The Best of the Beach Professional Services 2024
Devra Zandell
Devra Zandell is known for her “over abundance of positive energy.” For the past 18 years, the RE/MAX Estate Properties Sales Associate has been passionate about helping people buy and sell homes. With the recent interest rate rise, she’s seen a “little slowdown” in the market. “A lot of people are downsizing and staying in the area or moving out of California,” Zandell said. The South Bay is still a desirable location, she said, because of “its beautiful beaches, amazing schools and friendly community.”
Devra Zandell
1401 Highland Ave.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 408-4247
devrazandell.com
Commercial Real Estate
Mike Rossi
Buyer’s agent
Low profile, high volume NW Real Estate broker Mike Rossi is involved in just about every commercial transaction in downtown Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.
“I could make more money if I worked a larger area, but I don’t like to drive, and I want to spend time with my family,” said the Hermosa dad with teenage twin daughters.
High rents in the two downtowns are dictating the direction of the market Rossi said. Manhattan is prospering, after making the transition from moderate to high end businesses.
Hermosa is beginning the process, Rossi believes.
Chef Savid LeFevre and The Simms Group, which owns three high end, downtown Manhattan Beach restaurants, is currently preparing to open its second, high end, downtown Hermosa restaurant. The Meditereanean Atta Boy is next door to the LaFevre/Simms-owned Ryla on Hermosa Avenue.
Rossi views the new restaurants as welcome signs for Hermosa’s struggling downtown. Bank of America, and Rok Sushi, kitty corner from one another at Pier and Hermosa avenues, are both vacant, and three storefronts in the first two blocks of Pier Avenue have recently turned over.
Rossi’s knowledge of the downtown Manhattan and Hermosa Beach real estate markets dates back to the early ‘90s when the Glendora native visited Manhattan to see his former San Diego State roommate, Dave Paquin. Paquin, now an attorney, was a weekend bartender at the 12th Street Grill in downtown Manhattan Beach.
Managers Kevin Barry and Chris Pike asked the solidly built Rossi if he would watch the door because their bouncer had failed to show.
Rossi moved to Manhattan beach permanently the next day.
Over the ensuing years, Rossi became entrenched in local commercial and residential real estate, along with developing serval restaurants, and the Surf City Hotel on the Hermosa Pier Plaza. He also participated in and supported many local and international non profit humanitarian organizations.
He credits the relationships he formed and the knowledge he gained of the local landscape, along with his practice of putting his clients first, and respecting his fiduciary responsibilities to his long and successful career
Matching, renters, and lessors, and buyers and sellers comes down to what you know and who you know, which only comes with time, and can’t be learned by Googling, he said.
Mike Rossi
Strand Hill Properties
1300 highland Ave, #104
Mb ca 90266
310-849-9601
Gateway Business Properties broker Mike Kantor and daughter at practice. Photo courtesy of Kantor family
Commercial Listing Agent
Mike Kantor
Gateway Business Properties
With the lifting of the COVID cloud commercial property owners are shifting to meet the demands of the post COVID “new users,” Michael Kantor, managing principal of Gateway Business Properties said.
“Large corporations, in particular, can’t do it all on Zoom. A walk down the hall for a conversation that’s not on the calendar is a valued, but hard to measure,” he said.
Working from the comfort of home has conditioned workers to want those comforts at the office, which is another post COVID adjustment commercial property owners need to consider, Kantor said.
But Kantor doesn’t believe workers want to work in the office five days a week. As a result companies may need less office space than in the past.
Kantor’s real estate career was born on the volleyball courts of Manhattan Beach.
After attending Saint Bernard’s High School, he attended the University of Hawaii to play volleyball.
When he returned to Manhattan Beach, he continued to play beach volleyball, but only recreationally.
“I didn’t see myself making it to Sunday,” he joked, referring to his recognition that he wouldn’t be competitive on the AVP pro tour.
One of his Manhattan Beach partners was David Denitz, who did play briefly on the AVP. Denitz convinced Kantor to become a Realtor. The two are now partners in Gateway Business Properties, one of the largest South Bay commercial real estate companies.
