keith kyle

January 8, 2013February 17, 2020

Done the right way….we sell more than just houses….

With the dawn of a new year, it really got me thinking about what we do as Realtors and why, If done with the right motives, it’s so rewarding. In the stresses of an escrow, or in the challenges of a day of showing houses, it’s easy to lose sight of what selling a home can mean and for many it’s just another “deal”. But that’s not at all what this is about. I work with many first time home buyers and it is no exaggeration to think that this decision that I’m helping them make is nothing short of life altering. The home someone chooses is more than just granite counters, 2.5 bathrooms, corner lot, fixer or turn key….it is choosing a neighborhood, choosing neighbors, choosing schools, and even choosing a lifestyle. It’s about people…the people the home buyer doesn’t even know yet that may end up being friends for life.

Have you ever checked in on past clients years later and met the neighbors or school friends, or met the son or daughters best friend from next door? These are people that may be in our clients lives forever…and it was partially due to a decision we helped them make. Yes we sell houses, but it is so much more than that. Every client we have deserves to be treated with this understanding and not only will it likely help your business, it makes real estate and selling homes one of the more rewarding jobs imaginable in my eyes.

– Keith Kyle is a residential real estate specialist with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach, CA

in Communities, Just for Fun, South Bay Activities Posted by Keith Kyle

December 3, 2012December 6, 2021

Places to go while in Redondo Beach…Old Tonys on the Pier

Life in the South Bay is a mix of upscale and quirky, and both can be great. One of my favorite places to take people is Old Tony’s on the Redondo Beach pier. I’ve only visited the restaurant once but the bar/lounge upstairs has one of those views that make it a spectacular place to visit. I wouldn’t call it upscale but that’s certainly not why you go there and the quirkiness is what makes it fun. There is always an incredible energy in sunset hours as people cram in to take in the panoramic ocean views from the 360 degree glass enclosed bar. It is a truly unique experience as it sits up above everything else on the pier so it almost feels like being on a ship at see. Not only do the views feel like being on the see but you can actually feel the pier shake just a bit when waves collide with the pilings below. Old Tony’s is on the Redondo pier in King Harbor which is close to the border between North Redondo and South Redondo Beach. It is within walking distance of the homes and condos of The Village and Seascapes I, II and III.

Old Tony’s – 210 Fisherman’s Wharf, Redond Beach CA 90277

in Just for Fun, South Redondo Beach Posted by Keith Kyle

Home Inventory on the Rise in Manhattan Village – Gated Community of Manhattan Beach

As most of the local Manhattan Beach real estate market and surrounding cities seem to be suffering from a lack of inventory, the number of active homes for sale in Manhattan Village, the gated community in Manhattan Beach CA, has increased in the past few weeks with 5 current court homes and townhomes for sale.

in Communities, Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Village, Market Trends Posted by Keith Kyle

November 21, 2012March 13, 2023

South Bay Brokers The Top Sales Volume Per Agent

Congratulations to South Bay Brokers for being recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as the South Bay real estate brokerage with the highest residential sales volume per agent. According to Keith Kyle, a top producing agent in the Manhattan Beach office, “what makes South Bay Brokers so unique is that they really focus on hiring and training full time agents. While many other real estate firms focus on hiring as many new agents as possible as that’s often good for the brokerages bottom line, South Bay Brokers thinks that as every agent is a representative of their brand, it’s critical that those agents treat real estate as a full time profession and naturally leads to long term and repeat clients”. This is the 23rd straight year in which South Bay Brokers was recognized for this achievement.

South Bay Brokers logo

in Manhattan Beach Posted by Keith Kyle

Ocean View Condos in Seascape and The Village Redondo Beach

Oceanview condos of the village and seacapes

real estate and condos for sale in south Redondo Beach 90277

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.

There are endless reasons that the South Bay and Redondo Beach are great places to live, and without question the proximity to the ocean is one of them.

