Santa Monica Community Information
Santa Monica is world-famous. In fact – next to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu – Santa Monica is one of the areas that pops into people’s minds when they think of “L.A.” All of the areas within Santa Monica have been featured extensively in feature films and television shows – so first-timers will sometimes feel like they have been here before.
Santa Monica has the benefit of being adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and, compared to some other cities in Los Angeles County, enjoys cleaner and fresher air. Because Santa Monica is an incorporated city, schools, police and fire departments serve the residents quite admirably and this becomes an additional draw to live here.
Santa Monica offers a variety of environments and lifestyles for almost every palate. The beach communities of Santa Monica offer residences – literally on the sand – that come with 10+ million dollar price tags and public parking lots (at $10 per car), offering all of Los Angeles passage to Santa Monica’s historic beaches and waterways (so be prepared to share).
Pacific Coast Highway is the major artery that feeds the coastline and therefore can become a virtual parking lot on beautiful Summer weekend days, so run your errands during the week and on the weekends you can hunker down and enjoy the brilliant blue skies and crashing waves.
Similar to Brentwood, Santa Monica is often thought of in two ways: “north of Wilshire” and “south of Wilshire.” The area north of Wilshire has within it The Montana district – an upscale shopping avenue with abundant charm. Here, pedestrians can amble past boutiques and book stores, and there is even a restored movie house from the Deco era where movie buffs can catch a classic (and where directors and actors often present talks and have discussions about the making of their films).
The Montana area is unmistakably one of Santa Monica’s most in-demand areas. Homes are tucked together fairly closely, situated on average lot sizes of 7500 square feet, and can sell anywhere from 1.7 million (for homes that need work) up to well into the high 4 million dollar reaches. Some of the finest public elementary schools are located north of Montana, near San Vicente Boulevard. Making your way inland via San Vicente, some of Santa Monica’s priciest real estate may be found.
For Golfing enthusiasts, homes may be purchased overlooking the famed Riviera Country Club, which is home to the Northern Trust Open where the best golfers take aim in February as part of the Pro Tour Circuit. (A trivia tidbit: this is the first location that invited Tiger to play at the outset of his golfing career so he does have a soft place in his heart for Riviera.)
These homes along the side streets off San Vicente have some of the finest classic Spanish and Mediterranean architectural estates. Along prestigious La Mesa Drive, for instance, homes can command numbers in excess of 20 million dollars.
Moving south of San Vicente, past Montana and past Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica offers many luxury condominiums and lovely smaller homes built originally in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Near the beach, and heading South from the historic California Incline (the ramp that lets cars move from PCH, below the bluffs, to Ocean Avenue atop the bluffs), one encounters a vast selection of well-respected restaurants. Santa Monica is a dinner destination for all of the Los Angeles area, as diners enjoys drinks on the patios, fine cuisine, sunsets, and ocean breezes. For many, this is what living in Southern California is all about.
Further south is the Santa Monica Pier – its ferris wheel is a legendary landmark and can be seen by many of the jets departing from LAX. The pier offers an assortment of rides, games, and “cheesy” artifact shops, as well as fishermen reeling in whatever the local waters offer.
Continuing onward towards Venice Beach, famous for Muscle Beach and other quirky sites, it becomes a bit more bohemian and creative, with street performers entertaining the pedestrians who stroll past the shops and craft exhibits. Here, condominiums become more affordable – well under a million dollars – and nightlife becomes plentiful. You can enjoy a café latte from one of the favorite local hang outs, such as Urthe Caffe, or rent a bike and cruise the extensive bike paths that follow the contours of the beach.
During the end of May and well into June, Santa Monica experiences a weather pattern called “June Gloom” where the marine layer blocks the sun, producing overcast, cloudy days. Residents take it in stride, knowing that as we enter July and beyond, the weather is truly glorious.
Santa Monica has its very own airport, which makes coming and going for flying enthusiasts very convenient. Be aware that certain parts of Santa Monica in the Sunset Park and Ocean Park areas of the city must contend with airport noise and this certainly affects home values in these areas.
The main challenges with Santa Monica are currently the homeless issue, and the fact that the City has a strong protective mindset toward renters when it comes to investing in Santa Monica.
The city’s elected officials (for the most part) rent their homes within the city confines. Rent-controlled apartments are abundant; those that wish to purchase income property in Santa Monica must be aware of the constraints that come with owning investment property here.
Although the homeless population has been confined mostly along a few blocks of the Bluffs and the Third Street Promenade (a popular commercial district of Santa Monica), the good weather and wide open public parks areas make it inviting for those who have fallen on hard times.
If you want to live in a beautiful location, and have gateway access to Malibu and points north, Santa Monica may be for you. It is one of Los Angeles’ treasured destinations, and many people – including many celebrities and tycoons – couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.