Set along the 405 between bigtime beach towns Huntington and Long Beach, Seal Beach is a funky little community with the heart of a small town. “It still has a very old town feel with its downtown,” says Realtor and broker associate Allison Van Wig, who has been selling in the area for almost 25 years. “It’s got a different feel than our neighbors, which have very modern vibes, while Seal Beach has more of a kicked-back relaxed ‘I’m on vacation’ vibe." Named for the seals that once congregated en masse on the coastline, the city is now surrounded by protected natural areas. “It’s not built up with huge buildings; it’s still very quaint,” says Laurelee Barnes, broker associate with RE/MAX College Park Realty. “I think the people who live in Seal Beach probably don’t ever want to move.”
With its coastal location, and urban amenities, Seal Beach offers a high quality of life.
Hennessey's Tavern was founded in 1976 and has 10 different restaurants throughout SoCal.
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Hanging at the Seal Beach Pier
The city of Seal Beach maintains over a dozen community parks and recreation centers. “There’s something for everyone. There are a lot of grassy areas where you can spread out and have a picnic with a view of the ocean,” Van Wig says. Electric Avenue Median Park stretches 12 blocks between Sixth Street and Ocean Avenue and is a popular place for a dog walk. There are basketball courts and softball fields at Marina Park, the perfect place for fresh air and exercise. There are also four popular pickleball courts, which are always busy and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Seal Beach Pier is the second-longest in the state and attracts locals and tourists — its wooden planks stretch almost 1,900 feet into the Pacific Ocean. Kids love the beachfront playground with a seaside theme, including a pair of seal statues for décor.
Locals love the interior of the Electric Avenue Median Park, which stretches nearly a mile.
Mother Daughter Swing Session (verbal consent captured on video)
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Main Street has 'Mayberry' vibes
Main Street is situated in the blocks between Ocean Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway. This buzzy stretch teems with shopping and dining destinations and other commercial businesses. The Harbour Surfboards surf shop and the Main Street Cyclery cater to sports-oriented outdoor enthusiasts. The Crema Café is a French-inspired café with a dog-friendly patio and charming umbrella-shaded seating. Next door, 320 Main is a high-end steak and seafood spot with an interior of exposed brick and dark wooden accents. “320 is a great place to get an appetizer and a glass of wine,” Van Wig says. There are also a lot of offerings along the Pacific Coast Highway. “Seal Beach Fish Company is a newer restaurant with a very laidback vibe,” Van Wig says. Pavilions is in the adjacent shopping center and is a great place for stocking up on groceries and essentials.
Seal Beach has some great outdoor dinning spots.
Shop at the specialty stores on Main Street in Seal Beach.
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Seaside and hillside homes
From cozy seaside bungalows to Spanish-inspired estates to linear contemporary stunners, there is a wide variety of home styles available in Seal Beach. “South of the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ve got the 1930s to 1960s beach homes on small 2,500-foot lots,” Van Wig says. “It’s very funky because you’ll have a 1930s home next to a two-story build from 2020, but they’ve still kept the charm and character of the neighborhood.” The most expensive properties are south of the Pacific Coast Highway — the closer you get to the shore, the more expensive the homes. To the north, homes on the hill were built in the 1970s and have larger lots. Single-family homes range in price from around $1.2 million on the low end for a small fixer-upper to upwards of $9 million on the beach. “There are probably only 20 townhomes, so it’s very competitive trying to get into one of those, which are all above a million,” Van Wig says. North of Westminster Boulevard is Leisure World Seal Beach, an active 55-plus community with prices that start around $225,000 and go up to $500,000. “This is a great place for seniors to be so close to the beach and restaurants and everything fun,” Van Wig says.
Seal Beach real estate can be a solid investment due to its desirable coastal location.
These classic bungalow and cottage style homes line the streets near the ocean in Seal Beach.
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Summer concert series at the pier
Regarding local events, Seal Beach cedes a lot of ground to its neighbors in Huntington and Long Beach, which have full events calendars. There is a summer concert series at the pier on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. from mid-June to early August. At the Joint Forces Training Base in nearby Los Alamitos, a Fourth of July celebration includes a parade with floats, a World War II reenactment and a fireworks spectacular. Seal Bach also has a Christmas tree lighting ceremony each year and hosts a community Thanksgiving dinner.
The stage has live dances and raffles at the Be More Healthy Expo in Seal Beach.
The Seal Beach Classic Car show is one of the top car shows around.
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Some of the best schools in the state
Families with children in Seal Beach are served by Los Alamitos Unified, a public school district with an A-plus grade from Niche. All three schools in the pipeline are graded A-plus, too. Kids can start their education at J.H. McGaugh Elementary, a walkable community school ranked in the top 2% of public elementary schools in California. Students may then advance to Oak Middle in nearby Los Alamitos. One of the better schools for athletes, Los Alamitos High School has a full slate of activities including a successful competitive cheer team. And LAHS’s show choir won the national championship in New York City in April 2023.
McGaugh Elementary School in Seal Beach, home of the Sea Lions.
Los Alamitos High School has been serving the Seal Beach Community for many years.
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Major highways provide easy access
The Pacific Coast Highway runs through Seal Beach, connecting to Long Beach about seven miles north and Huntington Beach about nine miles south. The city is also situated between greater LA and greater Anaheim, making it a perfect location for a lot of commutes. Seal Beach is situated on the 405 and the 605, which connects the region north-to-south. The 30-mile drive to LA can take as long as 90 minutes, depending on the time of day. “People commute all over the place because you have so many options here,” Van Wig says. “You’re 20 minutes from Disney Land, 30 minutes to John Wayne Airport and 40 minutes to LAX.” Most residents travel by car, but there are bus stops along the PCH to help residents get around.
Sweeping views of the 605 Freeway and the beautiful Seal Beach sunset.
The OC Bus operation runs smoothy and on time in the Seal Beach neighborhoods.
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Sea rise and flooding concerns
There are a few environmental risks associated with Seal Beach, including moderate risk from air quality. Climate change has increased the number and intensity of rain events, which can create sewage overflow and water quality issues. Many homes closest to the coast are threatened by sea rise.
Written By
Gerald Withers
Photography Contributed By
Michael Rutt
Video By
Aiyshanti Green
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Champagne Mora,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Seal Beach, CA sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Seal Beach, CA over the last 12 months is $389,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome to this beautifully maintained 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condominium located in the desirable Rossmoor neighborhood of Seal Beach. This inviting homeoffers private access to the complex, indoor mailboxes, and convenient elevator service to the second floor. Inside, you're welcomed by a charming entryway thatleads into a bright living room featuring built-in shelves, plantation shutters, and a
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