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 relatively high HOA dues (other than the actual “Village” to cover the various landscaping, pools and some insurance, but if you’re looking for an affordable way to have a beach home, they may be ideal for you. See the current condos for sale in The Village and Seascapes

The Village condos and townhomes

610-696 the village, Redondo beach

Sunset at the Ocean Club Pool at The Village

The Village in South Redondo Beach offers the most affordable way of living right at the beach in the South Bay. Consisting of 323 ocean view units with the majority being condo style homes with a few townhomes on the corner of Torrance and Catalina. Home options include 410 foot studios, 619 foot one bedroom and 2 bedroom condos located with street addresses between 610 and 660 The Village as well as a few townhomes in the 670-696 addresses that rarely come on the market.

The units are staggered so that all offer some ocean views from the condos or balconies. The buildings consist primarily of one bedroom condos with each floor having 2 studios that are furthest from the water, and two 2 bedroom layouts that are always on the front of the building and offer the most direct ocean views.

The Village is located just east of King Harbor and the Redondo Pier. The proximity to the beach, King Harbor, Hermosa and Manhattan makes for a fantastic and active lifestyle. The community offers a resort like feel with 2 fantastic pool areas, one for Village owners/renters and the other shared with the nearby Ocean Club (rental units), BBQ areas, firepits, state of the art fitness (part of the Ocean Club that owners/renters have access to) and an onsite market/restaurant. See the current homes for sale in The Village and Seascape

Seascape 1

210 - 250 The Village, Redondo Beach

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 but this is not a challenge for the residents….only visitors. The complex also has shared laundry with a laundry room near the elevator on every floor. As each floor has it’s own laundry it is only shared by a few units so in general it isn’t a problem. Unlike Seacapes Two and Three the complex is not gated (although the parking, pool and the north side of the complex are) See the current homes for sale in The Village and Seascapes

Seascape 2 condos and townhomes

110-160 The village

Czuleger Park and Seascape 2 in 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 occassionaly special assessments and the monthly HOA is fairly high and currently range between the low $700 -$850s depending on the unit size. 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. See the current homes for sale in The Village and Seascapes

Seascape 3

510 - 540 The Village, Redondo Beach

Seascape 3 at The Village in Redondo Beach

View from Seascape 3 at The Village in Redondo Beach

Built in 1980 Seascape 3 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.

current Seascape and Village condos and townhomes for sale

Ocean and harbor view condos in south Redondo Beach

in Communities, Condominiums, Ocean View Homes, Oceanfront Homes, South Redondo Beach Posted by Keith Kyle

November 17, 2012March 11, 2023

Ultimate Beach Living in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach Walkstreet Homes

Something relatively unique to Manhattan Beach real estate and Hermosa Beachare the homes located on “walk streets”. These walkstreet locations offer the absolute ideal in community beach living as they are located on lots that have parking and garage at the back of the home and the front of the home sits on a pedestrian only sidewalk. According to Keith Kyle, a top realtor with Vista Sotheby’s International, “These walkstreets offer a sense of community that is a bit different than other areas. As the front yards and patios all face the sidewalk the walkstreet often becomes the center of the community for these streets. They are very family friendly as there isn’t the risk that busy streets and cars create so it has a very safe feeling. As they are almost always located within a block or two of The Strand and the beach it has that old school beach community feel”.

Walkstreets are very limited and are only in the sand sections of both Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. They range in size due to the contours of the streets they cross but all create a very community and family friendly environment and are some of the most sought after locations in the South Bay. Prices in Manhattan Beach generally start around $3.0M (usually on a corner of a walkstreet and moderately busy street) andquickly go up from there and prices are now reaching into the high $5.0M range for homes with big views and closest to the beach. Homes in Hermosa Beach start in the mid $1M range (some homes have unusual situations such as no garage, small lot, etc) to the new high water market of $5.25M for the home mentioned above at 41 16th Street. In Hermosa Beach the streets are generally flat so views are not something overly common, but that’s not the case in Manhattan Beach where the slope of the hill often means just about every home enjoys some nice ocean views.

Click here to view the current homes for sale in the Sand Section of Manhattan Beach or visit our Hermosa Beach Sand Section listings page.

in Hermosa Beach, Homes, Manhattan Beach, Walkstreet Homes Posted by Keith Kyle