Buying a home in Redondo Beach, CA: where your money buys the most space in 2026

By Buying October 30, 2026
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The median home price in Redondo Beach, CA sits just above $1.5 million. It's a tight market, but how tight depends almost entirely on which type of property you're targeting.

The real question isn't whether you can afford Redondo Beach. It's whether you understand the gap between single-family homes, townhouses, and condos well enough to know where your budget has room to breathe and where it doesn't.

 

Key takeaway

If you are buying a home in Redondo Beach, start with townhouses. They sold for about 22% less per square foot than single-family homes over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, and more than twice as many were on the market, so you will face less bidding. Choose a single-family house if a detached home and land matter more than space per dollar, and expect competition. If the lowest entry price matters most, look at condos.

 

Who this guide is for

You are planning to buy in Redondo Beach and need to decide which type of home and which side of town your budget should go toward before you start writing offers.

 

Redondo Beach housing market in 2026

The townhouse, not the single-family house, is where your money buys the most space and the most room to negotiate. Townhouses sold for about that same per-square-foot discount compared with houses in the 90 days ending September 30, 2026. With 62 townhouses listed and 2.8 months of supply, against 28 houses and 1.3 months, the competition isn't even close.

The citywide median of $1,541,766 is up just 0.4% from a year ago. That number doesn't tell you much on its own. Single-family prices rose 7.8% in the same period while condos slipped slightly, which means the market behaves very differently depending on what you're shopping for.

The flat headline figure hides real divergence between segments. Some parts of this market offer room to negotiate while others see serious bidding wars. The "At a glance" section below has the exact figures for each property type.

 

Which home type gives you the most space for the money?

At the median rates, 2,000 square feet costs about $1,888,000 as a single-family home and about $1,478,000 as a townhouse. That's a gap of roughly $410,000 for the same interior space.

This is an illustration based on medians. Real homes vary by location, age, and condition. Still, the per-square-foot difference shapes what your dollar buys, and grouping your search by property type helps you weigh square footage against the value of land and a detached home.

Townhouses

Townhouses make up the biggest slice of what's currently for sale in the city. A median-priced townhouse costs about $215,000 less than a median-priced house, and the per-square-foot gap is substantial, so these aren't simply smaller homes squeezed into a cheaper bracket.

Supply is loose enough that you can compare, inspect, and negotiate rather than racing to beat competing offers. You'll usually have time for property inspections and the HOA document review. Ask the HOA for current monthly dues, the latest reserve study, any planned special assessments, and any pending litigation before you remove contingencies.

The tradeoff is shared walls and an HOA. Dues, special assessments, and rules around rentals, pets, or remodels all become part of the real cost. A few hundred dollars a month in dues can eat into that per-square-foot savings quickly.

Single-family homes

Single-family homes had just 1.3 months of supply, roughly half the level of townhouses and condos, and more than a third sold above asking. This is the tightest segment in Redondo Beach.

You pay a premium for the land and the freedom from HOA rules. Expect multiple offers, short decision windows, and little room to ask for credits. Being fully underwritten before you start touring, and knowing your walk-away number before you step through a door, matters more here than in any other segment.

What you give up is purchasing power. You're paying the highest price per square foot in town while also competing the hardest, so the house may well come with less interior space than a townhouse at a similar budget.

Condos

Condos are the lowest-cost entry point into the city and the only type whose median has recently declined. Fewer than one in five sold above list, which gives you the most room to negotiate on price or seller credits.

They're the cheapest homes in Redondo Beach to buy, though they cost more per square foot than townhouses. You're paying for location and a lower entry price, not for space. For any condo, ask whether the building is FHA-approved and what the master insurance policy covers.

The catch is straightforward: you get less space per dollar than a townhouse, and building-wide costs like HOA dues, special assessments, and master insurance can rise for reasons entirely outside your control.

 

North Redondo vs South Redondo

According to a City of Redondo Beach official profile, the city is often divided into two logical North and South areas using 190th Street as the boundary line. The market data doesn't split prices by area, so you'll want to compare recent sales on each side for your specific home type before making a decision.

The two sides offer different lifestyles and different price premiums. Your choice comes down to whether you prioritize walking to the water or getting more house for your money slightly farther inland.

North Redondo Beach

North Redondo begins north of 190th Street and is primarily an inland area. The beachfront there is occupied mostly by Hermosa Beach and part of Manhattan Beach. The South Bay Galleria, the area's big regional mall, sits in North Redondo.

The South Bay Galleria redevelopment covers the existing 29.85-acre enclosed mall property at 1815 Hawthorne Boulevard. It involves redesigning portions of the site by combining expanded retail and dining venues with open-air promenades, hotel, and residential development. If square footage outranks beach access on your list, this is where to look first.

The tradeoff is distance from the sand and the pier. Check the drive and beach parking at the times you'd go, and check traffic on the main corridors near any listing at rush hour.

South Redondo Beach

South Redondo sits south of the 190th Street boundary and hosts the pier and marina complex. You pay a premium for the location and the walkability to the water.

Some remodels near the coast require coastal development review on top of a standard building permit. Under the Redondo Beach Municipal Code, a Coastal Development Permit is required for development within the defined Coastal Zone to ensure it conforms to the California Coastal Act. In the city's single-family residential zone, buildings cannot exceed two stories and face a maximum height of 30 feet. If you're planning to add space down the road, ask the city's planning division what's allowed before you write an offer.

 

Financing and ownership costs in Redondo Beach

The purchase price is only one part of your monthly housing budget. Financing a home in Los Angeles County involves specific loan limits, and ongoing ownership costs can shift your calculations considerably.

Estimate your full carrying costs before committing to a property type. Property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees change how far your dollar stretches each month in ways that the price per square foot doesn't capture.