Kantor said he still plays volleyball at 22nd Street in Hermosa when he’s not coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Mike Kantor
Gateway Business Properties
19210 Vermont Ave. #110
Gardena
(310) 516-8335
Estate, Planning, Trust & Probate Attorney
Mark Swatik, Esq., MBA
Mark Swatik plans clients’ estates, with an aim to keep the process simple, while informative and thorough. He offers free consultations and meetings by Zoom.
The former Hawthorne Police Department sergeant graduated from the William Howard Taft School of Law in 2009. His areas of expertise include asset protection, elder law, special needs planning, contested trusts and wills, personal injury and wrongful death.
Mark Swatik, Esq., MBA
2377 Crenshaw Blvd. Ste. 201
Torrance
(310) 540-6000
Real Estate Law
The Office of Baker, Burton & Lundy, P.C.
Baker, Burton & Lundy was founded in 1976 by UCLA Law School classmates Kent Burton and Brad Baker. In 1997 Albro Lundy and joinedthe firm and since then the firm has expanded to include Evan Koch (trial attorney), Clint Wilson (transactional attorney), Stephen Semos (litigation) and Mary Korkorkian (estate planning).
Further growth included trial attorney Evan Koch in 2011 and transactional attorney Clint Wilson in 2015. In 2020, Baker, Burton & Lundy added three more attorneys; Brian Selogie (transactional department), Stephen Semos (litigation) and Mary Korkorkian (estate planning).
Founded in 1976, the firm represents buyers, sellers, contractors, brokers, developers, investors, escrow companies, borrowers, lenders, tenants and landlords.
Decades-long clients call them for help in property matters local and across the nation.
Describing itself as “sophisticated legal services in a comfortable environment,” Baker, Burton & Lundy was founded by Kent Burton and Brad Baker after graduation from UCLA Law School. Albro Lundy joined the operation in 1997.
Further growth included trial attorney Evan Koch in 2011 and transactional attorney Clint Wilson in 2015. In 2020, Baker, Burton & Lundy added three more attorneys; Brian Selogie (transactional department), Stephen Semos (litigation) and Mary Korkorkian (estate planning).
The Office of Baker, Burton & Lundy, P.C.
515 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(310) 376-9893
Criminal Defense Law
Don Hammond
Don Hammond lays out his case on his website for why his clients are so appreciative of his services.
“We go above and beyond the courtroom for you,” he writes. “We show up at an accident scene at 12 a.m., call your mom to tell her you’re in the hospital, but okay, and explain to your boss why you had to miss work for a court date. No one will take better care of you and your criminal case better,”
Don Hammond
21515 Hawthorne Blvd. #590
Torrance
(323) 529-3660
Family Law
Lovette T. Mioni
Lovette Mioni devotes her practice to family law, with a goal of settling cases cases quickly and amicably. Her settlement-minded practice aims to avoid the financial and emotional drain of a trial. But the experienced litigator doesn’t hesitate to take a case to court when necessary
The certified family law specialist takes pride in her efforts to educate her clients, to “make them aware of their unique facts and circumstances, and their best-case and worst-case scenarios, so they can make the best decisions for them, rather than letting the court make it for them, or just going along with the other side.” She has been named a Southern California Rising Star by the Super Lawyers rating service, an honor held by fewer than 3 percent of attorneys in the region.
Her practice includes such issues as child custody, pre-and post-nuptial agreements, step-parent adoptions, mediations and paternity actions.
Lovette T. Mioni
Mioni Family Law
1815 Via El Prado Ste. 203
Redondo Beach
(424) 259-1770
Escrow
William Baltazar
Peninsula Escrow
The priority of Peninsula Escrow officer William Baltazar is to provide excellent customer service. He prides himself on maintaining integrity, honesty, and objectivity throughout all his transactions. Baltazar handles everything from short sales to residential sales to escrow loans. The key to his success is communications and keeping abreast of the changes in the escrow and real estate industry. He’s known as an agent with foresight, who is great under pressure and can resolve problems quickly. With his professionalism and buoyant attitude, he strives to make any escrow transaction a positive experience for everyone involved.
Escrow
William Beltazar
Peninsula Escrow
23740 Hawthorne Blvd. #102
Torrance
(310) 254-8405