Appraising Real Estate in Long Beach
By Craig Wallace, Long Beach Appraiser
Long Beach can be a difficult city to appraise in for a non-local appraiser there are many factors that contribute to the complexity that an appraiser must consider to perform and accurate appraisal. Long Beach is the 38th largest city in the United States, and the sixth largest in California, with a land area of approximately 50 square miles. That’s Big!
Zoning – Long Beach has a large mix of zoning that changes rapidly in residential areas. Some home have “granny flats” or additional units that were legal when built, but now the zoning has changed.
Location – Values can change by crossing a street. This can change the school district. Then there is the proximity to the beach for some locations. This can change in an area like Belmont Shore. Is the property located on the beach side of 2nd street or the other side?
In other parts of the city you must consider the flight path and airport noise, or location to freeways. Is the property located across from a park, is this a high use park and are there parking issues. Is the property located in or near the Port or a commercial center?
There are area that are less complex, those are usually areas made up of “post war 1940’s to 1950’s tract Homes.
Neighborhood – Long Beach has 52 Neighborhoods, each are unique and require the appraiser to have an understanding of each of them and how they can effect comparable selection. Here is the list of the 52:
• 4th Street Corridor
• Alamitos Beach
• Alamitos Heights
• Arlington
• Artcraft Manor
• Belmont Heights
• Belmont Park
• Belmont Shore
• Bixby Knolls
• Bixby Village
• Bluff Heights
• Bluff Park
• Broadway Corridor
• California Heights
• Carroll Park
• Central Area
• Craftsman Village
• Downtown Long Beach
• Drake Park
• East Village
• Eastside
• El Dorado Park
• El Dorado Park Estates
• El Dorado South
• Hellman
• Imperial Estates
• Lakewood Village
• Cambodia Town (Little Phnom Penh)
• Long Beach Marina
• Los Altos
• Los Cerritos – Virginia Country Club
• Memorial Height
• Naples
• North Long Beach
• Park Estates,[13]
• Peninsula
• Ranchos
• Rose Park
• Shoreline Village
• South of Conant
• Stearns Park
• Saint Mary’s
• Sunrise
• Terminal Island
• Traffic Circle
• University Park Estates
• Poly High
• West Long Beach
• Willmore City
• Wrigley North and South
• Wrigley Heights
• Zaferia
Historic Preservation Zones – Long Beach has 17 designated zones.
Perhaps a future post will include photos, video and history of each of the neighborhoods and Historic Zones.
When you need a local appraiser that knows Long Beach, call Craig at Wallace Real Estate Services.
