blu Condos Update

We have spoken about blu Condos, a new development in downtown Long Beach, before but I have had another chance to get inside now that some of the common areas have been finished. With some of these fine touches done I wanted to share some additional feedback on this development.

I know that in general HOA amenities are just a side note, but I really thought they would be worth mentioning as they came out better than I anticipated.

Lobby/Internet Cafe - This entrance is on 4th St and provides a quiet entrance. The finishings are excellent and the room is outfitted with a plasma TV and a coffee bar. I was surprised to see it but they do have a wonderful coffee area so you could easily grab a cup on the way out to work. The coffee bar will be mainted with funds from the HOA. This level also allows you access to the mail boxes.

Sports Club/Lounge - Often when you hear of a "lounge" in an HOA it conjuers up imagery of a couple of chairs and a ping-pong table folded up in the corner, but that is NOT the case here. I have to admit, they really created a nice environment. The pool table is wonderful and they provide a plasma TV and a bar area for entertaining. There is also plenty of room to relax with additional seating of couches and chairs. The sports club is on the 2nd floor and has a large balcony with an area so people can rest their drinks and enjoy the great weather. This room has a great feel like you are downtown at the Rock Bottom :)

Gym/ Exercise Room - Again this is a room that often looks like an after thought by putting a jump rope with a dumbell together, but here they alotted some good space and equipment. They have a full set of free weights along with about a half a dozen treadmills. With excellent space and some great natural lighting coming in to the room you will enjoy your workout here.

Great amenities compliment this downtown Long Beach condo project that has done a good job of providing functional floor plans with good pricing. Call us today at 562-989-7111 and we will be happy to schedule a time to get you in to see the models. Each floor plan offers something unique so allow us to help you decide which one best meets your needs.

Get the Hot List of the latest Blue Condos

Related Posts/Websites:

blu Condos - My Experience

blu Long Beach Condos

blu condos in Long Beach - my experience

Blu is a new condo development in Downtown Long Beach near the City Place mall. As it was being developed it was difficult to tell how it would turn out so, like many, I was excited to see the inside to see how their initial vision came to life. Being developed by the same developer that was behind West Ocean LB, but yet having entry level prices definitely sparked my interest as I am always excited to share good deals from around town.

This past weekend was the first opportunity that people had to view it so I thought I would share some of my feedback as I was able to take a client through. Here is some of what you can expect.

• Floor Plans - With 8 floor plans to choose from you will find something that meets your needs. Now, the flats (single level condos) provided for the best use of space. They do have a townhome model that is 1,332 sq ft, but I found the single level units allowed you to spread out a bit more and really capitalize on the square footage. Floor plans E and F (1,437 sq ft and 1,479 sq ft respectively), are there single level flats and were wonderful layouts that provided for ample kitchen space as well as good room size.
• Balconies - Being in southern California and having a Long Beach Condo usually means you want to embrace the year round great weather. They took this into account with ample sized balconies that will allow you to put some furniture out there. There are some city views and keep in mind that with each floor it gets a little more expensive ($5,000 per floor until the top floor which is a $20,000 premium).
• Community Areas - Now most people I speak to say they don't care what the community has to offer, but this development did a pretty good job providing some areas that people would actually use. They have a great out door area with BBQ's and a huge fireplace. Just next to BBQ's and fireplace they have putting green so you can get great with your short game. In addition to this you will also have a fitness sports center and a coffee bar area with plasma televisions.
• Materials - The materials that were used to finish the units were done well. Granite counters were used in the kitchens and the bathrooms. The cabinetry uses the self closing drawers keeping your cabinets in great shape and reducing noise transfer between units. The flooring and tiles that were used in the models were nice so I am hopeful that they use the same types in the rest of the condos.
• Odds and Ends - These units have inside laundry, are pre-wired for a flat panel TV in the living room and master bedroom. Pre-wiring is provided for ceiling fans in the master bedroom and 2nd bedroom. Units are also pre-wired for an alarm system.

I will say that overall the blu Long Beach condos really came out well and that the floor plans are functional while providing a strong value. With condos starting at $382,000 sales will probably start quickly.

You do have to schedule an appointment, and we are certainly happy to do so. Call us today at 562-989-7111 and we can set up a time to show you the properties available at blu.

Special Incentives on New Construction in Long Beach Won't Last

Finding new Long Beach real estate is certainly possible. New Long Beach condos are being developed with the majority of them being in Downtown Long Beach. With builders aggressively lowering prices and offering incentives on loans (and more) now has been one of the best times ever to take a look at some of the new developments.

What are some of the incentives?

• Paid HOA Dues - Some of the builders are paying HOA dues for up to 2 years. With HOA prices ranging from $330-$500+ this can be a huge savings! Sure is nice to put $500 more bucks in your own account over the next two years.
• Upgrades - In order to showcase what is possible in different models builders have put some flooring upgrades in different units. Find the one that already has the upgraded flooring and you just may get it for nothing extra :).
• Loan Incentives - If you could get a loan that was over 1% lower than anything out there and fixed for 30 years, would that help? The builders thought so too! They have been offering incentives on financing like 4.8% fixed for 30 years. That makes for 30 years of savings.

How to you find the deals?

Many people think it is easiest to just drive around and speak to each developer. The problem there is you just don't know what you are walking in to (what's available, what incentives, etc). Talk to your local Long Beach Realtor to get the information on the developments. Luckily you get representation for FREE and with your own buyer agent and you can get the inside scoop on all of the developers.

Here are just a couple of the latest new developments, but we put more together on our website so you can see the latest new condos in Long Beach.

