Thursday, March 27, 2014

Showcase - The Monte Malaga neighborhood of Palos Verdes Estates CA

The Pacific framed by the Santa Monica Bay. We call it the "Queen's Necklace" view in Palos Verdes.
Monte Malaga encompasses the upper hills of PV Estates, just above the Malaga Cove area.  The views can be stunning, often causing even the locals to stop and pull out their cameras to get a shot of the Santa Monica Bay.  The "New York Hill" section of Monte Malaga contains many of the largest homes in all of Palos Verdes.

An infinity pool in a luxury estate on the hillside in Monte Malaga.
Monte Malaga is home to some of the most exquisite estates on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Although this Palos Verdes Estates neighborhood does not have ocean frontage it does command sweeping views from its location high amid the hills of Palos Verdes. The area is home to some of the most expensive homes on the hill.

Estates with knock out views in the Monte Malaga neighborhood.

- Norma & Josh Toering of Charlemagne Int'l Properties
(310) 493-8333 or Email us

Homes for sale in Monte Malaga, Palos Verdes Estates: (See more homes in PVE)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Palos Verdes and Beach Cities Homes For Sale Priced Over $5,000,000

Grand staircase in a $7M estate in Palos Verdes.
It is no secret the coastal homes along Southern California's coast command a premium price. The housing market recovery, coupled with the growing number of luxury home buyers, is contributing to a surge in luxury home prices in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

During the past 12 months the luxury home markets I track and work recorded 23 sales priced over $5,000,000. Here is the breakdown by individual city:

  • Manhattan Beach: 10 Luxury homes priced over $5,000,000 sold. 
  • Hermosa Beach: 2 Sales over $5,000,000 were recorded. The most expensive home on this list of high-end homes, a 7,000 sq. ft. home built in 2013 and located on The Strand in Hermosa Beach, sold for $14,800,000. 
  • Palos Verdes Estates: 6 Luxury sales over $5,000,000 were recorded per MLS information. 
  • Rolling Hills: 3 Rolling Hills luxury homes priced over $5,000,000 sold from March 2013 to March 2014. 
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: 2 Luxury homes sales over $5,000,000 were recorded in Rancho Palos Verdes for the previous 12 months. 
  • 23 high-end luxury home sales were recorded during the past 12 months in Palos Verdes and the Beach Cities. 


Homes priced over $5,000,000 currently for sale:
- Norma Toering, Broker (310) 493-8333

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes $5M+:
Beach Cities homes $5M+:
Beach Cities luxury condos and townhomes:

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes--March 2014


February was a quiet month for luxury home sales on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with only one sale topping the $2,000,000 luxury home price. The home, located in Palos Verdes Estates on Grandvia Altamira, sold for $2,290,000.

There are currently 19 luxury homes in escrow with accepted offers and 61 Palos Verdes luxury homes priced over $2,000,000 for sale.

Palos Verdes luxury homes currently for sale by location:
  • Palos Verdes Estates: 26
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: 18
  • Rolling Hills: 13
  • Rolling Hills Estates: 3
  • Palos Verdes Peninsula (unincorporated area): 1
For more information about Palos Verdes luxury homes contact Norma at 310.493.8333.

Palos Verdes homes for sale over $5,000,000:
Palos Verdes homes for sale over $2,000,000:

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Multi-Million Dollar Homes in Palos Verdes



A prospective buyer recently searched for "multi-million dollar homes in Palos Verdes."  The results must have startled this searcher, as nearly all the single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes are over $1,000,000.  There are currently 130 Palos Verdes single family homes for sale, and only 17 are priced below $1.000,000 with eight of those being located in the Eastview neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes.

With a list of over 100 homes, this buyer was overwhelmed and needed some help in eliminating those homes that were not a good fit for his family, commute and lifestyle.  By narrowing the search to 4+ bedrooms, single story, pool and view the list became much shorter.  By eliminating "fixers" and targeting desired neighborhoods the list was reduced to a manageable size.  Coupled with firsthand knowledge of most of the properties (attending broker open houses is crucial for increased market knowledge) a few more homes were scratched off the tour list.  It is much easier to find the right house after you eliminate the wrong homes.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula has four separate cities and an unincorporated area.  Each city has a distinct personality and amenities.

Palos Verdes Estates neighborhoods include Malaga Cove with its Old Spanish influence, abundant coastline, sought after Queen's Necklace view and hills dotted with villas.  Monte Malaga is the neighborhood above Malaga Cove and although the location is not at the water's edge, the higher altitude provides panoramic views from the lights of the cities to snow-capped mountains in the distance.   Some of Palos Verdes finest estates are located in Monte Malaga.  The Valmonte neighborhood is famous for its tree-lined streets and prime location for easy access to the amenities of the Beach Cites and the beach.  Lunada Bay lays claim to much of the coastal strip along Palos Verdes Drive West and this location allows for stunning ocean views.

Rolling Hills is located near the top of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The gated city is home to some of the finest equestrian estates in Southern California.  Although the number of horse properties is on the decline it is still a premium location if large lots (1+ acres), security and wide open spaces are desired.  Many of the homeowners have converted stables to guest houses and riding rings to tennis courts, but it is still the number one location in Palos Verdes for horse property buyers.

