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South Bay Real Estate Speculation?

As 2025 rolls by the real estate market in the Los Angeles South Bay continues to slide downward. January started the year with 11% more homes sold than in 2024. Now, with June in the books, the difference is 0% growth in sales across the South Bay. From month to month the numbers are up and down, but the end result is down.

With the exception of the Beach cities, the same thing is true for the median price. The four areas of the South Bay are distinguished from each other by the basic appeal of each area to potential home owners. Comparing real estate from 2024 to 2025 shows a distinct difference between the Beach cities and the other three areas.

Consider the sales volume, for example. Across the South Bay the cumulative change in the number of homes sold for the first half of each year, shows a 7% increase. However, the Beach area measured in at a 26% increase. The Harbor area was 4%, Palos Verdes peninsula was 2%, and the Inland cities were 3%. Different South Bay buyers are definitely viewing things differently.

Looking at the median price shows a similar story. In the same order, Beach was 11%, Harbor was 1%, Palos Verdes was -1% and Inland was -1%.

Clearly, buyers in the Beach cities have a different perspective than those in the rest of the South Bay. It would take some serious research to study the various purchases, what type of buyer was involved, how the property is currently being used, and how big of a premium the buyer was willing to place on the property, etc., in order to understand the motivations. An early guess is speculation. Buyers with sufficient available resources are speculating that the value will continue to go up without interruption. There might also be some number of those buyers who believe short term rentals will help defray the carrying costs. And probably a few who just want to live at the beach.

The key tying them all together though, is speculation. Those Beach area buyers believe the economy is going to hold and their purchases are going to further advance in value. That opinion appears to be changing though. The June median results for the Beach shifted from positive to negative in what may be an indication of the direction of our economy. We’ll be back next month with an update.

Beach: Mostly Down

Compared to May the Beach cities real estate performance was a bust. June is the second “down” month in succession for the Beach. At 117 units sold, monthly sales volume dropped 4%, after dropping 2% in May. Median prices in the Beach area have been negative since February. The median for June was a mere $5000 below last month’s $1.9M, leaving a statistically insignificant 0% drop.

In year over year sales volume, the Beach did much better, with a 30% increase in the number of homes sold over June of 2024. However, median price took a nosedive from June of 2024, falling from positive 9% in May to a negative 1% in June this year.

Contrasting the first six months of 2025 to the first half of 2024 lends the Beach cities a win. While the South Bay as a whole saw an increase of 7% in the number of homes sold over those sold in 2024, the Beach area jumped by 26%. For the same period of time, Beach prices climbed by 11%, far better than any of the other three areas.

As a point of reference, the number of Beach homes sold in the first half of 2025 is 17% below the number of sales in 2019, the last “normal” business year before the pandemic. Over the same time frame, median prices have increased 54%.

Harbor: Mostly Up

Real estate in the Harbor area showed surprising resilience in June. With 335 homes sold, sales volume was up 14%. At the same time, the monthly median price of $838,000 at the Harbor was up 3% from the prior month.

In the only decline for the Harbor in June, the annual sales volume slipped slightly with a 2% decline. This was offset by a 5% increase in the median price over the same month last year.

Year to date statistics brought even more positive news for the Harbor area. Sales volume for the first six months of the year was up 4% over sales in 2024. The median price was also up, with a modest increase of 1%.

Much like the Beach cities, when looking back to pre-pandemic real estate, the sales volume is 18% below that of 2019 while the median price is up 46%.

Hill: More Down

On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the only positive number for June was the median price, which rose from $1.85M in May to $1.94M in June, for a 5% increase. Heading the opposite direction, monthly home sales dropped by 34%, ending the month with 49 sales.

In comparison to 2024, PV cities lost ground in sales and in prices. The number of homes sold fell by 18%, while the median price lost 4%.

With the first half of 2025 in history, homes on the Hill appear to have settled in with modest sales volume increases accompanied by small decreases in price. As of June, homes sales are up by 2% and the median is down 1%.

Compared to the first six months of 2019, Palos Verdes volume is off by 9%. For the same period, the median is up 44%.

Inland: And More Down


After four months of sales growth this year the Inland area flipped with a 20% drop from last year. Running the opposite direction from the sales decline, the median price jumped by 11%, coming in at $965,000.

Year over year statistics likewise ended with a drop in the number of homes sold and an increase in the median price. Compared to 2024 sales volume was down 7%, while the median climbed 1%.

At mid-point in the year, the Inland area is posting a 3% increase in sales over 2024 business. That number seems quite reasonable, especially when compared to the monthly sales which range from 18% increase to 20% decrease. While the total number of sales is down, the median price for the first half of the year is up 1%.

Continuing the year to date comparison with pre-pandemic activity, the Inland area is showing sales at 14% less than 2019, combined with a median price at 38% higher than then.

Beach=Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo
Harbor=Carson, Long Beach, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City
PV Hill=Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates
Inland=Torrance, Lomita, Gardena

Photo by Matthew Davis on Unsplash

How To Find Off-Market Properties

You may be inclined to think that if a property isn’t listed, it’s not for sale. Most of the time that’s true, but there are exceptions. Homes for sale that aren’t listed publicly may be called off-market properties, pocket listings, or quiet listings. There are multiple reasons for this, but regardless of the reason, finding these properties quickly can earn you an advantage when trying to buy.

