Real Estate in Torrance - Search homes for sale in Torrance CA > Articles by: Keith Kyle

Author: Keith Kyle

Keith Kyle is a top real estate agent in the South Bay and focuses on the cities of Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Manhattan Beach. Helping both buyers and sellers Keith is a local expert in the Torrance market with South Bay Brokers and has been one of the top agents in the area since 2007.
Homes for sale in the Hollywood Riviera

Seaside Ranchos A Great Combination of Neighborhood Feel and Beach Proximity

By Keith Kyle Homes for sale in the Hollywood Riviera

Many buyers actively seek Torrance neighborhoods for the wonderful community feel, tree lined streets, great schools and family friendly vibe.  Nowhere is this more embodied than in the Seaside Ranchos area of South Torrance.  The Seaside Ranchos neighborhood is often called the Christmas Lights area due to the annual show put on by the residents.  Sitting just North of Pacific Coast Highway as it turns inland near the Palos Valos Peninsula the neighborhood is a collection of beautiful homes on larger lots.  Most homes are generally updated and upgraded versions of the original beach homes built with fewer “McMansions” than in many other South Bay neighborhoods.   The majority of the homes offer 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and due to the much larger lots than in most areas of Torrance often have fantastic backyards.  The tree lined streets offer a very safe and friendly feel and give the area it’s “Christmas Lights” nickname as all of the community trees are wrapped in white lights during the holidays and rare is the home that isn’t decorated with lights and decorations.  The area has become so popular during the holidays that traffic is restricted in the evenings and cars line up for seemingly hours to drive through the spectacular display.  Prices generally start in the low $800s and can price over the $2.0M mark for some of the most impressive homes on oversized lots.  One of the newest communities in the South Bay is just nearby as well.  One South in Redondo Beach at 1920 S Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach offers a variety of condos and townhomes near Riviera Village shopping and dining.

Current South Torrance Homes for Sale


Any property information referenced on this website comes from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of CRISNet MLS and/or CARETS. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

in Buyers, Homes for Sale, Seaside Ranchos, Sellers, Torrance Real Estate, Torrance Realtors Posted by Keith Kyle

Great Short Sale Opportunity in South Torrance – In Escrow

Short sale opportunities have just about dried up in the South Bay with homeowners quickly regaining any lost value after the bubble burst.  Although no longer  commonplace and not the deals they once were, short sales and foreclosures still do occasionally come along.

Just listed is a very nice sized home in a great South Torrance neighborhood at 4026 W 234th Street 90505.  The home features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and an impressive 2171 square feet.

[idx-listing mlsnumber=”7529016010″ showall=”true”]

in Buyers, First Time Buyers, Homes for Sale, Short Sales and Foreclosures, South Torrance, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle
South Torrance homes

Spectacular Estate for Sale at 23135 Doris Way in South Torrance

Looking more like an estate found in Palos Verdes than a home in SouthSouth Torrance homes Torrance, the recent listing at 23135 Doris Way is spectacular in just about every way.  Sitting on a 15,000+ lot, which is extremely rare, even in South Torrance, the home offers the best of all worlds.  Spacious and luxurious interiors with 4600 square feet, 5 bedrooms, and 7 baths.  Built in 2005 this beautiful home offers a level of luxury usually only seen in nearby Palos Verdes and Manhattan Beach.  Contact us for more information.

in Buyers, Luxury Homes, South Torrance, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle
Chatelaine in Plaza Del Amo

The Gated Townhome Communities of Plaza Del Amo Torrance

By Keith KyleSouth Bayport in Plaza Del Amo Torrance

Central Torrance offers a series of communities fairly unique in the South Bay known as the Plaza Del Amo area offering an abundance of townhome style homes in several gated communities.  Although each community has a different name and HOA, they are generally located on Plaza Del Amo in the 90501 zip code.  Ideally located near major shopping centers, recreational facilities, parks, and restaurants, the communities of Plaza Del Amo are fantastic housing options for buyers looking for good areas, good schools, gated communities with an abundance of activities.

Click here to view the current homes in Plaza Del Amo

Prices currently range from the high $300,000s for one of the few one bedroom condo style units to around $800,000 for a much larger 4 bedroom detached townhome (often marketed as single family homes).  Most complexes offer pools and various other community buildings.

