Downtown Long Beach California is Incredible
Imagine, Sunshine 345 days of the year.
Walking to your office.
Gazing at the ocean, from your office or condo windows.
Going to the beach after work.
The most amazing sunsets God created - every day.
The Downtown Long Beach CA area has gone through a vibrant revitalization which still continues. New hi and low-rise condos, Manhattan style loft developments, condo conversions, new malls and entertainment complexes all either at the beach or within a several blocks walk continue to sprout. A total urbanization of the area is under way. It really is quite spectacular. Read More>>>
- Downtown Long Beach Homes For Sale $300000 to $500000
- Downtown Long Beach Homes For Sale $500000 and up
- Downtown Long Beach Homes For Sale 90802 90813
- Downtown Long Beach Duplexes For Sale 90802 90813
- Alamitos Beach Condos For Sale $400000 to $500000
- Alamitos Beach Condos For Sale $500000 to $600000
- Alamitos Beach Condos For Sale $600000 to $800000
- Alamitos Beach Condos For Sale $800000 to $1000000
- Alamitos Beach Condos For Sale $1000000 and more
Buying Fixer Upper Homes in Long Beach - Long Beach Real EstateBuyingFixer Upper Homes in Long Beach - Long Beach Real EstateLong Beach Real Estate Buying Fixer Upper Homes in Long Beach
Quite a few buyers of Long Beach Real Estate think a home that requires paint and carpet is a fixer upper. These are cosmetic fixers and while they do cost a fair amount of money to update, it is very common to need paint and replace flooring when purchasing Long Beach homes. This could be called a cosmetic fixer, but then many homes that require extensive work in the kitchen and bath - or even replacement - are often referred to as cosmetic fixers as well. Costs can start to add up and the buyer isn't going to be thinking "cosmetic fixer" as the price tag begins to reach the stratosphere.
There are many items your home inspector will look at that can add to this already hefty amount of necessary repairs and/or upgrades. Electric and plumbing replacements can get pricey if added to the already climbing total of necessary upgrades. Here are a few important items to inquire about:
Most roofs are supposed to be able to handle the weight of about 3 layers of shingle. 3 layers makes for a very heavy roof and can bow the ridge board creating a rather expensive repair. Check the roof to see how many layers of shingle are currently on it. 1 is best, 2 is OK, 3 means that it will eventually have to be removed to replace it with another layer, adding to the cost of your roof replacement.
Termites, left to their own devices, can cause tremendous damage over time. While most Long Beach homes require a moderate amount of termite work done during the escrow process, occasionally a home will have a tremendous amount of damage and the costs can skyrocket. Termite work is usually the responsibility of the seller contractually. Sometimes the seller will place a financial cap on how much work they are willing to do, if the buyer accepts this during the negotiation process they will be contractually obligated to complete the work themselves. Smart homeowners have annual contracts with a pest control company to keep the little buggers under control.
Many bank owned properties are refusing to do termite inspections and work. It is advisable to have a termite inspection during your contingency period to assure yourself that the home is sound and the work will not have astronomical costs attached to it after purchase. Foundation issues are usually deal breakers. If an entire foundation needs to be replaced the estimated costs are usually so high the seller will refuse and the buyer will decline. If you discover foundation problems, you absolutely should get 3 estimates for the work. You may be shocked at how far apart the estimates can be. Some years ago I saw 3 estimates for the same foundation replacement come in at about $20k, $35k and $52k, it can be confusing and it can make people very angry. Most buyers are not equipped to handle this level of problem.
Some cracks in foundations are easily repaired with a liquid epoxy. The problems are not always major. Foundation problems can sometimes be detected by a noticeable tilt of the floors. Large cracks can be an indicator of stress to a particular area of the foundation.
Heaters must work, most lenders will not fund a loan without an operating heating system. I recently showed a very nice home to a buyer client. The home was in very good condition and showed really well. The seller happened to be home and was very forthcoming with information about the house. She has lived in it for 25 years, having purchased it from a very handy gentleman years before. The prior owner added on a large master bedroom and bath, the work was quality. It seems that he also delivered the house with a new roof and 15 year old plumbing. The electric had not been a problem, so it had not been upgraded. The kitchen, while nice, was in need of a remodel.
