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Laguna Beach Cottages & Historic Homes for Sale

Laguna Beach grew up in the early 1900s as an art colony and a summer escape, and its first homes were small: board-and-batten and shingled cottages tucked into the hillsides and along the streets above the beach, many built by artists and summer families. The Laguna Beach Art Association, founded in 1918, grew into the Laguna Art Museum, and the cottages became part of the town’s character.

In 1980 and 1981 the city surveyed its older buildings, and its Historic Resources Inventory identified 852 homes and commercial buildings built before 1940. Today homes can be placed on the city’s Historic Register when their owners choose, which opens the door to a Mills Act contract. This page gathers the historic cottages and homes for sale in Laguna Beach, highest price first.

Market Snapshot

The Market for Laguna’s Historic Cottages

22

For Sale Now

$2.9M

Median Asking Price

70

Sold, Last 12 Months

$3.29M

Median Sale Price

$1,976

Median Sale Price per Sq Ft

96.0%

Median Sale-to-List

The Market for Laguna’s Historic Cottages, by group
GroupFor SaleMedian AskingAsking $/Sq FtSold, 12 Mo.Median SaleSale $/Sq FtSale-to-List
Register / Mills Act2––3$3.35M$1,714100.0%
Storybook0––7$3.5M$2,56898.5%
Built before 195020$2.87M$1,97460$3.23M$1,94695.5%

Homes for sale from CRMLS as of ; sales are historic cottages that closed in the last 12 months. Sale-to-list compares each sale price with the final asking price. A dash means fewer than three homes behind the figure.

For Sale Now

22 Historic Cottages & Homes for Sale

Laguna Beach, highest price first, updated from CRMLS throughout the day.

On the Historic Register or under the Mills Act 2

Homes whose listings say they are on Laguna’s Historic Register or historic inventory, or carry a Mills Act contract.

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

451 Hawthorne

$12,900,000

5 BD · 5 BA · 3,869 SQFT

Listed by Richard Dewey, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty

Early Laguna Cottages and Homes 20

Single-family homes built before 1950, most of them the town’s early beach and art colony cottages.

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

1136 Catalina

$3,950,000

4 BD · 3 BA · 1,471 SQFT

Listed by Jill Witte, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

1–3 of 20

Homes are included when the listing description says the home is on the Laguna Beach Historic Register or historic inventory, carries a Mills Act contract, or is a Storybook home, or when the listing shows it was built before 1950. Mentions of what a home could qualify for are left out. Designations come from the listing agent and should be confirmed with the city. 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.

What to Know Before You Buy

  • Laguna’s Historic Register is voluntary. The owner applies, the Heritage Committee reviews the home, and a preservation agreement is recorded that binds future owners.
  • Only homes on the Register can apply for a Mills Act contract, which can lower property taxes. The city takes applications once a year; ask whether it is accepting new ones.
  • Older cottages often sit on small or steep lots with nonconforming setbacks or parking. Ask what a remodel or addition would allow before you buy.
  • Inspect the foundation, framing, wiring and plumbing carefully; many cottages are close to a century old.
  • Coastal permits and design review apply to most exterior work in Laguna Beach, historic or not.

See the Laguna Beach neighborhood guide and homes by Mark Singer, the architect who brought modern design to Laguna.

Questions

Laguna Beach Cottages FAQ

How many historic cottages are for sale in Laguna Beach?

22 homes are for sale, asking $1,395,000 to $95,000,000: 2 on the Historic Register or under the Mills Act, 20 built before 1950. 70 sold in the last 12 months at a median price of $3,285,000.

What is the Laguna Beach Historic Register?

A list of homes and buildings the city recognizes as historic. Placement is voluntary: the owner applies, the Heritage Committee reviews it, and a preservation agreement is recorded. Being on the Register is required to apply for a Mills Act contract.

What was the Laguna Beach historic inventory?

A survey of the city’s older buildings carried out in 1980 and 1981. It identified 852 homes and commercial buildings built before 1940 as historically significant.

Can I get a Mills Act contract on a Laguna Beach cottage?

Only if the home is on the city’s Historic Register. The city reviews Mills Act applications once a year, so ask the city whether it is accepting new applications.

Kyle Shutts, Real Estate Professional

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.

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