Living in Long Beach in January

As winter storm Juno is busy hammering the east coast, I'm sitting at my desk in East Long Beach with the windows open, looking out at our pool, surrounded by tropical foliage.  There's a reason living in Long Beach and the surrounding area is so great, especially this time of year.

East Long Beach Whaley home with 1960 pool

Long Beach real estate isn't just post war bungalows or 100 year old Craftsman homes.  Far from it.  We have the urban vibe downtown with the high rises, too.  On Saturday I was fortunate enough to be working with a client who will buy a condo in one of those high rises.  That meant I got to take photos from all these cool condos to capture the view for the husband who wasn't with us.  Awesome. Take a look!

Long Beach Harbor from 28th floor of the International Tower

3rd floor of the Pacific Tower

View of the bay and Villa Riviera from the International Tower

From the 11th floor of West Ocean, Tower One

Seriously?!  From the International Tower

Isn't it gorgeous?!  I love what I do, I love where I live.  Let me help you or someone you know love where they live in greater Long Beach, too.  Long Beach, it will surprise you

First Time Home Buyers - Choosing a Real Estate Agent

First time buyers may have already hit the Internet for their search, but how do they know who should be their real estate agent in what may be the most important financial transaction of their lives thus far?

Whose name is on that card?

THE AGENT YOU KNOW

Many first time, as well as repeat, buyers use the real estate agent in the family, the uncle, the cousin, the neighbor or their friend.  Having someone you know and trust is a great place to start.  If they can back it up with experience, area knowledge, and expertise, you probably don't need to look any further. 

Even if you know the agent, though, have a professional conversation with them.  This is a new relationship.  You're not just swapping travel stories, you're about to put your future in their hands.  Do they understand what you want?  What you'll accept, what your priorities are?  Do you have faith in their experience and knowledge?  Can they get you into that home in a multiple bid situation?  Ask them to tell you about situations they've handled that have been similar to yours. 

THE AGENT YOU WANT TO KNOW

This is where you turn on your reticular activator.  All of a sudden, you will notice real estate agents are everywhere!  Not just their face on the notepads they drop off on your porch or the bus bench ads or those banners on the school yard fence.  They really are everywhere. 

Do some online searches about the neighborhood you want to live in, the city you're considering and you'll see agents come up.  Click on their ads, their websites.  You won't get email or information from them unless you click a little further and sign up.  Who looks like someone you might want to talk to in that Trulia or Zillow sidebar? Does one name keep coming up?

Yelp reviews are marginal in trying to find a Realtor.  They really haven't taken off except for those real estate agents who are pushing their clients to write reviews.  It will get there, but don't depend on them just yet. 

How long an agent has been in business can be a criteria, but have they been in business 10 years, only as a part time agent?  A full time agent who has been in business less than 5 years might be a better bet if they are fully immersed in the business of the business, actively working transactions, and keeping up with the market.  Agents with many years of experience who keep up with the market and the constant changes are invaluable.

THE AGENT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Referrals are the lifeblood of any small business and it is especially true when it comes to trusting your life dreams and investments.  ASK your family, friends and colleagues.  Who have they used?  What was their experience?  Was the agent on top of the transaction, receptive to feedback, responsive to requests?  Did they listen?  Did they communicate?

 

 

Real estate agents thrive on referrals as they want to work with buyers and sellers that their clients know, too.  The trust is more quickly established on both sides.

 

 

THE AGENT QUESTIONS

 

Do a search on how to find an agent and you will find a variety of questions to ask a Realtor before you hire them.  The questions recommended depend on who wrote the article!  This post is no different.  Beyond the basics of assuring they are licensed and do not have any licensing violations, beyond asking "How long have you been in business?","How many transactions have you closed?", and "Have you won any awards?" is the personal connection: 

 

• What geographic area do you cover?
• What types of properties do you handle?
• How will you communicate with me and how often?
• What tools will you put in place to locate a home that fits my criteria?
• Do you work with a lender who has first time buyer assistance?
• Why should I work with you?
• May I have some references?

