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Community information
The cities and towns that I serve are listed below. If you would like to find out about the latest homes that have become available in these communities, please contact me at (831) 402-0432 or you can setup a Private Search!
Click on underlined cities to view a description of the city.
A 90-mile stretch of coastline that begins in Monterey County a few miles south of Carmel and end in San Luis Obispo County at San Simeon (Hearst Castle).Big Sur and Highway One are best known around the world for spectacular beauty. Big Sur's northern gateway, four miles south of Carmel, is Point Lobos, which has been described as "…the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." Perhaps one of Big Sur's best known residents, the late Henry Miller described the region best. Both writer and artist, Miller called Big Sur "…a region where one is always conscience of the eloquent silence… the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look." Highway One offers numerous turn-out's for drivers who would like to take their eyes off the road and focus on the majestic coastline.
A 90-mile stretch of coastline that begins in Monterey County a few miles south of Carmel and end in San Luis Obispo County at San Simeon (Hearst Castle). Big Sur and Highway One are best known around the world for spectacular beauty. Big Sur's northern gateway, four miles south of Carmel, is Point Lobos, which has been described as "…the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." Perhaps one of Big Sur's best known residents, the late Henry Miller described the region best. Both writer and artist, Miller called Big Sur "…a region where one is always conscience of the eloquent silence… the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look." Highway One offers numerous turn-out's for drivers who would like to take their eyes off the road and focus on the majestic coastline.
Today, Big Sur is a coastal wilderness. It is as pristine as could be imagined for its 200,000 acres and 90 miles of premium California coast. It is a grand testimony to the human craving for appreciating this raw, bold beauty that it has been protected. A highway was constructed in the 1930's just to see this boldly beautiful natural setting.The road in this setting has come to define Big Sur for most people. But, the will of the pioneers to conserve the remarkable region has prevented its destruction by development.
Ninety-five per cent of Big Sur is the fold-upon-fold of Ventana Wilderness, rare biology, incredible geology that most people do not ever see. In the coastal mountain canyons that vein the intricate quilt of watersheds (e.g. a hike in Partington) one gets an inside peek at this wondrous country.
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Carmel appears to many as a sleepy little town hidden along California's central coast. However, it is far from that! When one gets behind the scenes, one finds a buzzing cosmopolitan community with a vast selection of things to do. Life can be very full here. This page is dedicated to alerting you to a few of the many choices available in this "big small town." There are many different neighborhoods in the greater Carmel "area of influence." The most famous of these is Carmel By The Sea, the one-square-mile incorporated city area, where its 5700 residents take great pride in the "village" quality of their town. It boasts the fact that there is no mail delivery, no street lights outside the shopping district, streets are likely to be built around trees and have no curbs or sidewalks. The village has only about 2,700 households, 60% of which are owners occupying their own homes. The average age of Carmelites within the village is around 54 years and the median household income is said to be just over $70,000. The greater Carmel area of influence is another matter. It includes all of Carmel outside the city limits, north to Carmel Woods, across Highway 1 to the east, and south to include the Meadows on the other side of the Carmel River. Here the average age is said to drop to around 50 years and the median income increases to over $90,000. A big draw to many greater Carmel residents is the opportunity to own a home situated on a hillside, with a view of either the mountains or the ocean, and to have some open space surrounding them. Yet they are within a few minutes drive of all the same shops, galleries and restaurants, which are the pride of the village people. Just a few miles south of Carmel on Highway One is the beautiful South Coast area, which includes the Highlands--often referred to as the Carmel Riviera. Here is where the mountains meet the sea in some of the most picturesque landscapes imaginable.
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Point Lobos was mercifully spared the developer’s bulldozer early in the last century. Point Lobos has been preserved as a California State Reserve. Its rare beauty and unique biology has made it a symbol of California Parks and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Click Here For More Information Click Here For Monterey County School Information Click Here For Monterey County API Scores Information Click Here For Monterey County SAT Scores Information Here For Monterey Peninsula Park Information
For a taste of the country lifestyle, Carmel Valley is the ideal place to live. An unincorporated township made up of lush valleys and rolling ranches, located 12 miles due east of Carmel-by-the-Sea.Carmel Valley is situated in a pastoral setting and offers a small, friendly "downtown." This charming area is quickly becoming the epicenter of Monterey County's wine country with several newly opened tasting rooms, a variety of lodging options, including some of the area's finest resorts, excellent recreational opportunities and exceptional dining.
