San Clemente, CA Real Estate

San Clemente is the southernmost city in Orange County and borders the massive Camp Pendleton Marine base. It sits about the halfway point between Los Angeles and San Diego. An early attempt at a planned community, San Clemente had its start in 1925 when the former Mayor of Seattle, Ole Hanson, purchased the land and designed a 2,000 acre community. Hanson believed that the area's pleasant climate, beautiful beaches and fertile soil would be a haven to Californians who were tired of "the big city". He named the city after San Clemente Island.

Hanson envisioned San Clemente as a Spanish-style coastal resort town, a "Spanish Village by the Sea." In an unprecedented move, he had a clause added to the deeds requiring all building plans to be submitted to an architectural review board to ensure that future development would retain some Spanish-style influence (for example, for many years it was required that all new buildings in the downtown area have red tile roofs). Hanson succeeded in promoting the new area and selling property to interested buyers.  The area was officially incorporated as a city in 1928.

In 1968, President Richard Nixon bought one of the original homes built by one of Hanson's partners. Nixon called it "La Casa Pacifica," but it was nicknamed the "Western White House,” a term now commonly used for a President's vacation home. It sits above one of the West Coast's premier surfing spots, Trestles, and just north of historic surfing beach San Onofre. Following his resignation, Nixon retired to San Clemente to write his memoirs. He later sold the home and moved back East.

San Clemente is renowned as a surfing area – it catches swells all year long. Going from South to North, they include Trestles (technically just south of the city line), North Gate, State Park, Riviera, Lasuen, The Hole, Beach House, T-Street, The Pier, 204, North Beach, and Poche. San Clemente is also the surfing media capital of the world -- it is home to Surfing Magazine, The Surfer's Journal, and Longboard Magazine.

Some of the neighborhoods close to the beach include Cyprus Shores. This gated private community in Southwest San Clemente, is one of the most exclusive the city has to offer. Walk to your private beach located along one of California’s most pristine coast lines. Riviera District offers wonderful beach cottage style homes, near the best beaches San Clemente has to offer, Riviera, T Street and Lost Winds. Pier Bowl Area - Great condos and homes near all the action. Walk to the beach, pier and restaurants along Del Mar Street and watch the sunsets from your balcony.

Newer home developments include Marblehead, just north of downtown and on the east side of I-5; Rancho San Clemente, located up Avenida Pico, and the Forster Ranch. The newest development, Talega features an 18-hole golf course open to the public.

San Clemente is just off the 5 Freeway. Both Amtrak and Metrolink provide rail service, but there is a separate station for each. Amtrak makes its stops at a simple platform right by the San Clemente Pier; Metrolink trains stop at a platform just off Pacific Coast Highway, north of town, where there is adequate park-and-ride parking.

The city is served by Capistrano Unified School District. Within the city, there are six elementary schools, three middle schools, and a high school. There is also one virtual public K-12 school: Capistrano Connections Academy with flexible hours for students. San Clemente High School is ranked the top 2% of schools nationwide; the music program also boasts a nationally recognized Vocal Arts Program with award-winning choirs.