Prime Units and Penthouses Available in DTLA

I mentioned in an earlier post, that in a market with low inventory, it's really hard not to settle. But settling is for short term holds. For a longer term hold on the property, it's best to snag a property that will still be desirable in any market.

Below are available condos that are desirable even in down markets, and why.

940 E. 2nd St #38 - $1.759M

Formerly "Barn Lofts"

WHY: Arts District location, historic pedigree, over 2300sf of space on multilevels, 

rare townhouse style home with parking included.

849 S Broadway

WHY: Historic core location bordering South Park and Fashion District, unique 

Mills Act building with unparalleled amenities for a historic building, attached parking.

#M1 - $1.13M

#202 - $799k

#206 - $799k

#512 - $1.358M

#1210 - $3.98M

PH#1 - $2.385M

PH#2 - $2.475M

PH#4 - $1.799M

1111 S. Grand Ave PH#6 - $1.375

WHY: Central within South Park, larger than average size lofts because it was one of the first ground-up developments in SouthPark, LEED certified building, 

nearby just about everything in DTLA, full amenities.

1850 Industrial #710 - $1.875M

Biscuit Company Lofts

WHY: Uber hot Arts District South, Mills Act building with historic pedigree, 

amenities and in-building parking.

OFF MARKET RENTAL - Eastern Columbia #610

Chic loft with concrete floors, designer bathroom, balcony, upgraded appliances, etc. 1200 sf. 1 parking space included. Asking $3700/mo.

Warm and Inviting Brooklyn Brownstone Style Loft at the Eastern Columbia

Eastern Columbia #202

Enjoy downtown living at its best in this warm, inviting, and charming loft at the famed Eastern Columbia building. Mills Act also gives home owners up o 70% off property taxes. Acne, IL Cafe, Mykita and Om Nom in the building, as well as Ace Hotel, Whole Foods, APC, Umami, Wood Spoon, Stocking Frame, Cooper Building, etc just a couple blocks away. Asking 799k.

Open House 3/14 between 11am-2pm or call 310-869-2655 for showings. 

Glut of Lease Only Buildings Will Make Condos More Valuable

The downtown skyline is full of cranes--nothing new. But a big part of what's being built are apartments for lease only. What about all the condos that people want to buy? All the investment in shopping centers (At Mateo, The Bloc, Fig 7th, Oceanwide Plaza, The Row, etc.) but few condos available.

A shakedown is going to happen. I feel it, and it's going to be a good one.

Condo owners will see continued appreciation over time due to basic supply and demand. Some of those condo owners who own property that's being rented out, will have rental competition to deal with. These folks are going not like the competition and unload their condos to the long line of buyers who want it to be their primary residence. (That said, there will always be investors in downtown because it is not under Rent Control Ordinances) This is going to create healthy appreciation with stakeholders who live in DTLA, which is the long term goal for a city center.

An Impressive Eastern Columbia Penthouse Coming on the Market Soon

Johnny Depp may have had 5 penthouse units at the marvelous Eastern Columbia, but there's another coming on the market that is larger, has better views, and more outdoor space. The 4-story Penthouse is over 3000sf, making it the largest one at Eastern Columbia.

Beautifully maintained and situated on the Northwest corner of the building, with its own skylight, it is the best Penthouse ever to hit the market in a historic Mills Act building! Will be asking 3.9MM.

What to Look Out for in a High Market in DTLA

Gone are the days of just snatching up lofts because they were there for the taking.  The prices are going up and the inventory is still very low, keeping prices even higher. So many downtown homeowners are here to stay--with so much now at their doorstep, it's become one of the most exciting places to visit and live. The dilemma for most buyers is inventory is low, prices are high, and it's a risk to wait in case the market goes up.

In these times, you need to look out for the following if you're in the market to buy. If you can get 2 or more of the following ticked off, then you're doing well;

1. Units that have upside potential. Rather than buy a completely remodeled place, look for one that needs some rehab. New kitchen or new flooring perhaps. Or bathroom remodels. Even something as minor as new lighting. By you adding 10k-20k, you can add 50k in value.