 

If you are comfortable with the answers, if they fit your needs, then go with your gut feeling.  Which agent is going to be there for you when things go sideways?  Who is going to toast with you when the deal goes smoothly?  Who is going to be a long term resource for you and someone you're going to refer to other buyers, as well as to sellers?

 

I'm happy to answer any questions about the agent search, as well as refer you to qualified agents in your specific geographic area.  You may contact me by phone or text at 562.673.5335 or by email at katielarson@kw.com.  If you'd like more information or to start a home search, check out my website: http://www.katiekimbelllarson.com/listing/listingsearch.aspx



Staging a Vacant Home - What's in it for me?

If you like to fill in the blank, then maybe looking at a vacant house doesn't bother you.  You have a good imagination, a good feel for space.  You like the blank slate.  You think the bones of your house speak for themselves.  Maybe.  But not everyone has your vision and sometimes painting the picture makes all the difference in whether someone can see themselves living in a house or not.  Will that king bed fit in here?  Will that wall fit your 64" TV? 

How quickly do you want your home to sell?

PROS ON NOT STAGING

Staging is expensive.  You (the seller) are paying for furniture to be delivered, set up in a way to show off the house, and then you are renting it for the time it's in the house and then the pick up.  Staging an entire home can run over $5,000, depending on the size of the house and the quality of the furniture.  Typically you start with the consultation for around $75 and an average home staging is about $1,800.  Not staging a home saves you money.

Homes in the lower price range of an area don't benefit as greatly from the cost of staging.  Ask your Realtor what they think of the cost when working in that price range.  Sometimes just a large plant to break up the space will do the trick. Maybe add a couple of chairs for a vignette, but you do not need to invest in a full staging.

PROS ON STAGING

A vacant home can feel cold, uninteresting, even uncared for.  A well staged home can spark buyers' imaginations, can get them talking about "that great house with the cool red sectional in the living room". 

Putting in a queen size bed in the bedroom shows off the size of the room, where a bedroom set up as a sports room gets the buyers thinking about different ways to use the space.  Colorful place settings on the dining table, with open cookbooks on the counter invite the buyer in to picture themselves living in the home.

Staging a vacant home also lets you pick a theme that can continue through the house, whether in color or texture, drawing the buyers into each room.  It can engage their interest through the way the furniture shows off features like fireplaces and the view of the backyard.  There are no personal items to distract when staging a home, either, so the focus is only on showing off the best parts of the house.

BUT WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Selling a home is not for the faint-hearted.  There are lots of opinions on staging, as well as ways to do it yourself, do it less expensively, hiring a consultant, how much you should pay.  HGTV is a great resource for ideas, too, as well as entertainment.  It's not a substitute for a well informed agent or staging consultant, but it can increase your understanding and options to consider.

For my sellers, I pay for an initial staging consultation on homes above a certain price range, to help them see if it's what they want to do.  It's my investment in making them comfortable with the process, in helping them decide which investments they want to make to sell their home for the highest possible price.  Another good step in deciding is sending my sellers to open houses.  I encourage them to go check out the competition.  I can let them know what's vacant, what isn't.  It only takes a couple visits before they can tell whether or not something is staged.  How do they feel when walking in the empty home?  The staged home?  What makes them want to buy?

Another option I can offer is to pay for the full staging up front by adding an additional 1% to the selling office commission.  This means the seller never has to pay for the staging costs out of pocket, but the costs that I paid up front and my reimbursement come out of the closing costs.  This is a good way to get a high quality staging without the seller having to add that cost to any repairs or other costs to get the house ready.

Have more questions?  Need a staging referral?  Give me a call 562.673.5335 or send me an email at katielarson@kw.com. 

Living in Long Beach: Neighborhood connections

How do you connect with your neighbors?  The organization We Love Long Beach has been trying to answer - and promote - that question for several years now.  This year one of the ways was with a Citywide Pumpkin Carving and Chili Party, with hosts in 30 different neighborhoods around the city.

