Which South Bay Neighborhood is Right for You?

The South Bay is a part of metropolitan Los Angeles, comprised of 15 cities, portions of LA itself, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. South Bay includes the exclusive Palos Verdes Peninsula, major cities like San Pedro, and the five “Beach Cities” of El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance.

If you’re interested in South Bay real estate, remember that Southern California is known for its aggressive seller's market. The cities of the South Bay, including Redondo Beach real estate for sale, are benefitting from that trend.

The primary employers in South Bay include the port of Los Angeles, which is the busiest port in the nation (and has been since it opened in 1907), and currently welcomes nearly 2,000 vessels each year. South Bay is also home to the California aerospace industry and mega-companies such as Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon. The Los Angeles Air Force Base and Aerospace Corporation, as well as SpaceX, each have locations near many South Bay luxury homes for sale. Petroleum refineries, including Tesoro, Chevron, Phillips 66, PBF Energy, and Valero, also call South Bay home. Automotive mega-companies such as Honda and Tesla add more power to the regional economy.

Whether you’re interested in a condo in Manhattan Beach, a studio loft in El Segundo, or a Redondo Beach luxury home, below is a quick breakdown of each beach community to help you decide where to invest.

Manhattan Beach lies west of Hawthorne and Redondo Beach homes for sale, between El Segundo to the south and Hermosa Beach to the north. Its residents number about 35,000 and occupy a footprint of approximately four square miles. Its beachfront is more than two miles long and about 450 feet wide, and its moderate climate is ideal for outdoor recreation, water sports, and long walks along the beach. Average temperatures range from yearly lows of 49 degrees to highs of 76 degrees. The area is rich with trendy shops and upscale eateries. Manhattan Beach homes currently have a median price of about $3,424,000, which is only slightly below last year's median price of $3,499,000.

 

Hermosa Beach is a community of about 19,500 residents in an area of about 1.5 square miles. Its name comes from the Spanish word for “beautiful.” Its beach is home to a popular pier known for its shopping, dining, and entertainment. Hermosa Beach is located south of Manhattan Beach and northwest of Redondo Beach luxury homes. Visitors and residents alike will find outdoor recreation in the form of paddleboarding, surfing, swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, and cycling. Average temperatures range from 48 degrees in the winter to summer highs of 77 degrees. Hermosa Beach homes are selling for a median price of $1,999,000, down from last year’s high of $3,199,000. Still, the area is experiencing a seller’s market due to its size and the relative rarity of available real estate.

Redondo Beach homes for sale currently have a median price of $1,330,000, up slightly from last year’s price of $1,225,000. Its 72,000 residents occupy over six square miles of beachfront and beach-adjacent properties. The Municipal Pier is a popular spot for anglers and sun lovers looking to take a pleasant afternoon stroll or stop at one of the pier's many eateries to indulge in a tasty meal. The beach is more than 1.5 miles long and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts due to its prime windsurfing, surfing, swimming, and beach volleyball. Average temperatures range from 47 degrees in winter to summer highs of 79 degrees. Nature lovers can visit the Hopkins Wilderness Park, an 11-acre campground that offers a pond, meadows, streams, and a forest. There’s also a picnic site and a 150-seat amphitheater located within the park.

El Segundo homes are currently selling for a median price of $1,749,000, up from $1,359,000 just one year ago. El Segundo’s nearly 17,000 residents live in an area that takes up about 11 square miles of land in southern Los Angeles County, with a beachfront that measures about one-half-mile long. Average temperatures range from lows of 44 degrees to highs of 83 degrees. Every Thursday, residents and tourists can visit the local farmers' market and pick up the freshest organic produce, gourmet foods, and handcrafted jewelry and gifts. El Segundo is well known for its multitude of aviation and petroleum-related companies. Mattel toy manufacturing, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and Stamps.com are headquartered in the city. A good deal of large aerospace, engineering, and government-contract companies have facilities in El Segundo, including Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Wyle Laboratories, and Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings.

Torrance is a city measuring about 21 square miles in an area home to approximately 147,000 residents. Its beachfront spans about 1.5 miles along the Pacific Coast and is rich with 30 parks for outdoor lovers. The average temperature ranges from 47 degrees in the winter to 79 degrees in the summer and Torrance experiences about one foot of annual rainfall. It’s approximately 20 miles southwest of Downtown LA and is where the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) originated. Homes in Torrance have a median price of about $888,000, up from the median price one year prior of $812,000.

If you’re ready to begin your search for South Bay real estate, reach out to the local real estate agents at EVJ Homes for expert guidance about Southern California’s most luxurious beach communities.