Long Beach Homes • House You Can Afford

Tiki Festival Near Long Beach Homes Celebrates Aloha Friday All Weekend

Aug 23 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

Normally I highlight a sampling of events for you to enjoy near Long Beach homes each Aloha Friday. However this weekend highlights a very special festival – the 13th Annual Tiki Beach Festival at Granada Beach – and it’s so much fun it deserves it’s own post!

Starting at sunrise on Saturday and lasting well until the night (9:30 p.m.) locals turn out for this free and exciting community event. Bring the entire family for a day (or two) of Aloha fun near Long Beach homes on both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday’s event concludes at 5:30 p.m. Get your fill of island music and dancing, costumes and Polynesian culture, tiki carving, and canoe rides! There will be a special kids fun zone, too, as well as an island market place and plenty to eat from Hawaiian shaved ice to specialty drinks and SPAM in the Aloha Food Court.

If you, like me, love Hawaii and are happy to welcome such a festival once again to the Mainland, you’ll have a blast watching (and trying to copy) the dancers. If you live in Long Beach, but are considering a Hawaii home, we should talk. I can help you find the home loan to finance your dream of life in the islands. Be sure to read my Hawaii home posts to get familiar with the programs and tips on buying in Hawaii. Aloha!

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events, Hawaii Homes Tagged With: Aloha Friday, buying in Hawaii, Hawaii Home, live in Long Beach, Long Beach Homes, Tiki Beach Festival, Tiki Festival

Aloha Friday Fun Continues All Weekend Near Downtown Long Beach Homes

Jul 12 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

Start your Aloha Friday by planning some time with the family relaxing and giggling outdoors by attending the free movie and popcorn night at Wardlow Park! Showing tonight, July 12th is Hotel Transylvania at 7:30 p.m. Wardlow Park is located at 3457 Stanbridge Avenue and you can pack up a picnic, lawn chairs and blankets for an even more memorable night!

On Saturday, July 13th, you’ll find lots to do near downtown Long Beach homes! Meet over at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor to enjoy outdoor dance music with Phat Cat Swinger. Blankets and lawn chairs can be brought to this event as well, and along with being free, attendees will also receive 90-minute parking validation! You’ll find people congregating on the Pike Event Lawn, located at the crossroads of Shoreline Drive & Pine Avenue between 5 and 7 p.m.

If you happen to be near Shoreline Village, however, you may also want to stop in and see the stilt walker on Saturday between 1 and 5 p.m. and enjoy their Seaside Summer Concert Series at the Off Boardwalk Stage, beginning at 2 p.m.

Downtown Long Beach will be buzzing Saturday as the 2nd Saturday Art Walk occurs at the Long Beach East Village Arts District on Ocean Boulevard, Linden Avenue, 1st Street, Broadway and Elm. Linden Avenue closes to traffic to become a free street art fair featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, dance and theatre, crafts and workshops by local artists between 4 and 10 pm. The spirit of sharing that you’ll see at this street fair (and seaside artwork) will no doubt extend your Aloha Friday fun. Find out more at their website.

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events Tagged With: Aloha Friday, Downtown Long Beach Homes, Long Beach East Village, Long Beach Homes, Pike, Shoreline Village, Wardlow Park

Maybe Spend Your Aloha Friday, Saturday, Sunday Golfing?

Jun 21 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

A treasure trove of golf courses are located near your Long Beach home and though Hawaiian shirts may not be the norm at most of them, you’ll definitely find the Aloha spirit. On the green you’ll see people taking turns amicably, friends greeted warmly, and above all you’ll experience the beauty of the sunshine and ocean breeze. It may not be the Ko’olau or Kapalua Golf Course, but Long Beach certainly carries some weight when it comes to hitting the links.

Great Long Beach Golf Courses – The Perfect Aloha Friday Activity

When those who work and live in Long Beach talk public golf courses, the five listed below rank pretty highly.

Bixby Village Golf Course, located at 6180 Bixby Village Drive
El Dorado Park Golf Club , located at 2400 North Studebaker Road
Recreation Park South, located at 5000 East 7th Street
Skylinks Golf Course, located at 4800 East Wardlow Road
Heartwell Golf Course, located at 6700 East Carson Street

In terms of private courses in Long Beach, top on the list is Virginia Country Club, located at 4602 North Virginia Road. However, Old Ranch Country Club, located at 3901 Lampson Avenue in Seal Beach is pretty popular, too.

