Long Beach California is home to the West Coasts most affordable beach real estate.  Set in sunny Southern California we enjoy moderate temperatures year round, sweet ocean breezes and a resort atmosphere.  With our purchase prices so reasonable is it any wonder snowbirds are flocking here?  Palm Desert, 2 hours inland, is fantastic, but nothing compares to luxury oceanfront property and the beach is just more fun!

Long Beach has an endless array of entertainment to suit any lifestyle or age from water-sports to nightlife, theater and fine dining.  This is the perfect place to do everything, do nothing or to just go fly a kite!

Yes we have golf courses!  Long Beach is centrally located making access to all Southern California golf courses just a short drive.

Long Beach is conveniently located just 20 minutes south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 20 minutes north of John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Irvine, and home to our own Long Beach Airport – which we love.  We are also just a 20 minute drive into Downtown Los Angeles – in case you were thinking about catching a Lakers game; attending a concert at the fabulous Staples Center or a performance at our beautiful Music Center.  Fantabulous and incomparable, 8 time Grammy award winner, Tina Turner
is performing at the Staples Center as I write this, had I known that ahead of time I would be there tonight singing along……..What’s love got to do with it? La la la… Gotta love that woman!

Did I say we were centrally located?  A 2 hour drive north will find you in beautiful Santa Barbara.  Head north just a little further and enjoy a day, or a romantic weekend, in wine country.  A leisurely drive south will take you into lovely San Diego.  Catch a Padres game or spend a day at the San Diego Zoo or perhaps SeaWorld with the family then head into the Downtown San Diego gaslight district for a delicious dinner and some relaxing down time.

Surfer? 10 minutes to surf city – Huntington Beach, where you will catch some of the finest waves on the west coast.

Long Beach is slated to become the new home of the largest movie studio in California.  A deal has been struck to take over the Boeing facility near the Long Beach airport. This will infuse new life into Long Beach and will certainly attract celebrities to our lovely waterfront homes and high rise condominiums.  How could they resist?  You never know who your new neighbor may be!

Did you know that Hollywood got its start in Long Beach?  Long Beach was known as the motion picture capital of the world until post World War I when Hollywood developed around the glitz of the era.  With its perfect Southern California climate, Long Beach afforded the perfect setting for the industry.  There were eight film houses, two stock companies,  roller-coasters and bath houses at the historic Pike, along the shore of Downtown Long Beach.  This was the home of the Balboa Amusement Production Company, the  world’s most prolific silent-film studio.  W. C. Fields and other stars lived in beautiful mansions in the Bluff Park neighborhood along Ocean Boulevard and First Street, many of which remain in the families to this day.

Speaking of historic districts, Long Beach has 17 of them, California Heights being the largest.  We love our historic homes here.  You can find out more about the history of Long Beach here as well.

Redevelopment in Alamitos Beach and the bustling Downtown Long Beach communities has birthed fabulous luxury high rise condominiums with endless ocean views, Manhattan style lofts and many fabulous new dining opportunities.

The luxury home market is generally a cash market.  Brian Brady’s 2009 Real Estate Market outlook predicts that disappearing jobs and financing will likely drive the price of luxury properties down in our waterfront and higher end communities.  While that is tragic for the owners of these Long Beach properties it is an incredible opportunity to purchase the Long Beach home, condo or vacation property you, the buyer has been waiting for.

The Long Beach real estate market has gone through several tumultuous years, this winter is certain to be a difficult time for sellers of Long Beach luxury homes, condos and income properties.  FHA loan limits, currently capping at $729,750 for single family home purchases are slated to be decreased to around $625,000 on January 1, 2009.  Decreasing buyer purchasing power is certain to affect prices in the mid-market range of $700,000 to about $1,000,000.

What does this mean for sellers?  If you are planning on selling, you should plan on closing your escrow before the end of the year and should price it to do so. It would be our pleasure to provide a home value assessment.

What does this mean for buyers?  This is an incredible opportunity to purchase your new home at an incredible price.

International buyers are flocking to the United States to purchase real estate at our current depressed prices, there is limited financing for foreign nationals, most are purchasing with all cash.  Long Beach prices have become very attractive to these buyers. You can start your search for Long Beach homes here.  VIP service is provided with the ability to set up custom searches with an automatic email alert system.

If you are interested in purchasing a Long Beach luxury oceanfront home or a high rise luxury waterfront condominium, this winter is the time to make that purchase. It would be our pleasure to assist you.

