$3,907,994Average Value$1,663Average Price per Sq Ft14Homes For Sale
Artists keep the neighborhood alive
Perched at the northern tip of California's Big Sur coast sits the community of Carmel Highlands. Seclusion and natural beauty are the main draws of this upscale, artsy area. Lush canyons and waves crashing against white rocks serve as the backdrop for this neighborhood, with homes in the area offering incredible views from above the ocean. Many residents enjoy strolls that overlook picturesque hillsides, the sea breeze caressing their faces. Skinny pine trees shoot up to the sky from the canyon floor, mature oaks are draped with old man's beard and homes are decorated with elaborate gardens. In the springtime, Carmel Highlands is flush with wildflowers dotting the sides of the area's roads. A modern-day bohemian lifestyle is available to the residents who can afford to settle in this secluded California alcove.
Modern estates and Mediterranean villas
Modern estates, classic Mediterranean villas and gated mansions are etched into the region's cliffs, providing privacy, seclusion and panoramic ocean views. Regally tucked above the rugged cliffs of Carmel Highland, these sanctuaries come with breathtaking coastal views provided by vaulted glass walls. Living amid nature is one of the main things attracting people to the area, and the community's price tag reflects its allure, with home prices ranging from $1.2 million to $6.3 million.
Modern estates have floor-to-ceiling windows in Carmel Highlands, California
A Carmel Highlands mansion encased by lush greenery.
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Carmel High School is nestled in Carmel Highlands hills.
An award-winning film club at Carmel High School
Children in the area attend Carmel River Elementary School, which has an overall Niche grade of A and has been ranked the third-best public elementary school in Monterey County. Next, kids attend Carmel Middle School, which has an overall Niche grade of A and was ranked the best public middle school in Monterey County. Teenagers attend Carmel High School, which has an overall Niche grade of A and was ranked the best public high school in Monterey County. The school offers many extracurricular activities for students, including a championship robotics competition, several sports teams, numerous art programs and an award-winning film club.
An underwater canyon and hiking trails by the beach
Coastlines stretch along the neighborhood's western edge, with several beaches to explore. Monastery Beach sits at the northern end of Carmel Highlands and is named after the Carmelite Monastery Mission. While the pretty, sandy beach is a great place to lay out and get a tan, it's not a place to swim in the ocean. Due to the cove's shape, there's a severe undertow and rip current that makes the sea incredibly deadly to swim in, giving the beach the unfortunate nickname of "Mortuary Beach" and a reputation as the most dangerous beach in California. That being said, there are ways to enjoy the beach at a safe distance from the waves. At the beach's north end, a trail wraps around the bay to Carmel Meadows Beach and Carmel River State Beach, serving as a scenic hike. Highly experienced scuba divers also enjoy Monastery Beach when the conditions are amenable, and they may come across fantastic rock formations, strands of kelp, a myriad of sea life and a 95-mile-long underwater canyon. Harbor seals, sea lions, kelp rockfish, calico bass, anemones and sunflower stars are just some of the sea life that divers have encountered in the water's depths. For exploration on land, locals head to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Locals take full advantage of living next to the park, exploring its various trails that pass through coves, beaches and forests.
Stay back from the water's edge at Monastery Beach in Carmel Highlands.
Bird Island Trail in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel Highlands is a must-see.
Admire rock formations through the fog at Carmel Highlands Vista Point.
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The Carmel Highlands Services Station is the only business in town.
Retail options at The Crossroads Carmel and Barnyard Shopping Village
Residents of Carmel Highlands have quick access to The Crossroads Carmel and Barnyard Shopping Village for their shopping and dining needs. Here, they can grab groceries or stop by any of the area's eateries. When locals need to fuel up their luxury cars—and their stomachs— they go to Carmel Highlands Services Station, a gas station and market serving espresso drinks, pastries, snacks, and lunch foods.
