Monterey Peninsula Real Estate Blog

Information about Monterey Peninsula Real Estate including new MLS Real Estate Listings by the Monterey Peninsula Home Team. You will see posts about Monterey Peninsula cities including Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Seaside, Marina and the HWY 68 Corridor.  These posts will have stories and information about local issues including real estate, news, and other helpful information, plus anything else we want to write about ;-).

 

Oct. 30, 2013

Del Monte Pumpkin Patch in Carmel, CA 93923

Del Monte Pumpkin Patch in Carmel, CA 93923

Del Monte Pumkin Patch Entrance
When: October 1-31, 2013
Where: SE Corner RIO Road and HWY 1, Carmel, CA 93923
Who: Those wanting a great pumpkin to carve
Who to contact: James Stracuzzi, (831) 626-1718

Affordable Pumpkins and Fun for the Kids

The days are getting shorter and the weather is starting to cool down and that can only mean one thing! It is time to get your pumpkins for Halloween. Del Monte Pumpkin Patch in Carmel, CA not only has the normal selection of pumpkins you would expect but they also have gods, dried out corn stalks and hay bales. They even have Radio Flyer type all terrain kids wagons to haul out your score of pumpkins.

Kids fun at Del Monte Pumkin Patch in Carmel, CAMore than Just Pumpkins

In addition to the plump pumpkins and other Halloween goodies, the Del Monte Pumpkin Patch has plenty of entertainment for the kids including a giant “Jaws” slide, a bounce room, a penalty kick game and a maze! Be warned, once you get there, you may have a hard time getting the little ones to leave, although I did see an adult bouncing around with the kids in the bounce room and he looked like he was having a great time!

 

 

What You Need to Know From A Pumpkin Patch InsiderIside the Tent at Del Monte Pumpkin Patch in Carmel, CA

Although the play area is covered with a blue tarp keeping the mud from surfacing, you may encounter a little mud in the parking lot, so be sure to bring shoes appropriate for an outdoor activity.

You can spend some time at the Del Monte Pumpkin Patch, so be sure to bring water and if you forget there are great restaurants and a Starbucks just across the parking lot! That is one of the benefits of staying close to town when purchasing your pumpkins!

The weather this time of year can be from 85 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and raining so dress in layers. Parts of the Monterey peninsula might be nice but when you go to the mouth of Carmel Valley you might encounter fog or different conditions.

Oct. 16, 2013

Habitat for Humanity and Monterey Peninsula home Team

ProspectingFlyer

Habitat for Humanity and Monterey Peninsula Home Team


 
I am excited to announce that Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is holding its 15th annual Homes and Hope raffle fundraiser to benefit our local Northern California Habitat for Humanity chapters.

Over the past 14 years, we have raised more than $2.3 million, donated more than 48,000 volunteer hours and helped build 179 homes for needy families throughout Northern California (including one in Marina last year!)

In honor of The Monterey Peninsula Home Team's commitment to Habitat for Humanity and bringing families and homes together, we have purchased a Home and Hope raffle ticket on our clients behalf.  Each ticket purchase is a donation that supports our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.  If you should win any one of the raffle prizes, including the $5,000 grand prize generously donated by Princeton Capital, I will contact you on October 28th!

Together, we can help provide homes and hope for deserving families.

Please contact me directly if you would like to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity. For a complete list of raffle prizes visit ColdwellBankerHabitat.com

MPHT Team Picture
Monterey Peninsula Home Team
(831) 626-2277
(831) 917-8190
CA DRE#01715978
mark.bruno@cbnorcal.com
We realize this is just a small token of our appreciation for everything you do to help our team by trusting us with your real estate needs and referring your friends to us when they need real estate help.  But we also want you to know that we don't take you all for granted and we really do appreciate what you do for our growing business.  In the past our clients have won a trip to Hawaii, as well as various other prizes and what better way to spend our money giving back than on our clients for a fabulous program like Habitat for Humanity!
 
Take care and Good Luck!
 
Mark Bruno
Lynda Nichols
Jeff Davi
Anthony Davi
©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. BRE License #01908304

 

 

Oct. 11, 2013

Pebble Beach Golf Course View Properties

Pebble Beach Golf Course View Properties


Whether it is a $500,000 Golf Course View condo in the upper Pebble Beach forest, or a $27,000,000 Golf Course View estate home on Stillwater Cove next to the Pebble Beach Lodge, Pebble Beach has the greatest selection of Golf Course View Properties in the world!.

Types of Golf Course View Properties in Pebble Beach, CA 93953

Pebble Beach has a wide range of Golf Course View properties all securely located behindone of the worlds most exclusive gated enclaves. The most affordable properties in Pebble Beach with Golf Course Views would be a Golf Course View condo at Ocean Pines located in the Upper Forest of Pebble Beach. Ocean Pines condo complex sit on top of Huckleberry Hill on the eastern most boundary of Pebble Beach, offering distant Golf Course Views from way up high of the MPCC Golf Course and coastline.

Just down the ridge a little ways, towards Carmel, there is more Pebble Beach properties with views of Carmel Bay and Point Lobos and some have views of Pebble Beach Golf links. These Pebble Beach Golf Course View homes are located in the Upper Pebble Beach Forest or in the Central Pebble Beach area and are still fairly affordable. Golf Course Views are from a much higher vantage point that is close to 500-900 feet above sea level.

The Monterey Peninsula Country Club side of Pebble Beach offers a lot of Golf Course View properties with smashing views of the setting sun over the Pacific Ocean. Golf Course View properties in this part of Pebble Beach typically fronts one of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club golf courses )either the Shore course or the Dunes course) which are cut into the beautiful Pebble Beach coast and pine forest. Homes here can be quite pricey, especially if they have been all remodeled or rebuilt custom homes. The Golf Course Views with the setting sun are smashing, making this a very desirable part of Pebble Beach.

The most desirable and highest priced of the Pebble Beach Golf Course View properties is located in the Pebble Beach Lodge area. This area is the only part of Pebble Beach with oceanfront properties, which stretches from Cypress Point all the way to the Pebble Beach Lodge as well as Pebble Beach Golf Course front properties which also have incredible ocean and bay views. These high end and very exclusive parcels of properties are hard to come by and always demand top dollar. Many have old estate homes that are over or close to 100 years old and many of them are in need of updating or in some cases, demolition. You will be hard pressed to find a piece of Pebble Beach Golf Course front properties for under $10,000,000, and most of the time they will run in the teens to low twenty million dollar range.

