Lynne Pope is your Realtor in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach

 

Workmen’s fumes set off a fire alarm in the hotel in the early am hours. The warning system continued as people exited the stairs peacefully.  “Hey lady, your back pack zippers are all open” A kind German tourist told me. I closed them up and joined in conversation with the group of 3 women on the street at 4:30 am.

 We talked about the things we felt important enough to exit with during the fire exit. Camera’s were number 1 cell phones number 2. nothing else mattered. I exited the stairwell along with my Inman roommate, Mara Hawks of Auburn, Alabama.  She is a blogger on http://activerain.com/blogs/mhawks. We all set out to find a coffee shop  open that early. Sure enough the kind lady in the Starabucks that opened at 5 am told us about the 24 hour one open 2 blocks away. Our Tea party began.  Two were coffee but I don’t care. The words don’t work “coffee party” We had a wonderful conversation with the  German and American versions of the world. We laughed, we cried, and we talked of Hillary Clinton who we all wanted to win. (You cried? someone might say) Yes, after meeting strangers in less than one hour we talked of a story that brought us to tears: the death of a bird and the 4th grader who rode her bike to find her peace over the loss-”Mom, I just wanted to feel the wind in my face the way he did as he flew to heaven.” We left the area

Palos Verdes is the Crown Jewel in the South Bay area. The raised land is a hill of volcanic rock surrounded by sandy beach towns. Typical home styles are long and low in the

California ranch, Spanish colonial and Mediterranean architecture styles. The styles find harmony with natural materials, muted earth tones and simple roof forms. Each city has its own personality, and people generally choose their favorite area by factors related to the ocean, the schools, and the commute to work. The overall area is called the

Palos Verdes

 Peninsula, it is divided into four major territories; Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills and

Rancho Palos Verdes.

More information about these communities can be found on their websites: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes 

Some enthusiasts call Palos Verdes “the dragon” as it resembles a curled up sleeping dragon from an overhead view. It is a powerful image and energy area.  Right now* June 2008, there are many Palos Verdes properties for sale under 1 million. The lowest starting price is 850000. Some of the homes have a wonderful view!  In January we had 13.5 ms of inventory and in April we have 6.5 ms of inventory. This means we are in a balanced market. If it goes over 6ms it becomes a buyers market. This is the benchmark that Realtors use to determine the market.

There are quite a few lovely Condo complexes in the area. One is called,”The Terraces” it is is a lush landscaped gated area at the top of the hill. They have 5 large swimming pools and 2 tennis courts and  strolling paths.

The schools are the top reason  people move to Palos Verdes. The second reason is that they were raised there. It’s beautiful and and a true oasis in Los Angeles. It could be the winding white fences, green everywhere, the horses, the ocean views and the fresh air that tops the list of people who move there and stay. My son left an advertising career to own his own restaurant on the top of the hill at Silver Spur Road. Chicken Dijon is a family favorite of eat in or take home dinner or lunch. Many Real Estate agents use the House salad as a “Brokers Open”meal.

This is my “Palos Verdes Specialist “pin. The MLS in the area offers this comprehensive training for Real Estate agents. The days of study include trips to each city office and meeting with city personnel and managers. We travel by van with a teacher training on the tour. Everyone is amazed by the detail of the course.

The heart of Redondo Beach is debated. The Hollywood Rivera says it is the area of Pacific Coast Highway as it turns and curves at the base of Palos Verdes. Three cities pour into this mix Palos Verdes, Torrance and Redondo Beach. They can all claim this STARBUCKS.

Starbucks is the community meeting place for all beach morning lovers. I had relatives in from Auburn, Alabama and we went over for our breakfast “Event.” The smells of coffee, the culture of the beach, the smiling faces all make the trip a fun treat. This is our idea of healthy over a big mac breakfast. The sit down, read the paper crowd verses the drive through rush. If you want to have a celestial morning come on down for a sunny stroll to the beach. I don’t even drink coffee so the juice is for me and the coffee for my visiting family.