Homes for Sale on The Strand in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach
Homes on the Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach Strand are some of the most desirable - and expensive, you will find in Los Angeles County and quite possibly anywhere along the coast in Southern CA. And, it’s easy to understand why. Who wouldn’t want to fall asleep to the sounds of the waves, have forever ocean views, and be steps from the sand? This is the life everyone dreams of when they think of moving to a beach community but few get to experience.
Scroll down to see currently available Strand listings and then use the contact form to schedule showings or if you have any questions about these homes or any others in the Beach Cities.
WHAT IS “THE STRAND”?
Chances are if you found this page, you already are familiar with The Strand. But for those who aren’t, here’s what you need to know.
The Strand is part of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail which runs along the coast from the Pacific Palisades in the north all the way to the foot of Palos Verdes in South Redondo. Technically from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach. It is paved (and not a boardwalk) and for most of the approximately 22 miles cars are not allowed. In Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach access is limited to walkers, joggers, cyclists and every form of scooter, skateboard, rollerblade, skate or other fun beach mobility you can imagine.
For most people in the know, when you mention “The Strand” what comes to mind is the section of the path in Manhattan and Hermosa Beach.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING A HOME ON THE STRAND
Most of the properties on The Strand are Single Family Residences, (aka Houses). There are still some mutli-family properties (duplexes, triplexes) and a few condos.
As with everything else Beach Cities, even on The Strand there are micro markets and nuances.
For most buyers who want to be on The Strand, that is the top priority whether it is Manhattan Beach Strand or Hermosa Beach Strand. That’s because there are a limited number of these ocean front lots. Therefore Strand buyers looking in Manhattan Beach and who wouldn’t otherwise buy in Hermosa Beach will often do so. But not everyone - that just becomes a personal choice.
For example if someone is looking for a corner lot on The Strand of which there are even fewer, they may opt for Hermosa even if they were initially looking in Manhattan Beach. Corner lots often have more panoramic views. Another consideration is the frontage. The typical full interior lot size might only be 3300-3500 square feet and is often 33' wide by 100-105' deep. So for the homes with wider double lots, that also becomes a consideration.
One major difference between the Manhattan Beach Strand and the Hermosa Strand is that the homes in Hermosa Beach sit lower, more or less level with the ocean while the homes in Manhattan Beach are somewhat more elevated - particularly in the north end.
If you have walked or biked The Strand you most likely noticed that at the transition from Hermosa to Manhattan Beach there are steps right where the iconic beach house from the TV show Beverly Hills 90210 sits. You walk up the steps to get from Hermosa to Manhattan.
For many Strand buyers, finding a home “between the piers” is more important than whether the property sits in Manhattan or Hermosa Beach. By between the piers, they are (obviously) referring to between the Manhattan Beach Pier and Hermosa Beach Pier.
The north end of the Manhattan Beach Sand Section, referred to as El Porto, was annexed by Manhattan Beach from LA County. Homes on the north end of the Manhattan Beach Strand sit highest above the ocean but are closer to the Chevron refinery and the Hyperion plant in El Segundo and LAX.
On the south end of the Hermosa Strand homes are closer to the AES power plant (which sits in Redondo Beach). The power plant has been scheduled to come down for years but it still stands.
Whether Strand homes are in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach, they are all technically in what the MLS classifies as the Sand Sectio. So either Manhattan Beach Sand Section, MLS Area or Hermosa Beach Sand Section MLS Area.
CURRENTLY ACTIVE MLS LISTINGS ON THE STRAND
MANHATTAN BEACH STRAND CLOSED SALES 2018-2023
2023 CLOSED SALES JANUARY THROUGH JUNE
Through the first six months of 2023, there have been eight closed sales on the Strand. Of those, 8 have been in Hermosa Beach including the 3 most expensive Strand sales.
The most expensive Strand sale YTD was 2826 The Strand in Hermosa Beach. This property is a 7946 Sq Ft SFR with 5 bedrooms and 6.5 baths on a 4619 Sq Ft lot.
On the other end of the price spectrum and also in Hermosa Beach, there was a sale at the beachfront Strand House condo-hotel for $947,500.
2022 CLOSED SALES ON THE STRAND
During 2022 there were 14 closed sales on The Strand. (Click on the link to download the report.)
Sales ranged for a low of $650,00 for a sale at the condo-hotel Beach House in Hermosa Beach up to a high of $16,200,000 for a 4953 Sq Ft SFR at 1516 The Strand in Manhattan Beach.
2021 CLOSED SALES ON THE STRAND
During 2021 there were 23 closed sales on The Strand in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.
Sales ranged from a low of $1,160,000 for a two bedroom 762 Sq Ft condo in Hermosa Beach up to a high of $19,200,000 for a “taken down to the studs” remodeled 4325 Sq Ft 5 bedroom SFR on a 3337 Sq Ft lot at 508 The Strand “between the piers”.
The median sold price of Strand homes in 2021 was $9,300,000. Of the 23 sales, 7 were on the Hermosa Strand and 16 were in Manhattan Beach. The median sales price on the Hermosa Beach Strand was $7,750,000 and on the Manhattan Strand it was $10,500,000.
202O CLOSED SALES ON THE STRAND
There were 12 sales on The Strand during 2020 (when we were locked down for quite a while) with 6 being in Hermosa and 6 in Manhattan Beach.
Sales ranged from a low of $4,200,000 for a two bedroom 1190 Sq Ft condo in Manhattan Beach up to a high of $17,750,000 for an almost 7,000 Sq Ft double lot north of the Manhattan Beach Pier at around 28th St.
The median sold price of Strand homes in 2020 was $8,245,000. The median sales price on the Hermosa Beach Strand was the same $8,245,000 and on the Manhattan Strand it was $8,950,000.
2019 CLOSED SALES ON THE STRAND
There were 7 closed sales on The Strand during 2019 with 4 being in Hermosa Beach 90254 and 3 in Manhattan Beach 90266.
Sales ranged from a low of $4,500,000 for a three bedroom 2660 Sq Ft townhome in Manhattan Beach up to a high of $11,775,000 for an almost 2807 Sq Ft house on a 3366 Sq Ft lot on 8th St in South Manhattan Beach Pier.
The median sold price of Strand homes in 2019 was $7,675,000. The median sales price on the Hermosa Beach Strand was the same $7,019,00 and on the Manhattan Strand it was $8,525,000.
2018 CLOSED SALES ON THE STRAND
There were 11 closed sales on The Strand during 2018 with 6 being in Hermosa Beach 90254 and 5 in Manhattan Beach 90266.
Sales ranged from a low of $650,000 (not a misprint) for a studio “hotel-condo” in Hermosa up to a high of $17,400,000 for a 5372 Sq Ft house on a 3318 Sq Ft lot at about 12th St just north of the Manhattan Beach Pier.
The median sold price of Strand homes in 2018 was $8,250,000. The median sales price on the Hermosa Beach Strand was $6,650,000 and on the Manhattan Strand it was $11,500,000.
BETTER THAN BITCOIN
There’s seems to be no better investment than ocean front Southern California Real Estate. The numbers don’t lie.
Contact me to buy or sell a home on The Strand.