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July 2014 Median Home Prices in Torrance CA

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By Keith KyleWelcome home doorway

July 2014 saw some big numbers in terms of both number of homes sold as well as median prices.  Torrance CA  had 142 sold homes at a median price of $540,000 which was down from the same month in 2013.  Most other South Bay cities also saw some significant year over year increases in prices with the other exceptions being  Marina Del Rey and Playa Del Rey.  To see the actual homes sales in each city visit our recent home sales price and information site.

City Homes Sold July 2014 Median July 2013 Median Year over Year % Change
Carson 48 $382,500 $350,000 9.29%
El Segundo homes 15 $872,000 $797,000 9.41%
Gardena 50 $385,000 $332,500 15.79%
HarborCity 13 $480,000 $465,000 3.23%
Hawthorne real estate 51 $505,000 $400,000 26.25%
Hermosa Beach homes 26 $1,230,000 $1,097,500 12.07%
Lawndale 8 $412,000 $331,250 24.38%
Lomita 13 $555,000 $452,000 22.79%
Long Beach 330 $400,000 $365,000 9.59%
Manhattan Beach homes 43 $1,795,000 $1,521,250 18.00%
Marina Del Rey 33 $757,500 $862,500 -12.17%
Palos Verdes Estates 51 $1,600,000 $1,291,000 23.93%
Playa Del Rey 23 $507,000 $512,000 -0.98%
RanchoPalos Verdes 54 $1,069,000 $1,100,000 -2.82%
Redondo Beach homes 97 $865,000 $758,000 14.12%
San Pedro 49 $440,000 $420,500 4.64%
Torrance 142 $540,000 $576,250 -6.29%
Westchester 48 $777,500 $715,000 8.74%

Torrance has a beach? Learn About This Great Stretch

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By Keith Kyle

If you look at a map of the South Bay it certainly appears that Torrance lies just east of Redondo Beach and the closest point to the ocean is a mile or two.  That’s not the case as the Hollywood Riviera, with it’s Redondo zip code and mailing address, is actually the city of Torrance with Torrance schools, services, and more.  Included in this small area is actually a beach affectionately known as “RAT” Beach.  It’s not as bad as it sounds as it actually is short for Right After Torrance but either way it’s a beautiful, yet short, stretch of coastline unlike anything in the neighboring cities of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan.  Torrance Beach sits below the bluff of the Hollywood Riviera and those willing to walk just a bit get a great and somewhat private beach with views of Palos Verdes to the south and the more widely known Beach Cities to the north.  Torrance Beach basically starts where the Esplanade of Redondo turns into Calle Miramar at the start of the Hollywood Riviera.

Real Estate Micro Market Update – Southwood Torrance

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Southwood Torrance Real Estate Update

By Keith Kyle

The neighborhood of Southwood in Torrance CA is a fantastic area with tree lined streets with primarily single family homes and a great community feel. Prices in this neighborhood, located just east of Redondo Beach, have seen steady increases since the beginning of 2013 and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Here’s a quick recap of the current real estate market conditions in this Torrance neighborhood.

  • Active Southwood Torrance homes for sale – 8
  • Lowest list price – $485,000 – 5500 Torrance Blvd #C121
  • Highest list price – $1,199,000 – 21213 Anza Ave
  • Average list price – $753,713
  • Average price per square foot – $483.68
  • Average Days on Market – 35
  • In escrow – 8
  • Total homes sold in 2014 YTD – 20
  • Average sales price – $627,688
  • Average price per square foot – $474.73

21213 Anza Ave – Southwood Torrance Home for Sale

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Currently the highest priced home in the great neighborhood of Southwood is located at 21213 Anza Ave.  The home is described as:

This is a beautiful 2003-2004 remodeled home with over 3500 square feet of living space. The lot consists of 6741 sq ft professionally landscaped with lush fruit trees, yard art and koi pond. The formal living room has 18 foot ceilings with a magnificent wood staircase that ascends to family sitting room. Off the sitting room there are three bedrooms each having its own private bath. The kitchen and great room are the center of this beautiful home with commercial appliances and granite flooring. On the main floor there is one bedroom with private bath.

The home is quite large for the area and has some interesting features but reaching a number of almost $1.2M on the busy street of Anza (although it’s on a service road off of the main street) seems quite unlikely.  Few homes in the area sell for anywhere near this rarified price and all are located in prime locations.

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Torrance Real Estate Explained – Hillside Overlay

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By Keith Kyle

Home with "flags" marking outline of proposed addition
Home with “flags” marking outline of proposed addition

A few of the many benefits of living near the beach are the wonderful ocean views and ocean breezes that make life here so unique.  These ocean views have immeasurable value from both a quality of life aspect as well as a significant monetary impact.  In many of the South Bay cities these views are unprotected and it’s not rare for a home’s stunning ocean views to disappear when the one story home next door gets torn down and new and much larger home replaces it.

Certain areas of Torrance are the exception. Primarily found in the Hollywood Riviera and Seaside Ranchos neighborhoods the city has incorporated much stricter building guidelines known as the “Hillside Overlay” area.  (see map below)

See the homes currently for sale in the Hollywood Riviera

In 1977, the Hillside Overlay Area was established in Torrance, CA in order to address issues concerning building, remodeling, and protecting views and privacy.  All new construction (meaning both new homes and expansions on current structures) are subject to review and input by neighbors including “flagging”  where a mock up of the future structure are marked with plastic flags  to approximate the outlines of any proposed addition to the structure prior to permit approval so that neighborhood input may be obtained.

Torrance Municipal Code Excerpt (Hillside Overlay)

The basics of the hillside overlay are as follows:  Upon receipt of the complete application, the Community Development Director shall set a date, time and place for a public hearing thereon as soon as practicable and shall send notice thereof to the owners of land included within a three hundred (300) foot radius of the exterior boundaries of the land for which the permit is sought

No construction and no remodeling or enlargement of a building or structure shall be permitted unless the Planning Commission (or the City Council on appeal) shall find that the location and size of the building or structure, or the location and size of the remodeled or enlarged portions of the building or structure, have been planned and designed in such a manner as to comply with the following provisions:

  1. The proposed development will not have an adverse impact upon the view, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity;
  2. The development has been located, planned and designed so as to cause the least intrusion on the views, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity;
  3. The design provides an orderly and attractive development in harmony with other properties in the vicinity;
  4. The design will not have a harmful impact upon the land values and investment of other properties in the vicinity;
  5. Granting such application would not be materially detrimental to the public welfare and to other properties in the vicinity;
  6. The proposed development will not cause or result in an adverse cumulative impact on other properties in the vicinity.

 

 

Why Victoria Knolls is the Secret Neighborhood in Torrance

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By Keith KyleTorrance homes for sale

One of the best kept secrets in all Torrance and the South Bay is the neighborhood of Victoria Knolls. Located in the area of Walteria, Victoria Knolls is located east of PCH and just east of Crenshaw Blvd. It is accessible by only one road and this factor gives it a sense of privacy, security and isolation. In addition the area is located on the north facing side of the Palos Verdes peninsula and often offers striking city lights views. Homes in the area generally start in the low $700,000’s for condos and goes up from there depending on age, view, size and location. It offers a great and safe feel with tree lined streets, very little traffic, and a community that all seems to know each other.

Current Victoria Knolls Real Estate Homes for Sale

Most people don’t even know the neighborhood exists and when they do accidentally stumble on it they can’t believe it’s a part of Torrance. As it’s up on the hill on the north side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula it’s nothing like the flat neighborhoods people think of when the envision Torrance.