Long Beach California City and Relocation Resource Guide

Many homes in Long Beach have built-in pools (compared to the Colorado Springs Real Estate market where pools are a scarcity) – and along with all the fun and relaxation that pools can create, there is a definite level of safety precautions involved.

Here are some safety tips for living in a Long Beach CA home with a pool:

• Know how to swim. Make sure everyone IN and AROUND knows how to swim.
• Keep a charged, wireless phone near the pool at all times, in case you need to call 9-1-1

• Make sure that at least one person in/around the pool knows CPR.
• Keep safety equipment around the pool in case of an emergency.
• Do not mix swimming and drinking alcohol. A loss of judgment could mean the difference between life and death around a pool.
• 
  

Pool Safety and Children:

• Never leave children unattended around a pool. Even children who “know how to swim” can be in danger without a responsible and attentive adult around.

• Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm’s length of the child at all times.

• Install a Pool-Safety fence – at least 4 feet high with a self-closing and self-locking fence, between the house and the pool.

• Do not rely on “toys” as flotation devices. A parent or other guardian is the ONLY way to ensure safety.

• Consider installing a power-safety cover, but not to replace a fence.
• Make sure everyone who watches your kids knows CPR and knows the rules to your pool.
• Do not leave toys around the pool when not in use. This could attract children to the pool when no one is looking.
• If a child is missing, check the pool FIRST. Walk the perimeter of the pool and check around all the edges.
• If possible, do not install a pool in your home until your children are over the age of 5.

Some other Resources for Pool Safety:

• AAP.com
• RedCross.org

Having a pool in your Long Beach CA home is great! Just make sure you enjoy it safely.

Contributed by:  Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent of the Wagner iTeam at Keller Williams Clients’ Choice Realty - specializing in Colorado Springs CO Real Estate.

Thank you Mariana!

Yay!  The Down Market is OVER!

No it’s not, but now that I have your attention, the market has changed a bit and there are a few things you really need to know if you are thinking about selling your Long Beach homes. 

Back in the hot sellers market one of the sales strategies used was to price a home a little low, take multiple offers, and play them off of each other to drive the price up.  It worked!  That strategy, applied to today’s Long Beach real estate market is working as well. 

Pricing your home low will inspire the interest of buyers and agents and create a quick, steady flow of traffic and multiple offers to your home. 

For instance, if your home, in great condition, comps out at $500,000 and you listed it at $299,000 you would have the attention of the entire real estate market.  You would have to prepare yourself for a major onslaught of showings, perhaps as many as 30 to 50 a day.  The offers would pour in and bid up.  At $500,000, you would sit on the market for months, probably price reduce a couple of times to about $450k and likely sell around $440k, if at all.  If you choose this road, you will probably sell at around the same price, without the time delay.  It’s clean and fast. 

An added benefit to creating multiple offers is that you have a choice.  You will not be forced to accept an offer with weak financing because it is the only offer you have.  There will be an assortment of offers for you to choose from thereby placing you in a stronger position to close escrow successfully. 

Many sellers in Long Beach are afraid to pursue this road fearing they will have to accept an offer that is lower than they are willing to accept.  Sellers do not have to accept any offer, they are free to accept or decline any offer made on their homes. 

It is just a really smart business decision to choose to sell your home in this fashion, during this market. 

Read Also:

The 7 Dangers of Overpricing Your Long Beach Homes and Condos

Chasing the Market Down – Are You Guilty?

If you are thinking about selling your Long Beach home and are interested in more details, call Laurie for more information.

Long Beach California Real Estate

INLAND LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES

Inland Long Beach CA Communities : Find the perfect Long Beach Home for your family in one of the unique communities of Inland Long Beach CA. These communities are diverse and they have much to offer. Learn about the style of homes, local parks, golf courses, universities, shopping and much more. Come home to Inland Long Beach where you are still just a few short minutes from the beach! Compliments of Laurie Manny. Call Laurie today for further information or assistance in your next real estate transaction (562) 212-5420.

Long Beach California is a patchwork of unique communities.  Some are well-defined and others meld into nearby neighborhoods.  Whether youre looking for a home for a single professional or a family of five, youre sure to find your perfect fit within the diverse communities of Long Beach.

