Between the turn of the 20th century and WWII, the White Point area of San Pedro was home to a thriving Japanese community of abalone fisherman and farmers. In 1899, 12 Japanese fisherman leased beach front property at White Point from Ramon Sepulveda,  a descendant ofJose Dolores Sepulveda, the original Spanish land grant owner of San Pedro, with the intention of establishing an abalone and lobster fishery at that location. By 1903, they had earned enough money to construct a cannery at the fishery. This profitable industry ended in 1908 when it was alleged that these settlers were using fishing as a front for spying on coastline activities. Laws restricting how much shellfish could be taken were also enacted when the lobster and abalone population was quickly depleted.

After the fishery closed, the area became a Japanese farming community and a resort locale. In 1915, Tojuro and Tamiji Tagami, with the help of Sepúlveda, developed the area as the White Point Health Resort, a sea side resort centered around a sulfur spring at the base of the cliffs. Tamiji suffered severely from arthritis but after several weeks of immersion in the hot water from the ocean, he recovered and was again able to work. So they built a bathhouse and then constructed the balance of the resort which consisted of a two story50 room  hotel and restaurant with a dance floor, three salt water plunges, an enclosed boating area, a bathhouse, and a pier which ferried tourists to a nearby fishing barge . Local children often bathed in the sulfur water on their way home from school. Doctor would send patients to the resort for the therapeutic powers of the hot springs, and tourists would stay there for the beauty of the weather and location.

Diver at White Point Resort

Various disasters in 1928 and the late '30s, led to the decline and eventual closure of the property when storms damaged the pools and some of the buildings. In 1933, an earthquake sealed off the sulfur springs.Although the  Tagamis continued to operate the hotel, they never actually owned the land. Ramon Sepulveda could not legally sell the land to Asian immigrants under a California law which prohibited ownership of land by those not eligible to become citizens. Although the hotel continued to operate despite these set-backs, the final blow came in the late 1930’s with the rise of anti-Japanese prejudice  and depressed economic conditions forced the closure of the resort.

After the start of World War II, The federal government took over the area, becoming part of the nearby Fort MacArthur military complex. The resort's buildings were demolished, and fortifications were added to the shoreline and nearby hillside.

The state of California bought the beach area in 1960, and it became Royal Palms State Beach. In 1995, the land was acquired by the county of Los Angeles and became Royal Palms County Beach.

 
White Point Health Resort -  Circa 1920's

The Silver Spur area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates (Area 176 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold:  13

Address                      Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt.    MLS#   Sold Date    Days on Mkt.

26453 Basswood AV       $680,000 3 2.00 1,753 $387.91 1956 S10113690 10/19/11      71
5940 Finecrest DR           $700,098 4 3.00 2,270 $308.41 1959 V11087256 11/18/11     82
27051 Springcreek RD     $721,960 3 2.00 1,780 $405.60 1960 V11102759 12/16/11    124
5547 Bayridge RD            $730,000 3 2.00 1,321 $552.61 1956 P802819     12/30/11      7
27161 Fond Du Lac RD    $750,000 4 2.00 1,890 $396.83 1958 S673218     10/21/11      3
5302 Littlebow RD           $765,000 4 2.00 2,340 $326.92 1957 P789544     11/28/11    100
5507 Bayridge RD            $782,000 3 2.00 1,773 $441.06 1956 V11076837 10/27/11     133
26332 Grayslake RD        $785,000 4 2.00 1,890 $415.34 1961 S11114085 10/21/11     14
26916 Springcreek RD     $825,000 3 2.00 1,642 $502.44 1960 V11153114 12/30/11     18
11 Via De La Vista           $830,000 4 2.00 2,339 $354.85 1965 S11096590 10/11/11     14
26644 Shadow Wood DR $870,000 4 3.00 1,917 $453.83 1961 P796824     11/04/11      6
5951 Flambeau Road      $870,000 5 2.00 2,190 $397.26 1959 V11099943  11/16/11   109
27100 Mesaba DR           $902,000 4 3.00 2,245 $401.78 1958 V11110300 11/09/11      26

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ .8 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11:  11  

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ .9 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 411 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 98% of List Price

The Eastview area of Rancho Palos Verdes ( area 177 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold: 18

Address                           Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#     Sold Date    Days on Mkt.

