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Area Guides/Palos Verdes Estates/MLS Area 164

Valmonte

Valmonte is the neighborhood people mean when they say Palos Verdes Estates feels like a small town. It sits on the north face of the hill above Torrance, wrapped around the Palos Verdes Golf Club, under a canopy of old eucalyptus trees. The houses are mostly traditional and ranch style from the late 1940s and 1950s, many of them remodeled top to bottom, on deep lots with real front lawns. It is the easiest part of the city to get on and off the hill from, and its sheltered position gives it warmer, clearer weather than the bluff neighborhoods a mile west.

Quick Facts

CityPalos Verdes Estates
CountyLos Angeles County
MLS area164, Valmonte
Zip90274
School districtPalos Verdes Peninsula Unified
Assigned schoolsSilver Spur Elementary for most streets, Palos Verdes Intermediate, Palos Verdes High. Confirm by address with the district locator
HOANo monthly dues. Palos Verdes Homes Association restrictions and Art Jury review
Typical homesTraditional and ranch, late 1940s to 1950s, widely remodeled, 2,000 to 4,000 square feet on 8,000 to 15,000 square foot lots
PricesCity median about $2.7M to $3.0M (2026). Valmonte typically $2M to $4M, with rebuilt homes above
CommuteTorrance and Hawthorne Blvd in 5 min, LAX 30 min, downtown LA 45 min off peak

Checked 2026-09-14. School assignments and prices change; confirm the address with the district and ask for current comparables.

The canopy and the club

The eucalyptus were planted early in the Peninsula's development and now form a continuous canopy over the winding streets. It is the defining thing about Valmonte. Streets curve, setbacks are deep, and the effect is older and greener than anywhere else on the hill. The Palos Verdes Golf Club, a private course from the 1920s, runs along the southwest side, and a number of homes back onto its canyon and fairways. The Palos Verdes Stables sit in the canyon below, with boarding, lessons, and trail rides, and bridle trails thread through the neighborhood.

Weather and access

Because Valmonte faces north and sits below the ridge, it is protected from the ocean wind and clears earlier on marine layer mornings than Lunada Bay or Malaga Cove. It is also the quickest exit from Palos Verdes Estates. Via Valmonte and Palos Verdes Drive North drop you onto Hawthorne Boulevard and into Torrance in minutes, which is why so many buyers who move up from the beach cities land here first.

What the houses are like

The original tract dates to the late 1930s and most homes were built in the years right after the war as single story or split level traditionals. Decades of remodels mean the finish level varies enormously. Some homes are original with 1950s kitchens, some are fully rebuilt, and a growing number are new construction on the old footprint. Lots are generous by Peninsula standards and mostly flat or gently sloped, which makes additions simpler than on the bluffs, though the Art Jury still reviews every exterior change.

Who It Suits

  • Buyers who want trees, lawns, and a neighborly street more than an ocean view
  • Commuters who need to be off the hill fast
  • Golfers, riders, and anyone who wants the club and stables within walking distance

Before You Buy

  • Mature eucalyptus are beautiful and messy. Ask about tree maintenance, root issues in sewer lines, and what the city allows on removal.
  • Confirm the elementary assignment for the exact address. Valmonte is served by more than one school depending on the street.
  • Golf course adjacent lots can take stray balls and early morning maintenance noise. Visit at 7 am.
  • Get permits and Art Jury approvals for any remodel. Older homes here have decades of layered work.

Questions People Ask About Valmonte

Does Valmonte have ocean views?

Mostly no. Valmonte faces north toward Torrance and the Santa Monica Mountains, with canyon and golf course views from some lots. Buyers choose it for the trees, the flat lots, and the quick access down the hill rather than for the ocean.

Which schools serve Valmonte?

Most Valmonte streets are assigned to Silver Spur Elementary, then Palos Verdes Intermediate and Palos Verdes High. The old Valmonte Elementary campus is now the district's early learning academy. Confirm any address with the PVPUSD school locator.

Is the Palos Verdes Golf Club private?

Yes. It is a private member club dating from the 1920s. Living next to it does not include membership.

What do homes in Valmonte cost?

In 2026 the city median sale price was about $2.7 million to $3.0 million. Valmonte homes typically trade between $2 million and $4 million, with fully rebuilt homes above that.

Is Valmonte a good place for horses?

Yes for riding. The Palos Verdes Stables in the canyon offer boarding and lessons, and bridle trails run through the neighborhood. Keeping horses on your own lot is a Rolling Hills thing, not a Valmonte thing.

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