Malibu, CA Real Estate

The City of Malibu is located along almost 21 miles of Pacific shoreline. Its main artery to and from the City of Los Angeles and surrounding areas is the Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1). Although the third largest city in Los Angeles County, Malibu has only been an actual incorporated city since 1991, when it did so in order to maintain local control. Before that, the area known as Malibu was not open to the public until 1929.

Prior to that year, the ranch land that had been established by a land grant was inherited in its entirety by Frederick Hastings Rindge. Neither he nor his wife allowed anyone to come onto their private holdings, and fought a long court battle to prohibit the building of a Southern Pacific railroad line. Coupled with his death and the court-ordered approval to build the Pacific Coast Highway, Rindge’s widow found it necessary to begin subdividing the land for eventual sale and lease of the lots.

Malibu, in part because of increased residential development, as well as its rather unique weather and geography, is very susceptible to disasters, both natural and man-made. The destruction of property and vegetation is frequently caused by wildfires. These, in turn, leave little or no barriers, natural or otherwise, with which to stop soil from washing down the hills during heavy rains. The resulting mudslides often finish what the wildfires started.

If one is willing to take the chance, then Malibu certainly welcomes you to join its elite community of residents who occupy the many very exclusive, very high-end, very expensive, single-family homes located in the area. It is also possible to find a few upscale apartment units available. These are located right on the beach, and are very desirable and in very high demand.

The three elementary schools, serving grades K-5, and Malibu High School, which houses grades 6-12, are under the auspices of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. There are at least three private schools in the Malibu area. They are Our Lady of Malibu School, Colin McEwen High School, and Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue.