Communities

November 6, 2014September 23, 2022

Finally a new Listing In Fusion South Bay

**This condo has sold** Please visit our current Fusion condos and townhomes for sale for updated MLS listings in Fusion South Bay.

It’s been a while since there was a home for sale in Fusion in the South Bay, the gated townhome community in the Hollyglen area of Hawthorne. Ideally located just east of Manhattan Beach, it’s is a fantastic alternative to Redondo, Manhattan and El Segundo. Prices would be exponentially higher if it were located just across the street, but the location still offers residents easy access to the active South Bay lifestyle with the beach, dining, shopping and more close by.

The current unit for sale is a “C” floorplan (see our video walkthrough of a different Fusion C townhome for a sense of the layout) which offers a very open kitchen/dining/living room areas with 2 bedrooms and laundry upstairs. The C floorplan also offers a 2 car attached garage. The ammenities of the complex include pool and spa, small playground, half basketball court and various exercise stations.

Located at 5406 W 149th Place unit #18, it is priced at $499,000 which, in our opinion, is low and would be a good deal for the buyer that purchases the home. Square footage is listed as 1,110 by listing agent Young Kim of Landmark, but in our experience the square footage is actually larger when measured.

in Communities, Fusion South Bay, Gated Communities, Hawthorne, Hollyglen and Del Aire, Homes, Schools, Search for Homes Posted by Keith Kyle

November 3, 2014November 29, 2021

Price Reductions Making this Oceanfront Esplanade Home for Sale Intriguing

The home located at 709 Esplanade hasn’t been one of the easiest homes to sell, despite the fact that it sits oceanfront with unbelievable views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. It’s a home with some challenges and will require a buyer with some vision, and some money to do a fairly sizable remodel. It’s been listed by a number of realtors and has come down from the hyper inflated $10,000,000 that it started at in 2012. It’s a fairly palacial home by any South Bay standards with the sellers claim that it’s over 9000 feet. Unfortunately it’s a classic example of an owner with very specific tastes that doesn’t appeal to the masses. The owner clearly liked the color pink (or salmon we’re not sure) and tile. Just about every surface in the home is a pinkish tile and some of the features are a challenge for most luxury home buyers…..pink frog fountains, pinkish kitchen, etc. In general our opinion is that the home will need a total overhaul, but at it’s current price it is starting to be a very enticing option for the homeowner that wants it all. Contact us or call/text 310-251-2344 for more information.

in Beach Front Homes, Communities, Homes of Note, Ocean View Homes, Oceanfront Homes, South Redondo Beach, The Esplanade oceanfront homes Posted by Keith Kyle

October 28, 2014December 19, 2023

Beautiful Home at 340 Via Colusa in the Hollywood Riviera – Just Sold

340 Via Colusa, Redondo Beach

Designed by renowned architect Louie Tomaro and built in 2004, this beautiful estate style home in the Hollywood Riviera offers the very best of luxury coastal living. Featuring 5 bedrooms, each with it’s own private bath, this Tuscan inspired home offers an open floorplan with an abundance of windows to capture the beach breezes and natural light.

The enormous front yard, gated driveway, and lush landscaping create a beautiful exterior setting and incredible curb appeal with the formal elegance of an estate style home. Visit our 340 Via Colusa Redondo Beach website for more information.

Enter through the double doors to a formal entry with traverine flooring, elegant staircase and custom designed lighting. Downstairs offers an oversized and versatile bedroom that can be used as an office, formal sitting area, playroom or guest bedroom. Plantation shutters, hardwood floors and private bath make for a luxurious and private retreat.

Upstairs offers an open layout centrally located around the formal entry with 20 foot ceilings. The gourmet kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, Viking island cooktop, cherry wood cabinetry and opens to both the dining room and family room. A balcony off the family room lets you take in the city light views. Kolbe & Kolbe windows and doors lend an elegant touch throughout. Across from the family room, the upper level offers 4 bedrooms, each with private baths, vaulted ceilings, and large windows. The first bedroom offers a private balcony. The master bedroom suite includes a walk-in closet and private bath area with a double sided fireplace.

Enjoy the close proximity to the beach, Riviera Village shopping and dining, Riviera Elementary and the Palos Verdes walking trail.

Contact listing agent and Redondo Beach luxury home specialist, Keith Kyle at 310-251-2344 or Keith@KeithKyleHomes.com for more information and to arrange a private showing.

Built in 2004
5 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths
2,560 Square Feet
7543 Foot Lot

in Communities, Hollywood Riviera, Homes, Homes of Note, Pocket Listings, Search for Homes Posted by Keith Kyle

October 25, 2014August 10, 2022

Are All Redondo Beach Listing Agents the Same?

It always surprises me just how little effort and expertise goes into prepping and presenting homes for sale. In a real estate community like Redondo Beach, with median home prices often nearing $1.0M, you would think that all realtors would be good. The way a home is presented in marketing and advertising can mean the difference between getting an offer or sitting on the market and can mean 10’s of thousands of dollars to a home seller.

