Homes for Sale in Santa Monica

Search all houses for sale in Santa Monica and view the latest real estate listings. Santa Monica (SaMo) is an upscale beach town. The city is a longtime stomping ground for professionals, retirees, artists, and well-heeled residents who appreciate its beautiful surroundings, laid-back vibe, and countless amenities.

With multiple beaches, parks, and hiking trails, locals love taking advantage of Southern California’s stunning vistas, access to nature, and perfect weather. If you're living in Santa Monica, you probably spend a lot of time outdoors. Be sure to register for a free account so that you can receive email alerts whenever new Santa Monica homes for sale come on the market.

Santa Monica Real Estate Listings

Living in Santa Monica

Incorporated in 1886, Santa Monica was a famous resort town by the early 20th century due to its oceanfront location and a Mediterranean climate. The Santa Monica motto is "Fortunate people in a fortunate land." In addition to being used as a backdrop in many movies, television shows, and video games, Santa Monica was depicted as "Bay City" in numerous Raymond Chandler novels.

Aerospace manufacturing was a big part of the city's industry with The Douglas Company, which later became McDonnell Douglas, located within Santa Monica from 1921 until 1968. The company expanded exponentially during World War II and was vital to the war effort. In fact, set designers from the Warner Bros. Studios prepared elaborate camouflage disguises to defend against possible air attacks on the factory and airfield.

Santa Monica is part of the Westside, the term Angelinos use to indicate all areas west of the 405 Freeway, though the exact border is hotly contested. In part, living on the Westside means you don't have ever to leave it to get all your retail therapy and culinary needs met. Presumably, whatever you want, you’ll find it nearby and won’t have to sit in freeway traffic to get it. If you have friends that live on the Eastside, visiting them will feel like traveling to another state.

There's a good chance you'll fall in love and become a "regular" at least one restaurant here, whatever your preferences. All over town, you'll find great steaks, seafood, international cuisine, vegan delights, and sushi. There are three main commercial areas in Santa Monica:

• Third Street Promenade – an open-air pedestrian mall with retail stores, restaurants, movie theater, and events. Capping the south end of the Promenade, Santa Monica Place is the home of upscale shopping among luxury brands, Arclight Cinemas, and a rooftop dining patio.
• Ocean Park – retail stores, restaurants, bars, and cafes along Main Street.
• Montana Avenue – cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and boutique stores.

Beach Culture

If you live in Santa Monica, you may find yourself making one (or all) of the four popular farmers markets part of your weekly shopping routine. Leave your car at home and park your beach cruiser with one of the bike valets. (Biking to run errands is the norm here, further contributing to the laid-back vibe of the city.) Stock up on fruits, vegetables, and other farm goods alongside acclaimed area chefs. The markets are also a good place to find fresh, local seafood.

While Santa Monica Pier is considered “touristy” to locals, it does have an important historical timeline worth noting. The Pier started as a public utility (sewage) in 1909 and has been fishing spot, early amusement park, a place for shore leave for U.S. Navy War ships, home to a 20s-era ballroom, birthplace of cartoon character “Popeye”, yacht harbor, commercial fishing port in the 40s, and entertainment venue. Today, the summer season brings the Twilight Concert Series at the Pier, billed as “Southern California’s largest free concert series.”

From miles away, you can see the Pacific Park Ferris wheel on the Pier. The Looff Hippodrome Carousel (1922) sits below the wheel and is a national historic landmark. Right below the Pier is the Original Muscle Beach, the ever-popular fitness area where locals swing on public bars, rings & ropes over the sand. People have been exercising here since the 1930s, part of a fitness revolution that still echoes today.

Environmentally Friendly

The City of Santa Monica is a world leader in environmental sustainability. The City has a green building code. Nearly every government vehicle runs on alternative fuels, and the bus fleet runs on 100% natural gas. The Bike Action Plan put in motion includes a build-out of additional bike lanes. The City set aggressive goals (exceeding the State-level goals) for complete energy independence. Lastly, the zero-waste operations and rainwater collection plans have already made a big impact.

Santa Monica has a reputation as a progressive community through its environmentally-friendly and sustainable policies and public services, including curbside recycling, community gardens, alternative fuels for public vehicles, renewable energy in public buildings, cleanup of the Santa Monica Bay, farmer's markets, and an extensive city bus system. Santa Monica has also been recognized as a bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists on multiple occasions and leads Los Angeles County in terms of bicycle programming and infrastructure.

