$3,291,412Average Value$1,662Average Price per Sq Ft41Homes For Sale
Monarch Beach exemplifies seaside luxury
In Monarch Beach, luxury reigns. An upscale golf course, clifftop multimillion-dollar homes and picturesque ocean views set the scene. “Monarch Beach is the resortlike area of Dana Point, with very nice beaches and exclusive gated neighborhoods,” says Realtor Ryan Immel, who works with Pacific Sotheby's International Realty and has over 10 years of experience in the region. The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, and Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club influence much of the area, from high-end dining options to private beach club recreation. “It has ocean views, walking trails and pristine beaches,” Immel says. “It’s one of the most desired areas besides the Lantern District and has all sizes of homes,” Immel says.
Sweeping ocean views are never far away in Monarch Beach.
Great beach and wilderness access along the Monarch Beach Trails in Monarch Bay.
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Recreation at Monarch Beach Golf Links and Salt Creek Beach
Anchored by the Waldorf Astoria resort, Monarch Beach Golf Links sprawls across 175 acres in the center of the neighborhood. “It is a pretty big golf community, with a very nice public course, so anyone can go. A lot of people love to go, from residents to hotel guests,” Immel says. It offers 18 holes, a spa, swanky dining options and ocean overlooks. Salt Creek Beach, located on the western edge of the community, has about a mile of soft sand bordered by bluffs. “It’s very popular for a couple of reasons. It's a large beach stretching to Monarch Bay, is popular with surfing and has Young’s Beach Shack for food and drinks,” Immel says. “It's a great place to walk or spend time in a big grassy area.” The beach even hosts free concerts and food trucks during the summertime. On the south end of Monarch Beach, Sea Terrace Community Park has walking trails and community events like the annual California Wine Festival each spring.
A surfer runs by the mural at Salt Creek Beach Bluff Park.
Families will enjoy a day at the beach at Salt Creek Beach Bluff Park.
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Condos, midcentury moderns and contemporary homes in Monarch Beach
In Monarch Beach, subdivisions composed of winding roads rise over hilly terrain. Gated communities surround the central golf course, where HOA fees can run from $500 to $1,600 and cover services from community pools to landscaping. Native flora like coast live oaks and jade plants often flourish in the area’s lawns. In gated communities, two-bedroom condos range from $830,000 to $1.7 million, while townhouses range between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.
The Monarch Bay community, on the south side of the area, features whitewater ocean views that extend to Catalina Island. It’s also known for its midcentury modern homes, which range from $6.5 million to $10 million. “Monarch Bay is popular, and we sell a lot there, since there’s a private beach club. It’s quicker than most other areas, I'd say, and high-net-worth clients are looking to buy there,” Immel says. More housing styles include contemporary homes from the 2020s, which fetch some of the highest prices. Those on the ocean side of the Pacific Coast Highway range from $15 million to $34 million. “The thing about Monarch Beach is that it has the most expensive homes in Dana Point,” Immel says.
The highest-priced homes in Monarch Bay sit right on the cliff tops with sprawling ocean views.
Homes in Monarch Bay have an ocean view from the cascading hills.
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The highly rated Capistrano Unified School District
The community is served by the Capistrano Unified School District, which earns an A-plus rating on Niche. The school district has multiple schools that have earned California Distinguished Schools awards for academic excellence. The elementary and middle schools vary, depending on where students live within Monarch Beach, but all public high school students are served by Dana Hills High. It gets an A from Niche and has a wide variety of courses, from Marine Ecology to Culinary Arts.
Richard Henry Dana Elementary School is home of the Whales.
Dana Hills High School, located in Dana Point, is a prestigious public high school.
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Monarch Beach retail, including Monarch Bay Plaza
Most of the retail in Monarch Beach is on the west side of the community, including the upscale restaurant Salt Creek Grille OC. It serves seafood and steaks in a white-tablecloth setting with live piano music. Monarch Bay Plaza has more options, from the teppanyaki specialist Ichibiri Japanese Restaurant to Stella's, an Italian staple. The shopping center also has clothing stores like Meesh Boutique and Millie Coastal Accents. Also in the strip mall, Gelson's Dana Point provides groceries.
High-end retail is available at the Monarch Bay Shopping Plaza.
Monarch Bay residents can get their shopping done at Gelson's.
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A 15-mile commute to Irvine and more travel
Via Interstate 5, Monarch Beach is about 15 miles away from Irvine’s city center. The route also goes to downtown Los Angeles, which is about 60 miles from the community. For public transit, Orange County Transportation Authority buses and the Laguna Beach trolley serve the area. The neighborhood is about 20 miles from John Wayne Airport, the closest major airport.
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
Are you familiar with the Monarch Beach neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Monarch Beach
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
3
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Monarch Beach Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Monarch Beach, Dana Point sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Monarch Beach, Dana Point over the last 12 months is $2,700,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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