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Real Estate Overview & Location 

Central San Clemente, which encompasses Downtown San Clemente, is a large area stretching from Avenida Pico off Interstate 5 to Avenida Del Mar and from the coast up to the hilltops east of the freeway along this stretch.  Please refer to our interactive map for a detailed outline of this area.

Central/Downtown San Clemente real estate includes property types ranging from condos, mixed-use, single family residences, and luxury estates.  West of Interstate 5 is the most densely populated area in all of San Clemente, with a variety of beach homes, condominiums, duplexes, and historic Ole Hanson-style homes.  The mixed-use properties have office and retail on the lower floors and residences on the upper floors.  The large single family and custom estates are primarily located on the rising hills east of Interstate 5, with many offering some of the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina, and Dana Point Harbor in South Orange County.  Central San Clemente is also home to many vacation rentals, particularly during the summer months; most of the rentals are located west of Interstate 5.

Downtown San Clemente (Avenida Del Mar)

Downtown San Clemente along Avenida Del Mar is the social hub of this quiet coastal community.  This lengthy street contains a variety of locally-owned boutique shops and restaurants that will satisfy any palette.  Some of the most popular eateries include Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar, BeachFire Bar and Grill, and the quaint Cafe Mimosa.  This is a great area to stroll, shop, eat, or just relax anytime of the year, and there is plenty of public parking available along Avenida Del Mar or in various lots off the main drag.  For a detailed list of shops and restaurants, please visit the Downtown San Clemente website.

As you make your way down Avenida Del Mar, you will find Casa Romantica.  This historic landmark is city founder Ole Hanson's former estate that has been maintained and converted into a cultural center with amazing gardens and a variety of events and art exhibits.  The San Clemente Pier is home to numerous annual events, including the spectacular Fourth of July fireworks and the San Clemente Ocean Festival.  For more lifestyle information, please visit the 'Discover San Clemente' section of our website and our blog.

Schools

Children living in Central San Clemente attend North Beach or Concordia Elementary School, Shorecliff’s Middle School, and San Clemente High School.  San Clemente High School is ranked in the top 1.3% of high schools nationwide based on test scores. For more information on schools and the school district serving San Clemente, please visit the the schools section on our website.

Property Types & HOA Assessments

Because the inventory of properties is diverse, the prices and square footage for real estate in this area varies significantly.  Most Downtown San Clemente condos offer 1,000 – 2,000 square feet; however, pricing can dramatically fluctuate as ocean view condos have a premium attached to them pushing values well over $1,000,000. Many Central San Clemente condos have HOA dues, specifically the high-end oceanfront complexes with dues running between $300-500 per month.  Similarily, the San Clemente homes and luxury estates also differ in size and price depending on location within the area, lot size, and views.  Only select single family developments have HOA dues in this area, and Central San Clemente real estate has no Mello-Roos assessments.

Neighborhoods / Builder Tracts

Along with numerous custom homes and condos, there are 6 builder tracts and 12 condo complexes (some oceanfront) in Central San Clemente.  To search for homes in this area with regards to price range, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, features, amenities, and current properties for sale, please refer to our summary below or utilize the left-hand menu.   You may also use the quick search above to find Central San Clemente homes and condos for sale by property type, price range, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Investing in Central San Clemente

Because Central San Clemente real estate is older, there are a lot of investment opportunities as the area is experiencing some redevelopment.  There are also opportunities to own a San Clemente vacation rental as there is high demand for summer rentals in this area from the end of May to the beginning of September.  Owning a home or condo in Central San Clemente is for the investor who is all about location.  Living in Central San Clemente means you will likely be a very short distance to the beach, shops, restaurants, and many other amenities.

San Clemente real estate offers some of the most affordable coastal real estate in Southern California, especially compared to Laguna Beach real estate, Newport Coast real estate, and Corona Del Mar real estate where prices are significantly higher per square foot.  As San Clemente real estate continues to experience redevelopment in the older areas, values will go up in the long-term as there is little coastal land left to develop in the Orange County real estate market.

San Clemente Coastal Living
555 N. El Camino Real
Suite A379
San Clemente, CA 92672
Phone: (949) 281-5444
Fax: (949) 606-0493
info@sanclementecoastalliving.com