"Mansionization": Which Home is Largest-of-All?

Under discussion for much of this year, the Long Beach City Council's agenda last night finally brought it to the city level. Citizens from neighborhoods such as The Ranchos, Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights have been most vocal about the impact of built-out remodels or rebuilds on the character and "feel" of their neighborhoods. It's not too difficult to find throughout Long Beach (or adjacent cities) many examples of houses which are built out to the maximum in lot coverage with as little setback as possible, in the trend to have the largest home possible in a given amount of space. Where a neighbor saw a tree in his neighbor's yard, he now might be able to reach out and touch the neighbor's new second story wall. As real estate appreciates, so does the desirability of location, location, location, and many owners felt there was an advantage to tearing down the old and rebuilding today's desirable floor plan. So does the owner have all the rights here, or do other area residents who chose to invest in a neighborhood partially because of it's architecture, age, density level (or lack of), and general "comfort" level with the street.

So the City Council last night voted 8-0 on a motion concerning Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights which proceeds which a current interim ordinance limiting construction to two stories (there have been many 3 story remodeled houses in the Shore), and further study reducing the number of variances allowed, the appropriateness of decreased turning radius for cars with homes on alleys, architectural projections, front yard setback, standards for remodels and new construction, using community involvement on design guidelines.

For some owners, just as when some areas voted to become historic districts in the 1980's and 1990's, these guidelines may be viewed as too limiting and an infringement on their property rights and change what they view as "functionally obsolete." It's a valid point--for hundreds of years people have built their homes in a way that fit the social structure of the time, sometimes long after that social structure was gone and "custom" took over. How do people upgrade a floor plan they believe is "functionally obsolete" but then not infringe on their neighbor's privacy? The other question is, do people need as much space as they think they do? I think a big question centers on privacy and desire for personal space especially in metropolitan areas which have seen their populations grow drastically. They're squashed in on the freeway to get home, and now their big plasma TV does not fit in that little 1928 or 1952 living room.

But will this really prevent sales? I don't think so--I think people in these neighborhoods will ultimately find a balance between living in a temperate climate vs. their lifestyle and available resources. (Photo is California bungalow in Alamitos Beach area, the kind of house that some people love and look for, other people think is way too small.)

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Does Your Avocado Oven Scream "Fixer"?

According to this article it does. But I think it all depends on who you are (and the condition of the oven). If you're a retro person, the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's may look like fun to you, or you may not care what year it was all made as long as it runs.

But to take into consideration all the things that go into pricing your property, "No Magic Formula" makes its point very well. Just as one oven doesn't predict a price, neither do other factors without considering the overall picture of size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities, condition, the current market trends, and location, location, location. Price may change 10% or more depending on whether or not the owner has an ocean or water view, or if the property borders a commercial area. It also depends on perceptions about an area or property, or whether or not the upgrades match area expectations. If every other house has an upgraded kitchen and bathroom, and yours does not, that will probably affect the selling price of your home unless you have other compensating factors that would be desirable to your buyer. That means you're waiting for just the right buyer and your house would probably sell faster if you had the upgrades that most of the other homes have in your area.

For buyers who worry about paying more than a home is worth (and there is no real estate cycle where this is not a fear), I could not agree more with the concluding quote of this article:

"Buy a home because you like it, you want to live there, and you're OK if the market goes up, and you're OK if the market goes down."

Deciding on the Right Home Improvements

How do you know the right home improvements to make? It's not a one-size-fits-all. Knowing the architectural style of your home, the economic level of your neighborhood, and the usual percentage of return are things to keep in mind.

What do buyers expect to see when they walk in the door of a Mission revival or a Craftsman bungalow, or a 1950's tract home? Buyers sometimes miss your perspective and decide instead they might have to spend more money to rip it out. Are you installing a new floor to please yourself because you'll probably be there for the next five years, or are you contemplating selling in the near future? If the latter is the case, you'll probably want to make an improvement for curb appeal, not for the most expensive appearance. Staging your home for sale could put your home sale on a faster track for an offer, and might help to compensate for the neighborhood factors or other property features if a buyer can see himself living in it as a result. One of the best improvements: an outdoor patio or deck, new kitchen upgrades. One of the worst improvements: very customized spaces such as a wine cellar, sauna--or expensive technology installations such as a CAT5 cable that are outdated by the time the house sells.

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