Malibu was severely impacted by the January 2025 wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
This content was created before those fires occurred. We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected, and we will chronicle this community's rebuilding efforts in the future.
Malibu's famed surfing
World-class surfing beaches to the south, world-class ocean hiking to the north, and Los Angeles less than an hour away by car — it’s hardly surprising that central Malibu is home to one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. Despite its reputation as a landing spot for celebrities and wealthy transplants, there is a strong sense of community in Malibu, anchored by the die-hard surfers who have been moving here for the excellent waves since the 1960s. These days, luxury buyers are drawn to the area’s beautiful scenery and the prestige that goes along with it, enjoying exclusive beachfront property 14 miles west of Los Angeles. Residents are always a short drive from the dozens of beaches that line the city’s coast, in addition to upscale shopping and dining. Whether residents live in beachfront villas or planned subdivisions in the hills, their shared love of nice things rivals only their passion for community. “For me, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else,” says Realtor and lifelong Malibu resident Marcus Beck with Sotheby’s International. “You’ve got the beaches, the mountains, great schools, great community. It’s kind of the best of all worlds.”
Sunsets in Malibu are truly spectacular.
Malibu Bluffs Park offers baseball fields.
Malibu is a picturesque coastal city located in Los Angeles County.
Surfing at Malibu offers a fantastic experience for surfers of all levels.
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Hillside mansions with ocean views
Homes in Malibu range from luxury condos to palatial estates, with few properties selling for less than seven figures. Beachfront property is at a particular premium, and even empty lots along the coast can command tens of millions of dollars. For those looking for high-end luxury, the neighborhood offers a wealth of options: upscale “surf shacks” near the water, modern family homes in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains and architectural masterpieces with spectacular ocean views are among the more common property types found in the city. Home prices in Malibu are among the highest in the country. Smaller condos and one- or two-bedroom mobile homes go for $1 to $2 million dollars, while high-end coastal mansions regularly sell for upwards of $50,000,000. Most homes fall somewhere in between — the median price for a single-family home in Malibu is just under $6,000,000.
Owning an oceanfront house in Malibu is like having a piece of paradise.
Hillside view homes in Malibu offer a sense of privacy and seclusion.
Townhomes in Malibu are often situated in prime locations.
Oceanfront view homes in Malibu offer unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Pacific beaches and Santa Monica Mountains
“It’s an amazing place if you want to be close to LA, but surrounded by natural beauty,” says Realtor Michelle Bolotin of Compass. “It’s right at that point on the Pacific Coast Highway where it stops feeling like LA and starts feeling like coastal towns.” Malibu is famous for white sand, and residents have an average of 338 days of sun each year to enjoy it. The more popular picks are Zuma Beach and El Matador State Beach, but with 21 miles of Pacific shoreline, there are really no bad options. When wave-catchers visit Surfrider Beach, they can experience the spot where the high-flying sport originated, and they can relax afterward at nearby Paradise Cove. Those who prefer land can hike 500-plus miles of Santa Monica Mountain trails, where canyon overlooks are sure to impress — when the weather is just right, summits will be above the clouds. Zuma Canyon’s ocean views are top-tier, and people love the hidden waterfalls at Escondido Canyon. The city of Malibu and California State Parks are working to make these spaces even better. The Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, for instance, is in its engineering and design phase as of February 2024; state-contracted consultants are collaborating on biological surveys, environmental permitting and public outreach.
Leo Carrillo State Beach is a beautiful stretch of coastline in Malibu.
Malibu is renowned for its consistent waves, beautiful coastline, and vibrant surf culture.
Take in the scenery on a park bench at Top of Topanga Overlook in Calabasas.
Malibu Creek State Park
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Malibu Country Mart shopping and galleries
Local retail centers around Malibu Country Mart and Malibu Village Mall, which are located in the center of town. Attracting residents and tourists across greater Los Angeles, this walkable district features upscale boutiques, elegant restaurants and luxury services. Public galleries and outdoor art cater to those with an eye for beauty, a few steps from the tranquil Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Nearby Adamson House Museum, built in 1929, traces its lineage to Malibu’s first landowner and is open for daily tours. About a mile west on the PCH, Malibu Bluffs Park hosts seasonal story readings for kids and summer movie screenings. Additional shopping and dining can be found scattered along the PCH throughout town. While the city’s culinary offerings can’t compare to LA proper, Malibu is known for its upscale oceanside eateries, most of which specialize in seafood and/or fine dining.
The Malibu Country Mart is a charming outdoor shopping and dining destination.
Malibu Farm Pier Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot.
The Malibu Farm Cafe is a more casual dining option located at the Malibu Pier.
Resident can find many boutique shops at Malibu Village Mall.
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Top-rated Malibu schools
Serving 9,100 students, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified ranks as one of the top six districts in greater Los Angeles and receives an A-plus from Niche. All of the individual public schools in Malibu have an A rating as well. As for higher education, Pepperdine University is situated in the Santa Monica foothills on the south side of town and overlooks the ocean. Its campus is frequently cited as one of the most beautiful in America, and is a popular running and walking spot for locals.
Malibu High School serves students in grades 9-12.
Webster Elementary School offers young students a themed curriculum tied to marine preservation.
Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located in Malibu.
Malibu Elementary is a public school located in Malibu.
