Ultimate Coastal Living in Laguna Beach
CarterKaufman:IntheTop1%of AgentsinCoastalOrangeCounty
Intimate market knowledge and creative marketing are keys to success
Ranked in the Top 1% of agents in Orange County by annual sales volume, Carter Kaufman has received accolades for his sales production both locally and regionally. In his first year as an agent, he was recognized by his brokerage as “Rookie of the Year” for being the region’s top producing first year agent out of 3,500 new agents. With over $500 Million in personal sales, Carter’s intimate market knowledge and ability to creatively advertise properties has allowed him to set countless sales records in Orange County and placed him
This brand-new custom home sits on an elevated setting and offers stunning ocean views from every room. Massive windows and large sets of glass accordion doors allow for sublime indoor/outdoor living in this 4-bedroom and 4-bath home of approximately 3,392 square feet. The main level features priceless ocean views, walls of disappearing glass, a fireplace-warmed living room, and a kitchen that opens to a covered loggia with fireplace that extends living space. Anchored by a large waterfall island, the bespoke kitchen complements mealtime preparation with top-tier Thermador appliances including two dishwashers, custom wood cabinetry, two farmhouse sinks and quartzite countertops. Refinements are led by an elevator, skylight, three fireplaces, an enclosed wine room, white rift-oak wide-plank flooring, modern lighting fixtures, solar power, and an EV charger in the garage. Select secondary bedrooms open to a balcony, and the primary suite is framed by numerous windows with ocean views. A street-to-street lot features additional spaces for outdoor living.
Agent Info: Meital Taub 949.922.9552 LivelRealEstate.com
shoulder-to-shoulder with agents who have been in the business for decades. Carter continues to raise the bar for himself and his clients and now acts as a mentor to new agents and frequently speaks on panels and real estate related podcasts.
Carter comes from a long line of Realtors and real estate investors in Orange County; as he would say, “It’s in my blood.” Carter has a passion for historical properties and their preservation in the community, as well as cutting-edge modern and contemporary homes. Carter’s sales
Property: 705 Gainsborough Place, Laguna Beach 705GainsboroughPl.com
Offering Price: $7,750,000
experience and knowledge of markets spans all of Orange County.
Carter’s thoughtful approach to real estate centers around finding out his clients’ “why” and taking the
time to learn what motivates and inspires them. Through this process of discovery, he’s able to tailor a real estate experience that allows him to add value to a transaction and ensure longstanding client relationships and referrals to family and friends.
Carter spends his time away from real estate with his wife Stephanie, and their three daughters; Stella, Scarlett and Sabine who are twins. Carter also enjoys golfing and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he holds the rank of purple belt.
“I think I’m successful because I look at real estate as an opportunity to connect the dots for people, and if there’s no dots to connect, I’ll go find them.”
Carter can be reached at 949.294.6411.
carter@carterkaufman.com
www.carterkaufman.com
Carter Kaufman
NEW PRICING OPENHOUSE SAT/SUN11AM-2PM
Breathtaking Oceanfront
Located in the prestigious gated community of Lagunita, this exquisite residence at 26 Lagunita Drive presents an unparalleled luxury living experience in Laguna Beach. This architectural masterpiece offers direct beach access, breathtaking panoramic ocean views that promise endless sunsets and tranquil beachfront moments with Catalina Island as your backdrop. The sophisticated design features state-of-the-art amenities, including a private gated courtyard, remodeled high end kitchen, romantic ocean view deck off of the primary suite, theatre room, built in bar, 3 fireplaces, Control4 smart system, A/C, 12 person sauna and expansive decks. The high vaulted ceilings and light infused living spaces seamlessly blend elegance with comfort. Experience the pinnacle of coastal living in this exclusive Laguna Beach home on Victoria Beach, where every detail embodies the ultimate in refinement and style. www.26Lagunita.com Listed at $9,995,000
OPEN SPACE
A LOCAL HOMEOWNER SHARES WHAT WENT INTO RENOVATING HE AND HIS PARTNER’S LAGUNA BEACH HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOW HE QUICKLY BUILT AN ADU, AND WHY HIS FAVORITE SPACE IS THE ONE OFFERING “NATURE’S WALLPAPER.”
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JUSTINE AMODEO / COURTESY OF LATITUDE 33 MAGAZINE
In the midst of the COVID pandemic in 2020, a local Laguna Beach entrepreneur and his partner, a holistic health practitioner, purchased a rundown property in the Temple Hills area of Laguna Beach. The selling point: an expansive deck with a huge wall of greenery on the hillside opening up to the ocean.
Because the construction industry was considered an “Essential Business” for COVID-19 purposes in California, the homeowners were able to replace floors, fixtures and the fireplace, fix water damage, remodel bathrooms, repaint, and build an ADU.
Pointing to the tiny house connected to the property by a butterfly roof conceived by local architect, Vince DiBiasi, the homeowner explained that what sat on the land was “a useless lawn. We found out that the county water district would give you rebate to take it out. I didn’t need a lawn there, so we used the rebate to build the ADU. The ADU law was a great get to homeowners. From the time we had a plan drawn up until the architect got approval from the city it took three weeks. This is unheard of – an ADU is the fast track to getting
anything done here.”
