Buyers interested in Encinitas real estate (link is to a community profile on the town) with a desire to own waterfront have some options - fairly expensive ones.

California waterfront real estate is known for being some of the most expensive in the country (although I dare say Florida has some very pricey homes on the water, at least the areas I have visited) and Encinitas waterfront homes are no exception.

While not as costly (on average) as Solana Beach, Del Mar, and La Jolla's ocean-front homes, these properties in Encinitas can command a pretty hefty price to match the spectacular views. There are a limited number of waterfront homes, and often they are not very large.

The street to buy on, if waterfront real estate is your desire, is Neptune, which runs along the bluff from Grandview Beach in Leucadia south to just north of Moonlight Beach (at Encinitas Boulevard). You will find all sorts of styles, from beach bungalows and tiny single-story homes, to contemporary, and both detached and attached homes (townhouse style).

A drive down the street does not immediately reveal the type of area you might expect; in fact it appears a bit understated, as the homes are very close together, for the most part, and you can only rarely see the ocean from the street. Because of the location, homes on the east side of Neptune may not have views unless you are on the second or third floor, and sometimes not even then.

One must, of course, expect high prices, because of the fabulous views. And with the location on top of the bluff one also can expect erosion; a number of homes no longer have beach stairs that reach the beach. You will also experience more severe weather - cooler breezes, more wind, and more fog and marine layer (while the sun is shining just a few blocks inland). There are several public access points to the beach far below, e.g., Stone Steps Beach, Beacon's, and Grandview Beach. The area is popular with surfers, and there are a good number of rentals, including those for vacations, as well. Residents can easily walk a block or two to the Coast Highway and enjoy the amenities offered by Leucadia (a funky, eclectic, surfer-focused area of Encinitas); the main downtown area is a short drive south, and Moonlight Beach is a healthy walk.

As of August 2007, there are 13 homes for sale in Encinitas on Neptune: 10 are on the ocean side, and 2 are attached. They range in price from $1.499 million to $7.995 million (there is a one-half-interest tenant-in-common unit [attached] for $799K - $899K). There is at least one new home being built (undisclosed price) at the moment. There have been 3 sales in the last 6 months, ranging from $1.25 - $8.5 million.

Some other streets that offer some ocean-front housing include small portions of 4^th and 5^th (prices for current listings and recent sales range from $1.625 - $6 million).

In Leucadia, at the north end of town, Sea Bluff is an ocean front complex of town-homes (many homes are NOT direct waterfront). There are a limited number of ocean-front homes and recent homes have been priced in the $2.45 - $2.75 million range.

If I can assist you with your search for a waterfront property in Encinitas or elsewhere on the coast, or provide you with a complete list of the homes available that meet your criteria, please let me know.

Feel free to PHONE or TEXT ME at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

If you would like to begin your search for homes yourself, please drop by my website.