As we close in on the end of the year there are about 445 active single family residences for sale in the Beach Cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula – a total of $935,244,598 in inventory available with an average list price of $2,101,673. (48% of the listings are listed over $2,000,000).

Local real estate is the common thread in the fabric of our South Bay community. Our homes help define who we are — an expression of how we live. It’s what we talk about. Our recent SWEET DIGS articles are a testament to the relationships people have with their homes and the community. There’s really an endless supply of cool and interesting homes here, each with its own distinct personality and style.

Can you believe it…this issue marks our one year anniversary for South Bay Digs magazine! I’m truly humbled and honored with the progress we have made and the support we have received in the community. I want to personally thank all of our clients and let you know how deeply I value our business partnerships.

This issue’s front cover is one of the most magnificent homes in the South Bay – a Palladian inspired Italian Villa with panoramic ocean views and it’s own vineyard, offered by Raju Chhabria, Shorewood Realtors. Plus a Market Overview of Local Real Estate Statistics in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, & Redondo Beach.

One of the best things about being Publisher of South Bay Digs is having the opportunity to check out some of the ‘sweetest digs’ in the South Bay and meet the people who own them. It’s a celebration of local real estate, the South Bay community and the lifestyle it affords the residents here. Our first stop is a Louie Tomaro designed custom home perched on a 14,200 square foot lot with one of the best views in all the South Bay.

Every summer, the South Bay plays host to one of the premier volleyball events in the Country, the Manhattan Beach Open – which just last week had a record field of 64 teams competing for $200,000 in prize money. Ultimately, the event came together in the last minute on a shoestring budget with $4000 in first-place prices. With a highly successful turnabout this year, it looks like the sport’s crown jewel tournament is back in a big way.

The size, scope and speed of the Internet is truly amazing – seemingly growing exponentially every year. At South Bay Digs magazine, we harness today’s latest technology to deliver hyper-local real estate content across the most relevant digital media channels online.

I’m humbled and proud to announce that South Bay Digs has turned twenty this issue – 20 issues published since we launched back in October of 2010. What an amazing ten months it has been! First and foremost, I would like to thank our loyal advertisers, who have not only supported us since day one, but are also our biggest cheerleaders and make this all possible.

Summertime in the South Bay is truly a state of mind. Is there a better place to be? We are lucky to live in such a remarkable place – with some of California’s best beaches, farmer’s markets, walking trails, parks, nightlife and restaurants right at our doorstep. And let’s not forget the real estate – the eclectic range of architecture that defines the South Bay beach lifestyle.

Our feature story on local Dennis Jarvis, owner of Spyder Surfboards in Hermosa Beach epitomizes the definition. South Bay Digs Magazine had the opportunity to hang out with Dennis and learn what it was like growing up a local surf hero in the South Bay, starting a famous surfboard company, and what it takes to keep it real.

Summer is officially here in the South Bay – typically the time when home sales perk up in the Beach Cities. Sales of single family residences are off 18.37% through the first six months of 2011 versus 2010 for the Beach Cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach & Redondo Beach – the combined Cities had a total of 577 sales versus this year’s total of 471.