The hills above the Pebble Beach Lodge offer some of the best overall Golf Course Views in all of Pebble Beach. This properties sits a couple of hundred feet above sea level and is really a nice vantage point to see the classic Pebble Beach Golf Course Views of Arrowhead point, the 17th green and 18th tee complex as well as down #8, #9 and #10 with Carmel Beach in the background. In addition, you can get beautiful views of Carmel Bay, Ghost Tree and Stillwater Cove, making these homes highly sought after. Properties with these golf course and ocean views range dramatically in price depending on lot size, lot slope and the homes design and condition. Golf course and ocean view properties here in Pebble Beach can range from $2,000,000 to over $15,000,000 for the right combination of home, lot and view.

If you are looking for Pebble Beach properties for sale with incredible Golf Course Views, you can build an advanced search or contact us and we can do it for you.

Oct. 10, 2013

Looking for a Pebble Beach Condos or Townhomes for Sale?

Looking for a Pebble Beach Condos or Townhomes for Sale?

Search for every Pebble beach Condo on the MLSWhether it is a $400,000 basic condo in Pebble Beach's Upper Forest or a 5,000,000 Ocean View townhouse adjacent to the Pebble Beach Lodge, this webpage will have the newest selection of Condos and Townhomes in Pebble Beach.

Pebble Beach, CA is known as one of America's well known gated communities with very luxurious homes with spectacular ocean views and incredible golf courses. Most people don't realize there are three different areas in Pebble Beach where you can purchase a condo or a townhouse. All three areas offer the potential for ocean views and they vary in price substantially, from a basic 2 bedroom two bathroom condo for around $400,000 to a semi-custom 5400 square foot townhome with killer ocean views for just under $6,000,000! The condo and townhome experience in Pebble Beach offers some very unique lifestyle opportunities that you probably do not see in other places. Keep reading for specific Pebble Beach Condo and Townhome differences.

Pebble Beach Lodge Townhomes

The most desirable and highest priced of the Pebble Beach condos is located basically on the Pebble Beach Lodge property, making these townhomes the most desirable and highest priced in al of Pebble Beach. After all, this area is home to the most expensive real estate in all of Pebble Beach, and the same thing is true for condos. Units here range in size from roughly 2700 square feet to well over 5000 square feet. All of them tend to have some sort of views, whether it is a view of the Peter Hay Golf Course, a view of the Pebble Beach Lodge or killer views of Stillwater Cove and Point Lobos. Most of these units were built in the late 1970's to the early 1980's but don't let that fool you, most have been remodeled or in some cases rebuilt. Amenities include room service from The Lodge as well as maid service not to mention a front row seat to many of the annual functions at the Pebble beach Lodge including the AT&T Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tourney every February, the US Open (every 10 years or so), the Pebble Beach Concour de Elegance every August as well as littler known functions like the Nature Valley First Tee Open. There is always something going on in Pebble Beach and these townhomes put you right in the middle of all the action.

Prices for a Pebble Beach Lodge area townhome range from just under $2,000,000 all the way up to just under $6,000,000.

Spanish Bay Townhomes (Residences at Spanish Bay)

The Residences at Spanish Bay are the latest townhomes to be built in Pebble Beach. These incredible townhomes are built right next to The Resort at Spanish Bay and many of the units overlook The Links at Spanish Bay and the beautiful Asilomar State Beach. Although not quite as desirable as the Lodge townhomes, these are very luxurious properties that boast 10' ceilings, stunning walls of glass and magnificent views of the pounding surf. Not to mention the Inn at Spanish Bay is a favorite for its incredible sunsets accompanied by the bagpiper's salute to the days end each and every night.

The Spanish Bay townhomes range in size from roughly 3250 square feet to around 4200 square feet and seem even roomier than that with all of the glass and high ceilings. They can be found with either 3 bedrooms and 3 and one half baths or 4 bedrooms and 4 and one half baths, with each bedroom having its own bathroom. Amenities are similar to the Townhomes at The Lodge in that you can order room service in the Residences as well as order maids services. Prices for a Spanish Bay Residence townhome range from just under $2,000,000 on up to well over $3,000,000 depending on the view and state of updating inside the unit.

Pebble Beach's Most Affordable Condos

The Upper Pebble Beach Forest is home to two condo developments, Ocean Pines that was built in the 1970's and Shepherd's Knoll which was built in the early 1980's.

Ocean Pines is built on the west side of Huckleberry Hill and offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean from afar. Shepherds Knoll is located about a mile down 17 Mile Drive behind a private gate and is perched on a bluff east of Huckleberry Hill. Shepherds Knoll offers great views of the Monterey Bay, Del Monte Beach and the city lights below. Both Shepherds Knoll and Ocean Pines offer 2 bedroom, 2 bath units and 3 bedroom 3 bath units and range in size from 1250 square feet for the smallest Ocean Pines condo to 2800 square feet for the largest Shepherds Knoll condo with prices varying from around $400,000 to around $800,000 respectively. Obviously the view will way heavy on the condo to condo price.

If you are looking for a Pebble Beach Condo and Townhome for sale, you can start your search here. 

Sept. 28, 2013

Pacific Grove's Old Retreat

Pacific Grove's Old Retreat 

Pacific Grove Old Retreat Real Etate


With 100 acres donated by the notorious local developer David Jacks, the Methodist Episcopal Church set off to develop a Christian Seaside Resort. Founded in 1875, Pacific Grove’s humble beginning was as a summer camp full of 30’ x 60’ tented lots where groups of Methodists came to rest, meditate and exchange ideas. The Pacific Grove Retreat was born.

Every summer would start with 3 weeks of prayer meetings held in the middle of the Retreat in what is now Jewell Park on the corner of 17th Street and Central Avenue. Just a block down 17th Street is the famous destination in Pacific Grove called Lover’s Point that got its name from the church goers who called it “Lovers of Jesus Point.” Visitors would come and enjoy the beautiful climate, scenic beauty and of course the beaches all summer long.

David Jacks still owned all of the other land surrounding the budding Pacific Grove Retreat including 7000 acres of what is most of the Monterey Peninsula and he had an opportunity to sell the land to The Pacific Improvement Company (owned by Crocker, Hopkins, Stanford and Huntington), who also owned Del Monte Properties which is now The Pebble Beach Company.  This created quite a stir among the Retreat officials who were concerned they would lose control over their new community with high moral values.  As it turned out they had nothing to worry about.  Jacks was sure to write into the sale the same restrictions allowing the Retreat officials to ban card playing, dancing, liquor, dice, billiards and on Sunday swimming and sale of anything except medicine!  Retreat officials had the right to search a home at any time.  You couldn’t even pull down your shades at night as it was assumed you were doing something against the rules.  A violation was punishable by loss of title to your property!