Bixby Knolls / Highland Terrace

Located only a few minutes from Downtown Long Beach, Bixby Knolls is one of Long Beachs oldest and most desirable neighborhoods.  This popular community offers a wide variety of home ownership opportunities.

Ready to move up to a larger home?  In Bixby Knolls youll find elegant homes with square footage of 2,000 and up.  If youre looking for a condo or townhome, youve come to the right place. There are plenty of multi-unit golf course views in this upscale neighborhood. properties along this communitys quiet, tree lined streets.

• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $500000 or less
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $500000 to $600000
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $600000 to $700000
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $700000 to $800000
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $800000 to $900000
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale $1000000 to $1200000
• Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale from $1200000

Uptown Long Beach

Located only four miles north of Downtown Long Beach, Bixby Knolls is historically known as ˜uptown.  As youd expect in any uptown area, there are great restaurants and shopping.  For great American Cuisine and ˜Live Jazz Thursdays, visit Four Olives Café located at 4276 Atlantic Avenue.   If you prefer a more European dining experience, make a reservation at the romantic Delius Restaurant where youll be served wine with a seven course prix fixe meal.

Love Antiques?

Put Thor Antiques on your list of must visit shops.  Located in a restored 1950s building in the beautiful Bixby Knolls neighborhood, Thor Antiques specializes in Edwardian, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Retro jewelry.  They also have vast art, silver and enamel collections.

Bixby Knolls Park

Child Care Co-Op Program

California Heights

Its like going back in time or Living in History.

How It All Started

Until the discovery of oil in nearby Signal Hill in the early 1920s, California Heights was part of the Bixby Ranch and was primarily cattle land.  Once oil was discovered, there were those who thought California Heights might have oil reserves as well.  But by 1923, it became painfully evident that there was very little oil to be had and residential development began.

The Jothan Bixby Company built 25 Spanish style bungalows.  Then other homes were built one at a time creating a variety of home styles in the neighborhood.  The California Heights area grew rapidly attracting new families, and by 1939, most of the building was complete.

Hilltop Neighborhood

Today, this neighborhood is a close community dedicated to protecting and preserving the character of each home and the integrity of the neighborhood as a whole.  Because of its high concentration of older original homes, California Heights is officially recognized by the city as one of 17 historic neighborhoods in Long Beach.

California Heights Historic District

A Ten-Year Perspective

It would be my pleasure to consult with you regarding available properties in the California Heights area.  Contact Laurie

Carson Park

Imagine walking down beautiful tree-lined streets in a family-friendly residential community.  Thats what youll experience when you call Carson Park home.

Carson Park is conveniently located:

• West of Palo Verde Ave & Woodruff
• East of the Gabriel River
• North of Wardlow and Los Coyotes Diagonal
• South of Centralia

  This area has everything you could want in a community:

• Larger homes nestled on large, park-like yards
• Close to shopping
• Easy commute to all areas of Long Beach and Los Angeles with quick access to 605, 405 and 91 freeways
• Just minutes from CSULB, LBCC
• 90808 Zip Code, statistically the safest in Long Beach
• El Dorado Park is just minutes away
• Close to the award winning Cerritos Library
• Peaceful enjoyment abounds

Need room for your growing family?

Built predominantly in the 1950s, Carson Park homes range in size from 1,300 to 1,800 square feet and beyond.  Most homes have 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, providing ample room for family life.  Many sit on lots in excess of 5,000 square feet.

It would be my pleasure to consult with you regarding available properties in the Carson Park area.  Contact Laurie

Long Beach Towne Center

Shop, Dine and Play

At the expansive Long Beach Towne Center,  you can do all three.   If youre hungry, have lunch at Lucilles Smokehouse BBQ.  Just want a snack?  Wetzels Pretzels may be calling your name.  When you need a jolt of caffeine, Starbucks is ready and waiting.  Whether youre looking for a gift, home renovation materials or back-to-school clothes, youll find it here.  From hair cuts to movie theaters to bulk shopping, Long Beach Towne Center has it all.

Hartwell Golf Course

Fore!

Wouldnt it be great to drive just a few minutes from your Carson Park home and play 18 holes of golf?  At Heartwell Golf Course, you can do just that.  Named by Southland Golf Magazine as one of the 2 best par-3 golf courses in Southern California, Heartwell Golf Course is a 2,143 yard par-54 course with bunkers, water, fairways, plenty of undulation and grass tee boxes.

