Balboa Peninsula Point
Neighborhood in Newport Beach, California
Orange County 92661
Boating in Newport Bay, waves at Balboa Beach
Balboa Peninsula is a hotspot for waterside recreation. On the Newport Bay side, boats fill the harbor, and private docks line the shore. On the Pacific Ocean side, people play sand volleyball as waves crash against Balboa Beach. These waves increase near the beach’s southeastern corner, next to a jetty called The Wedge. This jetty wedges into the water and reflects backwash onto other waves, creating swells of up to 30 feet. It’s one of the biggest and most dangerous swells in Southern California. Surfboards aren’t allowed from May through October, so bodysurfing and boogie boarding are common.Just east of this beach, Balboa Pier is a popular fishing spot, and Newport Beach provides more sunbathing opportunities. Balboa Peninsula Point itself is less crowded, however, and it has its own public pier and private beach. This Bay Beach area has a barbecue, storage, seating areas and a boat ramp. This is one of the few ramps in the area, and it’s available to residents who pay a $150 yearly fee. Peninsula Point Racquet Club has tennis and pickleball courts for members.
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Meeting neighbors with the Balboa Peninsula Point Association
Contrary to what some might think, the Balboa Peninsula Point Association is not a homeowners association. “It’s more of a social club,” Clark Shields says. “It’s super laid-back, and everyone is super friendly.” Its board of directors is made up of volunteers, and they coordinate events throughout the year. They also serve as liaisons to the city of Newport Beach, representing the neighborhood on topics like traffic, planning and parks. Residents can expect daily security patrols and seasonal newsletters about events in the area. Membership is $75 per year.
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Waterfront homes on Newport Bay, Pacific Ocean
The beach has undoubtedly influenced homes in Balboa Peninsula Point. Most homes are close together to maximize waterfront space; they usually have multiple stories to view the ocean, complemented by large windows and verandas. This beachy influence doesn’t mean they’re all uniform, though. Some are cottages built in the 1920s, while others are contemporaries from the 2020s. Homes in the north face the bay, while ones in the south face the Pacific. The home’s age and square footage can influence price, but water proximity has the most impact. Single-family homes start at $3.3 million in the peninsula’s interior. Bigger homes can reach $25 million on the waterfront.
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Balboa Village and Marine Avenue
Balboa Village is on the neighborhood’s far west side, away from most residential properties. Some might consider this a healthy distance; this walkable, harborside district can get crowded since it attracts about 7 million tourists per year. They mostly come for the Balboa Fun Zone, a carnival area with a Ferris wheel, mechanical swing and whale-watching tours. However, the Village also has many restaurants and shops to explore. Newport Landing Restaurant specializes in fresh, upscale seafood and Newport Bay views. Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill is more casual, serving Chicago-style pies and weekend brunch. Lombardy's Market & Deli is a local grocer here.Some clothing boutiques and gift shops are in this district, but Balboa Island has more options. This island has a small downtown called Marine Avenue, accessible via the Balboa Island Ferry in the Village. The island’s north side also has a bridge onto the mainland, where shoppers can find Fashion Island. It’s an outdoor mall with almost 200 retailers.
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Top marks for Newport-Mesa Unified Schools
Newport Elementary is on the peninsula’s east side and scores an A from Niche. Ensign Intermediate and Newport Harbor High aren’t on the peninsula, but they’re only about 3 miles north of the neighborhood. They both get an A. Since the 1990s, this high school has had a Junior Career Mentor Program that pairs students with industry professionals. Most mentors have been involved for years, and they allow students to shadow over the course of five meetings.
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Balboa Peninsula Point Association get-togethers
The Easter Egg Hunt happens in spring at L Street Park, and the Easter Bunny himself even makes an appearance. This park also hosts the Chili Cook-Off in the fall, when residents set up booths to showcase their versions of the dish. Around L Street, the Fourth of July parade includes everybody from the Newport Beach Fire Department to Lady Liberty. The Racquettes, an all-female group of Peninsula Point Racquet Club members, are a standout for their synchronized racquet twirling. Bay Beach hosts barbecue potlucks from June through September.
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Getting around the peninsula: Balboa Island Ferry, Balboa Peninsula Trolley
At less than a square mile, Balboa Peninsula Point is highly walkable and bikeable. A paved path follows the southern beaches, starting at the Wedge and continuing for most of the peninsula's length. Many people have cars here, though, since they work in other parts of Los Angeles. Balboa Boulevard is the major route west across the peninsula, and traffic gets busier toward Balboa Village. The closest option to the mainland is the Balboa Island Ferry, a five-minute ride that carries both pedestrians and cars. The Balboa Peninsula Trolley also travels along Balboa Boulevard, and it runs on weekends from June to September. It’s free, and riders can bring surfboards and other beach gear along with them. For trips to Catalina Island, Catalina Flyer has a dock in Balboa Village.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Karl Le
Video By
Daric Clarke
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Don Abrams
Don Abrams
Abrams Coastal Properties
(657) 255-8663
95 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$3,875,000 Price
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Paul Daftarian
Paul Daftarian
Luxe Real Estate
(657) 385-8384
247 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$27,000,000 Price
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Fred Albuquerque
Fred Albuquerque
Responds QuicklySurterre Properties
(949) 732-1320
19 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$1,300,000 Price
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Sean Stanfield
Sean Stanfield
Responds QuicklyPacific Sotheby's Int'l Realty
(949) 531-7063
614 Total Sales
3 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$2.3M - $4.2M Price Range
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Angela Caliger
Angela Caliger
Responds QuicklySurterre Properties Inc.
(657) 900-4298
111 Total Sales
5 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$2.8M - $4M Price Range
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Tim Carr
Tim Carr
Responds QuicklyTim Carr Group
(949) 518-3230
160 Total Sales
3 in Balboa Peninsula Point
$4.5M - $5.7M Price Range
Schools
Source:
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
West Jetty View Park
- Picnic Area
- Ocean
- Parking Lot
Balboa Peninsula Park
- Grills
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Balboa Peninsula Point | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Balboa Peninsula Point Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Balboa Peninsula Point, Newport Beach sell after 59 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Balboa Peninsula Point, Newport Beach over the last 12 months is $6,349,500, down 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$6,595,000
Median Sale Price
$6,349,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$6,450,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$5,445,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$2,200,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
72
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-12%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$2,611
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
585
Number of Homes for Sale
21
Median Year Built
1951
Months of Supply
3.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,211
Above the national average
1,933
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,221
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,613
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jun 141 - 4pm
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Saturday, Jun 1411am - 2pm
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Sunday, Jun 1512 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,096
Median Age
54
Population under 18
14.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
32.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$229,623
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$219,808
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
62.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20.2%
% Population in Labor Force
64.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
9''
Average Winter Low Temperature
50°F
Average Summer High Temperature
72°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
63
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
68
/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
0
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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