We sponsored the one for our neighborhood, La Marina Estates.  I used both NextDoor.com and the La Marina Estates Facebook page to get the word out.  I supported one of the young neighbors by paying him to distribute 263 flyers to the neighbors.  Phone calls, emails and street conversations ensued, showing lots of interest.  Signs were put up the week of the event, reminding neighbors to come on over.  Pumpkins were donated through We Love Long Beach, as well as others purchased for the event at Pa's Pumpkin Patch.

On the day of the event, October 25th, we had more than 40 neighbors join us for a couple of hours, with children as young as 2 years old and neighbors well into their 80's who attended.  The turkey chili was a hit, with some toppings and cornbread available.  Several neighbors brought desserts to share, many pumpkin themed.  Two representatives from the LBPD East division stopped by to tell us about a recent rash of burglaries in the area and how to stay connected, safe, and informed.

Although pumpkins and carving tools were supplied, neighbors also brought their own, taking advantage of my plug "make the mess at our house".  Neighbors shared tales of when they first moved in the neighborhood, back in 1956, with neighbors who moved in 6 months ago.  We talked about Long Beach real estate, then and now, about former home owner associations and what we can do moving forward with Community Watch.

All the while, pumpkins were being carved, children were playing and connections were being made.  There was even talk about next year's event, and what else can we do to stay connected.  Next up?  A Community Watch meeting, which we'll host at our home.  I love living in Long Beach and being part of a thriving neighborhood.  How do you connect?

All the world's a stage, but your home is what matters

Staging a home creates a welcoming feeling

One of the first questions sellers ask me, after how high can we price this house, is "Do we need to stage the home?"  Many of you watch the HGTV shows that tell you staging is very important, and it is.  You want a potential buyer to walk in, feel good about what they see, be able to imagine their life unfolding in the same space yours has unfolded.  You want them to see themselves as the home's next chapter.

STAGING VERSUS REARRANGING

If you are living in your home, you can't very well move out all your well loved furniture and bring in the fancy new stuff, so I bring in a staging consultant on listings that will have the owners still living in the home, who still need to cook meals, host parties, entertain kids, watch TV comfortably in the old chair.  The staging consultant works with the furniture and furnishings in the house and might bring in some accent pieces.

The consultant will make suggestions to make rooms feel more open, to show off the features, to let in more natural light.  The staging feedback can also be a simple as "declutter and depersonalize", which means clean up the piles, straighten items in drawers and closets and remove personal photos and awards from walls and shelves.

CURB APPEAL

Curb appeal brings them in the door

You want to invite buyers into your home by welcoming them when they first drive up.  Fresh flowers planted, fitting the season, and a nicely trimmed lawn are a start.  The staging consultant can also make suggestions as to whether or not that garden gnome collection is welcoming or scary.

If you'd like my full report on "Getting Your Home Ready to Sell" and my monthly newsletters that include local Southern California information, Long Beach real estate updates, as well as tips on homes and life, please send me an email to katielarson@kw.com and I'll get that report to you right away.

I'm never too busy for your referrals, so if you know anyone looking to buy or sell a home, please let me know and send them my way. 

Nothing says summer like a pool

Probably of no surprise that California, Florida, Arizona and Texas have 60% of the more than 8.5 million pools in the United States.  A Google search on just how many pools are in California, Los Angeles County or Long Beach got me... nowhere reliable.  Closest I could get was an article on laist.com that said there were 43,123 pools in the LA Basin, with Beverly Hills having 2,481 and Long Beach with 2,859.  I counted close to 60 in our little neighborhood alone, using Google maps one day.

The exact number doesn't matter - there are a lot!  You likely either have one or live within a soccer ball's kick of one.  Interesting factoid in the article is that the typical LA area pool has an oval shape and measures around 16 feet by 33 feet.  Public pools tend to have square edges.

Having a pool means making a commitment.  Making a commitment to the maintenance and safety of it.  Some of that can be handled by employing a pool service for weekly checks, cleanings and regular maintenance.  That cost varies with the neighborhood and services.  You can expect to spend an average of $80 a month. 

You can also be your own pool boy, cabana service optional, by educating yourself on pool maintenance and doing your own chemicals and cleaning.  There are some excellent local pool suppliers, like East Long Beach Pool & Spa Supplies on Woodruff or ABC Pools & Supplies in Los Alamitos.  These guys know what they're doing, can analyze your water and can get you on track.

Safety issues span from having a required fence around the pool, to a lock on the gate, a drain that won't trap hair or loose suits, to making sure that children in the pool are watched at all times.  Also recommended is a pool safety kit:  a first aid kit, a flotation device, a pair of scissors to cut caught hair, clothing or a pool cover, a charged phone by the pool to call 911.  If you have a pool, everyone in the home should know how to swim.  The Internet is full of great tips and resources to help you and your family enjoy your pool.  One of the best sites I found was www.poolsafely.gov.

Aside from going IN the pool, there is also a lot to be said for being AROUND the pool.  Dining al fresco with a refreshing drink in your hand, looking at the cool water is a treat.  Turning on the pool light at night lights up the backyard with a tropical glow.

Owning a home with a pool is a commitment in itself.  You have to do the maintenance (or hire that pool boy), keep it safe, and maybe have your backyard become the neighborhood kids' favorite place to play.  It's not for everyone, but it's for at least 2,859 people in Long Beach. 

Would you like to own a home with a pool?  Let me help and maybe you'll be swimming in your own pool for that Labor Day barbecue.

Purple Haze - The Jacarandas

Those purple blobs you can see when you're in the final approach to LGB, flying over east Long Beach.  Those tinges of purple in the trees.  Those messy flowers dropping onto your car.  It's time for the jacarandas to bloom!

The jacaranda mimosifolia, shortened to Blue Jacaranda or just jacaranda, is a tree found mostly in the tropics and subtropic regions, like Central and South America, the Bahamas, South Africa, and Australia.  But Southern California is dotted with them, especially in the tree-lined neighborhoods of Long Beach, where they were imported by the horticulturist Kate Sessions early in the last century.

 

The photo above was taken this morning at the intersection of Clark, Stearns and Los Coyotes.  The trees should be in full bloom in early May and last for a few weeks.  They also bloom in the fall, but nothing as full as the spring bloom. Check out this shot I took last year of Fidler, just south of Stearns:

 

Pretty spectacular, isn't it?

But the trees are very messy.  V.E.R.Y. messy and you know this if there is one on your property or you've parked under one.  The blossoms are oily and difficult to clean up.  You can see the mess on the street above, but it's almost beautiful enough to overlook the aftermath.

Do you want to live on a street with jacarandas, like the one above?  How about a house with one in the yard?  Let me know and I'll be happy to help you find your happy home.  Do you have a favorite spot to view the jacarandas?  Please let me know where or send me some photos to post.

Long Beach, it will surprise and delight you.

 



Should I stay or should I go: Bay Area versus Long Beach, CA

Not so long ago a friend was discussing the benefits of staying in her townhouse in San Jose versus moving to Southern California.  She and her husband both have jobs that can be worked from about anywhere on the west coast, as long as there is an airport within 30 miles or so.

I love the Bay Area and all it has to offer.  There are redwoods within an hour's drive, there are wineries, universities, culture, fine dining, ambience, history, great public transportation, traffic, congestion, chilly summers, flights delayed due to low clouds, high priced real estate, just about everything you could wish for in an urban area.

This friend got married 6 years ago and moved into her husband's townhome.  They still have a room of unpacked boxes for when they move into a house.  It's safe to say they should move, but where can they stay convenient to their jobs, where can they actually afford a house and still have discretionary income for travel and events?

My answer?  Long Beach.

