Manhattan Beach luxury home sales for the month of January totaled nine properties including townhouses. The most expensive sale was $3,950,000 for a single family home at 128 8th Street. There are 14 Manhattan Beach luxury homes in escrow and only 8 Manhattan Beach luxury (priced over $2,000,000) for sale. The luxury market inventory is extremely limited with demand outpacing supply. If you are considering selling your Manhattan Beach luxury homes the numbers certainly indicated now is an excellent time to bring it on the market. If you personal circumstances are in agreement, Norma Toering and Team welcome the opportunity to meet with to discuss the your expectations and current market conditions. If you want to live the beach lifestyle and still be close to urban amenities Manhattan ... 02/02/2014

Breaking News: The Harry & David Store in Manhattan Beach, CA Closed! Harry & David has been an American institution for the past 80 years. They went through highs and lows but managed to come back stronger, hence you can imagine my shock. I am very sad and disappointed. First the economy is improving and we are still finding out that this   historic business is downsizing. How sad, there were so many great knowledgeable workers with strong customer service skills who are without a job. From a personal perspective, I will miss the store, since for me it was less than a ten mile drive and I could buy the  best gift baskets as well as perfect tasting fruit. I have never seen such large and flawless pears as the Harry and David pears, just to mention a favorite of mine. Many of my clients ... 01/25/2014

        I normally write this post on December 31... but this year a good  friend  was in the hospital  and I  just got back into town.  Life is always full of surprises....   Looking back at  last year   I was  right and wrong on my real estate predictions for 2013.  Inventory did stay low but prices shot up to levels we last saw before the recession.  While I expected to see a rise in home values,  I didn't think we would see the significant increase we saw in Manhattan Beach  and  the rest of the  Beach Cities in such a short time frame.    Homes that had been on and off the market for years suddenly found new owners at new price levels.  Builders stepped back in the market with a lot of cash and entry level  buyers found themselves facing tough competition for smaller homes in all  ... 01/15/2014

If you haven't already checked out Little Sister in Manhattan Beach, you will want to. Not only is the food awesome, but so is the decor and the ambiance. Located in the beautiful and scenic downtown Manhattan Beach. Try the Singapore noodles. It's a good idea to call in advance, as this hot spot books up quickly! Little Sister Manhattan Beach     01/12/2014

Perhaps prospective luxury home buyers interested in the beach cities were making holiday and new year plans rather than purchasing homes as 2013 vanished from our calendars. Whatever the reason, luxury home sales priced over $2,000,000 dipped ever so slightly in December. December updates by city: Manhattan Beach: 8 Manhattan Beach homes priced over $2,000,000 sold in December. The most expensive sale was a walk street home on 19th Street with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. The property was on the market 198 days and sale price was $4,700,000. There are currently 7 Manhattan Beach homes in escrow with accepted offers and 12 luxury homes for sale. Hermosa Beach: There are currently 6 Hermosa Beach luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 for sale. MLS records show no sales or pending sales for t... 01/10/2014

In its earliest days, Manhattan Beach was part of the original Spanish land grant for "Rancho Sausal Redondo" ("Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows") in 1822, a rancho with a land mass of nearly 25,000 acres which extended from the areas as far north of what is now Playa del Rey, as far east as Inglewood, and as far south as Hermosa Beach. At one time the area was called "Shore Acres" by George Peck, who owned a section of the north end of town.  Manhattan Beach is built on sand. Planks were laid in the sand on Manhattan Avenue for vehicles and along the Strand and side streets for pedestrians. In the early days, old timers speak of walkways disappearing, small structures sliding and the sting of the sand. The dunes were a major problem. Some were 50 feet to 70 feet high. Developers wer... 01/07/2014

Manhattan Beach had a phenomenal year in 2013 for income property sales. Beach cities summary: The surging housing market of the Beach Cities combined with the limited availability of buildings for sale, made for a competitive buying environment. Multiple offers were the standard and "all cash" deals the trump card. Manhattan unit sales statistics for 2013: Available buildings: 1 Property is for sale at $3,150,000. Pending sales: 1 Building is in escrow priced at $999,000. Manhattan Beach sales: 23 Buildings sold in 2013 from $960,000 to $3,800,000. The average price was $1,915,000. The average year built was 1953. None of the MB unit transfers in 2013 was a distressed sale. Manhattan Beach income property building types (2013 Sales): Duplex – 57% Triplex – 13% Fourplex – 9% 5-8 Units ... 01/01/2014