If golf is not your thing, don’t worry because there is plenty of exploration you can do near your Long Beach home. Take a look at my 10 Summer Adventures Near Long Beach homes post and have a great Aloha weekend!

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events Tagged With: Aloha Friday, Bixby Village Golf Course, El Dorado Park Golf Club, Heartwell Golf Course, Long Beach Home, Long Beach Homes, Old Ranch Country Club, Recreation Park South, Skylinks Golf Course, summer adventures, Virginia Country Club

10 Amazing Summer Adventures Near Long Beach Homes

Jun 20 2013 Ric Dizon 1 Comment

This post is dedicated to parents with Long Beach homes who seek to answer the statement, “I’m Bored” this summer. I hope these activities and places will help you to embrace your local community and teach your children who live in Long Beach the value of their surroundings!

Exploring Adventures Near Long Beach Homes

1. Played Frisbee Golf Lately? El Dorado Park West, at 2800 Studebaker Road, has a great FREE course that is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The perfect way to exercise and test skills as a family, this nearly 6,000 foot, 18 basket course will build some solid memories! call 562.570.3100 to find out more.

2. Need to Cool Off? The Belmont Plaza Pool, Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool, and Silverado Park Pool offer admission for kids and seniors for $3 or less and $4 for adults all summer for morning or afternoon swimming. Click here to find out more.

3. Tennis Anyone? Were you aware that more than ten tennis courts are available for no-cost play near your Long Beach home? Of course you could also choose to pay $6/hr Monday through Thursday and play at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, as well. Learn more here.

4. Want More General Play? The City of Long Beach offers Summer Fun Days at most local parks, too. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids between 5 and 12 years of age can stop in for crafts, games, and other supervised, structured, free activities. Check the list here to see if the park near your Long Beach home is participating.

5. Lots of Camp Options, too! Long Beach kids can sign up for all types of day camps, for a fee, too. Click here to see.

6. Camp Is Not Just For Kids! Adults can find classes throughout Long Beach too, from yoga and fitness to sewing and ceramics, many options are available. See the online class catalog – page 16 is where the adult classes begin!

7. Ready for Some Music? The Long Beach Municipal Band has concerts scheduled at local parks throughout July. See dates, times and places here.

8. Jump in the Ocean or Visit the Sea Fest! The Long Beach Sea Festival has plenty to offer at well all summer long, you can view scheduled events online at their website.

9. Interested in Nature? Walk the trails or visit the Nature Center at El Dorado Park this summer and learn some fascinating things!

10. For a daily list of Long Beach happenings, visit 100 Days of Summer and find even more fun to do near Long Beach homes!

Filed Under: Community News, Events Tagged With: Belmont Plaza, Billie Jean King Tennis Center, City of Long Beach, El Dorado Park, El Dorado Park West, live in Long Beach, Long Beach Home, Long Beach Homes, Long Beach Municipal Band, Long Beach Sea Festival, Silverado Park

Enjoy the Aloha Spirit with a Dive Expo Near Long Beach Homes

Jun 7 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

This weekend, on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, 9th divers will gather from their Long Beach homes (and all around the world) to attend the largest Dive and SCUBA Expo in the United States! Celebrating 26 years, the 2013 Scuba Show brings hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive enthusiasts to the Long Beach Convention Center. Diving professionals share their knowledge at seminars, a film festival will entertain, and tons of prizes will be awarded, as well. Learn more at the SCUBA Show.

If you’d like a less crowded, but just as informative free activity near Long Beach homes, pay a visit to Rancho Los Alamitos. With over 4 acres of beautiful gardens, animals, historic blacksmith shop and barns, you’ll find plenty to do. Located at 6400 Bixby Hill Road and open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, a step back in time at the Rancho will sooth your soul and teach you about Tongva village of Povuu’ngna.

Of course with the beautiful weather near Long Beach homes, it seems like a bicycle ride could be the perfect weekend event, too! Look for the Shop, Dine, BIKE Long Beach stickers in local restaurants and take advantage of “biker discounts.” Visit BikeLongBeach.org to view maps and suggested bike routes, like this easy, historic Bluffs ride, which will show you the many treasures near Long Beach homes.

