When you are looking to buy a condo in Long Beach it is far more than “bedrooms, bathrooms, and price”. Finding the right condo for your goals involves an in-depth understanding of your finances, what is important to you, how long you plan on living there, and much more. Before you go out and start looking for a condo, we invite you to consider the top 7 items we have found that buyers look for to help you in our search.
1. What type of “condo” are you looking for in Long Beach?
This might sound odd as when you are looking for a condo, it’s simply a “condo”, correct? In it’s simplest definition a condo is a residential unit that is owned within a building or complex among other residential units; however when you are looking to make a purchase there are nuances to consider.
For example within Long Beach you have condos (traditionally single level with home like floor plans), you have townhomes (usually multiple story properties and can have garages) and you have lofts (usually open floor plans in historic buildings). While each meets the legal definition of a “condo” each is very different in how you enjoy and live in them. When you are looking for a condo in Long Beach it is important to understand which type of condo is right for your goals to help you focus your search. Each one is very different and it comes down to what is best for your goals and tastes.
2. What is the neighborhood where you want to live?
The adage of real estate is “location, location, location” and whether it is a home or a condo that remains true. One of the most exciting aspects about looking for a condo for sale in Long Beach is deciding on where you will look for your condo. Long Beach has a wonderful variety of neighborhoods from Downtown Long Beach, Belmont Heights, Bixby Knolls, Eastside/Circle area, and much more.
As you are considering what neighborhood you want to live, here are a few questions we have discussed with clients as they make the decision on what neighborhood is best for them:
- How will this neighborhood impact my commute?
- What schools would my kids go to?
- What will be the closest grocery store? Are the grocery stores I like close? (i.e. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc.)
- How close are the common services I use such as dry cleaning, haircut, etc?
- How close is my church?
- What parks are nearby?
These are some of the most common questions that people ask when they are considering the neighborhood for their condo search. Keep in mind that the type of neighborhood you decide on will often dictate what type of condos are available. For example if you really want to live in Bixby Knolls you won’t find lofts in that area, which means if you really want to live in a loft then you need to look in Downtown Long Beach where lofts are prevalent.
Deciding on which neighborhood you want to live is one of the most important decisions to finding the right condo for your goals. Remember there aren’t any wrong answers, the neighborhood you want to live in just has to be right for you.
3. Is there a view?
One of the most popular feature requests we have heard when people are looking for a condo is “can I get a view?”. When you are looking for a home it can be difficult to get a view without a very large price tag, but in the land of condos you have more opportunities due to the fact that there can be many condos in a building with a view. If you want a view for your next condo purchase we invite you to consider the following:
- Ocean View – An Ocean view is perhaps the most requested view as people look for condos. Keep in mind there are different gradients of ocean views. If you are on W. Ocean Boulevard your view will likely have some harbor or even parking lot obstructions whereas if you are along E. Ocean Blvd (think the Pacific) then you can get unobstructed ocean views. Certainly both types of views are considered ocean views, it comes down to what you will enjoy the most.
- City View – A city view can be dramatic, especially at night. One of the fun parts of looking for a city view is that you can find them from multiple locations throughout the city. You could find a city view from buildings such as the Harbor Place Towers, or even a loft project such as the Walker Building, or even looking nearby in Signal Hill.
- Partial View – A partial view is one of the ones that can be incredibly enjoyable but is hard to find just looking at listings online. A partial view could be when a unit is on the side of a building allowing you to get a peek-a-boo view of the ocean or city. With some building orientations you can still sit out on a balcony to soak in the view. These views are usually easier to find with a real estate agent who is familiar with the different condo buildings but with more and more pictures of condos per listing these days you just might be able to see which view is right for you.
Now with a view, keep in mind there are multiple ways to enjoy a view. At times you will get a balcony to enjoy your view and at other moments it could be a large window that lets you soak in the ocean or city skyline. If a view is a “must have” make sure to take that into consideration with your condo search. For example, along Ocean Blvd there are multiple buildings with dramatic ocean and city views such as the Villa Riviera (no balconies here though), the Pacific and more. If you want to enjoy a sweeping city view you might even look to Signal Hill where there are buildings that can gaze across the city to Downtown Long Beach allowing you to enjoy the night sky with wonderful lights throughout the city.
4. What is the size of the condo and the floor plan?
The overall square footage of a condo that you can purchase is often dictated by price, meaning the larger your budget the larger condo you can afford. Of course within any given budget there are items to consider regarding square footage and the floor plan. Here are a few items to consider regarding the square footage of a condo and the overall layout (i.e. floor plan).
- A small square footage isn’t necessarily bad – We have been in 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom floor plans that are <800 sq ft that feel comfortable and we have also been in the same size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condos that don’t feel large at all. When you are looking at listings online try to be open minded about a given square footage as there can be dramatic differences in the layout that make them feel comfortable or small given the use of space.