The 450-square-foot house utilizes every bit of space and is connected to the main house by a butterfly roof, “an homage to the 60s,” says the homeowner. “I wanted a mid-century look and the architect had the idea to connect the two buildings with a breezeway. Fom the street it integrates it into one house. The Butterfly effect created a nice volume with an architectural element with clerestory windows on top.”
But what really sold the home was the expansive deck and the view that surrounded it. “When I first laid eye on that wall of greenery, it wasn’t anything I’ve seen before,’ said the homeowner. “It’s my wallpaper. Even when my architect first came here his jaw dropped. Having both greenery and an ocean view is such a luxury.”
When he first looked over the land, with its terraced succulent gardens and open space, “I said, I’m going to have a party there.” With a few iterations, he moved all of the cactus and created terraces for fruit trees; banana, fig, nectarine, mandarins, limes, pomegranate, blood orange, pear, plum, and sweet potatoes as ground cover.
Inside, the sparse furnishings are from the homeowner’s collection of mid-century finds from the Rose Bowl and Long Beach flea markets. A Helen Frankenthaler piece adorns the wall, along with artwork that ranges from blowups of LSD prints from Mark McCloud, an artist who expanded the original sheets (and got arrested for possession of hallucinogens because there were still psychoactive components on the paper), to a print from an annual New Orleans jazz festival where the artist created a collage of events where “music is the salve.”
An old useless shed was transformed into an office/music studio which houses the homeowner’s drums, guitars and more artwork.
But most of the time, the homeowners spend time in their outdoor living room. On the deck is an large sitting area, a bathtub, a dining table that can accommodate large dinner parties, and a sauna. “The deck, and the privacy it offers, is amazing. … no one can see us. That to me is precious. .. For the first time in my life, I have land to steward,” he continues, “I have never felt called to hang out in my home so much.”
From left: An old shed, converted into an office and music studio; the outdoor dining room surrounded by nature
from left to right: the ADU, built with a rebate from a useless lawn; the outdoor living room and deck;
This week the median list price for Laguna Beach, CA is $4,995,000 with the market action index hovering around 28. This is less than last month's market action index of 30. Inventory has increased to 115.
The market has been consistently cool for several weeks. Demand level are low relative to the available inventory. It's a Buyer's market and prices continue to fall. Look for a persistent shift in Market Action before prices plateau or begin to rise again.
ia n List Price
Ma rk et Segments
Each segment below represents approximately 25% of the market ordered by price.
The market has been cooling over time and prices plateaued for a while. Despite the consistent decrease in MAI, we’re in the Seller’s zone. Watch for changes in MAI. If the MAI resumes its climb, prices will likely follow suit. If the MAI drops consistently or falls into the Buyer’s zone, watch for downward pressure on prices.
LAGUNA BEACH | SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
NEWPORT BEACH | SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
COASTAL REAL ESTATE GUIDE
SALES
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Chris Mattingley, Carol Josepher, Dawn Lindeman, Mara Hertel
EDITORIAL FIREBRAND NEWSROOM 949-715-4100
PRODUCTION MANAGER Tina Leydecker tina@firebrandmediainc.com
DESIGN/MARKETING
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR Tracy Powell
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Tiffany Thompson
CEO & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Zepezauer
PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Scott Sanchez
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION: Tel: 949-715-4100
MAILING ADDRESS: 900 Glenneyre Street, Suite B, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
New Listings
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3
Multi Use Kitchens
FROM
ROUNDED-EDGE
ISLANDS TO CONCEALED APPLIANCE STATIONS, THE LATEST KITCHEN TRENDS CATER TO A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACE.
BY JILLIAN DARA / COURTESY OF LATITUDE 33 MAGAZINE
Kitchens are no longer just for cooking. Whether intimate or grand, kitchens have become a space for socializing and entertaining, or on the other hand, having a moment to yourself with coffee in a breakfast nook.
TEXTURED PANELS
“People are seeking to really make kitchen spaces their own again,” says Stephanie Meyer, interior designer and owner of AVCO Design. She’s noticed an increase in kitchen renovations eschewing the classic shaker style with clients opting for panels with texture, which she says is “extending into personalized colors and funky hardware,” like these sage green cabinets [AVCO painted and maintained the beaded panels on the doors] finished with half-moon hardware.
BULBOUS LIGHTING
Statement light fixtures like that of spherical pendant lighting “offers geometric refreshment in a room that is otherwise dominated by squares and rectangles,” says Thomas Borcherding, co-owner of Homestar Design Remodel. It’s another way to express personality and add visual interest to a kitchen while entertaining.
MIKE MURTAUGH
CONCEALED BREAKFAST STATIONS
This longtime solution for space-saving in kitchens is now more mainstream. “This kitchen was designed to be efficient, adjacent to the dining area where it is functional, while also obscuring clutter, with refrgerators down below, and pull out trays for mugs, pods, creamers, all centrally located,” says Lisa McDennon, principal designer of Lisa McDennon Design.
REEDED GLASS
ROUNDED EDGES
As kitchen and bars continue to evolve as social gathering hubs, “curves are really trending in all aspects of design, from furniture to architectural details,” says McDennon.
Textured glass, especially reeded, ribbed and fluted glass, is popular in kitchens for its multi-purpose use. “It provides privacy and soft, diffused light for cabinet doors, backsplashes and room dividers,” says Bob Thomas, principal designer at hearthandpetals.com. “It feels vintage yet fresh, adding dimension without being distracting.”
