Palos Verdes Lifestyle - Norma Toering's Palos Verdes Homes Blog

For the urban professional raising a family that loves the Southern California lifestyle, warm weather year round and the ocean waves, Manhattan Beach has many things going for it, a highly educated and well paid population, excellent homes and a top school system.

The city has 35,000 residents with a prosperous median household income of $107,750, 73% having a college degree and 64% in management, professional and related occupations.

Through 2009, 289 single family homes sold in the 90266 zip code according to MDA Data Quick, at a median price of $1,375,000.

Manhattan Beach is not only a great place to live but an excellent place to raise a family. The MBUSD is ranked fifth in California with a 2009 API score of 915. It’s Mira Costa High School ranked in the top 2.5% of California high schools with a 2009 API score of 872. Its 2007-2008 high school graduation rate was 97.3% with 96% of the 2009 senior graduating class going on to college. Let’s not forget that the sports programs in the city are first rate whether it is AYSO, Little League or school programs. Mira Costa High School consistently produces top athletes

Manhattan Beach is divided into 4 living areas with a premier choice of diversity to choose from with home prices starting as low as $600,000 and going upwards of $25,000,000.

Starting with East Manhattan Beach, as you move closer to the ocean, there is the Tree, the Hill and the Sand sections.

East Manhattan Beach is where you get the most for your money with consistently bigger lots and featuring one of the only luxury gated communities in the area.  It's one of the main draws for a lot of our local sports celebrities from the Lakers, Clippers and Kings, because privacy and space is what they want.

Manhattan's Tree Section is a collection of quaint beach homes and newer homes with a lot of strollers and kids playing in the street.  Perfect for families just starting out or families that are growing, it is never hard to get play dates for your kids.

The Hill Section is where you will find the area's estate homes.  Homes are 3,000 to 10,000 square feet of living space situated on large lots, on a hill, of course, with huge views either of the city or ocean.  Wide streets, big homes and well-known residents reside here.  Many are wealthy money and talent managers that live just doors from each other.  You don't even have to go to the office to do your next merger and acquisition deal.  You could probably do it right here at home at Peet’s Coffee, because it's a hot bed of talent from the financial industry.

Last but not least, there's the legendary Sand Section.  It's the playground for Kerry Walsh and Misty May who smack volleyballs here year round and where pro surfers Brad Gerlach and Alex Gray put on surfing clinics.  Want a great dinner within walking distance?  Petro's, Mucho's, Sashi and Talia's just to name a few are some of the local favorites.  High-end dining with a beach atmosphere.  Nothing to wear?  Shops like Wright's, 3rd Gallery, Manhattan Denim, True Religion, Una and many more rival that that you see on Melrose, Larchmont and Montana in L.A.

But most of all, the residents in this area are laid back and like to just let people be.  It's the vibe that everybody already knows everybody, so everyone treats each other just about the same.  It's not unusual to see Kobe Bryant buying at Susie's Cakes or Britney Spears at Michael's shopping for furniture. The difference?  There's no paparazzi and no one going up to you asking for your autograph. If the paparazzi showed up they'd probably get arrested for disturbing the peace.

Provided by John Corrales.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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