The easiest way to find these properties is with someone else’s help — usually an agent, but investors and builders likely have connections as well. Someone with connections in the industry might know of an opportunity for you already without any searching. Even if they don’t, they can help you search. Agents can search for properties that are “coming soon” — ones that aren’t officially on the market yet, but will be once the listing is finalized. They can also help you find probate sales, pre-foreclosures, and inherited homes. Some agents even specialize in helping clients navigate the legal intricacies of these types of sales.

Sometimes you want to talk to the homeowner directly — though an agent can still help you with this. Agents with a client who is looking to buy will frequently send out letters to owners of properties that fit the buyer’s specifications. Homeowners might be considering selling but either haven’t decided yet or don’t want to list publicly. These letters help to find homeowners in this type of situation. You might also come across a home that is For Sale By Owner, commonly abbreviated FSBO. This means that the homeowner is planning to sell without the assistance of an agent, or sometimes is an agent themself. These properties probably won’t be listed on an agent’s listing service, but an agent can still help you with the transaction if you’re able to discover one.

Photo by Ameya Sawant on Unsplash

Andy & Renee – Summer 2025

Andy & Renee-The Lighthouse

TUESDAYS, 5:30PM — 7:30PM
The Lighthouse Cafe,
30 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310 376-9833

Andy & Renee-Banana Leaf

THURSDAYS, 6:30PM — 9:00PM
Banana Leaf & Beach Cities Social,
1408 S Pacific Coast Hwy,
Redondo Beach, CA

Andy & Renee-Brews Hall

FRI, JUL 11 & 25, 7:00PM — 10:00PM
Brews Hall Del Amo,
21770 Del Amo Circle East,
Torrance, CA 90503

Andy & Renee- Terranea Lobby Bar

FRI, JUL 18, 7:00PM — 11:00PM
Terranea Lobby Bar,
100 Terranea Way,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Andy & Renee & Marty Rifkin-House Concert

FRI, AUG 8, 6:00PM

Special House Concert honoring August Birthdays! All are welcome. Show is in Hermosa Beach, hosted by Jean Merl. Special Guest Marty Rifkin. $30. BYOB and a snack. Doors 6pm, Show 7pm. Get tickets at our Store Page. Address given upon purchase of ticket.

Coming at the Grand Annex

Grita Marimba & Masanga Marimba

Sun, Aug 03, 2025
1:30 PM
Tickets

Marimba Magic – Workshop and Show with Grita Marimba and Masanga Marimba

Learn to play Marimba with award-winning teachers, then enjoy a show with Sonoma County’s Grita Marimba and LA’s own Masanga Marimba.

Come join us at The Grand Annex Music Hall for a day filled with marimba magic! Our event includes a hands-on workshop where you can learn to play this beautiful instrument from talented musicians. Afterward, sit back and enjoy a mesmerizing show featuring marimba performances that will leave you in awe. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious beginner, this event is perfect for anyone looking to experience the joy of music in a unique way. Don’t miss out on this Marimba Madness – it’s going to be an unforgettable day!

Grand Annex Cumbia Series

Sat, Aug 23, 2025
9:00 PM
Doors 8:00 PMTickets

Fri, Sep 12, 2025
9:00 PM
Doors 8:00 PM
Tickets

Sat, Oct 11, 2025
9:00 PM
Doors 8:00 PM
Tickets

  • Join us for three nights of live Cumbia music and dancing as SoCal bands put their own twists on the irresistibly fun Columbian genre that blends indigenous, African, and European rhythms. It’s impossible not to move! Check back soon for more information!

The Brother Brothers

Sat, Sep 13, 2025
8:00 PM
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

Like Simon & Garfunkel with a touch of Willie Nelson, twins Adam and David Moss dress up their well-crafted lyrics with vocals, fiddle and a splash of twang.

Opener: Lucy Clearwater, acoustic singer-songwriter.

Debby Holiday’s
Tina Turner Tribute

Sun, Sep 14, 2025
4:00 PM
Tickets

Feel the electrifying passion as Holiday sings Tina Turner’s timeless hits like “The Best,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and “Proud Mary.”

Ryanhood
with Pre-concert Wine Tasting🍷

Fri, Sep 26, 2025
8:00 PM
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

USA Songwriting Competition Finalists bring their pop-rock melodies and powerful guitar riffs reminiscent of the Dave Matthews Band.

The Doobie Doubles

Sat, Sep 27, 2025
8:00 PM
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

The Southland’s #1 Doobie Brothers tribute perform rock classics like “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” “What a Fool Believes” and more.

Tips For Selling Your House As-Is

Selling your home as-is means listing it in its current condition without making repairs or upgrades. This approach isn’t for everyone, but it can save you time, reduce your up-front costs and speed up the selling process. That said, it’s important to know that you’ll likely need to accept a lower price and potentially a smaller pool of buyers. Here are a few ways to help make the process easier.

Before listing your home, make sure you and the prospective buyers know exactly the condition of your home and have a good idea of its value. For most sales, a home inspection only occurs after an offer is made. However, you should consider a pre-listing inspection. It gives potential buyers a clear understanding of the home’s condition, which builds trust and can lead to quicker offers. This also helps you to disclose any known issues up front to avoid legal issues later. Buyers will also appreciate the honesty, and serious ones are more likely to stick around.

You should also work with a good agent to determine a fair price based on market conditions and the home’s condition before listing the property. Listing a home at one price and significantly altering it later can look like either dishonest or shoddy work. You and your agent can also collaborate to highlight your home’s best attributes. Does your home have a fantastic location, rustic charm or positive quirks? Make sure those positives shine in your listing.

