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 BUYERS! (sorry for shouting at you...)

 

 

Today I am writing to put some sunshine into the life of first time home buyers using FHA loans.  Here, let me turn the light on...

 

 

 



As of January 26, 2015, the premiums for insurance on Federal Housing Authority (FHA) mortgages will be reduced! 

FHA loans allow you to put as little as 3.5% down when purchasing a home, but require an additional mortgage insurance with a premium (MIP) that can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly payment.

President Obama's plan to cut this percentage paid may allow up to a quarter of a million more Americans to purchase homes.  The loan percentage, in some cases (see the chart below), was 1.35% and will be reduced to 0.85%, saving about $900 annually for a typical home buyer, according to the FHA.  These additional premiums are included when looking at a borrower's "debt-to-income: ratio, and can knock some borrowers out of the housing market if their debt-to-income ratio exceeded 43 percent (i.e. you owe more than 43% of what you earn).  Even a few dollar savings on the MIP could put a borrower under the 43% line.

 

 



If you would like more information on this good news or you would like me to connect you with an excellent lender to get started, please call/text 562.673.5335 or email me katielarson@kw.com and I'll get you connected.  I will also send you information on first time home buying, such as how to choose an agent and how to get started.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny and Mighty, With Million Dollar Views - Signal Hill



Signal Hill oil fields in 1923 (photo from aerography)

The small city of Signal Hill, just 2.19 square miles and with a population of 11,332 citizens, is surrounded by the City of Long Beach.  While it does share school districts and some services with the City of Long Beach, Signal Hills has its own Police Department, its own stellar Parks & Recreation Commission and a Community Foundation that sponsored the Unity Monument and Bricks on the Hill.  For a tiny town, it has mighty financial backing with a strong tax base from the many retail outlets, including Costco, Long Beach BMW and a couple other warehouse stores.

10 Fun Facts about Signal Hill

1.  It once had 3 different zip codes, all shared with Long Beach.  Signal Hill got its own zip code, 90755, in 2002.
2. It was incorporated in 1924.
3. Signal Hill is 365 feet high.
4. Balboa Studios used 11 acres in Signal Hill for outdoor locations while shooting films 1913-1923.
5. Oil was discovered on June 23, 1921, when Shell Oil Company's Alamitos #1 well erupted.
6. At one time more than 100 oil wells covered the hill.
7. Signal Hill's first mayor, Jessie Nelson, was California first female mayor.
8. The city's largest employer is Office Depot with 551 employees.
9. There are 2 Home Depot stores in Signal Hill, none in Long Beach.
10. There are 10 parks in Signal Hill, ranging from Signal Hill Park at 10 acres to "pocket parks" of less than half an acre.

 Signal Hill Real Estate

Similar to Long Beach real estate, the real estate in Signal Hill has a wide range of prices.  The variety of homes run from low income housing in some of the flatter areas to homes in gated communities, with 200 degree views, for over $1 million.  These gated communities offer community pools and amenities, with homes built in the 21st century.  Here's a view from the north side of the hill, during the day

Overlooking the Long Beach airport from Signal Hill

And the same view at night

Long Beach at night, from Signal Hill, looking north



Living in Signal Hill isn't living in Long Beach, as residents from either city will assure you.  Do you like airplanes?  Maybe you'd like living on the north side of Signal Hill:  a north facing view is an airplane spotter's delight.  Not only is there commercial traffic at the Long Beach Airport, but the adjacent Boeing facility means cool aircraft like C-17 transport planes, the Super Guppy and F/A 18 Hornets visit, too.

Fitness in Signal Hill

With many walking trails and some 25% grade climbs, the city is a great place for fitness.  Long Beach Boot Camp meets here.  The local chapter of the Sierra Club hikes here.  All strenuous walks are rewarded with those spectacular views.

More Information and Something Free

If you would like more information about buying or selling a home in the Signal Hill and Long Beach areas, please contact me at katielarson@kw.com.  I work mostly by referral but would love to help you with a free, complimentary home valuation if you're thinking about selling your home; a free consultation if you're thinking of buying.

What other areas of Long Beach would you like to read about?  Any questions about area history, culture, real estate, dining?  Favorite spots?

Holiday events around Long Beach and Orange County in December

Happy December!

Last month I touched on some of the things going on in the Long Beach area in November.  Now that the calendar has turned to December, celebrations and events really ramp up.  What is there to do in Long Beach and the area this month?

The Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay were turned on Thanksgiving night.  Have you seen them yet?

Credit to "Living Long Beach" for photo

(Unless otherwise noted, these events are in Long Beach)

December 5:  Seal Beach Christmas Parade

December 6:  Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

December 6-7:  Holiday Treats for the Animals, Aquarium of the Pacific

December 7:  Old Time Christmas Festival, Rancho Los Cerritos

December 13:  Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade

December 13:  Parade of 1,000 Lights, Shoreline Marina

December 13:  Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade

December 13-14:  Huntington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade

December 13-14:  Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet at Terrace Theater

December 12-14: Holiday Shopping in the Shore, carolers, Santa photos, 2 hours free parking

December 16:  Menorah Lighting, Fashion Island Newport Beach

December 17-23: Newport Harbor Boat Parade, 6-10p nightly

December 17-23: Philharmonic Cruise of Lights, Huntington Harbour

December 20-21:  Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet at Terrace Theater

December 20-21: Holiday Shopping in the Shore, carolers, Santa photos, 2 hours free parking

December 21: Shul By The Shore Menorah Lighting in the Citibank parking lot, 5354 E. 2nd Street

December 31: New Year's Eve Aboard the Queen Mary

Which ones will you attend? 

Let me know if you have any family visiting that fall in love with the area and are interest in moving to Long Beach or Orange County.  I'd be happy to find them a home and they can watch Christmas parades with boats while wearing flip flops for many holidays to come.




Alamitos Bay in winter



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



Long Beach Freedom: What to do in Long Beach that is Free and Fun

Free is good, right?  Well, what is there to do in Long Beach that's free?  A lot of things!  Here's a short list to start, a sample of some of the fun and free things to do in Long Beach, year 'round.  I'll add to this list in future posts.

PARKS

Recreation Park - 211 acres in the middle of east Long Beach, it has two golf courses (fee), the Billie Jean King Tennis Center and Blair Field, in addition to a lawn bowling green, a dog park, casting pond and playground.  That little stage in the middle was home to many of my make-believe plays when I was a kid.  Great picnic areas, too.

Hill Top Park in Signal Hill - incredible views from Orange County to the Santa Monica mountains, to downtown L.A. to the San Gabriel mountains.  There are picnic areas and bathrooms and it's great for walking and jogging, giving you a good workout with the steep incline.

Gum Grove Park - Los Cerritos Wetlands nature walk.  See owls, herons, egrets, woodpeckers, coyotes, lizards, hawks, frogs, maybe even a gopher snake, and more.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Long Beach State - open Tuesday through Friday, 8a-3:30p and Sundays 12-4p.  A peaceful 1.3 acre oasis with a large koi pond where you can purchase koi pellets to feed the fish; sand gardens and bridges.

CULTURE

Long Beach Museum of Art - It's free on Fridays, usually $7 admission.

Rancho Los Alamitos Rancho and Gardens - open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1-5p.  Guided tours are available every 30 minutes from the docents.  The 7.5 acres are a microcosm of the regional story, granted in 1790 by the Spanish Crown, but also home to the original natives of the Los Angeles Basin and a sacred place.

Rancho Los Cerritos - open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1-5p.  Built in 1844, it is an historic site with an adobe home, research library and historic gardens.  The home is furnished to reflect the lifestyle of the occupants from 1860-1880.

HOLIDAYS

Well, you'll have to come back for those tips!  You can subscribe to my blog to make sure you get the latest entry.  They are focused on Long Beach and on real estate, sometimes even in the same entry.  If you'd like to receive my monthly e-newsletter or have any questions about real estate, you may reach me at katielarson@kw.com or by phone/text 562.673.5335. 

I'd love to hear what your favorite FREE things are to do in Long Beach!

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. 

Lovely Long Beach

Long Beach offers, well, a beach, of course, but also views, bays, parks and lots of trees.  No wonder Long Beach real estate is constantly in demand.

 Queen Mary, July 4, 2014

A sunset, November 2013

 Belmont Pier, May 2014

El Dorado Park, September 21, 2014

 Duffy in Alamitos Bay, 2014

 Sunset over Alamitos Bay from Tantalum, 2013

THUMS Islands: A Different Kind of Long Beach Real Estate

One of the purposes of this blog, aside from bragging about this awesome city and telling you about Long Beach real estate, is to let you in on the stories behind various Long Beach landmarks and history. 