It stretches east of Carmel from Highway 1 through over 15 miles of beautiful rolling hills along the path of the Carmel River. As one travels further out Carmel Valley Road, the main thoroughfare serving this long stretch of residential hideaways, the living gets more rural by the mile.
Folks who like the convenience of the vast array of peninsula conveniences will choose to live within the first few miles of the valley's mouth where a high concentration of retail and commercial services are located.
Those leaning toward a more laid-back lifestyle will likely prefer locating closer to Carmel Valley Village, 12-miles out and away from the hustle and bustle.
This charming valley village is a quiet little country town only three blocks long stretched out along Carmel Valley Road. It has all one needs to live a comfortable life in the country if that is the lifestyle of choice. Horses abound from about mid-valley to the far reaches of its upper end, with unlimited riding trails heading off into the Los Padres Mountains.
The greater Carmel area of influence is another matter. It includes all of Carmel outside the city limits, north to Carmel Woods, across Highway 1 to the east, and south to include the Meadows on the other side of the Carmel River. Here the average age is said to drop to around 50 years and the median income increases to over $90,000.
Homes vary in price across the board, and there are likely to be a lot to choose from due to the valley's large geographical area. One-acre zoning is predominant throughout the valley, with exceptions in subdivisions that were developed early on. It includes some of the finest golf courses in the area, including Quail Lodge and Carmel Valley Ranch, and one of the largest parks in Monterey County, Garland Ranch.
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Del Rey Oaks was established as a city in 1953. According to local folk lore the name Del Rey Oaks or "Del Rey Woods" before being incorperated was the winning name picked in a contest to name the mostly residential city. Del Rey Oaks has recently upgraded its services such as a new shopping mall along Highway 68 and a new Ralphs Grocery store.
Although a small city Del Rey Oaks has some neat things to do such as walking along the nature trail in the "Frog Pond Preseve" or hitting golf balls in the Del Rey Oaks Driving range both located on Canyon Del Rey Blvd.
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In April's 1999, Readers Digest poll ranked Salinas in the top 25 cities for the best place to raise a family. Entrepreneur Magazine, regarded as small business authority, ranked Salinas among the top ten cities for small businesses opportunities.
The City of Salinas anchors the northern part of the Salinas Valley and is the Monterey County seat. The city stands in its historic rural setting, poised to capitalize on the opportunities of the future. With a population exceeding 130,000 there is constant pressure to grow.
Old town Salinas continues is the heart and soul of this thriving community. Splendid examples of Victorian and later era architecture create a pleasurable atmosphere for visitors, professionals, specialty shops, restaurants and community events. The new National Steinbeck Center, a 40,000 square-foot facility in the heart of old town, pays tribute to the Salinas-bred Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck and attracts hundreds of visitors each day.
The Salinas City Hall and the Monterey County Administrative Offices, both within walking distance of old town attract an array of business and support services. The nearby nexus of interstate highways plus the Monterey-Salinas Transit system and the future inter model transit center offer convenient access to and from old town setting the stage for a surge of visitors to old town.
The Greater Salinas Valley is home to a $2 billion agricultural industry. Rich soil and a superb climate provide the foundation for the success of a variety of crops that feed the world. The huge labor force generated by the agricultural industry has brought on a surge of affordable housing, enticing more and more people to the area. Our County also boasts a $1.8 billion tourism industry, as thousands of visitors come to the area each year, exploring the beauty of the valley and nearby Monterey Peninsula.
With tremendous social, economic, and geographic diversity, the region promises a bright future for a variety of business interests.
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The City of Hollister is the largest city in San Benito County, with 59% of the population, and is the County Seat. The City was incorporated on March 26, 1872 and was named after Colonel W. W. Hollister, who drove a flock of sheep across the continent to the San Justo Ranch, on which the community was founded. The population as of January 1, 1999 was 28,394. The moderate climate of the City of Hollister is provided by cool ocean air, which enters the County from the west, through the Chittenden Pass. This has the effect of providing warm, but not hot, summer and mild winter temperatures. San Benito County is situated in the Central Coast region of the state, between the Gavilan Range of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. The City of Hollister lies in the County's northern portion, and is located about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco, 40 miles east of Monterey and 300 miles north of Los Angeles.