The Pacific Grove Retreat constructed a fence to keep out those not worthy of entry and they kept is padlocked! Those under 18 years of age had to be in and off the streets by 8:00, 9:00 during summer months. There was even a restriction on the type of bathing suit that was allowed on the Pacific Grove beaches! The camp grounds with pop up tents maintained its original character for over 10 years.

By 1887 the Retreat started to take on the character of the town we know today. Many of the visitors purchased the lot they rented and before you knew it there were small cottages lining the streets around downtown Pacific Grove and two-story Victorian mansions were starting to pop up as well. The Pacific Improvement Company had opened the Hotel Del Monte in Monterey in 1880 which in turn brought tons of tourists to the area. By 1887 Pacific Grove had its own hotel, also built by the Pacific Improvement Company called the El Carmelo which was located right downtown in the heart of the Retreat area. There were 1500 people living full time in Pacific Grove by 1890 and another 8000 to 9000 more here during the summer living in tents.

Pacific Grove celebrates its official birthday (July of 1889) every year in July during the Feast of Lanterns Celebration. Today, Pacific Grove is known as America’s last hometown with over 1200 historical buildings. It has more Victorian homes per capita than any other city in America!

www.SearchMOntereyPeninsulaHomes.com has detailed information about real estate in Pacific Groves Old Retreat area.  To see the 5 latest real estate listings in Pacific Groves old Retreat, click here.  For detailed real estate Statistics about the Old Retreat area in Pacific Grove click here.

 

Map of the Pacific Grove Old Retreat Area


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Sept. 10, 2013

Cachagua Area of Carmel Valley

Search all Cachagua Real Estate in Carmel Valley, CACachagua Area of Carmel Valley

Cachaqua is a small rural Carmel Valley community located roughly 25 miles from the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea and is accessable off Carmel Valley Road (G16) only.  Carmel Valley Village is the closest services outside of the Cachagua General Store.

Earliest Cachagua Inhabitants

Cachaqua, or Jasshagua as it was referred to in a 1875 survey of this area in 2875, had been inhabited by Esselen Indians for as long as for 6500 years ago.  They lived in Cachagua area and their territory included the Santa Lucia Mountains, Ventanna wilderness area and what is now the Los Padres National Forest.  They also inhabited the area east of Cachagua which includes the upper Carmel River and the Arroyo Seco river on down to Soledad and Greenfield.

Cachagua area of Carmel ValleyIt was thought the Esselen People went culturally extinct based on coming into contact with missionaries from the three local California Missions, which were among the earliest in California. However there is evidence many escaped the disease of the missionaries by retreating into the rugged mountains, perhaps in the Cachagua area.


Cachagua was and still is today a remote and rugged community attracting people who are looking for peace, quiet and tranquility along with privacy. Many have found Cachaqua to be a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. In 1967 a zen monastery was founded in the rugged mountains near Cachagua at the Tassajara Hot Springs, located just over Chew’s Ridge pass at 5000 ft. elevation.

Cachagua Vineyards

Carmel Valley is know for great wine and the Cachagua area is becoming ground zero for some of the great wimes being grown in the area.  With it’s higher elevations and steeper slopes of granite, and it’s warmer temperatures, Cachagua has become particularly good for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals.  Heller Estates, Bernardus, Morgan, Joulian, Galante and more all grow and bottle in the area.  If you are looking great land to start a vineyard this is a great place.

Cachagua Real Estate

Real estate in Cachagua normally involves large parcels of land and range from vacant land to elaborate estate homes with stunning views of the Santa Lucia Mountains.  If you are looking for extreme privacy, this is likely the best place in Monterey county to find it.

If you are looking for Carmel Valley real estate for sale in the Cachagua area, you can start your search here. There you will see the 5 latest real estate listings of Cachagua real estate currently available in Carmel Valley.  For a full list of Cachagua area homes that are available in Carmel Valley, you can build an advanced search or contact us and we can do it for you.

Our website has detailed information including Carmel Valley Cachagua real estate statistics.  If you are interested in learning more about real estate values in Carmel Valley's Cachagua area or if you are interested in seeing real estate in the Cachagua area of Carmel Valley, contact us.

Map of Cachagua Area in Carmel Valley


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Aug. 27, 2013

7540 Monterra Ranch Rd. - Monterey Real Estate for Sale

Monterey Real Estate - Monterra Ranch Home for Sale                

Search for all Monterra Ranch Real Estate

 

Listing Details:

Monterey Home for Sale in Monterra Ranch

  • 7540 Monterra Ranch Road, Monterey, CA 93940
  • $3,988,400
  • MLS#
  • Set on a private 4.47 acre lot
  • Approximately 7200 square feet main home
  • Approximately 1000 square feet carriage house
  • 3 large bedrooms suites plus an office, game room, home theater room, and a carriage house
  • 4 full bathrooms and two half baths in the main house plus a full bath in the carriage house
  • 4+ car garage

Call Mark Bruno with the Monterey Peninsula Home Team to see if this property is still available and to set up an appointment to see it (831) 626-2277.

Monterra Ranch Monterey, CA Home for Sale – Just Listed

7540 Monterra Ranch Road in Monterey, CAPrivate, luxurious and comfortable are the three words I would use to describe 7540 Monterra Ranch Road if I only was allowed to use 3, but there are so many other words that will work.  Phrases like attention to detail, incredible light, beautiful views and words like immaculate, spacious, elegant and special all quickly come to mind.  And it is no wonder with the prominent architect Charlie Rose behind the design and execution of this soft contemporary home that the final product turned out so well.  If you are a Charlie Rose fan, this house will not disappoint, if you are not familiar with Charlie Rose designs, you will not want to miss this home as it is an exceptional example of what he does so well.

7540 Monterra Ranch Road is set on almost 4.5 acres of gently sloping Monterra Ranch land with Monterey pine trees and oak trees nearby but not on top of the home.   This allows the home to take full advantage of the extra sun this part of Monterey gets when compared to just a mile or two west, where the coastal fog can hang around all day.  Special care has been taken to canopy all of the trees and clear all of the brush from the ground on this spacious lot to create a park like setting.

The main residence is approximately 7200 square feet and constructed was completed on it in 2005.  To reach the main house, you enter a long driveway from Monterra Ranch Road which turns into a dramatic stone paver circular drive leading you around the 4 car garage to a beautiful stone pillared porte cochere grand entry.  The landscaping is immaculate and perfectly accents the long stacked stone wall. The front door is beautiful.

