sellers: Manhattan Beach- Beach Cities: Christmas Eve Thoughts - 12/24/07 03:28 PM
If you've been following the financial news the last few days... amid all the Holiday hoopla... the financial pages have been running articles pointing the finger of blame about the real estate crisis, continuing credit liquidity issues, plans for government bailouts for some homeowners, and today the plight of credit card companies who are seeing some major delinquencies by customers.Now as I've noted before...I'm not a certified financial planner or an economist from a prestigious east coast university. But I do know a thing or two about the Southern California South Bay-Beach Cities real estate market and life in general.It seems … (14 comments)

sellers: California Beach Cities:Buying in a Buyers Market - 11/20/07 01:35 PM
Buying in a Buyers Market... How to Buy The Home You Really Want. I can hear you now.. "It's a buyers market and I'm a buyer.... what's so difficult"?.... It may surprise you but buying in this market may be a little tougher then you think . A Buyers market can be a harder market to maneuver in then a Sellers Market. I know this sounds crazy but it's true.In a Sellers real estate market everyone knows where the market and prices are going... upward. You know you need to make a quick decision on a home you want. You know … (4 comments)

sellers: Why Use an Agent ?... Why Wouldn't You Use a Agent? - 10/26/07 06:12 AM
 
On my post a few days ago... South Bay-Beach Cities: Buyers Vs Sellers ... the comments turned out to be very interesting... It's funny how sometimes comments take on a life of their own and become almost another post.I found it fascinating that questions about using or not using an agent were posted on an agent blog. I don't think you pose those questions if you are not looking for answers. As I read and responded to the comments a few things struck me that seemed worth writing about.Unless a buyer plans to buy directly from an owner (FSBO)... at some … (16 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach-Beach Cities: September Sold 2007 - 10/21/07 06:20 AM
September was not a stellar month for real estate in any of the Beach Cities. However.... considering the woes in the credit markets and the dire predictions overall... it wasn't a terrible month. Sales in the Beach Cities seem to be patchy at best with some neighborhoods doing well while others are struggling.El Segundo just seems to chug along at its own pace with the numbers continuing to be fairly consistent month over month. North Redondo saw the largest drop in sales of any of the beach cities with townhome sales off almost 50% over the numbers since June. Townhome sales … (9 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach-Beach Cities...Buyers Vs Sellers...Making the First Move - 10/15/07 03:44 PM
 
This real estate market reminds me of the 8th grade sock hops when I was younger. The boys would line up on one side of the auditorium and the girls would be on the other side while the middle remained no- mans land. Eventually one gutsy guy would go up to a girl he liked and ask her to dance and soon the floor would be full.. but no one made until a move until the first guy ventured forth.The Beach Cities real estate market is like that 8th grade dance.. no one wants to make the first move. I'm working … (10 comments)

sellers: California Real Estate: Manhattan Beach-Beach Cities: What if the Market Doesn't Crash - 10/04/07 02:48 PM
In the last eighteen months we have been bombarded almost daily by headlines or sound bytes proclaiming the demise of the California housing market. Consumers are convinced the end is near and real estate prices are going back to 1990 levels. Woe unto anyone that disagrees.. especially if you are a real estate agent. Every resident in the state has graphs to show the worst is yet to come. Thousands are waiting for prices to drop but what if they don't. What if all the hype is just that... hype... and the market isn't about to crash and burn. Oh I … (10 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach: Market Snapshot... September 29, 2007 - 09/29/07 06:36 AM
 Polliwog Park..We are beginning to see the effects of stricter guidelines on loans coupled with fears about big price declines on Manhattan Beach real estate. September sales are below those in August and pending sales are sparse....as of today only 7 homes went into escrow in September out of 121 active listings. The townhome market however is holding it's own with 9 pending sales and 15 active listings. Manhattan Village saw two sell within days.
If rates on Jumbo loans drop below 7% we may see an uptick in home sales. I think 7% is a real barrier for many who … (10 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach- Beach Cities: Interest Rates... No Relief in Sight... - 09/26/07 11:28 AM
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A Banker with a sense of humor......It's been one week since the Fed met and lowered the funds rate and the discount rate... The euphoria that followed the announcement of the action taken by the FED was good news for Wall Street but what about the housing market woes.Are mortgage interest rates lower? For potential buyers and sellers in Manhattan Beach and the Beach Cities..sadly the answer is is not really. The FED action lowered short term rates but long term rates are still on the high side. Bond rates are responding to inflation fears over the long … (42 comments)

sellers: California: Tops on Best Places to Live List - 07/24/07 07:28 AM
Where Do You Want to Live?
 A new report from Money Magazine on the Best Places to Live in the U.S.. spots  California  with three big cities on the top 10 list of best places to live.  Los Angeles is number 4 in the large U. S. city category. No surprise.. Manhattan Beach shows up as # 13 on the pricey homes list while Palos Verdes Estates slips in at # 10. What's nifty about this site is that there' s a place for consumers to also rate the top ten cities. In the consumer rankings San Diego gets the top spot … (10 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach and all Beach Cities: SOLD..Market Snapshot June 2007 - 07/12/07 02:28 PM
 The Strand in Hermosa Beach
There is no question our local real estate market is slowing but then sales always slow in the summer. Last year at this time the South Bay/Beach Cities market was stalled.. as buyers just simply withdrew. I'm not seeing that this year as buyers are still coming to open houses and I'm getting a lot of inquiries from my websites.
The market is in a real pickle right now as Buyers continue looking closely at prices and wondering if Sellers are going to stand firm or if there might be a little leeway as we hit mid … (9 comments)

sellers: Manhattan Beach CA: Market Snapshot May 6, 2007 - 05/06/07 08:53 AM
 
 
Contrary to all the predictions Manhattan Beach,CA  real estate continues to move at an even pace.  A few days ago a gentleman questioned why I thought the market in Manhattan Beach appeared to be returning to a normal market.  I told him that it was because the local market seemed to be acting in a rational manner.. that is home prices were going up a little in some areas, down a bit in others while showing little movement in still other sectors. Most Buyers and Sellers have realized that prices aren't going to see huge increases or decreases but rather will continue to stay at a level pace.
 There are currently 84 … (13 comments)

sellers: The Real Difference Between Buyers and Sellers - 12/09/06 05:48 AM
 
 
 Buyers and sellers have always been at opposite ends of the table.  When the market is moving upward sellers want multiple offers and push buyers for every extra dollar they can get.  When the market starts trending downward buyers will withhold offers until they feel they can negotiate a price that is at or below market value.  Revenge can be sweet!  However a recent survey may hold some clues about the  difference between those who own a home and potential homeowners.
In a recent  Survery by the Pew Research Center. Homeowners were surveyed about where they believe home values are headed.  Of  those … (18 comments)