Los Angeles has become noticeably more populated and, as things go, rents and purchase prices continue to rapidly go up.  As a result, the urban gentrification ripple has widened it circle. As a realtor, it’s my job to know what’s happening, at what price point, where. As a working mother in real estate, I’m not always able to jump on a plane to an exotic location so often going to the other side of the city can help satiate the wanderlust in me. One of the goals of this column is to sniff out upcoming areas to possibly plant your flag or, at the very least, grab a new cup of coffee. Join me.

Silicon Beach is taking its name from Northern California’s Tech Hub Silicon Valley and its location on the Westside of Los Angeles near the Ocean. Silicon Beach, big in Mar Vista, now encompasses Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Venice and is now spreading into Hawthorne- home of aerospace. The area of Silicon Beach has been reported to have over 500 tech companies and counting and with its reach now spreading into Hawthorne, the bridging of tech and aerospace will certainly make a beautiful marriage.

Hawthorne is just east of El Segundo and Manhattan Beach with the main arteries El Segundo Boulevard running east and west and Hawthorne and Crenshaw Boulevards north and south. If you’re lucky when coming into Hawthorne from the 105 freeway and Crenshaw exit, you can catch one of the private planes landing at the Hawthorne Airport. FUN!

Hawthorne continues its history in aerospace with Elon Musk’s Space X and Tesla, both housed at the Hawthorne airport at the border of the city. The Space X campus greets those entering Hawthorne with its model of the Falcon rocket serving as an inspirational beacon of what came before and a reminder of who’s responsible for the town’s current resurrection.

A couple of places to get nourishment in the area are Eureka Tasting Kitchen, also housed at the Hawthorne Airport, known for its Lollipop Corn Dogs. The pioneering Los Angeles Ale Works with 25 taps can fill 32 and 64 oz growlers and sells wholesale to many off-site locations while serving as the after-hours watering hole for many of the Space X, Tesla and Hawthorne Art Complex crew.

The Hawthorne Art Complex has over 80 affordable customized sized studios. The space is a reimagined large warehouse built in 1957 for the defense industry that has had incarnations in electronics and tire recyclers. Signs that Hawthorne’s ample supply of warehouse space is on the radar of Los Angeles business owners include clothier Michael Stars and gourmet coffee Urth Cafe as well as Arch Motorcycles, a custom-made bike shop co-owned by actor Keanu Reeves, all having set up homes there.

Two neighboring telltale canaries influencing the economic resurgence in Hawthorne are the previous Nissan facility in Torrance, now a Porsche dealership, and the new Rams stadium in adjacent Inglewood, being touted as the world’s most luxurious stadium ever built. Evidence of the stimulation trickling from the soon to arrive stadium can be seen and felt driving around both Inglewood and Hawthorne.

Thus, the impact can certainly be felt in the homes being sold in Hawthorne. For the most part, the homes there are on the modest level and are just starting to get purchased by speculators and remodeled. It’s a great area for those wanting to be close to the beach, travel often, and want to be close to LAX, OR simply want to be apart of an area that had and will have a big influence on the Southern California zeitgeist.

As Hawthorne continues to emerge, of course, there will be the gold rush effect of businesses hoping to capitalize off the growing number of new visitors to the area such as the coming $500 million dollar behemoth Hawthorne Plaza Mall remodel with mixed-use plans for retail, office, residential and 12 restaurants as well as the Marriott Hotel just having broken ground.

Two recent listings that just went into escrow:  

Once you’ve purchased your home, attended a game (or are simply visiting for the day), enjoy one of several parks (for kids or dogs), such as the Eucalyptus Park with a fantastic skate area or the Beach Boys Historic Landmark. The landmark was erected in 2005 at the site of the childhood home of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys to celebrate the band’s tremendous contribution to music and the southern California identity.

True Cross has worked in Los Angeles Real Estate for over 12 years. She has extensive knowledge of the areas she covers. She specializes in luxury properties but is thrilled to help first-time buyers find their first home, too. You can follow True and her house obsession at @housepaparazzi