Laguna Beach is its own small city, with about seven miles of coastline, dozens of coves and a market unlike anywhere else in Orange County. A cottage in the Village, a hillside view home on Top of the World and an oceanfront estate in Emerald Bay or Three Arch Bay share a zip code but almost nothing else, including how they are priced, permitted and insured. The Gomez | Align Group at Douglas Elliman helps buyers and sellers across Laguna Beach from our office at 12 Corporate Plaza in Newport Center, a short drive up Coast Highway.
Laguna Beach Market Snapshot (Fall 2026)
Citywide averages hide big differences between neighborhoods, so use these as a starting point:
- Recent sales: 85 homes sold in the 90 days through late October 2026, at a median of about $3.35 million, up roughly 13% from a year earlier.
- Typical home value: about $3.1 million citywide.
- Price per square foot: around $1,600 at the median, and far higher for oceanfront and bluff-top homes.
- Pace: the median home sold in about 38 days. Well-priced Village and view homes still move quickly, while luxury estates usually take longer.
- Gated oceanfront: homes in Emerald Bay and Three Arch Bay typically start around $6 million, and oceanfront estates can reach $20 million to $40 million or more.
- Property taxes: plan on roughly 1.1% of the purchase price per year. On a $3.35 million home, that is about $36,800 in the first year.
Want numbers for your street? Ask us for a free pricing analysis based on the closest comparable sales.
Laguna Beach Neighborhoods We Serve
North Laguna
- Emerald Bay: a guard-gated community next to Crystal Cove State Park, with a private beach, tennis courts and parks.
- Irvine Cove: a small gated oceanfront enclave with private beach access.
- Crescent Bay, Smithcliffs & Shaw's Cove: ocean-view streets above some of Laguna's best snorkeling coves, close to the north end of town.
The Village
- Downtown & the Village: cottages, remodels and condos within walking distance of Main Beach, Heisler Park, galleries and restaurants.
- Woods Cove & Arch Beach: beach-close homes around some of Laguna's most photographed coves, just south of downtown.
The Hills
- Top of the World, Temple Hills & Mystic Hills: hillside homes with panoramic ocean and Catalina views, plus trail access into the surrounding wilderness parks.
- Arch Beach Heights & Bluebird Canyon: quieter hillside streets with ocean and canyon views, often at lower prices than homes closer to the sand.
South Laguna
- Victoria Beach: oceanfront and ocean-view homes along one of Laguna's most dramatic beaches, without gates.
- Three Arch Bay: a guard-gated community of about 500 homes, split into Upper and Lower Three Arch Bay, with a private beach named for its sea arches.
- South Laguna Village & Bluffs: coastal homes near Aliso Beach and Thousand Steps Beach, with a more relaxed, local feel.
Laguna Beach Insider Tips for Buyers and Sellers
- Plan remodels before you buy. Most exterior changes need Design Review Board approval, and many also need a coastal development permit. Three Arch Bay, Irvine Cove and Blue Lagoon stay under California Coastal Commission jurisdiction, which can add months. Find out what you can change before you write an offer.
- Get fire insurance quotes during escrow. Many hillside and canyon neighborhoods are in high fire hazard zones, and coverage can be harder to find and more expensive. Lock in a quote before your contingencies expire.
- Order a geologic report for bluff and hillside homes. Slope and bluff stability matter as much as the view, and they affect what you can build later.
- Views can change by the foot. Two homes on the same street can have very different views. Ask about the city's view preservation rules for trees and hedges, and any HOA view rules.
- Parking matters in summer. Village homes with a garage or off-street parking are easier to live in and easier to sell during tourist season.
- Sellers: time exterior work early. Because design review takes time, finish any visible exterior projects well before listing, not during escrow.
Living in Laguna Beach
Beaches and trails: Main Beach, Heisler Park, Crescent Bay, Victoria Beach, Thousand Steps and Aliso Beach, plus miles of hiking in the Laguna Coast Wilderness and Aliso and Wood Canyons parks.
Art and culture: the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, the Sawdust Art Festival, the Laguna Art Museum and the monthly First Thursdays Art Walk.
Schools: Laguna Beach Unified School District, including El Morro Elementary, Top of the World Elementary, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School.
Location: Coast Highway connects you to Newport Beach and Dana Point, and Laguna Canyon Road and the 73 reach the 405 and 5 freeways.
Selling a Laguna Beach Home
In Laguna, the view, the walk to the sand and what a buyer could build all drive the price. We price your home against the sales that match those features in your part of town. Then we market it through Douglas Elliman's global network with professional photography and video, reaching buyers from Los Angeles, the Bay Area and beyond.
Buying in Laguna Beach
We'll help you compare Village walkability, hillside views and gated oceanfront living, and check permits, insurance and HOA rules before you commit. You'll also get access to off-market and coming-soon homes through our network and Douglas Elliman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laguna Beach part of Newport Beach?
No. Laguna Beach is its own city with its own school district. It borders Newport Coast and Crystal Cove State Park to the north and Dana Point to the south.
How much does a home cost in Laguna Beach?
Recent sales have run at a median of about $3.35 million, with typical values around $3.1 million. Gated oceanfront homes in Emerald Bay and Three Arch Bay start around $6 million.
Which Laguna Beach neighborhoods are gated?
Emerald Bay and Three Arch Bay are guard-gated, and Irvine Cove is also gated. Each has its own HOA rules and private beach access.
Do I need permits to remodel a home in Laguna Beach?
Most exterior changes need design review, and many also need a coastal development permit. Check what applies to a specific home before you buy.
What schools serve Laguna Beach?
Laguna Beach Unified School District serves the city, including El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School.
Who are good realtors in Laguna Beach?
The Gomez | Align Group is a Douglas Elliman team based in Newport Center, a short drive from Laguna Beach. We help buyers and sellers across the Village, the hills, North Laguna and South Laguna.
Talk to a Laguna Beach Realtor
Call Sahar Moghadam at (949) 948-4783 or Cesar Gomez at (949) 731-4173, or request your free home valuation.
Written by Cesar Gomez, Broker Associate at Douglas Elliman (CA DRE# 01876957), The Gomez | Align Group. Market figures updated November 2026.