The Ultimate Guide to Ultra-Luxury Real Estate in Manhattan Beach

Just north of Palos Verdes and south of Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach is a laid-back beach town with a luxury vibe running throughout. With high-class shopping and award-winning restaurants, this city has earned its place on the map as one of the best places to live for the wealthy in California. It is conveniently located 30 minutes from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, with direct access to the ocean and hiking trails. For an ultra-luxury experience in Southern California, you cannot go wrong investing in real estate in Manhattan Beach.

While you might think Malibu or Palos Verdes would be the luxury beach towns of Los Angeles County, hidden between the two, you’ll find Manhattan Beach.

Manhattan Beach is home to six neighborhoods that have been counted among LA County’s most elite, and for good reason. The city also boasts some of the best schools in the country. Most of the homes in the city are either on the beach or within walking distance of the beach. The ultra-luxury properties in Manhattan Beach all have a few things in common, so you’ll know what to look for when starting your search.

The first and most critical matter in searching for your luxury home in Manhattan Beach is the area. Manhattan Beach offers six different areas that have a bit of something for everyone, from beachfront properties in the Sand Section to large homes and lots in East Manhattan Beach. While all of these areas have been recognized as some of the most upscale neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, two really stand out for meeting all of the highest standards in real estate.

The Strand is the stretch of homes that sit directly on the beach. It is the epitome of oceanfront living, with beachfront homes that allow residents to walk right into the sand and the waves from their front doors. While the median home price in Manhattan Beach is $2.8 million according to data from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc, homes on The Strand will sell for upwards of $10 million, and it is not unheard of for a home to sell for $30 million here, and it is no wonder.

Many of the houses here are coastal mansions with multiple levels and views that extend out to the horizon. You’ll find modern upgrades, extensive renovations, and technological innovations in most of the newer homes. At the same time, you can still find the occasional beachside bungalow ready to be restored or upgraded.

The nice thing about The Strand is that despite the obvious luxury, the area still feels relaxed and laid back, as a beach town should – unlike Santa Monica and Malibu. You can play volleyball with locals, hike or bike nearby trails, or fish off the end of the pier. You can also head to Downtown Manhattan Beach and eat top-quality food or wander the shops for a unique find.

If you’re looking for more land and don’t mind being a few more steps from the beach, you’ll likely enjoy the Hill Section of Manhattan Beach. You’ll still get excellent, sweeping, sometimes 180-degree views of the beach and town from your home, but you’ll also get tons more land and property to go with it. While the homes in The Strand are grand, the houses in The Hill are genuinely large. You can find homes with more than 5,000 square feet, and that’s not counting yards with pools, patios, and seamless transitions from indoors to outdoors, which often doubles that size. Lots in the Hill Section can exceed 12,000 square feet.

You’ll find homes in this area have adapted to the truly hilly location by including floor-to-ceiling windows that emphasize the amazing views, and many of the entertaining rooms are on the upper floors to include those views. You’ll also get a nice mix of options in terms of construction, with everything from Mediterranean-style houses to Modern Coastal styles and even the classic Craftsman.

When searching for luxury real estate in Manhattan Beach, whether you choose one of the neighborhoods mentioned here or you aim for one of the others considered elite, like the Tree Section, Mira Costa, Manhattan Heights, or El Porto, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Square footage is everything. The larger the home, the more possibilities you have to work with. In today’s luxury real estate scene, homeowners are converting rooms to their specific needs, like game rooms, theater rooms, home gyms and yoga studios, libraries, and more. Add to these spaces the need for at least one guest room, an area in which to entertain a large gathering of friends, family, or colleagues, and you need space. Then, you’ll also want a large lot, so you can enjoy your swimming pool or put one in. You will also have space to build or renovate a pool house or in-law quarters.

Another factor in luxury real estate is going to be location. You can live in the best neighborhood, but if you don’t have either direct access to the beach or a sweeping ocean view, you might want to check out another area. Being able to either walk to the beach or enjoy your view, or ideally both, is everything in Manhattan Beach. And if you’re looking at genuine luxury real estate, you need everything.

If you’re ready to make your move into the ultra-luxury real estate scene in Manhattan Beach, take the time to reach out to our Caskey Real Estate Group. We have decades of combined experience not just in real estate but in luxury real estate right here in Manhattan Beach and the South Bay. We are local experts, and we live to serve our clients’ needs and exceed expectations every time. Contact the Caskey Real Estate Group today.