Having informed us that she had lived in the home for 25 years repair free, we now knew that just about everything in the home was nearing the end of its useful life and would need to be replaced over the next few years. As nice as the home was, the potential investment in it over the first few years was too high, even at a reduced selling price. There is much to consider when purchasing a home. Most buyers in today's real estate market do not have the money to handle expensive upgrades and/or repairs after purchase. Smart sellers are putting their homes into tip top condition prior to listing their Long Beach homes on today's real estate market. These homes are experiencing multiple offers and are selling very fast. There just are not very many of them available. Other Long Beach homes continue to sit on the real estate market because the buyers know they will not be able to do the work after purchase. Buying a home requires a great deal of investigation and knowledge. It is easy to overlook potentially expensive repairs that are just a short way down the road. This is one of the many reasons it pays to hire a knowledgeable "Long Beach Realtor®" to protect your interests when you are shopping for "Long Beach Real Estate".
Contact Laurie to begin the search for your new home
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/0042EC Posted on September 04, 2008 23:30:26 by Laurie.Manny
Laurie.Manny |
Downtown Long Beach-Belmont Shore-Parking Solutions-Long Beach CaliforniaDowntown Long Beach-Belmont Shore-Parking Solutions-Long Beach California
Last month the Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog published an article on Downtown Long Beach Parking. The article discussed the escalating parking problems caused by the re-development in the Downtown Long Beach area. One of the potential parking solutions addressed was Vertical Parking. The article went on and examined an assortment of related potential issues and raised a whole bunch of questions for which there were no immediate solutions.
Shortly after publishing this article I was contacted by the owner of Apex Skypark. They are a Robotic Parking Solution company located right here in Anaheim. He took the time to address the concerns and informed me that they are currently working with the City of Long Beach in an attempt to bring these solutions to the Downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore neighborhoods. Well, both communities can certainly use more parking - he piqued my interest.
An invitation to contribute to the Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog was extended to Apex in an effort to better explain this to Long Beach residents. We are pleased to welcome Harold W Ashworth, a Long Beach Peninsula resident and Vice President of Apex Skypark.
By: Harold W Ashworth
That being said - The Automated Robotic Car Garages hits close to home for me as I am involved with a local company right here in our own backyard. Apex Skypark®, Inc., located in Anaheim, builds the Robotics and Systems for this new Technology - New to the USA only. Presently there are only 4-5 Garages operating in the USA but many are either under construction or they are in the design phases. We are currently working with Developers and the City of Long Beach on a couple of locations for this very thing. Long Beach will become the first on the West Coast for an Automated Robotic Garage.
There were some very important and concerning facts you brought up and I will try to address those for you here. First of all you should know that Robotic Parking is not any less than Conventional Parking as far as costs are concerned but we can basically get more into less space. Here are some of the concerns you addressed with my response. Lots in Downtown Long Beach
Expensive Equipment
Expensive Operations
Parts Required and availability
Trained Personnel Engineers and Mechanics
What happens if your car is on one of the upper levels and the Equipment breaks down?
What if the Part is unavailable and has to be imported from Japan
How could all of this be kept affordable?
Who do you call if the System fails?
What happens if it is very late at night?
24 hour availability?
Time to retrieve your car.
Fear of retrieving your car in the middle of the night.
Large influx of people after work to retrieve their car.
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/0042BC Posted on September 03, 2008 02:47:00 by Laurie.Manny
Laurie.Manny |
Long Beach Real Estate MLS BlundersLong Beach Real Estate MLS Blunders
Long Beach Real Estate MLS Blunders
Ever wonder why your Long Beach home or condo isn't getting showings? As many of my regular readers know, the Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog produces a lot of Long Beach Real Estate Neighborhood Market Reports and statistics. These reports are a very handy tool for buyers and sellers of Long Beach homes, condos and income properties. The information on these reports often comes directly from the MLS and is provided free to our readers. These market reports require more analysis than just copying numbers from the MLS. Today I thought I would provide you with an overall Long Beach Real Estate Market report but instead decided to entertain you with the type of MLS faux pas (blunders) that not only get in the way of providing clear and accurate information, but also keep your homes, condos and income properties from actually being shown and selling. My choices for todays entertainment: A rare 4 bedroom 2 bath Long Beach condo; 1100 sq ft with no garage; listed for a very desirable $289,000; HOA $1 per month; 173 days on market. (all information is as represented in the MLS)
Makes you want to just jump up and race to see it huh?
Hey if you cant spell condominium how are you going to sell it?
Agents representing Long Beach buyers will likely pass on this one just to save themselves and their buyers from having to deal with this level of dumb! NEXT...