Most of Rolling Hills Estates is located along the Palos Verdes Drive North corridor.  This is horse country and many of the properties zoned for horses are more affordable than those found in Rolling Hills.  Again, it is not necessary to own a horse to enjoy living in Rolling Hills Estates as there are many neighborhoods of a more suburban nature including several gated communities.

Rancho Palos Verdes provides the largest variety of homes.  Some of the most expensive and the least expensive Palos Verdes homes are located in Rancho Palos Verdes.  Oceanfront Estates, Marguerite Drive and The Estates at Trump National are prime luxury neighborhoods.   Other luxury enclaves are scattered throughout the largest city on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Palos Verdes Drive South area is  fast becoming the resort area of Palos Verdes Peninsula.  With some of the best weather and a world-class resort (Terranea) it is no surprise this area has some of the most stunning views in all of Palos Verdes and an abundance of luxury homes.

The unincorporated area, known as Palos Verdes Peninsula, is home to both suburban type neighborhoods and neighborhoods zoned for horses.  The unincorporated area is located along the Palos Verdes Drive North corridor.

There is a home in nearly every price range in Palos Verdes.  Currently the most expensive single family home in Palos Verdes is listed for $53,000,000 and is located in Rolling Hills.  The least expensive is a 3-bedroom home in the Eastview neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes with an asking price of $649,000.  Rolling Hills Estates has a studio condo for sale for $249,000.

There truly is a very wide price range in Palos Verdes.  However, keep in mind even if you do not have a big view in your backyard or direct ocean access, no matter what price range you purchase in you will still enjoy the spectacular views of ocean, city lights and Catalina when you become a resident.  Some of the parks have incredible views.  The hiking and horseback riding trails offer million dollar vistas.  The views from the streets alone can assure you moving to Palos Verdes was indeed a very good idea.

- Norma (310) 493-8333

Palos Verdes homes for sale priced over $5,000,000:
Palos Verdes homes for sale priced over $2,000,000:

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

2013 Luxury Home Sales by South Bay City


For this report I will focus on the beach cities and the Palos Verdes Peninsula since those areas make up the bulk of luxury homes sales priced over $2,000,000 in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

2013 Luxury homes sales by city:
  • Manhattan Beach: 171 Luxury homes sold in 2013.
  • Hermosa Beach: 39 Luxury homes sold in 2013.
  • Redondo Beach: 13 Luxury homes sold in 2013.
  • 2013 Luxury home sales total for the beach cities: 223
Homes priced over $2,000,000 sold proving the beach cities are a prime and highly desired area for those buyers seeking a high-end home in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

Palos Verdes Peninsula luxury home sales for 2013:
  • Palos Verdes Estates: 83 High-end homes sold in 2013.
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: 60 High-end homes sold in 2013.
  • Rolling Hills: 47 High-end homes sold in 2013.
  • Rolling Hills Estates: 17 High-end homes sold in 2013.
  • The grand total of luxury homes sold in the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 2013: 207.
Again, these are very strong luxury home numbers and attest to the recovery of the luxury home market on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If you're in the market to sell or buy a luxury home in the South Bay of Los Angeles the above market statistics offer a snapshot of happenings in the luxury home market during 2013. For more information on luxury homes in the South Bay contact Norma Toering and Team.

- Norma Toering (310) 493-8333

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Palos Verdes Luxury Home Sales - Jan 2013


The Palos Verdes Peninsula ushered in 2014 with only 97 single family homes for sale. 46 of those listings are homes priced over $2,000,000. These numbers make it clear the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula offer an abundant supply of high-end homes along the Southern California coast.

10 Palos Verdes luxury homes sold during December 2013:
  • Palos Verdes Estates: 6 homes priced over $2,000,000 closed escrow.
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: 3 luxury sales were recorded.
  • Rolling Hills: 1 sale over $2,000,000 was reported to the MLS.
  • Rolling Hills Estates: No luxury sales were recorded during December 2013.  
  • There are currently 11 Palos Verdes luxury homes in escrow with accepted offers.
The most expensive home sale recorded during December was a Rocky Point home in Palos Verdes Estates with a sale price of $4,150,000. For more information on Palos Verdes luxury homes or to arrange to tour homes of your choice contact Norma Toering & Team.

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes: $2M to $4.99M

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes: $5M+

Palos Verdes Luxury Leases


One of our clients is looking for a single family home to rent after selling his current property.   While looking for his criteria, we prepared this summary of the luxury PV lease market.

Homes for Lease for $5,000 or more in Palos Verdes by city:
  • Palos Verdes Estates: 3
  • Rolling Hills: 1
  • Rolling Hills Estates: 1
  • Palos Verdes Peninsula: 1
  • Rancho Palos Verdes: 11
The most expensive rental on the market is an 18,000 sq.ft. estate in the Monte Malaga area of Palos Verdes Estates.  It includes 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a regulation size tennis court, 2 bowling alleys, pool, 5 car garage and amazing Pacific coastline views.   This showpiece home is available at $30,000 per month.
The average asking price for luxury PV leases is $1.92 per square foot.  Though amenities, view, location and condition will greatly affect the rental rates.

If you are in the market to lease a home in Palos Verdes, please feel free to give us a call or drop us an email.

- Josh & Norma Toering
(310) 525-9440


Palos Verdes Luxury Leases: