When we started selling the homes for sale in Marina Del Rey, we were representing one of the best builders ever to build there -- Cliff Rome & Associates. I opened Silver Strand Realty and Ty and I started working out of trailers in 1989 just as housing was taking a downward turn. Selling million dollar homes in a declining market was no easy feat but with a product like Rome’s it made it a littl
e easier as the craftsmanship of these fine homes stood out in the sea of generic builders. We worked out of trailers facing the main channel of the marina – not a bad view and it made me appreciate Southern California all the more. Coming from London England where rain is a way of life, every day in Los Angeles is a holiday. Beach communities encompass quite a few areas including Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa Del Rey, Westchester all the way down to Manhattan beach. Family neghiborhoods like Mar Vista offer good schools and homes at prices ranging from $500,000- $2 million. Some have great architecture and still a short driving distance to the beach. Venice offers diverse neighborhoods like the historic Venice Canals and the famous walk streets of Venice within easy walking distance to the beach. Santa Monica with both traditional and eclectic neighborhoods offer fine schools and large family style neighborhoods, good shopping on the 3rd street promenade and just 15 minutes to Beverly Hills and 5 minutes to the beach. Downtown is easy with the 10 freeway giving you a 20 minute drive to downtown if traffic permits. The sleepy town of Playa Del Rey has managed over the years to keep that old town charm as a really interesting beach side community, as a stark contrast to the Playa Vista complex just down the street with its wonderfully diverse architecture in both single-family homes and condos. They even have shops, restaurants and a library inside the Playa Vista complex in what has developed into an entirely unique community.
