Laguna Beach is a wonderful place to live filled with art festivals and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This also makes it one of the most desirable places to live with over 20,000 people calling Laguna Beach home. The city is divided into four sections with North Laguna occupying the section north of the main beach and towards Newport Beach. This is where you will find the highest priced real estate and also three luxury oceanfront gated communities known as Emerald Bay, Irvine Cove and Smithcliffs. Here is your guide to the North Laguna Beach gated communities.
Emerald Bay is known across the globe as a true luxury community with majestic ocean front estate homes that reside at the top of a cliff to beach front homes that sit directly next to the sand. What makes this more than just another beachfront community is the level of organization that has been taken by the neighborhood association. For example, the community has it’s own fire station that exists within the neighborhood to protect homes from fire damage. Properties located here are situated close to each other and the quick response time of saving just minutes can mean the difference between saving a home from fire. Emerald Bay also has scheduled activities throughout the year for children and adults. This is especially true during the summer months when children are off from school and enjoy the daily activities that the community sponsors. There are also multiple tennis courts, community pool, park with sports court and large clubhouse that is ideal for hosting large events. All of this can be found without leaving the community which makes living here very desirable. Real Estate prices start at $3,100,000 for a 2,100 square foot home and currently go as high as $26 million for a beach front estate.
Irvine Cove is located next door to Emerald Bay and shares many similar features to it. A section of the community was originally deeded to the Irvine family and the neighborhood was built around these homes. The topography here offer less hillside views as the land gradually slopes up the hill unlike Emerald Bay that offers dramatic hill side view properties. For the most part the homes are built so neighboring properties can enjoy the ocean views that are truly spectacular from this North Laguna location. Similar to Emerald Bay, there is a natural seaside cove where the beach is located that offers privacy without outside tourists coming in. Properties located on the ocean front command the highest prices in Irvine Cove with current prices above $50 million dollars for a beachfront residence. Living here is truly a status symbol as home prices normally start above $4 million dollars.
Finally, the Smithcliffs gated community in North Laguna is for those looking for an intimate feel without the large number of homes that both Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove have. For the most part, many of the properties located here will not have an ocean view unless the property is located on the oceanfront. Homes rarely come on the market for sale here since the community is very small and residents truly enjoy living here. Real Estate prices normally will start above $3 million dollars and offer a prime location next to the Emerald Bay neighborhood. There are no scheduled association events like Emerald Bay but just upscale living in a very desirable neighborhood in North Laguna Beach. For those looking to invest in the Laguna Beach market it’s important to understand the various communities and best times to buy here. The selling season normally starts in mid January and continues through the end of September. The best properties will be on the market during these times but will also command a higher price point than buying during the off season months. For professional representation please contact any of our luxury real estate agents today.