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Cruising down the PCH, scenic bike rides
The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most iconic highways in America, and Malibu has 21 of its most beautiful beachfront miles. Despite its highway designation, the PCH is more like a fast-paced street, with occasional stoplights and cars going 35 to 55 miles per hour. It’s common to see bikers along this scenic route, but if they’re not comfortable with sharing the lane, plenty of mountain biking trails weave through the Santa Monica Range. Pedestrians can roam around beaches and small restaurant districts, but they’ll need a car to get anywhere else. From central Malibu Village, it’s 13 miles to Santa Monica and 11 more to Los Angeles International Airport. Traffic will likely increase as commuters approach the big city, particularly during rush hours, but other than shopping hubs and beaches, Malibu itself won’t be as packed. It is a bit of a drive to the nearest major hospitals: Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills are both about 15 miles by car from the center of town, and drive times to either location can stretch to an hour or more when traffic is bad.
Pacific Coast Highway is the main arterial road connecting Malibu and Los Angeles.
Pacific Coast Highway takes about 15 miles to get from Malibu to Santa Monica.
Take in the scenery on a park bench at Top of Topanga Overlook in Calabasas.
Malibu Creek State Park
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Malibu's famous chili cook-off
Malibu's event calendar isn't as loaded as coastal neighborhoods in LA proper. However, the city's chili cook-off, held every year on Labor Day weekend, draws tens of thousands of visitors — and more than a few celebrities — to the center of town for rides, music and award-winning chili from some of the best chili cooks in greater LA. There are also a number of community events held around town throughout the year, most notably the family-friendly movie series CineMalibu, which shows films in Malibu Bluffs Park during the Summer.
Fires and Santa Ana Winds
Wildfires do pose a threat to homes in the area, particularly those further inland, and the area is frequently evacuated when fires encroach on the area. Mudslides are also a risk in certain areas—particularly those that have been deforested by fires. These problems are significant enough to justify a full-time Disaster Recovery Center, located in the Malibu Civic Center. The Santa Ana Winds are another risk factor for Malibu residents. Nicknamed “the devil winds” in popular folklore, this phenomenon occurs 10 to 25 times a year and brings dry, powerful gusts from higher elevations. These events can cause major damage, felling trees and knocking down power lines, and homes should be constructed with this in mind. In 2011, a state of emergency was enacted when wind speed reached a record 167 miles per hour, and schools were closed for a week.
The winds pose additional danger because of Malibu’s tendency to wildfires. When the dry winds rip over the hills, they can incite fire and spread it rapidly. The Woolsey Fire, for example, brought an evacuation and burned almost 100,000 acres in 2018. Congress designated funds for the Woolsey recovery, and in July 2022, the National Park Service determined the fire had no significant impact on the ecosystem’s natural cycles. Malibu proposed the Community Wildfire Protection Plan in 2021, identifying and prioritizing areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments. “Fire and the availability and cost of fire insurance is definitely one of the biggest, if not the biggest, concerns for people buying in the area,” says Beck. “The risk is definitely there, but I also think homeowners are becoming more educated about the risk as well, and the fire department has really emphasized proper brush clearance of properties to minimize risk to homes.” Since Malibu is right on the coast, flash flooding is also a possibility in some areas. January 2023’s weeklong rain brought mudslides and sinkholes to the PCH; they resulted in road closures, vehicle damage and waterlogged homes. In December 2023, a flood advisory was issued when waves reached up to 20 feet, striking some shoreline mansions. The Capital Improvement Program is a city-wide project involving resurfacing roadways, storm drainage maintenance, traffic signal improvements, Woolsey fire repairs and many other infrastructure upgrades. These ongoing improvements are set to be complete by 2028, and repairs to the Pacific Coast Highway are in progress as of December 2023.
According to FBI statistics, Malibu had 479 crimes in 2022. This rate per 100,000 people is 65% above the state average and 102% above the national average. There were 59 incidents of violent crime and 420 incidents of property crime, the most common being theft at 317. To lower these rates, Malibu approved a long-term contract with the California Highway Patrol in January 2024; the two-million-dollar investment will deploy a three-officer traffic task force to patrol the PCH.
Malibu is frequently evacuated when natural disasters encroach.
Some areas in Malibu are susceptible to mudslide threats.
Don Heller entered real estate in 1996 after a 20-year career as an international CEO in the healthcare and computer automation arenas. He moved to Los Angeles 35 years ago and it is the relationships he established through each real estate opportunity that allowed him to grow his business through referrals. Don has gained knowledge from practicing real estate throughout the Los Angeles basin. He has been repeatedly recognized for his success in new developments, particularly through his history of continuously accelerating absorption speeds, surpassing sales records, and through his consulting abilities from land acquisition through all phases of development, marketing, and sales. It is his passion for people, working to see each party walk away victorious and a belief there is always a solution to every challenge that has defined his career. A real estate career started and grown with a passion for development, he has gratefully sold more than ninety new construction condominium projects and single-family homes. Personally developed and built more than a dozen luxury homes, and multi-family properties. Don has completed $1.6 billion in sales, using the skills and experiences in his previous career, he has worked with people from around the world coupled with his development experience. In his limited off hours, he has a passion for travel, golf, and his beautiful family.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
