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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.

Coming Up At The Grand Annex

Paul Givant
Marigold Record Release Concert

April 26 – 8:00 PM, Doors 7:00 PM
The Grand Annex
434 W. 6th St.,
San Pedro, CA
Tickets

Paul Givant is the frontman, songwriter and founder of the Americana folk-rock band Rose’s Pawn Shop. He tours nationally and internationally with the group at festivals, theaters and clubs.

Since 2018, he has been writing solo records, through which he processes life’s highs, lows and complexities. Inspired by the sounds of 1970s folk rock, his new record Marigold is a deeply personal story of growth. Listen to the first single from Marigold, “Tripping On the Moon.”

Opening for Paul will be Mary Scholz / 8 PM

Mary Scholz’s “songbird vocals” (Americana Highways) and evocative songwriting have made her a live circuit favorite for over a decade. With her unique brand of gritty folk charm, the Philly-born, LA-based artist forges a personal connection with her audience every time she takes the stage. Zachary Ross of Rose’s Pawn Shop will join her for a few songs.

Spotlight on Singer-Songwriters
presented with Blackbird Record Label

Sat, May 03, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

Hosted by Americana-Country artist Manda Mosher, a five-time LA Music Awards winner. Mosher performs along with Dead Rock West, Silas Nello and Pi Jacobs.

Grand Vision and Blackbird Record Label collaborated to put this Spotlight Series line-up together through a generous grant from the Live Music Society.

LA-based Blackbird Record Label, founded by recording artist Manda Mosher and record label executive and music supervisor Eric Craig, represents a strong community of Americana and Alt-Country artists. Manda and Eric are also the founders and producers of the annual California Country Show at Americanafest in Nashville.

🍷Pre-Concert Wine Tasting:

Taste fine wines led by professional sommelier, Jean-Philippe Molinari.

Free to Grand Vision members at the Friend, Champion, VIP Circle, Arts Advocate and Performing Arts Patron level – up to two per household, $16 per person for all others. Concert tickets are required to participate. Members’ tasting tickets must be redeemed in advance. Tastings begin one hour before the show, please arrive no later than 30 minutes into the tasting to participate.

LA Poverty Dept. presents The Covid Hotel – A Free Play

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
5:30 PM
FREE
Tickets

The Covid Hotel Welcomes You to the Future is a performance by Los Angeles Poverty Department, a theater group from Skid Row that has performed throughout LA and the world. It is inspired by interviews with healthcare workers who ran the LA County Health Department’s Quarantine & Isolation sites for unhoused COVID patients. The performance celebrates the unexpected innovations of these “Covid Hotels” and amplifies the programs that are building upon these innovations to provide low-barrier access to healthcare and housing. The performance will be followed by a discussion with local professionals who work with underserved communities.

This performance is free and open to all. No RSVP required.

Afro Fiesta

Sat, May 10, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo and Jason Tamba formed Afro Fiesta, and recently rounded out the band with Coco Buono and Jose Agote, two members of the Argentine rock band Los Pinguos.

With early musical influences such as Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman and Peter Tosh, the band plays a fusion of eclectic styles including Afro-beat, reggae and Latin rhythms. You may recognize them from playing with Twanguero in their other band, Los Silverbacks.

Afro Fiesta has been part of the movement Playing For Change (PFC) since its inception. PFC aims to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. Through PFC, Afro Fiesta has performed more than 400 concerts in over 25 countries, including headlining in Brazil for an audience of 35,000 and opening for Robert Plant in Australia. Earning a reputation as innovators, Afro Fiesta has performed at numerous music festivals, including SXSW and OBZ Festival in South Africa.

Laurence Juber’s AIRFOIL
Paul McCartney & Wings

Fri, Jun 13, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

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.

The Two Tracks

Sat, Jun 14, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

The Two Tracks, hailing from Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, ignite their original Americana with Dave Huebner’s driving cello, creating a sound that’s both “sweet lonesome prairie” and “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.

What Is A Promissory Note?

A promissory note is a legal document that will be created if there is a loan being obtained as part of the purchase of real property. The written note is designed to enforce a borrower’s promise to pay back a lender. The payor agrees to pay a certain amount of money to a payee in the future on a specified date. The note must spell out the name of the payor and the payee, and it must be signed by the payor.

It does not have to be notarized, but to be enforceable, a promissory note must contain an unconditional promise to pay a sum of money under specified terms and conditions of repayment. The note must also include an absolute date for payment. A concise promissory note will also include an interest rate and describe the collateral being used to secure the note.

