house of mirrors Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach’s House of Mirrors

The saying goes, those who live in glass houses….what about those that live in mirror houses?

I’ve seen many houses in my day and haven’t always agreed with the sellers choices but I recently saw a house unlike anything I’d seen before.  The home, located at 606 Esplanade #1, is a front unit townhome with great ocean views, an ideal location, and loads of potential….but…..

In it’s current state it’s more like a carnival fun house than something you would expect in a beach house.  From the moment you walk in you are surrounded by mirrors.  Every wall, every closet, every corner is mirrored. You can’t walk into a bathroom or bedroom without seeing yourself reflected on every surface of the room.  It’s truly incredible and just a little dizzying.

Although it probably wouldn’t take much to turn the home into something fantastic, it’s hard to notice anything other than your reflection with the current situation.  I’ve seen mirrors added to beach homes to reflect the views, or add some light, but when every surface is mirrored its like being in a carnival funhouse.

It’s not hard to see why the listing agents chose to only post one picture as it might be impossible to get any pictures without the photographer’s reflection…hundreds of times.  In general the home has great potential.  The rooms are large, it offers a great ocean view, the kitchen living room have great light with sit down ocean views, but at the moment between the mirrors and the price, it’s going to be a tough sell.  606 Esplanade #1 in South Redondo Beach

 

Redondo Beach map

What’s the Difference Between North and South Redondo Beach?

By Keith Kyle

When most buyers come to me they know that they’re interested in Redondo Beach, but don’t know much about the various parts and the differences in the neighborhoods.  While there are a number of different neighborhoods and real estate “areas” the big distinction is between North Redondo and South Redondo.

So what’s the difference?

The physical dividing line between the two is 190th Street and Anita, but in reality the differences are much more than just the separation of the street.  The “feel” of North Redondo and South Redondo are the most significant difference.  North Redondo sits east of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach with no beach to call it’s own, while South Redondo has the prototypical “beach” feel and incorporates the areas of King Harbor, Redondo Beach, the Redondo pier and the beachfront street of the Esplanade.

North-South-Redondo-Beach-MapBoth north Redondo and South Redondo have a variety of housing options ranging from condos to mansions and everything in between, but when people often think of “Redondo Beach” they think of oceanfront and oceanview homes and those are only found in South Redondo.

The tradeoff is home prices and values.  In general, homes in South Redondo are more expensive and more valuable than similar homes in North Redondo, and it’s really all about the proximity to the beach, and the “beach” feel. While condos are a bit rarer in North Redondo, home prices generally start in the mid $500,000 for a smaller condo or townhome up to well over $1,500,000 for a larger home on a larger lot.  Home values can start in the mid $300,000 for a condo in Brookside Village and can reach to over $10,000,000 (which is very rare) for one of the few oceanfront estate style homes on the Esplanade.

Seascape 1 pool

A Number of Condos Listings Hit the Market in Seascape One Redondo Beach

By Keith Kyle

There’s been a definite lack of inventory in the world of ocean view and ocean front condos in Redondo Beach over the past 18 months.  Prices have risen dramatically as inventory dipped to record lows and demand for the “vacation” style feel of complexes such as the Seascape buildings, The Village and condos on the Esplanade have continued to grow.  At least in one complex there’s been a higher than usual number of homes coming on the market in recent days.  Seascape One is located in the 200 block buildings of The Village (which is unusual in itself as it’s actually on Catalina).  As of July 18th there are 3 units for sale in Seascape One.  Of the 3 2 offer a interior garden view (this is the only Seascape or Village building offering interior facing units) and one offers some pretty significant ocean and harbor views.  Built in 1978 the condos are fairly ideally located just behind King Harbor and walkable to the pier, the beach, and the shops and restaurants of the King Harbor area.

Current Seascape One and Village Condos for Sale

610 The Village ocean views

The Village In Redondo Beach Real Estate Market Update

The real estate market in The Village, oceanview condos in South Redondo Beach, just couldn’t be hotter!  One bedroom homes have skyrocketed in value in just the past few months.  See the recent postcard to the sellers and homeowner in The Village.  The Village is a collection of condos and townhomes offering studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units, many with great views and all located just walking distance to the beach and the Redondo Beach Pier.

