Montebello Real Estate & Homes for Sale

Montebello means “beautiful hill” in Italian, and the hills are still the key to the city’s layout: flat, older neighborhoods in the south, rising streets with views in the north, and the Montebello Hills beyond them. The city is about eight miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Aimee Ghafouri of 951 Properties, a Temecula-based real estate agent licensed throughout California, helps buyers and sellers with Montebello real estate. Call or text (951) 331-8453.

Selling a Home in Montebello

Many Montebello houses have been held for a long time, sometimes for decades, and they often come to market in original or lightly updated condition. That is not a weakness if it is handled well. Useful steps before listing:

• Order a termite report and a sewer line inspection so you know what a buyer’s inspector will find.
• Collect permits for additions, roof work, re-piping and electrical upgrades. Check with the city building division if you are missing records.
• Clean up original features such as hardwood floors, tile and built-in cabinetry and leave them visible.
• If the home is being sold from a trust or an estate, involve the attorney or trustee early so signatures and timing are clear.

Pricing should compare like with like. A flatland bungalow, a hillside mid-century house and a condominium are separate markets inside the same city.

Montebello Homes for Sale: Flats, Hills and Condos

• South and central Montebello. The oldest housing sits near Whittier Boulevard and the old town center: 1920s and 1930s bungalows and Spanish-style houses, mixed with duplexes and apartment buildings.
• Mid-city tracts. Postwar single-story houses from the late 1940s and 1950s fill much of the area around Beverly Boulevard.
• North Montebello. North of Beverly Boulevard the ground rises. Mid-century ranch and split-level houses here often have larger lots and views toward the San Gabriel Mountains or the downtown skyline.
• Montebello Hills. Part of the former oil field in the hills has been developed with new detached homes and townhomes in a planned community with a homeowners association.
• Condominiums and townhomes. Complexes from the 1970s and later are found across the city.

The City and Its Setting

Montebello incorporated in 1920, and oil was discovered in its hills a few years earlier, which shaped the city’s early growth. State Route 60 crosses the north side, where the Shops at Montebello mall is located. Interstate 5 is close to the southwest corner. The Rio Hondo channel and the Whittier Narrows area mark the east side. The city operates its own bus system, Montebello Bus Lines, and a Metrolink station on the Riverside Line serves the south end. A municipal golf course sits near the middle of town. Whittier Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard are the two main commercial streets, each lined with independent shops and restaurants, and Garfield Avenue and Montebello Boulevard are the main north to south routes between them. Most addresses are in the Montebello Unified School District. Verify with the district.

For commuters, the practical point is that Montebello sits between the 60 and 5 freeways with Interstate 710 a short distance west and Interstate 605 a short distance east. Which one you use depends on which end of the city you live in, so test the drive from the specific street you are considering.

Due Diligence for Houses for Sale in Montebello

• Hillside conditions. On sloped lots, look at retaining walls, drainage and any signs of movement, and consider a geotechnical opinion if the inspector recommends one.
• Oil field history. Montebello has a long oil production history. Review the natural hazard and environmental disclosures, and ask whether any former wells are recorded on or near the parcel. The state’s oil and gas regulator keeps well records.
• Older systems. Knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized pipes, clay sewer lines and unbolted foundations turn up in pre-war houses.
• Fees in the new community. For newer homes in the hills, read the association documents and the property tax bill for special assessments before you commit.
• Freeway and rail noise. Homes near the 60 freeway or the rail corridor in the south should be visited at busy hours.
• Earthquake preparation. Ask an insurer about earthquake coverage and an inspector about retrofit options. This applies across the region.

Working With a Montebello Real Estate Agent

Aimee Ghafouri is a Southern California native raised in Murrieta, with more than 15 years in sales and marketing and a bachelor’s degree in business. She represents buyers, sellers and investors and places communication first. She is based in Temecula and does not present herself as a Montebello neighborhood agent. Her license covers all of California. Moves between the San Gabriel Valley area and the Inland Empire are common in general, and she can coordinate a sale in one with a purchase in the other. Start through the contact page.

Nearby Cities

Montebello borders Monterey Park to the north, East Los Angeles to the west, Commerce to the southwest and Pico Rivera to the east. Rosemead is a short drive northeast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montebello part of East Los Angeles?

No. Montebello is a separate incorporated city, founded in 1920, with its own city government. East Los Angeles, next door to the west, is an unincorporated county community.

Where are the view homes in Montebello?

Mostly in the northern part of the city, where the streets climb toward the Montebello Hills. Mid-century houses there and newer homes in the hills can have mountain or city views.

Should I worry about old oil wells in Montebello?

Parts of the city were an active oil field. Read the disclosures, ask about recorded wells near the parcel and check the state oil and gas regulator’s records for the address.

What kinds of homes are most common in Montebello?

Pre-war bungalows and Spanish-style houses in the south, postwar tract homes in the middle, mid-century houses in the north, plus condominiums and apartment buildings throughout.

How do I get started with Montebello real estate?

Call or text Aimee Ghafouri at (951) 331-8453. She will ask about your goals and timing and then set up a search or a listing plan.

Aimee Ghafouri, 951 Properties, CAL DRE #02193341. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.