- Large square footage can be deceiving – A large square footage might not give you exactly what you need, just like a small one can be deceiving. For example, some of the lofts have wonderful large square feet, but if you want a huge bedroom the open layout might not be for you.
- Is there storage available? Closet sizes?– When you examine a condo, examine common items of usage that you might take for granted in your current property. Do you want a walk in the closet? Do you have a good deal of Christmas ornaments you need to store? While these might seem like small questions, since a condo traditionally doesn’t have a garage you want to think about the small details to make sure you can truly live in the place.
- Bathroom Locations – Since you can’t really alter the floor plan of a condo, take into consideration the bathroom locations. Is one bathroom an ensuite and the other is accessible via a hallway? This can make a difference when you are entertaining guests or having someone over for the night.
Evaluating a condo takes far more than looking at bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. Taking into account usability, how the space is oriented towards a view, storage, closets and more can help you decide what you can live with and where you are willing to compromise. The more you understand your own goals, before you ever set foot in a property, the easier it will be to have success buying the right Long Beach condo.
5. What amenities are available?
A condo development can have the feeling of a five-star resort with its array of amenities. Keep in mind that the number and quality of amenities will usually translate to a higher HOA. If amenities are important to you, have a list of what are the “must have” amenities as it can save you time from looking at condo complexes that don’t have what you desire. Consider the following amenities and decide which ones you absolutely must have for your condo purchase.
- Pool
- Hot Tub
- Sauna
- Gym
- BBQ Area
- Lounge Area
- Billiard Room
- Wine Storage
- Business Center
- Storage Area
- 24/7 Concierge
- Guest Unit
Within this list of amenities you will find a wide range of what is possible, meaning it can take looking in person to see how large the pool can be, the size of the fitness room, etc. Understanding if the amenities will fit your goals often takes looking at them in person; the essential part is to understand which ones are most important to you as that will help hone your search for the right condo.
6. What parking is available?
With the density of developments increasing in Long Beach and really in the greater Los Angeles area parking is a key component to evaluate. Many of the apartment buildings that have been developed in recent years are allowed what is called a “density bonus” and that can mean minimal parking requirements for the building which can further impact street parking. Understanding the parking that is associated with a given condo that you are interested in is essential to ensuring you can enjoy your property for years to come. Here are a few items to consider when it comes to parking.
- How many spaces? – The most common configuration is a 1 bedroom unit gets 1 spot and a 2 bedroom unit gets 2 spots but that is not always the case. Take the time to understand the number of spots that you have associated with your condo and don’t trust the MLS listing information as the ultimate truth of the parking. When you are in escrow, ask to see if the parking spots are deeded to your unit or if they are assigned in the HOA documentation. Understanding the parking, prior to closing escrow is absolutely essential to ensuring you enjoy daily living.
- How is the parking oriented? – Parking, when you have two spots, is generally either side-by-side or tandem. Side by side is generally the most preferred as you won’t have to “shuffle” vehicles to get one out. While side-by-side is the most desirable, having tandem spots is still a great option as you won’t have to look for street parking if you have two cars.
- Where is the parking located? – In a parking garage there could be 50-70 spaces on a given level. Some spaces might be close to a structural column and others could be close to bollards protecting key portions of the building. While spaces are generally a uniform size some of these elements can make one a bit more cautious when it comes to parking your vehicle. Ask to see where your spots would be located to make sure you will be comfortable parking your car.
- Are there guest spaces? – Guest parking is certainly a preferred feature but often very rare when it comes to condos. As you are evaluating condo buildings, ask if there are guest spots available. Guest spots certainly might not be a deal breaker but it is a good item to know before you make a purchase.
- Electric Vehicle Charging? – With a greater volume of electric vehicles on the market it is good to ask if there are EV chargers for parking spots or if the HOA has plans to add them. Adding EV chargers isn’t a cheap proposition which means it is important to ask if it is in the future plans and if there would be a special assessment if implemented.
Far too often people only look at parking as “how many spaces” but we invite you to dig deeper to ensure you find the condo and parking situation that is best for your goals.
7. What is the laundry situation for the condo?
Laundry is one of those regular chores that you can forget about in the condo buying process but it is essential to have on your checklist. There are three common formats of handling laundry:
- Stackable – Stackable laundry is the most common laundry style you will find for condos. Take time to understand the size of the room where the laundry is located as that can dictate which laundry unit you purchase. Sizes for stackable large capacity washers and dryers can vary from 24 to 29 inches wide which means taking measurements is good to do before you purchase a condo.
- Side by Side – Side by side laundry isn’t very common in condos as it takes up a good deal of space.
Community Laundry – Community laundry can be at a given floor level or sometimes a common laundry room for the entire building. Community laundry is common in historic buildings as plumbing wasn’t built for individual laundry in units in the 1920’s.
Start Looking for Your Condo Today
When you are interested in buying a condo there are many items to consider. When you would like guidance on your buying journey please fill out our Long Beach Hot List and we will be happy to help.