floor, soaker tub+sep shower, twin sinks & marble counter... A unique home w/quality & style that will endure."

2109 Meadows begins at $2.795M and is open Sat. & Sun. 2-4pm.

2208 Wendy (3br/3ba, 1775 sqft.) is a Liberty Village major fixer on the "wrong" side of Wendy Way (backing up to Aviation Blvd.) that, records show, has been under threat of foreclosure for almost 6 years. Now it's listed as an REO (that is, the lender has supposedly taken it back already).

Though it seems fully priced at $1.299M, the listing description suggests that an investor might see "a great profit potential."

True, neighboring 2009 Wendy (4br/2ba, 1770 sqft.) did sell in May 2015 for $1.749M after a considerable flipper remodel. But that one's a corner lot without the Aviation issue. But that was the highest price ever for a Liberty Village home under 2000 sqft. In a less challenged location, more recently, a smashing remodel at 1713 Lynngrove (3br/2ba, 1500 sqft.) just closed for $1.710M.

The listing also touts the chance that a buyer might wish to "spend time and money and make it their dream home." True, that's another possibility.