Top 10 Reasons Homeowners Should Sell Their Residential Property in the 2025 Long Beach, California Market

 

Craftsman Bungalow style homes

Selling your home is a significant decision, and the current Long Beach market in 2025 presents several compelling reasons why homeowners may want to take the leap. Whether you're considering relocating, downsizing, or capitalizing on current market conditions, here are the top 10 reasons to sell your residential property this year.

1. Rising Home Equity

Homeowners in Long Beach have seen a steady increase in home values over recent years. If you've built significant home equity, 2025 might be the right time to capitalize on your investment. Selling while property values are still high allows you to maximize your returns before any market shifts occur.

2. High Buyer Demand in Long Beach

The Long Beach housing market remains competitive, with a high demand for properties in desirable neighborhoods. With many buyers looking to settle in this coastal city, selling your home could be an opportunity to get multiple offers and potentially sell at a premium price.

3. Interest Rate Considerations

While interest rates may be rising in 2025, or staying the same, they’re still historically low compared to past decades. This makes homebuying attractive for potential buyers in Long Beach, driving demand for properties. If you sell now, you can take advantage of favorable conditions for both you and the buyer.

4. Relocation for Job or Lifestyle Change

Whether for work, family, or lifestyle reasons, many homeowners in Long Beach decide to relocate. Whether you’re moving to another city, state, or seeking a new neighborhood in Long Beach, selling your property is often necessary to facilitate your next chapter.

5. Downsizing to a Smaller Home

If your children have moved out, or you simply want a more manageable living space, 2025 is a great time to downsize. The Long Beach area offers many smaller homes and condos that could provide you with lower maintenance costs while still offering access to the community you love.

6. Changing Family Needs

Your growing family or lifestyle changes might require a new type of home. Whether you're looking for more space or specific features such as a larger yard, more bedrooms, or proximity to schools, selling your current property to upgrade is an excellent reason to enter the market in 2025.

7. Capitalizing on Rising Rents

With rising rents in Long Beach, many homeowners are selling and moving into rental properties that better suit their financial or lifestyle needs. By selling your home now, you may find a more affordable option in terms of monthly payments or expenses. Please contact me for a list of rental properties.

8. Tax Benefits of Selling

In 2025, there may be certain tax incentives for sellers in Long Beach, including exemptions on capital gains tax under specific circumstances. Don't forget about Proposition 19 benefits for transfer of property tax base. Consulting a tax advisor can provide insight into how selling your home can benefit your long-term financial goals.

9. Avoiding Future Maintenance Costs

Older homes often require expensive repairs and updates. If you’ve been putting off necessary repairs, selling your home before significant maintenance costs pile up might be a wise decision. In a strong market like Long Beach’s, you can probably sell quickly and avoid the hassle and costs of further home improvements.

10. Taking Advantage of Competitive Market Conditions

2025 is expected to be a competitive year for sellers in Long Beach. With multiple buyers looking for homes, particularly in desirable neighborhoods like Belmont Shore or Naples, you may be able to sell at a higher price than expected. In the lower priced areas, under $900,000, buyers are actively looking.

The increased competition from buyers can work in your favor, especially if your home is well-maintained and staged.

To look for your next property, or to see what it selling in your current area, go to my site which explores properties on one of the largest comprehensive MLS's in the country at Property Search

 For a market value analysis for your property and what potential net proceeds might be from a sale, please contact me, I'm available in person or for online help.  Just call, email me or text. And check out the Market Reports on my website below, reports have detailed information concerning various neighborhoods and property types. Check back because it's periodically updated with new reports.

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | http://www.abodes.realestate | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996

Beware of Rental Scams

Rentals are in much demand, especially for those who have so unfortunately lost their homes in the wildfires and are searching for satisfactory accommodations.

Rental scams have been operating for years, and have gradually become more sophisticated. Some scammers have used active for sale listings that originate from one of the MLS sites, and copy the photograph and address and place it on one of the social media platforms. If a property searcher is at all knowledgeable about the market, they will know that an upgraded1200 sq. ft. house with a $400/month asking price in Los Angeles County raises a red flag.

