Wondering which Santa Monica home style actually fits your life, not just your Pinterest board? In a city where architecture, maintenance, and price can vary dramatically block by block, choosing between a bungalow, condo, townhome, or newer contemporary home is a practical decision as much as a design one. If you want to buy with more clarity, this guide will help you compare the main options in Santa Monica and understand how each style lines up with budget, upkeep, and lifestyle. Let’s dive in.
Why home style matters here
In Santa Monica, home style is closely tied to how the city developed over time. The city highlights its cultural and architectural history through landmarks and historic districts, including the 11th Street Bungalow Historic District, Bay Street Craftsman Cluster, and San Vicente Boulevard Courtyard Apartments Historic District.
Style also matters because the housing stock is older and heavily weighted toward multi-unit living. According to the city, Santa Monica had about 52,629 housing units in 2020, including 11,572 single-family units and 40,853 multi-unit units, and nearly 85% of housing was more than 30 years old. One- and two-bedroom homes made up 69% of the supply, which helps explain why attached housing plays such a big role in the market.
That market is not inexpensive, and pricing can shift sharply by area. Redfin’s Santa Monica housing market data describes the city as somewhat competitive, with homes selling in about 54 days and average homes closing around 1% below list. The same source notes that values vary widely, from roughly $1.11 million in Downtown/Third Street Promenade to about $4.78 million in North of Montana.
Start with your real priorities
Before you compare finishes or curb appeal, think about how you want to live. In Santa Monica, the right home style often comes down to four things: budget, maintenance tolerance, space needs, and daily convenience.
If you love older architecture, a historic bungalow may feel worth the extra upkeep. If you want easier ownership and strong walkability, a condo may make more sense. If you need more room without jumping to detached-home pricing, a townhome can be a smart middle ground.
Historic bungalows
Why buyers love them
Historic bungalows are one of Santa Monica’s signature home styles. They appear in official landmark lists and historic districts, and current examples include courtyard bungalow properties and restored Craftsman or Arts and Crafts homes in areas like Ocean Park and the 3rd and 4th Street corridors, as shown in the city’s designated landmarks list.
These homes usually appeal to buyers who want charm over sheer square footage. You may be drawn to details like woodwork, porches, garden paths, smaller-scale layouts, and a beach-neighborhood feel that is hard to recreate in newer construction.
What to watch for
The biggest tradeoff is maintenance. The city’s housing data notes that older homes often need rehabilitation to major systems such as roofs, siding, plumbing, and electrical, which is especially important in a city where most housing is more than 30 years old, according to the Santa Monica Housing Needs appendix.
That does not mean you should avoid bungalows. It does mean you should expect a more careful inspection process and keep room in your budget for repairs, restoration, or future system updates, even if a home has already been renovated.
Typical price range
Pricing for bungalows in Santa Monica can vary widely. Current examples suggest smaller bungalow condos or cottage-style units can start in the high $800,000s, restored bungalow condos and modest bungalow properties often fall between about $1.5 million and $3 million, and standout historic estates can reach the $8 million to $9 million range, based on current Santa Monica bungalow-style inventory examples.
Best fit for you if...
- You value architectural character
- You are comfortable with an older home
- You want a smaller footprint with personality
- You can budget for more maintenance scrutiny
Townhomes
Why townhomes hit the middle ground
Townhomes often work well for buyers who want more space than a condo without moving all the way to a detached single-family home. In Santa Monica, Redfin currently shows townhouses for sale at a median listing price around $1.38 million, while its city guide places the median townhouse sale price at about $1.45 million.
That pricing helps explain the appeal. Many current townhome listings sit around $1.55 million to $1.69 million for two-bedroom, three-bath layouts, which often gives you more interior space, more separation between living and sleeping areas, and sometimes a small private outdoor space.
What ownership feels like
Townhomes usually suit buyers who want a more residential feel while staying close to Santa Monica’s shops, transit, and coastal lifestyle. Compared with a detached home, upkeep is often simpler because you are not solely handling every exterior issue.
The tradeoff is that you are still part of a shared ownership structure. That means association rules, shared decisions, and the need to review HOA operations carefully before you buy.
Best fit for you if...
- You want more room than a condo offers
- You prefer some separation of spaces
- You want easier upkeep than a detached house
- You are comfortable with HOA rules and shared management
Condos
Why condos are a common entry point
Condos are the most common attached-housing option in Santa Monica. Redfin shows 135 condos for sale at a median listing price of about $1.2 million, and its city guide places the median condo or co-op sale price at about $1.4825 million.
There is also a broad range in the condo market. Smaller units can show up in the high $600,000s to high $800,000s, many two-bedroom units land in the mid $800,000s to mid $900,000s, and larger or better-located condos can climb to $1.3 million to $2 million or more.
Why condos fit Santa Monica living
For many buyers, condos match the rhythm of the city. Redfin gives Santa Monica a Walk Score of 83, and that kind of walkability can make a lock-and-leave home especially appealing if you want easier day-to-day ownership and quick access to dining, shopping, or the beach.
