About Manhattan Beach's El Porto

While the real estate market around the country may be taking a hit, home values along the coast of the South Bay is almost as stable as ever. The "sand" section of Manhattan Beach has remained particularly strong as oceanview and oceanfront homes that are walkable to the beach are always in demand. Home prices in the sand section (see map) are reaching unbelievable highs with full lot walkstreets in the 3-6 million dollar range, depending on age, condition and view.

Typical 1/2 Lot El Porto Home Some Stunning Ocean Views

While these homes are out of reach for most South Bay buyers, there is an area of Manhattan Beach that offers far more reasonable prices. The area is known as "north" Manhattan, although it's more familiar to most as El Porto. El Porto is the northernmost neighborhood of Manhattan Beach. Ideally located for commuters traveling to Santa Monica or downtown Los Angeles, El Porto offers close proximity to LAX, Marina Del Rey, the Westside and more. As El Porto lies on a fairly steep grade, homes in the area often offer stunning ocean and panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. One unique feature of El Porto is that it offes many half lots generally measuring 45x30 which allows for some more affordable housing within a block or two from the ocean. Many of these homes are "legal non-conforming" duplexes with a 2 bedroom unit upstairs and a 1 bedroom or studio rental downstairs. Homes in the area start in the mid $800,000 and depending on size, age, and views can go up to the $2,000,000+ range. The area is ideal for people not needing a huge home, that love the beach and ocean, and want to shave off 15 minutes of their commute. For surfing enthusiasts, it happens to front the best surfing beach in the South Bay.

Keith Kyle - Realtor, e-Pro - South Bay Brokers - 2501 N Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 - 310-251-2344 - Keith.Kyle@SouthBayBrokers.com

For real estate information, open houses, and FREE MLS access visit www.KeithKyleHomes.com

While the real estate market around the country may be taking a hit, home values along the coast of the South Bay is almost as stable as ever. The "sand" section of Manhattan Beach has remained particularly strong as oceanview and oceanfront homes that are walkable to the beach are always in demand. Home prices in the sand section (see map) are reaching unbelievable highs with full lot walkstreets in the 3-6 million dollar range, depending on age, condition and view.

Typical 1/2 Lot El Porto Home Some Stunning Ocean Views

While these homes are out of reach for most South Bay buyers, there is an area of Manhattan Beach that offers far more reasonable home prices. The area is known as "north" Manhattan, although it's more familiar to most as El Porto. El Porto is the northernmost neighborhood of Manhattan Beach. Ideally located for commuters traveling to Santa Monica or downtown Los Angeles, El Porto offers close proximity to LAX, Marina Del Rey, the Westside and more. As El Porto lies on a fairly steep grade, homes in the area often offer stunning ocean and panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. One unique feature of El Porto is that it offes many half lots generally measuring 45x30 which allows for some more affordable housing within a block or two from the ocean. Many of these homes are "legal non-conforming" duplexes with a 2 bedroom unit upstairs and a 1 bedroom or studio rental downstairs. Homes in the area start in the mid $800,000 and depending on size, age, and views can go up to the $2,000,000+ range. The area is ideal for people not needing a huge home, that love the beach and ocean, and want to shave off 15 minutes of their commute. For surfing enthusiasts, it happens to front the best surfing beach in the South Bay. If you are looking for an oceanview home in Manhattan Beach you may want to consider the El Porto.

Keith Kyle - Realtor, e-Pro - South Bay Brokers- 2501 N Sepulveda Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 - 310-251-2344 - Keith.Kyle@SouthBayBrokers.com

For real estate information, open houses, and FREE MLS access visit www.KeithKyleHomes.com

From this... to this!

Over 10 years ago, I made a major life decision: I decided that I had had enough of the blustery, snowy winters in Western Canada's prairie province of Manitoba, and that I was going to escape to the sunny, sandy shores of Southern California. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made (along with marrying my husband, having my kids, and getting into real estate).

Now, at the time I was not married and I did not have any kids. But that did not make the move a "slam dunk". Luckily for me, finding a job at the time was easy as it was the height of the web boom and I was an IT professional.

I didn't even have a lot of furniture or other personal items that needed moving. But when you are moving across the border, it's always a hassle whether you have a lot or a little.

Bringing a car into California (especially from Canada) also needed careful planning. California had and has strict emission standards, and at the time there were only 2 cars that I could register in California (2 Honda models). Registering that vehicle at the DMV was another lesson in patience that I don't care to do again - but can share with others to help them avoid pitfalls.

I was fortunate that I had a cousin and friends here already that I could rely on to help me as I was looking for a place to live. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for folks looking to buy from outside of California BEFORE moving down here.

Because of this experience, I have an idea of what folks are feeling as they are contemplating a long distance move, or even looking for a home to move to! I hope that I can share my experiences to make the entire process a lot easier.

The happy ending is that I LOVE living in the South Bay of California and have acclimated very well to it. Would you believe me if I told you that I surf in the same waters where that picture above was take? ;) El Porto - my home break.