Santa Monica Weather

Santa Monica is known for occasionally-foggy mornings, cool ocean breezes, and spectacular sunsets. Some days here start off relatively chilly compared to the rest of the region because of the overnight marine layer that often forms fog. Like clockwork, by midday, the sun has done its job burning off the thin overhead clouds. The prevailing onshore winds also make Santa Monica less smoggy than much of Southern California, further contributing to a very high quality of life here.

Santa Monica Parks & Recreation

While there are many parks in Santa Monica, here are a few highly-rated standouts:

• Palisades Park - bluffs overlooking Santa Monica State Beach, great for jogging, walking or just taking in the sunset and idyllic views of the ocean. The long strip of grass, paths and park benches follows Ocean Avenue, the western edge of Santa Monica.
• Santa Monica State Beach – a popular destination for tourists and local alike. It extends three miles and is known for beach volleyball, surfing, Annenberg Community Beach House, rollerblading, jogging and walking. The beach has a paved path (The Strand) which runs from Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades to Torrance County Beach. It is 22 miles long.
• Tongva Park – a spacious respite from the urban life with grassy areas, playground, splash pad, picnic tables, and benches. A great place for kids and close to Downtown if you need a break.
• Virginia Avenue Park – you'll find plenty of grass, trees, and shade in this 9.5-acre park. Home to one of four local farmers markets in the area and the renovated Pico Branch Library. The park has a splash pad for kids, two playgrounds, Teen Center, basketball courts and picnic tables.
• Memorial Park – home to The Cove Skate Park, 20,000 square feet of stairs, ramps, bowls and a pool for skateboards, bikes and in-line skates.

Santa Monica Real Estate

Average home prices in Santa Monica are higher than nextdoor Culver City, lower than Brentwood (by a lot) and just a tad less than Venice (which has some of the highest prices in Los Angeles on a square footage basis since many homes there are smaller). However, all these areas far exceed L.A. County averages.

The area around the Davies mansion became known as the Gold Coast as the area attracted people of both wealth and fame. Stretching along Pacific Coast Highway ("PCH") between Santa Monica Canyon and the Santa Monica Pier it became a fashionable location for discrete celebrities to build beach homes in the 1930s. Following the lead of Will Rogers and Marion Davies, actors with homes along the Gold Coast included Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Norma Talmadge, Peter Lawford, and Douglas Fairbanks, who spent his last years living along the famed strip of beachfront property.

Santa Monica Architecture

If you love great architecture and design, you’ll be craning your head every few blocks while driving through Santa Monica. Residential architectural styles include Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Tudor, Contemporary, Minimal Traditional, Bungalow, Mediterranean and the occasional (very cute) Cottage. In fact, Santa Monica is home to the Gehry Residence, a deconstructivist addition to a Dutch Colonial style home.

Architecture in Santa Monica is celebrated. In fact, Santa Monica Conservancy offers 2-hour Downtown Walking Tours every Saturday at 10 am. Self-guided tour booklets are also available for a few bucks. Several commercial and public buildings are designed in styles of Art Deco, Beaux Arts, Googie, and Churrigueresque. Did you know the Sears Roebuck store (1947) is a Streamline Moderne design and designated as a historic landmark? No joke!

In and among the Santa Monica neighborhoods of Ocean Park, Wilshire Montana, Mid-City and parts of Sawtelle, you’ll find plenty of luxury homes and condos. The terrain in these neighborhoods is flat and easy to navigate. Each district has their own small commercial areas that provide convenient dining and shopping.

Notable Santa Monica Estates and Homes:

• Horatio West Court: An early example of attached housing units with access for both pedestrians and vehicles. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 10. Architect: Irving Gill
• 1911 La Mesa Drive (a.k.a. Strick House): The only home in the United States designed by renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 58. Architect: Oscar Niemeyer
• 2009 La Mesa Drive: 1926. Former Kathryn Grayson Estate
• 2034 La Mesa Drive (a.k.a. John Byers (Third) Residence): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 52. Architect: John Byers
• 2101 La Mesa Drive (a.k.a. Zimmers House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 85. Architect: John Byers
• 2121 La Mesa Drive: Architect: Peter Choate
• 2612 Main Street (a.k.a. First Roy Jones House): Former home of Roy Jones, son of Santa Monica's Founder. Once located on Ocean Avenue. Currently houses the California Heritage Museum. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 9. Architect: Sumner P. Hunt
• 401 Ocean Avenue (a.k.a. Henry Weyse/Charles Morris House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 22. Architect: Robert D. Farquhar
• 130 Adelaide Drive (a.k.a. Second Roy Jones House): Former home of Roy Jones, son of Santa Monica's Founder, Marion Hargrove, Ramon Novarro, Najeeb Halaby, and Queen Noor of Jordan. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 34. Architect: Robert D. Farquhar (attributed)
• 142 Adelaide Drive (a.k.a. Henry Weaver House): Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 20. Architects: Milwaukee Building Company
• 236 Adelaide Drive (a.k.a. Isaac Milbank House): Former home of Isaac Milbank. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 42. Architects: Meyer & Holler / Milwaukee Building Company
• 406 Adelaide Drive (a.k.a. Gillis House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 26. Architect: Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey
• 710 Adelaide Place (a.k.a. Zuni House, The Mrs. L.K. Worrell House, or The First Grofe House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 50. Architect: Robert Stacey-Judd
• 147 Georgina Avenue (a.k.a. R.D. Farquhar Residence): Former residence of Robert D. Farquhar. Once located at 628 San Vicente Boulevard. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 55. Architect: Robert D. Farquhar
• 317 Georgina Avenue (a.k.a. A. McFadden Residence): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 48. Architects: Weber, Staunton, and Spaulding
• 404 Georgina Avenue (a.k.a. Byers Adobe Residence and MacBennel House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 61. Architect: John Byers
• 1602 Georgina Avenue (a.k.a. Carrillo House): 1925 California Adobe. Architect: John Byers
• 331 Palisades Avenue: Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 65. Architect: Frank Meline
• 514 Palisades Avenue (a.k.a. F.R. Siebert House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 86. Architect: A.C. Siebert
• 822 3rd Street (a.k.a. Vanity Fair Apartments): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 25. Architect: Carl R. Henderson
• 2504 3rd Street (a.k.a. Charles Warren Brown House): Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 35. Architect: Charles Warren Brown
• 2523 3rd Street (a.k.a. Merle Norman House): Former home of Merle Norman. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 32. Architect: Ellis G. Martin
• 321 Palisades Beach Road (a.k.a. Marion Davies Estate North Guest House): Former guest house of Marion Davies's estate developed by William Randolph Hurst. Once part of the Oceanhouse, a hotel, and the Sand & Sea Club, a limited-membership beach club. Currently houses The Annenberg Community Beach House, a facility open to the public. Santa Monica Historic Landmark No. 16. Architect: Julia Morgan
• 1002 22nd Street (a.k.a. Gehry House): 1978. A deconstructed and modernized Dutch Colonial. Home of architect Frank Gehry. Architects: Frank O. Gehry and Associates
• 943 Centinela Avenue: 1992 Contemporary. Architect: John Powell
• 242 Mabery Road (a.k.a. Casa California): 2000. Architect: Lewin Wertheimer
• 700 Kingman Avenue: 2008 Contemporary architectural home. Architects: Melinda Gray and Rob Hussey
• 562 Stassi Lane: 2006 Contemporary architectural home. Featured in Architectural Digest. Former home of Rob Morrow. Architect: Melinda Gray

Notable Santa Monica Residents (Past and Present):

