Silicon Beach

Culver City

Since the 1920s, Culver City has been the center for motion pictures and later television production. However, more recently the draw to Culver City has come from its casual ambiance, upscale dinning and thriving art scene. Culver City is conveniently located to Downtown LA connected by the Metro Expo line for commuters as well as Santa Monica for the weekend beach goer.

Culver city is divided into a number of neighborhoods each with their own style and community. The tree-lined streets offer single-family ranch style homes, mid century, post-war and contemporary houses as well as large up-scale condominiums and town homes.  With a number of parks, bike routes, shopping malls, popular gastro-pubs, restaurants, and historic establishments – Culver City has something for everyone.

Marina del Rey

Marina Del Rey is an unincorporated seaside community between Playa Del Rey and Venice. Marina del Rey’s main attraction, the Marina, is the world’s largest man-made small craft harbor with capacity for more than 4,300 boats. This affluent coastal community is perfect for those captivated by ocean views, sea breezes and an active lifestyle.

Marina Del Rey offers everything from elegant homes with sweeping views of the harbor to Mid-Century style houses in a suburban neighborhood. However, it is best characterized by its seaside high-end condominiums adjacent to numerous up-scale retail shops and restaurants such as those in the Villa Marina Marketplace.

Located 4 miles north of LAX with easy access to freeways linking it to Downtown and the surrounding cities, this serene location is easily accessible and perfect for commuters. In addition to its own beach, it is conveniently located to Venice, Playa Del Rey, Santa Monica and the beaches and attractions in the South Bay. The 22-mile Marvin Braude Coastal bike Trial connects Marina Del Rey with Venice and Santa Monica and the 10-acre Burton Chace Park makes getting outdoors simple and enjoyable. Marina Del Rey residents and visitors alike can often be found paddle boarding, jogging, biking and taking advantage of endless boating recreational activities such as boat rentals and private charters, dinner and/or cocktail cruises, public fishing trips, gondola rides, sailing and kayaking.

Playa del Rey

Playa Del Rey, or “ Beach of Kings” in Spanish, is often referred to as a hidden gem by beach-goers and residence alike. This small beachside community is sandwiched between Westchester and the ocean and is just a 10-minute drive from LAX.  The hilly terrain, which was created by ancient wind-blown sand dunes and rise up to 125ft above sea level, contribute to both ocean views and the secluded atmosphere.

Playa Del Rey, real estate offers a sweeping range of 1920s houses, beach cottages, new multimillion-dollar homes and full-amenity condominiums. With easy beach access and a small downtown, which is home to a number of small local – owned restaurants and shops, Playa Del Rey offers a small-town-community feel in the midst of Los Angeles. Residents enjoy the Playa Del Rey Lagoon as well as access to Dockweiler Beach, biking, beach volleyball, yoga, jogging and a number of other outdoor recreational activities.

Playa Vista

“Playa Vista is a destination in its own right.” This newly renovated neighborhood has everything; open space, recreation, entertainment, shopping and dining all in walking distance.  As part of what is considered Silicon Beach, along with Santa Monica, Venice, Playa Del Rey, Westchester and Santa Monica, is a not only a hub for those in tech but is also conveniently located for commuters.

This planned community has something for everyone. Beyond the convenience of  “ The Resort,” and sustainable parks, it also offers homes for all different lifestyles.  Playa Vista has beachy brownstone flats, coastal contemporary flats, and sophisticated residences with elevators, luxury residences, and stylish senior living.

Venice Beach

Venice Beach is best known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Boardwalk. Venice is located east of Los Angeles and South of Santa Monica. Started by Abbot Kinney as a resort town in the early 1900s, to the hippies in the ‘60s to the artist in the ‘90s, this funky beach town has matured into an edgy and chic neighborhood.

Venice Beach is the second most popular tourist destination in Southern California, behind Disneyland. The Boardwalk, which runs along the beach, is home to eclectic shows, street merchants and a plethora of performers.  Just a few blocks east of the Boardwalk, is Abbot Kinney Blvd, which was named one of the “Coolest Blocks in America” by GQ Magazine. Abbot Kinney has a wide array of shops and galleries ranging from high-end retail to second hand shop to cutting-edge art galleries.

The real estate in Venice is diverse to say the least. Ranging from modest bungalows to mansions to luxury condos and lofts, with a variety of architecture from Craftsman to Socal bungalows to contemporary and southwestern influences, Venice has it all.  Venice is a great city for walking and biking and caters to both the outdoor types as well as those with an artistic flare.

Westchester

Situated just north of LAX and a few miles from the beach, Westchester is a lovely residential community. The family friendly neighborhood offers more affordable options with single-family homes and yards than many of its costal neighbors.  Inland of Playa Del Rey and south of Culver City, Westchester’s location is as ideal to access the beach as it is to downtown LA.

In recent years, with the rise of the tech industry in Silicon Beach, Westchester’s real estate market has had a bit of a makeover. Along the tree-lined streets, a number of the older 1940’s and 1950’s post-war ranch style homes have been remodeled and replaced with spacious two-story houses with open floor plans and beautiful yards. The draw to Westchester for many is the opportunity to have space, which makes it an excellent family location.