Santa Monica Homes for Sale

The beachfront city of Santa Monica, set in the western part of Los Angeles County, has long served as a natural home for many Hollywood celebrities and executives. The land that Santa Monica is settled upon was originally purchased by real estate speculators in the 1870’s who then advertised it as a “city by the sea”. The advertising worked and Santa Monica soon attracted scores of new residents: the city was incorporated in 1886. More recently, the 1980’s and ‘90’s brought a great deal of growth to the city: an extensive downtown revitalization project attracted several new corporations and hotels. Today, Santa Monica is known for its beautiful properties, sandy beaches and award winning schools.

Santa Monica Homes for Sale

The Santa Monica area attracts many medical professionals as Saint John’s Health Center and Santa Monica UCLA Health Center are two of the city’s largest employers. Santa Monica College employs over 2,000 educators and staff while the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District employs over 1,000 educators. The RAND Corporation, a global policy think tank, employs hundreds.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District serves Santa Monica’s families. The school system has received numerous awards for excellence. The district houses eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools in addition to an educationally innovative alternative school for grades kindergarten through eighth. Santa Monica High School, made famous in the James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause, has a beautiful campus in the downtown district. The high school offers an extensive array of advanced placement and foreign language courses: the music department regularly wins national awards for its excellence. For families seeking private education, there are nine schools in Santa Monica to choose from. At the collegiate level, Santa Monica College offers over 90 courses of study while the Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School confers PhD’s in public policy. The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, which boasts state of the art facilities, also calls Santa Monica home.

Santa Monica, California is home to several world-famous parks and beaches. The Santa Monica State beach is a must-visit destination for visitors from all over while the other 25 parks in Santa Monica draw locals who are looking for relaxation, scenery and recreation. Residents who like to garden can try out their green thumb at the Community Gardens, which features numerous plots for community gardeners to reserve each year. Airport Park has something for everyone: it even offers visitors free city Wi-Fi and an area for their four-legged friends. Ocean View Park is home to 6 acres of greenery, tennis courts and basketball courts just a short walk from the beach. Palisades Park is a Santa Monica landmark: it features over 20 acres of space, the iconic Beacon Overlook, sculptures, a lovely rose garden and a visitor’s center.

There’s no end of fun ways to spend a sunny Santa Monica day. Shoppers and art lovers flock to Bergamot Station, which houses a fine collection of galleries and art collections. The Aero Theatre is locally regarded as one of the city’s greatest jewels: this old-time movie house is a wonderful place to take in a film and learn more about the art and history of cinema. Harvelle’s Blues Club is a local favorite for live music and a touch of more sophisticated night life in the city.

Community is important in Santa Monica and numerous events held throughout the year bring neighbors closer together. In the summer, you can kick off your dancing shoes and try out some new moves at the Twilight Dance Series on the Santa Monica Pier. The annual Santa Monica Festival, every summer, is an eclectic mix of artists, workshops, entertainment and education throughout the city. The annual Christmas Run is a long-time tradition for Santa Monica’s more athletic residents: the 5k and 10k race encourages participants of all ages and abilities to enter.

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