Our next contender is a listing in the same Long Beach condo/townhouse complex as above:
Another rare 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1102 sq ft condo; listing price $350,000; HOA for this unit is a mere $45 (guess the other unit must be carrying the heavy financial load), with 1 garage. This condo/townhouse has been on the market for a short 5 days and yep, NO pictures at all! (all information is as represented in the MLS)
Another Long Beach condo that isn't going to be shown or sold! NEXT...
Next choice for todays entertainment:
Ahhhhhhh, so it is a 2 bedroom!
When an agent is searching the MLS on behalf of a buyer we enter search parameters in order to narrow down the search to that which our buyer is interested in. This is another Long Beach condo that just isn't going to be shown, because it's not going to be found.
Did you notice the agent remarks above? Brand new construction - your clients will love it - no description - no pictures! Heck of a job representing your seller! Nobody is coming to see it, they cant find it and if they do, you don't have any pictures! NEXT...
Attention Sellers:
Are you thinking about selling your Long Beach Home, Condo or Income Property? Make certain that you get a copy of the MLS and see how your property is being presented to the agents bringing buyers to the table. The MLS pushes this information out to many internet sites where buyers will see it and decide if your property is one they would like to view. If your Long Beach properties are not being shown they are not going to sell.
When you interview agents, get a clear view of how your property is going to be marketed and make a wise decision. In todays real estate market your property needs to be on the internet in front of Long Beach buyers eyes and needs to be presented in a desirable and professional manner.
Keep in mind that the longer you sit on the market the less you are going to make on your home. If you make a bad choice when you choose your 1st agent, it is going to be a long time before your contract runs out and you can replace them with the right Realtor. There are some sellers in Long Beach who are currently being represented by their 3rd agent.
Why Hire an Internet Savvy Long Beach Realtor?
Over 80% of all home searches start on the internet. Your Long Beach homes need to be online, and findable, when buyers begin their search. Have the Realtors you interview show you their ability to market your Long Beach properties on the internet. Step back; pick keywords that should bring that item to the front page of Google; keywords like Long Beach Real Estate. Are any of the sites that your Realtor is using to promote your property coming up at the top of the engines? No? Keep shopping. Better yet, call the Long Beach Realtors on the front page of Google, they already know how to get there and you can cut right through the unlikely candidates. Over 25% of all Home Buyers FIRST saw the home they purchased on the internet. If your Long Beach homes are not heavily marketed on the internet, you are missing thousands of potential buyers.
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/004205 Posted on August 23, 2008 23:10:04 by Laurie.Manny
Laurie.Manny |
Parking Solutions for Downtown Long BeachParking Solutions for Downtown Long BeachDowntown Long Beach Parking
Impacted Parking Areas
The re-development of Downtown Long Beach and the multitude of new high rise buildings are certain to complicate an already difficult parking shortage. Many of the historic condos in Downtown do not have any parking available at all. Residents rent monthly spots in available asphalt lots at fairly reasonable monthly rates, but with land at a premium how long will these lots remain available? Where will the owners of these condos, local business owners, guests and customers park? Recently a friend and I were discussing the parking problems in Downtown Long Beach now and projecting into the future. As we discussed potential solutions it occurred to me that the solutions themselves were very problematic. Vertical Parking and other parking solutions involve a lot of equipment. Equipment is expensive to both purchase and run, breaks down, requires parts that are not always immediately available and requires trained engineers and mechanics. What happens when your car is parked on level 5 and the equipment breaks down? What if the part is not immediately available and needs to be imported from Japan? Would there be a manual over-ride system to bring your car down to ground level? How could all of this be kept affordable? Many of the systems exhibited in these videos showed fully automated parking structures. Who do you call when the systems fail? What happens if it is very late at night? There I go assuming the lots would be open 24 hours, I am still such a New Yorker sometimes! But seriously, how could they not be open 7 and 24? Tonight I watched many videos from around the world displaying parking systems for both small and large spaces. While watching I realized that every one of them showed 1 car being easily and quickly parked or retrieved. It was so simplistic it made me laugh. I remember an evening in Manhattan when a group of us went to see a show. The last parking lot with any space available was in a very thin and very tall building with an elevated vertical parking system. They charged a whopping $60 to park the car and that was 8 or 9 years ago. We waited well over an hour to retrieve the car. All of the shows let out at about the same time and the lots were inundated. The other thing that really struck me while I was watching these videos was the desolation of the parking lots. I couldn't imagine retrieving my car at 3:00 AM without experiencing a great deal of fear. I can only imagine the stress levels of people waiting for their cars to be delivered to them when they are late for an appointment. Imagine having to wait for 10 or 15 cars before yours is delivered! Downtown has a large workforce most of which finish their work day between 5 and 6 PM. How long would it take for them to get their cars out of these lots? We didn't come up with any solutions, but it was an interesting conversation and has my wheels turning (pun intended). What do you think?