Monterra Ranch Living RoomOnce inside the residence, it is immediately apparent that a masterful architect has manipulated natural light through custom windows and skylights yielding incredibly well lit spaces on the inside.  The high coffered ceilings in the living room, family room, master bedroom and even the guest house are covered with soft Douglas fir and this special treatment continues through the walls to the exterior eaves that are visible through the custom windows.  This design element adds elegance and sophistication to the rooms featuring it and a Douglas fir trim theme continues throughout the rest of the home, both inside and out adding warmth and sophistication to other rooms and spaces.

Materials used inside this Monterra Ranch residence are as expected in terms of quality and visual impact.  Flooring is mostly polished marble and appears to be as if no one has walked on them for the past 7+ years since it was completed.  Ample amounts of this timeless material is used throughout the home including the 4 full and 2 half baths and adds to a uniform and structured look.  To add some coziness, the bedroom floors are plush shag carpet that is comfy on the feet, especially with the radiant heated floors throughout.  Cabinets are plentiful and all are custom built for this home. The walls are thin set plaster.  

Monterra Ranch KitchenThe kitchen is as you would expect for this caliber of house.  It has a six burner range plus a griddle, two sinks, two dishwashers, a warming oven, a microwave and of course a big boy refrigerator with 2 refrigerated drawers.  The cabinets are beautifully done and the counter tops are made of highly polished granite and the backsplashes are made from tumbled marble stone tiles. In addition, there are under cabinet lights, soffit lights overhead, a pantry and even a place to sit down and work on the island.

The master retreat is grand and intimate at the same time.  It is very spacious with room for a large bed, and a couple of chairs around the marble clad fireplace.  The east facing wall is basically a wall of glass and allows the morning sunlight to bathe this room like no other in the house and the Douglas fir ceilings do not disappoint.  You feel like you are living in an extension of the forest that surrounds you.  There are his and her bathrooms, his with a shower and hers with both a shower and a jetted tub.  Each has its own walk in closet with a masterful window placed along the ceiling to let in natural light but still offer complete privacy.

In addition 7540 Monterra Ranch Road has an office off of the main level master suite, a family room with an incredible stacked stone fireplace, an amazing home theater room that seats eight and offers a 102” screen with all high end equipment, a large bonus room currently set up as a game room, provisions for a 2 stop elevator, an indoor stone wall water fall garden atrium providing light to the lower level hallway, an enormous main level wrap-around deck that is covered in porcelain tile and a large laundry room with a laundry shoot from the master bedroom.

This home comes with a social membership to Clint Eastwoods exclusive Tehama Golf and Country Club and entitles the new owner to use of the work out facilities, the restaurant, the pool plus other amenities.

Fabulous Carriage House

Monterra Ranch Guest House

The approximately 1000 square feet carriage house was completed in 2011 and is a miniature version of the main house!  It has incredible light with windows from floor to ceiling on two sides of the structure and strategically placed skylights again showing the architects masterful control over light in the space.  It sits down close to the edge of the forest and has great views of the natural oak and pine trees indigenous to Monterra Ranch.

The living room has the same Douglas fir treatment to the ceiling and the material is used throughout the carriage house to recreate the feel of the main house but in a much more intimate space.  Guests will be spoiled with a full kitchen including stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, custom cabinets and a center island doubling as the kitchen table.  The bedroom is a mini master with great light, Douglas fir beams and a full bathroom with marble floors, counter tops and walk in shower.  Completing the mini main house an 800 square foot wrap around porcelain tile deck with tranquil views of the Monterey Pine and oak tree forest below.

If you are looking for a special place to call home and you love light, bright open spaces in your home, you really need to check out this incredibly well built and laid out property.  You will not be disappointed.

 

More Information:

More information on 7540 Monterra Ranch Rd.

More information on living in Monterra Ranch, Monterey, CA 93940.

View all real estate currently available in Monterra Ranch.

 

Aug. 26, 2013

Pebble Beach New Home Sites Approved

Pebble Beach New Home Sites Approved

After years of tough negotiating, the Pebble Beach Company (Clint Eastwood, Arnold Palmer, Peter Ueberroth and other owners) and the California Coastal Commission came to a compromise in the plan to develop the remaining parts of Pebble Beach. This compromised plan resulted in a unanimous vote of approval at the Coastal Commissions last meeting on the subject, clearing the way for Pebble Beach Company to start moving forward on their new plan.

Supposedly the last round of development inside the gates of Pebble Beach, the plan scaled back from the original goal of adding a new 18-hole golf course, a driving range, a new relocated equestrian center and hundreds of new home sites. The scaled back plan saves thousands and thousands of Monterey pine trees, with Del Monte Forest being the world’s largest stand of Monterey Pine Forest.

Pebble beach Land for Sale

The new Pebble Beach development plan does allow for a brand new 100 room hotel to be built on an old rock quarry near Spyglass Hill Golf Course. In addition, the Pebble Beach Company can add up to 140 new rooms combined to the Inn at Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach and Pebble Beach Company can develop 90 new home sites to be built on.

This new plan has also allowed Pebble Beach Company to make some other long needed improvements such as a new parking lot at Spanish Bay, a new Golf Instructional center on the old Polo field and a new equestrian center on the same site as the existing Equestrian Center.

It is great to see developers and environmentalists be able to work out a win-win plan allowing the property owner to utilize their land to generate more income for the ownership group as well as tax dollars for the community all the while still managing to protect the beautiful coastal pine forest and preserving land for future generations to enjoy.

 

Aug. 22, 2013

How Monterey Vista, Mar Vista & Toyon Heights Grew Above Monterey

Originally published August 22, 2013; substantially updated September 2026.

The hills above downtown Monterey can be surprisingly difficult to name.

Ask one longtime resident where a particular house is located and you may hear Monterey Vista. Ask a real-estate agent and the same general area may be described as Mar Vista, Monte Vista, Toyon Heights, Peter's Gate or Monte Regio.

Those overlapping names are not simply real-estate marketing.

They reflect the way this part of Monterey actually developed.

Monterey Vista was never one master-planned subdivision built all at once. Instead, the broad hillside above downtown grew in layers. Private estates appeared first. Small subdivisions followed during the early twentieth century. Additional residential tracts were created before the Depression. Then, after World War II, Monterey expanded rapidly into the remaining hillsides with ranch homes, garages, larger windows and streets designed for an increasingly automobile-oriented city.

Mar Vista and Toyon Heights belong primarily to that later chapter.

Today the City of Monterey recognizes the larger area as Monterey Vista, while Mar Vista, Monte Vista and Toyon Heights remain useful local and real-estate names for different portions of the broader neighborhood.

