Camarillo
87 Vientos Road
$2,360,000
4 BD · 4 BA · 3,569 SQFT
Listed by Crosby Doe, Crosby Doe Associates, Inc.
For Sale Now
Homes by Cliff May for Sale
Homes across Southern California whose listings credit Cliff May, updated from CRMLS throughout the day.
Long Beach
7213 E Lanai
$1,748,000
4 BD · 2 BA · 1,851 SQFT
Listed by Douglas Kramer, Re/Max R. E. Specialists
Rancho Palos Verdes
26 Packet Road
$1,745,000
3 BD · 2 BA · 1,791 SQFT
Listed by Letty Vermeulen Hernandez, Aspire Los Angeles
Long Beach
3327 Karen
$1,398,000
3 BD · 2 BA · 1,606 SQFT
Listed by Douglas Kramer, Re/Max R. E. Specialists
Palm Desert
74540 Monte Verde Way
$1,345,000
2 BD · 3 BA · 2,222 SQFT
Listed by Marilyn Bauer, Bennion Deville Homes
1–6 of 7
Architect attribution comes from each listing’s description, written by the listing agent, and has not been independently verified. Listings provided by CRMLS. “Listed by” identifies the listing agent and brokerage; Kyle Shutts and Arbor Real Estate are the advertising broker unless otherwise noted. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Inquiries are answered by Kyle Shutts, Arbor Real Estate.
About Cliff May
Cliff May was born in San Diego in 1908 and never studied architecture. After leaving college in the Depression, he built furniture and then houses, and his hacienda-style homes of the early 1930s, built around courtyards, became the start of the California ranch house.
May moved to Los Angeles in 1935 and spent the next five decades refining the type: long, low houses with open plans and walls of glass, built around patios that join the living, dining and sleeping wings. He sold designs for about 18,000 ranch homes and designed more than 1,000 custom houses, and Sunset magazine published two books of his work. In his words, a house does not have to look modern to be modern.
On This Coast
About 700 of May’s ranch houses stand in Long Beach’s Rancho Estates, known as the Cliff May Ranchos, built in 1953 and 1954 near El Dorado Park. It was the largest tract of his career.
Signature Features
- Long, low plans in L and U shapes around a central patio or courtyard
- Low-pitched gabled roofs with wide overhangs
- Floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors opening every main room to the garden
- Exposed beams, board-and-batten siding and natural wood
- Skylights and clerestories bringing daylight deep into the house
Landmark Work
- Early courtyard haciendas
- Rancho Estates, the Cliff May Ranchos (with Chris Choate)
- Sunset magazine headquarters
- Robert Mondavi Winery
Buying a Cliff May Home
- Look for original features such as exposed beams, glass walls and board-and-batten siding, which carry value with buyers who know the work.
- Ask for the permit history and the extent of any additions.
- For a custom May house, ask whether the original plans survive; Cliff May’s papers are held at UC Santa Barbara.
Questions
Cliff May FAQ
Are there homes by Cliff May for sale right now?
Yes. 7 homes for sale in Southern California credit Cliff May in the listing description, shown on this page and updated from CRMLS throughout the day.
What are the Cliff May Ranchos?
Rancho Estates in Long Beach, known as the Cliff May Ranchos, is a tract of about 700 ranch homes built in 1953 and 1954 near El Dorado Park, designed by Cliff May with Chris Choate. It was the largest tract of his career.
Why is Cliff May called the father of the California ranch house?
Starting with courtyard haciendas in San Diego in the early 1930s, May spent five decades refining the long, low house built around patios, with open plans and walls of glass. He sold designs for about 18,000 ranch homes and designed more than 1,000 custom houses.
Was Cliff May a trained architect?
No. May never studied architecture. He began by building furniture and then houses, and became one of the most influential home designers in California.
How can I confirm a home was designed by Cliff May?
Listing descriptions are written by the listing agent, so treat an attribution as a starting point. Ask for the original building permit and drawings, check the records held in university and museum architecture archives, and look for published histories of the house. Kyle Shutts can help you confirm a home’s history before you write an offer.
Meet Kyle
Kyle Shutts
Real Estate Professional
Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, or selling a high-value property, my goal is simple: to protect your interests, maximize your outcome, and make the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
5.0
Google Rating
10+
Years Experience
1,000+
Transactions
$1B+
In Volume