"Starter" Homes in Manhattan Beach Harder and Harder to Find By Keith Kyle For the first time in quite a while there are no single family homes currently active for sale in any area of Manhattan Beach priced under $1,000,000. Currently there are 5 single family homes in escrow that are priced under $1,000,000 with almost all exclusively in the Liberty Village area which is the most affordable neighborhood in Manhattan Beach. Gone may be the days of homes in the sub $1,000,000 range. Below are the current homes in escrow (as of 12/18/13) and below is a historical chart showing the past 3 years of homes below $1.0M. 12/19/2013

Lots of Manhattan Beach residents, or soon-to-be residents, will be celebrating the holidays in their recently purchased new homes. Eleven Manhattan single family luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 sold during the month of November 2013. Not bad results for a month filled with a cold weather snap and a long holiday weekend filled with family, friends and plenty of turkey with all the trimmings. Speaking of trimming, the most expensive home sold in Manhattan Beach during November was a home short on trimmings with its Modern Minimalist style, but it pulled out all the stops with its over-the-top beach lifestyle view of sand and surf at its location on The Strand. The nearly 4,000 sq. ft. home sold for $8,700,000. There are currently 12 Manhattan Beach luxury homes in escrow with accept... 12/14/2013

With temperatures in the 50's (yikes...this is Manhattan Beach) it felt a lot like winter and to kick of the holiday season Manhattan Beach had it's annual holiday fireworks show. While some watched from boats, and others watched from the beach or the streets, I was fortunate enough to have front row seats in downtown Manhattan. 12/09/2013

We have definitely seen signs of the market slowing down over the past 2 months in the South Bay, but that doesn't mean that slow down has been shared equally.  In fact in situations where the home is special, or location is great, or just happens to be in an area in which inventory is still dramatically low, we're still seeing an absolute frenzy with multiple offers, appraisal contingencies waived, and prices over the already high list prices.  So what's leading this somewhat confused market? There are many factors that have led to some houses being a hotbed of activity while others seem to sit.  Price is always a factor.  As I often advise my sellers, we have one chance to be a "new listing" and take advantage of all of the excitement and momentum that comes along with that.  Price to... 11/29/2013

The answer to the question, "what's so great about the Manhattan Beach sand section anyway?" can be summed up with 3 words......Location, location, location. The "sand" section of Manhattan Beach gets it's name from the proximity to the beach. The area stretches from Hermosa Beach to the edge of Manhattan known as El Porto. In this wonderful area you're never far from the beach, often walking distance to shops, restaurants and bars, enjoy almost perfect weather, are treated to spectacular sunsets, and often have great ocean views. The biggest drawbacks to this area are the price and the limited space as land is at a premium and just about every inch of lot is taken up by homes. Gone are most of the beach bungalows that actually fit on the lot and most have been replaced by larger and la... 11/11/2013

  You know a real estate market is "hot" when there are more homes in escrow than currently for sale in a given neighborhood or price range.  Such is the case with Manhattan Beach luxury homes priced over $2,000,000.   Manhattan Beach luxury homes move from "Just Listed" to "Just Sold" at a very fast clip.  The message this sends to prospective buyers is move fast or risk losing the property to another buyer.  The message it sends to sellers is this is your market so make the most of it.  Yes, the market does indeed speak to us.   Here's a snapshot of what is happening in the Manhattan Beach luxury home market as of November 2013: 19 Single family luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 are for sale in Manhattan Beach. 20 Manhattan Beach luxury homes are currently in escrow with accepted o... 11/06/2013