Another tip is that even if you don’t make full repairs, small improvements go a long way. Clean thoroughly, declutter, and consider a fresh coat of paint to help your home make the best impression. As-is means as it was when listed, not as it was when you decided you wanted to list. Don’t feel like you can’t improve anything in the meantime. Besides, new paint is a plus that can be added to your listing description.

Photo by Strange Happenings on Unsplash

Jodi Seigel – Songwriter Showcase – July 15

A note from Jodi:

HI MUSIC LOVIN’ FRIENDS OF MINE! 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR LIVE MUSIC! WE AS MUSIC MAKERS CANNOT DO WHAT WE LOVE TO DO, PLAY LIVE SHOWS, WITHOUT YOU ALL SHOWING UP NIGHT AFTER NIGHT! 

SPEAKING OF SHOWING UP, LAST MONTH’S ALL PRO SONGWRITER SHOW WAS OFF THE CHAIN INCREDIBLE, PACKED TO THE RAFTERS FROM BEGINNING TILL THE END TO HEAR TWO OF THE BEST SWAMPY, BLUESY, ROOTS TRIO’S ANYWHERE! SCROLL DOWN FOR SOME PICTURES –  THANK YOU RICK HOLMSTROM, GREGORY BOAZ, STEVE MUGALIAN (FROM MAVIS STAPLES BAND), AND THE MOJO MONKEYS; DAVID RAVEN, TARAS PROANIUK AND BILLY WATTS! IT WAS BADASS! IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU KNOW!

THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T WANNA MISS ANOTHER SMOKING NIGHT AHEAD; TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025 AT 7PM, WITH LA’S FAVORITE SONS; JOEY DELGADO AND THE DELGADO BROTHERS! IF YOU’RE A ROOTS,BLUES, LATIN/SOUL FAN, WITH AN AWARD WINNING GUITAR PLAYER AND GREAT SONGS, AND WHO ISN’T BE THERE! I’LL BE THERE TOO DOING MY THING; AND I’M SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO SO! PLUS I’M A BIG FAN OF THESE GUYS SO I’LL BE LOVING IT TOO!

FOR MORE INFO ON THE DELGADO BROTHERS: https://www.delgadobrothers.com/

Sales Volume Shaky, Prices Falling

South Bay Prices Falling

The real estate market in the Los Angeles South Bay kicked off 2025 with an 11% increase in the number of residences sold for January. That increase in sales volume was accompanied by median price bumps that ranged from 0% in the Inland area to 32% in the Beach cities.

Fast forward to May, almost halfway through the year, and the sales volume has dropped to a 7% increase over May of last year. With the number of homes selling declining, the median prices have likewise moved from the positive side to the negative. Comparing the median prices to May of last year shows prices falling in three of the four South Bay areas. Only the Beach cities managed to stay positive with a 9% increase, albeit compared to 32% in January. The other three areas dropped by as much as 8%. (See below for more detail.)

This South Bay Market Snapshot shows where the market is shifting and by how much. It’s designed to help clients understand the direction of the market. Those who watch the market trend will see increasing larger chunks of real estate market are sliding toward recession either in the number of homes sold for a given period, or correspondingly dropping in median price. The mid-year report next month should provide a more definitive comment on the future of local real estate.

Beach: Still Up, but …?

May was not a good month for real estate in the Beach cities, but it was better than last May. The month over month statistics are red ink, with the number of homes sold dropping by 2% and the median price falling 3% from April. Sales volume came in at 122 units, compared to 125 in April. The median price was $1,900,000 down from $1,955,000 last month.

Annual sales volume was more impressive at 11% increase in the number of homes sold. Similarly, the median price at the Beach escalated by a relatively high 9%, compared to the other areas of the South Bay.

Year to date, 541 homes have sold in the Beach area, 25% greater than the first five months of 2024. At $2,000,000 the median price surprises, since the median month to month is only $1,900,000. How could the median for the year to date, be higher? Well, looking at the past few months shows Beach area prices started the year much higher than they are now. In fact, the median in January was $2,355,000—almost $400,000 higher than May. Beach area median prices have been falling every month this year.

Harbor: Sales Slipping, Prices Down

Month over month, sales volume in the Harbor area dropped by 5%, from 310 homes in April to 293 in May. Surprisingly, the median price climbed from $785,000 to $815,000, for a boost of 4%.

Comparing this May to the same month last year gives similarly mixed results, though in reverse. While monthly home sales found May lower than April, annual sales were up 2% from May of 2024. In the same time frame, median prices fell 4% across the year.

For January through May of 2025 the number of home sold rose 6% from last year, for a total of 1373 properties closing escrow. During the same period of time the median price rose 1%, ending at $785,000.

Hill: Sales Solid, Prices Down

Home sales on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for the month of May delivered an increase of 1%, totaling 74 homes. In May, the median price likewise went up, reaching $1,850,000, or 4% more than those sold in April.

Looking at sales volume year over year shows a more varied picture. Last month compared to May of 2024 offers a 12% increase in the number of homes sold. At the same time, the median price tumbled by 5%. One should always be cautioned that with the small number of transactions in peninsula homes, percentages often seem exaggerated, thus it’s important to look at the year to date statistics, too.

For the first five months of 2025 275 homes were sold on the Hill, boosting sales volume by 7% over that of 2024. While the volume came up, the median price went down. At $1,897,000 the median dropped by 2%. It would seem a correction was in the making, though that’s based on memory of other financial “compressions” in recent years.