Historically, agriculture and associated businesses have been the primary economic activities in the City. The City has become a popular relocation spot for many urban Californians looking for a simpler, more meaningful way of life. The influx of new business and residential development blends with the century-old charm of Hollister's downtown. The Main Street revitalization program has focused efforts to preserve downtown's historically significant architecture and encourage new economic ventures. Hollister is seeking clean, compatible industries to enrich the economic climate, while preserving the high quality of life enjoyed by Hollister residents.
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Fort Ord is a converted military base and part of the City of Marina and the City of Seaside as well as other governmental entities. Fort Ord was named in 1940 in honor of the civil war general, Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord. As a young lieutenant Ord was in charge of the Monterey garrison in 1847. A Portion of Fort Ord is now the home of The University of California Monterey Bay.
The coastal area and a large portion of the undeveloped areas in Fort Ord are now Public Lands and for use as hiking and biking trails. Before hiking see and print the map for areas that are off limits because of live rounds and explosives. A well maintained bike path runs along the highway from Marina to Sand City. Fort Ord is slowly being converted to civilian use with the help of the FORA agency. See our Secrets of Fort Ord Section.
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In one sense, like Carmel, there are two Monterey’s. Residents refer to Old Monterey and New Monterey. Old Monterey is the area, which boasts a history dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola in 1770. It is home to all the grand historical buildings, as well as some of the oldest homes on the Central Coast.
It is indeed an historic community with its downtown district, several large hotels, the Monterey Conference Center, and famous Fisherman's Wharf.
New Monterey stretches from the Presidio of Monterey (which houses the Defense Language Institute) to the Pacific Grove City limit, and includes historic Cannery Row. New Monterey grew into being as the home of the many cannery workers that lived and worked here-the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian immigrants who developed the once-prosperous fishing industry.
With its population of about 33,000, Monterey boasts nearly 13,000 households and an average income of over $66,000. The average age of its residents is around 35 years. Nearly 3,000 of the households claim to have lived in their present homes for more than 11 years.
There are no new housing subdivisions in the city of Monterey, so home sales are almost solely previously owned properties. Since more than 8.000 of these homes range from 30 to over 100 years old, they often have a special character and charm. Most of them have been upgraded over the years retaining much of their original style. Newer homes can be found in greater Monterey, located in unincorporated areas adjacent to the city.
One of these areas is spread along the Monterey-Salinas corridor (Highway 68) from Bay Ridge to San Benancio Canyon. Here one can find a mix of country living and hill top views. Sunshine is a regular feature here just about any time of year. It's particularly well suited for Salinas’s commuters who want to live the Monterey Peninsula lifestyle.
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Prunedale is an unincorporated community, and is located in the scenic canyons and wooded hills of north Monterey County, California. Recent median income is $56,881. Average 33.7 years. Depending on whom you ask, the community covers from 3 to 38 square miles with a population of 16,432. The newly approved Prunedale Census Designated Place will encompass many more square miles.
It is 8 miles north of Salinas and 55 miles south of San Jose, seven miles east of Moss Landing and the Pacific Ocean. It is nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north, the Diablo Range on the southeast and the Sierra de Salinas, which serves as a backdrop to the rich agricultural Salinas Valley to the south.
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Pacific Grove (or "P-G" as the locals call it) likes to refer to itself as America's Last Home Town-a real sleeper as California towns go. It prides itself on the fact that it is a community of families, which retains a small town atmosphere and where housing is largely comprised of older, and often smaller, homes with "character."
P G is a quaint Victorian village located at the northern-most tip of the Monterey Peninsula. This charming town has an old-fashioned aura, perpetuated by nickname such as "Butterfly Town U.S.A". Because of the huge population of Monarch butterflies, which make its home there during the winter months. The city is bounded on all sides by neighboring Monterey, Pebble Beach and the Pacific Ocean, and as such has no space for its 17,000 population to expand.
Founded in 1875 by California Methodists, Pacific Grove boasts some of the most spectacular shoreline on the peninsula, with walking and riding paths stretching along the shore for miles. Its original Methodist creators as plots for tent cabins divided its smaller lots, as PG was originally a religious campground. It also prides itself on the fact that it has a large number of beautiful Victorian-era homes, some turned into popular bed-and-breakfast establishments. Many of the early homes have small plaques attached, which provide the viewer with the name of the original owner and the date of construction.
The city lists around 7,500 housing units, most of which are single-family dwellings. The average income is around $60,000 and the median age is slightly above 40 years.
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An unincorporated, gated community bordered by Carmel to the south, Pacific Grove to the north, Monterey to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Pebble Beach is well known throughout the world for its beauty, its golf courses, the grandeur of many of its residences and its fabled 17-Mile Drive.
