Whether they’re sailing or motoring their yacht back home to La Playa, neighbors agree that they live in a boater’s paradise. Stunning estates positioned for marina-fronted views often come with private water access or docking. The community harbors San Diego’s largest marina on Shelter Island, a stretch of maritime beauty where they take morning walks, plan evening dates or spend weekends on the water.
Locals hit La Playa Beach past gorgeous bay-view homes, trek flower-lined paths at Kellog Beach, or gather friends around the glow of a bonfire at Grace Beach. Other means of recreation up the exclusivity. “Boaters love this area because you have one of the area’s longest-standing yacht clubs here, the San Diego Yacht Club, as well as several others like Silver Gate and Southwestern,” says Tami Fuller, longtime local resident and Realtor with Coldwell Banker West. “San Diego Yacht Club has a world-class junior sailing program where residents’ kids can learn to sail. And you can also get a membership at Kona Kai Resort to use their pool, work out, and enjoy the marina.”
“Living in La Playa is like living in a postcard,” Fuller says. “In fact, many of the postcards sold here feature some of its beautiful streets like Bessemer. The homes are more stacked versus homes to the west in Point Loma, so it’s all about the incredible views.” Custom homes are the norm in La Playa, built into hills to offer high-value water views from any residence. Custom contemporary beauties feature large decks for sunbathing and stargazing. The neighborhood combines condos within blocks of a marina for around $500,000 with custom midcentury modern homes with vaulted ceilings and panoramic vistas for under $2 million and stunning Spanish eclectic mansions for close to $5 million.
Shelter Island’s silver and sky-blue entrance sign welcomes walkers to a mile-long stretch decorated with unique art pieces. “it’s so nice to walk along Shelter Island; you can see Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay or walk out on the pier where America’s Cup was held for years,” Fuller says. “And the Tunaman’s Memorial there commemorates our history as a tuna fishing village long ago.”
Yacht Club aside, La Playa teems with dining and shopping options. Area anglers stop into Fathom Bistro for drinks and apps or pick up bait and tackle. At Ketch—another shelter island gem—residents meet to kick back at the bar with a burger or seafood. Portside Coffee and Gelato’s menu includes cappuccino, pastries and bowls, and for a fancier night out, locals indulge in Indonesian seafood specialties and cocktails served with captivating bay views at Bali Hai Restaurant. Brigantine Restaurant’s menu runs the gamut from oysters on the half-shell to skirt steak tacos. To dine at home, La Playa neighbors can stock up on groceries at Jensen’s Foods on Catalina Boulevard, or Trader Joes and Liberty Public Market.
Public school students can attend Cabrillo Elementary School, which earns a B grade from Niche, before moving on to Richard Henry Dana Middle School in Roseville-Fleet Ridge and Correia Middle School in Point Loma Heights. La Playa public high schoolers can attend Point Loma High School, which earns a 10 out of 10 for college readiness from GreatSchools and an overall A grade from Niche.
Walking is a major part of life in La Playa, as well as boating up and down the harbor—but folks will hop in their vehicles to reach downtown San Diego in 6.5 miles. They pass the San Diego International Airport terminal at the 4-mile mark on Harbor Drive. In case of emergencies, UC San Diego Medical Center is about 9 miles away.
Todd Armstrong
Compass
(858) 397-9995
91 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$2,725,000 Price
Marc Lotzof
Compass
(858) 289-0387
102 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$3,395,000 Price
Brittany Hahn Games
Coldwell Banker West
(858) 263-1468
15 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$3,000,000 Price
Diana Dupre
DuPre Real Estate
(858) 465-5149
41 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$879,000 Price
Craig Lotzof
Compass
(858) 943-0497
116 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$3,395,000 Price
Jenae Peckham
Greater San Diego Real Estate
(619) 737-1933
41 Total Sales
1 in La Playa
$365,000 Price
On average, homes in La Playa, San Diego sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in La Playa, San Diego over the last 12 months is $1,600,000, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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