Edward Kaminsky attends invitation-only conclave for top luxury Realtors®   “Leaders in Luxury” event attracts real estate professionals from across North America   DALLAS, Texas. (10/28/13) – [Edward Kaminsky] of [Shorewood Realtors] joined over 100 top real estate professionals, serving the upscale residential market, who converged the last week of October at The Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle (WA) for The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s annual Leaders in Luxury (LIL) conference.   According to [Kaminsky], the exclusive event was an invitation-only educational and networking opportunity for real estate professionals who handle million and multi-million dollar homes and estates. “This prestigious conference helps me deliver better service by providing cutting-edge information on w... 11/05/2013

When it comes to buying a luxury, beach front property in California, there are several cities that offer luxurious real estate at an affordable cost. Whether you’re looking for local amenities, privacy, golf courses, or just simply miles of sandy beach, you can find the exact piece of property that you’re looking for in a few of California’s high end cities.  Manhattan Beach, is the perfect beachfront city located in southwest LA County. Just south of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach homes for sale provide a locale that is perfect for beach volleyball and surfing fanatics alike. Manhattan Beach is home to some of sports biggest professionals, so you know you’ll be living in the lap of luxury when you choose from one of our many Manhattan Beach homes for sale. Another popular beachfront city... 10/30/2013

  Norma Toering & Team is seeking income property in the beach cities of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach.  Several of our long-term clients are currently enlisting our assistance in helping them build strong real estate investment portfolios.  Consequently, I check daily for additions and changes to the current available inventory. In addition to our market knowledge, we enlist the help of a Columbia MBA finance consultant to analyze the numbers and future potential of properties of interest.  We wish to give our clients the best service and information available whether they are purchasing a duplex or a large apartment complex. The Manhattan Beach income property market is very competitive as this coastal city has some of the most expensive real estate in Los Angeles.  The market... 10/30/2013

Top 10 Curb Appeal Tips, Each for under $99 -- Manhattan Beach For more detail on curb appeal or selling, please feel free to call me, Laura Buchanan at 310-294-9922. On to curb appeal!  Especially if you as a homeowner are considering selling your home, you should first consider the first thing a buyer will see upon arriving: the outside, also known as "curb appeal."   Curb appeal doesn't have to be a big, costly ordeal.  You can easily add some style – and value – to your home with the following Top 10 Curb Appeal Tips, each costing less than $99.  Pick and choose some of these that are your home's most serious Curb Appeal detractors, and you'll drastically enhance the home's Curb Appeal and value: 1. Foliage -- Trim foliage and pull any weeds.  You'll just need trimming shears, lawn ... 10/25/2013

  MANHATTAN BEACH UTILITIES AND IMPORTANT NUMBERS  City Hall (310)802-5000 Chamber of Commerce (310)545-5313 Fire Department (310)802-5200 Police Department (310)802-5100 Verizon (phone) (800)483-3000 Verizon Fios (888)553-1555 Waste Management (310)830-7100 Time Warner Cable (888)683-1000 Realtors (310)872-6358 So. CA. Gas Co. (800)427-2200 Manhattan Water/ trash (310)802-5558 Animal Aid (310)802-5159 Main Post Office (800)275-8777   10/22/2013

Manhattan Beach Luxury Homes - Video Report    Just because summer is but a lovely memory, does not mean luxury homes sales in Manhattan Beach must come to a close also.  Fall is a great time to enjoy the walking and bike trails that snake along The Strand, watch or play a little beach volley ball and continue the activities relegated to the months of summer in many locales.   For more information on Manhattan Beach luxury homes contact Norma Toering & Team.  - Norma (310) 493-8333 Manhattan Beach high end homes for sale:   10/11/2013

  Summer may be over but the Manhattan Beach real estate market remains very hot indeed.  Even though the temperatures may be cooling the ocean and sand continue to provide the Manhattan Beach lifestyle throughout the year. I reviewed market activity for luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 in the Manhattan Beach market and found the following: 1)  10 Manhattan Beach luxury homes priced over 2M sold during the month of September 2013. 2)  8 Manhattan Beach luxury homes are currently pending sales (in escrow with accepted offers). 3)  29 Manhattan Beach luxury homes are currently for sale.   For more information on luxury homes in Manhattan Beach contact Norma Toering & Team.   310.493.8333   Luxury homes for sale in Manhattan Beach:   10/06/2013