Cindy Shearin’s resources and skills reach far beyond that of the average real estate agent. She is well known for her skill in designing, building, and rehabbing properties, in addition to expert handling of the traditional aspects of real estate transactions.“Several of my family members were developers,” she explains. “At an early age, I was fascinated by the total process of the design and building of new homes.” Therefore, when Shearin moved to California nearly 30 years ago, she began her career in real estate sales and development. “I was very fortunate to find myself in the desirable South Bay community [consisting of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes],” she says. “I was also fortunate to affiliate myself with the best real estate agents, brokers, contractors, and subcontractors.” Haute Residence caught up with Shearin to discuss purchasing a vacation home and where most of her clients like to purchase them.
Do you find that many of your clients are seeking vacation properties?
Yes, Shearin Group is the sole real estate firm for the world-famous Beach House in Hermosa Beach. The unique ocean-front, the strand-living experience is found when you purchase a unit in the Beach House. It is an ideal investment/vacation property for one who frequently visits Southern California and desires seaside-living but without the maintenance ocean-front properties require. The bonus with Beach House ownership is earning a return on one’s investment. It’s impossible to find a meticulously maintained property on The Strand in the South Bay for under a million dollars, but one can at the Beach House.
In the current market, are your clients looking for fractional ownership or a second home when seeking a vacation property?
We are not in a marketplace where fractional type ownerships are available, making the Beach House so desirable. The South Bay is one of the most sought after quaint affluent beach areas in the US and is located along the coast in Southern California, LA. A desirable destination.
Then we have clients that need more space and want to VRBO a luxury home. This type of product is very limited but the client still wants this to be available. An interesting concept we’ve worked on is shared vacation ownership where two or more clients share the purchase of a pristine luxury home for exclusive use to that property. For example, this concept works perfectly for a property like one we represent at 235 4th Street in Manhattan Beach, CA. This estate is the perfect beach-side property being on walk-street just steps to the beach. Owners enjoy unobstructed ocean views from the many outdoor patio areas, indoor/outdoor living, plus other great vacation home amenities like an outdoor shower, a mud-room, home gym, a beach room for entertaining and an outdoor kitchen area. Likewise, being just a few minutes walk to downtown, less than a minute to the sand and surf, and only a 15-minute drive to the airport, one could live anywhere in the world and have access to their beach house via LAX International Airport quickly and easily.
Shared ownership is a great option with amazing perks. This ownership is an ideal arrangement not offered on any other home in the affluent beach community of Manhattan Beach. Business use and longer stayed vacation days can all be arranged through this type of partial ownership. This can then become a consistent vacation spot for family and friends to build lasting memories.
Where does your clientele tend to buy second properties/vacation homes?
Naturally, our vacation/second-home clientele desire a beachside location. In the South Bay, being walking distance to the beach, restaurants, and entertainment is always ideal. The atmosphere here is very festive and social year-round, and events run perpetually making our community an excellent choice for vacation ownership. The Beach House condotel in Hermosa is located seaside on The Strand which is steps from great dining and shopping and of course, the sand and surf.
Likewise, the aforementioned 4,100 square foot beach-modern estate at 235 4th Street in Manhattan Beach is one block from the sand and The Strand, and just a few minutes walk to some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles County. To mention a few ...Manhattan Beach Post, Love-N-Salt, Arthur J and the new Slay Restaurant. There isn’t a better beach house or better value in the Sand Section of Manhattan Beach than the 4th Street property. It has it all.
Is there a time of year you notice more people are looking to buy vacation properties?
Considering our near-perfect weather 365 days a year, we have clients seeking vacation ownership year-round. Historically, buyers are typically interested in finding a home before the summer months.
What is the reason most of your clients buy vacation properties, but only rent them out certain times of the year?
In a desirable location like the South Bay, an income property can be a great investment. Considering the excellent weather, proximity to a major city like LA and an international airport, rentals stay full and at top dollar, and when you’re ready to sell, the market increase is consistently on your side.
Do you have any advice for first time buyers who are looking to buy partial vacation properties?
Having a great property manager is of the utmost importance whether an owner is using the property for personal use, or renting out the property. The Shearin Group offers upscale property management services for our clients and can take care of even the most unique details for owners. We are also happy to recommend other property management companies when a larger-scale service is in need.
For a lock-n-leave type property, the Beach House is a top recommendation from us. Having the luxury of ownership without the headache of maintenance, or even clean up after a visit is priceless. The staff does a great job of carefully maintaining the property and management keeps each unit booked consistently when not in use by the owner.
For those that desire a large home, we are happy to discuss the options of partial/shared ownership.
Photos courtesy of Cindy Shearin