If you look off the coast, in San Pedro Bay, you will see 4 artificial islands that look like wonderful vacation destinations.  The have colorful towers, waterfalls, and palm trees.  They look FUN!  They're much closer than Catalina.  Makes me quote Tina Fey and say, "I want to go to there."

one of the THUMS Islands

We cannot go to there, though, as these are actually oil islands, working oil islands that are tapped into the Wilmington Oil Field, one of the 10 largest oil fields in the country.  They are in production 24/7.  We would be arrested if we tried to enter the islands.  Not very friendly of them.  On occasion, though, there are sponsored tours of the islands, but contact your City Council member for more information on that.  I took these photos while on a boat in the bay on July 4th.

As a group they are called THUMS Islands, with the name standing for the consortium of oil companies who built them in 1965:  Texaco, Humble Oil (now Exxon), Union Oil, Mobil Oil and Shell Oil.  And speaking of Catalina, the boulders that rim each of the islands are from Santa Catalina Island.  The THUMS Islands were designed by theme park architect Joseph Linesch, who also worked on the design of Disneyland.  Occidental Petroleum bought the islands in 2000.

Each island has been named after an astronaut who died in the line of duty:  Island Grissom, Island, White, Island Chaffee and Island Freeman.  Island Grissom is the closest and has waterfalls and the most sculptured screens.  Island Freeman is the largest at 12 acres, the others are about 10 acres each.

Not only are the oil operations camouflaged by the screens and colorful structures, but they are sound-proofed with wellheads and pipelines below the surface to enhance the appearance of the skyline and harbor.  Ah, come on, I do want to go to there!

While the islands may not be friendly to us, they have each been certified for commendable wildlife habitat management and environmental education programs.  Approximately 25,000 barrels of oil are produced daily from 735 active wells on the islands.  Part of the net profits generated from the sale of the oil is funneled to the City's Tidelands Fund.

Island Grissom


Houses on the peninsula and along Ocean have a view of THUMS.  If you're interested in living in view of these, let me know.  We can work something out and maybe I'll figure out how to get you a tour of one.  Maybe.

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.

 



Duffy Boats

Cruising the quiet waters of Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples are the Duffy Boats.  Perhaps you've seen them, but didn't know what they were called.  Maybe you own one with a really clever name.  Maybe you've only heard the name and have no idea what a Duffy Boat is.

What is a Duffy boat?  They are all electric bay and lake cruisers.  They have no exhaust, only one moving part in the DC engine and they are built right here in California.  They are used in Disney's California Adventure, Marriott Resort properties and other corporate venues worldwide.

Locally you will find Duffys in Huntington Harbor, Newport Harbor and some of the inland manmade lakes, like the ones in Westlake Village and Lake Forest.  There are over 3,000 of them in Newport Beach.  In Long Beach they live in Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples.

Many of the residents of Naples own their own Duffy and they have clever names like "Nuts & Volts", "Lotta Watta", "Amply Blessed".  You can join clubs, like the McKenna's Electric Boat Club, where you pay an annual membership fee and have use of a Duffy.  You can rent boats by the hour at Pelican Joe's Bay Boat Rentals.  An 8 passenger boat is about $65 an hour and a 12 passenger boat is around $85 an hour.  There are specials and discounts seasonally. 

 We like to rent a Duffy to show friends and family from outside the area how beautiful Long Beach is.  We'll rent or borrow one just to have a little celebration, with wine and appetizers to cruise the area.  And I rent one to show my clients appreciation by taking them on a little cruise.

Our favorite time to rent is during the Christmas season when the Naples canals are decorated with light shows and all types of holiday decorations.  It's really beautiful.  Our group has been known to sing Christmas carols while cruising and sipping on a nice hot cup of wassail.

 It's another one of my favorite things about living in Long Beach.  A Duffy Boat cruise around Christmas or a gentle cruise on a summer evening, with good friends, family or clients, enjoying the good life on Alamitos Bay.  Long Beach, it will surprise you.  If you'd like to learn more about Duffy Boats or my client appreciation program, please send me an email (katielarson@kw.com) or give me a call (562.673.5335).

Long Beach Neighborhoods: La Marina Estates

In 2009 I wrote an essay about the La Marina Estates neighborhood that was featured on the "Everything Long Beach" website.  Here's an updated version of that essay.

Tucked between the CSULB campus and the flood channel, La Marina Estates is an enclave of mid-century tract bungalows fringed on the south by three blocks of large, custom homes.  When entering the neighborhood you are impressed with the pride of ownership shown in the many homes that have been renovated and those with beautiful landscaping.  What you can’t see right away, what is more a feeling you get when you enter the neighborhood, is the sense of belonging and caring in these 263 homes.

