The 18th annual Belmont Shore Car show will be held on Sunday, September 9th. The already popular 2nd St, gets even more popular this day as many classic cars line the streets for everyone to view. It is estimated that it will display about 650 classic automobiles. You will be able to see some wonderful classic cars as all cars must have a model date prior to 1975.These kind of activities bring people from all over Long Beach and other cities so they can experience some of what Belmont Shore has to offer. Belmont Shore offers some large homes just blocks from the beach as well as a few Long Beach condo complexes where you can enjoy the cool Ocean Breeze. The island of Naples is right next door to Belmont Shore providing many wonderful homes that can have canal access or powerful Ocean V... 09/05/2007

Long Beach real estate market has limited choices depending on NeighborhoodAs the media boasts that there are so many choices available and that it is a buyer's market, there are pockets that have very limited amounts of inventory to choose from.  In Long Beach areas like La Marina Estates and Belmont Park don't have an abundance of choices.  Belmont ParkThis neighborhood, located in the 90803 zip code like Belmont Shore, is the area just North of Belmont Shore above 2nd St and South of Marine Stadium.Homes Available: 17Average Price: $979,105Looking in any area you will want to get familiar with the options that area available.  Belmont Park has a variety of architecture available and homes built from the 1920's on up.  With close proximity to the Ocean it is a popular place, and curre... 09/05/2007

 Orange County Register reported on August 31st that Cal State Long Beach will buy five acres now occupied by Brooks College and turn the site into desperately needed student housing. Long Beach State is the second largest campus in the California State University system and is the third largest in terms of enrollment.  Despite of that, CSULB is only able to house fewer than half the freshmen who arrive each fall.  By fall 2009, the campus expects to be able to house 700 more students each year at the Brooks College site, after the private vocational college closes in summer 2009.  Some 200 CSULB students already live in the dorms at Brooks College. While the university will honor the college's lease, which expires in 2009, as dorm rooms become available, university students will be all... 09/05/2007

August 29, 2007Long Beach, CA Real Estate -  Market Update for July 2007Here are the latest real estate market statistics for Long Beach, CA area. These numbers represent single family home (SFR) sales only. Percentage of homes on the market with the asking price had been reduced: 43.7%*AverageJune 2007July 2007% ChangeAsking Price$610,371$654,7487.3%Sales Price$595,685$629,0505.6%% of Asking Price98%96%-2.0%$/SQFT$436$4421.4%Days on Market576717.5%Total Transactions193182-5.7% All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. *Market numbers as of 8/7/2007: 2,989 properties on the market with 1,306 showing price reductions. Days on market reflect number of days between listing date on MLS and close of escrow. For further information you can contact Marie Kletke, ... 09/04/2007

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE     Home Staging Can Sell Long Beach Homes Faster   In today's buyers market, buyers are very value conscious.  If you plan on selling your Long Beach home it is critical to distinguish yourself, from the rest of the homes on the market, in order to sell.    CEO of Property Staging Consultants, Jackie Riggins explains the best ways to create the maximum perception of value in this excellent short video.        ; Read more »       Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor®   Prudential California Realty Long Beach California (562) 212-5420   (714) 376-9550 lmanny@socal.rr.com Long Beach CA Real Estate 09/01/2007

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE Downtown Long Beach High Rise Condos   Dream Homes in the Sky   Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams     At what point did Robin Leech's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" Television show transition from a consumers dream to a purchase contract?   For the last few years the excitement of purchasing High Rise Downtown Long Beach Condos has been high.  Consumers have plunked down hefty deposits to procure these fabulous newly built condos and have sat, sometimes for a couple of years, on long waiting lists in the hopes that they too may acquire one of these beautiful sky high homes with walls of glass, endless ocean views, travertine, marble and concierge services.    So many of these potential buyers excitedly shared their dreams of huge profits.  Most planned to se... 09/01/2007

For the last four years, artists of all ages and experience, converge in the Belmont Shores area of Long Beach, California to showcase their creativity by participating in Justin Rudd's Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.  With great enthusiasm, many of these artists come with ideas all sketched out.  They come to convery their personal message.  Here is a video that showcases their art.  These artists and their work are the pride of Long Beach! If you love contests, this video will excite and inspire you. 08/30/2007

