Shannon Jones, Long Beach Real Estate

Home sales prices in the 90815 zip code of Long Beach showed some signs of stabilization in March, but remained considerably lower than they were a year ago. The 90815 zip code encompasses Los Altos, Park Estates, Artcraft Manor, the Plaza, Artcraft Manor, Bixby Hill and La Marina Estates.

Currently, according to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) there are 97 homes active on the market in 90815, ranging in price from $380K for a two-bedroom home in Artcraft Manor to $1,749,000 for a four-bedroom Bixby Hill home. The average price per square foot for current listings is $422.

There are 28 homes "pending" or in escrow now in 90815, ranging from $379,900 to $1,695,000. The average price per square foot for pending sales is $379.

In the past 30 days, 15 homes have closed escrow in the 90815 zip code, ranging from $419,900 for a three bedroom/two bathroom Plaza Home to $3.1 million for a 5 bedroom, 5,000 sq. ft. home in Park Estates. The average price per square foot was $423 for the homes that sold in 90815 in the past 30 days.

If you'd like information or currently listed homes or want to know what your home is worth in today's market, email us at Info@ShowMeHome.com or call 562-961-1415.

After months of steep declines, the median sales price in Long Beach went up in March 2007 for the second month in a row.

To be sure, prices are still lower than their peak and the sales volume is still well below the peak, but the recent numbers are encouraging.

Homeowners who have been considering selling but were discouraged should take note of this opportunity. Spring and summer are traditionally the busiest selling seasons and prices are usually highest this time of year.

If you're interested in more information about prices in a specific neighborhood, email us at info@showmehome.com, logon to www.showmehome.com or call 562-961-1415.

This week, our real estate team opened more escrows than we have in months. When I spoke to our escrow officer, I learned their company had experienced the same kind of sudden pick-up in business.

With the announcement of new FHA loan limits, buyers suddenly have easier access to financing with flexible underwriting criteria and low down payment options. Certainly, everyone predicted that that would help prompt a recovery in our sluggish market.

But from where I sit here in the trenches in Long Beach, CA, there seems to be something else in the air. For more than a year, we've been hearing from a number of buyers that they're waiting until the market hits bottom. What we're hearing now is that they think this may be a good time to buy.

I think they're right.

Check out this graph that shows pricing trends in Long Beach, CA:

As you can see, local median prices were in an almost vertical decline for months, but are in the process of shifting again.

Of course we can't predict what will happen in the coming months and unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball, but if I were waiting for the bottom, I don't think I'd sit on the sidelines anymore either.

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

When I sold my Long Beach house last fall, I was sad that the hundreds of bulbs I've planted over the years would be blooming in someone else's garden. Of course, I was also pleased to be finally closing escrow in this down market, I went out and bought myself some more bulbs.

I planted those bulbs in my new yard and set in for the cold winter. OK, so I'm in sunny Southern California but we're wimps here so it feels cold to us. And the real estate market, well it's been cold for sure.

This week, daffodils came up in my new yard and three offers on longtime listings came over my fax machine. I'm thinking maybe the winter is over. I know the calendar says spring doesn't come officially until March 21st but I'm hoping this is a sign it's coming early this year! Hope blooms eternal, and daffodils, well you can always plant them someplace new!

Although Long Beach, CA is a major city -- the fifth largest in California -- it offers a number of quaint, historical neighborhoods. Long Beach boasts 17 separate historic districts. Each one is rich with architectural charm and history.

A drive through these historic districts will take you back in time... Here's where they are:

BELMONT HEIGHTS - Boundaries are Newport Avenue, Roswell Avenue, 4th Street & 7th Street. Includes some Victorian homes, Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor, and Neo-Traditional. The Craftsman Bungalow style is prevalent here.

BLUFF HEIGHTS -- Boundaries are Junipero Avenue, Redondo Avenue, 4th Street and Broadway (but excluding Carroll Park and Lowena Drive historic districts). The Craftsman Bungalow style is prevalent in this area.

BLUFF PARK -- Boundaries are Junipero Avenue, Loma Avenue, Ocean Boulevard and 2nd Street. This is a section of larger, stately homes with Craftsman architecture as well as period revival homes.

BRENNER PLACE -- This is a one-block historic district located east of Alamitos Avenue between 7th and Hellman streets. These Spanish Colonial Revival homes resemble courtyard housing.

CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS -- Boundaries are Wardlow, Bixby, Lime and Gardenia. This is the city's largest historic district. Although there are some Craftsman bungalows, Tudor and neo-Traditional homes, the most prevalent style of architecture is Spanish Colonial Revival.

CARROLL PARK -- A small historic district with curving streets and landscaped islands. Bounded by Carroll Park East, Carroll Park West, Carol Park North, Junipero Ave. and Third Street. The Craftsman bungalow style is prevalent here.

DRAKE PARK/WILLMORE CITY -- Unites two previously independent historic districts and includes Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Victorian and other architectural styles. Bounded by Loma Vista Drive, Park Court, 4th Street, Magnola and an irregular boundary from Nylic Court to Magnolia to 7th.

ELIOT LANE -- This is a one-block historic district located between Third and Colorado, St. Joseph and Argonne in the Belmont Heights neighborhood. These homes were all built in 1923. Although they are predominantly Mission Revival, a few are Craftsman.

HELLMAN STREET CRAFTSMAN -- Located along the north side of 9th Street between Orange and Wallnut avenues, Hellman Street. As the name implies, this area features a high concentration of Craftsman homes.

LINDEN AVENUE -- This historic district is between an alley north of Anaheim to 14th Street and features a variety of early 1900's architectural styles. These were mansions built by prominent citizens of the time.

LOWENA DRIVE -- Junipero Avenue, just above Broadway, and Lowena Drive, just east of Junipero. This is a cluster of four Chateauesque buildings.

MINERVA PLACE -- Minerva Park Place near 11th and two properties on 11th Street. This is a tiny street lined with 16 Spanish Colonial Revial homes built in 1925.

ROSE PARK -- Boundaries are the east side of Saint Louis, the alley north of 7th Street, Coronado and 10th Street. These homes are primarily Craftsman bungalows but also include Spanish Colonial Revival and Neo-Traditional homes.

ROSE PARK SOUTH -- This is a continuation of Rose Park Historic District, from 7th Street down to 4th Street, and also features many Craftsman bungalow examples.

SUNRISE BOULEVARD -- 2515 Lime Avenue, 2444-2588 Olive Ave., 638-836 Sunrise Boulevard, 701-745 Vernon Street, and 804 E. Willow Street. Homes in this area are predominantly Craftsman bungalows, built between 1908 and 1924.

WILTON STREET -- This district includes Wilton Street between Termino and Grand avenues as well as 1634 Grand and 1637 Termino. These Spanish Colonial/Mission Revival homes were built in 1924.

WRIGEY AREA -- Although the Wrigley neighborhood is much larger, the historic district encompasses only 2008-2191 Eucalyptus Avenue, as well as 439 W. 20th Street and 417 W. 21st Street. These predominantly Spanish Colonial Revival homes were built between 1928 and 1934.

For more information on district boundaries or history, visit the city's website at: http://www.longbeach.gov/plan/pb/hpd/hd.asp. If you'd like to search all available properties in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), visit www.ShowMeHome.com