The community of La Marina Estates is filled with every generation and demographic: a few original owners, who have raised their children and grandchildren here, remain.  There is a family in their 20’s, just starting out in a rental home, owned by a neighbor down the street.  There is the retired college president who participates in one of the neighborhood book clubs, the Buddhist monk who gives Saturday morning mediation classes and the stand-up comedienne; the university art history and math professors, a famous author who has lived in the neighborhood more than 50 years, the fire fighter and the retired actress whose grandsons are famous on the Disney Channel and beyond.  A hairstylist who grew up a few blocks away on Bixby Hill works just half a mile away and another neighbor commutes on the Blue Line to downtown LA every day.  The retired school librarian gets together with the active city librarian; there is a pet therapist and a VA nurse, a former city manager, many small business owners, sales professionals, marketers, corporate managers, engineers and stay-at-home moms.

Neighbors know not only the names of the many dogs that live here, but their human companions, too.  You can hear them greet each other in the evenings, as they go for their walks.  The empty-nesters bring in the trash cans of their neighbors who are busy working full time and taxiing their children from school to soccer, tennis, theater rehearsals or water polo.  A neighbor in the hospital or a coyote sighting in the neighborhood has the keyboards of La Marina buzzing to get the word out via email or nextdoor.com to the book clubs, the Bunco group, the golf groups and the parents, organizing meal deliveries or making sure small pets are protected.  Women in the neighborhood meet monthly to play Bunco and collect an annual donation for local charities.  There’s the group of women that meet at 6:30 a.m. every morning a walk before heading off to their jobs.  Neighbors embrace the “think globally, act locally” mantra by supporting local charities like the neighborhood schools, Campfire, Cameo, Pathways to Independence, Long Beach Basket Brigade, local church missions and various cancer research organizations.

In the last year the neighborhood has pulled together to form La Marina Estates Community Action, a group that has had a Community Watch meeting, planted 125 trees along Palo Verde and sponsored a Candidate Forum for the 3rd District of the City Council, attended by all 5 candidates.  2014 activities are still in the planning stages.

La Marina Estates is a caring enclave that is as pretty inside as it is outside, another wonderful neighborhood that makes Long Beach a great place to thrive.

Houses do not come up for sale very often in the neighborhood and some of the sales are done privately, off the market.  There is almost a waiting list to get in.  I am working with buyers who want to move here by knocking on the doors of those houses that fit their wish list.  Sometimes there are not any houses for sale.  At this moment, there are two.  Few people want to leave La Marina Estates.

How may I help you get into the neighborhood of your dreams?

 

First Time Buyers? Yes!

There are few things more satisfying in my job than helping a first time buyer find their home and close a successful escrow.   The excitement after all the trepidation, the happiness after all the worry.  It's a wonderful thing to hand them their keys and to let them know I'll still be available to them for referrals to services, recommendations for local restaurants, and help with local information long after the sale is closed.

First time buyers probably take the most work as there is an education that needs to happen first and that is one of the parts I enjoy most.  To teach them the process and guide them through the steps of finding their first home.  I get to help them understand what they are doing, why they are doing it and what will work.  I know I've done my job if I've educated them to the point that when they walk across a threshold of a house, they'll know if they like it and if it's a good buy before they even see the entire house.

Finding the right house isn't a process of selection, but one of elimination:  what price ranges do we exclude, what neighborhoods do we exclude, what house styles do we exclude, etc.  I had someone ask me at a recent open house, "Are there other homes for sale in Long Beach?"  I didn't laugh but did reply with "There are hundreds."  There are, at this moment, 358 single family homes in Long Beach for sale.  That's not including the condos and townhomes.  Not a chance I would show my buyers every house.  What can they afford?  Where do they want to live?  Let's start eliminating.

Some of the more important questions in the elimination, after the basics, include asking what they like to do, how do they use their kitchen, what rooms are important to the family?  I ask them to describe their perfect house:  what does it feel like, what does the street look like in their perfect neighborhood?  I ask them to walk me through the house they're imagining, walk me outside and describe what you see.  It's not just real estate, it's about living their life.