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events Tagged With: Aloha Spirit, bike Long Beach, Long Beach Homes, Rancho Los Alamitos, SCUBA, SCUBA Show

Memorial Day Weekend Starts With Aloha Friday For Long Beach Homes

May 24 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

Aloha Friday is a celebration of life and embraces honoring those who have gone before, as well. This Memorial Weekend is filled with events that do the same near Long Beach homes. Whether you wish to spend your time honoring troops and loved ones who have served or creating new memories with family and friends, at HouseYouCanAfford.com, we hope you take time to be grateful and remember all that you have.

If you’d like to start off your Memorial Day weekend in a traditional fashion, you can visit the Gold Star Manor Ceremony at Spring Street, near Long Beach homes, just west of Santa Fe Avenue at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24th. Special guest Major General David Berger, has a stellar Marine Corps history as a 31-year infantry combat veteran and commanding general and will be in attendance. Enter at the gate on Spring or find out more by calling 562.426.7651.

On Saturday, May 25th, families will be congregating at Marina Green Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. to join in the excitement and give back at the Children Today 5k/10k Run Fundraiser. Come see what it’s all about at Shoreline Drive on the Beach Bike Path as they celebrate their 5th year of raising funds for Children Today’s Play House. Registered participants receive a t-shirt and goodie bag at this rain or shine event.

Sunday, May 26th brings another Memorial Day tribute locally as Gold Star Mother Elaine Brattain, speaks at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos at 9:30 a.m. Held in the Liberty Theater, Building 6, at 11200 Lexington Drive, all are welcome with photo ID.

Lastly, the annual “Tolling The Boats” will be held on Monday, May 27th, at 11 a.m. by the U.S. National Submarine Memorial West, as well. Captain Thomas Ishee, commodore of San Diego’s Submarine Squadron 11 will speak and all are invited to attend at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard.

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events Tagged With: Aloha Friday, Long Beach Homes, Memorial Day, Memorial Day Weekend

Plan For Bike Riding Near Long Beach Homes This Aloha Friday

May 17 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

Beautiful skies and warm weather kick off the perfect start to this week’s Aloha Friday near Long Beach homes.

Were you aware that May is National Bike Month? Bike riding provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the surroundings of the house you can afford and this week the City of Long Beach is sponsoring several events to help you get moving!

On Saturday, May 18th you can take part in a “Lawns to Gardens” FREE bike tour hosted by landscaper Green Genie and the Long Beach Water Department. You’ll see a variety of Belmont Shore home lawns that have been transformed into garden landscapes of thirty Belmont Shore homes. The four hour ride begins at 10 a.m. This is not just a “ride by and point” tour, however, since you can bring all your drought-tolerant landscape questions. You may just discover the answer you need for your Long Beach house you can afford! You must RSVP, so email [email protected] if you’d like to attend.

If learning about water conservation and landscaping ideas is not of interest, but you would still like to bike, you can ride down to the 30th annual Long Beach Pride Celebration. The Bikestation located at the First Street Transit Mall (downtown) will be offering free parking for your bike on Saturday and Sunday during the festivities.

On Sunday, May 19th families of all ages can join in the fun at the Kidical Mass Bixby Knolls with a family neighborhood bike ride from 1 to 3 pm. Meet up at Georgie’s Place, located at 3850 Atlantic, for free ice cream, safety tips, and a Safe Moves Bike Rodeo. Find out more by clicking here, and be sure to wear your helmet!

Filed Under: Aloha Friday, Community News, Events Tagged With: Aloha Friday, House You Can Afford, Long Beach Homes, Long Beach house

Celebrate “No Diet” Days Near Long Beach Homes

May 9 2013 Ric Dizon Comments

Holidays and family gatherings bring to mind fond food memories, plenty of which can be found near Long Beach homes! With Mother’s Day and graduation celebrations, there’s no better time to share some local hot spots and dining delights where you can enjoy your “No Diet” days near the house you can afford in Long Beach.

Ric’s Top 10 “No Diet” Destinations Close To Long Beach Homes

1. Open Sesame, located at 5215 E 2nd Street – The food (mix of Persian, Mediterranean, Lebanese) is so incredible you’ll understand the reason for the crowd.

2. Café Piccolo, located at 3222 East Broadway - Ambiance and gourmet Italian cuisine complete with atrium and twinkling lights make this the perfect romantic getaway.

3. La Traviata, located at 301 N Cedar Avenue - Wonderful service and delicious food in this transport you to Italy hotspot.

4. Los Compadres, located at 3229 E Anaheim Street - Tasty Mexican food with fresh tortillas. Need I say more?

5. ASHA Moroccan Mediterranean Restaurant, located at 149 Linden Avenue in Suite E – Beautiful decor, outstanding service and delicious Mediterranean food make this a must try, too!

