Click on any neighborhood below to see the current homes for sale in that area of Torrance. Explore North Torrance, Old Torrance, Plaza Del Amo, Southwood, Hollywood Riviera and more.
Home with “flags” marking outline of proposed addition
A few of the many benefits of living near the beach are the wonderful ocean views and ocean breezes that make life here so unique. These ocean views have immeasurable value from both a quality of life aspect as well as a significant monetary impact. In many of the South Bay cities these views are unprotected and it’s not rare for a home’s stunning ocean views to disappear when the one story home next door gets torn down and new and much larger home replaces it.
Certain areas of Torrance are the exception. Primarily found in the Hollywood Riviera and Seaside Ranchos neighborhoods the city has incorporated much stricter building guidelines known as the “Hillside Overlay” area. (see map below)
In 1977, the Hillside Overlay Area was established in Torrance, CA in order to address issues concerning building, remodeling, and protecting views and privacy. All new construction (meaning both new homes and expansions on current structures) are subject to review and input by neighbors including “flagging” where a mock up of the future structure are marked with plastic flags to approximate the outlines of any proposed addition to the structure prior to permit approval so that neighborhood input may be obtained.
Torrance Municipal Code Excerpt (Hillside Overlay)
The basics of the hillside overlay are as follows: Upon receipt of the complete application, the Community Development Director shall set a date, time and place for a public hearing thereon as soon as practicable and shall send notice thereof to the owners of land included within a three hundred (300) foot radius of the exterior boundaries of the land for which the permit is sought
No construction and no remodeling or enlargement of a building or structure shall be permitted unless the Planning Commission (or the City Council on appeal) shall find that the location and size of the building or structure, or the location and size of the remodeled or enlarged portions of the building or structure, have been planned and designed in such a manner as to comply with the following provisions:
a) The proposed development will not have an adverse impact upon the view, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity;
b) The development has been located, planned and designed so as to cause the least intrusion on the views, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity;
c) The design provides an orderly and attractive development in harmony with other properties in the vicinity;
d) The design will not have a harmful impact upon the land values and investment of other properties in the vicinity;
e) Granting such application would not be materially detrimental to the public welfare and to other properties in the vicinity;
f) The proposed development will not cause or result in an adverse cumulative impact on other properties in the vicinity.
We hope that our neighborhood search page allows you to focus on just the areas you’re interested in. Torrance has some great neighborhoods and housing options and we hope that searching for specific areas makes that search easier. You can also search for Torrance homes by price range.
We’re always suckers for Cape Cod and Craftman homes but this is one we really liked. 4079 Bluff Street is basically a smaller beach bungalow done right. It offers 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and just under 1,400 square feet on an almost 5,000 foot lot. Originally built in 1948 it’s undergone a great transformation with a bright and beachy look and interior. They did a great job in keeping some of the original feel while both modernizing it and giving it far more charm. Listed with Nicole Reis of Palm Realty the home just came on the market at $1,175,000.
One of the big misconceptions with home buyers, especially first time home buyers, is that you need at least 20% down. That’s often not the case with lenders offering FHA loans with as little as 3.5% down and traditional lenders funding loans with as little at 5%. The lower amount is much easier if it’s a single family home but there are options:
