South Bay Homes and Real Estate

Why don’t I live in Hermosa Beach? Why don’t I go there more often?

Who knows, but looking at the the pics of this house it’s a mistake. Here is an interesting multi-media tour. The whole thing is a little busy for my taste. But if you are in the market presumably you are willing to overcome the 30 second learning curve (including 5-seconds to figure out how to turn off the music. Hint: upper right!).

This tour has all kind of semi-confusing (but cool) features. If you click on a camera icon on the floorplan you get a photo from that perspective.

Lovely home, huh? Sure, it’ll set you back a few bucks. But if you’re shopping in this price range you’ll appreciate the sqft, view and location.

Interactive FloorPlan Presentation

And for those that prefer a more classical data display, check out my my data dump on the same property, below.

2232 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (MLS # S10017794)

Marvelous New (Built 2006) Single Family Home with unblock-able Stunning Ocean Views. Live the luxury beach lifestyle in this impressive west facing home that boasts panoramic ocean, sand, pier & white water views. Quality construction throughout with 4 bdrms (all with bthrms), guest bath, plush office & fabulous roof top deck off the media/bonus room. The main living space is flooded with natural light & includes a large formal dining area, kitchen nook, family room & gourmet kitchen. It has open beam ceilings, skylights, hardwood flooring & alderwood cabinets. The gourmet kitchen is top of the line with a Viking 6 burner range, double oven, breakfast bar & a walk-in pantry. There are beautiful lighting fixtures & fans throughout. The master bedroom & family room have fireplaces and great views. There is a 3 stop elevator, A/C, Camera Surveillance System & 4 car garage with 6 car parking. Located across from the Strand & close to fine dining in downtown Manhattan & Hermosa.

Property Type(s): Single Family, Residential

Price History

Schools

Additional Details

Features

Location

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Listed with Jeremiah Carew (w/ Tricia Gen McCune), 3 Leaf Realty Inc

(view all details for MLS # S10017794)

1139 17th ST, Hermosa Beach 90254

By Ryan Rockwood

Today we made a recently rare journey into the land of non-foreclosures with a visit to a new listing on 17th St in Hermosa. Diagnosis? Surprisingly nice!

Check out my photos. The property is huge, on a corner, includes two small independent homes, a good sized yard, 2 car garage, a large ocean view deck and the potential to one day rip down these old homes and build a not-so-mini mansion w/a bitchin’ ocean view!

Priced at $1,050,000 it might even cash flow immediately … I’d certainly rent one of the homes for $2,500+. (That’s kind of my yardstick for rental value).

For more information and a tour call me right this very moment!

The first question you should ask yourself is why you want to invest in South Bay real estate. Most people are seeking financial independence. Some people want their assets to grow, some want an ongoing income stream and some want tax advantages. The good news about Real Estate is you can have all three!

Many people save and invest their entire working lives so that they can retire with enough money to live whatever lifestyle they want when they stop working. The big question is “How much money do I need to put away to support that lifestyle?” Well, if you want to have $100,000 a year to live on, you will need to have about 20 times that ($2,000,000) invested to meet that income need at retirement. Then, whatever annual dollar amount you need today, you will probably need double that every 15 years. 

One of the best things about real estate investing is it offers you leverage. Think of it this way, if you have $10,000 invested in a stock or bond that returns 5%, you will earn a 5% return or $500. If you put $10,000 down on a $200,000 piece of property and it goes up 5%, you just doubled your money or $10,000. That’s 100% return! Then, if you take into consideration that you could have received some cash flow, and your tenants are paying down your loan, and you get to write off depreciation and other expenses, 200% annual returns are not uncommon.

A good indicator for buying cash flow properties is what we call a “cash on cash” return. If it took $10,000 out of your pocket to buy a property that cash flows $250 a month ($3,000 a year), that’s a 30% return on your cash. 

The first thing that needs to be done is to find out how much money you can borrow. You need to talk to a lender that is familiar with investment real estate. A good lender can advise you as to what strategies you should employ based on your credit scores, savings and income. Once you know what you can qualify for, then you are ready to go on to the next step.

Determining which is the right area to invest is the next step. If you are primarily looking for appreciation, you will want to focus on the high-demand coastal areas. If you are looking for cash flow you may want to look in more established areas inland. I always advise looking for homes/units near major transportation centers or employment centers or universities, etc. 

Finally, you need to conduct due diligence. There are no short cuts here. It’s very important to investigate what you intend to invest in. What is the property really worth, what are the vacancy rates, what are the property tax rates, what does the owner typically pay for – utilities, lawn care, etc., is there a Home Owners Association and how will you manage the property and how much will a management company cost you?

