Santa Monica Mountains: Living Close to Hollywood, Surrounded by Nature

What if living near Hollywood didn’t mean sacrificing your sanity?

When a musician who has toured with 98 Degrees and Fuel chooses to raise his family in the Santa Monica Mountains, I pay attention.

Robbie Gennet could live anywhere. But when he sat down with me on the REalizations Podcast, what struck me wasn’t his credentials. It was where he chose to come home to.

That choice, proximity to Hollywood and removal from it, is exactly what draws professionals to Santa Monica, California, real estate. I represent properties across the Bay Area and Southern California, and I've helped hundreds of clients navigate this exact decision.

Robbie's story is one example of what's possible here. Your version will look different because it needs to fit your life, work, and family.

Life Between Hollywood and Nature

Forty miles of the Santa Monica Mountains run through Los Angeles and Ventura counties. They create a narrow green corridor between a major entertainment capital and an iconic coastline.

For professionals working in Hollywood, this geography matters.

Robbie describes his commute as a mental reset. “When I go out and paddle out, I like to think I'm not just paddling out into the waves. I'm leaving the entire continent behind, all the politics and the BS and everything. Just leave it behind so I can sit offshore and be apart from it.”

That proximity to escape is increasingly rare. In the Santa Monica Mountains, it's the baseline.

I’ve spent decades helping clients navigate competitive California markets. Some need to be in the heart of the city. Others need distance. Most need something in between. My job isn’t to sell you on one location. It’s to help you find yours.

Why Professionals Choose Santa Monica, California

Here’s what I see repeatedly: professionals who settle in the Santa Monica Mountains aren't fleeing the city. They’re optimizing. Robbie's ten self-produced albums in 2025, all recorded from his mountain studio, prove what happens when you find your creative space.

What living here gives you:

• Privacy and safety for raising families

• Immediate trail and beach access

• Space for creative and professional work

• A psychological boundary between career and home

What you keep:

• Proximity to studios and industry hubs

• Access to LA’s professional networks

• Cultural and dining amenities

• Airport connectivity

This is selective proximity. The mountains allow Robbie to stay present in both worlds.

Hiking in Santa Monica Mountains & Outdoor Lifestyle

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the United States, 150,000 acres from the Backbone Trail to Leo Carrillo’s tide pools.

For residents, this isn’t a vacation. It’s the backyard.

Robbie speaks about the ocean the way others describe meditation.

“The ocean is an amazing teacher about ourselves, about our limits, our humility, our grace. It’ll wreck you, or it'll give you a beautiful ride. It helps you to be a little more stoic in real life.” - Robbie Gennet

This is what the outdoors does here. It’s not decorative. It’s formative.

Popular outdoor access points I discuss with clients:

Houses for Sale in Santa Monica Mountains: What to Expect

Real estate in the Santa Monica Mountains operates differently from traditional urban or suburban markets. Inventory is constrained by topography and conservation easements. The National Park Service protects vast swaths, developable land is finite and deeply desirable.

But here’s what most guides won't tell you: there is no single “Santa Monica Mountains” market. The range spans over 40 miles and multiple jurisdictions, each with its own price floor, community character, and lifestyle trade-off.

Based on current market data (February 2026):

Median Home Prices by Area

According to Redfin, demand remains strong from buyers seeking outdoor access without sacrificing urban proximity.

Entry Point Price Ranges

According to Redfin, demand remains strong from buyers seeking outdoor access without sacrificing urban proximity.

Entry Point Price Ranges

The gap between entry-level pricing and median values reveals each market’s diversity, Bel Air shows the widest range, indicating inventory from accessible entry estates to trophy properties in the eight-figure range.

Luxury Market Price Range Distribution

Understanding where each submarket sits on both entry-level accessibility and median pricing helps strategic buyers identify which neighborhood best aligns with their financial goals and lifestyle priorities.

Market Positioning Scatter Plot

Figure 4: Strategic market positioning by entry point and median price

Image filename: santa-monica-region-market-positioning-scatter-plot-entry-vs-median-prices

Alt-text: Market positioning scatter plot showing the relationship between entry prices and median prices in the Santa Monica region

My typical buyers:

1. Entertainment professionals who maintain Hollywood connections

2. Tech executives with location flexibility

3. International buyers adding a West Coast home

4. Established Angelenos seeking more space and nature

Here’s what I’ve learned: Everyone asks about fire ratings, insurance, and access routes. While those factors are important, the crucial question for success is: which submarket aligns with your desired lifestyle?

Santa Monica Mountains Real Estate: My Insights 

Robbie describes his location choice simply: he’s close enough to be part of LA and Hollywood when he needs to be, but can remove himself when he doesn’t.

This is what my clients are really looking for. They don’t always have the words, but Robbie does. In just fifteen minutes, you can reach the dolphins, leaving the continent behind on your commute. Kids here learn about the ocean before they even learn how to drive.

The Santa Monica Mountains deliver this. But they aren’t the only place that can. Living in Hollywood can offer a different kind of magic.

As a real estate advisor with Compass, I’ve spent decades helping clients find properties that support both their careers and their lives. Some need what the mountains offer. Others need something else entirely.

My job isn’t to sell you on one address. It’s to help you find yours.

If the Santa Monica Mountains are your answer, I know every canyon, every market trend, and every trade-off. If they’re not, I can help you find the location that fits, because I’ve done it thousands of times before.

That’s what experience means. It’s not about the number of zip codes I cover, but how many clients I’ve helped find the right door.

FAQs About Living in the Santa Monica Mountains

1. Is the Santa Monica Mountains part of Los Angeles or Malibu?

Both. The range spans multiple jurisdictions, including the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated LA County, Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and Ventura County. Each has different services, tax structures, and community character.

2. How long is the commute to Hollywood or Burbank?

From Topanga: approximately 20 minutes to Hollywood, 30 minutes to Burbank. From eastern Malibu: approximately 45 minutes to Hollywood Burbank Airport. Commute times vary significantly by exact location and time of day.

3. Are homes here expensive to insure?

Yes, due to wildfire risk. California's insurance market is under significant pressure, with major carriers limiting new policies in high fire hazard severity zones. The California FAIR Plan serves as the insurer of last resort.

4. Is there inventory for first-time buyers?

In Santa Monica, the market is bifurcated: single-family home inventory is extremely tight (1.84 months) with a median over $3M, while the condo market offers more inventory and a lower entry point at approximately $1.1M. Inventory conditions vary widely by specific submarket.

5. What schools serve the area?

LAUSD and Santa Monica-Malibu USD serve portions of the region. School attendance boundaries are address-specific and should be verified with the district.

What Your Address Says About Your Life

Robbie Gennet rebuilt his life here after the Woolsey Fire because this is where his voice lives.

“This is my voice,” he said. “Art must come from an artist. And your voice is everything.”

I think about that every time I work with a client. You’re not looking for square footage. You're looking for the place where your voice gets to speak, where your work doesn't consume your family, where your morning commute can also be a mental reset, where your kids learn the ocean before they learn to drive.

That address exists. It might be here. It might be somewhere else. But you won’t find it by staying where you are.

If you’re looking for other locations with specific needs, let’s connect.

Do you want to be close to Hollywood, have privacy, access to nature, good schools, or long-term investment value? I can help you find the perfect location that supports both your career and lifestyle.

Listen to the full conversation with Robbie Gennet on the REalizations Podcast.

This podcast is produced by the Icons of Real Estate - #1 Real Estate Podcast Network.

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