12 Things That Make A Neighborhood Truly Great

We're very blessed to live in the Beach Cities, with some of the nation's nicest neighborhoods.  But what makes a good neighborhood?  Here are 12 Things That Make A Neighborhood Truly Great! -David

Lowballing That Offer? That's Going to Stress You Out

One of the most interesting and yet sometimes complicating factors in buying and selling residential real estate is the involvement of significant emotions, well beyond the purely financial aspects of a transaction.

The offer/counteroffer/negotiation process, While negotiation and deal making are things I enjoy, they produce a visceral discomfort for many.  Here's some research addressing offers at levels considered lower than what is "fair:"

Lowballing That Offer? That's Going to Stress You Out - Forbes

The article includes a link to the original research.  Call me if you need a strategic negotiator! -David

The 2 Rooms That Really Sell Homes

According to Trulia as quoted in Forbes, These Are The 2 Rooms That Really Sell Homes.  I can't disagree, but would offer an additional point:  Before taking it upon yourself to select your home repair and fix-up projects in advance of a sale, contact a knowledgeable Realtor to find out what really matters to buyers in your specific market.


It's nearly impossible for a homeowner to be objective in selecting what to change about their own home to make it appeal to today's buyer. Thus it's easy to overspend, or spend on the wrong things, or delay your sale unnecessarily while making the wrong upgrades!  -David

Post-Recession Real Estate Terms & A Great Picture of Ralphie

Via Trulia and Forbes, 14 Translated Real Estate Terms for the current market.  How many of them did you know?  BTW, the South Bay has a far lower proportion of distressed properties (REO, S/S, etc.) than the county, state, and country as a whole. In fact, current inventories of homes for sale are unusually LOW. - David

One Site's Top Ten Cities of Interest to Buyers

Might not have guessed that Riverside and Oxnard were among the top ten cities in demand, but who's to doubt the search statistics of a popular real estate site?  Here, according to Forbes via Trulia, are the Cities Where People Are Hunting For Homes. - David

Living Peacefully with your Mother-In-Law

This Forbes.com article highlights a new book by Michael Litchfield, entitled in-laws, outlaws and granny flats. Our aging population is resulting in a number of shifts in homebuyer preferences, including elevators, main floor bedrooms, and mother-in-law quarters.

In the Beach Cities, that can mean a guest house (yes, a few properties have them) or even "bootleg" quarters crafted from a re-purposed basement or suite.

No Help For Housing In Bernanke's Operation Twist

Tough times in housing include the reduced effectiveness of the Fed's tools to enhance the housing market.  As discussed in this Forbes article, the Fed's attempt to flatten ("twist") the yield curve (attempting to reduce long term rates by shifting its holdings from shorter to longer term Treasuries) can't can't help the housing market unless buyers are willing and able overcome uncertainty and pull the trigger.

Out with the Old (stuff, that is): Downsizing

10 Tips for Downsizers with Too Much Stuff
From Forbes Magazine on parting with our precious collection of jun..., er...treasures, in order to downsize, declutter, stop paying storage fees, and have more room to live our lives!  

Manhattan Beach Schools "#1 for the Housing Buck" in Forbes Poll

Public schools in Manhattan Beach top the list for cities where homes cost above $800K.  That's the result of the second annual survey by Forbes Magazine. Congrats to MBUSD and MBEF! - David

America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes (2010 Edition)

The value of a home is based on the basic economic principle of Supply and Demand. When the number of buyers exceeds the number of sellers, home prices rise. Conversely, when sellers outnumber buyers, home prices fall.

There's always a opening price point for negotiation and that figure often factors in specifics like square footage, number of rooms, and finishes and amenities. Location matters, too.

On a ZIP code-by-ZIP code basis, prices can vary wildly and it's tiny, tony 91008 -- located in Duarte, California -- that tops the 2010 Forbes list of America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes. Home to fewer than 1,400 residents of Los Angeles County, the ZIP code's median home cost is $4,276,462.

By contrast, the median home cost across all of Duarte's ZIP codes is just $358,454.

As listed by Forbes, America's 10 most expensive ZIP codes are:

1. Duarte, CA (91008) : $4,276,462
2. Atherton, CA (94027) : $4,010,200
3. Rolling Hills, CA (92074) : $3,892,456
4. Alpine, NJ (07620) : $3,814,885
5. New York, NY (10014) : $3,785,445
6. Beverly Hills, CA (90210) : $3,684,150
7. New York, NY (10065) : $3,626,001
8. Belvedere (94920) : $3,283,269
9. New York, NY (10012) : $3,221,371
10. Santa Barbara (93108) : $3,151,220

The real estate market is a local one, as evidenced by the Forbes list. Even within large cities like New York, there are areas that stand out from the pack in terms of cost and affordability and the same is true for all cities.

Therefore, when you need local market data for the Beach Cities , look past the "national statistics".  Talk to a real estate agent with local market knowledge instead. It's the most reliable way to get data that matters.