Hermosa Beach Living

Why do I feel so close to Hermosa Beach? After all, I come from the other end of the bay — Santa Monica. There was a time when they were considered as one, at opposite ends of the same bay; before zip codes designated subtle area differences.

But living in Hermosa Beach is not the same as living in LA neighborhoods to the east. Being a native, I always considered the beach communities to be a world apart. Born and raised on the beach in Santa Monica, with time shared in the Beach Cities to the south, I always had a special connection with the South Bay. My family belonged to the Santa Monica Paddleboard Club, with mom making the Catalina Race every year on her 90-pound hollow-board, with many of her friends from Hermosa Beach. The first Catalina crossing, running from Santa Monica Pier, was won in 1932 by Tom Blake, beating out Pete Peterson in just under 6 hours. Jon Hall from Hollywood was a popular surfer in the Paddleboard Club in those days.

Between Volleyball on the beach at the foot of Santa Monica Canyon — “The Canyon,” and Hermosa Beach to the south, was a special lifestyle. Making the trip from Santa Monica to the South Bay, was more time consuming via road or public transportation, than even with today’s traffic. Owner operated burger restaurants and breakfast diners were limited...fastfood did not exist. Pier Avenue, as an international restaurant and saloon center, was in its inception.

Some of the bungalow homes and income properties of the 40s still exist, with nouveaux residences along the Strand, and pricing that would send original owners into a state of shock, possibly cardiac arrest. Who in their right mind could ever foresee a sale price in the range of $million plus?

While much has not changed in the area — glorious beaches, nostalgic reflections of beach bungalows and lifestyles of a past generation — fabulous architectural creations now exist; top quality, creative restaurants and extensive business opportunities abound.

Sound financing, good FICO scores and in many cases, impressive home equity, have resulted in almost non-existant South Bay subprime loans and foreclosures, as compared to less affluent LA neighborhoods. South Bay lifestyles are based on solid finances and pride of ownership.

Hermosa Beach is still a special neighborhood, a great place to call home.