Something fabulous is about to happen at the Seaside Lagoon in South Redondo! For those of you who are new to the area the Seaside Lagoon is located in South Redondo on Portfino Way at the Marina. For the locals: it is right in front of the Redondo Beach Ruby's Restaurant. Plans have just been approved to have an ice rink during the winter! The rink will be open to the public. Dates: November 11th-January 11thHours: Monday-Friday 11am-9:30 pm , Saturday & Sunday 10am-10pm. Cost: Adults $14 Children(12 and under) $12 This includes the cost of skatesIt mentions the rink will have skating sessions, occasional live music, dj's, films, special events, parties and I think Santa will be visiting!I am so excited for this rink. I will definitely be checking it out. I love where we live! I mean w... 10/16/2008

I am a girly girl what can I say. I have more shoes then well...anything. I have been buying lots of shoes since I was very young. My mom would take me to the swap meet where you could by jelly shoes in EVERY color for extremely cheap. One positive thing about this love for shoes is I know my limits. Although I can appreciate designer shoes I personally cant bring myself to spend hundreds of dollars on one pair. I am not that obsessed. Lucky for me two fabulous shoe stores opened at the beach! The place is called Nu Shuz. It is like a little candy shop for women. Almost all their shoes are $20!! And they have all the latest trends. They also have great accessories for cheap. If you haven't been yet be sure to check it out. You can find them at: 207 Avenida Del Norte, South Redondo by Cr... 10/15/2008

It is old news now....but one of my favorite restaurants has relocated. Chez Melange's new address  is now at 1611 s. catalina in Redondo Beach. If you haven't checked it out do so. you can preview the menu online as well as a map. http://www.chezmelange.com/?gclid=CJaU7Lb2qZYCFQhJagod327CyA If you go be sure to get the gooey chocolate cake! You won;t be sorry unless you are on a diet that is. ;) 10/15/2008

I just moved to South Redondo and was thinking if the Eucalyptus tree in front of my property was trimmed my view would greatly increase. So I was wondering whose property it was on the city of Redondo's beach or was the tree on the condo's property? I went on line to the city of Redondo Beach and found out you can find exactly what type of tree it is and when you can expect it to be trimmed. Simply the visit the site below and look for your address. Once you find your home you can see on the map which tree is where. Pretty neat huh? http://www.redondo.org/depts/public_works/parks_maintenance/tree_trimming.asp   www.rtyndall.com Rachelmtyndall@gmail.com   10/15/2008

Here we are and it is October 11, 2008 - there are only 21 single family homes and 2 townhouses for sale here in our lovely Hollywood Riviera neighborhood.  That is very low inventory, especially when you consider that this is the "last push" of the year (best time to sell before the holidays hit.) Of those 21 homes, 13 (including the two townhouses on lower Calle Miramar) are on the Redondo Beach side of the Hollywood Riviera - with an average sales price of $1,561,754.  Lowest price being just under $1 million and highest over $2.5 million (for new construction.)  As you can see the Redondo Beach side of the Hollywood Riviera is quite pricey right now. The Torrance side of the Hollywood Riviera has 10 homes for sale and their average sales price is $1,015,000 with the most expensive a... 10/11/2008

Average home price was $869,987 compared with $916,468 a year ago, a 9.5 % price drop.  It took on average 86 days to sell a house - 38 days longer on average than in September '07.  Total of 64 homes sold compared with 90 that sold a year ago and compared to 72 sold in August '08. Highest priced home sold for $4,700,000 while the lowest one sold at $339,000.  IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY!  Prices have gone down and interest rates are low - contact me and I'll help you find your dream home! Curious about home sales in your neighborhood?  Click here! Search Redondo Beach MLS Listings by Area:         Search South Redondo Beach MLS        Search North Redondo Beach MLS     10/09/2008

