I’ve been helping buyers and homeowners in El Sereno for over 10 years and when helping buyers, they are either all in or on the fence. There are also a large portion of buyers who are familiar with NorthEast LA and South Pasadena, but have never heard of El Sereno. In their defense the neighborhood was and is still under the radar for most. Also, El Sereno is really spread out out and can be complicated to wrap your head around as it touches so many different parts of the city. To the West / North West it borders Highland Park and Montecito Heights, to the North / North East, South Pasadena and Alhambra, to the South / South East, University Hills and City Terrace, and to the South West, Boyle Heights. For those that love El Sereno, like Los Angeles there is a different experience to be had in every neighborhood and the differences are great just block to block. That is both a positive and negative for El Sereno.
With the median sales price of $850,000 to $900,000 as compared to $950,000 to $1,150,000 in neighboring Highland Park (Source: Redfin), El Sereno feels like a real option with room to grow in the long term. That said, El Sereno does not yet have a walkable town center like neighboring Highland Park for example. That is one complaints I often hear from clients. However, Huntington Drive is the main commercial corridor and coffee shops and restaurants are slowly popping up there. And with the Huntington Drive Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Project still in play, a push to make the strip a real neighborhood corridor, growth seems likely. Read more here. It remains to be seen if it Huntington Drive will be the next Figueroa (Highland Park) or Sunset Junction (Silver Lake), but I remain hopeful.
Really the purpose of my post for today was to share three lovely homes that are all priced under $900,000. In full disclosure there is real activity on a few of them and we’ll likely see the list price jump above asking price.
$899,000
Source Zillow: A light-filled 2-bedroom, 2-bath 1940s single-family home in El Sereno, featuring a private indoor-outdoor courtyard that connects the living spaces and adds strong indoor/outdoor flow. Recently updated with hardwood floors, modern systems, and a secluded backyard, it offers character, functionality, and easy access to DTLA, Pasadena, and major freeways.
$899,000
Source Redfin: Tucked away in the hills of University Hills, this 3-bedroom, ~1,060 sq ft home offers a quiet, private setting with lush landscaping and a retreat-like feel. Built in the 1940s with a functional layout, it blends classic character and everyday livability while remaining well-connected to the Eastside and DTLA.
$828,000
Source Redfin: A 3-bedroom, 2-bath mid-century home (built in 1956) offering ~1,271 sq ft of living space on a sizable lot in El Sereno. Positioned above a tree-lined street, it blends classic character with a functional layout and neighborhood views, while remaining well-connected to DTLA and the Eastside.
If you’re a buyer looking to explore El Sereno or a homeowner interest in a pricing opinion, please feel free to reach out to me:
rich@minimalism.la