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Single family homes in Torrance

Neighborhood Spotlight – Southwood Torrance Homes for Sale

Welcome to Real Estate in Southwood TorranceHollywood Riviera homes for sale - 340 Via Colusa

Sitting between West Torrance and South Torrance is the wonderful neighborhood of Southwood.  This small area also sits just east of Redondo Beach and the proximity to the ocean means milder weather and great ocean breezes that other parts of the city don’t enjoy.

Southwood Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Comprised mainly of 1940s and 1950s beach style bungalows, the area is still more affordable than some of the nearby beach cities while still having a certain charm lost in some of these other areas with oversized homes, makes a statement type architecture and over development.  Some homes have gone the route of maximum square footage, but the majority still look like homes that belong in the neighborhoods and give homeowners a bit of space and separation.  Although prices are still below neighboring South Redondo, they have risen dramatically in the past 2 years with most original smaller 3 bed/1 bath homes starting in the mid to low $900’s for fairly original, but nice condition, and the larger 3 bed/2 bath 1400 foot (many homes added a family room accounting for the extra square footage) selling anywhere from the mid to low $1,200,000s up to the low $1,600,000’s depending on location and condition.

What makes the area so special is the community feel, with an abundance of parks, dog parks and schools all within walking distance.   A quick drive down just about any street says it all with pride of ownership being quite apparent.  Manicured lawns, updated homes, tree lined streets and an abundance of neighbors walking the area makes for a great atmosphere.  Contact us if you are interested in learning more about Southwood or would be interested in receiving free email updates with the latest listings.

Current Southwood Torrance homes for sale

in Buyers, First Time Buyers, Homes for Sale, Sellers, Southwood, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle
Coins in tabular chart

What Will Your Tax Savings Be By Owning a Home?

One of the more frequent questions lenders get when pre-approving a client for aCoins in tabular chart new home is “How much will this new home save me on my tax bill each month”? Many home buyers use the monthly tax savings to offset the increase in housing expense that a new home can bring. The savings can help the buyer to budget for a higher priced home which could make it possible to live in a more desirable neighborhood, possibly reap the benefits of higher property appreciation and help the buyer to have better resale options.

To help illustrate a home buyers potential monthly tax savings, the below chart shows the loan amount, monthly tax savings and how the monthly tax savings could be used to increase purchasing power.

Loan Amount Monthly Savings Increase in Purchase Power
$250,000 $297 $56,000
$300,000 $356 $67,000
$350,000 $416 $80,000
$400,000 $475 $94,000
$450,000 $534 $103,000
$500,000 $594 $113,000
$550,000 $653 $124,000
$600,000 $712 $137,000
$650,000 $772 $146,000

• Above based on mortgage interest rate of 4.75%, and a Federal Tax Brackett of 30.%
• Source: homes.yahoo.com – Figures to be verified with your CPA

in Buyers, First Time Buyers Posted by Keith Kyle
Paseo De La Playa in the Hollywood Riviera offers oceanfront homes with dazzling views

Paseo De La Playa….The Best Street in the Hollywood Riviera

By Keith KyleHollywood Riviera Homes

The Hollywood Riviera is one of my favorite areas of the South Bay.  Great views, small town community feel, ocean breezes, and homes that generally fit on the lots make for a feel that you don’t often get in the overcrowded South Bay.  It’s hard to go wrong with any location in this coastal community that lies in both Redondo Beach and Torrance but there’s one street that beats them all. Paseo De La Playa offers bluff top, oceanfront living for the lucky few and enjoys the best of all imaginable views.  The homes enjoy views of Palos Verdes, panoramic ocean views, and coastline views from Redondo Beach all the way to Malibu.  What that makes for is ever changing, always impressive views.  During the day it’s all about the ocean and coastline, but in the evening when colors change, it becomes a fantastic city lights view along the coast.

The lots, as seen below, are huge and usually in the 20,000+ range although mayOceanfront homes on Paseo De La Playa in the Hollywood Riviera of Redondo Beach. are on leased land often with an option to buyout the lease every few years. Depending on how high on the hill you are (lower elevation homes on towards the left above) there is sometimes direct beach access from the homes which dramatically increases the appeal as “RAT” beach (Right after Torrance) is just below and almost serves as a private beach as access is limited to a fairly long walk from the parking lot.

Homes on this street rarely become available and many are still in fairly original condition with original owners from the 1960s (honestly why would anyone want to move) and range anywhere from the low $3,000,000s- to well into the $4.0M’s for anything remodeled, especially with beach access.

Adding beach access, if not already there, is a huge struggle as it’s tightly regulated by the California Coastal Commission.  The only minor inconvenience to living on Paseo De La Playa is that it’s a moderately busy street and a frequent route for both cars and bicyclists going between Redondo and Palos Verdes.  There is one condo complex at the top of the street called Cote D’Azure with 87 units perched high on the bluff surrounding extensive grounds and pools.  The units are 2 bedrooms generally ranging between 1300-1550 square feet.  Many units do not sit oceanfront and have limited views, while the rare few offer similar views to the SFRs just down the street.

Overall the homes on Paseo De La Playa offer some of the best features imaginable for those looking into the epitome of California coastal luxury living.

For information on current homes contact us or fill in the form below and tell us you’re interested in this wonderful street.

Oceanfront Paseo De La Playa Homes for Sale

in Buyers, Hollywood Riviera, Homes for Sale, Redondo Beach, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle

Who Pays for What During Escrow in Torrance?

Closing Costs – Who Generally Pays What In a Torrance CA Escrow

Keep in mind that the charts below are based on the standard allocation of costs in Torrance.  As with any detail of buying a home everything is negotiable including who pays what costs during the transaction.  In addition not all of these costs exist in every transaction and many are dependent on the lender, escrow company and the details of the offer.

Title Fees

Cost Customarily Charged By/To: Description
Owners Title Policy Title:To Seller Fee for the title policy. Calculated using the sales price.May be reduced if home was purchased or refinanced inthe last 5 years. Insures that the title is as agreedto at closing
LendersTitle Policy Title:To Buyer Title policy issued to lender to cover the amount of the loan.Based on the loan amount unless it is a negative amortizationloan.
Sub Escrow Fee Title:to Buyer & Seller Fee to administer the payoff of loans or property taxes of the seller and collection of funds from the new lender
Document Transfer Tax County: to Seller at $1.10 per thousand of sales priceCity: No transfer tax in Torrance Fee charged on all properties that transfer title – based on sales price.
Record Release/Reconveyance County:To Seller Charge to record the release/reconveyance
Federal Express/Messanger Fees Federal Express: to Buyer & Seller Charge to deliver all time sensitive documents and monies
Title/Wire Fee Banking Instituion: to Buyer & Seller Charge to wire funds to escrow, seller, lenders, etc
Electronic Recording County: to Buyer Charge to electronically record the document
Record Grant Deed County: To Buyer Charge to record the grant deed
Record Trust Deed County: To Buyer Charge to record the trust deed.
Messenger Messenger Service: To Buyer and Seller Charge to special messenger documents during the escrow: Feevaries with distance
Lender’s Endorsement Title: to Buyer Charge for endorsements required by lender to cover “outsidethe normal” risk circumstances

Escrow Fees

Cost Customarily Charged By/To: Description
Escrow Fee Escrow: Each pays own Covers liability assumed as well as standard processing costs.
Demand Fee Escrow: to Seller Charge to request a statement & process involved in getting a payoff figureto escrow on the outstanding amount of the current loan. One demand fee per loan.
Process HOA Docs & Transfer Fee Escrow: Seller Fee for processing required to assign membership for HOA a& copying all governing documents
Document Fee Escrow: to Buyer Covers the cost of all processing required to meet new lender requirements
Loan Tie-In Fee Escrow: to Buyer Covers the cost of all processing required to meet new lender requirements
Federal Express Federal Express: to Buyer For document packages to out of County Lenders.

Lender Fees

Cost Customarily Charged By/ To Description
Origination Fee Lender: to Buyer Charge for lending money at 1% of the loan amount
Documentation Preparation Lender: to Buyer Paid to lender for preparation of final loan documents
Tax service Tax Service: to Buyer Fee charged to buyer to set up property taxes with the state
Wire Banking institution Charge for the wiring of funds to title for closing
Underwriting Lender: to Buyer Fee to direct lender for the process of approving
Tax impounds Lender: to Buyer Collected to create an impound reserved account for the lender to pay property taxes twice a year
Prepaid Insurance Lender:to Buyer Generally 1yr of hazard insurance collected for impound reserveaccount
Appraisal Appraiser:to Buyer Paid directly to appraiser for appraisal of property
Credit Report Lender: to Buyer Paid to credit bureau for report containing 3 credit scores
Processing Lender: to Buyer Paid to mortgage broker for processing loan package from application to closing

Disbursements

Cost Customarily Charged By/ To Description
HOA Transfer Fee HOA Management: to Buyer To transfer ownership and handle new accounting set up
HOA Dues HOA Management: to Seller Paid through month of closing
Fire Insurance Insurance Agency: to Buyer 1 year prepaid premium for Homeowners insurance
Notary Notary: to Buyer

Payoffs

Cost Customarily Charged By/ To Description
Recording Fee Existing Lender: to Borrower Charge for having reconveyance recorded.
Statement forwarding fee Existing Lender: to Borrower Charge for issuing a payoff statement

Credits and Prorations

Cost Customarily Charged By/ To Description
HOA Dues Seller: to Buyer Calculated from date of COA through month-end
County Property Taxes Seller: to Buyer Calculated from the date of payoff through end of period paid for.
in Buyers, Escrow Process, First Time Buyers, Sellers, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle

21213 Anza Ave – Southwood Torrance Home for Sale

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.

[idx-listing mlsnumber=”PV14078225″ showall=”true”]

in Buyers, Homes for Sale, Southwood, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle
Home with "flags" marking outline of proposed addition in Torrance hillside overlay area

Torrance Real Estate Explained – Hillside Overlay

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.

 

in Buyers, Hollywood Riviera, Real Estate Market, Seaside Ranchos, Sellers, South Torrance, Torrance Real Estate Posted by Keith Kyle