Photo by Amina Atar on Unsplash

Tips For Integrating With Your Community After Moving

Moving to a completely new area is exciting, but the early days can also feel isolating. Finding your community is the key to feeling at home, and luckily, there are plenty of ways to do just that. Here’s how to start making connections in your new neighborhood.

Simple as it may sound, one of the best ways is to just get out there. Get to know your physical surroundings. You don’t even need a plan — take a walk or bike ride with no specific destination, and you’ll soon come across the local coffee spots, parks and community centers where people hang out. If you feel like you need a friend to help you along the way, introduce yourself to your neighbors. Most people appreciate a friendly new face. This is even something you could do before buying a new place, to make sure the community is right for you.

You could also go with a more structured route. Look for clubs, sports leagues or hobby groups that match your interests. If there are none to your usual taste, endeavor to try something new. Whether it’s a book club, yoga class or local volunteer group, shared activities help forge friendships faster. Perhaps there isn’t a regular group that appeals to you, but many towns host local festivals, farmers’ markets and outdoor concerts. While these won’t occur as often, these types of gatherings can still offer a relaxed way to meet your neighbors and learn a bit more about local life. Keep an eye on social media or your town’s local website or forums for upcoming events.

Speaking of social media, it’s also a perfectly acceptable method of finding local people, not only events. Online social media platforms such as Nextdoor, Meetup or local Facebook groups can connect you with people nearby. Many communities have online groups for newcomers, making it easy to ask for recommendations and join in on local happenings.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Fun Tree Facts For Earth Day

There’s growing research into how trees are much more social beings than we’ve realized, as forestry ecologists look into the way trees communicate. Trees have demonstrated using networks of fungus in the ground, relaying messages to each other warning of predators, sharing nutrients with their “sick” neighbors, and even forging “alliances” with different tree species.

The underground fungal networks used by trees have been likened to the internet, variously called the “wood wide web,” “mushroom internet” or “mycorrhizal network.” Vast swathes of mycorrhizal fungus connect different trees in the forest. Trees are then able to send nutrients through these pathways to be picked up by connected trees as well as chemicals that act as “distress signals,” causing their neighbors to release substances that can defend against disease or attack from predators.

Ecologist Suzanne Simard is one of the researchers delving further into these studies. During one of her studies, she witnessed a Douglas fir tree that, having been colonized by insects, sent chemicals acting as a warning to a nearby ponderosa pine tree. This caused the pine to create enzymes that would protect it against insects. In other studies, she has seen older trees sending carbon, nutrients and water to young seedlings, the same way a mother would nurture her child.

Photo by david hebert on Unsplash

Andy & Renee – Coming Shows

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 Del Amo

FRI, APR 25 & May 16@ 7:00PM — 10:00PM
Brews Hall Del Amo,
21770 Del Amo Circle East,
Torrance, CA 90503

Andy & Renee-Terranea Lobby Bar

SUN, APR 27 @ 7:00PM-11:00pm
Terranea Lobby Bar,
100 Terranea Way,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Andy & Renee-Livestream #251

WED, APR 30 @ 6:00PM (PDT, UTC-07)
Studio32,
17411 Delia Ave.,
Torrance, CA 90504

Watch live or anytime at https://youtube.com/live/lndrJnpUhc8?feature=share

Local? Come watch in person! Just RSVP to reneesafier@hotmail.com. For the online viewer, the Livestream shows are free to watch, but the option to contribute is there for those who are in a position to do so. You can see our song list to make requests and contribute at https://andyandrenee.com/tickets-tips…, PayPal (paypal.me/andyandrenee) or Venmo, (www.venmo.com/Renee-Safier). A portion of the proceeds will go to the Los Angeles Midnight Mission. We are sustained by the generosity and support of the fans who love the music, and who donate as they are able. If you use funds from your bank vs. your credit card, we aren’t charged a service fee, but either way, we appreciate your support!

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain & Friends- Dylanfest 35

SUN, MAY 11, 2025 @ 12:00PM — 8:00PM
Torino Plaza,
Torrance Cultural Arts Center,
3330 Civic Center Drive,
Torrance, CA 90503

Tickets on sale NOW!!

South Bay Real Estate – March Sales and Prices Down

March was not a good month for sellers of South Bay realty. Median prices for residential property collapsed into red territory for nearly all areas. Sales volume was right behind it with falling numbers everywhere except the Beach cities. Even at the Beach, where the number of homes sold rose, the median price went negative.

So to what should this market slow down be attributed? Is it the elevated interest rates? Probably not, since mortgage rates have actually come down, albeit only slightly. Perhaps it’s a lack of inventory? Not likely, as there are more homes on the market in most neighborhoods. Tariffs? There are none on real estate. Has inflation driven off the buyers? Possibly. Median home prices are up in a range from 40% to 74% across the South Bay, though most of that price jump occurred when mortgage interest was toying around the 3% area.

Economic chaos is probably a more accurate answer than any other. Investors like stability, which is not in evidence today. Right now, investors can’t tell from one day to the next, whether to expect recession or inflation. In order to buy low, or to sell high, it’s necessary to know which direction the economy is going. When they can’t tell, investors park their money in the least volatile place they can find.

It’s often called the “investor flight to safety.” So, when the IMF warns of “major negative shock” to the international economy, investments shift to gold and bonds. Right now, both are doing quite well. At some point the investment community will decide real estate has fallen as far as it’s going to, and then we’ll return to—inflation.

Beach:

Monthly home sales in the Beach cities climbed 11% above February, while the median price plummeted by 8%. The number investor flight to safety.of homes sold increased from 109 in the prior month to 121 units in March. The median price dropped $180,000, ending the month at $2,000,000.

On a year over year basis, the sales volume was even more insane, with 59% growth over March of 2024. The last time the local market saw sales numbers this high was during the pandemic, when interest rates were at rock bottom. The craziest part of the story—is seeing that with all those sales, the median price for March actually dropped $10,000. The decline was small enough to register as a 0% change.

Year to date comparisons to the first three months of last year showed similarly divergent percentages, though not quite as radical. Sales volume for the first quarter of 2025 exceeded 2024 by 43%. For the same period of time, the median price at the Beach rose an astonishing 22%. This compared to low and negative numbers across the rest of the South Bay for both sales volume and median price.

Harbor:

Talk about diverse—the Harbor area did a complete 180º turn on the Beach area. Monthly, the Beach was: volume – up, median – down; the Harbor was volume – down, median – up. The Harbor came in with a 7% drop in number of homes sold, falling to 253 units from 273 last month. The median sale was $803,000, a 6% increase over last month’s $760,000.

The same diversity, or is it perversity, kicked in on the yearly statistics. Compared to March of 2024, this year the Harbor area dropped 9% in the number of homes sold, while the median price of those homes climbed 4%.

First quarter home sales at the Harbor continued to climb, though not as aggressively as the Beach area. The sales volume rose 4%, which is more in line with business on the Hill and for the Inland area. For the same time frame, the median price fell 1%.

Hill:

Month to month sales in Palos Verdes showed a 9% increase, climbing from 46 units in February to 50 in March. While the number of homes sold climbed, March saw a 4% drop in the median price.

Comparing March of 2024 to this March brought 0% change for both the number of homes sold and the median price. Exactly 50 homes sold in both years. The median price actually declined by $10,000, though the change was statistically insignificant.

There was also no change to the sales volume for the first three months of this year. Median price on the Hill rose 11% for the first quarter of 2025.

Inland:

While March brought 11% growth in the number of homes sold compared to February, the Inland area challenged market pressure and registered a 1% increase in the median price. With 114 sales for the month, compared to 103 for last month, the Inland area maintained positive volume. At the same time, the median price improved by $12,500, up from the February median of $900,000.

Annually, March flipped the statistics, with both the sales volume and the median price dropping. Home sales fell by 9%, the same decline the Harbor area experienced. The median price was off 1%, which doesn’t seem like much until compared with the 40% growth since 2019.

Year to date the Inland area showed 6% growth in the number of homes sold compared to the first quarter of 2024. Like the Harbor area, the Inland area delivered a significant drop in the median price, coming in with 0% change.

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 Roger on Unsplash

Up Soon at the Grand Annex

Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls
Opener: Joselyn & Don

Sat, Mar 29, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

Fronted by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Pete Muller, the Kindred Souls blend folk intimacy with classic pop charm and jazz elegance.

Bernie Pearl & Friends
present: “Why We Sing the Blues”

Sun, Mar 30, 2025
Doors 3:00 PM
Tickets

This show is SOLD OUT! To be put on the waitlist, call the Grand Annex (310) 833-4813 by 6:00pm Friday, 3/28. Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee a ticket.

LA-based Blues legend returns with his signature picking style learned from masters like Lightnin’ Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb. Joined by an array of Blues artists including Ray Bailey and Mo Beeks.

Spotlight on Singer-Songwriters
presented with Wonder & Awe Productions

Sat, Apr 05, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM (Pre-concert Wine Tasting 🍷)
Tickets

Hosted by Brenda Carsey who performs with Kid Lightning, Joseph Eid and pop-folk artist Madison Malone – whose credits include lyrics for Celine Dion and soundtracks for General Hospital and ABC’s 20/20.