Understanding that history explains both why the names overlap and why homes separated by only a few blocks can differ so dramatically in age, architecture, lot size and character.

If you are researching current homes rather than neighborhood history, visit our guides to Mar Vista real estate and Monte Vista real estate.

Where Is Monterey Vista?

The City of Monterey uses Monterey Vista for a broad residential neighborhood occupying the hills above central Monterey.

The City's current neighborhood traffic plan describes Monterey Vista as generally bounded by:

  • Skyline Drive on the southwest
  • Veterans Park and Old Town on the north
  • Munras Avenue on the east
  • Alta Mesa and Highway 1 on the south

That is a much larger area than what many people mean when they casually say "Mar Vista."

Within those broader Monterey Vista boundaries are places whose histories developed independently before eventually becoming part of the same modern neighborhood identity.

Monterey's Geography Created a Neighborhood of Mesas and Canyons

To understand Monterey Vista, it helps to understand Monterey itself.

The City did not grow across flat land in every direction.

Monterey rises away from the bay through a sequence of slopes, mesas, ravines and wooded canyons. The City's General Plan describes a repeating landscape pattern in which residential areas occupy elevated mesas while roads and open spaces often follow lower canyon corridors.

The same pattern can be seen in:

  • Alta Mesa
  • Monterey Vista
  • Monte Regio
  • Skyline Forest
  • Fisherman's Flats
  • Deer Flats

This terrain had enormous influence on how the neighborhoods developed.

Instead of one uninterrupted urban grid, Monterey became a collection of residential areas separated or connected by slopes, greenbelts and winding roads.

Before Mar Vista: Monterey's Residential Hills Were Still Largely Open

During most of the nineteenth century, Monterey's population was concentrated much closer to the waterfront and historic core.

The city centered on the harbor, Presidio, Custom House, adobes and commercial streets surrounding what is now downtown and Old Town.

The hills above town were only lightly developed.

That began changing near the turn of the twentieth century, when affluent San Francisco families, artists and developers became interested in the wooded slopes above Monterey.

Several of the earliest pieces of today's Monterey Vista story began during this period.

Charles Rollo Peters Arrives Above Monterey

One of the most famous early residents was painter Charles Rollo Peters.

Around 1900, Peters acquired approximately 30 acres above Monterey and created an estate containing a residence, studio, gallery, gardens and outbuildings.

The property became known as Peters Gate.

Peters lived there only until 1909, but the estate's name survived long after the property itself was divided.

The former estate was not immediately transformed into a dense neighborhood. Subdivision work did not begin until the late 1920s, and much of the surrounding residential construction came even later.

You can read the complete story in Charles Rollo Peters and the History of Peter's Gate.

Bruguiere Park – One of Monterey Vista's Earliest Subdivisions

Another early piece of today's Monterey Vista developed nearby.

The affluent Bruguiere family owned property adjoining the Peters estate during the early twentieth century.

After the family property changed hands, the land was subdivided as Bruguiere Park.

A subdivision map was surveyed in 1911.

The historical boundaries extended roughly between Grove Street, Alameda Avenue, Martin Street and land that would later become part of the Monte Regio area.

Some of the street names on the original map were different from the names residents recognize today.

Park Street was renamed Colton Street in 1917, while a street identified as Monterey Avenue on the early map became part of what we now know as Monterey Circle.

The Bruguiere Gates

Large stone-and-wood entrance structures from the Bruguiere era survive near Colton Street.

They are frequently mistaken for the Peters Gates because both estates existed in roughly the same portion of Monterey during the same period.

Historical research by the Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association has shown that they were separate properties.

The Bruguiere gates marked an entrance into Bruguiere Park, while the authentic Peters Gates were associated with the neighboring Charles Rollo Peters estate.

This is a useful reminder of how fragmented the early residential landscape was.

What we now casually call Monterey Vista originally consisted of separate private properties and subdivisions with different owners, names and histories.

Artists Were Among the Early Hillside Residents

Bruguiere Park also became associated with Monterey's early artistic community.

Landscape painter Rowena Meeks Abdy and writer Harry Bennett Abdy designed and built a Craftsman home on El Camino around 1912.

Historical research suggests theirs may have been one of the earliest houses constructed in the subdivision.

Their presence connects this part of Monterey Vista with the larger artistic movement that was taking shape across Monterey and Carmel during the early twentieth century.

At this point, the hills above Monterey were still far from densely developed.

Large open parcels remained between individual estates and scattered houses.

Monte Regio Develops Separately

Monte Regio is another name that becomes intertwined with modern Monterey Vista.

Historically, Monte Regio developed separately from both Peters Gate and Bruguiere Park.

Subdivision activity accelerated during the late 1920s, as Monterey expanded farther into the hillside.

Like Peter's Gate, Monte Regio eventually became dominated by residential development, but neither name originally described the entire area that the City now calls Monterey Vista.

This is why older deeds, subdivision maps, local conversation and modern MLS descriptions can use different neighborhood names for properties that appear very close together on today's map.

The Great Depression Interrupts Monterey's Hillside Expansion

The late 1920s appeared to be the beginning of much more extensive residential development throughout Monterey's hills.

Then the economy collapsed.

The Great Depression dramatically slowed construction throughout California.

Development continued in pieces, but many of Monterey's hillside areas remained only partially built before World War II.

The difference is still visible in the architecture.

Prewar cottages, Spanish Revival homes and Craftsman-influenced residences sit relatively close to houses constructed decades later.

World War II Changes Monterey

World War II transformed the Monterey Peninsula.

Military installations expanded, Fort Ord became enormously important, and the former Hotel Del Monte property became increasingly connected to the U.S. Navy.

After the war, Monterey experienced the same housing pressures affecting cities throughout California.

Returning veterans, military personnel, professionals and a growing middle class wanted homes.

At the same time, widespread automobile ownership made hillside residential development far more practical than it had been a generation earlier.

The remaining open land above central Monterey became increasingly valuable.

The Postwar House Was Different

The homes built during Monterey's postwar expansion reflected a different way of living from Monterey's older cottages and adobes.

Buyers increasingly expected:

  • attached garages
  • larger living rooms
  • single-level floor plans
  • modern kitchens
  • yards for outdoor living
  • automobile access
  • greater separation from neighboring homes

California ranch architecture was particularly well suited to this lifestyle.

So were mid-century designs emphasizing large windows and a stronger connection between indoor living spaces and outdoor views.

Why the Hills Above Monterey Became So Valuable

The elevated land had one enormous advantage that downtown properties could not duplicate:

the view.

