$4,178,032Average Value$2,474Average Price per Sq Ft17Homes For Sale
Beach vibes, luxury lifestyle on Balboa Peninsula
When people think of a California beach town, they probably think of Central Newport Beach. This downtown is famous for its Newport Pier, surf shops and swimsuit-accepting restaurants. “You’re on a permanent vacation here,” says Ellen Berry, a Realtor with First Team Real Estate and the Berry Best Real Estate Team. She works in the area and visits its commercial district often. “It’s endless with the amount of outdoor and entertainment options, and it’s so easy to walk around.” Walking near the pier on the neighborhood’s west side, McFadden Square has landmarks like the Centennial Legacy Project sphere and the Ben Carlson statue. Tourists can fill the square and the rest of the beachfront, especially in summer, but locals mostly live outside of this district. Upscale homes stretch east along the peninsula, facing Newport Bay or the Pacific Ocean. “You have a lot of short-term residents here, and maybe this is their second, third or fourth home,” Berry says. “They pop in and out, but neighbors still know each other and go out on the boat.”
In Central Newport Beach, Newport Bay homes often come with docks with boats or yachts.
People enjoy the radiant sunsets on the beach at Central Newport Beach.
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Enjoying the water: Newport Beach and Newport Harbor
With roughly 10 miles of white sand, Newport Beach is the reason most people come here. Tourists can pack this beach in summer, but locals have more room in the off season. Sand volleyball, surfing and basketball are just a few of the outdoor options here, and the Newport Pier is a popular fishing spot. Marina Park is on the neighborhood’s north side too. This 10-acre green space has a fitness circuit and a nautical-themed playground with a lighthouse slide. It also has views of the largest recreational harbor on the West Coast, Newport Harbor. Sailboats, yachts and other vessels usually fill the bay, and private docks line the nearby shore. The American Legion Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club are the closest clubs to the neighborhood, but others are scattered around the bay.
You can see various birds feeding on the beach in Central Newport Beach.
Surfers line up in the ocean hoping to catch the perfect wave in Central Newport Beach.
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Lively restaurants and shops in downtown Newport Beach
Downtown Newport Beach is a walkable district of restaurants and shops, clustered around Newport Pier. The Blue Beet, Blackie’s by the Sea and other bars have been here since the 1950s or earlier, as their crowded, portrait-filled walls suggest. “They’re not just for nightlife,” Berry says. “These places pop off all day with tourists and locals, and it can be hard to find a table.” The Crab Cooker is just as old, a bright-red building with a shark hanging from the ceiling. They’re known for their seafood market and paper plates. Surf shops are closest to the beach, but a Pavilions supermarket is about a half mile up the peninsula. In this northern area, West Marine has nautical supplies, and Lido Marina Village has upscale boutiques. Balboa Fun Zone has carnival rides and fair food on the peninsula's eastern side.
Dory Deli on the Newport Peninsula is a popular oceanfront restaurant with American-style food.
Several bars and restaurants lined up in Central Newport Beach have views of the ocean.
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A seaside tradition: Dory Fishing Fleet & Market
Though waterside shops have come and gone over the years, one institution remains a constant. Dory Fishing Fleet & Market has been around since 1891, when a Portuguese fisherman decided to sell his catch on the beach. He used a pointed, high-walled boat called a dory, which can be pushed off the sand and directly onto the water. Other fishermen soon joined him, and they all used these traditional dorys. While motors have been attached since then, these boats are still in use today. The fleet is the last remaining beachside fishing cooperative of its kind in the United States. It’s grown to around 15 fishermen, and many of them are fathers and sons. The market is open from Wednesday through Sunday, and the catch depends on the day. It’s probably best to arrive in the early morning, around 6:00; lines can get long, and fish might sell out.
The Dory Fishing Fleet & Market in Central Newport Beach has fresh seafood early mornings.
The Newport Beach Certified Farmers Market has fresh produce and other vendors to shop.
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Yachting events in Central Newport Beach, others around the city
Visible from Marina Park, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights has been brightening the harbor since the early 1900s. People decorate their yachts with everything from inflatable penguins to LED volcanos and drive them around the bay for all to see. In Lido Marina Village, the Newport Beach International Boat Show is another event in April that features over 200 vessels and gets over 20,000 visitors. Newport Beach’s Fireworks Extravaganza isn’t on the peninsula, but only a couple of miles north, it’s visible from the shore.
Homes in Central Newport Beach aren't too far from the water, and many have docks and boats.
Central Newport Beach has or is near several yacht clubs for those who own boats.
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Luxury properties with Newport Bay, Pacific Ocean views
Homes in Central Newport Beach make the most of the location. Painted in light colors, these properties often have patios or second-story verandas to view the water, and their abundant windows let in the sunlight. Homes on the northern shore have views of Newport Bay, and each one has a private dock. In the south, homes face the Pacific, and they’re closer to Newport Beach. Single-family properties start at $2.2 million on the peninsula’s interior but can reach $12.1 million on the waterfront. Duplexes are in the bottom half of this range, between $2.2 million and $6 million. Some condos are on the neighborhood’s eastern and western ends, and they’re between $1.6 million and $5.2 million.
In Central Newport Beach, homes lined up along the beach are prized for their ocean views.
Bay Island is a secluded area in Central Newport Beach where boats are the main access.
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All As for Newport-Mesa Unified Schools
Newport Elementary is central in the neighborhood and scores an A from Niche. About 3 miles north onto the mainland, Ensign Intermediate and Newport Harbor High both get As as well. The high school’s BRIDGES club meets weekly to improve human relations on campus and encourage different perspectives.
Newport Beach Elementary welcomes young learners in Newport Beach, CA.
The courses at Newport Harbor High School challenge students to learn and grow.
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Path next to Newport Beach, parking and traffic difficulties
Central Newport Beach is less than a square mile. It’s highly walkable and bikeable, and a paved path follows the beach for almost the entire length of the peninsula. However, most people have a car to access the mainland and other parts of Los Angeles. Balboa Boulevard is the main thoroughfare across the peninsula, and it can clog with tourist traffic in the summer. Parking is also difficult around this time, but a public lot is right next to Newport Pier. An alternative to driving, the Balboa Peninsula Trolley operates along Balboa Boulevard. It’s free and runs on weekends from June to September.
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Central Newport Beach Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Central Newport Beach, Newport Beach sell after 68 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Central Newport Beach, Newport Beach over the last 12 months is $4,087,500, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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