Inland: Median Prices Continue Down

Monthly sales statistics brought a 12% jump in homes sold in the Inland area. This increase is easily the steepest in the South Bay for May. The next closest rise in sales was the Palos Verdes area with a 1% bump over April volume. The 143 homes sold at a median price of $870,000, a 1% drop from the April median.

The Inland area joined the Hill in yearly sales increases. Both areas registered a 12% jump in volume, coming in at the top, with the South Bay as a whole rising by only 7%. Continuing a trend started in March, Inland median prices once again fell, this time registering the steepest drop across the South Bay, falling 8% below last year’s May numbers.

As the calendar barrels toward mid-year Inland sales volume for the year to date has climbed 5% over 2024 to 575 homes sold. Median prices for the same period rose a very modest $10, settling at $900,000, effectively a 0% increase.

Beach=Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo
Harbor=Carson, Long Beach, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City
PV Hill=Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates
Inland=Torrance, Lomita, Gardena

Photo by Nicholas Grande on Unsplash

Andy & Renee Around the South Bay

For a full calendar and any changes to the schedule, check here:
https://andyandrenee.com/calendar

Andy & Renee-The Lighthouse

TUESDAYS @ 5:30PM — 7:30PM (except July 1st)
The Lighthouse Cafe,
30 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310 376-9833

Andy & Renee-Banana Leaf

THURSDAYS @6:30PM — 9:00PM
Banana Leaf & Beach Cities Social,
1408 S Pacific Coast Hwy,
Redondo Beach, CA

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-The Grand Annex
SOLD OUT

FRI, JUN 27, 2025 @ 8:00PM
The Grand Annex,
434 W. 6th St.,
San Pedro, CA 90731.

Featuring the music of Jackson Browne and Lucinda Williams. Tickets

Andy & Renee-Canada Day Celebration

TUE, JUL 1, 6pm.
Fundraiser for Community’s Child.
Hosted by Athen Paquette and Tom Cormier.

All Canadian Music! Drinks, Poutine, Canadian snacks included! Price also includes a donation to Community’s Child. We’ll have a quiz w/prizes. Blankets provided if it gets chilly! $40. Show is in Palos Verdes…Address provided upon purchase of a ticket. Tickets

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-Torrance Summer Concert Series

SAT, JUL 5, 2025 5:00PM
Wilson Park,
2200 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Torrance, CA 90501

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-Malaga Cove Library Park Concert

WED, JUL 9 @ 6:30-7:30PM
Malaga Cove Library Park,
2400 Via Campesina,
Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Andy & Renee-Brews Hall Del Amo

Fridays, July 11 & 25 @ 7:00PM — 10:00PM
Brews Hall Del Amo,
21770 Del Amo Circle East,
Torrance, CA 90503

Andy & Renee- Terranea Lobby Bar

FRI, JUL 18 @ 7:00PM — 11:00PM
Terranea Lobby Bar,
100 Terranea Way,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Happening at the Grand Annex

Ronstadt Revival

Two shows!
Friday, June 20 at 8 PM – Sold Out
Saturday, June 21 – Sold Out
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

Back by popular demand! Premier tribute to Linda Ronstadt featuring Shannon Rae brings you the songs you love from this legendary artist.

Shannon Rae and her band brought the house down with their fall 2021 concert at the Grand Annex. On stage, their show does justice to the music and the intensity of Ronstadt’s songs. Hear “You’re No Good,” “Blue Bayou,” “When Will I Be Loved,” “Tracks of My Tears” and more.

Mikaela Kai Flamenco
SPAIN Sueño de Libertad

Saturday, June 22, 2025, 2:00pm
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

You can’t miss the outstanding performance of Barcelona native flamenco artists, Paco Arroyo and Yolanda Arroyo. Paco’s virtuoso playing guitar, Yolanda’s heart-moving dance, singing and transcendental technique in castanets will surely fascinate all audiences with a standing ovation. Three talented local flamenco dancers and MKF’s dancers and musicians, will also be featured in the show.

The theme of this year’s event is “Spain”. Flamenco is a folk art form that originated in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, and the Romani, a migratory people, played a major role in its history and development. As an art form created by wandering peoples through a fusion of various music and rhythms, it resonates with a diverse range of people, bringing familiarity, nostalgia, and melancholy; in 2010, it was included in UNESCO’s list of Spain’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. We are honored to be able to present this wonderful culture to you on stage through the art of flamenco, an art we feel passionately about. You will be able to enjoy a wide range of flamenco performances, from brilliant dances with castanets, fans, and mantons, which are typical flamenco accessories, to cante and guitar performances! I hope that through this recital, you will enjoy a dreamy moment to immerse yourself in the passion of flamenco and free your spirit.

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain:
Jackson Browne & Lucinda Williams Tribute

Saturday, June 27, 2025, 8:00pm
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

One of SoCal’s most versatile folk-rock bands pays tribute to the music of Jackson Browne and Lucinda Williams.

With 17 CDs and 3 DVDs in their pocket, Andy & Renee have won countless awards, including Americana Group of the Year by the LA Music Awards, Best Duo/Group at the International Acoustic Music Awards and a Regional Emmy for their PBS concert special “Black Box Opens – Andy & Renee.” Their relatable lyrics, unforgettable melodic content and tightly crafted arrangements have brought together fiercely loyal audiences up and down the West Coast in the US and Canada.