The South Bay is a region just South of the City of Los Angeles that encompasses the smaller regional areas Beach Cities and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Torrance is a large enough city that it is usually not included in these subcategories of the South Bay.

Looking for a Bargain with Your Second Home in South Bay

The current American real estate market is no longer monopolized by the upper classes. Indeed, the boom in the American real estate industry has been due largely to the increasing participation of middle-income Americans. These middle-income Americans have jumped in on the trend of owning second homes. They usually choose to invest on second homes located outside of their home state, such as in the Palos Verdes Peninsula area (Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates), the Beach Cities area (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach),or another other area in South Bay (Lomita, San Pedro and Torrance).

There are people who jump into the real estate investment business head first with very little information about what they should invest on in South Bay and how to properly go about it. The first thing that must be put into consideration is how much you can afford in purchasing your second home in the South Bay area. A budget should be taken into consideration, as this defines the limits of what you can and cannot buy; it might be the difference between purchasing a home in San Pedro or Redondo Beach. This amount that you can spend on a second home usually depends on your economic well-being. However, there are a variety of factors that contribute to the shifts in house prices.

Read Also: Turn your Torrance Second Home into a Vacation Rental

Location! Location! Location!

If you want a home near a picturesque spot in the Beach Cities for instance, or in a locale that is frequented by tourists, it is likely that these South Bay homes will cost more than homes located elsewhere in South Bay.

Important Things to Consider When Buying a Second Home

Once you’ve decided to purchase your second home, look for communities that offer owners an environment with sufficient facilities. Facilities and amenities include not only places to buy supplies, but also laundry, food, and cleaning services. Being in the proximity of structures that offer amenities can spell the difference between living in a box and living comfortably in your second home. Your home’s value obviously increases should it be found near skiing sites, golf courses, or beach areas. Advertising your second home for rent can benefit from proximate locations that may be of interest to vacationers in the area.

Read Also: For all those South Bay Frustrated Time Share Owners….

Many people want to buy second homes just so they can have a place they can call home away from their real domiciles. Before you jump in, you should consider the facilities that are near the South Bay home. This is because it is unlikely that you will want to do chores in your second home when you are there on vacation. Services to take care of cleaning your house, doing your laundry, or cooking meals should be found near the area before you finalize a deal to buy a second home in South Bay. That way, you can comfortably enjoy your vacation while your basic needs are being fully serviced at the same time.

More importantly, choose a home in a South Bay community in which you feel comfortable and safe. Some basic considerations that buyers of new homes always keep in mind are low crime rates, the friendliness of the roads for pedestrians, and the like. If you want to sell the South Bay home in the future, the resale worth of the house should be considered: choose a house in a South Bay community where real estate property prices are expected to increase over time. This is the best way to ensure a good resale price once you choose to sell the house.

Thinking of Real Estate Ownership in the South Bay Area?

If you’ve always wanted to own a home in the South Bay area, in the one of the Beach Cities (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach) for instance, you can do just that through the rent to own home arrangement.

What’s a rent to own home arrangement in South Bay? It’s similar to the rent to own car arrangement. In a rent to own car arrangement, you rent the car for a specified period. If you like the car during this period, you can proceed with purchasing the car.

In the same vein, you can initially rent a South Bay area home. By actually living in the property, you can determine the actual conditions of the house prior to buying it. The benefit of the rent to own home arrangement is therefore a good way of investing in real estate.

Consider the Rent to Own Home Arrangement in South Bay Area!

The rent to own home arrangement has been growing in appeal with many people, and business in this area has been vigorous. It may be attributed to the advantages of this arrangement for the parties involved.

• One advantage would be that you can gather all the information you need about the South Bay home and the neighborhood by actually residing in the house.
• A lower down payment is also another benefit, as compared to the higher down payments on straight property purchases. Thus, if you’re an inexperienced homebuyer or investor, the rent to own home arrangement is a good strategy in determining real estate investments.