As residential roads climbed higher, individual properties gained sightlines across:

  • Monterey Bay
  • downtown Monterey
  • Del Monte Beach
  • Seaside
  • Marina
  • the distant northern shoreline

The view became part of the architecture.

Living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, decks and patios increasingly faced outward toward Monterey Bay.

Mar Vista Drive Becomes a Residential Spine

Mar Vista Drive emerged as one of the most important roads through the postwar hillside neighborhood.

The City today identifies Mar Vista Drive as extending in sections from Monte Vista Drive toward Skyline Drive and from Soledad Drive toward Skyline Drive.

This made Mar Vista more than a small residential street.

It became a connective route between upper Monterey neighborhoods and the city below.

That role would eventually create one of the neighborhood's continuing challenges: balancing quiet residential streets with traffic moving between Skyline, Highway 68 and central Monterey.

Toyon Heights

One of the clearest examples of Monterey's postwar hillside development is Toyon Heights.

The name still appears in legal descriptions and real-estate records today.

County property records identify the subdivision as Toyon Heights, Tract 260.

Homes within the tract appear along and around:

  • upper Mar Vista Drive
  • Toda Vista
  • Via Ladera
  • nearby hillside streets

The surviving housing stock gives us a remarkably clear picture of when the neighborhood took shape.

1956: Toyon Heights Takes Shape

Numerous original homes within Toyon Heights date to 1956.

Public property records show examples on Mar Vista Drive, Toda Vista and Via Ladera all constructed during that year.

Additional homes followed almost immediately in 1957 and 1958.

That concentrated construction period is why this portion of Mar Vista has such a recognizable mid-century residential character.

The houses were not built over a century of gradual infill.

A substantial portion of the neighborhood appeared within only a few years.

The Typical Toyon Heights Lot

Original Toyon Heights parcels varied, but surviving records reveal a pattern of conventional postwar residential lots.

Some properties were approximately 6,000 square feet.

Others approached 9,000 or 10,000 square feet.

That scale allowed many homes to include:

  • front and rear yards
  • attached garages
  • patios
  • gardens
  • room for later additions

These lots were much more compatible with the postwar ranch-house lifestyle than the narrow parcels found in older neighborhoods such as Oak Grove or portions of New Monterey.

Single-Level Ranch Homes

Many original Toyon Heights homes were constructed primarily on one level.

That reflected both the architectural fashion of the time and the needs of the postwar market.

Typical features could include:

  • three bedrooms
  • two bathrooms
  • attached garage
  • wood-frame construction
  • fireplace
  • large living-room windows
  • direct access to outdoor areas

The surviving houses around Mar Vista Drive and Toda Vista remain excellent examples of Monterey's mid-1950s residential expansion.

The View Changed the Ranch House

A conventional ranch home on flat land typically spreads horizontally across its lot.

Building the same basic housing type on Monterey's hillside introduced another consideration.

Where was Monterey Bay?

Homes were increasingly oriented to make use of their elevation.

On favorable lots, builders could place principal rooms toward the bay and use larger windows to capture the view.

On steeper sites, split-level and multilevel designs became practical alternatives.

This is one reason Mar Vista contains both classic single-level ranch houses and more vertically organized hillside homes.

Why Toyon Heights Is Still Used as a Name

Toyon Heights never became a separate city or formally independent neighborhood.

It is an old subdivision name.

But subdivision names can be remarkably durable.

Toyon Heights continues to appear in legal descriptions, property records and real-estate marketing more than seventy years after its development.

Local buyers and agents may therefore describe a property as being in Toyon Heights even though City neighborhood maps place it within Monterey Vista.

Mar Vista, Monterey Vista and Toyon Heights Are Not Synonyms

This is where the terminology becomes important.

Monterey Vista is the larger neighborhood formally recognized by the City.

Mar Vista is a widely used local and real-estate name associated particularly with Mar Vista Drive and surrounding residential streets.

Toyon Heights is a specific historical subdivision associated with part of the upper Mar Vista area.

A house can therefore legitimately be described using more than one of these names.

For example, a 1956 home may legally be in the Toyon Heights subdivision, marketed locally as Mar Vista and still sit within the City's broader Monterey Vista neighborhood.

And What About Monte Vista?

Monte Vista adds another layer.

Monte Vista Drive is a real City street running between Mar Vista Drive and Soledad Drive.

Over time, Monte Vista also became a local and real-estate name for the surrounding residential area.

Today's real-estate searches can overlap substantially between Mar Vista and Monte Vista.

The City does not treat either as a fully separate neighborhood from Monterey Vista.

That is why national real-estate websites, local agents and longtime residents can label the same general location differently without any of them necessarily being wrong.

For today's housing distinctions, see our Monte Vista Real Estate guide.

Monterey Vista Was Built in Layers

Once these names are separated historically, the neighborhood begins to make much more sense.

Its development can be viewed in broad stages:

  • around 1900: large private hillside estates such as Charles Rollo Peters' property
  • 1910s: early subdivisions such as Bruguiere Park
  • late 1920s: additional Peter's Gate and Monte Regio subdivision activity
  • 1930s–1940s: slower infill and interrupted construction
  • 1950s: major postwar residential expansion including Toyon Heights
  • 1960s and later: continued development, infill and larger hillside residences

That layered history explains the neighborhood's architectural variety far better than simply saying most homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s.

Monterey High School and the Residential Hills

Schools became significant physical anchors as the hills filled with permanent residents.

Monterey High School sits along Herrmann Drive on the northern side of the broader Monterey Vista area.

The school had been established long before Toyon Heights was developed, but its modern campus became closely intertwined with the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Other school sites have also influenced circulation, pedestrian routes and neighborhood planning over time.

School configurations have changed repeatedly, which is why current school assignments should always be verified rather than relying on an old neighborhood article.

Why Some Monterey Vista Streets Don't Look Suburban

One of the most interesting surviving characteristics of Monterey Vista is its inconsistent street infrastructure.

The neighborhood was developed over many decades rather than constructed under one modern engineering standard.

The City's Monterey Vista Traffic Calming Plan notes that many neighborhood streets remain narrow.

Some have conventional curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

Others use decomposed-granite pedestrian paths.

Still others retain a more rural road section with drainage ditches and no designated walkway.

This patchwork is another physical reminder of the neighborhood's incremental growth.

Mar Vista Drive Became Wider Than the Streets Around It

The City describes Mar Vista Drive as wider than most streets within Monterey Vista and identifies it as a route connecting Skyline Drive toward downtown.

That made it useful for neighborhood circulation.

It also encouraged through traffic.

Over time, residents became increasingly concerned about vehicle speed, cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety.