Fred Crawford’s
Vaudeville Variety Revue

Saturday, July 12, 2025Time
7:30 PM

Tickets

The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

Back by popular demand! With spot-on timing and a passion for the Golden Age of film, local comedian Fred Crawford delivers a hilarious and clean one-man comedy show spoofing Hollywood’s classic stars with side-splitting impressions, slapstick and even a little tap dance. Not to be missed!

How To Cut Back On Moving Costs

One cost that many new homebuyers forget to factor into their budget is moving costs. It may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the purchase price of a house, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Between packaging, transportation, and potentially needing to take unpaid time off work, the expenses can add up. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce those costs.

Individually, boxes aren’t very expensive. However, when you’re moving everything in your house, you may need dozens of them. Try to pack up everything you won’t be using anytime soon in advance, to have a better gauge of how many boxes you’ll need. This also gives you time to look for used boxes — most people don’t need their boxes anymore after moving and end up recycling them, but some will put them up on places such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. In addition, even new, buying them in bulk is generally cheaper per unit. Another tip is that grocery stores and retailers often don’t have a use for the boxes their products ship in, and may even be willing to give them up for free.

Some moving companies will offer packing services, but this can ramp up the labor costs. And if you’re packing ahead of time, you’ll need to have your own packing materials. Luckily, you probably already have packing materials and don’t know it. Packing peanuts aren’t actually any more effective than soft clothing, towels, or blankets. Using them as packaging material instead of packing them separately also means you’ll be using fewer boxes. For fragile objects, wrap them in newspaper –if you still subscribe to any print newspapers, despite many newspapers now being online-only.

The biggest cost is often transportation. Renting a moving truck is expensive by itself, and you will also likely need to pay the labor costs for bringing your boxes into and out of the truck, as well as gas costs. Ask friends or family members if you can borrow their truck. You should probably still offer to pay for gas and food, but it would still be a small fraction of the cost.

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Benefits Of Homeownership And Resources To Achieve It

Having a roof over your head is important, but that’s certainly not the only benefit to homeownership. While renting may be cheaper in the short term, it’s certainly more expensive in the long term. That doesn’t even get into tax advantages and equity building, which are further financial benefits of owning a home. There are also non-financial benefits. When you’re a homeowner, changes you make to your living space don’t need to be approved by a landlord, and you can bring whoever you want into your home, including pets. Owning a home is also less stressful because you don’t have to worry about getting evicted or priced out of your home because the owner decided to sell it.

Fortunately for those of you looking to achieve homeownership, there are resources available. The HUD, the National Association of REALTORS®, and Habitat for Humanity all offer programs for first-time buyers as well as low-income buyers. In addition, local communities and real estate professionals share resources and host events to educate prospective homebuyers. Such events are also more common during the month of June, because it is National Homeownership Month.

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

How To Make New Friends After Moving As An Adult

One of the big concerns parents have when moving is whether their children will be able to make new friends. For children, though, making friends typically comes naturally as they meet classmates or neighbors their age, whether they have anything in common or not. There’s often a bigger struggle for adults, as routines and commitments can get in the way, and adults usually aren’t exposed to as many people every day. So when you find yourself in a new place, it can be difficult to make new friends with the alacrity one could as a child. Adults have to make a conscious effort to find new friends. Here are some tips to help make that happen.

Find interest-based meetups. Whatever your hobbies or interests, if you live in a city, you can bet that there’ll be a public meetup group where like-minded folk can mingle. Whether it’s birdwatching, fantasy movies or trainspotting, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll find others following the same pursuits.

Volunteer for causes you’re passionate about. If you believe strongly in a cause, volunteering in that field will bring you into contact with others who share your passion. Working as a team to evoke change in any environment will bring you into contact with people you share common ground with.

Use your current friend network. If you already get on well with someone, it’s pretty likely that you’ll get along with other people in their circle. Ask a friend for recommendations for new people you can hang out with. Be specific: for example, ask if they know anyone you could play tennis with.

Join classes. If dancing is your thing, find a local dance class. If you’re a fitness fanatic, join a spin class. If you feel your culinary skills are rusty, find a cookery class. Think about things you’ve always wanted to try but never had the chance to; most adult classes will usually have some kind of social element.

Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

Is South Bay Real Estate Collapsing?

South Bay Home Sales Solid, Prices Soft

The first two months of 2025 looked generally good. Not necessarily strong, but sales were more or less pluses compared to 2024. By the time March rolled around things were starting to look less positive. Sales were dropping in most neighborhoods and double digit increases were pretty much a thing of the past. With April the number of homes closing escrow actually increased, except for the Inland area.

Median price is another story. While prices have continued to escalate at the Beach, they have flattened in the Harbor area and dropped into negative territory everywhere else. The year to date statistics for median price are still ok, but beginning to look like a recession in the making.

Like the rest of the world’s economy, South Bay real estate in 2025 is volatile. From one month to the next there is hardly any continuity. Looking across the year to date activity is seems clear both sales volume and prices are sliding.

Sales volume is expected to remain below prior years for some time. This is a reaction to the extremely low interest rates attached to homes purchased during the pandemic. Those owners are holding on to those properties and rates for as long as possible. Compared to 2019, the last year before pandemic influenced real estate, sales volume has consistently been 5% to 15% lower.

