Moving to Long Beach: What You Should Know Before Relocating

If you are thinking about moving to Long Beach, the first thing I want you to know is that this city does not fit into one box. I grew up close by in Seal Beach and Los Alamitos, came to Long Beach as a student at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), Go Beach, and never really left. Between eighteen years building a career in luxury retail and nine years now in real estate, almost all of it focused on this city, I have gotten to know Long Beach from just about every angle.

One of the things I love most about this city is where it sits. Long Beach is technically part of LA County, but it rests right at the border of LA County and Orange County, which makes it a convenient central hub whether you need to get to Los Angeles, Orange County, or even the Inland Empire.

Quick Takeaway

Here is the short version before we get into the details.

• Long Beach is made up of dozens of distinct neighborhoods, and downtown is only a small piece of the city.
• Condos start as low as $300,000, and ocean view options can still be found under $600,000 in some buildings.
• Most areas are a ten to fifteen minute drive to a freeway, and the Long Beach Airport is one of the easiest airports around.
• Parking and day to day convenience depend heavily on which neighborhood you choose.
• Community groups are one of the best ways to get a real feel for the city before you buy.

My Long Beach Story

I first fell in love with Long Beach as a student. I liked the college energy and the mix of people I met here, and it stuck with me. At the time I was building a career at Nordstrom, starting out working at the coffee shop and eventually working my way up to Designer Shoe Buyer, Store Manager, and Regional Manager over eighteen years. I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way and had the chance to impact thousands of people through the stores I ran, but eventually I wanted more one on one connection with the people I was helping. That is what led me into real estate nine years ago.

When I made the transition, I started right in my own backyard, which was Long Beach and the surrounding area. Since then I have sold homes as far north as Ventura and as far south as San Diego, but I am still deeply focused on Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County, with a recent expansion into the Oceanside market.

What keeps me here is the variety. You can drive five minutes in almost any direction and land in a neighborhood with a completely different personality, and the beach is never far away. After years of exploring these neighborhoods with clients, I still find new pockets of the city I have not fully explored.

Long Beach Is So Much More Than Downtown

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from people considering a move to Long Beach is that it is all high rises and heavy traffic, built around downtown. Downtown is only a small part of what this city actually is. Once you start exploring, you will find dozens of neighborhoods, each with its own character.

A Few Neighborhoods Worth Knowing

• Belmont Shore: close to the water, with shops and restaurants nearby.
• Belmont Heights: quieter residential streets just inland from Belmont Shore.
• Naples Island: waterfront homes along canals, popular with paddleboarders and kayakers.
• Alamitos Beach: close to downtown, with a higher concentration of condos and apartments.
• Bixby Knolls: a mix of older character homes and newer development.
• Wrigley: a wide range of architectural styles and price points.
• Los Altos: quiet residential streets with a more suburban feel.
• El Dorado Park: close to open green space.
• Carson Park: mostly single family homes, many with their own driveways.

Every one of these areas offers a completely different feel, and part of what I enjoy most about my work is helping people find the one that actually fits how they want to live, not just the one they have heard of.

What Housing Actually Costs When You Are Moving to Long Beach

Long Beach is one of the last beach communities left where you do not need to be a millionaire to get your foot in the door. Condos here can start as low as $300,000, and in some downtown buildings I have worked in, I have seen one bedroom units with ocean views priced around $500,000, with two bedroom ocean view units around $600,000. That is a rare find in a coastal market.

Inside some of those same buildings, the price difference between a city view and an ocean view unit can run anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000, depending on the exposure and the size of the view. If you are willing to give up the ocean view, your price drops significantly, and you can still be just a block or two from the water. My general take is that ocean view units tend to hold their value well over time, so paying a bit more up front for one is rarely a bad long term decision if it fits your budget.

Condos Versus Single Family Homes

Condos are a great way to get started, especially for buyers who want to be close to the water without the higher price tag of a single family home. A homeowners association typically covers exterior maintenance, which appeals to a lot of first time buyers. Single family homes, on the other hand, tend to come with more space and, in neighborhoods like Carson Park, more reliable parking since many of those homes have their own driveways.

Getting Around Long Beach

Freeways and Commute Times

Traffic in Long Beach is nothing like what you would deal with closer to central Los Angeles. Once you get familiar with the different neighborhoods, you will find plenty of easy routes to get around. Freeway access varies by area. In Belmont Shore, for example, it typically takes about ten to fifteen minutes to reach a freeway. Long Beach connects to the 22, the 405, the 605, and the 710, so depending on where you live, you may be even closer than that.

Parking Depends on Where You Live

Parking really comes down to which neighborhood you choose. Alamitos Beach, in my experience, is one of the more difficult areas for street parking, especially if you do not have a dedicated spot and you are coming home later in the evening. Areas with more single family homes, like Carson Park, tend to be much easier since most homes have their own driveway. In general, the denser an area is, such as downtown or Belmont Shore, the more competition there is for parking. The more single family homes in an area, the easier parking tends to be.

The Long Beach Airport Is a Local Advantage

If you travel often, the Long Beach Airport is a real perk. From Belmont Shore it is about a fifteen minute drive, and in my opinion it is one of the best small airports around. It offers a good number of direct flights without the chaos you get at LAX. Security typically takes about fifteen to twenty minutes, and on my best day I made it through in two minutes.

Everyday Life in Long Beach

How much you rely on a car really depends on where you live. Downtown, you can get to a lot of restaurants, shops, and coffee spots without needing to drive much, as long as you are not too particular about where you shop. Move a bit more inland, and you will likely find yourself driving more often to reach the same kinds of amenities.

Day to day costs, like groceries and everyday expenses, do not vary a huge amount from neighborhood to neighborhood. Property values are a different story and can vary quite a bit depending on the area, so that is something worth researching closely if you are comparing neighborhoods.

