Area Guides/Palos Verdes Estates/MLS Area 160
Lunada Bay and Margate
Lunada Bay is the bluff top stretch of Palos Verdes Estates between Malaga Cove and the Rancho Palos Verdes line, and Margate is the inland half of the same MLS area. Together they are the largest single neighborhood in the city, a little over two thousand homes, and the one where a family can walk to the elementary school, the intermediate school, and the high school. The bay itself is a rocky cove with a big winter surf break below the cliffs, and the streets above it hold everything from original 1950s ranch houses to rebuilt estates on half acre lots.
Quick Facts
| City | Palos Verdes Estates |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| MLS area | 160, Lunada Bay / Margate |
| Zip | 90274 |
| School district | Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified |
| Assigned schools | Lunada Bay Elementary, Palos Verdes Intermediate, Palos Verdes High, all within walking distance of most streets |
| HOA | No monthly dues. Palos Verdes Homes Association restrictions and Art Jury review. The Lunada Bay Homeowners Association is a voluntary community group |
| Typical homes | Mid century ranch and Spanish homes on large lots, many rebuilt as new estates since 2000 |
| Prices | City median about $2.7M to $3.0M (2026). Interior streets often $2M to $4M, bluff and ocean view streets well above that |
| Commute | Riviera Village 8 min, LAX 35 to 45 min, downtown LA about an hour off peak |
Checked 2026-09-14. School assignments and prices change; confirm the address with the district and ask for current comparables.
The bluff and the bay
The neighborhood takes its name from the half moon cove at the bottom of the cliffs. It is not a swimming beach. It is rock, tide pools, and in winter one of the best big wave surf breaks on the Southern California coast, reached by a steep trail. Christmas Tree Cove to the south is the diving and tide pool spot. The bluff top itself is public parkland with a walking path and benches, part of the Palos Verdes Estates shoreline preserve, and homes on the ocean side of Paseo del Mar look straight over it.
Streets are laid out so most of the area slopes gently toward the water. Homes on the west side of Palos Verdes Drive West get the bluffs and the best views. Homes on the east side, in Margate, get bigger yards, more trees, and easier prices.
Why families pick it
Lunada Bay Elementary, Palos Verdes Intermediate, and Palos Verdes High sit within the neighborhood or on its edge, which is rare on the Peninsula. Add the Little League field, the small plaza on Palos Verdes Drive West with a market and a few shops, and the par course along the bluff, and you have a place where kids move around on foot. The Lunada Bay Homeowners Association is a voluntary group that runs events and a newsletter rather than a governing body, so there is community without an extra layer of rules.
What has changed
The original tracts here went up in the 1950s and 1960s as single story ranch houses on generous lots. Over the last twenty years a large share of them have been taken down to the slab and rebuilt, so a single block can hold a 1,900 square foot original next to a 6,000 square foot new build. That mix is what drives the wide price range, and it is also why comparable sales need a careful read. Same street, very different houses.
Who It Suits
- ◆Families who want all three public schools within walking distance
- ◆Buyers who want a large lot and an ocean horizon without leaving Palos Verdes Estates
- ◆Surfers, divers, and walkers who will actually use the bluff every week
Before You Buy
- ◆On the ocean side, ask about bluff setback rules and coastal permitting before planning any addition toward the water.
- ◆Compare like with like. An original ranch house and a rebuilt estate on the same street are two different markets.
- ◆Every exterior change goes through the Art Jury. Confirm approvals on any recent remodel.
- ◆Walk the block at dusk. Ocean facing streets get wind and fog that the Margate side does not.
Questions People Ask About Lunada Bay and Margate
Can you swim at Lunada Bay?
Not really. It is a rocky cove reached by a steep trail, known for winter surf, tide pools, and diving at Christmas Tree Cove. For sand, Torrance Beach is a short drive.
Which schools serve Lunada Bay and Margate?
Lunada Bay Elementary, Palos Verdes Intermediate, and Palos Verdes High, all in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified. Most streets can walk to all three.
Is there an HOA fee?
No monthly fee. The Palos Verdes Homes Association deed restrictions and Art Jury review apply, as they do everywhere in the city. The Lunada Bay Homeowners Association is a voluntary neighborhood group.
What is the difference between Lunada Bay and Margate?
They share MLS area 160. Lunada Bay is the ocean side of Palos Verdes Drive West with the bluffs and views. Margate is the inland side with larger flat lots, more tree cover, and generally lower prices.
How much do homes cost in Lunada Bay?
Palos Verdes Estates had a 2026 median sale price around $2.7 million to $3.0 million. Interior Margate streets often trade from $2 million to $4 million, and bluff and ocean view homes run well above that, with rebuilt estates at the top of the city.
Nearby Guides
- Malaga Cove
Palos Verdes Estates
- Valmonte
Palos Verdes Estates
From the Journal
- Palos Verdes MLS Areas, Explained: A Local's Guide to 160 Through 186
Area Guides · 7 min read
- PVPUSD Schools: A Neighborhood by Neighborhood Guide
Schools · 6 min read
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