On the other hand, median prices have jumped consistently. South Bay median prices are anywhere from 40% to 70% higher than in 2019. That inflation appears to have begun receding in the Harbor and Inland areas. It has slowed but not reversed at the Beach or on the Peninsula.

Beach: Starting to Weaken

The number of homes sold in the Beach cities during April increased to 125 units, or 3% over March. Looking at year of year sales volume, 6% more were sold in April of 2025 as were in the same month of 2024.

Median prices were mixed, coming in at $1,955,000, 2% below March of this year. Annually, the April median was 12% above April of last year.

Year to date for the first four months of the year, 419 homes have sold for a 30% increase over sales in 2024. The median price of $2,090,000 represents a 17% lift from last year.

Harbor: Sharply Slower

April sales volume in the Harbor area jumped by 23% above March, ending at 310 homes sold. Annually, that came in at a 17% increase above April of 2024.

Like the Beach, Harbor area median prices dropped 2% from March sales, registering at $785,000. Comparing that to the median in April of 2024 showed an increase of 1%.

Looking at the longer perspective, 1080 homes sold in the Harbor area year to date through April, for a increase of 7%. For the same period of time, the median price was flat at $772,500.

Hill: Prices Negative

On the Palos Verdes peninsula 73 homes were sold in April, an increase of 46% over March. That monthly increase far over-shadowed the year over year increase of 14%. It’s important to remember that activity on the PV Hill is lower than any of the other areas measured here, and is subject to some rather dramatic statistical swings.

While the number of sales increased monthly and annually, the median price dropped in both categories. At $1,783,560, April’s median price was 10% below that of March. April of 2025 came in 7% below the same month in 2024.

The first four months of the year saw 5% sales increase with 201 homes sold. For the same period, the median price rose 4% to $1,935,000.

Inland: Mostly Down

Monthly, sales in the Inland area climbed to 128 homes, for a 12% increase. At the same time the year to year sales volume fell 5% from April of last year.

The median price in April was $877,500, a drop of 4% from March while remaining the same as April of 2024.

Year to date sales of 432 homes was a 3% improvement over the first four months of 2024. For the same period, the median price of $900,000 represented a 1% increase.

Beach=Manhattan Beach, Hermosa772,500 Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo
Harbor=Carson, Long Beach, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City
PV Hill=Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates
Inland=Torrance, Lomita, Gardena

Photo by Gavin Ruane on Unsplash

Home Libraries Are Increasing In Popularity

Conventional wisdom dictates that large spaces that can be adapted to multiple functions, such as extra bedrooms, are the best way to draw a large variety of buyers. But if you know exactly what buyers are looking for, you don’t need a variety — just someone who’s very interested. And right now, what many buyers are interested in is a personal home library.

Obviously, a bedroom can be turned into a library. But for many people, that’s a waste of space, because they’re not going to use most of it. Buyers are wanting small, cozy spaces where they can relax with a good book or focus on a task without any distractions. If the space is too large, the homeowners might feel compelled to make it a multifunctional room in order to make the most of the space. This isn’t necessarily an issue, but would certainly make it difficult to concentrate.

An extra bedroom may still have more resale value in the end, but resale value doesn’t matter if you can’t get your home sold. There’s been a shift in priority towards homes that suit individual needs and can express personal aesthetics, so that buyers can feel comfortable in their new homes, rather than simply treating it as a roof over their head or cash in the future. This is especially true for high-end buyers, who can afford to be more picky about what they’re looking for.

Photo by Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd. on Unsplash

How To Make The Most Of A Small Outdoor Space

If one of your priorities when looking for a home is a backyard or other outdoor space, you’re probably taking the size of the outdoor space into consideration when making decisions. However, you shouldn’t necessarily discount smaller outdoor spaces. It’s possible that a smaller space is perfectly suitable to your needs. First think about what you intend to use the space for — a small backyard may not work for large gatherings, but can be effective for personal relaxation.

If you know you have sufficient space but are worried about the space looking and feeling small, there are plenty of ways to fix that. Ambient lighting can make any space feel larger or more inviting than it is. Or sometimes the outdoor space feels smaller because it lacks certain features that you’d expect, such as a deck or patio, but perhaps there’s room to add one. You could also potentially connect a backyard and side yard into one, larger L-shaped yard. Another method to fool your senses is to use smaller or foldable furniture, which offers cozy places to sit without crowding the space.

Maximizing the available space isn’t just about perceptions, though. It also requires planning out the best way to use the space. Flower beds and lawns tend to take up a lot of the backyard, so consider different types of landscaping. Landscaping that fits in smaller spaces is also typically easier to maintain. You should also think vertically. No matter the size of your yard, it can be expanded upward. Hanging planters and trellises don’t take up much space on the ground. You can also add shelves and place plants in rows and columns. Vertical gardening is also multifunctional — raised garden beds can be benches; shelves can also be bookcases; trellises can be attached to a privacy fence; plants can hang from light fixtures.

Photo by Charlotte Cowell on Unsplash

Suggestions For The Perfect Housewarming Party

If you’ve just moved into a new home, you might be considering a housewarming party. But you may not know what that looks like. Luckily, there are many different kinds of housewarming parties, and there’s bound to be an idea that an appeals to you. Here are just a few suggestions — but don’t feel limited to these, if you have ideas of your own.

If your new home has a great outdoor entertainment area, you may want to show it off, assuming weather permits. You could have a relaxed picnic in your backyard, or you could end the night by toasting marshmallows over a bonfire.