Those issues eventually produced one of Monterey's more detailed neighborhood traffic-calming efforts.

The 2003 Monterey Vista Traffic Calming Plan

In 2003, Monterey worked with neighborhood residents to create a formal traffic-calming plan for Monterey Vista.

The City surveyed residents and held neighborhood meetings to identify their greatest concerns.

Speeding ranked highest.

Residents also raised concerns involving:

  • cut-through traffic
  • pedestrian safety
  • bicycle safety
  • street visibility
  • road curvature and grades
  • limited sidewalks

Mar Vista Drive and Monte Vista Drive appeared repeatedly in those discussions.

Mar Vista as a Shortcut Through the Hills

The problem is partly geographic.

Mar Vista provides a logical route between Skyline, Highway 68 and lower Monterey.

A road built to serve a residential hillside can therefore become attractive to drivers who do not live there.

The traffic plan specifically identified cut-through traffic on Mar Vista and concerns about speeding between Skyline and Monte Vista.

This tension between neighborhood street and transportation route has continued for decades.

The Plan Is Still Evolving

The original traffic-calming program did not end the discussion.

Monterey revisited Mar Vista Drive beginning in 2015 and held additional community meetings in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

The traffic plan was formally updated in 2023.

Proposals have included curb extensions, roadway narrowing and intersection changes intended to slow vehicles and improve pedestrian visibility.

That long planning history demonstrates how the neighborhood has evolved from a relatively new postwar residential area into a mature part of the city managing twenty-first-century traffic pressures.

Greenbelts Became Part of Monterey Vista's Character

Not all remaining open land disappeared beneath houses.

Wooded and vegetated greenbelt areas survived between portions of Monterey Vista and adjoining neighborhoods.

City neighborhood-improvement projects have funded vegetation management and fuel reduction around areas including the Cuesta Vista/Toyon greenbelt.

These open-space corridors help preserve visual separation between homes and maintain some of the landscape that existed before the hillside was fully developed.

A Central Neighborhood That Can Feel Removed

Monterey Vista's geography creates an interesting contradiction.

It is remarkably central.

Downtown Monterey, Del Monte Center, Highway 1, Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach are all relatively close.

Yet curving streets, elevation, vegetation and limited through roads can make individual pockets feel removed from the city below.

That characteristic developed gradually as subdivisions were fitted into the existing hillside rather than imposed across one completely cleared tract.

The Monterey Bay View Became Part of Neighborhood Identity

Early advertisements for hillside property throughout Monterey frequently emphasized elevation, views and protection from coastal winds.

By the postwar period, large picture windows and improved building technology allowed homeowners to experience the view very differently from earlier generations.

Selected Mar Vista and Toyon Heights properties came to look across:

  • downtown Monterey
  • Monterey Harbor
  • Del Monte Beach
  • Seaside
  • Marina
  • the broad arc of Monterey Bay

The changing city below became part of the scenery.

City Lights Became a New Kind of View

One particularly twentieth-century aspect of Mar Vista is the city-light view.

Charles Rollo Peters painted Monterey when darkness meant a handful of glowing windows against otherwise dark hillsides.

By the time Toyon Heights was built in the 1950s, Monterey, Seaside and the communities along the northern bay had become illuminated urban landscapes.

Elevated homes could now look across not only water and coastline but an arc of nighttime lights.

It is an interesting visual measure of how much Monterey Bay had changed within only half a century.

The Architecture Kept Changing

Because Monterey Vista developed over such a long period, no single architectural style defines it.

The broader neighborhood can contain:

  • Craftsman-era houses
  • Spanish Revival residences
  • traditional cottages
  • prewar homes
  • Minimal Traditional houses
  • California ranch homes
  • mid-century residences
  • split-level hillside houses
  • larger later-period homes
  • substantially remodeled contemporary properties

This diversity is a direct consequence of the neighborhood's layered development history.

Single-Level Homes on a Hillside

One unusual characteristic of the postwar portions of Mar Vista is the presence of true single-level houses despite the neighborhood's elevation.

Developers sometimes selected relatively level benches or graded lots that could accommodate ranch-style floor plans.

That combination—single-level living with an elevated Monterey Bay view—became particularly desirable.

Other properties required split levels, steep driveways or multistory construction to respond to the terrain.

The Driveway Can Tell You a Lot About the Lot

The relationship between street and house became increasingly important as development climbed into steeper portions of Monterey Vista.

A home itself may be primarily single-level while the driveway rises or falls sharply from the street.

On another lot, the garage may sit beneath the primary living floor.

Some houses use decks rather than conventional level yards to create outdoor space.

These design differences are part of the neighborhood's evolution from gentler lower slopes to steeper upper terrain.

Mar Vista Was Never Reliably “Above the Fog”

Our original 2013 article claimed that Mar Vista sat high enough to be beyond Monterey's summer fog on most days.

That was an overly broad real-estate description and should be retired.

Elevation absolutely creates microclimate differences.

There are days when parts of Mar Vista are sunnier than Monterey's immediate waterfront.

There are also days when marine clouds sit directly against the hills or move through the neighborhood.

Trees, wind exposure, slope and exact elevation can create noticeable differences from one street to another.

The accurate statement is simply that Mar Vista's hillside location produces a different microclimate from the immediate bayfront—not a consistently fog-free one.

Why the Names Still Matter

Neighborhood names are more than marketing labels.

They preserve layers of local history.

Peter's Gate remembers an artist's estate.

Bruguiere Park remembers an early private property and subdivision.

Monte Regio preserves another development name.

Toyon Heights survives from a mid-century subdivision tract.

Mar Vista follows the road and the view-oriented identity that developed around it.

Monterey Vista eventually became the umbrella under which much of that complicated hillside history now sits.

Mar Vista Real Estate Today

Today's Mar Vista market is dominated by established single-family homes, particularly postwar residences built during the 1950s and 1960s, along with later homes and extensive remodels.

Views, exact street, lot usability, single-level living and home condition can produce substantial differences among nearby properties.

Those modern buying and selling considerations belong on our dedicated Mar Vista Real Estate & Homes for Sale page.

Monte Vista Real Estate Today

The adjoining Monte Vista area includes its own mix of detached homes and condominium communities.

Because modern MLS and real-estate searches can overlap between Mar Vista and Monte Vista, buyers should focus on the individual street and property rather than rely on a neighborhood label alone.

See our complete Monte Vista Real Estate guide for current information.

Monterey Vista's Place in Monterey History

Monterey Vista is essentially a physical timeline of Monterey's residential expansion.

At its northern edges are reminders of estates, artists and subdivisions from the early twentieth century.

