We have a cool new lease at 144 S Mansfield! It’s a rare 2 story attached Hancock Park Spanish townhouse duplex unit with 3 beds + 2 baths and a sparkling shared pool in the backyard!! The living room has an operable wood burning fireplace, wood beams, and hardwood floors. There’s 1 bed + 1 bath downstairs & 2 large bedrooms upstairs. The primary bedroom has a private front facing porch. The gem of the property is the amazing large swimming pool in the backyard, happily shared with the lovely owner who lives in the second unit! It’s in the Third Street School District and in a perfect central tree lined spot. The owner, Lauren, has had great luck loving sharing her pool with her neighbors so far, and we’re looking forward to continuing that streak for her!
We have a treat coming! 311 N Mansfield will be up for lease soon! Our team is completely enamored with this unit ever since it was renovated because it’s so spectacular!! The property is a 1930’s high end fully remodeled character upper duplex where no detail has been left untouched! There’s a show stopping living room with a high pitched ceiling with beams that opens to a handsome office, gentleman’s lounge, and front patio. The brand new kitchen is beautiful with a center island, stone counters + backsplash, soft touch cabinetry, and new designer appliances. Each of the 3 large bedrooms has a remodeled designer en suite bath. This unit is truly a special place to call home!
I’m super excited for Bryan and his clients, John and Kate, who scored a trophy Spanish duplex at 412 N Orange! The building is entirely designer remodeled (by noted designer Ryan Brown) inside, both up and down, and it has beautiful lush landscaped outdoor space in front and back! It was fun to take care of our clients and get them to SOLD, watching out for them every step of the way!
Two agents on our team partnered together to get their client into escrow on a beautiful remodeled property in the neighborhood. The buyer side commission was advertised as reduced on the MLS. Our agents, as part of their offer package, requested standard commission (albeit with a note that their client comes first and highest priority was the client and for their offer to be accepted.) The seller agreed to accept our client’s offer and also to pay standard commission. I was in a multiple offer situation this week, representing buyers, on a listing that also advertised reduced buyer side commission. My buyers offered 130,000 over the asking price. The winning buyer offered over 300,000 over the asking price (all cash 10 day escrow). The listing agent shared with me that the seller is paying standard buyer side commission to the agent with the accepted offer, and almost every offer came with a request from the buyer’s agent to be paid standard commission if their buyer’s offer is accepted.
I’ve been going on many listing appointments with sellers who have creative arguments in support of listing their property above Fair Market Value. Sellers believe their properties might sell for more because: there’s limited inventory in the area, the metro line is coming, an ADU can be built, a condo conversion can happen, the owners can hold (and not sell) if they don’t get their desired price. Sellers would love to not prepare or stage their house, and for the sale to be “As Is”. The thing is, in order to sell, a buyer needs to want to buy. Buyers’ interest peaks when properties are listed at Fair Market Value. Buyers are enticed to pay more than FMV when the property is properly prepared and staged. All buyers do inspections and consider the cost of necessary repairs. And all buyers know about the inventory, the metro line, and converting the garage to an ADU. Buyers can also hold out and continue their current living situation if they don’t find the right house to buy. The key question is can a seller who doesn’t absolutely have to sell attract a buyer who doesn’t absolutely have to buy.
I’m fascinated by the ocean ecosystem, as observed on our weekends in Oxnard! Two weeks ago, on a long ocean walk, the shore was entirely covered with beautiful vibrant blue blobs that looked like JellyFish. From a quick online search, they’re called Vallela Valella. They live on the surface of the ocean and they move with the wind. Strong winds recently pushed them from ocean surface to shore by the thousands all the way from San Francisco to San Diego. Last week we watched huge pods of seals and sea lions leaping and swimming in the pristine ocean waters. I’m blown away every time, over and over again, by the powder sand deserted beach, the relatively mostly calm teal blue sea, the views of the topography from shore of the Channel Islands to the West and the Topatopa Mountains to the North. Surfers are so talented at riding the crests of the waves, and fishermen are so successful pulling fresh shiny fish from the sea! The weather has been spectacular lately and it’s a complete and total treat to live in Sunny Breezy Southern California!
Wishing everyone an awesome week ahead!
Xoxoxoxo,
Sheri