Dana Point Homes for Sale

Boasting one of the few harbors along the Orange County coastline, Dana Point is a popular surfing and tourism destination.

The city was named for Richard Henry Dana, Jr., an author who described the area as the ¨only romantic spot on the coast¨ in his 1840 book ¨Two Years Before the Mast.¨ A replica of Dana´s ship, The Pilgrim, which is docked in the Dana Point harbor, is used as a classroom by the Ocean Institute.

Dana Point Homes for Sale

History

Dana Point´s historic core is composed of roughly 35 homes built by Sidney H. Woodruff, a well-known Los Angeles home builder, in the 1920s. Woodruff was part of the Dana Point Syndicate, which purchased roughly 1,390 acres of land in what would become Dana Point. They built the above-mentioned homes along with several commercial structures in what became known as Lantern Village.

As Woodruff began building what he hoped to be his flagship project, a Mediterranean style resort hotel, the Great Depression hit, putting the brakes on all construction in the area. The project was abandoned altogether in 1939.

Economy

A vibrant, upscale resort atmosphere draws tourists to this city of 33,500 year-round. The city´s more than 1,900 hotel rooms and 100 restaurants contribute to an impressive 5.7 percent unemployment rate.

Dana Point´s median household income is $71,879 compared to $69,009 for the rest of Orange County and $50,935 nationwide. Owing in part to celebrities such as Warren Buffet and George Clooney choosing to own homes in the area, real estate prices remain relatively high as well.

Long recognized as an ideal surfing location for its sheltered coves, Dana Point spawned a number of surfing institutions, including Hobie Alter´s retail surf shop, Surfer´s Journal, and Surfer Magazine. The surfer film Endless Summer was also filmed there.

Events

Since 1972, the city has hosted an annual Festival of Whales, which takes place over two weekends in March. The Dana Point Concours d´Elegance, held at the Monarch Beach Golf Links, supports a number of charities. The annual Tall Ships Festival, one of the largest gatherings of its kind on the West Coast, is held each September. The annual criterium bicycle race, the Dana Point Grand Prix, is held overlooking Dana Point Harbor. Meanwhile, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, and race for children.

Real Estate

As of early January 2013, the average listing price for Dana Point homes was $1.9 million, up 2.9 percent from the same period last year.

Latest Dana Point Homes for Sale:

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