Your Guide to Buying a Home in Hermosa Beach, CA

Buying a Home in Hermosa Beach, California

Hermosa Beach is located in Los Angeles County

Hermosa Beach is a small bedroom beach community nestled between Manhattan Beach and the Redondo Beach Marina. The city itself is only about 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south - with the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH to the locals) running down the middle.  This residential enclave caters to it's young beach going population with the Hermosa Pier as it's focal point.  The city is situated on a very hilly section of the coast that not only offers ocean access to entire city, but also offers some incredible ocean views through out the city as well.

A paved path, called The Strand, runs along Hermosa's beach from Redondo Beach in the south approximately twenty miles north to Santa Monica. A typical day on this path will see thousands of people on foot, bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade and stroller enjoying the sun and surf.

Housing
The beautiful beach lifestyle comes at a price: according to public data from the LA Times, Real Estate prices increased almost 20% per year between 1999 and 2005. Properties within short walking distance of the ocean routinely sell for well over $1.5 Million. Those with direct, unhindered views routinely ask in excess of $2 Million. Money Magazine ranks communities in the area as some of the most expensive places to live in America. Homes located on The Strand frequently sell for $3-10 million dollars. The home pictured to the right sold in 2003 for $8,100,000. The average 3-bed 2-bath home costs about $649 per square foot or $1,500,000 as of 2006.

West of PCH single homes mix with apartments, some have sunset views. East of PCH, the hills rise into upper middle class neighborhoods of tract homes with custom touches. Since the 1980s many single-family dwellings and apartment buildings have been razed for condominiums. Multiple housing units dominate slightly over single family homes.

Economy
As for employment and life careers, Hermosa Beach is within a few minutes commute of many of the largest and best known names in corporate America in such fields as aerospace, high tech, industrial, service and financial. Supporting them are service types of businesses needed to provide jobs for the seven million people in the Los Angeles metropolis. LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) is just fifteen minutes from Hermosa Beach.

And... most any day, people might watch movies or TV commercials being made at the beach, on the Strand, or in various vintage restaurants and cocktail bars. Volleyball tournaments are nationally televised from Hermosa Beach, site of the Annual Surf Festival, a sports event which draws lifeguard participants from all over California and as far away as Australia.

Education
Hermosa Beach has its own elementary school and middle school but high school students are served by either Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach where rankings are in the 80 to 90th percentiles. Hermosa Beach residents are zoned to Hermosa Beach City School District for grades (Kindergarten through 8).

In 2005, Hermosa Valley and Hermosa View schools were honored as the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Schools along with approximately 300 schools across the nation. The award was based on academic achievement. Both schools were been honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools along with 33 California schools and less than 300 schools across the nation. Hermosa schools' Blue Ribbon Schools Program Award was based on academic achievement. Hermosa schools are among the top 10% of schools in the state with students scoring at or above the 90% in the highest grade tested in reading and math. For the award, the Department of Education reviewed growth in scores over a three-year period.

Recreation
Beach volleyball is another important aspect of Hermosa Beach's lifestyle. Hermosa Beach is often referred to as the beach volleyball capital of the world and is home to the AVP Toyota Hermosa Beach Open. The wide and flat sand beaches provide the perfect venue for the sport and permanent poles and nets are placed and maintained by the city year-round.

Surfing is a key element of the South Bay lifestyle year-round. Powerful winter storms in the Pacific ocean can turn typically placid and rolling South Bay waves into large and occasionally dangerous monsters, a natural draw for the local surfing population. The Summer provides warm water and typically smaller waves for begginners to learn.

Source: hbchamber.net, hermosabch.org and wikipedia.org