Top 8 Reasons People Love Living in San Clemente

You may have heard that Californians were the first to popularize the concept of “lifestyle.” If true, they surely had places like San Clemente in mind. Dubbed the “Spanish Village by the Sea,” San Clemente fuses vibrant local flair with a downright relaxed atmosphere. A cursory Google search reveals breathtaking images of the Pacific coastline and a quaint town with charming Mediterranean and Spanish architecture punctuated by the occasional palm tree. San Clemente is an Orange County paradise where blue skies stretch as far as the eye can see.

 

With the help of the expert real estate agents at Coburn & Associates, buyers of San Clemente real estate get what they bargained for and more. Read on to learn what makes San Clemente special and why this beachside oasis could be right for you.

The “Spanish Village by the Sea” features unmistakable Spanish Colonial architecture. These buildings complement the city’s natural background of sandstone bluffs and white sandy beaches. The Mediterranean local flavor extends to the names of San Clemente’s signature streets — Avenida Vista Hermosa and Camino Vera Cruz bend inland, and the city’s main street is Avenida Del Mar.

 

San Clemente’s downtown is vibrant yet relaxed, even by Southern California standards. The twee and free San Clemente trolley trundles through town. Another local fixture, the San Clemente Pier, is an excellent vantage point for sunsets and the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks.

As a San Clemente local, you can experience local culture via commerce or the arts. The town’s boutiques flourish thanks partly to tourists who come from out of town to shop Old Town San Clemente and the shops on Avenida Del Mar. One noteworthy store, the Rainbow Sandals Factory Outlet, is one of the best places to pick up durable flip-flops. You can also find big brands at Outlets at San Clemente and run errands at Talega Village Center.

 

The city’s arts scene peaks at the San Clemente Art Faire, a decades-long tradition where local artists gain exposure. Locals visit the Cabrillo Playhouse for live music, plays, and performances spanning several genres. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a historic site that houses the city’s foremost arts organization.

As of May 2023, there were about 300 active listings for real estate in San Clemente. Available abodes come in many forms, including single-family houses, oceanfront apartments, condos, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. At the very top of the market, you can usually find a few dozen properties listed at $5 million and above. Beachfront estates command ocean views and range from about 3,500 to over 7,000 square feet. About three in four properties are listed in the market’s sweet spot (between $1 million and $5 million).

San Clemente contains enough gated communities to give motivated buyers a fascinating decision. Among your options are Cotton Point Estates, the most prestigious oceanfront community in San Clemente. Other guard-gated communities include Capistrano Shores, Cyprus Cove, and Sea Pointe Estates.

 

Homes in the above neighborhoods variously feature French doors, Honduran mahogany millwork, Venetian plaster, and Tesla solar batteries. You can find houses with putting greens, custom elevators, elaborate fountains, infinity pools, and beach frontage. Speaking of golf, San Clemente has a few excellent public courses: you take swings daily at Talega Golf Club and San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.

Gnarly waves have crashed on the beautiful beaches of San Clemente for time immemorial. The area’s oldest “beach shack” dates back 9,000 years to Acjachemen Nation, considered its original inhabitants. San Onofre State Beach was formally established via Presidential decree in 1971. By then, the cat had long been out of the bag.

 

San Clemente lays claim to 281 days of sun per year, making it one of the mildest climates worldwide. Average highs never exceed 90 degrees in the summer or dip much below 40 in the winter. The town’s surf culture, well established by the 1920s, was formalized as the San Onofre Surfing Club in the 1950s. Today, you can usually find hundreds of surfers, swimmers, fishers, and bodyboarders testing the ocean waters of San Clemente

Families with young children flock to the region because San Clemente schools are some of the finest in the Golden State. The Capistrano Unified School District serves San Clemente. Students may attend:

 

City dwellers take weekend getaways in San Clemente for its breathing space, literally and figuratively. The city’s high air quality is far from Los Angeles and its notorious smog. San Clemente features lush green parks with excellent hiking, biking, and walking trails. Forster Ranch Community Park is favored for its mountain trails and tennis courts, while Leslie Park offers the quintessential beach park experience. You can even spot whales — gray whales famously migrate in the winter and spring, whereas summer and fall are moving times for blue whales, finback whales, and minke whales.

For a sequestered California beach town, San Clemente boasts abundant local flavor. Sol Agave is a local favorite that serves authentic Mexican cuisine. Slapfish and Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar vie for the best seafood in town, while Nick’s puts a modern spin on American comfort food (try the ribeye melt or the fried devil’s eggs).

 

You might be surprised there are a few excellent French restaurants in San Clemente. J’Adore Cafe and Cafe Mimosa each blur the line between cafe and restaurant; the two bistros are a five-minute walk apart on Avenida Del Mar. Stroll the city center, and you may pick up scents wafting from Chaupain Bakery or Three Dog Bakery, both excellent places for a pastry.

Are you intrigued by the perks of living in San Clemente? If you’re interested in learning more or exploring San Clemente homes for sale, Coburn & Associates are the consummate real estate professionals to consult. We have extensive experience in San Clemente and a comprehensive understanding of its unique real estate market. Book a consultation today to enjoy the unparalleled lifestyle San Clemente affords its residents.

_{*Header photo courtesy of the City of San Clemente}