Grand Vision and Wonder & Awe Productions collaborated to put this Spotlight Series line-up together through a generous grant from the Live Music Society.

Gathering for the Grand:
WOODSTOCK Peace Love & Music Party

Sat, Apr 12, 2025
Tickets

Limited tickets may still be available, call the Grand Vision office at (310)833-4813 if you would like to purchase tickets to the 2025 Gathering for the Grand Gala.

The 16th Annual Gathering for the Grand Gala will be on April 12, 2025 at the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Together, we’ll toast to the next exciting phase of renovations at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and celebrate fifteen incredible years of concerts at the Grand Annex Music Hall. The theme is: WOODSTOCK A Peace, Love & Music Party. At the gala, we will be honoring Andy Hill & Renee Safier and they will perform a full set of music with their band, Hard Rain! Enjoy groovy drinks and dance to the iconic music of Woodstock.

Paul Givant
Marigold Record Release Concert
Opener: Mary Scholz

Sat, Apr 26, 2025
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets

Paul Givant is the frontman, songwriter and founder of the Americana folk-rock band Rose’s Pawn Shop. He tours nationally and internationally with the group at festivals, theaters and clubs.

Since 2018, he has been writing solo records, through which he processes life’s highs, lows and complexities. Inspired by the sounds of 1970s folk rock, his new record Marigold is a deeply personal story of growth. Listen to the first single from Marigold, “Tripping On the Moon.”

Andy & Renee – Live Music in the South Bay

Weekly Performances – Andy & Renee

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

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

Andy & Renee-Terranea Lobby Bar

FRI, MAR 28@ 7:00PM — 11:00PM Terranea Lobby Bar, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

“Gathering for the Grand” Fundraiser

SAT, APR 12, 2025 @ 5:00PM Palos Verdes Golf Club, 3301 Via Campesina, Palos Verdes Estates

Andy & Renee-Brews Hall Del Amo

FRI, APR 18 & 25 @ 7:00PM — 10:00PM Brews Hall Del Amo, 21770 Del Amo Circle East, Torrance, CA 90503

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-The Lighthouse

SUN, APR 20 & May 4 @ 2:00PM — 5:00PM The Lighthouse Cafe, 30 Pier Avenue Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310 376-9833

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain & Friends- Dylanfest 35

SUN, MAY 11, 2025 @ 12:00PM — 8:00PM Torino Plaza, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90503

A full day of nothing but Bob Dylan music, performed by 50-60 Los Angeles musicians, with never a repeated song! Tickets on sale NOW!!

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-The Grand Annex

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. Get Tickets at https://grandvision.org/event/andy-renee-hard-rain-2/

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain-Torrance Summer Concert Series

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

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

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

How Does LEED Certification Work?

LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” and is a certification system originally developed by the U.S. Green Building Council but now used worldwide to promote energy-efficient, eco-friendly construction. The LEED standards prioritize energy and water efficiency, improved indoor air quality and sustainable building materials, and reduced carbon emissions.

Buildings can be awarded a rating of either “certified,” “silver certified,” “gold certified” or “platinum certified.” Points are earned by incorporating sustainable features such as proper insulation, high-efficiency appliances, nontoxic materials and water-saving fixtures. You can earn points whether you’re building from the ground up or making renovations, so you should continue to pay attention to LEED guidelines even if you aren’t building new to potentially achieve an official certification.

Beyond being a smart choice for the planet, a LEED-certified home offers long-term financial benefits. The lower energy and water consumption of a certified home leads to reduced utility bills, and homes with LEED certification also tend to have higher resale value. As buyers become increasingly eco-conscious, these kinds of sustainable living spaces are more in demand than ever.

Photo by Daniele La Rosa Messina on Unsplash

South Bay Real Estate: Erratic, Inexplicable, Inflationary

Since summer of 2023, South Bay real estate has been erratic, inexplicable and highly inflationary. Both the sales volume and the median price jump up, and then down, and then up again with no apparent rationale. For example, the number homes sold in the Beach cities was up 29% in December, down 40% in January and up 70% in February. Over the same months, the median price in the the Beach cities went up 9%, up 30%, and down 7%. Those are huge jumps, and with contrary indicators.

Some of that crazy action made sense during the pandemic, but post-pandemic, where the economy should be leveling out, all the numbers should be moving in the same direction, consistently.