Current Village and Seascape Condos and Townhomes for Sale

Redondo Beach Hollywood Riviera

Why Homes are More Expensive in South Redondo than North Redondo Beach

Why South Redondo Homes Cost More than North Redondo Homes

For buyers (and sometimes even sellers) unfamiliar with the differences in local market in the South Bay, Redondo Beach is just one single real estate market.  In reality the differences between neighborhoods can be significant and home values and prices show a clear distinction between similar homes in North Redondo and South Redondo.    The city has a number of distinctive neighborhoods but the main sections are broken into North and South and the dividing line is basically 190th Street.  North Redondo is quite a bit less expensive due to the location as it sits behind Hermosa and Manhattan Beach so there are no homes with ocean views and the feel of the area is different as it’s not along the water.  South Redondo ends at the beach and the ocean to the west and has a unique beach charm and homes often have great views.  The recent listings and sales of very similar homes, both in terms of style, layout, size and new construction, make clear the differences in values.

Below is a map showing the general layout, location and dividing lines between north and south Redondo Beach

 Areas 151-154 are North Redondo and 155-157 are South Redondo

Redondo Beach real estate map
Paseo De La Playa homes for sale

Endless Ocean Views – Paseo De La Playa in the Hollywood Riviera

Oceanfront homes on Paseo de La Playa

Get to know the homes of this incredible street in the Hollywood Riviera

By Keith Kyle

The Hollywood Riviera is one of my favorite areas of the South Bay. It offers great views, a small town community feel, ever present ocean breezes, and homes that generally fit on the lots (no McMansions) which make for a feel that you don’t often get in the overcrowded South Bay.  It’s hard to go wrong with any location in this coastal community but there’s one street that beats them all. Paseo De La Playa offers oceanfront living for the lucky few and enjoys the best of all imaginable views.  The homes sit up on a bluff, and enjoy views of Palos Verdes, panoramic ocean views, and coastline views from Redondo Beach all the way to Malibu.  What that makes for is ever changing, always impressive views.  During the day it’s all about the ocean and coastline, but in the evening when colors change, it becomes a fantastic city lights view along the coast.

Paseo De La Playa homes for sale

The lots are huge and usually in the 20,000+ range although may are on leased land often with an option to buyout the lease every few years.  Depending on how high on the hill you are (lower elevation homes on towards the left above) there is sometimes direct beach access from the homes which dramatically increases the appeal as “RAT” beach (Right after Torrance) is just below and almost serves as a private beach as access is limited to a fairly long walk from the parking lot.

Homes on this street rarely become available and many are still in fairly original condition with original owners from the 1960s (honestly why would anyone want to move) and range anywhere from the low $3,000,000s- to well into the $6.0M’s for anything remodeled, especially with beach access.

Adding beach access, if not already there, is a huge struggle as it’s tightly regulated by the California Coastal Commission.  The only minor inconvenience to living on Paseo De La Playa is that it’s a moderately busy street and a frequent route for both cars and bicyclists going between Redondo and Palos Verdes.  There is one condo complex at the top of the street called Cote D’Azure with 87 units perched high on the bluff surrounding extensive grounds and pools.  The units are 2 bedrooms generally ranging between 1300-1550 square feet.  Many units do not sit oceanfront and have limited views, while the rare few offer similar views to the SFRs just down the street.

Overall the homes on Paseo De La Playa offer some of the best features imaginable for those looking into the epitome of California coastal luxury living.  

If you’re searching beyond just the oceanfront homes of Paseo De La Playa, visit our Hollywood Riviera real estate and homes for sale site for helpful information, recent Riviera news, current listings and more.

Paseo De La Playa Homes

ARE YOU INTERESTED

IT'S TIME TO DISCOVER

redondo beach

Vista Sotheby's International

Vista Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the top real estate brokerages in the South Bay and Southern California with offices in Redondo Beach and throughout the South Bay

ADDRESS:

1801 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Phone:

310.251.2344

E-mail:

keith.kyle@vistasir.com

CONTACT AGENT

DRE#01712785

keith kyle

Top Producing Realtor

ENQUIRE

Sotheby's International

Welcome to Sotheby's International Realty representing buyers and sellers of fine South Bay and Southern California properties

Redondo Beach Real Estate & Homes. All rights reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Keith Kyle – Licensed Realtor – Vista Sothebys International Realty – DRE#01712785

The listing information set forth on this site is based upon information which we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties to our franchisees (who in turn supplied it to us), we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. The offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate and have not been verified by the selling party and cannot be verified by Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. It is recommended that you hire a professional in the business of determining dimensions, such as an appraiser, architect or civil engineer, to determine such information. Sotheby’s International Realty ® and the Sotheby’s International Realty Logo are service marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC and used with permission.