Monday Market Update: Carmel-by-the-Sea / All To Know About All The Charm

If you have been following us for some time, then you know that the Bobbi Decker Real Estate team has a few favorite get-a-ways – and Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of them! As a dog-friendly town, it was a place we frequented often with our rescue pup HoneyB. As self-proclaimed food & lifestyle researchers 😉, the arts and eateries could not be beat. It’s no wonder this coastal city was featured on Realtor.com® last week. Read on to learn more about why and what countless things about this small town add up to immeasurable charm. 

The Make-Up: Carmel-by-the-Sea (to be called Carmel for the remainder of this article) is a one-mile square village with no streetlights or parking meters. The town has “historically pursued a strategy of planned development to enhance its natural coastal beauty and to retain its character” with the general plan describing Carmel as “a village in a forest overlooking a white sand beach". It was incorporated in 1916 and by 2025 had adopted a vision of serving as a predominantly residential community. As a walkable locale, Carmel has approximately 60 restaurants, 40 hotels, 100 art galleries and antique shops and 20 wine tasting rooms. 

The Numbers: With a chill vibe and highly desirable location, it’s no surprise that this town is ranked as home to some of the priciest real estate in the United States. The median price per square foot is $2,015. Realtor.com® reports the most expensive listing in Carmel is a new build listed at $8.2 million for just over $2,000 square feet. Of those who purchase real estate in Carmel, 30% are from the Bay Area, 30% are from Texas, 30% are locals ‘shifting around’ and 10% is from everywhere else. The east side tends to attract more families, while the west side tends to draw second homeowners (which account for 75% of Carmel’s houses!). 

The Quirks: You will not find a numerical address in Carmel – instead people name their houses! Homes are also identified by landmarks, unique characteristics and intersections. (This makes you feel for the mailman, right?) You also may have heard of a 1960’s law that requires a permit to wear high heels due to cobblestone streets and fear of people tripping (local officers reportedly do not enforce this). Your pup may be thrilled to know that most shops offers dog biscuits, many eateries have canine menus and the Carmel Plaza has a dogs-only drinking spot called the Fountain of Woof. 

The Big Names: Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986 to 1988 and is cited as largely responsible for the town’s children’s library. Doris Day fell in love with the town in 1956 while working on the film Julie, later building her dream home on acreage overlooking the Quail Lodge and Golf Course and then purchasing the Cypress Inn in the 1980s as a ‘dog-friendly hotel’. Bing Crosby founded the Carmel Youth Center while living in Pebble Beach, and the Crosby Clambake golf tournament evolved in the now famous AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Ansel Adams moved to Carmel in 1962 but despite being a famous photographer, never photographed his own home on the coast. John Steinbeck met his wife Elaine Scott in Carmel and NFL head coach and tv announcer John Madden retired there. 

There is SO much more we could tell you about this charming village, but really we’d rather encourage you to experience it for yourself. As you live out your goals and realize your hopes for 2025, don’t forget to make sure that enjoying local treasures such as Carmel is on the list!

Resources Used: Inside Carmel-by-the-Sea, Where Small Homes Sell for Big Money; Fun Facts About Carmel; The 10 Most Notable Residents in Carmel History; Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Cheers to seaside tranquility,

Bobbi 

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate, Bobbi Decker & Associates
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com
NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG

Bobbi Decker & Associates fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/