• Sean Penn: Actor
• Robert Redford: Actor, Director, and Producer
• Bob Dylan: Musician
• Suzanne Vega: Musician
• Tom Jones: Singer
• Robert Downey, Jr.: Actor
• Shirley Temple: Former Child Actress and Diplomat
• Jane Fonda: Actress, Political Activist, Former Fashion Model and Fitness Guru
• Marion Davies: Actress, Producer, and Screenwriter. Mistress of William Randolph Hearst
• Kenneth Anger: Filmmaker, Actor, and Author of Hollywood Babylon
• Charlie Sheen: Actor
• Charlie Chaplin: Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, and Editor
• Geraldine Chaplin: Actress. Daughter of Charlie Chaplin
• Jack Black: Actor, Comedian, and Musician
• Tobey Maguire: Actor
• Aaron Paul: Actor
• Queen Noor of Jordan
• Najeeb Halaby: Former Pan Am President
• Ramon Novarro: Actor and Heartthrob
• Anjelica Huston: Actress
• Larry David: Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Producer
• Sean Astin: Actor, Director, and Producer
• Robert D. Farquhar: Beaux-Arts Architect
• Frank Gehry: Postmodernist Architect who is often associated with a Post-Structuralist or Deconstructionist style
• Lawrence Scarpa: Neo-Expressionist Architect and Founder of Pugh + Scarpa, an architecture firm that has since changed its name to Brooks + Scarpa
• Brian Grazer: Producer
• Lorenzo Lamas: Actor
• Christina Ricci: Actress
• Alyson Hannigan: Actress
• John Forbes Nash, Jr.: Nobel Prize Winning Mathematician. Subject of A Beautiful Mind
• Sara Gilbert: Actress
• James "Whitey" Bulger: Mobster who hid out in Santa Monica while #1 on the FBI's Most Wanted List
• Lynette Fromme: Member of the Manson Family who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford
• Gunnar Nelson: Musician
• Tracy Nelson: Actress
• Tony Alva: Influential Skateboarder who was an original member of the Z-Boys skateboarding team
• Jay Adams: Influential Skateboarder who was an original member of the Z-Boys skateboarding team
• Nicole Scherzinger: Singer-Songwriter and Television Personality. Former member of the burlesque group The Pussycat Dolls
• Ashley Roberts: Singer-Songwriter, Dancer, Choreographer and Television Personality. Best known as a former member of the burlesque group The Pussycat Dolls
• Melody Thornton: Singer-Songwriter and Dancer. Best known as a former member of the burlesque group The Pussycat Dolls
• Jessica Sutta: Singer-Songwriter and Dancer. Best known as a former member of the burlesque group The Pussycat Dolls
• Kristal Summers: Porn Actress
• Jenna Marbles: YouTube Personality
• Tom Anderson: Founder of MySpace
• Ciara: Recording Artist, Actress, Dancer, and Model
• Wolfgang Van Halen: Musician. Bassist for Van Halen. Son of Eddie Van Halen and nephew of Alex Van Halen
• Robert Trujillo: Musician best known as Metallica bassist
• Joseph Williams: Singer and Film Score Composer. Best known as a Singer in the band Toto. Son of John Williams
• Dan Harrington: Hall of Fame and World Champion Poker Player
• Amy Alcott: Hall of Fame Professional Golfer and Golf Course Designer
• Mike Scott: Former Major League Baseball Player
• Kevin Millar: Former Major League Baseball Player
• Dwight Evans: Former Major League Baseball Player
• Mark Loretta: Former Major League Baseball Player and one-time Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman
• June Schofield: Hall of Fame All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Player
• Rick Monday: Former Major League Baseball Player and Dodger Radio Announcer
• Scott Davis: Former Top-Ranked Tennis Player
• Tony Horton: Fitness Guru known for developing P90X
• Douglas F. O'Neill: Thoroughbred Horse Trainer. Trained I'll Have Another, the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner
• John Frusciante: Musician and Guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Randy Rhoads: Musician and Guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot
• Mariska Hargitay: Actress. Daughter of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay
• Lorna Luft: Singer and Actress. Daughter of Judy Garland and half-sister of Liza Minnelli
• Jennifer Grant: Actress. Daughter of Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon
• Cole and Dylan Sprouse (a.k.a. Sprouse Bros): Child Actors
• Isaac Milbank: Industrialist, Co-Founder of the Borden Milk Company, and Oil Industry Investor
• Gloria Stuart: Actress, Painter, Fine Art Printer and Printmaker, Bonsai Artist, and Activist
• Amber Valletta: Model and Actress
• Brittney Rogers: Miss Louisiana USA 2003
• Leonor Varela: Model and Actress
• Marion Hargrove: Writer
• E. C. Segar: Cartoonist and Creator of Popeye
• Big Sean: Rapper
• Michael Nozik: Film Producer
• Barbara Stanwyck: Actress
• Marcia Cross: Actress
• Don Bachardy: Portrait Painter
• Benjamin McKenzie: Actor
• Bobby Sherman: Singer-Songwriter and Actor
• Bonnie Franklin: Actress
• Ferde Grofe: Composer
• Amber Tamblyn: Actress and Poet
• Dody Dorn: Film and Sound Editor
• John Baldessari: Artist
• Teena Marie: Musician
• Britt Allcroft: Television Producer, Director, and Writer
• Alan Pasqua: Musician
• Shelley Fabares: Actress and Singer
• David Anspaugh: Director and Producer
• Tyler Posey: Actor
• June Lockhart: Actress
• Martin Starr: Actor
• Erin Sanders: Actress
• Alexis Denisof: Actor
• Helen K. Garber: Photographer
• Paul Haggis: Producer, Director, and Screenwriter
• Stephen Malkmus: Musician
• Troy Donahue: Actor
• Demi Lovato: Actress and Recording Artist
• Neil Strauss (a.k.a. Style or Chris Powles): Writer, Journalist, and Pick-Up Artist
• Russell Peters: Comedian
• Ryan Braun: Major League Baseball Player

Santa Monica REALTORS®

Looking to buy or sell a home in Santa Monica? RubyHome's licensed real estate agents are your SaMo neighborhood experts and we'd love to help! If you are buying, contact us to schedule private showings of the homes that pique your interest.

For sellers, we’ll create a custom market report help you formulate the asking price for your home. We can provide up-to-the-minute Santa Monica real estate statistics: average area home prices; house sales history; and information about the broader California real estate market so that you can make a well-informed decision.