Farther into the hills are neighborhoods shaped by Monterey's 1920s growth.

Then come the ranch homes, garages, wider roads and view-oriented subdivisions of postwar California.

Unlike a master-planned community where nearly everything dates from one moment, Monterey Vista grew incrementally for generations.

That is why its streets can change personality so quickly.

It is also why the area's names sometimes seem contradictory.

They are not describing one simple neighborhood.

They are describing different chapters of the same hillside.

Frequently Asked Questions About Monterey Vista, Mar Vista and Toyon Heights History

Is Mar Vista an official City of Monterey neighborhood?

The City formally recognizes the larger area as Monterey Vista. Mar Vista is a commonly used local and real-estate name associated with Mar Vista Drive and adjoining residential streets within the broader Monterey Vista neighborhood.

What is Toyon Heights?

Toyon Heights is a historical residential subdivision identified in property records as Toyon Heights, Tract 260. It includes homes around portions of upper Mar Vista Drive, Toda Vista, Via Ladera and nearby streets.

When was Toyon Heights developed?

Many original Toyon Heights homes were built during the mid-1950s. Public property records show numerous examples constructed in 1956, with additional homes following in 1957 and 1958.

Why are Mar Vista and Monterey Vista sometimes used interchangeably?

Mar Vista is a familiar local and real-estate name for part of the larger Monterey Vista neighborhood. Because the boundaries are informal in real-estate usage, national property websites, agents and residents may apply different names to the same general area.

Is Monte Vista the same as Mar Vista?

No. Monte Vista and Mar Vista are adjoining local subarea names within the broader Monterey Vista neighborhood. Monte Vista Drive runs between Mar Vista Drive and Soledad Drive, and real-estate search boundaries for the two areas can overlap.

Was Monterey Vista built all at once?

No. The broader neighborhood developed in stages over many decades. Early estates and subdivisions appeared during the early twentieth century, additional development occurred during the 1920s, and major postwar expansion took place during the 1950s and 1960s.

What was Bruguiere Park?

Bruguiere Park was an early Monterey hillside subdivision surveyed in 1911 on land formerly associated with the Bruguiere family. Portions of the old subdivision are now part of the larger Monterey Vista neighborhood.

Why are many Mar Vista homes from the 1950s and 1960s?

This was the period when Monterey's postwar housing expansion reached much of the hillside. Increased automobile ownership, housing demand and the appeal of bay-view lots encouraged development of ranch, mid-century and split-level homes.

Why doesn't Monterey Vista have sidewalks on every street?

The neighborhood developed over many decades under different street standards. The City's traffic-planning documents note that some streets have conventional sidewalks, some use decomposed-granite walkways, and others retain drainage ditches and no designated walkway.

Is Mar Vista always above Monterey's fog?

No. Elevation can produce different conditions from the immediate waterfront, and some days may be sunnier on the hillside, but fog and marine clouds can also reach Mar Vista and Toyon Heights.

Explore Monterey Vista and Monterey History

It is tempting to think of Monterey's residential hills simply as neighborhoods that appeared after World War II.

The reality is much richer.

Monterey Vista contains the traces of artistic estates, early subdivisions, prewar homes, postwar ranch houses and later hillside development layered together across more than a century.

Mar Vista and Toyon Heights are important pieces of that story because they show the moment when Monterey's growth decisively moved uphill and began designing homes around the automobile, the landscape and the view.

Continue exploring:

Considering a home in Mar Vista, Monte Vista or elsewhere in Monterey?
Explore current Monterey real estate or call Mark Bruno and the Monterey Peninsula Home Team at (831) 917-8190.

Aug. 20, 2013

San Benancio Area

Search all San Benancio Real Estate currently available on the MLSSan Benancio Area

Scenic Highway 68 Corridor

San Benancio Canyon, referred to as “Las Pasturas del Cielo” in John Steinbeck’s book, “The Pastures of Heaven” was aptly named based on the scenic beauty of this area. John Steinbeck spent time all over Monterey County as a kid, but apparently San Benancio made a lasting impact on him. He especially liked the Castle Rock area of San Benancio as described in the book.

San Benancio is a very desirable area for full time residents of either the Monterey Peninsula or the Salinas Valley. This neighborhood is centrally located with easy access to the Monterey Peninsula as well as Salinas, Marina and Carmel Valley. You can be just about anywhere you need to in around 20 minutes from San Benancio.
Those looking to escape the summer coastal fog will also be delighted with the weather in San Benancio. It is normally 10-15 degrees warmer that the coast and is rarely fogged in. The locals refer to this location as the sun belt or the banana belt based on the regularity of the sunshine in the summer months. In the wintertime, residents of San Benancio can count on the same mild weather that makes the California coast so inviting to so many people. Although the mornings will be a bit cooler in the canyon, the days normally warm up quickly and match or exceed the coastal high temperatures.

The San Benancio neighborhood is a relatively small rural area located right in the middle of Monterey and Salinas roughly 15 minutes east of Monterey off Hwy 68. San Benancio Road forks off Hwy 68 just west of the Toro Café and runs right down the center of the San Benancio Canyon to the south east until it runs into Corral De Tierra Rd. There are homes that are set back on both sides of San Benancio Road as well as many private roads branching off allowing for homes to be built up the canyon walls making this neighborhood unique from many others.

San Benancio Real Estate

San Benancio Real Estate is made up of a very eclectic mixture of homes that have been built over the past 50 or so years. It is not uncommon to have a brand new home located right next to a 40 year old home inside this rural setting. Most real estate in San Benancio is made up of larger lots that measure over one acre and typical lots here are around 3-4 acres but can be 100 acres or more! The terrain of most of the lots is pretty hilly since it is carved out of a canyon and building sites are limited.

Real estate values are a lot like the homes in San Benancio and can vary from basic, very affordable homes to very high end and expensive luxury estates. Smaller, older homes set close to San Benancio Road typically do not fetch more than $750,000 and larger, newer luxury homes with views and acreage can sell in the several million dollar range. Obviously knowing what price to pay for a home in San Benancio Canyon can be very tricky as well as figuring out what price to sell your home for. Be sure to talk to a REALTOR when buying or selling a home in San Benancio.

To see the latest 3 real estate listings of San Benancio neighborhood homes for sale, click here. For a full list of San Benancio Neighborhood real estate available, you can build an advanced search or contact us and we can do it for you.

Our website has detailed information including San Benancio real estate statistics. If you are interested in learning more about real estate values in this Monterey Peninsula neighborhood or if you are interested in seeing homes that are for sale in the San Benancio area, contact us.