It became a very interesting discussion, via text, about the pros of living in this city by the sea and addressing each of her very valid concerns:

Her:  Can you get rid of a few million people?? [addressing the congestion issue]
Me: Considering there are less than half a million people in Long Beach, I can't.  Long Beach with 467,000 people is California's 7th largest city.  San Jose is the state's 3rd largest with 984,000.
Her:  Talking about LA in general and the traffic
Me: SJ Mercury article from Nov 2013: SJ ranks 5th worst in country for traffic while SF bay area is 3rd worst.  LA is 2nd - not much difference AND you can buy a 3bed/2bath home in a nice neighborhood for $600K
Her: really?
Me: Closest international airport is less than 25 miles away, about 10 miles closer than SJO to SFO, although you can take public transportation to SFO from SJ.  The Long Beach Airport is  terrific with lots of non-stop destinations and is less than 5 miles from the East side.  Orange County?  About 18 miles.
Her:  Okay, let me talk to [husband's name] and maybe you can start sending me some listings.

There are certainly many more areas to compare, but this was enough to pique her interest.  I'll be showing her some homes in May.  Stay tuned!

Any areas you would like me to compare for you?

DONOT take my DONUT!

There was a Planning Commission meeting tonight and the biggest topic - or at least the sweetest - was the discussion about the fate of the giant donut located at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and 7th Street.  Once a harbinger of the Chapman Angel Food Donuts chain, it is currently incorporated into the Original Grind and is one of the survivors of the many kitschy novelty signs that were erected in the early 1950's.

 

 

Dunkin' Donuts is coming to Long Beach and they've bought the location.  Plans have been to demolish the current building and rebuild a newer, shinier, pretty place, sans le grand donut.  A Facebook page was created to "Save the Giant Donut" and, as of this evening, it has almost 1,600 "likes", including mine.

 

Sometime in the late 1950's a young Katie spoke her first sentence, inspired by that giant donut, startling her mother and grandmother who were in the car with her:  "Why not stop and get some donuts?"  Now, how could they possibly even think of removing it, with that bit of Long Beach history attached?

 

Well, tonight Dunkin' Donuts has committed to saving the donut and incorporating it into their plans.  Said a spokesman for Dunkin' Donuts, "We don't want to be known as the guy who killed the donut."  Wise guy.

 

There are other giant donuts around Long Beach; 2657 Santa Fe, 1907 Carson Street and 3860 Long Beach Blvd.

 

The most famous giant donut is in Inglewood at Randy's Donuts and has appeared in many movies and TV shows.  So their donut is more famous, but we have more in Long Beach.  And ours inspire babes to speak.  Why not stop and get some donuts, indeed?

It Sounds Like a Jungle

No, you're not imagining it.  You really are hearing a flock of tropical birds here in East Long Beach.  That loud squawking is the sound of the feral parrots of Long Beach, most of which are the South American Mitred Parakeet, also known as the Mitred Conure. 

They've been seen in the East Long Beach neighborhoods, most notably Belmont Shore, since the 1980's and their population is estimated to be between 200 and 500 in the flock.  Some days I think they are all in our peppertree, given the noise and the mess they make.

They eat a little bit of everything, from persimmons to eucalyptus flowers, the bright red berries of the peppertrees to seeds.  And they leave a mess, so I suggest not standing under the tree they're in, and definitely don't park under it!  Below are the pepper berries left in our drive way after a 5 minute visit from our local flock this morning.

 

Although usually heard in the early morning or near dusk, they can also be heard midday, even when flying high above the neighborhoods.  Their friendly calls carry long distances and they announce their arrival when they find a tree that looks like a lunch buffet to them, then squawk their goodbyes as they all leave the tree at the same time.

 

A good place to spot the flock is in the tall palm trees at Ocean Blvd and Livingston Street.



If you want to know more about the parrots, there is a study called The California Parrot Project.  If you happen to see the parrots, they want to know and you can report the siting at their website:  http://californiaparrotproject.org/ 

Parrots in our peppertree, East Long Beach, January 24, 2014

Matriculating in Long Beach - World Class?

My mother graduated from Long Beach's Wilson High School and my father has a night school degree from Long Beach Polytechnic High, so I have a little history with Long Beach schools, although I never attended any.  My nephew attended Minnie Gant Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and was graduated from Wilson High, now attending the big Stanford in Palo Alto.  And his mother is a teacher at Marshall Middle School.  Those are my personal credentials on the topic of education in Long Beach, now let's get to the facts.