One of the first steps in the process is getting the buyers actually financially qualified to buy a home, to get a loan approval.  We can't eliminate houses before we know what they can afford!  I work with fantastic lenders that also appreciate that first time buyer, who love to educate them and make sure they make the right financial steps for their future where the home mortgage loan is concerned.  The team at CLS Financial, led by Tony and Wendee Close, have a customer service ethic second to none.  They take as much time as the buyer needs and they work on all solutions for them.  I know when CLS Financial completes the approval process that I have a strong buyer, whose offers will stand out.  I refer any of my clients who don't have their own financing already lined up to CLS Financial.  Not only do they do a fantastic job, it's also part of my mission to support small, local business.

First time buyers are typically looking for their starter homes at a lower price point.  Not always, of course, but typically.  In Long Beach there are excellent starter neighborhoods like Wrigley, with charming homes built in the 1920's on wide streets.  These homes start in the $300,000's.  Moving into the $400,000's, there are homes in Artcraft Manor, built in the 1940's with curving streets and close to Stearns Park.  As you look at homes in the $500,00's more neighborhoods like Rancho, Stratford Square, South of Conant and Lakewood Plaza are available.  Heavily tree lined streets can be found in Los Altos as the price point increases. 

And we haven't even started on a fixer-upper versus a turnkey.  I'll save that for another entry.

If you are a first time buyer, or know someone who is, please give me a call (562.673.5335) or send me an email (katielarson@kw.com) and put me to work for you.  I'll be your patient guide, with you every step of the way, and we'll find that house that's been waiting for you to call it "home".

Long Beach Elections 2014: District 3

This is election year for Long Beach, including the post of Mayor and key councilmember seats.

In addition to the 9 candidates for Mayor, there are 3 candidates for City Attorney, 2 for City Prosecutor, 5 candidates for District 1, 4 for District 5, 5 for District 7 and 2 for District 9.

Also up for election this year is District 3, which includes CSULB, Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights, Alamitos Heights, the Peninsula, Bluff Park, Park Estates, Bixby Hill, La Marina Estates, Broadway Business District, University Park Estates, and other beautiful areas. 

District 3 map

The District has been well taken care of by Councilmember Gary DeLong, but he has termed out, so we will be voting on our next representative on April 8, 2014, with the elected candidates to take office on July 15th.  There are 7 declared candidates for District 3: Steven Bello, Lionel Gatley, Martha Gibson, Jim Lewis, Susan Price, Jack Rosenberg and Bill Ruzgis.

The La Marina Estates neighborhood will be hosting a Candidate Forum for District 3, moderated by Gazette editor Harry Saltzgaver, on Wednesday, January 29th, at Hill Classical Middle School, located at 1100 Iroquois Avenue in Long Beach.  The forum will be from 7-9p and will include introductory remarks from each candidate, as well as their plans to move the City forward.

If you live in District 3 or are interested in what goes on there, please join us that evening to meet the candidates and decide whom you would like to see represent you on City Council.  If you live in one of the other Districts, you can stay informed on local election activities through your District's website, available on www.longbeach.gov.

And, of course, if you're looking to move into one of the Districts, I can help! 

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Historic Districts of Long Beach

If you are on a street in Long Beach, look up and check out the street sign.  What color is it?

A blue sign is what you usually see.

A white sign?

That's means you are in one of Long Beach's historic districts. These are neighborhoods that have been recognized as having special architectural and/or historic value for the City of Long Beach.  It is the City Council that designates the historic status for neighborhoods, buildings, places, objects or landmarks. 

The historic districts are houses that would not be significant on their own, but as a group they preserve the visual quality and ambiance of the past.  Typically the older homes are unaltered and intact.  Any changes to the exterior of the homes must go through the City's planning department and meet strict guidelines to keep the architectural compatibility of the area.  At least two-thirds of homes in an area must meet the standards of the historic district to be designated as such.

Homes in historic districts tend to hold their value and are a great investment.  Often the neighbors are close, working to maintain the ambiance and feel through Community Watch groups, tree plantings, seasonal block parties.  Many of the areas have smaller homes, so they are great starter homes for buyers where keeping the value will help as their families grow and they need to step up to a larger home.

There are currently 17 historic districts in Long Beach.  Some of the better known ones are Rose Park, Bluff Heights, California Heights, Wrigley Area, Belmont Heights, Carroll Park.

Here is a link, from the City's website, to a map of the historic districts of Long Beach.
Long Beach Historic Districts

Explore the city and check out the historic districts.  And if you want to move into one, let me know.

California Heights Historic District







Willmore City Historic District

 

Rose Park Historic District