The Benefits of Buying a Turn-Key Home in Malibu
Although it might be attractive to buy land in Malibu and build your own dream home, due to the intense rules and regulations of the Malibu City Council – it might be a better idea for you and your family to purchase a turn-key home and skip the years of hassle!
The Malibu Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, adopted by the California Coastal Commission for the City of Malibu in 2002, is a 128-page document that basically sets the ground rules for development in Malibu. The Malibu Local Implementation Plan (LIP) is the actual code that all architects, developers and builders in Malibu must follow in order to adhere to the development guidelines set forth in the LCP. The LIP is almost three times as long as the LUP: 338 pages. But those are not the only two documents of codes and development guidelines that are needed in order to build or renovate a home in Malibu. Malibu’s zoning codes evolved from several regulations. Malibu followed Los Angeles County zoning code rules until the Coastal Act was passed in 1977. The act was meant to protect natural resources in California’s coastal zone. All cities within the 81-square-mile coastal zone, which extends 5 miles inland, had to come up with a Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan in order to abide by the Coastal Act’s guidelines. Because the City of Malibu dragged its feet, the Coastal Commission jumped in and wrote one for it. After a two-year battle in the courts, Malibu was required to implement the CCC’s LUP. In addition to these harsh regulations, you also need cash to buy the land. Financing for land is unconventional now and you will need cash up front or a loan from seller, etc.
U2’s “The Edge”, real name David Evans has been fighting for 10 years to build five homes in Malibu and finally got the okay this past year. Even though he finally got permission to build his five-home community on the top of the Santa Monica Mountains, he had to compromise on size. The Edge had to agree to build smaller than initially planned in order to follow the ecology preservation rules.
