Santa Monica Real Estate
Santa Monica, California is easily one of the most lively and beautiful places to live; of course this means that it’s also not cheap. The real estate market in California has seen a 40% drop, but Santa Monica remained untouched. Despite the rising cost of real estate, Santa Monica has a lot to offer its residents so if funds are not an issue and you love shopping, eating, beaches, and the night life, then this just may be the place for you.
The Up Side
Imagine waking up at home every morning and having to decide between sunny beaches or Hollywood and downtown LA; that’s the life in Santa Monica which sits right between the two. Another definite perk is that virtually everything is within walking distance so you don’t have to fight traffic to drive anywhere. Being able to walk to the beach, restaurants, or even to get your groceries is definitely a huge plus when it comes to the California traffic.
The locals all boast the fact that there really seems to be nothing lacking in Santa Monica. You’ve got the beach, entertainment, and all the restaurants and theaters you could possibly want. There is very little reason to have to drive long distances since everything is right in your backyard.
The Down Side
Remember that Santa Monica is a tourist town, which means that if you cannot handle endless crowds of new people plowing through on a daily basis, you may want to plant your roots elsewhere.
Another thing that may make you uncomfortable; Santa Monica is big on the nightlife- the loud kind with parties and music and screaming teenagers. This is definitely a location for those who don’t mind noise, like to party, and are not looking for a nice quiet place to retire.
Housing: What to Expect
So if you’ve decided that Santa Monica is calling your name, it’s time to start looking at houses. Some of the main neighborhoods include Sunset Park, College Streets, Gillette’s Regent Square, North of Wilshire, North of Montana, and Santa Monica Canyon.
These offer single family homes, condos, and town homes. The average cost of rent is about $2.83 per square foot, and if you are looking to buy you can plan on paying about $604 per square foot.