Above is a great example that I came across the other day while searching listings. These pictures of one bedroom condos for sale in The Village of Redondo Beach make a great impact as they are generally the same room, floorplan and angle. Honestly which would you be more inclined to see and visit? Both properties were vacant but the home on the left was staged and professional photographer used. It simply looks brighter and more inviting and a buyer would be far more likely to want to take a look and tour the home.

So why do some sellers choose realtors that put so little effort into selling their Torrance homes?

That’s a great question but there is really no great answer. Sellers sometimes use a friend of the family, perhaps someone they know, or someone that sends out flyers to the neighborhood. Regardless of where the realtor comes from it’s astounding that sellers don’t ask how the realtor will prep and market the property.

So what should a Redondo Beach home seller do?

Research….find out which agents are successful selling in the area and find out why. Then look at past listings to see how the homes look. It’s no mistake that some agents just have better looking listings. Some agents simply do more and want every home they sell to look as good as possible. Ask to see marketing samples and insist on your realtor using a professional photographer as it can make a huge difference. Sellers have one chance to be a “new listing” and take advantage of the interest and momentum that comes along with that. Would you rather have your home look like the one on the left, or the one on the right. Keep in mind that the commission you are paying is usually the same….whether your realtor does the bare minimum and puts forward little effort, or goes well above and beyond to market your home.

in Communities, Condominiums, Listing, North Redondo Beach, Ocean View Homes, Selling, South Redondo Beach Posted by Keith Kyle

October 25, 2014August 27, 2025

Redondo Beach Oceanview Condos – The Village, Seascape I, II, III

The Village condos and Seacapes 1,2 & 3

The area of Redondo known as The Village, or Seascapes I, II and III offers the finest in resort living. Located near the Redondo Beach pier and a short walk to both King Harbor and the beaches of Redondo, these upscale condominiums offer a resort feel, and are the perfect home for those wanting to live close to the ocean. Often offering fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina, and the beaches of Redondo the Seascape condominiums and townhomes boast pool and exercise facilities, a short walk to beaches, shopping and the pier. This is South Bay living at it’s finest.

Redondo Beach offers a wider variety of options than neighboring Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach as it’s zoned to allow higher density housing in some areas…..meaning larger condo complexes.

Some of the most ideal complexes are located in South Redondo Beach just off of Catalina and are known as the Village or Seascapes I, II and III.

All of the Seascape Buildings are also known as the Village (they’re actually all on Catalina but the addresses are on The Village) All of the complexes have Homeowners Associations with HOA dues to cover the various landscaping, pools and some insurance. If you’re looking for an affordable way to have a beach home, they may be ideal for you. All of these complexes offer some fantastic ocean, and harbor views and are centrally located just a short walk or bike ride to the beach, marina, restaurants and shops and parks. Keep in mind that some of my comments are just opinions on what is both good and bad about the buildings based on my observations and feedback from my clients.

The Village Condos and Townhomes

610-688 The village Redondo Beach 90277

The Village owners pool in Redondo Beach

The Village in South Redondo Beach may just be the most affordable way of living near the water in the South Bay. The Village condominiums and townhomes feature 323 well maintained units including studio, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom condos along with a few townhome style homes at the southern end of the property. The Village offers resort style living and includes two beautiful pool and spa areas (one is for owners only, the other is owned by Ocean Club rental units but fully usable by the owners in The Village) a state of the art fitness center (again part of the Ocean Club but free access is provided to owners) several bbq areas, walk paths, access to the Redondo pier area and more. Most units have ocean views, ocean breezes and are a wonderful place to call home…or a second home.

Seascape 1

210-250 The Village

Seascape One is actually located between Seascapes II and III and consists of 210-250 The Village. It was built in 1978 and is just east of King Harbor and the Redondo Beach pier. Many of the units have fairly unique windows that allow for plenty of light and breezes. The smallest units are 1 bedroom 1 bath with around 577 square feet with the largest units being 2 bedroom 2 bath with just over 1600 feet. Values depend primarily on the location and view as well as the upgrades that the owners have done over time.

Pros: Location, location, location. Seascape I is central to everything and you truly don’t have to get in the car on the weekends. It’s directly adjacent to the marina and the Redondo Beach pier and has a large grassy park just outside your door. Some of the units are very nicely remodeled and some have tremendous ocean views (although those unblocked view units rarely come on the market. This is an affordable way to live by the beach or use a rental unit. See additional pictures of an ocean view unit at 240 The Village.

Cons: The complex is a little maze like and finding your way around isn’t always simple. The complex also has shared laundry with a laundry room near the elevator on every floor. Another negative is that there seems to continually be an assessment in addition to the HOA dues and currently all of the planters and ponds have been undergoing continual work. Unlike Seacapes Two and Three the complex is not gated (although the parking is) View current oceanview condos for sale

Seascape 2

110 - 160 The Village Redondo Beach

Seascape 2 was built in 1980 and looks a bit more modern than Seascape I. The units are much larger with the smallest one bedrooms just a bit over 900 square feet and the largest condos having 2 bedrooms plus a very good sized loft (with an additional balcony) and just at 1900 square feet. Seascape 2 consists of the buildings with 100-160 The Village addresses and is the furthest north of the oceanfront/oceanview buildings. The complex has a very nice pool area and is walkable to just about everything imaginable. Seascape 2 also has some townhome units with larger square footage and attached garages. Many/most of the units have been extensively remodeled and many have stunning ocean and harbor views.