College Park Estates

Located close to Cal State Long Beach, this family oriented, residential, park-like community continues to grow in popularity.  Not only is it located conveniently to the university, it also provides easy access to shopping in nearby Los Altos.  The homes, built in the 40s, 50s and 60s, are larger than most Long Beach homes and are shaded by mature trees.

A College Town

Here in aptly named College Park Estates, youll find California State University Long Beach, also known as Cal State Long Beach, CSULB, LBSU or The Beach.   Whatever you choose to call it, youll be impressed with its credentials:

• The largest campus in the California State University system
• The second largest university in California
• Ranked as one of the top three public masters universities in the west by U.S. News and World Reports ˜Americas Best Colleges Guide, for 2005 and 2006
• The largest publicly funded art school in the west
• Operates with one of the lowest student tuition fees of any university in the country

Walter Pyramid
Long Beach State University

The Walter Pyramid is a collegiate athletic facility located at Long Beach State University in Long Beach, California. It officially opened on November 30, 1994, and cost approximately $22 million to construct. It rises 18 stories high and measures 345 feet along each side of the base.

The Walter Pyramid, formerly known as the Long Beach Pyramid, is the on-campus basketball and volleyball arena for the NCAA college basketball and college volleyball teams of Long Beach State University 49ers.

Los Altos

Located north of the CSULB campus, this suburban community of Long Beach consists primarily of single-family homes built during the 1950s and 60s.  From small starter homes to larger homes for growing families, Los Altos has them all.

Stores Galore

New shopping centers have sprung up as Los Altos popularity has increased.  At the recently rebuilt Los Altos Center you can shop at nationwide stores like Sears, Borders, CompUSA as well as smaller local shops.  With a $70 million renovation, the former Navy Hospital has been converted into the nearly 400,000 square foot Los Altos Gateway Center.  Composed of value-oriented retailers such as Big K and auto dealerships.

Earthquake Survivor

Located at the Los Altos United Methodist Church is a unique and historically-significant church organ.  Historians believe this organ to be the oldest Tracker-Type church instrument in existence west of the Mississippi.  Built in Boston the organ was shipped to San Francisco in a clipper ship.  It survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and is in excellent condition today.

• Great classic architecture
• State of the art greens
• Lots of mature trees

History

Experience the old-world charm of this historic neighborhood.  The Rancho consists of 27,000 rambling acres.  It was once part of an 18th Century Spanish-American land grant given to a soldier by the name of Manuel Nieto.  Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is one of only two ranchos in Long Beach that are still visited today by tourists.

Historic Rancho Los Cerritos was originally built in 1844 and is now a public museum.  The Rancho is a significant state archaeological site due to the many artifacts and treasures unearthed there.  Take a tour of the adobe style home and ranch built originally for Spanish, Mexican and American families.  Meander through the two story adobe and experience how life might have been in the late 1800s.

The Rancho includes an archive of 3,000 + books in the California History Research Library.  Some of the highlights include the Sarah Bixby Smith Manuscript Collection and the Llewellyn Bixby, Jr. Manuscript collection.  View antique furniture, over 1,100 historic photographs, manuscripts, legal papers, blueprints, video, maps, deeds and letters from the early occupants.  See the original architectural blueprints of the adobe during the 1930 remodeling phase.  Sit beside the beautiful gardens and get a glimpse of an earlier time in history or visit the local gift shop.

Hollywood loves the Virginia Country Club Community.

Want to Know More About Buying or Selling in the Rancho Los Cerittos/Virginia Country Club area?  Call Laurie Manny today at (562) 212-5420.

Signal Hill

Are you looking for a community that has it all¦beauty, shopping, entertainment and fabulous homes¦look no further than Signal Hill.

Here you will find a mix of many residential options and commercial areas.  Property values in Signal Hill grew an astounding 13.961% over last year¦only 9 cities experienced growths above 10%.

When choosing a home, you can choose from single family homes, townhouses, condominiums, multi-family dwellings, upscale two and three story single family homes and historical houses.  (Read More about Signal Hill Neighborhoods>)

• Single family homes
• 
  
  • Crescent Heights Historic District
  • Eastbluff
  • Hathaway Ridge
  • Westbluff Estates
• Townhouses
• • Cherry Avenue Townhouses
  • Skyline Estates
  • Skyline Villas
• Multi-family dwellings
• • City View Condominiums
  • Las Brisas Phase I and II

Signal Hill North-End Neighborhood

No Utility Tax and one of the lowest Business License Taxes in the country make Signal Hill a desirable home for businesses.  Its convenient location, close to the Long Beach Municipal Airport and not too far from the Port of Long Beach, is another attractive feature for businesses.