1. blu - A new development in downtown Long Beach near the CityPlace mall. With close proximity to the blue line it provides for an easy commute and large floor plans.
2. Pacifica - This new development was built by Lennar and is truly in the heart of Downtown on the Promenade. With models available from 1 bedrooms to Townhomes there is something for everyone.

Have fun exploring what is available and take advantage of the incentives before the developers change their minds! When you go to these developments we would love to hear your feedback on them so please post your comments.

Do I need a buyer's agent for new construction?

Ahh, new construction! The smell of new paint, gleamig counter tops, and knowing you are the first to live there. What a feeling! And since everything is new, and you are going directly to the builder, you don't need a real estate agent, right? Maybe but could a Long Beach real estate agent actually help you with the builder? Let's see.

Here are some of the common ideas that I have heard of why you would not use a buyer's agent because you are purchasing from the builder:

1. Since I am dealing with the builder directly they can just reduce the price because I don't have an agent
2. I don't have to worry about anything because it's all new so what would the real estate agent do anyway
3. Isn't the sales rep at the builder going to watch out for me anyway?

I definitely feel all of those are valid as I have personally spoken to buyers who have said them. Let's take each one so you can see if you really do need a buyer's agent to help you.

1. The builders now have factored in the buyer agent commission into their pricing and if they don't have to pay a buyer's agent then they get to keep a little extra money for themselves, but they don't reduce the price. Large builders like Lennar and Olson Company have great standards in place and recognize that the real estate agents bring great buyers and they don't like to "step on their toes" by telling people "if you just didn't have an agent we could save you 3%" because then agents wouldn't want to bring buyers by. Smaller builders (like those who do condo conversions) might reduce the price if you don't have an agent so you could save there, but be warry :)
2. Even those it's all new you might want an extra pair of eyes to look at the property you are purchasing so you can get flaws corrected. A buyer's agent can also help you determine which floor plan is best and might have the best re-sale based off of location in the building. It may not always be the most expensive unit that is the best as usually if you walk through some units you can find some great values by checking out some of the different floor plans. A buyer's agent can give you the experience of walking through thousands of properties to help you choose the one that is the best fit for you and long term value.
3. There are some wonderful builder sales representatives out there who do a great job helping buyers at their developments. They are though contracted by the builder so their primary duty belongs to the builder, not to the prospective buyer. In fact their contracts often state that the buyer does not have a representative so the buyer is reponsible for their own due diligence.

So you don't really have to have a buyer's agent, but they can help you over come some hurdles. I just recently helped a buyer purchase in a new development here in Long Beach and I corrected 3 mistakes on the builder contract prior to him signing.

Whatever you decide make sure you get the help you need as purchasing a new property isn't free of challenges, but rest assured you will be the first one who gets to live there!

New Construction in Long Beach Offers Surprises

Looking through the Long Beach MLS is a great way to get a good understanding of what is available. Often though there are properties that are not listed in the MLS that your local Long Beach real estate agent can help you to discover.

One of the best surprises of late has been the willingness of builders to work with customers. Often new builder inventory is not listed in the MLS. Understanding which builders do have inventory available and what incentives they are offering is key to helping you make your decision on which Long Beach property is right for you. As we have been around the city quite a bit this week (and in particular tracking some of the new developments) I thought it would be helpful to mention some of what is being offered out there:

• Temple Lofts - The Temple Lofts, located at 835 Locust Ave, are down to their final 9 units. With just 9 left they have been giving buyers $50,000 to use anyway they would like. This can entail reduction in price, closing cost credit, or even paying your HOA in advance. We have helped a number of clients move in here recently and they have just loved the building.
  
• Pacifica - This building, built by Lennar once had just a small sales office to sell out of. Looking at the 3D renderings of models was tough, but now they have the real deal available! They have staged units to look at and they are paying 2 years HOA (along with they have had a great price reduction from their initial offerings).
  
• AQUA - List prices can be tricky :). Although the builder is down to their remaining 34 units the prices seem a bit on wishful side. Don't let that stop you though. Going with your real estate agent has it's advantages. The sales staff is more than willing to work out a deal - everythign from a price reduction to upgrades. Ask to see what you can get!

Understanding the inventory from the traditional resales to the new construction in Long Beach will help you to find the right home. Financing options are many and the builders may even help lower your interest rate with a buy down. Have fun shopping using the Long Beach MLS and your Long Beach Realtor

Lennar Needs to change Plans for SeaportMarina Hotel Location

Lennar has now pulled it's plans for replacement of the SeaPort Marina hotel off the table. The proposed mixed use project that was to bring 425 lofts and townhomes will have to be substantially re-wored according to the article featured in the Grunion Gazette.

Although many always cry out that it is the city of Long Beach slowing development, in this case there are many parties involved. IN this case Gary DeLong, 3rd District Councilman, and the California Coastal Commission both have raised issues of concern on the proposed project.

Many Long Beach residents will be happy to know that a major concern of the plan is to truly understand impact on the environment as well as the traffic congestation on 2nd and PCH. With this delay it looks like we will still be some years away before we see a new structure replacing the Seaport Marina.

New Construction for LBCC

If you have driven by Clark Ave and Carson st you have seen the construction going on at Long Beach Community College (LBCC). The campus has been undergoing extensive construction extending this the southern portion of the complex. The new structures will be adding additional capacity for a few different elements of the school. The large cement structure, nearby the South of Conant neighborhood, will be helping the Aviation Maintenance and Automotive Facility. The structure that you can see with wood timbers, along Carson St, will be adding classrooms for technology and administrative offices.

As it is the 80th year of celebration the college is really continuing to innovate as it supports the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, and Avalon!