Today while on our new MLS, I was checking the Hot Sheets for what has gone on today.I check the entire city and really go over it.  Today as I was studying the Long Beach 'price reductions' I found a street name that was very familiar.  Adriatic.  2092 Adriatic to be exact. My dad spent his childhood in that house, it had been purchased for $13,500 CASH in the 1950's by his grandmother and was passed down to his parents.  When my dad moved out to marry my mom he left his parents and brother in the house.  After my grandfather died, my grandmother sold the home to a nice couple for $125,000 in approximately 1987.Today the house is for sale, going into foreclosure and the listing price is $440,000.  I pulled up the listing and went through all the pictures with my dad, and he laughed at ... 08/23/2007

     When McDonald Douglas and Boeing were in Long Beach, the higher echelons in these companies used to schedule their lunches around their golf games.  Rumor has it that many ideas regarding plane safety, structure and the like were formulated over a round of golf at Lakewood Country Club!!!A block west of Lakewood Blvd on Carson Street, Lakewood Golf Course is a regular 18-hole Par 72 championship course that features 11 acres of lakes with a 72.9 rating and 113 slope.  the facilities inclue a pro shop, a driving range, two putting greens, practice area as well as three room banquet facilities, a coffee shop and cocktail lounge.This course was built in 1933 and has since been redesigned.  it is considered to be the second most difficult course in Long Bech.  it is currently managed b... 08/20/2007

September 24-27 (25th for general public) Long Beach Convention Center Solar Power 2007 America's largest solar energy event! In just 4 years of existence, the Solar Power Conference and Expo has grown into the only US solar event considered "a must" for domestic and global industry and market participants. Solar Power 2007 features over 200 exhibitors, 125 speakers, networking opportunities galore, and an anticipated 10,000 attendees! General Public Expo Visitors Entrance is free and no registration is necessary. We will also hold free seminars that evening. Solar 101 - Solar Technology Basics. Payback on Solar - Is it Worth it? How to Find a Qualified Solar Installer. How to Find Your Dream Job in Solar. Expo Hall Hours Tuesday 10:00AM - 5:30PM Tuesday 5:30PM - 8:30PM (OPEN TO GENERAL... 08/19/2007

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE   Back in the Spring of 2005 a young couple, Maria and Richard, contacted me.  They were very excited and were about to purchase their very first home.  A young family, they had struggled to save $10,000 in order to make their dream of home ownership come true.  Their lender told them they were qualified to $325,000 with 100% financing.  They weren't looking for something above their means, just a nice little home in Long Beach with a yard they could work on and infuse love into; a place to raise their family.    Maria and Richard shared a vision of their children playing in the yard, while Mom looked on through the kitchen window and Dad used his skills to improve the home.  Still an attainable dream, at that time.   We sat down and went through the available hom... 08/17/2007

We had a great turn out for this week's foreclosure tour. We had 5 investors looking for single family homes in Long Beach & Lakewood. We took them to 8 awesome properties. I got a call from one of the buyers today because he wants to show his partner a couple of them next week. Another one of the buyers is considering one of the homes to keep as a rental. And another one of the buyers is looking to help his daughter get her first home--I don't know whether or not he's ready to take that step just quite yet. It's such a great time to start looking into the bank-owned homes, although you have to be ready to put in some elbow grease. We will be having another tour in 2 weeks. 08/17/2007

Alamitos Beach is a wonderful section of Long Beach that is in the eastern portion of Downtown.  With some of the nicest tree lined streets throughout the city it is definitely worth looking at if you are considering an affordable condo that is close to the beach.Condos in this area are generally 1-3 stories tall and can be built from the 1960's to the 1980's.  Alamitos Beach is contained within the zip code of 90802.  Some of the most popular streets to see condos on would be Appleton and 1st St.  Be aware that there are also OYO's (Own Your Own's) in this area and the financing is a bit different than your traditional Long Beach Condo. It is located with the following boundaries:South of 4th StWest of CherryEast of Alamitos AveNorth of the Pacific Ocean :)Check out Alamitos Beach if y... 08/14/2007