6. Canadian Pizza, located for pick up at 1241 E 4th Street, but they also DELIVER – If you’re in the mood for a decadent looking and tasting pizza, you’ve gotta call them at 562.980.7605.

7. Rascals Teriyaki Grill, located at 1760 Bellflower Boulevard – Fantastic Japanese and whether you prefer Shabu shabu and rice bowls or salads, you won’t be disappointed. Perfect lunch place!

8. La Creperie Café, located at 4911 E 2nd Street – Delicate and authentic, you’ll enjoy a delicious French meal and wish you had room for more.

9. El Torazo, located at 2801 E 10th Street – $1 tacos on and on Aloha Fridays! Great breakfast burritos and yummy salsa, too, and at these prices, eating here will definitely keep you in the house you can afford!

10. 555 East, located at 555 East Ocean Boulevard – Superb service, delicious entrees (known for extremely tender steak, though everything is good), 555 has been a Long Beach standby for decades and is worth the occasional splurge.

Filed Under: Community News Tagged With: House You Can Afford, local hot spots, Long Beach Homes, No Diet

Long Beach Homes – Declining Inventory, Higher Prices

Apr 9 2013 Ric Dizon 2 Comments

If you are looking for Long Beach homes, you may have noticed fewer listings of late. Homes are selling quickly and less Long Beach homes are being listed resulting in a decrease in inventory. While this trend is being seen nationwide, it’s still alarming to see it in your own backyard, especially when you’re trying to buy a house you can afford!

Fortunately mortgage rates are still low, allowing many buyers to be able to still purchase the home of their dreams, once they find it. Still, increases in prices are one the way with fewer available Long Beach homes. According to Zillow home value estimates, home prices have seen an 8.6% increase in the last year with the median selling price set at $381,500 in February of 2013. Depending on your specific area, these changes may be even more dramatic, with neighborhoods like Park Estates and Naples experiencing home values rising more than 17%.

The Top 10 most expensive homes in Long Beach are listed below, giving you an idea of how much home you can buy in 2013. If you are interested in any of these homes or would like a quote on a Long Beach mortgage on a house you can afford, please give me, Ric Dizon a call at 562-257-5008.

See all House You Can Afford in city of Long Beach.
(all data current as of 8/28/2013)

$10,900,000 : 55 Vista Del Golfo, Long Beach

6 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 9,633 sq ft

Lot size: 9,413 sqft

Year built: 2011

Parking spots: 7

Days on market: 113
$7,995,000 : 6020 Lido Lane, Long Beach

5 beds, 8 full baths

Home size: 7,950 sq ft

Lot size: 8,281 sqft

Year built: 1989

Parking spots: 6

Days on market: 129
$5,445,000 : 5436 East The Toledo, Long Beach

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 4,622 sq ft

Lot size: 5,141 sqft

Year built: 2011

Parking spots: 6

Days on market: 66
$4,795,000 : 6022 LIDO Lane, Long Beach

3 beds, 2 full, 3 part baths

Home size: 5,077 sq ft

Lot size: 4,115 sqft

Year built: 2000

Parking spots: 9

Days on market: 332
$4,395,000 : 20 South OCEAN MANOR Place, Long Beach

6 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 6,006 sq ft

Lot size: 13,491 sqft

Year built: 1982

Parking spots: 8

Days on market: 362
$3,175,000 : 5121 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach

4 beds, 2 full, 3 part baths

Home size: 3,138 sq ft

Lot size: 2,563 sqft

Year built: 2008

Parking spots: 8

Days on market: 97
$2,995,000 : 3065 East OCEAN Boulevard, Long Beach

7 beds, 5 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 7,089 sq ft

Lot size: 19,999 sqft

Year built: 1913

Parking spots: 10

Days on market: 533
$2,995,000 : 6915 SEASIDE Walk, Long Beach

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,498 sq ft

Lot size: 2,394 sqft

Year built: 2002

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 1,330
$2,395,000 : 4641 Virginia Road, Long Beach

6 beds, 4 full, 3 part baths

Home size: 7,306 sq ft

Lot size: 27,056 sqft

Year built: 1964

Parking spots: 10

Days on market: 12
$2,395,000 : 162 Rivo Alto Canal, Long Beach

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,365 sq ft

Lot size: 2,180 sqft

Year built: 1924

Parking spots: 7

Days on market: 69