For those of you who just want to drink and be merry, there are a couple different options. You could set up a cocktail bar in your own home or ask guests to bring their favorites. If you want the focus to be on your new neighborhood, you could instead check out local beverages and host a drink tasting.

Maybe fun and games is more your vibe. Board game nights are a popular family tradition, and it doesn’t hurt to get new neighbors in on the action — they may even become regulars at your table. You could also turn exploring your new home into a competition. Organize a treasure hunt and give prizes to the winners.

Are you the artsy type? Maybe your neighbors are too. DIY arts and crafts are a good way for people to get to know each other without feeling like they need to socialize. Gifting your neighbors cookies is common, whether you’re the new neighbor or the old one — but why not make it more personal? Invite your neighbors over to decorate cookies, then share them with each other.

Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

What’s The Difference Between A CMA And An Appraisal?

Prospective sellers unfamiliar with the process may look to real estate agents for an appraisal. In some cases, an appraisal is what they want, but that’s not something a real estate agent can provide. In other cases, what they’re actually looking for is a comparative market analysis, or CMA, which an agent can indeed help with. These are both methods of property valuation, but they have significant differences.

A CMA is an estimate of what buyers are likely to pay based on recent market data. A real estate agent creates a CMA by analyzing market trends and researching recent sales and listings of similar properties. By comparing the prices and amenities of those properties, the agent will arrive at an estimate of market value, which will be a price that, in a normal market, a willing buyer would pay a motivated seller. In most cases, this value is likely in the vicinity of what the agent believes would be an effective listing price.

An appraisal is created by an appraiser, not a real estate agent. An appraiser is an independent licensed professional who objectively looks at the condition and location of a property as well as the quality of comparable sales and makes proven value adjustments to the comparable features where they differ from the subject property. With an appraisal, the ultimate value is defensible and documented and is arrived at by someone who has no interest in the property. It’s not uncommon for this value to differ slightly from the value estimated by a CMA, though a large difference may raise some questions.

Photo by Marten Newhall on Unsplash

Live Music at the Grand Annex

Concerts at the Harbor
MLC Band (Mid-Life Crisis)

Saturday, May 24, 2025, 4:00 PM
Free
LA Maritime Museum Plaza
Berth 84, San Pedro CA 90731
Grand Vision

Grand Vision presents Mid-Life Crisis (MLC) during San Pedro Waterfront’s Fleet Week at the LA Maritime Museum Plaza. Danceable favorites from a high-energy, classic rock band that is pure San Pedro-bred! Led by singer Roni Iacono.

Concerts at the Harbor
Drift Away

Sunday, May 25, 2025, 5:00 PM
Free
LA Maritime Museum Plaza
Berth 84, San Pedro CA 90731
Grand Vision

Grand Vision presents Drift Away, a talented quartet performing R&B, funk and more hits from the soulful ’60s and ’70s featuring:

  • Harold Payne, multi-platinum songwriter for artists such as Rod Stewart, Patti Labelle and longtime collaborator, Bobby Womack; literally from Peter Paul & Mary to Snoop Dogg.
  • Rick Cowling, toured with Kenny Loggins and Ambrosia playing keyboards, guitar and vocals for many years and produced songs for Bonnie Raitt, Bobby Womack and Melissa Manchester.
  • Percussionist Oliver C. Brown, original member of KC & The Sunshine Band and has toured with Al Jarreau, Fleetwood Mac, Leo Sayer and smooth jazz artist NILS.
  • Michael Mennell, bassist and vocalist, has played and recorded with Sir Tom Jones, John Fogerty, Boz Scaggs and Billy F. Gibbons and is a Pop Bass professor at the USC Thornton School of Music

POLAHS Senior Showcase
Visual and Performing Arts

Sunday, May 25, 2025, 5:00 PM
Free
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Port of Los Angeles High School

The senior class of Port of Los Angeles High School Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum return to the Grand Annex with an exciting and eclectic mix of music, dance, drama, and video.

This event is presented by the Port of Los Angeles High School, please contact the event presenter with all questions.

Concerts at the Harbor
Homegrown Collective

Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 PM
Free
LA Maritime Museum Plaza
Berth 84, San Pedro CA 90731
Grand Vision

Homegrown Collective wraps up this concert series after the San Pedro Pride Flag Raising on Saturday, June 7. Dance to original songs upbeat favorites from the ‘80s through the present. The march and flag-raising celebration, presented by Bridge Cities Alliance, starts at 11 AM. The band follows directly after from 2-4 PM.

Laurence Juber’s AIRFOIL
Paul McCartney & Wings

Friday, June 13, 2025, 8:00 PM
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

Original Wings band member, Laurence Juber and his full band deliver unforgettable moments from the rocking side of the Wings catalog. Hear “Getting Closer,” “Spin It On,” “Rockestra,” “Maybe I’m Amazed” and more.

Juber is recognized internationally as lead guitarist in former-Beatle Paul McCartney’s band Wings, with whom he won a Grammy. Since then, he has established himself as a world-renowned guitar virtuoso. His playing fuses folk, jazz, blues, pop and classical styles, creating a multi-faceted performance that belies the use of only one instrument.

In addition to Juber, Airfoil’s master musicians are:
Jeff Alan Ross (keyboard) has worked as Peter Asher’s musical director and has toured with John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Badfinger and others.

Bill Cinque (bass) played in and directed the British Invasion 50th Anniversary Tour and has performed with Neil Diamond, Badfinger, Stevie Nicks and more.