The number of homes sold should be on the increase constantly until 2027/2028, as sales stabilize following the out-sized impact of the low pandemic-era interest rates. Those low interest rates caused a sizable percentage of future buyers to step up to the plate earlier than they would have normally. Those buyers will not be back in the market for another four to five years, at the earliest.

The median price of those homes should be increasing in line with the Federal Reserve target of 2%. The fact that they are increasing one month and dropping the next indicates a dysfunctional market. The degree to which prices and sales are bouncing around indicates an out-of-control economy.

Why is this a problem? The list price of your house is determined by recent sales. When the recent sales are all over the map, your broker is hard-pressed to get your asking price correct.

Typically, we try to provide some sort of a forecast for the coming months. Unfortunately, the fundamentals are not lining up in any direction right now. Maybe next month.

Beach: Sales Up, Prices Down

The number of February home sales in the Beach area jumped to 109, 70% above those of January. At the same time the median price dropped 7%, ending at $2,180,000.

Compared to last year, February sales were up 42%, with an annual increase in the median price of 23%.

Year to date, sales of homes rose 34% versus the first two months of 2024. Median prices for the same period increased by 27%.

Harbor: Sales Up, Prices Up

On a monthly basis, sales volume in the Harbor area jumped by 12%, ending with 273 homes sold in February. Median prices for the Harbor climbed 1%, reaching $760,000 for the month.

While year over year sales volume was up by 14% for February, the annual median price at the Harbor dropped 4%. This marks the first annual decline in median price at the Harbor since 2023. Economic volatility has created a lot of wide monthly swings, but the variances annually have been more restrained.

Compared to the first two months of 2024, the number of homes sold increased by 12%, despite negative sales volume in January. Median prices fell by 2% for the same period.

Hill: Sales Up, Prices Up

From January to February sales of home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula increased by 44%, from 32 to 46 units. That jump was accompanied by an 8% growth in the median price, matching the 8% increase of last month. The February median price came in at $2,047,000.

Comparing February sales this year to those of last year shows a 28% rise in the number of homes sold. Likewise, the median price climbed 16% from last February.

Looking at year to date for 2025 versus 2024, sales volume is flat at 78 homes sold for the two month period. In the same time frame, median prices have shot up by 11%, clearly an inflationary statistic.

Inland: Sales Up, Prices Flat

February home sales in the Inland area hit a total of 103 properties, registering an 18% increase in volume over the prior month. The median price for February came in at $900,000, exactly the same as January.

Looking back to last February shows a 10% increase in the number of homes sold, along with a 4% rise in the median price.

Combined home sales for January and February of 2025 surpassed sales of 2024 by 18%. The median price went up by 2% for the same period.

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 Chris Saran at unsplash.com

What Is A Breach Of Covenant?

A covenant is a binding contractual agreement between two parties to do or not to do a specified act. Covenants are usually enforceable by the courts if they are reasonable, clear, definite and lawful.

A breach of covenant is the failure to obey a previously agreed-upon legal arrangement that was created honestly and in good faith. When one party to a contract refuses to uphold their obligation as spelled out in that covenant, that party is in breach.

In real estate, a breach of covenant most often occurs when a buyer or seller backs out of a contract to buy or sell a home. A breach can also occur when either individual fails to perform any of the terms of a purchase contract. Breaching a contract should be taken seriously. The party who has suffered from the breach usually has recourse in a court of law, where the legal remedy could result in monetary damages being awarded.

Photo by Erica Magugliani on Unsplash

Seven New Fire Hardening Methods In Wake Of Recent Fires

Back in 2022, California suffered a series of wildfires. The response from the government was to require proof from homeowners that the structure met current fire safety guidelines, including a five-foot ‘defensible space’ surrounding the structure where no combustible materials should be present. Unfortunately, the recent fires in California have proven that simply requiring proof of meeting existing guidelines wasn’t enough. Our fire safety needs to improve, and with that come seven new methods of fire hardening. While these aren’t legally mandated, they are certainly recommended and your homeowner insurance may start to require them.

Three of the new recommendations focus on the defensible space. In addition to avoiding placing or building using combustible materials within a five-foot defensible space, such materials or vegetation also should not be placed underneath decks. The defensible space should also be extended vertically as well as horizontally, to six inches underneath the exterior surface of the building. Additional buildings should not be constructed using combustible materials within 30 feet of the main structure, if the lot is large enough to build them farther away. The remaining four recommendations are specific materials or upgrades: a Class-A Fire Rated Roof, enclosed eaves, fire-resistant vents, and multi-pane windows.

Photo by Matt C on Unsplash