A condo can also overlap with historic character. A bungalow condominium in a historic courtyard recently sold around $1.58 million, which shows you do not always have to choose between convenience and architectural personality.
What to review closely
With condos, the main issue is not just the unit itself. You also need to understand the building, the HOA, reserve funding, maintenance practices, and how major repairs are handled.
Best fit for you if...
- You want the easiest day-to-day ownership profile
- You like attached housing in a walkable setting
- You want a common entry point into Santa Monica ownership
- You are ready to review HOA quality carefully
Newer contemporary homes
Why buyers choose contemporary builds
Newer contemporary homes are generally the most turnkey option in Santa Monica, and they often represent the upper end of the market. Current examples highlighted in Redfin’s new homes data for Santa Monica include brand-new estates, recently built luxury homes, and newer townhome-style residences.
These homes usually attract buyers who want open layouts, indoor-outdoor living, and modern systems. Listing examples commonly reference features like large glass doors, solar, smart-home systems, pools, spas, and elevators.
The tradeoff behind turnkey living
Compared with an older bungalow, newer construction often means less deferred maintenance at the start. That can be a major advantage if you want a home that feels move-in ready.
Still, newer homes are not maintenance-free. More advanced systems and luxury features can be costly when they eventually need service or replacement, so it helps to think beyond the first year of ownership.
Typical price range
Pricing for Santa Monica’s contemporary segment often starts in the high $2 million range for smaller or recently remodeled homes and rises quickly into the $7 million to $18 million-plus tier for larger new builds in prime locations. Current examples also show newer-construction townhome-style units around $2.3 million to $2.5 million, with broader pricing reflected in examples such as this Santa Monica contemporary listing.
Best fit for you if...
- You want turnkey finishes and modern systems
- You prefer larger, more open living spaces
- You want luxury amenities and newer construction
- Your budget supports Santa Monica’s upper-tier pricing
A quick side-by-side view
| Home style | Main appeal | Main tradeoff | General price picture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic bungalow | Character, charm, beach-town feel | Older systems and more upkeep | High $800Ks to $9M depending on size and rarity |
| Townhome | More space with simpler upkeep | HOA rules and shared decisions | Around $1.38M listing median, often mid-$1M range |
| Condo | Convenience and walkable ownership | Less control over building operations | High $600Ks to $2M+ depending on size and location |
| Newer contemporary | Turnkey luxury and modern features | Higher pricing and complex systems | High $2M range to $18M+ |
How to choose the right Santa Monica home style
If you are trying to narrow the field, start by asking a few practical questions.
How much upkeep do you want?
If you do not want to think much about exterior maintenance, condos and many townhomes usually offer a simpler ownership experience. If you enjoy character and do not mind more hands-on planning, a bungalow could be the better match.
How much space do you need?
If your priority is efficient living in a walkable area, a condo may check the box. If you want more bedrooms, split-level living, or a bit of private outdoor space, a townhome may offer a better balance.
Is character or turnkey condition more important?
Bungalows often deliver personality that newer homes cannot copy. Contemporary homes, on the other hand, tend to appeal to buyers who would rather trade historic charm for modern layouts, newer systems, and a more move-in-ready feel.
What is your real budget range?
This is where style and location overlap. In Santa Monica, neighborhood value differences can be dramatic, so the same budget may point you toward a condo in one area, a townhome in another, or a smaller bungalow property elsewhere.
The bottom line
Choosing the right Santa Monica home style is really about choosing the ownership experience you want. In a city where most housing is older, most inventory is multi-unit, and price points vary sharply by area, your best fit is the one that matches your budget, maintenance comfort, and lifestyle priorities, not just your favorite look.
If you want help comparing options, evaluating tradeoffs, and identifying the right fit in Santa Monica or across the Westside, connect with Mitch Bassett. You will get local guidance, a thoughtful strategy, and white-glove support tailored to the way you want to live.
FAQs
What is the best home style for first-time buyers in Santa Monica?
- For many buyers, condos are the most common entry point because they offer a wide range of price points and a relatively easy day-to-day ownership profile.
Are historic bungalows in Santa Monica more expensive to maintain?
- Often, yes. Because much of Santa Monica’s housing stock is older, bungalow buyers should expect closer inspection of systems like roofing, plumbing, and electrical, plus room in the budget for future repairs.
Are townhomes a good compromise in Santa Monica?
- Yes. Townhomes often provide more space than condos while keeping ownership simpler than a detached house, though you still need to evaluate HOA rules and shared management.
Do condos fit Santa Monica’s walkable lifestyle?
- In many cases, yes. Santa Monica’s strong walkability makes condos appealing for buyers who want convenience and easier lock-and-leave living.
Are newer contemporary homes only for luxury buyers in Santa Monica?
- They are generally positioned at the higher end of the market. Smaller or recently remodeled contemporary homes can start in the high $2 million range, while larger new builds can rise far beyond that.