Want and even easier way to search for homes?  Tell us just a bit about what you’re looking for in a home and we’ll customize a search just for you and send you email alerts whenever a new home hits the market.  Never miss a new listing in Torrance and Plaza Del Amo again!

One of the aspects that make the areas and communities desirable is the highly rated Torrance school system and the area is generally served by Hickory Elementary, Madrona Middle School and Torrance High.

For information on specific complexes and other helpful real estate and community details visit our Plaza Del Amo real estate blog site.

Most of the complexes are located east of Madrona, west of Crenshaw and just north of Sepulveda.  Some of the many complexes are:

Gated communities and complexes near Plaza Del Amo

Current Plaza Del Amo Torrance Homes for Sale

in Buyers, Central Torrance, Plaza Del Amo Posted by Keith Kyle
Townhomes for sale - 2209 Nelson

Pocket & Off Market Listings are All the Rage in Torrance

By Keith KyleWest Torrance Homes

If you’re a home buyer at the moment, you’ve probably been a little frustrated with just how little housing inventory there is, how quickly the good homes sell, and how often they sell for far more than they were listed.  You’ve probably also heard the terms pocket listings and off market listings as those are definitely the buzz words of the moment.

So what do these words really mean and how do you find out about them?

Pocket listings and off market listings can mean several things, but basically they are homes that agents may, or may not, have formal agreements to sell, but are aware the sellers are interested in selling.  Most often the realtor has a written agreement to represent the sellers, but for one reason or another, the sellers either don’t want their home to be put on the MLS or perhaps they just aren’t quite ready.  In other situations it may be far more informal with either the homeowner telling a realtor “bring me a buyer and maybe I’ll sell” or something in which the owner would only consider selling at a price over the market value of the home.

So how does this help you?

The concept is pretty simple….the fewer buyers that know about a home the better the chances of having your offer considered and accepted.  Without the buyer frenzy that comes with most new listings these days the price may be kept at a reasonable level as well.

So how do you find these homes?

Townhomes for sale - 2209 Nelson
2209 Nelson

The best way to find these off market listings is to work with a successful local agent that specializes in the area you’re interested in.  It’s all about networking and the more owners, sellers and other agents the realtor is in contact with the more likely they may have ways of finding listings the public isn’t aware of.   Good agents will also actively seek out some unknown sellers with letters or even by door knocking.  Buyers can certainly try this on their own as well, but just won’t have the same reach as a well connected local agent.  If you would like us to help simply fill out our “let me know about pocket listings form” and specify if you want us to update you on all listings….or just the homes not on the market.

Be realistic

Although many deals are happening off market and it is a very good way of trying to find a home in a very challenging sellers market, buyers must be realistic.  Finding something off market generally doesn’t mean paying 70% of it’s value.  In our very high end market in which sellers have resources and information to know what their homes are worth, sellers are very savvy and often only willing to sell their homes off market if the price is right.

in Buyers, First Time Buyers, Listing Agents, Pocket Listings, Real Estate Market, Sellers, Torrance Real Estate, Torrance Realtors Posted by Keith Kyle
Torrance homes for sale

Real Estate Market Trends in South Torrance

When buying or selling homes in South Torrance, knowing and understanding the real estate market is critical to making the right decision. Real estate trends can help determine current values or even when the appropriate time to list and sell your South Torrance home. The information below is intended to help you get a better understanding of what is happening in the market.

The chart below shows the number of active listings (light green) sold homes (dark green) and pending home sales (red line) The greater the discrepancy between active homes and sold homes indicates a buyers market and when the numbers are closer a sellers market is indicated as inventory is down.

The chart below shows the average price per square foot. Square footage in the South Bay often doesn’t mean as much as in other markets as values can vary so dramatically due to things such as proximity to the beach, views, specific neighborhoods.

The chart below shows the average days on market per month as well as the % of list price that homes sold at. A high % indicates a sellers market as home sell at, or above list price.

The chart below shows the average price for listed home sales in relation to the average price for sold homes.

The chart below indicates the months of home inventory based on closed home sales. Buyer’s market: more than 6 months of inventory Seller’s market: less than 3 months of inventory Neutral market: 3 – 6 months of inventory

in Buyers, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Trends, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle