A home comes in sizes and types that are meant to answer the wants and needs of their owners. In Bellflower, CA, the most common property types are single-family homes and condos.
The thriving urban community sprung from the early settlers of this side of what is now Los Angeles County. During the 1880s, they established isolated farms on either side of open grazing fields, which flooded whenever the San Gabriel River overflowed because of winter rains and spring thaws. Called the New River Colony, these residents paddled their way to get from place to place.
Despite the evident hardship, those who stayed were rewarded by the rich soil, from which garden crops grew. In the early 1900s, the area was named after the bellefleur apples that grew in the orchard of a pioneering settler.
Today, Bellflower is populated by residents of Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese descent. They come from a line of settlers who were apple and dairy farmers back in the day. Today, this highly diverse community is known as “the Friendly City.”
If you’re thinking about moving to Bellflower, CA, check out the things you need to consider before choosing the single-family homes and condos for sale in Bellflower, CA .
Table of Content
LIVING IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
The traditional template of the American Dream consists of a white picket fence surrounding a detached suburban home. While the picket fence is a detail that comes and goes depending on prevailing trends, the house is a constant.
Advantages of home ownership
What are some of the benefits to owning a house?
- A house is an investment that continues to appreciate in value
Most people know that a house is a way to build wealth over time. This is hinged on the proposition that real estate has the greatest potential to increase in value in the long term.
In Bellflower, properties enjoy the added advantage of being close to:
- Los Angeles (around 15 miles north)
- Long Beach (around 7 miles south)
- Anaheim (around 15 miles east)
Upping the investment value of homes are the city’s ongoing and upcoming development projects such as
- The Edgeway in Downtown Bellflower
- Thompson Park Playground
After 25 years of hosting the young Bellflower community, the Thompson Park Playground is receiving a refresh and will be ready by Spring 2024. The upgrade is designed to be ADA Accessible for kids ages 5 to 12, and will include a zip slide, net, and rock climbers, an inclusive whirl, and an arch swing.
The park has other amenities for all ages to enjoy, such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a multi-purpose hall with kitchen facilities, lighted softball fields, a full-court gymnasium, barbeque grills for outdoor picnics, and recreation classes for the community.
This mixed-use development features a luxury apartment and premium commercial retail space located in the heart of Downtown Bellflower. It began construction in October 2021 and is set for completion in Q4 of 2023.
Once completed, it will provide 91 pet-friendly residences. Future residents can also look forward to lavish amenities like the resort-style pool and spa, shared outdoor and indoor living spaces, a fitness center, and a secure parking garage at the ground level.
- A house is a good place to raise children
Living in a house is relatively better for raising kids. Having a positive home environment is critical to their health and early development. A house can provide children with ample space to play and learn in a stimulating space thanks to nurturing and attentive caregivers who can establish a routine that enhances their physical, cognitive, and interpersonal skills.
- A house has more privacy, as well as the space to entertain
Whether you’re buying a house as a permanent home or a vacation-investment property, it generally provides better privacy for its occupants, and more room to entertain more guests.
If having company over is one of your goals, keep it top of mind when looking at homes. Look for a home with:
- Outdoor space
- A spacious gourmet kitchen
- An open floor plan
- Or a separate dining area
In Bellflower, here’s a good range of homes you can consider for your real estate investment. Young single professionals, small starting families, and even bigger families with grown kids can find a home in the city. Below are a few of the many options available to you:
- 13824 OCANA AVENUE, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
This spacious bungalow has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, a 2-door parking garage, and an outdoor pool. The single-family home has 1,118 square feet of living space, on a 5,322-square-foot lot. It’s a great option for homeowners with school-age children as it’s just a few blocks down the road from St. John Bosco High School.
- 17002 COTTAGE LANE, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
Built in 2004, this single-family residence is one of the larger homes for sale in Bellflower at 2,489 square feet. The 2-story home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and lies within the private Cottages at Walnut neighborhood. It also boasts a 2-car attached garage and an enclosed backyard to accommodate outdoor fun. The lot size is 5,135 square feet.
Buying a house is a big investment, so make sure you invest in one you can see yourself enjoying for years to come.
- A house offers tax benefits
Owning a home in Bellflower, CA, can offer significant tax benefits.
- Mortgage interest payments are often tax-deductible
- Property tax deductions can further lower your tax liability
- Energy-efficient home improvements may qualify for federal tax credits
- Long-term capital gains when you sell your house down the road often have better tax benefits than short-term gains
These tax advantages make homeownership in Bellflower a financially attractive option and can contribute to long-term financial stability.
- A house fits your lifestyle Living in a house means the freedom to choose a house that fits your needs and wants in a neighborhood that ticks many of your boxes. You can choose a place that’s move-in ready, or consider how the space can evolve as you and your family’s needs change.
Downsides of home ownership
Now that you know the benefits of owning a house, it’s also essential to look at the possible downsides to owning one.
- A house can take years to appreciate in value
The median home price in Bellflower CA in October 2018 was less than $500,000. In the months following this, the rate would fluctuate with a few positive spikes, but the truly substantial growth in value wouldn’t happen until April 2020, when the median home price would reach over $600,000.
The highest value to date has been May 2022 at almost $800,000.. Since then, it has been more or less stable, but at the relatively lower rate of $750,000 in September 2023.
While it can take a longer time to get a return on your investment, buying and selling at the right time can yield substantial gains. For homebuyers finding their forever home, staying put won’t be a problem before they downsize in later years. Moreover, if you’re looking to buy a home that will be passed on for generations, this is no concern at all.
- A house can be expensive to maintain
Owning a house means being responsible for its upkeep. Experts say that homeowners should set aside from 1% to 2% of the cost of the home for yearly maintenance. If you bought your home for $300,000, that would mean having a maintenance budget of between $3,000 to $6,000 a year – no small change any way you slice or dice it.
However, regular maintenance retains the value of the home, allowing you to price the property competitively once you decide to sell it. If you intend to bequeath your home, your upkeep will continue to prove valuable to the people or entities you leave it with. In California, there are a number of ways to do it.
- A house can be in the wrong neighborhood
Part of the checklist to buying a home is checking out the local neighborhoods. Get to know the local community and see if they’re the people you‘ll enjoy spending time with. When it comes to vacation homes and investment properties, look at the features and amenities that your target market is looking for.
However, you may belatedly realize that you’re in the wrong neighborhood. Or personal circumstances have changed, such as getting a new job elsewhere, preferring to live somewhere warmer (or colder), or simply needing a change of scenery. In this case, contact your local real estate agent to consult on the best course of action.
- A house in the suburbs may have fewer amenities and mean longer commutes
The suburbs, while typically in a neighborhood with existing services and nearby retail options, still have less access to the many amenities available in a centrally located condo.
But consider the upside: Bellflower, CA, for example, is rated highly as a very walkable and bikeable city, but with minimal public transit options.
LIVING IN A CONDO
Condos offer perks that single-family homes do not. For one thing, condos make home ownership accessible to a larger number of people because they usually cost less than a single-family home. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and downsides of living in a condo
Advantages of buying a condo
- A condo has a smaller space to manage
Especially convenient for solo homeowners and older adults, a condo is often more compact than a single-family home. The condo association fees you pay go into maintaining the common areas and exterior of the building, so you won’t have to. spaces and ex property, along with the privacy and security it has to offer. This extends to the security of the building.
- A condo offers more conveniences
Living in Bellflower in particular, which is a central hub in the area, means that you’re a short walk or a quick cab ride to where you need to go. Condos are typically located within business districts and city centers, which makes late-night stores, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and so much more accessible and easy to enjoy.
- A condo is often more affordable than buying a house
Naturally, the smaller space means condos offer more pricing options. That said, don’t forget that location is the top consideration affecting the price and desirability of a condo. So there is a price to pay for being in the center of it all. Consult your local real estate agent to help compare condo prices vis-a-vis single-family homes.
- A condo gives you more opportunities to make friends
Living in a condo means your neighbor is about five to ten steps away from your unit. There’s highly likely to be a community event or neighborhood party happening on a regular basis. Pro tip: Book a few days close to the condo or in a neighborhood you’re thinking of moving into. This gives you a chance to get to know the locals, check out activities they have planned, and assess the general vibe.
- A condo is “maintenance-free”
The condo’s homeowners association (COA) takes care of the upkeep of common areas, amenities, and ensures the safety and security of unit owners. In short, COAs make sure everything is running smoothly. Before buying a unit, check out the condo covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) to make sure you agree with the rules that govern the condo community.
The downsides of buying a condo
Convenient as condos may be, they may not come with a number of restrictions. Here are some points to consider before you decide if condo living is the way to go:
- You can’t expand a smaller space
If you’re looking for a property you can expand over time, buying a condo is not your best option. Of course, you can buy an adjacent unit but it’s not only expensive, finding an available unit, whether next door or not, is chancey at best, especially in bigger cities.
That said, if you do find yourself living in a condo, you can opt for some additional off-unit storage for items you want to keep but don’t often use. Condos often have common areas you can book for private events, such as the pool area, a rooftop, an all-purpose room that can be used for parties and other gatherings.
- A condo can be subject to strict rules
To maintain the value and aesthetic uniformity of a condo, property managers or COAs often have strict rules.
In California, the many planned communities and developments are all governed by the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act. There’s also the California Association of Homeowners Associations, Inc., which defines and determines rules and regulations for the general community.
Overall, these governing bodies help establish ground rules for its tenants, as well as what they can expect from their property managers. This includes guidelines on how to use the common areas which make it pleasant for everyone to use, how to maintain the property, how to keep pets at the condo, how to keep noise at a reasonable level, and how to rent out a unit, among many others.
These can seem restrictive, but are meant to support a peaceful and organized living situation for most, if not all, the condominium tenants. In most cases, these conditions help keep daily life comfortable in condo living. However, if you prefer having more freedom to your home, consider buying a house instead of a condo.
COA rules are also responsible for the diminished desirability of condos. Barring state or municipal laws, COAs can prevent unit owners from renting out their condos. Or, allow long-term renters but not short-term stays. This, among other factors, affect the perceived value of condos among buyers.
- Condos are typically located within dense populations
A condo’s location within densely populated areas can be an upside and a downside. The upside consists of a plethora of conveniences, but the downside is less discussed:
- There’s not much in the way of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life
- Spending time in a limited outdoor space like a balcony means contending with the noise of the city
- The cost of living is higher
- The traffic and congestion can cause frustration and delays
- Your privacy is limited
If you still think condo living is the way to go, look into properties a little farther away from the city center. You can have a bit more peace and quiet and perhaps, get more bang for your buck for a unit because the premium that comes with being in the heart of the city is no longer at stake. Instead, look for other perks like nearby parks.
- Condos may be perceived to be less valuable than houses
Unless situated in a highly desirable location and depending on market trends, condos seem to suffer from a perception problem – and not without cause.
COA rules have sometimes been cited for the diminished desirability of condos. Barring state or municipal laws, COA rules can prevent unit owners from renting out their condos. Or, rules can allow long-term renters but not short-term stays. This, among other factors, affect the perceived value of condos among buyers.
So, look before you leap if you intend to buy a condo as an investment property.
WHICH ONE MAKES MORE FINANCIAL SENSE, AND AT WHICH STAGE IN YOUR LIFE?
Most real estate professionals will advise you to be cautiously optimistic with your next big investment. While the market has been relatively stable in recovering and “normalizing” from the pandemic years, housing prices can still be too steep, especially for the central areas. In Bellflower, CA, expect home values to be on the higher end, being at the west coast and within the Los Angeles County area.
Timing your real estate investment is critical to staying afloat in these uncertain times. So, between a condo or a house, which one is the financially viable choice at which life stage? We unpack this further below.
For young professionals and couples. Buying a mid- to large-sized condo or a medium-sized house is a great option for young professionals eager to move to the more serious adult stage of their lives.
For small but growing families. These have the most to gain from buying a house, as families can make the most of the space. If within budget, it’s also a convenience to have a condo closer to the city where the family can stay for most of the week then come home to the house on the weekends.
For empty nesters and retiring adults. It’ll be easier to stay connected to peers and family with the smaller space offered by a condo. You’ll have convenient access to amenities and greater opportunities to socialize with new people .
4-POINT CHECKLIST TO DETERMINE WHETHER A HOUSE OR A CONDO IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT FOR YOU
We’ve listed some key questions to check your bias as you search for the right house or condo in Bellflower, CA.
- How long do you plan on owning or living in the area?
- At the time of purchase, were the real estate market trends favorable for future reselling?
- Can you picture yourself living with the Bellflower, CA community and feeling like you belong?
- Do you see the potential for how the property can grow in the next few years? Is it aligned with the goals you have in mind?
HOUSES OR CONDOS IN BELLFLOWER, CA FOR YOUR FOREVER HOME
Excited to get started on your search? Get in touch with us at 562-818-6111 or send us an email . Our team of residential sales specialists have been well-versed in property matching since 1,999, with over 1,500 homes sold. Find your dream home in Bellflower, CA today!