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Welcome to AQUA

Why Use the Mike Dunfee Group for Your AQUA Real Estate Needs?

This is a question we think about all the time as we work on making the Mike Dunfee Group the first choice when it comes to the AQUA.

We have focused on the AQUA for so long now that we have become uniquely qualified to help people with their AQUA real estate needs. Here we will break it down to more specifics.

Eleven Reasons to Use the Mike Dunfee Group for Your Aqua Real Estate Needs

  1. Location – our office is next door to the AQUA. This ease of access makes showing more efficient and convenient. This can make a big difference when you need to be there fast. As they say in real estate, location, location, location.
  2. Targeted marketing – we have designed a marketing system for the AQUA. We know who is looking and what they are looking for in an AQUA property. Our proprietary email system goes out to well over 6,000 people with a focus on Ocean Blvd. This information is also helpful for targeting our social media. This concentration keeps our website, videos and listings consistently on top of AQUA related searches. We still use old fashion mailing to make sure no stone goes unturned. Of course, our most effective marketing is still word of mouth.
  3. AQUA community expertise – the AQUA community is unique in how it is set up with three separate Homeowner Associations and a Community Service Organization. There are very few communities in the state that are set up this way. Having an agent who can confidently explain the ins and outs of the HOA to buyers, other agents, lenders and appraisers is a big plus. We can also tell from the unit number what model it is and what the view is like. We know about parking, storage spaces and upgrades. This is super helpful in pricing and explaining the benefits of a particular unit.
  4. Maintenance and repairs – we can facilitate most any repair or improvement that may need to take place either through our affiliated maintenance company or our trusted vendors. People often recognize the value of this for management with making a unit rent ready and random maintenance needs. This is also very valuable to our clients when preparing a unit for sale and in an escrow after a home inspection when things need to quickly be priced and repaired.
  5. Local Downtown Long Beach insight – we know the local market and area in general. The local activities are a big reason why people want to live at the AQUA. Mike Dunfee has lived in Downtown Long Beach since 1989; has sold real estate here since 1995; is extremely involved in the community and an excellent local resource. We know Downtown Long Beach.
  6. General real estate knowledge – with almost 30 years of real estate sales experience, multiple professional designations and over 1,000 closed sales plus the current management of hundreds of rental properties, Mike Dunfee has learned a lot over the years and so has his team. Our clients get the benefit of our knowledge.
  7. Community involvement – we believe that contributing to the community is the best way to be a part of it. Serving on the Maintenance Board since it’s first election in 2007 has been a great way to learn how things work at the Aqua while doing my part to give back to a community that has done so much for us. Being a graduate of Leadership Long Beach, helping found Ocean Residents Community Association, ORCA and the Downtown Residential Counsel, DRC, have all been great ways to get to know the community we serve.
  8. Reputation – Reputation matters, and we have worked hard to keep a good reputation at the Aqua. The real estate business is tough. There are a lot of moving parts. We deal with the general public with all kinds of personalities; things can happen that are out of our control and mistakes can happen. We know how to reduce those risks and when things do go wrong we do our best to make them right. After all, when the deal closes, we are still going to be here as part of the community.
  9. Relationships –the old saying, it’s not what you know but who you know holds true in real estate. We know where to go to get things done at the AQUA. People also know us and that we do what we say we will do. Our clients benefit from these relationships, especially when unexpected problems need to be solved.
  10. Our team – this is not a one person show. It is not all Mike Dunfee. This is a team effort, and we have a great team. I am very involved in the business interacting with clients and team members every day. However, we have very experienced team members who are often better suited for some tasks than me. Our clients also get the benefit of the additional attention that can only be provided by a well-staffed a team. We back each other up to make sure you’re covered.
  11. Unmatched AQUA success – we have successfully helped over 250 people buy and or sell a home at the AQUA. We have leased and managed even more than that. We can help you too.

If we keep thinking about it, we can come up with more reasons why people should use the Mike Dunfee Group for their AQUA real estate needs. Just because we are the arguably the most qualified and have had the greatest success at the Aqua does not mean that we are necessarily the best fit for you. People should go with someone they like and trust.

We hope we have earned that or at least have a good start. If you are thinking of selling, buying or leasing at the AQUA or if you just have a few questions please reach out and we would be happy to talk.

AQUA Listings

Our AQUA Listings For Sale



All AQUA Listings for Sale

Our AQUA Listings For Lease

$3,395/mo.
  • Beds: 2
  • Baths: 2
  • sqft: 990
388 E. Ocean Blvd., #1408, Long Beach, CA 90802
Apartment
Available: Immediately
$3,295/mo.
  • Beds: 2
  • Baths: 2
  • sqft: 990
488 E. Ocean Blvd, #308, Long Beach, CA 90802
Apartment
Available: Immediately
$2,900/mo.
  • Beds: 1
  • Baths: 1.5
  • sqft: 880
700 E. Ocean Blvd., #607, Long Beach, CA 90802
Apartment
Available: Immediately


All AQUA Listings for Lease

About AQUA

Amenities

The AQUA Community invites you to enjoy luxury lifestyle living. Residents of the AQUA Condominiums are provided a plethora of hotel-like amenities such as exemplary 24-hour concierge service, a fitness center and dry sauna, club room, parking garage, business center, and on-site property management. Outside of the towers, residents of the AQUA have access to a crystal-clear pool and spa, sundeck with surrounding lounge chairs, an outdoor cooking area, barbeque, and deck dining perfect for entertaining. With luxury amenities like these, it is clear to see why the AQUA Towers are able to provide such an exclusive retreat from the ordinary.