An international study recently put the Long Beach Unified School District among five of the world's highest performing school systems.  The article can be read in full here Study ranks LBUSD among Top 5 in World

One of the key factors is the pathways programming that ties learning to future professions.  The newly opened McBride High School has educational tracts that focus on forensics, health-medical and engineering.  There are no school boundaries for these pathway schools, allowing opportunities for children from all over the district to attend the schools that best fit them.

Every year 8th graders visit with representatives of the 9 high schools in the district at High School Information Day.  They find out what each high school emphasizes in their curriculum and then apply for the school of their choice.  Although not everyone can be assigned to the school of their choice, much effort is put into matching as many as possible.  Some of the high schools even offer "shadow days" when the 8th grader may spend up to 2 days shadowing a high school student to get a feel for the campus and pathway.

Every school in California is required, by law, to publish an "accountability report" by February of each year.  This allows parents and other interested parties to check class size, ethnic diversity, teacher credentials and much more.  The LBUSD site has all of the reports posted, for each school.

Greatschools.com gives Long Beach a city rating of 6 out of 10 for the schools, although 4 of the elementary schools are ranked a 10, 4 of the middle schools are ranked 8 or higher, with two high schools currently ranked at 7.  The new McBride High School opened its doors just last fall and is too new for any rankings.

The 2007 movie "Freedom Writers" was based on the book by former Wilson Classical High School teacher Erin Gruwell, who wrote it about her time as an English teacher at Wilson.  In late 2014 Hill Classical Middle School will begin a transformation into a pathways driven high school modeled after the California Academy of Mathematics and Science, one of the state's top-performing high schools.

There is also the Long Beach College Promise:  A combined effort of LBUSD, Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to improve access to college through tuition-free semesters, guaranteed admittance to qualified students and access to college prep and guidance as early as elementary school. 

To complement the classroom work, most sports are represented throughout the LBUSD.  There is a strong sports tradition in Long Beach, with the high schools holding CIF Championships in several sports over the years.  Olympians have also come from the Long Beach schools, competing for the USA in water polo, baseball, track, swimming, volleyball, triathlon, rowing.

Long Beach is a great place to raise your family, with active and challenging schools, diversity and athletic opportunities.  Which Long Beach school would you like your children to attend?

Long Beach for me

Welcome to my blog about Long Beach and the surrounding area.  I am passionate about this area and look forward to sharing stories and observations with you.

My credentials to write about Long Beach? 

I was born in Long Beach, in St. Mary's Hospital at 10th and Atlantic.  My paternal grandmother worked at St. Mary's at the time.  In fact, my parents met there while my mother was volunteering at the hospital and my grandmother wanted her to meet her son.  My parents were married in St. Anthony Parish on Olive Avenue.  My mother graduated from Wilson High School here in Long Beach, as did my nephew, 60 years later.

My father worked at Douglas Aircraft on Lakewood before joining the Orange County Sheriff's Office.  My mother worked for McDonnell Douglas Automation for a while in the 1970's.

Both of my brothers were born at Community Hospital, just above the traffic circle.  My maternal grandmother was a nurse there.  I'll have a story about my two grandmothers, both nurses, who worked in two different Long Beach hospitals.  One of my brothers graduated from Long Beach State aka CSULB.

Although I moved from Long Beach when I was just 5 months old, to a brand new house waaaaaay far away in Westminster, I lived here again from 1996-1998.  At that time I rented a house in the South of Conant neighborhood.  In 2005 my husband and I purchased our home in the La Marina Estates neighborhood, where we still live.  I'll tell you about the neighborhoods of Long Beach later, too.

I am a REALTOR(r) focusing on the East Long Beach/West Orange County area and I know Long Beach.  I'll be sharing bits of history, local school stories, anecdotes and just some rambling thoughts on life here.

I look forward to hearing back from you.