Sunset Beach

Make the beach your backyard with a home in Sunset Beach. This stretch in the City of Huntington Beach is surrounded by water, so virtually all of its homes are footsteps from the ocean.

“Residents and visitors in Sunset Beach enjoy the oceanfront location and especially the sunset views,” says Cheryl DeMarco, architect and real estate professional with ERA Donahue Realty. “Sunset Beach offers about 1.5 miles of beachfront and sand for everyone to take advantage of. They love Sunset Beach for surfing, body surfing, kitesurfing, playing volleyball, and just strolling on the beach. “

The housing inventory in Sunset Beach features a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, condos and townhomes. Square footages vary quite a bit, from just under 500 square feet for a one-bedroom condo to more than 6,000 square feet for a five-bedroom single-family home. Homes in Sunset Beach were built close to each other, on a neat network of residential blocks. Properties here sacrifice proximity to the beach for lot size — most lots here are less than 7,000 square feet and many are well less.

Sunset Beach’s grid of streets is walkable thanks to sidewalks. Main streets here are lined with palm trees, too. Price tags in Sunset Beach reflect the diverse array of options here. “Condominiums start at $550,000 and homes range from $1.7 million to $13.8 million,” DeMarco says. “Location to the ocean and age of the construction affect prices. So, you will see a wide range of pricing in this area.”

There are some properties in Sunset Beach that date back to the early 20th century, and it’s not uncommon to see these demolished to make way for new development. “I am an architect and realtor and know that in Sunset Beach, the value is in the land,” DeMarco says. “If there is an older property, investors and builders look at rebuilding to maximize the potential of the property. You will see older properties being knocked down and rebuilt.” This is a place where people plant roots, too, full of year-round residents who enjoy the location and weather, DeMarco says, as opposed to vacationers.

The sandy beachfront Sunset Beach residents have at their disposal is one of the widest beaches in all of Southern California. Public restrooms and outdoor showers make residents’ jaunts to the beach more comfortable and those who choose to drive can find free parking in a nearby lot. Anglers can bring a rod and reel along to fish off of Huntington Beach Pier.

Residents aren’t confined to the beach when looking to enjoy some time outside. Linear Park here parallels the beach and is a place to go for a walk or a bike ride, or to take the kids to the playground near its edge. Those looking for a hike can hit the trails that unfurl from the Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s Interpretive Center, a facility full of exhibits about the area’s 1,300-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a coastal estuary.

Refueling after some outdoor fun is as simple as hitting Sunset Beach’s main drag, the Pacific Coast Highway. You can find your pick of options here, and among the staples is Captain Jack’s. This spot, cofounded by Surfers' Hall of Famer Jack Haley, has been in business since 1965. Captain Jack’s is famous in part for its prime rib, and also its king crab legs. Residents looking to satisfy a breakfast craving can head down the road to Harbor House Café, which was established in 1939 and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Kids in Sunset Beach can go to school in the area’s Huntington Beach City School District to start. Young students may attend Smith Elementary for kindergarten to fifth grade, whose teachers boast an A+ rating on Niche. Then, students can move on to the A-rated Dwyer Middle for Grades 6 to 8, whose extracurricular offerings include a surf team, plus volleyball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and track and field. For Grades 9 to 12, students can go to Huntington Beach High, part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District. Huntington Beach High has a dedicated Business & Design program with a project-based curriculum and carries an A grade of its own on Niche.

This beachside community isn’t just a retreat. Rather, Sunset Beach is home for so many. You just may find this neighborhood makes a fitting home for you, too.

Written By

Wayne Epps Jr.

Photography Contributed By

Christiaan Cruz

Video By

Maurice McNeil