Although it is not incorporated as a city, Pebble Beach has its own Community Services District to provide most of the traditional city public works services. Roads within "the forest," as Pebble Beach is often called, are owned and maintained by the Pebble Beach Company, the original land owner and current owner/operator of most of the golf courses and all the lodges within its bounds.
There is no "downtown" area of Pebble Beach, only a convenience store, bank and gas station near The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Residents do most of their routine shopping outside, but seem to like it that way. On numerous occasions, they have voted down efforts to create a city government to run their affairs.
Pebble Beach residents tend to be long-timers, with an average length of residence of slightly more than 12 years. Almost half of the forest's 2,500 plus housing units were built between 1950 and 1970.
Median age is close to 52 years, second only to Carmel, and household income is over $130,000, the highest in the country. Pebble Beach is generally considered an area for the wealthy, but few people realize the abundance of homes surrounding the Monterey Peninsula Country Club on the north portion of the forest, which follow more affordable pricing trends.
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The City of Seaside is a community of 33,450 people on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula, 115 miles south of San Francisco. Our website is designed to provide information about our community, as well as the services available to the City's visitors, residents, and businesses.
The Seaside Historical Commission was established in 1980 to promote interest in the history of Seaside, as well as the history of Monterey County. The goals are to provide opportunities for young people and residents to learn local history and to provide a permanent museum to collect and preserve materials of historic value.
“What Seaside, California is all about” Studies are being done at 1600 LaSalle St. Seaside, Ca. 93955. The Information and History Center is open to the public.
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The City of Gonzales, the "Wine Capital of Monterey County", is located in the heart of the fertile, 90-mile long Salinas Valley. Situated between the scenic Santa Lucia and Gabilan Mountain ranges, the City is 30 miles southeast of the beautiful Monterey Peninsula and 18 miles south of Salinas. Gonzales is a growing community of over 8,500 residents, many of whom are young families that enjoy the friendly small-town ambiance, mild year-round weather and the safe community environment.
The temperate climate of Gonzales provides comfortable summer time temperatures ranging from 70-80 degrees. Winter ranges fall between 40-60 degrees. The ideal weather supports the strong agricultural base of the City, which is home to several produce packing companies, agricultural related businesses, as well as Pacific Wine Partners, one of the area's most prominent wine producers.
Situated throughout the City are several public parks, a stable school system, and the recently renovated downtown area. The City's proximity to Salinas, the Monterey Peninsula, and the San Francisco Bay Area affords cultural and sporting opportunities within easy accessibility. Gonzales is proud of its small-town community environment, and its ability to maintain a fiscally-sound city government. The City has also been successful in managing a progressive growth plan, while effectively addressing the necessary level of services for the entire community.
Chualar is a small farming town just 1o miles south of Salinas. Chualar had its beginnings when in 1874 David Jacks set aside a portion of his Rancho Chualar for the town. Chualar is the Spainish adapation of the Indian word that means "place where chual (pigweed) grows." Click Here For More Gonzales Community Information Click Here For More Chualar Community Information Click Here For Monterey County School Information Click Here For Monterey County API Scores Information Click Here For Monterey County SAT Scores Information Here For Monterey Peninsula Park Information
Watsonville is located in the Monterey Bay area within California's Pajaro Valley, about 95 miles south of San Francisco. Watsonville is a part of Santa Cruz County and a rich agricultural community that is famous for its strawberries, applies and cut flowers. It is also a very ethnically diverse and young community with a population that is over 60% Hispanic and almost 32% under the age of 18. It is the 21st largest Hispanic market in the United States.
Agriculture and food processing are major employers within Watsonville and the surrounding areas. In keeping with recent trends, however, other opportunities have opened up in the area including light industry, manufacturing, tourism and service oriented businesses.
Children in Watsonville are educated within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which includes 16 elementary schools, three junior high schools, two high schools and one continuation high school. For higher education, residents can attend community college at Cabrillo in Aptos, or its outreach center in Watsonville. They can also take advantage of classes at the nearby University of California in Santa Cruz.
Located right on the Central California coast, Watsonville is near many of the state’s most beautiful beaches. Swimming, surfing and camping are all popular pastimes in Watsonville. Watsonville is also home to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, which is the host of several major events throughout the year including an annual Burrito Bash and Cinco de Mayo celebration. In addition, the annual West Coast Antique Fly-in and Air show takes place at the Watsonville Airport.
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