Long Beach is a big city that behaves like a collection of small ones. A canal-front house in Naples, a 1920s bungalow in California Heights, a downtown high-rise condo and a ranch house near El Dorado Park all count as Long Beach real estate, yet buying each one raises different questions. This guide sorts the city out by area and property type. To talk it through, call or text Aimee Ghafouri of 951 Properties at (951) 331-8453.
Long Beach Homes for Sale by Area
Long Beach is an incorporated city on the southern edge of Los Angeles County, facing San Pedro Bay, with the Port of Long Beach on its west side and Orange County on its east. A rough map of where Long Beach homes for sale fall:
- Downtown and Alamitos Beach: high-rise and mid-rise condos, lofts, and older apartment-style buildings near Ocean Boulevard and the waterfront.
- Bluff Park and Belmont Heights: early twentieth century Craftsman, Spanish and period-revival houses on the streets above the beach.
- Belmont Shore: closely spaced houses and duplexes on narrow lots around the Second Street shops, a short walk to the bay and beach.
- Naples and the Peninsula: island homes on canals with boat docks, and houses on the sand spit between Alamitos Bay and the ocean.
- Bixby Knolls, California Heights and Los Cerritos: north of Signal Hill, with a mix of 1920s to 1950s houses, including large traditional homes near Virginia Country Club.
- East Long Beach: post-war tracts around Los Altos, El Dorado Park and California State University, Long Beach, mostly single-story ranch homes. Some tracts here include mid-century modern designs.
- Wrigley, West Long Beach and North Long Beach: older bungalows and post-war houses, plus small multi-unit properties.
The city of Signal Hill is a separate municipality completely surrounded by Long Beach, and the Lakewood Village neighborhood is in Long Beach despite its name. Check jurisdiction for any address near those edges.
Condos, Co-ops and Own-Your-Own Buildings
Condos are a large share of the market near the coast, and Long Beach has an unusual number of older buildings organized as stock cooperatives or own-your-own apartments instead of standard condominiums. The ownership structure affects financing, because fewer lenders will write loans on them. Before you get attached to a unit:
- Ask the listing agent exactly how title is held.
- Have your lender confirm it can finance that structure and that specific building.
- Read the association’s budget, reserve study, insurance summary and meeting minutes, looking for planned special assessments and for balcony, plumbing or seismic work.
- Check rental and pet rules if either matters to you.
Historic Districts and Older Houses
Long Beach has designated a number of historic districts, among them Bluff Park, California Heights, Rose Park and Belmont Heights. Inside a district, exterior changes such as windows, siding, additions and sometimes paint or fencing go through city review, and owners may need a certificate of appropriateness before work starts. Confirm with the city’s historic preservation staff whether a house is in a district and what that requires.
Whether designated or not, a house that is a century old needs a thorough inspection: foundation and seismic bracing, knob-and-tube or other early wiring, galvanized plumbing, sewer laterals and unpermitted garage conversions.
Coastal and Waterfront Considerations
Houses for sale in Long Beach near the water come with extra homework:
- Flood zones: low-lying parts of Naples, the Peninsula and Belmont Shore can fall in mapped flood areas. A lender may require flood insurance, so price a policy early.
- Seawalls and docks: on the canals, ask who is responsible for the seawall and what permits or fees apply to the dock.
- Coastal zone: remodels and new construction near the shore can require coastal review on top of a building permit. Ask the city planning counter.
- Short-term rentals: the city regulates them and requires registration, with added limits in some areas and in many associations. Confirm current rules with the city before counting on rental income.
- Oil history: Long Beach sits on old oil fields. Title reports often show mineral rights held separately, and it is reasonable to ask about any former wells on or near a parcel.
Parking is tight in the beach neighborhoods, so note what comes with the property.
Selling a Home in Long Beach
Because the city is so varied, selling a home in Long Beach depends on comparable sales from your own neighborhood and property type. A Bixby Knolls traditional and a Belmont Shore cottage do not share a buyer pool. Useful preparation includes permits for past work, a sewer inspection, any historic district paperwork, and, for condos, a current association package so buyers’ lenders are not held up.
A Long Beach Real Estate Agent Who Does the Homework
Aimee Ghafouri is based in Temecula and licensed to work anywhere in California. She grew up in Murrieta, holds a bachelor’s degree in business, and has more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience representing buyers, sellers and investors. If you want a Long Beach real estate agent who keeps communication steady, send a note.
Nearby Places to Compare
- Signal Hill, the hilltop city inside Long Beach.
- Lakewood, post-war tracts to the north.
- Seal Beach, across the county line to the east.
- Los Alamitos and Rossmoor, just inland in Orange County.
- San Pedro, across the harbor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Naples part of Long Beach?
Yes. Naples is a neighborhood of the City of Long Beach built on islands in Alamitos Bay, with canals and boat docks. Belmont Shore and the Peninsula next to it are also Long Beach neighborhoods.
What is an own-your-own building in Long Beach?
It is an older form of apartment ownership, similar to a cooperative, found in a number of Long Beach buildings. Fewer lenders finance these than standard condos, so confirm the ownership type and your loan options before making an offer.
Do historic districts limit what I can do to a house?
Inside a designated Long Beach historic district, exterior changes generally need city review before work begins. Ask the city’s historic preservation staff what applies to the specific address.
Do I need flood insurance near Alamitos Bay?
Some low-lying addresses in Naples, the Peninsula and Belmont Shore are in mapped flood zones, and lenders can require coverage there. Check the flood map status of the parcel and get a quote during your contingency period.
How do I start a Long Beach home search with Aimee?
Call or text Aimee Ghafouri at (951) 331-8453 and tell her which neighborhoods and property types interest you. She can set up a search and line up showings.
Buying or Selling in Long Beach?
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.