1839 Jaybrook DR                   $407,500 2 1.00    853 $477.73 1950 11556983  12/16/11        33
2034 Jaybrook DR                   $520,000 2 2.00 1,100 $472.73 1950 P797983    11/16/11        50
2036 W Macarthur ST             $530,000 4 2.00 1,629 $325.35 1955 S11067145 11/18/11       113
27630 Tarrasa DR                   $569,000 4 3.00 1,902 $299.16 1960 V11070978 11/18/11      164
2079 Noble View DR                $590,000 3 2.00 1,719 $343.22 1957 S11129469 12/14/11       92
1921 Summerland ST              $610,000 3 3.00 2,064 $295.54 1955 S11103210 12/09/11      110
1966 W General ST                 $620,000 4 2.00 1,781 $348.12 1955 S11135149 11/22/11       28
27905 Pontevedra DR              $654,000 4 2.00 2,136 $306.18 1959 S10083217 10/13/11     250
28614 Mount Sawtooth DR       $670,000 4 3.00 2,460 $272.36 1973 S11103172 12/30/11     105
1465 W Toscanini DR               $675,000 4 2.00 2,100 $321.43 1974 S11042705 11/09/11     166
29004 S Bayend DR                 $685,000 4 3.00 2,376 $288.30 1987 V11104151 11/08/11      76
28621 Mount Hood CT             $700,000 3 3.00 1,768 $395.93 1974 V11109007 12/02/11      93
1815 W Toscanini DR               $710,000 3 3.00 2,029 $349.93 1962 V11062959 12/28/11     208
2042 Crestwood ST                 $715,000 4 2.00 2,015 $354.84 1956 V11122603 12/02/11       75
2062 Upland ST                       $725,000 3 2.00 1,716 $422.49 1957 V11099311 10/01/11       33
27904 Alaflora DR                   $735,000 4 2.00 1,746 $420.96 1959 S11109970 10/20/11        64
27831 Pontevedra DR             $737,500 4 2.00 1,746 $422.39 1959 V11089587 12/08/11      118
27636 Tarrasa DR                   $740,000 3 3.00 1,900 $389.47 1960 V11065503 10/01/11      131

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ .6 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11:   13

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ .6 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 361 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 98% of List Price

The Peninsula Center area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates (Area 175 in map below) had the following real estate market activity during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold: 2

Address               Sales Price  BR BA  Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt.    MLS#   Sold Date   Days on Mkt. 

27509 Elmbridge DR       $930,000 4 2.00 2,165 $429.56 1965        V11030733 10/14/11            210

27926 Longhill DR        $1,100,000 5 3.00 2,494 $441.06 1967        V11071606 10/13/11            107

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 1.0 million

The Peninsula Center area had low sales activity during the 4th quarter  primarily due to a large decrease in the number of listings, with only 2-4 properties in this area listed for sale during the quarter.

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11:  4

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ .9 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 435 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 95% of List Price

The Los Verdes area of Rancho Palos Verdes (Area 173 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold: 6

Address                  Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt.       MLS#    Sold Date  Days on Mkt.

6934 Brookford DR           $840,000 3 2.00 1,854 $453.07 1962             S11092808 11/16/11              90

28405 Lomo                     $850,000 4 2.00 2,016 $421.63 1963             V11050207 10/14/11            169

6702 Locklenna LN         $1,027,000 3 3.00 2,875 $357.22 1967             S11110989 10/14/11             11

6632 Verde Ridge Road  $1,100,000 5 4.00 2,788 $394.55 1972             V11078210 11/10/11           142

28419 Hazelridge DR      $1,165,000 4 3.00 2,484 $469.00 1964             V11132835 11/18/11            40

28312 Plainfield DR        $1,299,000 4 4.00 3,888 $334.10 1974             V11079519 12/08/11            169 

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 1.0 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11:  5

Los Verdes Street with Ocean View

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ 1.0 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 405 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 97% of List Price

The Crest area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates ( Area 174 in map below )had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold: 6

Address                     Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft.$/Sq.ft Yr.Blt.    MLS#    Sold Date    Days on Mkt.

