Claremont is the last city in Los Angeles County before the San Bernardino County line, and it looks different from its neighbors on either side: a walkable downtown called the Village, a cluster of college campuses, and streets shaded by mature trees that the city actively protects. This page walks through Claremont real estate area by area and lists the practical checks for buyers and sellers. To talk through a move, call or text Aimee Ghafouri of 951 Properties at (951) 331-8453.
How Claremont Is Laid Out
The city runs north to south from the base of the San Gabriel Mountains down to Interstate 10. Foothill Boulevard (historic Route 66) and the 210 freeway cross the middle, Base Line Road runs just north of the freeway, and Mount Baldy Road climbs out of the north end toward the mountains. Upland lies to the east, Montclair and Pomona to the south, and La Verne to the west.
The Claremont Colleges occupy a large block of land east of the Village, between roughly First Street and Foothill Boulevard. A Metrolink station on the San Bernardino Line sits at the south edge of the Village. Public schools are part of the Claremont Unified School District, and attendance boundaries should be confirmed with the district.
Claremont Homes for Sale by Area
The Village and the historic core
The blocks around the Village and the colleges hold the oldest houses in the city: Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial Revival homes, a few Victorians and many early twentieth century cottages. Lots are modest, garages are often detached and set back on the lot, and many homes have been carefully restored.
South Claremont
Between the railway and the 10 freeway, housing is mainly post-war single-story tract homes, with some condos and townhomes. The Russian Village District along South Mills Avenue is a short row of distinctive houses built largely from salvaged materials in the 1920s and 1930s.
Central and north Claremont
North of Foothill Boulevard the housing gets newer and the lots larger, moving from mid-century ranch homes, including some well-regarded modernist designs, to later tracts near Base Line Road and the 210.
Claraboya and Padua Hills
Claraboya is a hillside neighborhood above the city with terraced lots and long valley views. Padua Hills, further northeast near the historic Padua Hills Theatre, has custom homes on larger, more natural lots. Both back onto open space, including the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.
Buying an Older or Historic Claremont House
Much of what draws people to houses for sale in Claremont is age and character, and both come with homework:
- Ask whether the property is a designated historic resource or inside a historic area, and what review applies to exterior changes. The city’s planning division can answer for a specific address.
- Some owners hold Mills Act contracts, which trade a property tax adjustment for preservation commitments. Ask whether one exists and have a tax professional explain how it would carry over.
- Have an inspector look at foundations, knob-and-tube or other early wiring, galvanized or cast iron plumbing, and unreinforced chimneys.
- Claremont regulates street trees and some trees on private land. Check before planning to remove one.
Foothill Fire Zones, Wind and Insurance
The northern edge of the city meets chaparral-covered hills. The 2003 wildfires burned homes in the Claraboya and Padua Hills area, and the foothill neighborhoods are mapped in fire hazard severity zones. If you are looking north of Base Line Road, ask an insurance broker for a quote on the exact address before writing an offer, and review defensible space requirements with Los Angeles County Fire, which serves the city. Strong Santa Ana winds also come through this part of the valley, so tree condition and roof age deserve attention anywhere in town.
Selling a Home in Claremont
Buyers comparing Claremont with La Verne, Upland and San Dimas tend to be specific about what they want here: an original Craftsman near the Village, a single-story mid-century house, or a view lot. Selling a home in Claremont goes more smoothly when you can document what makes yours one of those.
- Gather permits for additions, kitchen and bath remodels, and any accessory dwelling unit.
- Have Mills Act or historic designation paperwork ready if it applies.
- For foothill homes, share your insurance carrier and any fire-hardening work.
- Price from recent sales in your own part of town, since the Village, south Claremont and the hills behave differently.
A Claremont Real Estate Agent Based in Temecula
Aimee Ghafouri is a real estate agent based in Temecula and licensed throughout California. A Southern California native who grew up in Murrieta, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business and has spent more than 15 years in sales and marketing. She represents buyers, sellers and investors with a focus on communication and follow-through. People regularly move between the Pomona Valley and the Inland Empire, and she can help on either end of that move. Reach her through the contact page or at (951) 331-8453.
Cities Near Claremont
- La Verne, the next foothill city to the west.
- Upland, across the county line to the east.
- San Antonio Heights, an unincorporated foothill community above Upland.
- Pomona, to the south and southwest.
- Montclair, to the southeast.
- San Dimas, further west along the 210.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Claremont in Los Angeles County or the Inland Empire?
Claremont is an incorporated city in Los Angeles County, on its eastern edge. It borders Upland and Montclair in San Bernardino County, so it is often grouped with the Pomona Valley and the western Inland Empire.
What is the Claremont Village?
The Village is the city’s historic downtown, a compact grid of shops, restaurants and offices west of the Claremont Colleges with a Metrolink station at its south end. The surrounding streets hold many of the city’s oldest homes.
Are there rules on changing a historic home in Claremont?
There can be. Designated properties and some older areas are subject to design review for exterior changes, and Mills Act contracts carry preservation obligations. Ask the City of Claremont planning division about the specific address.
Do I need special insurance in Claraboya or Padua Hills?
These hillside areas are in mapped fire hazard zones, so coverage can be harder to place than in the flat parts of town. Get a quote for the exact address early, and ask the broker about the California FAIR Plan if standard carriers decline.
How do I start looking at Claremont real estate?
Call or text Aimee Ghafouri at (951) 331-8453 with the part of town, home style and timing you have in mind. She will set up a search and flag historic, tree and insurance questions on each listing.
Buying or Selling in Claremont?
Aimee Ghafouri is a real estate agent based in Temecula who grew up in Murrieta. She is licensed to work anywhere in California and represents buyers, sellers and investors.
Aimee Ghafouri, 951 Properties, CAL DRE #02193341. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.