A Local Realtor, A South Bay Resident: Get to Know Amy

June 27^th marked 20 years since I moved to the South bay from the east coast. It should have marked 20 years and 1 day, however my original flight scheduled for June 26^th was canceled due to bad weather, and I was forced to reclaim my 3 army-sized duffel bags and 4 oversized suitcases (clearly airlines didn’t charge for baggage back then), and spend the night with my parents so I could turn around and do it all over again in the morning. Not much for superstitions – I think not walking under a ladder is just plain old good sense – I chose not to recognize the bad-weather delay as a sign that I shouldn’t move to California. In retrospect, I think it may have been a sign that I shouldn’t have moved in with my boyfriend, but that’s a topic for a different blog. No, I forged ahead on my cross-country move with high hopes, my MBA, and a Thomas Guide (remember them?).

My transition to the beach life was smooth sailing. (Not literally – I don’t sail and I have an illogical fear of sharks.) But I was already an avid volleyball player and sun worshipper. (Now I can’t wear enough sunscreen.) I enjoy the small town vibe and running into friends wherever I go. I worked in the entertainment industry for years in sales & marketing positions. Then 12 years ago, I earned my real estate license just in time for the market to implode. (I’ve always had impeccable timing.)

Now, with 20 years under my belt as a South bay resident, and 12 of those years as a local Realtor, I hope to share some of my insights about our community and cover one of our favorite topics around here – real estate. We’re proud to live in our bubble with our beautiful beaches, hip downtown areas, highly ranked schools, and forever-on-vacation vibe. The past 20 years has seen a lot of change… some for the better, some for the worse. I will always mourn the closing of Rocky Cola, but I look forward to the opening of new restaurants, Serve on Second being one of the latest incarnations. Metlox greatly enhanced the downtown Manhattan Beach experience; I have mixed feelings about the pending beachfront development in Hermosa which will completely change the look and feel at the pier, but of course bring in more revenue for the city. I think homeowners should have the right to rent out their homes for any length of time, but I grapple with the fact that short term rentals have made our neighborhoods more transient. As a Realtor, I appreciate the re-development: tearing down older homes and building two or three in their place… we need the inventory! But as a resident, I’m not crazy about the additional congestion and traffic that comes with it. Yes, change is inevitable. Our goal should be to preserve the characteristics that make our Beach Cities special, but strive to make changes that enhance our daily lives, our environments, and our well-being… and let’s face it, increase property values! I look forward to addressing these type of issues – and real estate topics specifically – with you in the weeks and months to come.