But still, people unfortunately get taken before they figure out that their deposit money has disappeared into the hands of someone not responding to email or phone calls.

It's very important to not get caught up in a message designed to create urgency, and it's someone you don't know.

1. Email addresses and phone numbers are available on the internet, so beware if you receive an unsolicited message about a property. Look at a phone's area code, and if the sender's email address is made up of  long string of characters that tries to look like it's from a company, avoid responding  to it and delete.

2. Be wary of wire transfer requests for money, cryptocurrency or gift cards as forms of payment. Also be wary if they request a payment through payment apps like Apple Pay, CashApp, PayPal and Zelle, per the Federal Trade Commission. Those are forms of instantaneous payment to the receiver, and you may not be able to get it back. People posing as listings agents or landlords may not in fact be who they say they are.

3. If they refuse to meet you in person to see the property, that is another red flag.  If it's not really a true listing, then they don't have the ability to show it. Request a virtual tour or have a friend or family member see the property for you if you cannot be present yourself. It's also advisable to take someone with you if you do have an appt. to the the property.

4. Back to my earlier comment, be suspicious of an extraordinarily low price posted by someone you don't know. It may be far too good to be true, and it may be one of those "borrowed" listings.  One listing I had was one of those that  got posted as a rental and I didn't find out until I started getting calls for it by people asking about the "for rent" listing. One lady actually drove by my listing and called me, when she realized this was a property for sale, not for rent, just to verify--that's how I found it it was being scammed.

It's a time to be careful, and not lost money on top of all the other problems people are experiencing right now.

If you would like a copy of the recent orders about enforcement of the Governor's rental requirements, please contact me.  If you would like a list of properties in the area that are for rent or lease, I can help you.

 

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | http://www.abodes.realestate | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996

How to Fire Harden Your Home, No Matter Where You Live

Damage to house in Altadena

The most recent fires have once again brought up the issue of the vulnerability to fires. Although living near hills, mountains, areas with high vegetation are very often in the high risk fire zones, an event like this could happen in the city as well. The high winds fire events (winds of 80-90 mph in Altadena) in early January quickly consumed neighborhoods and business districts--property owners should  think about the three ignition sources which are embers (airborne wood carried by wind), surface fires (ground debris, shrubs), and crown fires (spread in the tops of trees). According to www.firewise.org, studies have shown that homes ignite due to the condition of the home and everything around it, up to 200 feet from the foundation.

That means when it comes to fire safety, you have to consider every inch of your house as a potential
vulnerability. But there are steps you can take today to protect your home and your family to make sure
each and every part of your home is “hardened” in preparation.

FIRST, ADDRESS THESE VULNERABILITIES:
• Consider re-roofing a roof built with shingles or wood. Use materials with a Class A fire rating,
such as composition shingles, tile or steel.
• Inspect for and cover up any gaps in the roof to prevent falling embers from entering the house.
• Cover up any open vents, including chimneys, with 1/8” mesh to keep out falling embers. Move
any combustible items away from the vents, both inside and outside.
• Consider remodeling wooden walls with ignition resistant materials such as stucco, fiber cement or fire-retardant-treated wood.
• Cover up rain gutters with screens to prevent leaves from accumulating.
• Ensure that the only plants within 20 feet of the house are small, well-pruned plants with high moisture content. Ideally, there should be no vegetation within five feet of the property.
• Install multi-paned, tempered glass to reduce the chance of windows breaking due to the heat of a fire, which then creates opportunities for embers to enter the house.
• Make sure the home’s address is clearly visible from the street, which will make it easier for emergency vehicles to find the house.
• Purchase at least one fire extinguisher for the house — two if there is a detached garage.

STAY ON TOP OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE:
• Regularly clean out rain gutters.
• Remove dead plants or dry leaves from the property and regularly trim trees that come close to the house.
• Clean outdoor decks to remove leaves that get trapped between deck boards.
• Check fire extinguishers annually to be sure they have not expired.
• Ensure the driveway and local access roads are in good condition.

PHOTO:  This house, for unknown reasons, was the only one on the street to burn, but note that many other homes nearby on adjacent streets were lost, including a school. The neighborhood was a stone's throw from Eaton Canyon.  It was next to the house I grew up in years ago, which did not burn. As you can see, the area has a great deal of vegetation including pine trees and deodar trees. Per the LA County survey photo of my former home, there was no apparent fire damage and was catalogued as "no damage". Photo courtesy of Pasadena News photographer who took photos of other burning structures the next morning after it started and who sent it to me.

Sources: University of California Cooperative Education, Wildfire Preparation & Recovery; CAL Fire, Hardening Your Home. California Association of Realtors.

 

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | http://www.abodes.realestate | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996

California Insurance Claim Guidelines for Dealing With Insurance and Wildfire Disaster, One Year Moratorium

Homeowners,

Insurance often becomes top of mind during crises like these, and understanding your rights and resources can make all the difference. Here is essential information for you at this time. Please just use this as a guide when deciding about your claim.

Preparing and Filing an Insurance Claim

Items to Have Ready:

    Home Policy Information: Include your policy number and the insurer’s contact details. Many carriers also allow online filing.

    List Damaged or Lost Items: Document personal items lost or damaged. Photos, videos, descriptions, and estimated replacement costs are helpful. Receipts and detailed records can expedite the process but aren’t always required.

    Temporary Living Expenses: Track all expenses like hotel stays, meals, and transportation incurred while displaced.

    Fire Department Report: Request an official report confirming the fire’s cause and scope.

    Evacuation Notices: Retain any official notices that verify your evacuation.

    Notes of Conversations: Record every interaction with your insurance provider, including dates, representative names, and discussion summaries.

    Organizing Your Claim: Create a physical or digital folder for all claim-related documents, receipts, and communications.

Caution: Public adjusters will likely contact you, offering to handle your claim. While they can be helpful in complex cases, they take a percentage of your payout. Take a few days to assess whether their services are necessary before signing anything.

Key California Insurance Claim Rules

    In California, insurers are legally bound to specific practices, especially during declared emergencies. These rules provide leverage to ensure fair and prompt claim resolution.

Temporary Living Expenses (ALE):

    Advance Payments: Insurers must provide at least four months of ALE benefits for total losses in declared emergencies. ([CA Ins. Code 2061(a)(1)])

    Extended Coverage: If civil authority restricts access, ALE is covered for at least two weeks, with extensions as needed. ([CA Ins. Code 2060(c)])

Rebuilding or Relocating

 

    Use full replacement benefits for rebuilding at the same or a new location or buying a replacement home. Insurers cannot deduct land value from payments. ([CA Ins. Code 2051.5(c)])

 

Personal Property Coverage:

    Insurers must offer at least 30% of your Dwelling limit for personal property in total losses. ([CA Ins. Code 10103.7])

    Inventory Requirements: Accept simplified itemization like “15 books” rather than detailed lists. ([CA Ins. Code 2061(a)(2)(3)])

 

Debris Removal:

    Insurers should coordinate and fund debris removal efforts when included in a group program.

Claim Handling Timelines

 

    Acknowledgment of Claim: Within 15 days of notice. ([10 CCR 2695.5(e)])

    Investigation: Begin within 15 days of claim receipt.

    Communication: Reply to inquiries within 15 days. ([10 CCR 2695.5(b)])

    Policy Copy Requests: Must be fulfilled within 30 days. ([Cal Ins. Code 2071; 2084])

    Claim Decision: Insurers must accept or reject claims within 40 days of proof of claim receipt. ([10 CCR 2695.7(b)])

    Payments: Claims must be paid within 30 days of acceptance.

    If you encounter multiple adjusters, request a primary contact to simplify communication. ([Cal Ins. Code 14047]).

Homeowners may be approached by people to handle your claim, please be cautious in who you choose to deal with.

Department of Insurance

 

    Last but not least, consult with Dept of Insurance for further assistance.  There is a one-year moratorium for cancellations and non-renewals, check to see if your zip code is in the moratorium area.

#Eatonfire

#PacificPalisadesfire

#Californiawildfires

Julia Huntsman, REALTOR, Broker | http://www.abodes.realestate | 562-896-2609 | California Lic. #01188996