 You are getting ready to meet with your Long Beach broker.   You've asked him to show you some Long Beach homes.  But after reading today's paper, you feel this may not be the right time to buy a home for your family.Your offer has been accepted.  You are having some doubts about the market.  You've heard that property values may be dropping again.  You want to be sure that your decision is the right decision.                         You ask yourself: What am I going to do?First, let me assure you that there are realtors and brokers that care about their buyers.  You just have to find them.Second, our economy will always be changing.  Two years ago, many first time buyers refrained from buying a home because they thought the prices of houses were too expensive.  There was already talk ... 08/13/2007

The Temple Loft project, located at 835 Locust, is down to just 15 units left.  This project had a total of 82 units originally and now they are down to the last few units.  This wonderful Loft project is filled with wonderful concrete floors and in some units you get to enjoy exposed and powerful city views.This is a prime example of a Long Beach Loft project that has taken the time to make sure every attention to detail is taken care of.  Some of the highlights of this project include:BalconiesStorage lockers in the basement for each unitSecured underground parkingStainless AppliancesCommon area that includes a spa and BBQ'sLarge floor plans that can be over 2900 sq ft!With just 15 units left the builder has created some wonderful incentives that can total over $40,000 to help you mov... 08/13/2007

It has been a rough year in the real estate business.  Many would be first-time home buyers have had to come to terms with staying in rent for a while.  Some have been able to purchase despite the sub-prime problems and the more recent loan situation.  Many buyers who have been holding off, waiting for prices to come down, are out shopping now.    An uninformed local agent actually told me yesterday that 100% financing was no longer available and that buyers would need 20% down.  I was appalled at such WRONG information being passed out as the truth.   It is still possible to purchase and 100% financing is still available, as Brian Brady will tell you in his most recent Long Beach mortgage rate report.  With that in mind lets discuss buying a Long Beach Home or Condo in today's market. ... 08/11/2007

From time to time over my career, I've kept a journal of my life as a Realtor. I don't know if it's of interest to anyone else, but sometimes it's cathartic to put down my joys, frustrations, tribulations and jubilations in writing. So now I'm going to blog them for the whole world to see. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent!) 08/09/2007

This is VERY cool it shows that Long Beach is at the forefront of the enviromental movement and doing thier part to create a better future for the generations to come in many different ways.  This is a first step and there are many more to come.  So kudos to the City of Long Beach for getting this done!Residents, Officials Opening  Mark Twain Neighborhood Library   August 11, 11:00 am 1401 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach Residents, officials and a Very Special Guest will help the City of Long Beach celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Mark Twain Library, the first "green" public building in the City of Long Beach. The library incorporates many energy-saving design features, recycled materials and an innovative program to educate patrons about its "green" features. The 16,000 square foot fa... 08/09/2007

Every Friday in August the Long Beach Aquarium stays open until 9 p.m. and will feature a recent surf film in their Honda Theater. All exhibits will be open except the Lorikeet Forest.I'm looking forward to 31st to see Riding Giants a film that traces the historical origin of surfing. I hope to have my new digital camera by then so I can take lots of pictures. Woo Hoo!   Long Beach's #1 Mobile Notary & Loan Signing Agent - Professional, punctual, precise. Services Guaranteed! Sign up for the new ActiveRain networking group! Share resources & events.        08/07/2007

  LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL APPROVES BREAKWATER STUDY   RESTORE THE SHORE   The Long Beach California Breakwater Is the largest man made breakwater in the world. Made of three gigantic walls of rock, it was completed in 1949 and extends about 2 1/2 miles in front of Long Beach's residential beaches. It's original objective was to thwart submarines and torpedoes during World War II. Sitting in about 50 feet of water the breakwater rises between 10 to 13 feet above the surface.   The breakwater is owned and maintained by the federal government, not by the City of Long Beach. Any changes to the breakwater will require federal support. The Long Beach City Council voted to ask the federal government to order the study back in 2005. The request fell on deaf ears in Washington. Congressman Dana ... 08/05/2007