One of my favorite buildings on the Esplanade is the Surfrider. It has that beachy 70's look to it. Pretty much every unit in the complex has a ocean view. Regardless of which you unit you are in you can hear the sounds of the pacific waves crashing into the shore. The complex is small but too small everyone knows your business. Currently, there is one unit for sale and one in escrow. Both are one bedrooms located on the first floor with 719 square feet. The monthly h.o.a.'s are currently $265. The condo for sale is listed for $499,000 and the one in escrow was listed at $549,000. Stay tuned to see what it sold for. 10/08/2008

Hello, Today is October 8th, 2008. Currently there are 10 conods for sale in the desirable Brookside Village complex in South Redondo. If you are not familiar wit this complex it has two pools, tennis court, rec. room and a fitness center. The complex was built in 1070 and has 385 units. The monthly homeowner's association dues start at $243 for a one bedroom and go into the $300's for a three bedroom. There are two one bedrooms for sale. Starting out as low as $348,900 for 669 sq.ft. There are four two bedrooms on the market. The lowest one is listed for $419,000. The two bedroom units have two baths and are around 975 sq.ft. There are three, three bedrooms on the market. The lowest three bedroom is listed for $485,000. It has three bedrooms and three baths with 1,290 sq.ft. The monthl... 10/08/2008

One of the many reasons I enjoy living in the South Bay is the diversity and quality of the activities.  That, coupled with small town charm, makes for a wonderful place to visit and call home.  While most of the activities are centered around the beach and the ocean, the city of Redondo Beach has outdone themselves.  This winter they are offering outdoor ice skating at the Seaside Lagoon in King Harbor.  Nothing like watching boats sail by and the sun setting into the Pacific while enjoying this wonderful winter pasttime.   Located in the beautiful King Harbor of Redondo Beach, California, Seaside Ice will transform the Seaside Lagoon's scenic beach area into a holiday wonderland for the entire South Bay community of Los Angeles. Ice Skating at Seaside Lagoon goes from November 19 thro... 10/08/2008

10/08/2008

Hollywood Riviera Market Analysis - October 1st, 2008  Category: Hollywood Riviera Real Estate, South Bay Real Estate, Real Estate Information, South Bay information, Hollywood Riviera, real estate trends - kellyevans - 6:35 pm Edit This 20 Homes sold in the Hollywood Riviera during the 3rd Quarter of 2008 - July 1st through September 30th - that is a 35% drop from the 3rd quarter last year.  We also have a much greater time on market for these properties - quarter over quarter.  48 Days for 3rd quarter ‘07 vs. 80 Days this quarter - in other words, it takes 40% longer to sell in today's market.  Due to both of these factors it is not a surprise that our average SOLD price is down 22% over the 3rd quarter of last year.  It was the 3rd quarter last year (September) that the mortgage mark... 10/07/2008

Every month I post both the Recent South Bay Home Sales as well as the Median Home Prices for the various cities that I work and specialize in.  I try my hardest to explain that the year over year change, when only looking at a specific month, doesn't necessarily paint an accurate picture.  As an example Hermosa Beachhas so few monthly sales when compared to a city such as Torrance or Long Beach, that something as simple as a Strand sale can alter the numbers significantly.  It's a valuable piece of information that can help track what is going on in the market over time, but as it's such a brief period, it needs to be looked at in context.  In the 2 years I've been pulling this information and the noticeable decline in most South Bay cities over the past 8 months I've never seen a down... 10/02/2008

  One of the key pieces of advice all Home Stagers impart on home-sellers is to pack early.  A clean, clutter free house is the starting point for Home Staging. By packing up seldom used items, cleaning out storage areas, closets, cabinets and garages you create open spaces that home buyers are seeking.  By packing early, you are better prepared for your upcoming move.  There is so much to do when buying and selling your home, it can be very stressful; but, you don't have to do it alone.  Home Sweet Home is a packing and unpacking service available throughout California and other states. They offer professional and customized packing and unpacking services.  They take the stress out of moving by doing the hard work for you.      Home Sweet Home services include: •·         Packing mate... 10/01/2008

