DTLA Loft Living

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Downtown LA Lofts

LA Lofts For Sale | LALofts.me

DTLA Loft Living

Today’s loft owners are looking for more than a converted commercial space. They are demanding amenities and décor that have the scale and size to match the space, while not competing with the downtown city backdrop. Whether you live in a loft, or just want to emulate the look of one, here are a few simple tips to make your space luxuriously lofty.

The first step in decorating a loft is to determine the function of the space. You’ve got all that open area; now what are you going to do with it? Walk around your loft and decide on the best spots for working, relaxing and entertaining, using natural light and built-in features, such as open ductwork, built-in shelving, levels and windows, as guides. Once the functional areas have been mapped out, it’s easy to divide the open space into “rooms” through the placement of partitions, large pieces of furniture or area rugs. Who needs walls, anyway?

If you’re like most loft owners, your space is likely characterized by rough materials and surfaces – exposed brick walls and pipes, with cement or worn wood floors. Because of the industrial look and feel of lofts, they are usually decorated in a contrasting sleek contemporary style, incorporating clean lines and smooth surfaces. Contemporary loft décor combines fabrics with wood, glass, chrome and stainless steel to create a visually stimulating look. Utilize these materials in your kitchen by incorporating the Level™ kitchen collection from Moen. Level features single-hole, single-mount faucets in both standard and pulldown models. The clean lines and high-arcing spouts give a modern kitchen an additional touch of sophistication.

Even though it may be the only room in your space with walls, your loft décor should extend into the bathroom. The Level™ bathroom faucet collection stands apart with its clean, geometric lines and a beautiful laminar stream that creates a clear and quiet water flow to accentuate the look of any modern bath. Available in a Chrome and LifeShine® Brushed Nickel finish, the faucets make a bold statement in a single-handle, single-hole mount for a traditional application, as well as a single-handle, single-hole vessel faucet and a two-handle widespread style.

For loft furnishings that will help you to achieve a contemporary look and feel without breaking the bank, look to retailers like Target and Ikea. The Karlstad sofa-bed from Ikea features a clean, geometric design, plus the functionality of a pull-out bed and extra storage – all key to maintaining the uncluttered loft look.

When considering your overall décor, go for a color scheme that is bold and simple to enhance the architectural features of your home mixing strong, dramatic colors with pale hues to achieve a linear, structured look in your space. Hot new hues that will help achieve a visually interesting and modern space include Dried Thyme, Sullen Mist, Rocket Red, Founding Father, Guess Hue, Laguna Blue, Pumpkin Stem and Empire State, all from Sherwin Williams.

To balance the industrial edge that characterizes most lofts, try softening your space with long, soft drapes and plush, textured rugs. You may also want to consider crystal or shiny finishes for lamps and accent pieces to add some shimmer to your décor.

When you feel you have made your mark on your lofty urban space, relax and enjoy the openness of your new modern marvel.

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me

How to Set Up Your Loft

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Downtown LA Lofts

DTLA LOFT LIVING | LALofts.me

A loft-style apartment or condo usually has an airy open floor plan that gives it character and personality. But while the look of the space definitely ups its cool factor, finding the best way to set up such a wide, open home can be a serious challenge. Unlike a traditional floor plan where you have to maximize the space available, it’s important to make use of all of the open space in your loft and take into account the issues presented when you don’t have walls to separate the “rooms” of your home.

Create Distinct Areas

Because there are usually no formal rooms in a loft, it’s important to create distinct areas within the space. Area rugs are an effective way to define a “room” in an open layout – you can place one in the living area and arrange seating options around it, or set one beneath the dining table to separate it from the kitchen. In areas where privacy may be a concern, such as your bedroom, physical boundaries are a better option. Folding screens and curtains work well to block off areas, but you can also use furniture such as a large bookcase or armoire to separate your loft into “rooms” that help define the space.

Keep Furniture Away from Walls

In a traditional, closed-in room, it’s usually best to place furniture against the walls to maximize space. In a loft, you have the luxury of an open layout, so be more creative with your furniture placement. For example, instead of placing your bed against the wall, angle against two walls in a corner of the loft for a more interesting look – or place it away from all walls and surround it with sheer curtains to create drama. Move other items such as your desk, sofa, entertainment center and bookcases away from the walls, too, to take advantage of the wide-open space. Also, consider the scale of your furniture – since a loft usually has high ceilings and an open layout, opt for large or oversized pieces that can fill up the space.

Soundproof the Space

Without walls or carpeting to absorb noise, you may have an issue with echoing inside your loft since sounds are free to bounce around the open space. When setting up your apartment, include items that can help absorb some of the sound, such as large area rugs, upholstered furniture and decorative fabric wall hangings. You can even hang sound-control matting on your walls behind artwork or other items to correct a particularly severe sound issue.

Add Storage

A loft typically lacks closets, so there isn’t much built-in storage room for clothing and other items. But it’s important to keep your apartment clutter-free since the space lacks walls and guests will be able to see any mess that you may have. To combat the lack of storage, look for furniture items that have plenty of space. A large armoire can provide hanging storage just as a closet would, while an oversized chest of drawers can hold anything from clothing to office supplies. Use the space under the bed, too – you can find plastic boxes that fit beneath the bed for easy storage. You can also add shelves to any free walls that you may have for convenient storage throughout the space.

by Jennifer Blair, Demand Media

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me

How to Buy a DTLA Loft Foreclosure

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Downtown LA Lofts

LA Lofts For Sale | LALofts.me

Buying a foreclosed loft may seem to some like a scary process, but it’s similar to buying any other home, especially if your offer is on a bank-owned property versus one sold at auction (which can be a tricky process for the inexperienced).

There are, however, many nuances that any potential buyer has to be aware of when dealing with foreclosures, such as checking for liens against the title, or knowing that on a foreclosure “even something as simple as cracked paint can make an FHA loan impossible.

Where to find foreclosures

Finding foreclosure deals in Los Angeles can be simple, and worth a try for first-time homebuyers or those wanting to get into real estate investing. Here are some ways of locating Los Angeles foreclosures:

Leading real estate portals like www.dtlacondosandlofts.com have local foreclosure listings.
Bank websites sometimes list properties in their possession that are for sale.
Asset management companies hired by lenders to handle foreclosures offer a list of available properties.
Auction companies often hold auctions in which they sell huge volumes of foreclosure homes on a single day.
Real estate agents can point to foreclosed homes in your area.
“For sale” signs in yards that say “foreclosure,” “REO property” (Real Estate Owned property) or “bank owned,” indicate foreclosed homes.

Determining the right price

After finding a foreclosure that you want, a key step is negotiating the right price. In most cases, foreclosed condos are already discounted from their appraised value, but you can still negotiate down from list price as you would with any home.

When there are a variety of foreclosures on the market, buyers can sometimes get a below-market price as much as 50 percent less than it would normally sell for, although a typical price is usually only 5 percent less.

In order to estimate a potential discount that you can get on a foreclosed house, you have to know its market value as well as the amount of any loans or liens that the property may have against it, as this will give you an idea of how much the bank will make or lose by selling the property.

The discount means built-in equity, but also it should help make up for any repairs and maintenance that may need to be done if the house has been vacant for a while or otherwise not properly maintained.

Negotiating the contract

“Consumers have the ability to negotiate repairs even if they agreed to buy the property ‘as is, When REO brokers post ‘no repairs,’ including no water heater strapping or smoke detectors,” they could be in violation of the law.

“Some banks are willing to shell out thousands of dollars to make repairs to help get a home sold, “The agent listing a bank-owned home isn’t likely to fight for these repairs for you, so consider having your own skilled buyer’s agent represent you.”

Make sure that your real estate agent is skilled with the REO foreclosure process. A way to find out is to ask agents how many successful offers they have written for foreclosures, but don’t take their word for it, “Ask for a list of past transactions that they have completed, otherwise you could waste months of your time waiting to hear if your offer was accepted, only to find out that the agent didn’t submit the proper documentation to the bank.”

Financing a foreclosure

“Many popular loans first-time buyers use, like FHA loans, can’t be used because they require the home to be in a certain condition.

“Fannie Mae offers certain streamlined mortgage options, often requiring lower down payments and even waiving the need for an appraisal. Find a local mortgage expert who is approved to offer products like Fannie Mae’s “Homepath.” A good mortgage broker, in conjunction with your agent, should be able to help point you to down-payment assistance programs and city or county loan programs for rehabbing fixer-uppers.

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me

FLOWER STREET LOFT FOR SALE

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Downtown LA Lofts

1130 S. FLOWER STREET 105, LOS ANGELES, CA 90015

2 Bedrooms plus Bonus Room – 2 Baths – 1532 Int. Sqft – South Park District – Renovated 2003

VIEW PROPERTY WEBSITE

Offered at $635,000

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This Premier 2-Story, Live/Work loft has been tastefully remodeled throughout and is located within Downtown LA’s highly desired South Park District. The loft features 2 bedrooms plus a mezzanine and 2 full bathrooms. First you are invited through a gallery entry that leads to a large living area with breathtaking 2-Story ceilings, city views of Downtown’s high rises, and an open floor plan that is perfect for entertaining. The modern kitchen features caesarstone countertops with breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances, and custom cabinetry. On the entry level there is a bedroom with an adjacent full bathroom. Take the steel staircase to the upper level where you will see a large mezzanine that over looks down to the living area and then leads to the master bedroom. The master bedroom is spacious with word flooring, and a gorgeous full bathroom with modern fixtures and a state of the art toilet. Additional features include tracked lighting, concrete walls, and windows on both sides of the unit. Key HOA amenities include 2 secured/gated parking spaces, basic cable T.V., and high-speed internet. All conveniently located across the street from Staples Center and LA Live plus within close proximity to endless restaurants, Nokia Theater, Regal 14 Movies, Ralphs Market, coffee shops, and the Metro Blue Line.

For more information, call 888-838-2177 or email info@lalofts.me

We assist clients in helping them buy and sell in addition to leasing their condo and loft units . Please contact us for all your real estate needs.

David, Ramiro & Erica
LA Loft & Condo Specialists
Call 888-838-2177
info@lalofts.me