What’s Nearby

Located in the heart of Downtown Long Beach, the AQUA towers place residents in the middle of the dynamic cultural life and urban excitement that southern California is known for. Both towers are only a short distance from legendary beaches, the marina, Shoreline Village, a performing arts center, the Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path, a weekly farmer’s market, The Pike Outlets and Cinema, the Metro, the East Village Arts District, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and Pine Avenue’s restaurant row. Downtown Long Beach also offers a variety of annual events such as Festivals at Rainbow Park, Pine Avenue’s Taste of Downtown, the Grand Prix, and so much more. With so many entertainment and dining options, practically everything you could ever want or need is only a short distance from the AQUA.

More Information

AQUA Floor Plans

Floor plans are scale drawings that show the relationship between spaces, rooms, and physical features as viewed from above. They assist people in visualizing how they will move through a home. Floor plans also make it easier for individuals to check if the rooms are suitable for their intended purpose. Essentially, floor plans are simple diagrams that show room-by-room layouts in addition to providing a conceptual starting point for designers and possible tenants.

AQUA Floor Plans

What are CC&Rs?

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions are the rules and limits that are placed on a condominium complex or group of homes by a developer, builder, homeowners association, or neighborhood association. When living in a condominium where CC&Rs are in place, an owner would give up certain rights to be a part of the shared living community. Some examples of common CC&Rs in condominiums are smoking restrictions, rules about the noise level and parking, minimum and maximum square footage requirements, height restrictions, and paint color guidelines to maintain aesthetic design.

AQUA HOA, CC&Rs, and Bylaws

As a real estate broker who specializes in selling, leasing, and managing units at the AQUA Towers, the Mike Dunfee Group is frequently asked questions about the Home Owners Association. Our specialization is rooted in the fact that I lived at the Aqua for over seven years, served on the board for over a decade, and have sold, leased, and managed significantly more AQUA properties than anyone else.

One of the most common questions that I am asked by other real estate agents and potential buyers is, “How is the HOA structured at the AQUA Condominiums?” Since two different HOA dues can be seen on the MLS, Zillow, or a number of other real estate sites, individuals are often left wondering if there is a special assessment or what the second HOA payment actually is. The answer to this question is simple–The AQUA Condominiums are set up with multiple Home Owners Associations. Each tower has its own HOA in addition to a “Master” or “Maintenance” Home Owners Association.

Each of the three Home Owners Associations has their own CC&Rs, budget, and board of directors. If you own a unit in the East Tower you are a member of the 488 Association and the AQUA Maintenance Association. If you own a unit in the West Tower you are a member of the 388 Association and the AQUA Maintenance Association as well. The Tower Associations cover items that exist in each respective towner–this includes everything from the gym equipment and pool to the elevators, paint, and carpet. The Maintenance Association also covers the parking garages, lawn care, upkeeping of the outdoor space, all personnel, and anything else shared by both towers. Since every unit is a member of the Maintenance HOA it usually called the “Master Home Owners Association.”

People interested in purchasing a condo in the AQUA community often ask to see the Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs). What many people don't know is that the CC&Rs are public information and recorded at the county tax recorder. I have included some of the AQUA CC&Rs as part of this website so that potential buyers may review them before writing an offer if they wish. I also would like to emphasize that this is not a replacement for getting a full package through escrow. There are often many updates, and you also want to be confident that you are getting this information from an unbiased third party who is getting them directly from the source with the most current details. I felt it was useful to have this information out there for those who wish to do their homework.

What is the C.S.O.?

Another question that I am frequently asked in regards to the AQUA is, “What is the C.S.O.?” The acronym stands for “Community Service Organization”–it is almost like another Home Owners Association at the AQUA. The C.S.O. was established by the developer to help with community-building activities such as barbeques, movie nights, exercise classes, holiday parties, and a plethora of other things. The C.S.O. does not usually come up for discussion until a property is under negotiation for sale as there is a one-time fee of 1/4 of one percent of the sales price. This fee is applied to every sale in the AQUA community and is almost always paid by the buyer of the transaction. Hopefully, a buyer and seller are not hearing about the C.S.O. for the first time after an escrow is open–this is yet another reason why you would want to use an agent who is experienced in buying and selling at the Aqua to represent you.

Notable Things About the AQUA HOAs

There is a 2 pet limit with no breed restrictions. This means that you are allowed to have either two cats, two dogs, or one of each as long as the overall total is under three.

No BBQs or tiki torches with open flames are permitted on the balconies.

At this time there is no earthquake insurance but there are talks of potentially adding earthquake coverage in the future.

All move-ins and move-outs MUST be coordinated and scheduled in advance with the HOA. There is a $100 move-in/move-out fee and a refundable $500 deposit is required. Of course, these could change and should be verified with the management office.

Moving is not allowed on Sundays but is allowed to be scheduled for Saturdays.

Internet is included with the HOA. It is now FIOS and must be coordinated with Frontier.

Conclusion

Mike Dunfee has served on the Maintenance Homeowners Association Board of Directors for over a decade and believes it to be generally well-managed. It is financially sound is usually has  reserves at a level that is over 90 percent funded . The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Like all HOAs in high-rise communities, there are often rules that may seem restrictive to some. However, it is important to remember that these rules are there for a reason. They are there for the benefit of the greater AQUA community. The management at the AQUA enforces the rules while trying to be fair and reasonable. With all of this in mind, we can say with complete confidence that the AQUA is certainly a great place to live.

HOA Documents Disclaimer

The CC&Rs and Bylaws listed below are public records. They are posted here as a place to reference but are not intended to be used as a substitute for those received through escrow. We strongly suggest that CC&Rs, Bylaws, budgets, minutes, and any other HOA information reviewed through the due diligence period of escrow be ordered through an escrow company to ensure that you are receiving the proper documents with the most current copy including all amendments.

CC&Rs and Bylaws for AQUA 388

AQUA Photo Gallery

AQUA Video Gallery