August 2008 Redondo Beach homes sales    Average Redondo Beach CA home price was $698,943 compared with $906,709 a year ago, a 29.7% price drop.  It took on average 64 days to sell a house - 31 days longer than in August 07.  Total of 72 homes sold compared with 88 that sold a year ago and compared to 58 sold in July '08.  Pick up in sales volume was noticable - Buyers were scooping up bargains! Highest priced home sold for $1,215,000 while the lowest one sold at $337,000.  IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY!  Prices have gone down and interest rates are low - contact me and I'll help you find your dream home! Curious about home sales in your neighborhood?  Click here!   Visit http://www.ISellSouthBay.com to search South Bay MLS Free! Wondering what your home's worth? Visit http://www.SouthBayHou... 09/27/2008

I had a listing about a year ago for a very nice townhome in Inglewood, California.   I knew I had a challenge ahead when I pulled up the street to meet the owner and saw at least 15 for sale signs, many of which had "bank owned" or "foreclosure" on them.  As I have written in prior articles, in terms of real estate the South Bay is not one large community, but a number of very different towns with values and demand basically increasing as you get towards the beach. The cities within couldn't be more different and factors that impact one area, such as in Inglewood, may not play any role in some of the areas such as Manhattan Beach.  I've noticed lately that the market slowdown, economic crisis, financing difficulty may be starting to make their way towards the beach.  While the market i... 09/26/2008

09/24/2008

Needless to say that much of the appeal to the South Bay has to do with it's proximity to the ocean and all that it entails.  Beautiful views, dazzling sunsets, warmer winters and cooler summers and outdoor activities of every variety.  One of the cities most often thought of, especially for those relocating from other parts of the country, is Redondo Beach.  Redondo Beach is the largest of the "Beach Cities" (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beachand Redondo Beach) and has the greatest number of housing options.  Everything from a studio condo in the $300K range, to oceanfront estateswell into the millions.  If your searching for that dream of living oceanfront, you really only have a few options and almost all are on the street known as the Esplanade.  The Esplanade is in the area known as So... 09/17/2008

                             The Riviera Garden Club is pleased to announce the upcoming garden event, Beyond the Garden Gate, Saturday, October 18, 2008, from 10 am to 4 pm. The self-guided tour of 8 special private gardens in the beautiful Hollywood Riviera area will include a hospitality house with education booths and refreshments. The eight tour gardens were chosen for their uniqueness and variety. Take a peek behind the gates of a lush Mediterranean garden with an unusual sand-ring firepit;  a designer's dream at a seaside hacienda with impeccable landscaping and terraced gardens to the Pacific; an original Red tiled roof historic home, part of the original Hollywood Riviera seaside development of the 1930's; bone up on water-wise gardening at the newly remodeled environmental hom... 09/09/2008

As many of my clients are from out of the area or out of state, they seem to have a notion that the South Bay is simply one big city and there aren't all that many differences between Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beachand Redondo Beach.  The reality is that even within these cities the individual neighborhoods vary quite a bit.  Due to the sheer size of the city, Redondo Beach is one of the more varied communities in the South Bay in terms of types of housing, size and age, and price.  The area just east of Hermosa and just South of Manhattan (see Golden Hills Map)is a hilly section of Redondo Beach known as the Golden Hills.  Knowing the areas pros and cons is an important step in determining whether the Golden Hills is the right area for you.  The homes in the area have a not entirely fla... 09/08/2008

                   Good eating has come to the Hollywood Riviera's "Riviera Village."  Dolce Vita is a wonderful new addition for the breakfast and lunch crowds.  They are actually a german deli and sandwich shoppe with more of an italian name.  Ripe w/ european flavors, Dolce Vita offers homemade quiche, flatbreads paired w/ fresh green salads, pasta & veggie salads, sandwiches on baquettes, delicious lattes and cappucino's to top of the meal.  A certain return visit for me - especially since they actually had terrific customer service - a true bonus today.  I also enjoyed sitting outdoors - they have a great set-up with plenty of tables & chairs with eye-catching red umbrellas.   Village Pizza has opened and has a super charming feel with table and chairs out on the sidewalk for a lit... 08/26/2008