About Long Beach's Bluff Heights

SOUTH LONG BEACH, CA - Get Up, Get Out and Start Beach Living!

There is something that you'll notice when visiting or buying a home in the South Long Beach, CA coastal areas of Belmont Heights, Bluff Heights, Bluff Park, Naples and Belmont Shore. The residents do not merely exist in South Long Beach, they LIVE! They live life and they live it to the fullest!

GET UP - Enjoy the Sunshine

As with other beach towns, there is a strong sense of outdoor living. In South Long Beach it is very common to see people walking their dogs, cycling, jogging, skating down the bike path or zipping down Ocean Blvd on a vespa. A visiting friend said (South) Long Beach is very reminiscent of many popular European destinations where people spend more time outdoors than in. It wasn't until she mentioned it that it occurred to me how many people living in other cities are missing out! Most of their "down" time is probably spent indoors. We're in sunny CA where there is year-round mild weather, so get up, get out and start beach living folks!

GET OUT - Know They Neighbor

Living entails growing in your relationships. It is fairly easy to get to know your neighbors in South Long Beach because of the daily, monthly or yearly community events that take place. For instance, Bluff Heights has a great annual block party for Bluff Heights residents that I look forward to participating in year after year. It's a great opportunity to reacquaint yourself or welcome new neighbors while reinforcing a stong sense of community!

There are also beach clean-ups sponsored by our local philanthropist and dog-lover, Justin Rudd that help South Long Beach residents to make new friends and build community pride. Belmont Shore has an annual Stroll and Savor event sponsored by over 30 area restaurants that also brings residents together to sample local restaurant fare. Of course there's our very popular annual Sea Festival event that draws thousands into South Long Beach throughout the summer months. Getting up, getting out and living can be something as simple as walking your dog and catching up with acquaintances. Don't be surprised to overhear people discussing current events in-between stories about the unidentifiable object their terrier dug up.

Even for the few homebodies to be found in South Long Beach, they still manage to take advantage of the outdoors when they share their backyards, courtyards or patios with close friends, family and neighbors. There's nothing like the smell of mesquite in the air to bring everyone together.

Start Beach Living Now! - Life is Too Short Not to Love Where You Live! If you would love to get up, get out and start beach living or need a Home Value Quote on your current home, do not hesitate to call me at 310-508-4354 or visit my website at www.AndiGrant.com.

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Is Bluff Heights in Long Beach, CA a Good Fit for You?  You Decide...

 

Bluff Heights is a quaint beach town neighborhood located in the southeastern section of Long Beach, CA. It is within walking distance to the best that Long Beach, CA has to offer.  In one day you can cover many activities and attractions.  You can bike ride, get a tan, walk to a 5-star restaurant, take a romantic gondola ride, see a lighthouse, board a cruise ship, shop for a 1920's vintage typewriter and if its the summer, watch a moonlight screening of a classic movie right on the beach and then walk home afterwards!  

  

  

The Unspoken Dress Code and Protocol  for Living in Bluff Heights

Now I must warn you that once you move to Bluff Heights you may develop what I call  "permanent vacation" syndrome.  All of a sudden uptight people become more relaxed.  Even their pets seem to become more laidback.  A person's closet becomes filled with great year-round summer apparel and of course the uniform of choice, shorts and flip-flops.  You'll also notice that people in Bluff Heights are very warm and friendly in nature.  They don't have to know you to smile at you and the smile actually reaches their eyes!  

 

 

Bluff Heights Residents Are Big on the Word "Alfresco!"

While you are hitting the snooze button, some Bluff Heights residents are already headed to the many outdoor cafes and coffeehouses offering great breakfasts and complimentary newspapers.  For lunch and dinner, there are many great neighborhood restaurants to choose from.  Just a few blocks further south and you have a choice of either ocean or marina view seating. 

Those are just a few things to keep in mind when considering whether or not Bluff Heights is right for you.  Great location and friendly people are the heart of what makes Bluff Heights!  If this great neighborhood in Long Beach sounds like a good fit for you, or you need Free Home Value Quote on your current home, do not hesitate to call me at 310-508-4354.

 

Bluff Heights Long Beach Map

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The Galaxy Towers (2999 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach) is a 20 story condominium building built in 1967 by the architects Hugh and Donald Gibbs. Typical of late mid-century modern architecture, the Galaxy is steel, concrete, and glass. I really like the painted blue steel panels and blue tinted glass that clad the building. Despite that this is the only 20 story building in a neighborhood of two story homes, I think the blue tones help the Galaxy blend into our beautiful SoCal skies. The Galaxy Towers condos are 2 and 3 bedrooms units with 2 baths floor plans of 1,510 square feet. Because of the cross shape design of this building, the units do not share a common wall and have views from three sides. Add to this the large balconies, and you have one of the coolest seaside condos in California. For pretty good prices, too. The only unit for sale is this 3 bedroom unit on the eighth floor listed for $560,000. If you are interested in seeing this unit or have more questions about the Galaxy, please call my cell 310-351-9798, or e-mail: evan@midcenturylongbeach.com. What perspective! Perfect Symmetry! Repeating patterns. This place has some style!

Long Beach, CA. James B. Lockhart, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), announced that with mortgage applications taken on or after Jan. 1, 2010, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are required to obtain loan-level identifiers for the loan originator, loan origination company, field appraiser and supervisory appraiser. This is the result of Title V of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act through which Congress required the creation of a nationwide mortgage Licensing system and registry. With enactment of the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, identifiers will now be available for each individual loan originator.

Redundancy is wasteful. Although in the past, only real estate appraisers and underwriters were listed on a loan file, the new move will be to also license loan officers and put them on the file as well. Firstly, I do believe, from my own experience, that licenses seem to be more of a revenue collecting device for the government, rather then an actually helpful tool for the consumer.

If you don't believe me, just look at the American Construction Industry which is ripe with unlicensed contractors who undercut legitimate contractors everyday. Is it fair? No, life is not fair. These back alley construction workers and day laborers work openly and cannot be punished simply because they are not licensed. The facts are, that so much insurance is required from real licensed Contractors that to be legitimate you have to upfront invest a small fortune, not to mention the workers compensation that must be paid; therefore, a blackmarket has been created.

What are the implications of this in our Real Estate Industry concerning Mortgages? In addition to the real estate board fees, already too expensive, that many loan officers pay right now, they will be burdened with even more fees and licensing requirements. This is absurd. Given the demographics and history of Southern California real estate. You probably will see a similar Black Market of mortgage loans develop by non-licensed, nothing to lose, unprofessionals who will end up funding loans for a small fee through a legit licensee. I

The facts are that Consumers themselves have to be burdened with the responsibility of knowing what they are getting themselves into when they purchase or refinance a home.

The last item I will mention today is about the future licensing of mortgage originators and the company they work for. Remember we mentioned this at our last Manager meeting about importance of loan quality. It used to be that appraisers and underwriters were the only ones with their names on the loan file. Now you as an originator will join this group.

Kirk Mulhearn, a mortgage planner and real estate broker, may be reached at:

562-989-4608 ext. 110

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