North of Montana
Unique single-family homes and luxury oceanfront condos
Homes in North of Montana are a mix of grand single-family homes and high-end beachside condos. “North of Montana Avenue is strictly residential, and nothing is the same. You can have one house that’s an old original Spanish-style next to a big modern farmhouse, and that’s next to a big contemporary glass box,” says Keller Williams Realtor Mike Lease, who has been selling full-time since 2004. “Prices can easily climb to $15 million or $20 million, so anything under $5 million is a potential teardown. Most people aren’t tearing down $5 million homes, but it happens.” Well-maintained sidewalks, lush tree growth and meticulous landscaping line the neighborhood’s sleepy streets. Early 20th-century architecture runs the gamut, including Mediterranean, Spanish and Tudor-inspired homes and contemporary additions. Most homes are priced between $5 million and $10 million, with a handful of homes over and under that range. Most condos are within three blocks of the beach, mainly along Ocean Avenue. Prices start around $1 million for a one-bedroom with under 1,000 square feet and a limited view to over $7 million for an oceanfront condo with three bedrooms and over 3,000 square feet. For the higher-end condos, HOA fees can climb into the thousands.Public schools are all graded A-plus by Niche
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified is a top-tier public school district with an A-plus grade from Niche. Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle and Santa Monica High School (known as "Samohi") are also graded A-plus. Niche ranks Samohi in the top 5% of public high schools in California and the top 10% in diversity. Some of the biggest stars of the 1980s and ’90s attended the school, including Rob Lowe, Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. Samohi has received local, state and national recognition for groups in the visual and performing arts, including band, orchestra and choir. “The public schools in North of Montana are excellent, but at this price point, many kids are going to be in private or charter schools,” Lease says. The neighborhood Calthorp School is ungraded by Niche, while Saint Monica Preparatory gets an A.Beach access and Summer Solstice concerts at Palisades Parks
The outdoor lifestyle is what it’s all about in Santa Monica, and North of Montana has access to some of the best amenities in the city. Palisades Park is a local landmark on over 25 acres between Ocean Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway. The park has fantastic views of Santa Monica Bay, benches and seated picnic areas, public art and a rose garden. The walking paths wind through trails lined with towering coastal palms, and visitors can see the iconic pier to the south. Santa Monica State Beach is a popular destination, and a few blocks north, Ginger Rogers Beach is LA’s unofficial gay beach, with historical significance to the LGBTQ+ community. Golfers are in luck too. “Riviera Country Club is one of the best golf courses in the country. The PGA plays there,” Svidler says. The private championship course and tennis club attract an upscale crowd to its lush grounds.There's always something to do on Montana Avenue
North of Montana is primarily residential, though Montana Avenue on the neighborhood’s southern border is lined with shopping and dining destinations. “This area is super nice and expensive, with quaint, walkable streets and a ton of great shops and restaurants,” Svidler says. Zibby’s Bookshop is a women-owned independent bookstore where visitors have a respite to read and connect with authors. Breakfast by Salt’s Cure is a great place to start the day. They built their quick-service, casual concept on the original oatmeal griddle cake, which has become wildly popular with customers. A casual chain outpost, Spumoni Pizza Restaurant serves pizza, pasta and other Italian classics in a rich venue with wooden floors and walls, and charming white tablecloth sidewalk seating. For stocking up on groceries, there’s a Pavilions near the intersection of Lincoln Court.Traffic is real, but most residents aren't 9 to 5
North of Montana is a mile-and-a-half from downtown Santa Monica and the iconic pier. The neighborhood’s main thoroughfares are San Vicente Boulevard, a four-lane road lined with bus stops, and Montana Avenue, a two-lane road with turning lanes and traffic lights every few blocks. Interstate 10 is 2 miles away and it runs 15 miles east to downtown LA, a drive that can take as long as two hours during unpredictable rush hours. "The one thing about traffic and drive times is that most people who live here aren't 9-to-5 people," Lease says. That gives residents the opportunity to travel at less buy hours. Los Angeles International Airport is about 10 miles away via Lincoln Boulevard, another sneaky long drive that can take upward of 90 minutes, depending on the time of day. UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is just over a mile away.Beach concerts and Wellness Walks on Montana avenue
Events are always happening in Santa Monica, one of the busiest beach hubs on the West Coast. On the summer solstice of 2024, the North of Montana Association hosted a concert in Palisades Park as part of the Make Music Los Angeles global celebration of music. The Santa Monica High School string quartet was among the nearly half-dozen acts that performed. The Montana Avenue Merchant Association hosts annual events like the Montana Avenue Wellness Walk in March, Dog Days in August, the Art Walk in September and the tree lighting ceremony in December.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Donald Heller
Christie's International Real Estate SoCal
(424) 238-6571
110 Total Sales
4 in North of Montana
$7M - $10.5M Price Range
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Laura Klein
KRE + Associates
(213) 900-2162
46 Total Sales
1 in North of Montana
$722,500 Price
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Cindy Ambuehl
Responds QuicklyChristie's International Real Estate SoCal
(747) 294-3863
126 Total Sales
11 in North of Montana
$3.7M - $14.6M Price Range
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Valerie Fitzgerald
Coldwell Banker Realty
(323) 310-4814
34 Total Sales
1 in North of Montana
$6,765,000 Price
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Chris Hicks
The Agency
(310) 294-8277
40 Total Sales
15 in North of Montana
$1.8M - $5M Price Range
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Michael Rogers
Seven Gables Real Estate
(657) 385-3663
14 Total Sales
1 in North of Montana
$6,900,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | North of Montana | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 3 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
Larceny | 3 | 4 |
Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
North of Montana Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North of Montana, Santa Monica sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in North of Montana, Santa Monica over the last 12 months is $370,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Sunday, Aug 32 - 5pm
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Tuesday, Jul 2911am - 2pm
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Tuesday, Jul 2911am - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit 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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