Santa Monica — architectural character
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Santa Monica

Homes in Santa Monica

Coastal architectural living by the pier.

59 listings

Overview

Santa Monica is the Westside's coastal terminus — an incorporated city of beach, bluff, and boulevards where residential architecture meets the Pacific and the civic identity is its own.

History & Character

Founded in 1875 around a wharf and railroad terminus, Santa Monica grew as a resort town and then a full city, incorporating in 1886. The pier (1909), the Miramar, and the successive densification of downtown Santa Monica have made it a model of urban coastal living.

Architectural Identity

Residential streets hold craftsman, Spanish Revival, and Mid-Century Modern houses, particularly north of Montana and in the Ocean Park area, with a wave of architect-designed contemporary houses lining the bluffs and walk streets near the beach.

Lifestyle & Culture

The beach, the Pier, the Third Street Promenade, and the Montana Avenue retail strip define daily life. It is the most self-contained of the coastal cities, with its own schools, governance, and a famously engaged civic culture.

Notable Landmarks

  • Santa Monica Pier
  • Third Street Promenade
  • Montana Avenue
  • Palisades Park
527 7th Street — Mid Century Modern
For Sale$6,995,000

527 7th Street

Santa Monica
4 3 3,136 sf
Mid Century Modern
11 Marine Terrace #3 — Modern,Contemporary,Bungalow
For Lease$19,500/mo

11 Marine Terrace #3

Santa Monica
3 3 3,500 sf
Modern,Contemporary,Bungalow