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Mar
23


The Effects of Home Staging Your Long Beach Homes

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Diane Concialdi

Home staging projects can be very exciting, fun and are a lot of work. In these before and after images you will see that after photos set an emotional air and convey a more desirable feeling than the before photos, suggesting a higher level of appeal to all Long Beach buyers. 

Dining Room BeforeDining Room After

 

Dining Room - Before and After

 

 

Location is important to buyers in Long Beach; it's essential that your home stager spotlight any available extraordinary view such as the ocean, a greenbelt, city or mountain views as well as the backyard or patio.  Many Long Beach homes have small backyards or only have a small patio to work with, which makes it essential to set up the patio and be sure the gardens are weeded and tended too. 

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Posted on March 23, 2008 22:59:59 by Laurie.Manny
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Mar
22


Long Beach Real Estate Sales-Foreclosures-Bank Owned Properties-Market Statistics

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Long Beach Real Estate Market Statistics

 

Long Beach Real Estate

Sales 2001 - 2007

 

January 1, 2008 - March 21, 2008

.

 

Year

Long Beach

HOMES SOLD

Long Beach

CONDOS SOLD

Long Beach

2-4 UNITS SOLD

Total

Sales

         
2008 227 90 35 352
2007 1663 892 306 2861
2006 2372 1161 575 4108
2005 2988 1483 811 5282
2004 3061 1368 780 5209
2003 3465 1492 848 5199
2002 3489 1502 854 5844
2001 3285 1320 650 5255

.

There are currently approximately 133 Long Beach properties selling per month (closing escrow)

352 ÷ 2.66 = 133

2245 ÷ 133 = 16.8

.

 

ACTIVE LONG BEACH LISTINGS

HOMES

FOR SALE

CONDOS

FOR SALE

2-4 UNITS

FOR SALE

TOTAL PROPERTIES

FOR SALE

         
3/21/2008 1204 629 412 2245

.

352 Long Beach Properties have closed escrow 'SOLD' in 2008.

133 Average sales per month.

There are currently 2245 Long Beach Properties for sale.


 

It will take almost 17 months with no new properties entering the Long Beach Real Estate market to sell the existing inventory of properties for sale. Homes, condos and income properties in Long Beach are being placed onto the market daily adding to our existing inventory and increasing the length of time it will take for the current real estate market to absorb these new properties for sale.

 

The numbers tell an interesting story, one that I recall all too clearly. As single family homes became financially unattainable to first time home buyers in 2005 and 2006, many purchased Long Beach Condos instead, it was better than remaining in rent and gave them badly needed tax write offs. The above chart shows a significant decrease in single family home sales in 2006 and again in 2007, as condo sales remained strong into the latter portion of 2007 when they too began to taper off.

 

You will notice the sharp decline in closed sales in the first quarter of 2008, its not that the buyers have not been out shopping, many have been. Many just have not been able to wrap themselves around exactly what it means to get a deal. I dont know if it is the media or a misguided idea of what a deal is in todays real estate market. Others are realizing that the after purchase costs of badly needed upgrades on many of the homes are beyond their reach.


 

Long Beach Homes-Issues for 1st Time Home Buyers


 

Prices on real estate for sale in Long Beach are currently all over the place, it is a bit messy, which indicates a good hard look at the comparables before deciding what to offer on any given property. Some homes are priced to sell at the price offered, some sellers have priced their homes based on fantasy and wishful thinking. While it cant hurt to place a reasonable offer on one of these homes, the sellers are often not very responsive. Many buyers have decided to offer low, whether the listing price is fair or not. This is a sure way to not get your offer accepted. There are many good buys on the real estate market in Long Beach right now and the smart buyers and cash heavy investors are picking them up.

 

Long Beach Investors are making all cash offersReal Estate Investors with a lot of cash have entered the market. Prices are finally dropping to the price range they have been waiting for. This is making it more difficult for buyers who intend to purchase with loans and occupy the homes to get their offers accepted. We placed an all cash offer for a bank owned Alamitos Beach Condo about a week ago, there were multiple offers, one was higher than ours. We opened escrow on that condo on Monday. The bank knew they would not have any problems with a lender that might not be able to perform, may disappear or may discontinue their current loan programs.


 

 

Bank owned properties are beginning to appear in larger numbers and a better selection of homes is now available. Buyers have started getting a little excited now that homes they actually want to buy are finally starting to become available, they are writing offers and are often being rejected because the investors are liking these homes too, are placing all cash offers and are walking away with the prize. Multiple offers are occuring on the better properties that are being made available which is making that potential purchase more competitive now, and less incentives are available on these purchases. Some of these properties sell quickly for around asking price, with no incentives.

