Huntington Beach is popularly known as Surf City, USA -- and with over eight miles of uninterrupted beach and a climate that lends toward surfable waves, it's easy to see why. Huntington Beach is also well known for having remarkably low crime and huge amounts of park area.
With a booming economy, successful community and a variety of attractions, Huntington Beach is one of the most prosperous areas of Orange County, Calif. Due to its high-end neighborhoods, gorgeous beach homes and rising real estate values, people all over are investigating buying a home in Huntington Beach.
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| Population 189,594 | Median Age 36.0 yrs | Household Size: 2.56 |
| Avg Home Value: $311,800 | July High: 79.3°F | January Low: 46.9°F |
Buying a Home in Huntington Beach
If youre looking into relocating to or investing in real estate in Orange County, you might want to consider buying a home in Huntington Beach. With an annual population growth of 9 percent, this city of 194,000 is growing fast. Only 40 miles south of the capital, the city is easily accessible to Long Beach and the rest of Orange County. It is commonly referred to as Surf City and has an eight-mile stretch of gorgeous beachfront looking out on the Pacific. But thats not all. Huntington Beach also prides itself on its successful community. The area has a very low crime rate. In fact, City Crime Rankings declared it as one of the 10 safest cities in the state of California. It is home to colleges and universities such as Golden West Community College and nearby UC Irvine and Cal State Long Beach and Fullerton. The residents here are very well educated as shown by the 36 percent of the population that has a bachelors degree or higher. The median household income is $65,000.
Attractions
In 2002, the Ladies Home Journal declared Huntington Beach No. 7 on the Best Cities for Women list. In addition to this wonderful distinction, the area is popular for people of all genders, ages and interests.
Huntington Beach has one of the largest recreational docks in the world where professional surfing, volleyball and skateboarding championships have taken place. The area has several parks that include equestrian trails, wildlife preserves, biking routes, etc. Local culture is recognized and promoted through local art exhibitions and museums.
Economy
One of the most important things to consider when buying a home in Huntington Beach is the excellent condition of the local economy. The unemployment rate is fairly low at 4 percent. In fact, there has been a recent job growth of 4 percent and future growth is predicted to be up to 19 percent. The current market is fueled by its tourism industry which attracts over 11 million people each year in the summer season alone.
Real Estate Market
If youre interested in buying a home in Huntington Beach, the first thing you probably want to know is the average home values. The median home cost is $565,000, which is a 16 percent appreciation from 2004. In general, home values are appreciating at 15 percent annually, and it is worthwhile to mention that the median home value in Huntington Beach is higher than the state average. Future homeowners should also know that 59 percent of the population here are homeowners. Of the 76,000 homes in the city, a total of 5,000 new and resale homes were sold just in March 2005. This was almost 3 percent higher than the amount sold last year at the same time. Real estate values are continuing to rapidly appreciate, especially for waterfront properties. With the nations current low interest rates, now is the best time to invest in buying a home in Huntington Beach.
By Naureen Kamdar
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®