Update 9/3/08
The owner of Apex Skypark in Anaheim contacted me about the concerns expressed in this post. As a manufacturer of Robotic Parking Solutions and a company currently involved with the City of Long Beach in an effort to bring these solutions to us, I offered them space on this site to respond.
Please visit their article at: Downtown Long Beach-Belmont Shore-Parking Solutions-Long Beach California
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/003FA7 Posted on August 03, 2008 05:01:43 by Laurie.Manny
Laurie.Manny |
Buying Your Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Real EstateBuying Your Long Beach Homes - Long Beach Real Estate
Don't we all just love a good sale? Often it means being able to actually purchase something that we have always desired which was just out of our financial reach. That's sort of what we have in the Long Beach real estate market today. The ability to purchase a home which, up until now, has been beyond our financial reach. That doesn't mean that we can acquire any home for any price; it does mean that homes in Long Beach are way more affordable now than they have been in many years.
Once you realize that you can indeed purchase a home, the next step is to contact your lender and become pre-approved. It is smart to become pre-approved before you begin your search for a couple of very important reasons:
By now you have probably been sitting up late at night cruising the many home search sites, looking at pictures, videos, neighborhoods, prices and square footage until your eyes are rolling up into your head. A couple of short easy pointers here:
So you have located a few homes that you would like to see. You have contacted your local Long Beach Realtor®, you have your pre-approval in hand and are ready to go. Congratulations!
Its Saturday and you have appointments to view 5 homes within your price range today. You are excited and apprehensive all at the same time as you pull up in front of the very first home you are going to see.
Heading out to the car your Realtor® calls the listing agent to inquire about the home. While it has been on the market for about 30 days with one full price offer that didn't pan out, and no price reductions, the agent informs you that there are several buyers considering writing an offer, but would love to see an offer from you.
The listing agent informed your Realtor® that all offers are at or near listing price, one offer is strong, one is not. You have a 20% down payment, excellent FICO scores, have written a full price offer, but are worried that you may have asked for too much in closing costs. You instruct your agent to build the closing costs onto the top of the price, fax the changes back to them and send the offer to the listing agent for consideration, hoping that it will be enough. You have not only enclosed a pre-aproval, your lender follows up with a call and informs the listing agent that you have a lock in letter and a loan commitment. This is strong! To the buyer and seller it means there will be no surprises on the loan, short of a lender going out of business or eliminating a loan progam (always possible these days).
This is a strong position for you to be in, few buyers are this prepared. You also have a great Realtor® representing you who is well known in the Realtor community. Heck, the California Association of Realtors invited her to participate in a 4 person round-table which appeared as a 5 page spread in the June/July 2008 issue of California Realtor Magazine and on the CAR.org website; and she just got back from speaking at Inman Connect, a national real estate/tech/blogging seminar in San Francisco. Yeah, she knows what she is doing. So you sumit your offer and you wait? No, your Realtor has shortened the response time-frame and has insisted on a response by the end of the next business day. Mid day you receive a counter offer. The seller really wants to keep her washer/dryer and the contingency timeframe is shortened from 17 to 12 days, there are no other terms on it and most importantly, the multiple offer box is not checked. This means that once you sign and return it, you have an accepted offer. You sign it, accepting the terms and return it immediately. You just went into escrow!
When seeking homes or condos in Long Beach neighborhoods nobody knows the areas better than your Long Beach Realtor. Search Long Beach Homes for sale and consult your Realtor to find out which Long Beach neighborhoods best suit your specific needs.
If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Long Beach, it would be my pleasure to represent you.
http://www.longbeachrealestatehome.com/003F89 Posted on July 31, 2008 21:06:13 by Laurie.Manny
Laurie.Manny |
To begin your search for the perfect home or to sell your home in the Long Beach area, begin your journey by calling Laurie Manny at (562) 212-5420.
