2. Look for buildings with great amenities. There are a lot of new lease-only buildings on the market with top notch amenities. That is your competition. A building with amenities is going always have some value.

3. Buy in a building that offers parking. Enough said.

4. Buy a unit that has something unique and special, like a great city view, or overlooking the park. Or one that has an extra bedroom nook. Or that has a balcony. It's hard to get it all without spending over 1M, but if you can get into a unit that has one or two special features that other units don't have, it's going to add value.

5. Buy in a building that has good development around it. Meaning retail, office space, grocery stores, parks, hospitals, Metro access, etc.

Year End Stats for DTLA

Since the crash in 2008, the market has been steadily increasing in L.A. and downtown in particular. There's a lot of speculation about what's to come in 2017. Interest rates are supposed to be lowered, causing more demand for houses and as a result, prices to continue going up. 

So will it be a good time to sell? 

- Yes. 

Should I rent out my condo?

- If you're planning on renting out your unit, then expect a lot of competition from the many rentals that will be on the market so your place may sit longer than 30 days on the market before getting rented. 

Will it be a good time to buy? 

- If you're planning on holding for 3-5 years then yes. 

- If you're planning on flipping in 1-2 years, then no.

Year        Average Sold Price/SF

2016        $636/SF  

2015        $614/SF

2014        $554/SF

2013        $494/SF

2012        $384/SF

Buy, Sell or Hold?

Downtown (and LA in general) prices are up, per usual, inventory is low, and it's a Seller's market. Prices have well surpassed the 2007 height, and are now beginning to stabilize due to the holidays.

So what to do, BUY, SELL or HOLD?

Assuming you have equity, if you need the cash to upgrade, relocate or just to have liquid for whatever, SELL. It's a good time because prices are higher than ever before and buyers are pent up because inventory has been low for at least 12 months.

If you're buying to invest in the short term, don't. If you're buying to invest in the long term, then BUY. Prices are high, but they are going to be stabilizing into next year, so if you're planning on holding for a while (5-7 years) or you're sick of renting (I predict rental prices will continue to increase again next year in DTLA), then BUY. Why pay a landlord when you can pay yourself while gaining equity?

If you are not planning to do anything with the equity money, then HOLD. DTLA is getting lots of good investment in terms of qualified resident buyers, businesses looking to expand, companies relocating, and developers that are looking to be in one of the most unique parts of LA (e.g. The Row, At Mateo, Oceanwide Plaza). This will only help continued growth and revitalization.

The Upside of "Older" Properties in DTLA

One thing about those 10-year old condos and the 80-year old loft conversions that were done in the mid 2000s is that the square footage of what was selling was a lot larger than the average brand new home today. Nevermind that the price/sf has gone up all over the city. It's that now, 900sf is the size of a 2-bedroom and 1-bedrooms are more like 650sf.

However, back in 2004-2006 when so many lofts and condos were built/converted, the average 1 bedroom was about 800sf. What this means is that if you have a large 1 bedroom, you can think of converting these into 2 bedrooms later on, or marketing them as potential 2-bedrooms. Permits needed, of course.

The moral of the story? Buy a condo or loft that was built 10 years ago if size matters. 

Market Up From Last Year, But Prices Stabilizing

Since the crash, the market has rebounded greatly. Congrats to all my clients who bought in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014! You can rest assured your money was better spent on housing than on stocks. A lot of those who bought in 2015 are also reaping some profits since then though not yet as exponentially. But hold onto the real estate and you can expect more gains in the future. This goes for the Los Angeles market in general.

For those who want to cash out, now is the time. For those who want to enter the market, think long term--like 5-7 years. We're approaching a time where prices are stabilizing as building has started again, and there is a bit more inventory (though still slim pickings in a lot of neighborhoods o LA).

As they say in real estate, sell high and buy two.