Located at the southernmost edge of Orange County, San Clemente is known as “The Spanish Village by the Sea” and offers an amazing coastline and beautiful beaches. San Clemente is known for a laid-back lifestyle 365 days a year. With its perpetual sunny weather and perfect waves, it is a surfer’s paradise! Take a stroll down Avenida Del Mar where you will discover charming boutiques, restaurants and cafes along with art galleries, parks, and the historic wooden fishing pier not far from downtown. Among San Clemente’s most renowned communities are Cyprus Shore, Cyprus Cove, Cotton Point Estates—where the famed West Coast White House is—and The Breakers. These guard-gated enclaves boast exclusive amenities, beach access and breathtaking ocean views.
Southwest San Clemente
Considered as one of the most expensive areas in San Clemente, the southwest area is bounded by Trafalgar Lane towards the Pacific Coast and continues all the way to the Orange County and San Diego County border. This is a residential area of charming beach style cottages, Spanish style “Ole Hanson” historic homes (named after the founder of San Clemente who envisioned the city with homes designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, ocean-view estates and many large custom home.
The most popular surf beaches in the San Clemente area like Riviera Beach, T-Street, and Trestles are located here, making the Southwest area highly desirable among surfers and beachgoers. Five private and exclusive gated communities are also found in Southwest San Clemente: La Ladera, Cyprus Cove, Cyprus Shore, The Breakers, and Cottons Point. The last is notable for being home to La Casa Pacifica, more popularly known as the Western White House, the estate where President Nixon lived from 1969 to 1974.
Southwest San Clemente has easy access to beaches, shopping and dining.
Southeast San Clemente
Southeast San Clemente features homes located in the foothills to the east of the 5 freeway, making it a bit of a trek to get to the beach. Many of the homes and condos located in this area have spectacular panoramic ocean views or golf course views (San Clemente Municipal Golf Club) with larger lots than the homes located closer to the beach, and also, a significant price difference with them as well. There is a mix of custom homes, estate properties, luxury condos, mid-century homes, and historic Ole Hanson Spanish homes. Neighborhoods like Mariners Point, Sea Ridge Estates and Presidential Heights provide panoramic views of the fairway and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
Central San Clemente
San Clemente Central is where the downtown area is located, stretching towards the beach and the San Clemente Pier. Homes in this area include single-family residences, townhouses and condos mixed with duplex, triplex, and fourplex buildings. There is a large concentration of rentals found here, particularly popular among visitors during the summer months.
The downtown area is also where the well-known Avenida Del Mar winds its way towards the San Clemente Pier. Numerous boutiques, shops and restaurants are along the upper portion of the avenue and gradually as it gets closer to the beach it transforms into a residential district. San Clemente Central is also home to Casa Romantica, the historic home of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson.
North San Clemente
The north side of San Clemente is the area that shares the beach border with Capistrano Beach. It contains a pleasant mix of single-family residences, beach cottages, condos, and estate properties, with some homes originally built as vacation homes during the 1920s-1970s. The historic Ole Hanson Beach Club can be found here, which was used as a venue for weddings and events before it was closed for renovation.
Among the well-known neighborhoods in San Clemente North include Shorecliffs and Sea Pointe Estates. Shorecliffs is a beach community with a golf course and private beach, while Sea Pointe Estates is a gated community featuring mansions that boast stunning sunset views, as well as breathtaking views of the San Clemente Pier, Dana Point Harbor, and Santa Catalina Island.
Coast District
The Coast District is located on the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean, located on the east-central portion of San Clemente just between the communities of Forster Ranch and Marblehead. The Coast District was so named because of the spectacular ocean views that many of its homes provide. The homes here offer much-needed privacy away from the crowds and traffic, aside from sweeping, unmatched views of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll find many average to larger single-family residences here among the winding hills and quiet cul-de-sacs, with lot sizes ranging from traditional to expansive.
Centrally located, the Coast District allows easy access to downtown San Clemente and the historic Pier, as well as the freeway if you’re headed north to Los Angeles or south to San Diego, while amenities and opportunities for recreational activities like shopping, dining, and surfing are just minutes away.
Forster Ranch
Forster Ranch is often referred to as the “Country Coastal” section in San Clemente, located east of the San Diego Freeway, just 2 miles from the ocean. It is known for its family-friendly neighborhoods, award winning schools, sports fields, parks, large open greenbelts and lighted tennis courts. Most of the homes here are single-family residences and there are some condo developments as well. Since the area is on the non-coastal side of the freeway, lot sizes tend to be larger and more expansive, with sprawling estates and Ole Hanson Spanish-style homes, many of them providing lovely ocean views.
Among the many neighborhoods located in the Forster Ranch area are Ashton, Cantomar, Compass Pointe, El Encanto, Flora Vista, Glen Ridge Estates, Las Veradas, Rimrock, and Tocayo Ridge. Four exclusive gated communities collectively called The Reserves are also in Forster Ranch: Reserve North, Reserve South, Reserve East, and Reserve West.
Marblehead
Marblehead is a planned community located in San Clemente’s eastern central portion, roughly between the areas inland bounded by Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida Pico from Interstate 5. Homes in Marblehead are in private gated enclaves that include communities initially built during the early 1980s. Single-family residences and sprawling estates are the norm here, along with townhouse-style condominiums, with most providing breathtaking ocean views that can be quite irresistible to homebuyers.
The various neighborhoods and gated communities of Marblehead include The Crest, Signal Point, Highland Light Estates, Highland Light Village, and The Summit at Highland Light, as well as the condo developments of Faire Harbor and New Providence. Marblehead has its own community park that’s adjacent to tennis and basketball courts, while San Clemente High School, Verde Park, and other amenities are just nearby. Passing through Avenida Pico towards the coastline will find you in the North Beach area, near the historic Ole Hanson Beach Club.
Rancho San Clemente
Rancho San Clemente is the neighborhood area located south of Avenida Pico, behind San Clemente High School and is surrounded by the Rancho San Clemente Ridgeline Trail. Housing options here include single-family residences, Spanish-style houses, sprawling estates and condos, with most providing great views of the mountains or Pacific Ocean coast.
Neighborhoods in Rancho San Clemente include Bella Vista, Brisa Del Mar, Harbor Ridge, Harbor View, Mandalay, Montego, Pacific Crest, Pacific Shores, Rancho Cristanitos, Richmond Pointe, Villa Pacifica, Villagio, and the condo development of Vista Pacifica. Amenities such as the Rancho San Clemente Tennis and Fitness Club, Albertson’s shopping center, Rancho San Clemente Park, and the Bella Colina Golf Course are either located nearby or are within the community.
Talega
Initially constructed in 1999, the master planned community of Talega lies at the northeastern most corner of San Clemente. Talega contains a significantly large number of distinctive neighborhoods – over 40 in all, including Bella Vista, Cazadero, Farralon Ridge, Miraleste, Portomarin, San Lucar, Vizcaya, and more. There are also gated communities like Sandbridge, Seagarden, Waterleaf, and Wavecrest, as well as The Talega Gallery, an active lifestyle neighborhood for seniors. Talega offers tract housing options such as single-family residences, Spanish-style homes, townhouses and condominiums, many of which have hillside or ocean views.
Residents of Talega enjoy up to 2,000 acres of wide open spaces that include parks and hiking trails, plus a range of community amenities like the Talega Swim and Athletic Club, the Talega Village Center, and the Talega Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 Fred Couples “Signature” championship golf course that’s ranked as one of the top golf courses in the country.
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