Pros:Again the location is excellent with shops, restaurants, gyms and the beach just a stroll away. The complex has a very nice vacation like feel to it and is ideal for those looking for a beach home, second home or just wanting a primary residence at the beach….without the price tag of many other oceanview properties.

Cons:There are often assessments and the monthly HOA is fairly high and currently start around the mid $400s as of this article. It’s a fairly large complex and often a bit confusing to find your way around. Although the views can be stunning some of the units are a bit further back with a service road and a few buildings in front of the views of some of the lower units.

Seascape 3

510 - 540 The village redondo beach 90277

Built in 1980 Seascape III feels very similar to Seascape II with a slightly more “vacation” type feel. The condos are fairly large with the smallest 1458 square feet and the largest being the penthouse 2 bedroom with an ocean view loft and separate patio with slightly over 2000 square feet.

This is the furthest south of the Seascape buildings but still walkable to everything.

Pros: Again the location is just ideal and the complex has a great second home or vacation feel. Higher floor units have some tremendous views and many have been very nicely upgraded. As with all of the Esplanade and Village buildings, prices have come down considerably as they have had a very high second home ownership in the past and have suffered quite a bit with some foreclosures and short sales forcing prices down which makes for an ideal environment for buyers

Cons: As with all of the Seascape buildings the HOA is quite high and the age of the buildings, coupled with their environment of sun and salt air, often make for additional assessments. HOA is also fairly restrictive as to what can be done to the units, but this can also be considered a positive for many. View current oceanview condos for sale

in Beach Front Homes, Communities, Condominiums, Seascape ocean view condos, South Redondo Beach, The Village oceanview condos Posted by Keith Kyle

Homes in the Golden Hills of Redondo Beach

October 14, 2014April 18, 2023

Pros and Cons of the Golden Hills in Redondo Beach

See the Positives and Negatives of Homes in the Golden Hills

As many of my clients are from out of the area or out of state, they seem to have a notion that the South Bay is simply one big city and there aren’t all that many differences between Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. The reality is that even within these cities the individual neighborhoods vary quite a bit. Due to the sheer size of the city, Redondo Beach is one of the more varied communities in the South Bay in terms of types of housing, size and age, and price.

The area just east of Hermosa and just South of Manhattan (see Golden Hills Map)is a hilly section of Redondo Beach known as the Golden Hills. Knowing the areas pros and cons is an important step in determining whether the Golden Hills is the right area for you. The homes in the area have a not entirely flattering nickname and are called “tall and skinnies”. Drive down any street in the area and you’ll see why. When the homes were originally built the area was subdivided into 25×100 foot lots. With no alleys in the rear, this means that the frontage of the home required a 2 car garage and as you’ll notice, the homes look somewhat similar. So here’s the pros and cons of the area.

Pros of Life in the Golden Hills:

You get a bigger house for a lower price. Many of the homes in the area are in the 1700+ square foot range with spacious living rooms, open kitchens and good sized bedrooms.
Prices for either smalller square foot houses or fixers generally start in the high $1,000,000k range and newer, larger homes can sell for over $1,600,000.
Location is excellent. Being just east of Hermosa Beach, means that the Golden Hills is very close to the beach. Saying it’s a walk or bike ride is a bit of a reach, but it’s not far off. Being this close to the beach means cooler summers and warmer winters……and who doesn’t like that.
Upgrades. Many of the homes in the area have been very nicely upgraded and well taken care of. Those that haven’t can be purchased for an even greater discount.
Price. Look just west in Hermosa and the price jumps considerably. Try to find a home this size in other parts of Redondo and expect to pay $100k more.

Cons for the homes in the Golden Hills:

The biggest complaint that I get to the area is the bedroom configuration. With a 25 foot wide lot there’s only so many options the original builders had. The general layout is living room (often with vaulted ceilings), kitchen and master bedroom upstairs, and garage and 2 bedrooms downstairs. The master on one level with the other bedrooms downstairs is often an obstacle with families with small kids or expectant parents.
Proximity to your neighbors. Again with lots 25 feet wide, and front doors usually needing to be on the side of the house due to the garage, don’t generally mean much room between you and your neighbor.
Lack of street parking. With 2 car wide driveways in front of every 25 foot wide lot, it doesn’t leave much room for curbs. On the other hand a two car garage plus 2 driveway spaces may make that a non factor.
Small yards. Generally these homes have a small yard in the rear without a front yard to speak of. Again this can be a positive or a negative, depending on your situation.

Overall the Golden Hills offers a great opportunity to own a good sized home, at a good price and just a short drive to the beach. See Recent Golden Hills home sales.

For more information on the area of Golden Hills or other neighborhoods in the South Bay, feel free to contact me.

Keith Kyle – Realtor, e-Pro – Vista Sotheby’s International Realty 2501 N Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-251-2344

in Communities, Golden Hills, Opinion Posted by Keith Kyle