The Dirt on 2 Wheels

Have you seen or ridden the Bird? There is a new way to scoot around Santa Monica these days. Bird electric ride share scooters are created by a Santa Monica based company. Bird Rides Inc prefers to call the scooters “short range electric vehicles.” These “Birds” have a GPS tracking device so that they are easy to rent and prevent theft. Super inexpensive only $1 plus $.15 cents per minute, you can ride them as far as 15 miles. Unlike the Hulu and other ride-share bikes, there are no central drop-off or pick-up locations and I have seen these left randomly throughout the City, including in front of an open house I hosted a few weeks ago. I’ve even seen two young people riding tandem which saves even more money. It’s kind of cool that you can go to any destination and just leave the Bird for the next person.  If you happen to cross paths with one, just unlock it using the very user friendly Bird- Enjoy the Ride app. If there is no scooter in your path use the app to find one closest to you just like booking an Uber. Of course it is recommended to ride in the bike lane, if at all possible, and follow traffic laws. I saw one on 2nd and Santa Monica Boulevard last week and it looked like the rider was cruising faster than traffic!  The City encourages any alternative fuel and mass transit methods of transport and must be thrilled that so many early adopters have become Bird riders.

Is this a good, or bad, thing for Santa Monica? Please share your thoughts.

In real estate news, there are three new listing:

653 Palisades Beach Road – Located on the Santa Monica coastline with gorgeous ocean views. Bring your architect -remodel or build new. Approximately 5,699 sq ft lot with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bath home plus guest house. Listed for $6,995,000. Last sold July 25, 2013 for 5,500,000.

343 14^th Street – Listed for $3,499,000. Charming 3 bedroom and 2 bath home with a permitted apartment above garage. Great builder opportunity.  Last sold April 21, 2000 for $1,285,000.

2139 Carlyle Avenue – Vacant land for sale approximately 9,907 square foot lot on the corner of Carlyle and 21^st Place. Listed for $4,600,000. Last sold August 4, 1988 for $950,000.

Three properties went into escrow this past week:

475 20^th Street – Located on a corner lot, this Spanish has 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths went under contract in only 11 days. Listed for $4,598,000.  Updated interior. Last sold October 2, 2001 for $1,400,000.

422 24^th Street – Two-story traditional with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths approximately 2,589 square feet. Remodel or build new. Listed for $3,800,000. No pool, grassy backyard with detached garage. Last sold in 1975.

710 18^th Street – This home is a category 5D3 so getting a demo permit may not be easy. Spanish style home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Heavy fixer or tear-down. Listed at $3,695,000. No pool, interior courtyard and grassy backyard. Garage is detached. Last sold June 22, 1990.

Seven closed MLS sales:

1230 Georgina Avenue – 6 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Sold for $11,000,000.

710 19^th Street – 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. Sold for $6,045,000.

627 Euclid Street – 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Sold for $4,008,000.

702 11^th Street – 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Sold for $3,451,000

303 16^th Street – 4 bedrooms and 2.75 bathrooms. Sold for $3,275,000.

321 23^rd Street – 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Sold for $3,250,000 by Pence Hathorn Silver

330 22^nd Street – 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Sold for $3,220,000.

Here is some Montana Avenue DIRT.

• This Holiday Season the Boy Scouts Christmas Tree lot will not be located on Montana Avenue for the first time in 40 years. It has been a long standing tradition for our office to purchase a tree from there. The reason being is that the lot was sold. The Boy Scouts are now located at 2923 Wilshire Blvd, Troop 2!

Call me for a couple of upcoming attractions – including one on La Mesa, that are not yet listed in the MLS, priced from $1.9 million to $16 million.  And….here are a few that we have listed in the MLS:

238 19^th Street– 5 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms $6,495,000

621 21^st Place – 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms $4,349,000

1125 Harvard Street – Builder Opportunity, $2,280,000

426 Mesa Road – Vacant Land, $1,440,000