Christopher Allis (drums) has toured internationally and has played studio recordings for Coca Cola, The Voice and several James Bond movies.

The Two Tracks

Saturday, June 14, 2025, 8:00 PM
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

​From Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, The Two Tracks deliver original Americana, driven by Dave Huebner’s cello and Julie Huebner’s guitar, their voices intertwining to create a sound that’s both ‘sweet lonesome prairie’ and a ‘barn dance hootenanny’.

With songwriting by husband and wife Dave and Julie Huebner, the band’s four-part harmonies are backed by Dave’s driving cello and Julie on guitar, Taylor Phillips on bass and Fernando Serna on drums.

The band recently performed at Americanafest and has opened for artists including Kitchen Dwellers and The Black Lillies. In 2022, they performed at the World Expo in Dubai, and in 2024, were featured at FAR-West Folk Alliance’s Official Showcase.

Ronstadt Revival

Two shows!
Friday, June 20 at 8 PM
Saturday, June 21 – Sold Out
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

Back by popular demand! Premier tribute to Linda Ronstadt featuring Shannon Rae brings you the songs you love from this legendary artist.

Shannon Rae and her band brought the house down with their fall 2021 concert at the Grand Annex. On stage, their show does justice to the music and the intensity of Ronstadt’s songs. Hear “You’re No Good,” “Blue Bayou,” “When Will I Be Loved,” “Tracks of My Tears” and more.

Mikaela Kai Flamenco
SPAIN Sueño de Libertad

Saturday, June 22, 2025, 2:00pm
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

You can’t miss the outstanding performance of Barcelona native flamenco artists, Paco Arroyo and Yolanda Arroyo. Paco’s virtuoso playing guitar, Yolanda’s heart-moving dance, singing and transcendental technique in castanets will surely fascinate all audiences with a standing ovation. Three talented local flamenco dancers and MKF’s dancers and musicians, will also be featured in the show.

The theme of this year’s event is “Spain”. Flamenco is a folk art form that originated in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, and the Romani, a migratory people, played a major role in its history and development. As an art form created by wandering peoples through a fusion of various music and rhythms, it resonates with a diverse range of people, bringing familiarity, nostalgia, and melancholy; in 2010, it was included in UNESCO’s list of Spain’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. We are honored to be able to present this wonderful culture to you on stage through the art of flamenco, an art we feel passionately about. You will be able to enjoy a wide range of flamenco performances, from brilliant dances with castanets, fans, and mantons, which are typical flamenco accessories, to cante and guitar performances! I hope that through this recital, you will enjoy a dreamy moment to immerse yourself in the passion of flamenco and free your spirit.

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain:
Jackson Browne & Lucinda Williams Tribute

Saturday, June 27, 2025, 8:00pm
Tickets
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St., San Pedro CA 90731
(310) 833-4813
Grand Vision

One of SoCal’s most versatile folk-rock bands pays tribute to the music of Jackson Browne and Lucinda Williams.

With 17 CDs and 3 DVDs in their pocket, Andy & Renee have won countless awards, including Americana Group of the Year by the LA Music Awards, Best Duo/Group at the International Acoustic Music Awards and a Regional Emmy for their PBS concert special “Black Box Opens – Andy & Renee.” Their relatable lyrics, unforgettable melodic content and tightly crafted arrangements have brought together fiercely loyal audiences up and down the West Coast in the US and Canada.

All Pro Songwriters’ Showcase – May 2025

The Venue – Project Barley

Jodi Siegel’s All Pro Songwriters Showcase is held at Project Barley the third Tuesday of every month. This craft brewpub serves excellent food (gourmet pizza, wings, sandwiches, salads) along with wine and award winning beer. Food served till 8:30pm. No reservations.
https://projectbarley.com/
2308 Pacific Coast Hwy,
Lomita, CA 90717

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps coming up in May! Gonna be a rocking time! This band is grammy nominated and have been touring all over the world and we are lucky to have ’em at the All Pro Songwriters Night, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 7-9pm. For more information on Teresa and the Tramps go to https://teresajames.com/

Jodi Seigel

Jodi Siegel, originally from Chicago, IL, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Over the years Jodi has opened for and or shared the stage with many respected musicians including: Albert King, Robben Ford, Robert Cray, J.D. Souther, David Lindley, Fred Tacket and Paul Barrere (Little Feat) and countless others. Her songs have been recorded by Maria Muldaur, Marcia Ball, Tommy Ridgley and Teresa James.

Andy & Renee – Los Angeles Performances

For a full calendar and any changes to the schedule, check here:
https://andyandrenee.com/calendar

Andy & Renee-The Lighthouse

TUESDAYS @ 5:30PM — 7:30PM
The Lighthouse Cafe,
30 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310 376-9833

Andy & Renee-Banana Leaf

THURSDAYS @6:30PM — 9:00PM
Banana Leaf & Beach Cities Social,
1408 S Pacific Coast Hwy,
Redondo Beach, CA

Andy & Renee-House Concert-Studio City

SAT, MAY 31
Andy & Renee & Special Guests. Details TBA

Andy & Renee-Brews Hall Del Amo

FRI, June 13, July 11 & 25@ 7:00PM — 10:00PM
Brews Hall Del Amo,
21770 Del Amo Circle East,
Torrance, CA 90503

Palos Verdes Street Fair

SUN, June 15th- 12-1:30 pm
Norris Center Drive & Deep Valley Drive,
Palos Verdes.