One thing I will say as a fellow foodie: Long Beach has an incredible food scene, with options for nearly every craving, and a strong coffee shop culture to go along with it. There is a Facebook group called Long Beach Food Scene with over 98K members and a great resource if you want recommendations, and I am always happy to share my own list of favorite restaurants and coffee shops if you ask.

What First Time Buyers Get Wrong When Moving to Long Beach

The biggest misconception I run into with first time buyers is thinking they need 20 percent down to purchase a home. My own parents believed the same thing growing up, and it is simply not true for most buyers today. If you can put down 20 percent or more, that is great, but most buyers I work with put down somewhere between 5 and 10 percent.

My advice is to explore your options early rather than waiting until you feel completely ready to buy tomorrow. Planning ahead means you are prepared the moment the right home comes on the market, instead of scrambling to catch up. I host a homebuyer seminar once a month that helps a lot of buyers build that foundation, whether they plan to buy within the next month or the next couple of years.

A Client Story: Finding the Right Fit Just One Block Away

A client of mine was set on living right on the water because she was an avid paddleboarder. Once she saw pricing in Belmont Shore, she decided to look one block over in Belmont Heights instead. She ended up in a home just two blocks from the water, saved roughly $100,000 compared to Belmont Shore pricing, and gained more options and easier parking in the process. It is one of my favorite examples of how much value a single block can add when you are open to exploring nearby neighborhoods.

Building Community Before You Buy

If a sense of community matters to you, Long Beach is a great fit. I run several meetup groups that host different types of events throughout the year, and they are one of the best ways to really understand what this community is about.

• Living LA and OC: social events, happy hours, and neighborhood meetups.
• Paddle LA and OC: paddleboarding outings around the waterfront.
• Golfing LA and OC: golf rounds and events around the region.
• First Time Home Buyers: educational seminars and buyer meetups.
• LB Edge: run by my friend and business partner on my team, Kimberly Smith, this group covers a little bit of everything and is a must if you are contemplating a move to Long Beach or already live nearby and want to make some friends while exploring what the city has to offer.

We post all of our events together at LivingCACommunity.com, so whether you want to see what each group is about or just want to browse everything happening and jump into an upcoming event, that is the place to look. Most of our events are free to attend. The one exception is golf, since I cannot cover your round for you 🙂

Long Beach also has one of the more diverse populations I have come across, and I genuinely enjoy that you meet people with different backgrounds, interests, and perspectives here. It makes the city feel welcoming no matter what you are into.

Who Long Beach Is Best Suited For

• People who want an active, outdoor lifestyle, from paddleboarding to golf to beach days.
• Foodies and coffee lovers who want variety within a short drive.
• First time buyers looking for a coastal market that is still attainable.
• Commuters who want a central location between Los Angeles and Orange County, with easy freeway and airport access.
• Anyone who wants to build real connections through community events before, during, and after their move.

Is Moving to Long Beach Right for You?

My job has never been to convince anyone to move somewhere. What I always recommend instead is getting a real feel for the area yourself. Visit at different times of day, not just once. See what the morning looks like, what the evening looks like, and what it feels like coming home around the time you would normally be commuting.

From there, test out the things that matter to your lifestyle. If you paddleboard, see how easy it is to get to the water. If you golf, check the distance to the course. If you kite surf, find the local spot. If you love food, go explore the restaurants and coffee shops in the neighborhoods you are considering. Long Beach rewards that kind of hands on exploration, and it is usually the fastest way to know if a neighborhood is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Long Beach affordable compared to other beach cities?

Yes, relative to many coastal markets. Condos in Long Beach can start around $300,000, and I have seen ocean view condos priced under $600,000 in some downtown buildings, which is not common in most beach communities.

What is the best neighborhood in Long Beach?

It depends entirely on your lifestyle. Belmont Shore and Naples Island are popular for buyers who want to be close to the water, Belmont Heights and Los Altos offer quieter residential streets, and Carson Park is a strong option for buyers who want a single family home with easy driveway parking.

How long does it take to get to Los Angeles or Orange County from Long Beach?

Most neighborhoods are a ten to fifteen minute drive to a freeway, with access to the 22, 405, 605, and 710, which makes Long Beach a convenient home base for reaching both LA and Orange County.

Is parking difficult in Long Beach?

It depends on the neighborhood. Denser areas like Alamitos Beach and Belmont Shore can be more challenging, especially without a dedicated parking spot. Areas with more single family homes, like Carson Park, tend to have much easier parking.

Does Long Beach have its own airport?

Yes. The Long Beach Airport is a smaller, efficient airport with a good number of direct flights, and in my experience it is far less stressful than flying out of LAX.

How do I get started if I am moving to Long Beach?

David Sanchez and the Living CA Realty team work with buyers and sellers across Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Whether you are just beginning to explore neighborhoods before moving to Long Beach or ready to start touring homes, David brings 9 years of experience, a community-first approach, and the patience and honest guidance that make a real difference. Call or text 562-537-9206 or email David@LivingCARealty.com.

Ready to Explore Long Beach?

If you are seriously considering moving to Long Beach, the best next step is to come experience it for yourself. Join one of our community meetup groups, attend a first time homebuyer seminar, or reach out directly so we can talk through which neighborhoods might fit your lifestyle best.

David Sanchez, REALTOR® | Real Estate Agent | Living CA Realty | Brokered by eXp Realty | DRE #02029945
562-537-9206 | David@LivingCARealty.com
YourRealtorDavid.com | LivingCACommunity.com
calendly.com/YourRealtorDavid

This post is for general informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of pricing, availability, or market conditions, which can change at any time. David Sanchez, DRE #02029945, Living CA Realty, brokered by eXp Realty.