Manhattan Beach has a 102-year architectural history and some of the cutest pre-WWII beach cottages in California. However, recently, with real estate being so in-demand here, many of these quaint and beautiful bungalows are being torn down in favor of towering 5,000 square foot mansions. Many of my clients want to live in Manhattan Beach…
Manhattan Beach's Polliwog park is one of the highlights of the city. The large lake in the park is home to numerous ducks, geese and other birds, while the grassy areas are perfect for family gatherings, picnics, games...you name it. There are gazebos, tables, a barbecue area, play areas with slides, and a 9-hole disc…
Congratulations to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for hiring Farnaz Flechner as their new executive director! In case you don't know, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises $5 million each year for Manhattan Beach schools. Their funding helps keep classroom sizes small, hire librarians, science and reading enrichment programs, music teachers, and…
Of course you know that buying a property is a better investment than paying rent to a landlord. But did you know how much of a better deal renting is? Apparently, if you own a home for only two years, you have already made a better financial decision than someone who rents. According to zillow.com breakeven…
Were you aware of Manhattan Beach's tendency towards sustainability? Do you know what sustainability means? Sustainability and green living is a lifestyle that reduces the impact humans have on the environment and the Earth's resources so that human life can be better in the future. Sustainability can include changing the way we use transportation, energy consumption, and…
Do you know what a "Green" home is? Green home features reduce pollution, waste, and look to long-term solutions for energy and environmental issues in the community. There are numerous green homes in the South Bay, and homes that have some green features are almost everywhere in the Beach Cities today. Green features include technology…
Did you know that the South Bay and the Beach Cities have some of the best surfing in the world? Cities like Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Palos Verdes have some of the most pristine shorelines and best waves for hanging ten in Southern California. Hermosa Beach near the Hermosa Pier is known for…
Sand Dune Park is one of my favorite parks in Manhattan Beach. It’s just one of many local public parks maintained by the city for the enjoyment of residents, but the Sand Dune, as it is known, is home to a very rare colony of a flower called Orcutt’s Yellow Pincushion, and the city has…
It must be spring fever that is affecting everyone in the South Bay, because the new design trends for home interior are bold, bright, and warm. According to Realty Times, the trendsetters are picking vibrant paint colors this season. The website Pantone says that their Color of the Year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid, which they describe as "an…
There are some wonderful new methods of making properties more appealing to buyers these days. Aside from staging a property so that it looks its absolute best, some real estate agents are using the ancient concept of aromatherapy (using smells to elicit feelings from a person) to maximize the potential of a property. While you…