On the market for my first home - Hawthorne vs Torrance

On the market for my first home - Hawthorne vs Torrance

Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes

Hi everyone! I'm looking at a Hawthorne home 1300 sq ft 3bed 2 bath in a nice neighborhood great location vs a Torrance home 1500 sq ft 3 bed 2 bath corner house also in a great location BUT with one side of the corner being a busy street. Wondering if I should go for the Torrance home due to the great school district or if I should stick with Hawthorne's up and coming status. Anybody have any insight regarding Hawthorne's school district? The Torrance home is priced lower than the Hawthorne home due to the fact that it is on a corner with one side of it being a busy street.

Torrance home has some decent upgrades (roof, ac, electrical panels, flooring, and cheap bathroom/cabinet upgrades). Hawthorne home only has kitchen upgrades (cabinets and granite countertop, which was done probably within the last 2 years and already has an outdated look to it, with no transitional/modern style design). No AC for the Hawthorne home. Lot Sq ft is 500 sq ft bigger in Torrance home.

My gut tells me the Torrance one is better because it's priced lower. But I wanted to ask the folks of BP that has insight into these two cities in LA.

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Real Estate Broker · San Pedro, CA · Member since 2016 · 206 posts · 89 votes
6y

@Hsiang Lo

I agree with Matthew. Depends on the price to analyze them side by side. I feel like Hawthorne you can get some good deals still out there. It’s up and coming since the Inglewood stadium is practically done and Inglewood is overpriced now. Hawthorne also has a lot of engineers from SpaceX driving up prices in Hawthorne. Torrance doesn’t cash flow and overpriced too. Unless you are getting a great bargain. Just depends on price and price per sq ft. Good luck.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Torrance, CA · Member since 2016 · 263 posts · 132 votes
    6y

    @Hsiang Lo

    In order to give my opinion in response to your question I feel like I would need more information. What’s your strategy? Are you going to house hack? How long do you want to hold for? Do you assume there will be appreciation? Do you plan on living in the house? What’s the purchase price? Etc.

    I know Torrance very well and would be happy to talk about if you would like to connect.

  • Real Estate Broker · San Pedro, CA · Member since 2016 · 206 posts · 89 votes
    6y

    @Hsiang Lo

    I agree with Matthew. Depends on the price to analyze them side by side. I feel like Hawthorne you can get some good deals still out there. It’s up and coming since the Inglewood stadium is practically done and Inglewood is overpriced now. Hawthorne also has a lot of engineers from SpaceX driving up prices in Hawthorne. Torrance doesn’t cash flow and overpriced too. Unless you are getting a great bargain. Just depends on price and price per sq ft. Good luck.

  • Investor · Member since 2020 · 23 posts · 8 votes
    6y

    Hard to tell without more info, but I always prefer Torrance. I just bought a triplex in Hawthorne, but ONLY because I was on a deadline with a 1031 exchange and there was nothing available in Torrance. Torrance= better schools, better public safety, better tenants. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Venice, CA · Member since 2015 · 182 posts · 125 votes
    6y

    @Hsiang Lo - It really depends on where in Hawthorne. There are some great areas and some rough areas. I always tell my clients to avoid busy streets unless it's a rental and you are POSITIVE the cashflow is too good to pass up. Remember the 3 most important things in real estate... Location, location, location.  

    @Matthew Forrest is right. We need more information before we can give a real answer. If you are flipping, then avoid the busy street. If it's a rental then how do the numbers look? Do they look significantly better for the Torrance home?

    The Del Aire area of Hawthorne has great schools but the schools are rough in the other areas, this makes a huge difference for buying in Hawthorne.

  • Real Estate Agent · Hawthorne, CA · Member since 2015 · 96 posts · 20 votes
    5y

    @Hsiang Lo, happy to look over the options and help provide advice.  We live in Hawthorne in the Wiseburn district and are real estate investors.  Definitely need more info to help provide advice.

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