Features of the Rent to Own Home Arrangement

Both sellers and buyers in South Bay can benefit from the rent to own home arrangement. The following are some of the features of the rent to own home arrangement:

• The current market largely influences the sale price and the rent price of the property. However, bargaining and negotiations may always be done. Thus, do some research on the South Bay property prior to closing the deal.
• The option period is a very significant consideration. As a buyer, you would want a longer option period, giving you time to repair your credit and build up your equity. A seller, on the other hand, prefers a short option period so that the house can be sold quickly. Nevertheless, any of the options can flop on either of the parties involved. Therefore, market awareness and research is crucial.
• There have been instances when a seller has replaced the current buyer with another person offering a higher price. Thus, when the rent to own home contract is being formulated, it is important for you, the buyer to guard your welfare. Ensure that the contract includes a clause or provision regarding preservation of the price during the option period.
• Generally, a seller prefer quick cash sales. However, the rent to own home option is also profitable for him. Through this option, the seller can earn significant income from the property prior to actually selling it.
• Even when the house is not eventually purchased, the seller can still profit from the rent to own home arrangement through the option fee and rent payments. In addition, he also receives a tax deduction on his mortgage interests during the option period.

In summary, the rent to own home arrangement can benefit both the buyer and the seller. It’s a practical means to investing in real estate in the South Bay area. Think this might be an option you would like to explore in the South Bay? Call us today at (310) 809-0203, we would love to assist you!

Additional Reading:

• Buy property from the Bank and pocket the profits in Hermosa Beach!
• Foreclosure & Fixer Homes for Sale in Redondo Beach, Torrance and San Pedro
• The Darkside of Manhattan Beach Foreclosure
• Now you can own the ultimate MLS map of the South Bay, available exclusively to Realtors!

<–>

Listen up Hermosa Beach CA!

The daily newscasters and “talking heads” feature regular stories of the tragedy of foreclosures in California. Indeed, the rate of foreclosures is continuing to increase, partially driven by the financially illogical variable rate mortgages. With that said, if you are a financially savvy Hermosa Beach Real Estate Investor with solid financials, this is a great time to capitalize upon these intriguing opportunities, especially in the form of REO properties.

California Banks are in the business of lending money, not owning, managing, or selling real estate. However, oftentimes a bank is forced to foreclose on an investment, and a property reverts from an investment to Real Estate Owned, or REO.

Hermosa Beach Real estate investors can purchase REO properties from banks for less than the full market value of the property, but in most cases, REO properties are sold by lenders at or just below market value. A smart Los Angeles investor will have a strong strategic plan for bidding on and financing a bank-owned property to get the best value.

Bidding on REO property

Even though banks do not want to hold and manage Hermosa Beach real estate properties, there is a wide misconception that banks want to ‘dump’ REO properties at far below the market value simply to get if off the books. Closer to the truth is the fact that a REO property is not considered a liability, and banks will want to get full or near market value for their asset.

If a Hermosa Beach Real Estate Investor makes an offer on a REO property lower than the bank’s calculated full market value, the bank will probably make a counter-offer closer to the market value at which they want to sell. An important thing for investors to remember is that banks do want to sell their REO properties as quickly as possible, so patience and persistent bidding is the key for a potential investor to get a good deal. But also remember that a bank is looking after their own best interests – not yours.

Understand that REO is “as is” property

Banks will usually sell their REO properties in “as is” condition, meaning if there are any renovations or repairs needed in order to qualify for traditional financing, a bank will not perform the repairs. They may, however, offer a credit on the sale price for the deferred maintenance of a property.

Los Angeles area Investors should analyze a South Bay property carefully and have thorough inspections performed by licensed inspection firms. A proper inspection will reveal items that an investor will need to consider improving before the property can be achieve full resale or rentable value.

If a Hermosa Beach property has numerous defects and does not qualify for a traditional mortgage from a bank or other lender, a real estate investor will need an alternate plan to finance the property. The Hermosa Beach investor should form a plan for repairs and renovations and could work with partners to invest money in the fix up project. Hard moneylenders may also be a source of short-term financing.

Enjoy favorable terms

A Los Angeles investor will often reap favorable sale terms from a bank REO property. The South Bay properties are usually clear of any prior liens. Additionally, a bank may offer financing to an investor will favorable terms, such as low down payment or low interest rate.

Swift closings can also be a great benefit since the title will be owned free and clear by the bank.

Benefits of buying REO

As previously mentioned, a REO home is generally free of all liens from prior lenders and contractors. Having a home for sale free and clear offers a safe investment and quicker closing times.

A REO property will also be vacant and ready for an investor to occupy or begin renovations immediately after the sale. Any owners or tenants will already have been evicted prior to the final foreclosure. Tip provided by Real estate expert Brice Sheppard.

REO properties can be a great investment – as long as an investor is savvy about purchase strategies. Knowing the condition of the property and bank REO selling procedures is an asset to the investor. With a little experience, a real estate investor can reap many financial rewards with a niche in REO properties.

RSS FEED