Getting a mortgage for a Redondo Beach home

For 2026, the Federal Housing Finance Agency set the one-unit conforming loan limit for Los Angeles County at $1,249,125. At 20% down, a median-priced condo's loan may fit under that limit.

Median townhouses and houses will likely need jumbo financing. Get pre-approved for the exact loan type, because sellers of single-family homes will expect proof. Talk with a licensed lender about your specific situation. A pre-approval for a conforming loan won't carry you into most townhouse or single-family purchases, and finding that out mid-transaction is not where you want to be.

Property taxes, HOA dues and insurance

Under Proposition 13, a property owner's general levy tax is limited to 1% of the assessed value, plus voter-approved indebtedness and direct assessment taxes. On that median purchase price, the base levy alone is $15,000 a year before additional voter-approved charges. Your first year typically brings two property tax bills: the regular one and a supplemental bill that resets the tax to your purchase price.

Confirm the property's tax rate area and voter-approved levies with the LA County Assessor or Treasurer and Tax Collector. For homeowners insurance, the FAIR Plan is California's insurer of last resort. As of early 2026, it absorbs almost 6% of California's property insurance market. Get homeowners insurance quotes during your contingency period, not after.

None of these costs show up in the price per square foot. HOA dues or insurance can turn a cheaper townhouse or condo into a similar monthly payment as something priced higher. Total them all before you compare options.

 

Schools and other checks before you buy

The Redondo Beach Unified School District directs families to determine their resident school using the district's official School Locator tool. You enter a home address to find the applicable school, then contact that school to complete enrollment. Confirm school assignment for a specific address directly with the district and don't rely on a listing description.

For older homes, ask the city's building and planning divisions whether past additions were permitted. Check what remodels the coastal and height rules would allow for the specific lot you're considering. Read the Natural Hazard Disclosure report you receive during the transaction. That document outlines local environmental and geological conditions tied to the address.

 

How to narrow your search in Redondo Beach

Start with what you need from the home. If a detached home and land of your own are non-negotiable, focus on the single-family market. If interior space matters most, the space-per-dollar math points clearly to townhouses.

If your budget is closer to $1 million than the city median, start with the condos profile, then read the mortgage section to see whether your loan stays under the conforming limit.

Think honestly about how much competition you can handle. If you can't move quickly or offer over asking, the townhouse and condo profiles show where supply gives you time to think. The single-family profile shows what you're up against if you go that route.

Finally, decide whether walking distance to the pier is worth the price premium, or whether you'd trade beach access for more house.

Related guides: Best real estate agent in Redondo Beach.

 

At a glance

  • All homes (90 days ending Sept. 30, 2026): median sale price $1,541,766, up 0.4% year over year, on 179 sales
  • All homes (same window): median $839 per sq ft; 47 median days on market; 99.9% sale-to-list; 26.1% sold above list
  • All homes (same window): 136 homes for sale; 2.3 months of supply
  • Single-family homes (90 days ending Sept. 30, 2026): median sale price $1,794,285, up 7.8% year over year, on 66 sales; median $944 per sq ft
  • Single-family homes (same window): 39 median days on market; 100.3% sale-to-list; 35.4% sold above list; 28 for sale; 1.3 months of supply
  • Townhouses (90 days ending Sept. 30, 2026): median sale price $1,579,019, up 5.3% year over year, on 67 sales; median $739 per sq ft
  • Townhouses (same window): 47 median days on market; 99.8% sale-to-list; 23% sold above list; 62 for sale; 2.8 months of supply
  • Condos (90 days ending Sept. 30, 2026): median sale price $964,901, down 1% year over year, on 38 sales; median $818 per sq ft
  • Condos (same window): 47 median days on market; 99.9% sale-to-list; 18.9% sold above list; 35 for sale; 2.8 months of supply

 

Buying a home in Redondo Beach FAQs

Is Redondo Beach a good place to live?

It depends on what you want from coastal living and which home type your budget reaches. According to the city's website, Redondo Beach includes fifteen parks, thirteen parkettes, the Redondo Beach Pier, Seaside Lagoon, and a bathing and surfing beach. King Harbor also handles a 1,500-slip private craft port. Review the home-type section above to see how your budget fits the local market.

Is Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County?

Yes. Redondo Beach is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California, in the South Bay region of Greater Los Angeles. Property taxes are assessed and billed by Los Angeles County, so tax questions go to the LA County Assessor and Treasurer and Tax Collector.

What are the ZIP codes for Redondo Beach?

Redondo Beach is served by two standard ZIP codes: 90277 and 90278. ZIP lines do not exactly match the North and South Redondo boundary the city uses. Confirm a specific address on the city map.

Is Redondo Beach safe?

The Redondo Beach Police Department maintains an official ArcGIS Hub crime statistics page that tracks the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System data. You can compare per-resident rates over several years, separate property crime from violent crime, and look at the blocks around a specific address on the crime map. Call the department's non-emergency line with questions about a specific area.

Are Redondo Beach homes in a flood zone?

Flood zone status is set address by address on FEMA maps, and coastal areas may also sit in a state-mapped tsunami hazard area. The city provides an official Tsunami Inundation Map and evacuation routes, noting that historical tsunami events are rare. Look up the address, read the Natural Hazard Disclosure report, and get a quote early if your lender requires flood insurance.

What is the AES site in Redondo Beach?

The AES Redondo Beach Generating Station permanently shut down on December 31, 2023, ending a century-old waterfront power plant. Redevelopment of the 51-acre site remains unresolved, as the city and site owner are still engaged in litigation over development plans as of 2026. Future use of the site can change views, traffic, and open space nearby, so follow the city's project page for updates.

 

Sources

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