Spot whales along Cabrillo Highway
Cabrillo Highway, also known as Highway One, runs through Carmel Highlands. The highway is a designated American National Scenic Byway, and driving along the road, commuters may see soaring California Condors, migrating whales and elephant seals along the coast. On a more practical note, access to the highway makes commutes to Carmel-By-The-Sea and other nearby towns quick and simple.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Carmel Highlands
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Carmel Highlands Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Carmel Highlands, Carmel sell after 78 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Carmel Highlands, Carmel over the last 12 months is $2,950,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Yankee Point sits along the Carmel Riviera, one of the most exclusive and sought-after stretches on the Peninsula. It's the gateway to Big Sur, with the wild coastline just beyond, and yet town is ten minutes away. This Mediterranean home takes in two views: the Pacific to the west and south, and the Big Sur mountains to the east. The formal entry opens to a living room with ocean views and a
Sited above the Pacific Ocean in the coveted Carmel Highlands, this European inspired coastal retreat offers breathtaking ocean vistas, exceptional privacy, and timeless elegance. Located within the exclusive Carmel Riviera enclave, the residence captures sweeping views from nearly every room and embraces indoor-outdoor living. A distinctive turret entry leads to a grand great room with soaring
Perched in the Carmel Highlands, this striking ocean-view contemporary compound is a modern collectors dream. The property includes a 2,360-square-foot main residence with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, a detached 425-square-foot studio guest house with its own kitchen, bath, and beautiful views toward Point Lobos, and a 760-square-foot detached 2-car garage designed to showcase a prized car
Offered for the first time in nearly 50 years, this extraordinary ocean view Carmel Highlands estate is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for coastal privacy and luxury convenience. Perched above the pristine Spindrift coast, it boasts sweeping, unobstructed whitewater views of Point Lobos and Yankee Point, and the orientation of the house enables views of the sun dropping into the ocean each
Glass, stone, wood, ocean, and sky. Some homes are built, this one was composed. This extraordinary contemporary residence in Carmel Highlands is unlike anything on the market. Coming to market for the first time in over 50 years, this is a once in a generation opportunity to own something truly irreplaceable. Soaring 18-foot walls of glass flood the great room with natural light and frame an
Spanning 8.5 idyllic acres overlooking Point Lobos and Monastery Beach, Sea Star Ranch is a fully equipped equine property, thoughtfully designed with a round pen, paddocks, and a 10-stall barn complete with its own kitchen. Imbued with awe-inspiring natural energy, it offers a legacy of care alongside the flexibility to suit a wide range of equestrian pursuits. The setting ensures exceptional
Highway 1 - Some coastline you buy this you inherit. Named for the 1860s Azorean whaler whose family settled this ridge, Victorine Ranch is a gated enclave of just five homes on 460 acres of Carmel Highlands coast. Showcasing 100 protected acres of open space California state coastal conservancy. Whitewater Pacific to the west, the Santa Lucia range to the east, and a coastal cypress grove
This half-acre property has a well and approvals for a 3600 sf main house on the upper pad and a garden guesthouse/home office or ADU with its own garage accessed from the private drive below. The property enjoys a private access to Yankee Point Beach, a two-minute walk from the lower edge of the property. It also fronts on a scenic easement across Spindrift Road, affording unexpected privacy.
A rare ocean-view lot in the Carmel Highlands on coveted Spindrift Road! This 0.36-acre surveyed and staked parcel offers an opportunity to create a coastal retreat on a gently sloped site, suitable for a thoughtfully designed residence with ocean views and sunsets, subject to approvals. Mature and newly planted trees provide privacy and natural screening from Highway 1. Both neighboring homes
Very rarely does something truly magical come to market. Even rarer is a home where architecture and landscape feel destined for one another. At 163.5 Spindrift Road, architect Larry Pearson's signature "Rustic Elegance" creates an extraordinary retreat, blending rugged natural materials with refined craftsmanship. This bespoke 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath residence showcases soaring fireplaces built from
On coveted Spindrift Rd in Carmel Highlands, this residence with unobscured ocean views was taken down to the studs, renovated and expanded: new roof, electrical, fire sprinklers, plumbing, insulation, and Arcadia aluminum windows. Approx. 3,437 sq ft, 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, a primary suite on each level. A pedestrian bridge crosses to the upper entry and vaulted living spaces with engineered
Yankee Point remains one of the most tightly held coastal enclaves on the Monterey Peninsula defined by something nearly impossible to replicate today flat, walkable access to the Pacific, and a handful of homes that live with the ocean rather than above it. Set on nearly half an acre, 142 Carmel Riviera Drive offers over 4,200 square feet with 4 bedrooms, an office, and 3.5 bathrooms within a
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