A few of the companies making their home in Signal Hill are DHL, oil-related companies such as Signal Hill Petroleum and Schlumberger, and the HMO Universal Care which is headquartered here

Concerned about education, property values or neighborhood crime?

No need to worry in Signal Hill¦you will enjoy one of the lowest crime rates in Southern California.

Signal Hill Elementary School has earned the California Achieving Schools Award and the National Achieving Schools Award.  The acclaimed Long Beach Unified School District serves Signal Hill.

Parks in Signal Hill

There are 10 beautiful and diverse parks in Signal Hill.  Whether you are looking for an entertaining day with your family and friends, exercising outdoors, or just learning about and enjoying nature, Signal Hill has the park for you.  Are you getting married?  Several parks even allow weddings¦but dont forget to get your permit.

Many wonderful activities are available for you to choose from.   You could play basketball, have a picnic and barbeque, bring the children to the playground or get a game of football together in the open fields.  Enjoy nature by walking the trails and take in the lush plants and wildlife in the area.  You can even roller skate, bike or ride your scooter.

There are other opportunities such as community buildings where you could hold a meeting or class.  You can even catch a small play or see other entertainment at the amphitheater.  Below are the parks located in Signal Hill.

• Calbrisas Park
• Discovery Well Park
• Hillbrook Park
• Hilltop Park
• Panorama Promenade
• Raymond Arbor Park
• Reservoir Park
• Signal Hill Park
• Sunset View Park
• Temple View Park

Make Signal Hill Your New Home

Come experience Signal Hill´s beauty, shopping, entertainment, parks and fabulous homes.

For an agent who is knowledgeable about this area and market values, call Laurie Manny, today at (562) 212-5420 for all of your Signal Hill Real Estate needs.

Wrigley Heights

Want to live in a quiet, tree lined, neighborhood with a small town atmosphere, but still have the amenities of the big city¦come home to Wrigley Heights.

Wrigley was one of the first communities to be established in Long Beach.  The neighborhood was first developed in 1905.  The town received its name from William Wrigley, the owner and founder of the well-known Wrigley Spearmint Gum Corporation in Chicago.

Located north of Downtown Long Beach, Wrigley Heights is a terrific community with diverse home styles and prices.  Choose from traditional, Craftsman, or Spanish distinctive style homes that range in size from 1,300 square feet and up.  Looking for space to spread out?  There are some lots that are over 10,000 square feet.  Thinking of buying a duplex?  Youll find one here.

The average list price in Wrigley in January of 2007 is approximately $540,000.  Wrigley is in the Long Beach Unified School District.

Wrigley Metro Station

Easy Access to Freeways

If you like living close to Long Beach and easy access to freeways, youll love Wrigley Heights.  These local freeways are just a short drive away.  The area is bounded on the north by the 405 Freeway, on the west by the 710 Freeway and the LA River, on the south by Pacific Coast Highway and on the east by Long Beach Boulevard.  From Wrigley it is easy to jump on the Metro Blue Line light rail for easy commuting into Downtown Long Beach or into Los Angeles.  The Metro Blue Line is one of the most successful light rail lines in the country with an average of 63,000 riders daily.

The residents of Daisy Avenue in Wrigley host the Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade every December.  The parade begins at Pacific Coast Highway and proceeds to the greenbelt at Hill Street.  The large fir trees that line the Daisy Avenue center medians are lit for the Christmas holiday season.  Many of the Daisy Avenue residents participate by lavishly decorating their homes and have contributed to the area being dubbed ˜Christmas Tree Lane.  The parade is a wonderful event which the locals look forward to every year and for which motorists line up for the holiday drive up the avenue.  It has been an annual tradition since 1953.

Ready to Buy or Sell in Long Beach?

Call Laurie Manny, the Long Beach expert, at (562) 212-5420.

Want to Know More?

Are you thinking of buying or selling in any of the Beach or Inland Long Beach Communities or Long Beach California Real Estate?  I can help you find your luxury dream home.  Call Laurie Manny today.

Long Beach & Signal Hill Income Property Report

January – December 2007

Duplexes 

Triplexes 

4-Plexes

5 + Units

 1031 Exchange information available on request.