 

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Posted on March 22, 2008 14:59:32 by Laurie.Manny
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Mar
21


Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: March 21, 2008

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Long Beach mortgage markets are taking pause today, in honor of Good Friday.  It was another dramatic week with Ben Bernanke playing John Wayne.  Last weekend, Bernanke brokered a deal that handed Bear Stearns over to Jamie Dimon and JP Morgan Chase. Last week, a share of Bear Stearns traded for the price of a tankful of gasoline, this week, it trades around the price of a Starbucks cup of coffee.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac agreed to buy a lot of mortgages, $200 billion worth to be precise.  This buoyed up the mortgage bonds market and had a positive effect on Long Beach mortgage rates.

 

Let's lock those rates, now.  I don't see a whole lot more reward on the horizon and the risk of higher rates will increase next week.

 

ARM rates are out of whack, again, and the fixed-rate mortgages are the best priced.  Today, the wholesale rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan is 5.625%.  If you called me, you would get that 30-year fixed rate loan for 1% of the loan amount plus $499 for an APR of 5.89%.  A 15-year fixed rate mortgage can be locked for 4.875% for an APR of 5.15%.  That's about .75% less than what rates were on March 10.  My advice to stay calm, in the face of panic, and float rates, panned out.

 

If you need specific advice, about a mortgage, contact me here.


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Posted on March 21, 2008 07:20:16 by Brian.Brady
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Mar
18


Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: March 18, 2008

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The Federal Reserve Bank Cut both the discount rate and federal funds rate .75% today in an effort to stimulate this slowing economy.  While commodities' prices accelerate, the housing market and subsequent liquidity crisis is dragging the economy into a recession. 

 

We call this phenomenon stagflation and it's REALLY  bad for the economy.  The Fed has been aggressively cutting interest rates and the declining housing market is closing down mortgage companies, investment banking firms, and real estate brokerages. What more can the Fed do to help?

 

The Fed can (and will) buy mortgage-backed securities. 

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Posted on March 18, 2008 07:00:52 by Brian.Brady
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Mar
16


St Patricks Day-Long Beach California

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St. Patricks Day Long Beach California

Happy St. Patricks Day

 

 

 

 

A Little Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going out to Celebrate?

 

 

The Big Red Bus Pub Crawl March 17, 2008 will start at 1pm and end at midnight and will make stops along Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights and Seal Beach. All Day pass is $20 or $5 for one ride. Call 852-9888 for more information.

Are you seeing dancing chimps?  Celebrate too much on St. Patrick's Day?   You can get a free ride home from the Scooter Patrol. To make reservations call 577-7365.

 

Long Beach
Long Beach, Belmont Shores

Scooter Patrol, Inc.
Long Beach, CA  
(562) 577-7365


 

Sunset Beach
Newport, Huntington, Seal Beach

Scooter Patrol, Inc.
P.O. Box 854
Sunset Beach, CA  90742-0854
(714) 240-3534

 

Call a Taxi:

 

Taxi Services

275 Redondo Ave, Long Beach
(310) 374-8440


Long Beach Yellow Cab
(562) 435-6111


LA Yellow Cab TOLL-FREE:

1-800 TAXICAB
(800) 829-4222

 

 

 

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Posted on March 16, 2008 22:00:30 by Laurie.Manny
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Laurie Manny

Laurie Manny-Long Beach Realtor-Main Street Realtors-Belmont Heights-Long Beach California

Main Street Realtors
Belmont Heights
244 Redondo Avenue
Long Beach California 90803

(562) 212-5420

Contact Laurie

Long Beach Real Estate Blog

 

Main Street Realtors - Belmont Heights - Long Beach California

 

 


 

 

Long Beach Relocation and City Guide

Long Beach California is Best Neighborhood for Walking

Long Beach California is Best Neighborhood for Walking

 

One of the most appealing draws to living in Long Beach California is the walkability of many of our local neighborhoods. Well, somebody finally decided to start ranking walkable neighborhoods across the country. Walk Score has ranked 2,508 neighborhoods in 40 of the largest US cities to help buyers find walkable communities to live in.

 

Long Beach California has been ranked as the 8th Most Walkable Neighborhood!

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Relocating to Long Beach California?


If you are relocating to Long Beach California you will need lots of information. You will be curious to know about Long Beach communities, neighborhoods and resources. We have tried to include as many area resources as possible here to make your transition a smooth one.


Long Beach California has become a destination resort area. This sleepy seaside city, known as Iowa by the sea, has blossomed into a fabulous beach resort area. Luxury high rise condos are sprouting all along the coastline, in Downtown Long Beach and Alamitos Beach. These elegant and prestigious coastal properties provide sweeping ocean views down the beautiful California coastline, views of Catalina Island - 25 miles off of our coastline and delicious, clean ocean breezes wafting in daily. The sound of gently lapping waves can be heard from your 17th floor Hi Rise condo on the sand.  Read More>>>