28740 Doverridge DR        $805,900 3 2.00 1,874 $430.04 1969        S11117121 12/07/11        45

5632 Seaside Heights       $920,000 4 3.00 2,488 $369.77 1966        V11133375 11/30/11         8

29230 Beachside DR         $922,000 4 3.00 3,050 $302.30 1966        V11113505 10/18/11         9

6433 Seabryn DR              $930,000 4 3.00 2,432 $382.40 1970             P787739 12/21/11       204

5626 Seaside Heights     $1,030,000 5 3.00 2,468 $417.34 1966        V11096205 10/12/11        28

6225 Lochvale DR           $1,090,000 4 3.00 2,430 $448.56 1965        V11088236 10/14/11        41 

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ .9 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11: 4

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ 1.1 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 392 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 100% of List Price

The La Cresta area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates( area 172 in map below )had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold:  4

Address                  Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft.$/Sq.ft Yr.Blt.     MLS#    Sold Date   Days on Mkt. 

61 Sea Breeze AV        $1,650,000 5 4.00 4,000 $412.50 1999             V11065021 10/14/11          149

51 Sea Breeze ST        $1,730,000 5 4.00 4,000 $432.50 1999             V11000531 10/24/11          263

17 Hillcrest Manor        $1,765,000 4 6.00 5,126 $344.32 1992             V11142273 12/28/11           38

27 Hillcrest Manor        $1,850,000 5 5.00 4,595 $402.61 1999             V11116334 11/17/11           75 

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 1.7 million

View from La Cresta area - Del Cerro Park

 Number of Properties listed for sale as of 12/31/11: 8

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ 2.2 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 398 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 93% of List Price

The Country Club area of Rancho Palos Verdes (area 171 in map below ) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold:  6

Address                        Sales Price BR BA  Sq.ft.  $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#   Sold Date   Days on Mkt.

30530 Camino Porvenir      $1,150,000 4 3.00 2,600 $442.31 1974      V11041765 11/15/11                 215

30037 Avenida Esplendida $1,200,000 3 4.00 3,500 $342.86 1973      S11088584 11/10/11                 116

6831 Faircove DR               $1,250,000 5 3.00 3,000 $416.67 1967      V11109676 11/15/11                  88

30057 Avenida Tranquila   $1,500,000 4 4.00 4,352 $344.67 1969       V11110206 12/23/11                  50

7071 Crest RD                   $1,790,000 5 4.00 4,107 $435.84 1966        S11063490 12/01/11                 167

6863 Alta Vista DR             $2,000,000 5 5.00 4,530 $441.50 1979        V11120441 12/23/11                 103 

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 1.5 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/2011: 7

Average List Price at 12/31/11: $ 1.6 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 404 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 93% of List Price

The West Palos Verdes area of Rancho Palos Verdes ( area 170 in map below ) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :

Properties Sold:  8

Address                       Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS#  Sold Date     Days on Mkt.

30815 Rue Valois                    $960,000 4 2.00 1,926 $498.44           1960 V11081193 11/03/11                  101

30117 Via Borica                   $1,088,000 4 3.00 2,281 $476.98          1966 11014013   10/18/11                   14

30721 Via Rivera                   $1,120,000 4 3.00 2,424 $462.05          1962 V11071998 10/06/11                   96

7302 Lunada Vista                 $2,635,000 5 5.00 3,784 $696.35         2011 S11159783 12/09/11                     0

73 Via Del Cielo                      $2,925,000 3 5.00 5,123 $570.95         2001 V11022117 12/16/11                   282

18 Via Del Cielo                      $3,050,000 5 6.00 7,031 $433.79         2000 V11092629 12/19/11                    91

5 Via Del Cielo                        $3,850,000 6 8.00 8,179 $470.72         2006 V11054693 12/01/11                   182

6 Marguerite DR                     $6,300,000 7 9.00 10,000 $630.00        2001 V09126059 12/06/11                   311

Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 2.7 million

Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11:  9

Average List Price at 12/31/11:  $ 5.4 million

Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr:   $ 530 per sq. ft.

Properties sold at an average of 90% of List Price

Note:  The sales statistics for homes in the West Palos Verdes area may be distorted due to the fact that homes in the Ocean Front Estates next to the ocean are high end estate properties while the rest of the area to the east of Palos Verdes Drive tend to be more moderately priced older homes.