When Jason Lanzarini asks, on the third episode of Cadê Moradia, whether it's possible to find a good $900,000 house in Los Angeles, realtor Dina Silveira answers with an example from the opposite extreme: in Manhattan Beach, "you won't even find one." The city, in the heart of the South Bay, is one of the most expensive and sought-after on the Los Angeles coast — and Dina compares it to an Italian village.

"It reminds me a lot of Italy: those tiny little houses near the beach, right by the beach. People walk there." — Dina Silveira, on the episode

Where it is

Manhattan Beach sits just south of LAX airport and El Segundo, between the beach and the 405 freeway, with Hermosa Beach to the south. It's a city of its own, with an independent city hall, police and school district, and about 35,000 residents according to the 2020 Census. The pier, with the aquarium at its end, and the Strand — the oceanfront walkway linking the South Bay cities — are its postcard images.

Walk streets: the front of the house is for pedestrians

In the part closest to the beach, the so-called Sand Section, Jason and Dina zoom the map in on something eye-catching: narrow streets full of flowers, where cars can't go. These are the walk streets. The front of the house opens onto a pedestrian path that runs down to the sand; the garage and car access are at the back, on a service alley. Many have direct ocean views.

The houses there follow the pattern Dina describes as skinny and tall — narrow and tall, with two or three stories and almost never a yard, because the lots are small. It's the same type of beach house explained in detail in this newspaper's article on Hermosa Beach.

Sand Section, Tree Section, Hill Section

Dina points out that Manhattan Beach isn't just the strip along the sand. Moving away from the ocean, the city divides into areas with different profiles: the Tree Section, residential and leafy; the Hill Section, up high, where, according to her, many of the mansions are; and the east side, with more traditional suburban homes. "The size changes and the price changes," she sums up.

What it costs

Near the beach, Dina estimates that an old single-family home needing a complete remodel won't go for less than $2.5 million — and much more on the walk streets with a view. It's the most valued type of property, Jason says, because supply is small and limited. For comparison, Dina notes that the median home price in the Los Angeles area is around $900,000, while in Florida good houses cost $300,000 to $400,000. Figures cited on the episode, recorded in early 2026; prices vary widely by street, view and condition.

One factor drives demand: schools. Manhattan Beach has its own school district, Manhattan Beach Unified, with Mira Costa High School — frequently cited among the highest-rated in California. Always confirm the school for the exact address.

Here, people buy to live

Dina makes an important distinction. Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista and Marina del Rey are very touristy areas, also sought out by investors for vacation rentals. The South Bay, the area she specializes in, isn't as touristy yet — "people who buy there really buy to live there." For anyone considering Airbnb, the rules change from city to city and deserve their own research.

Many Brazilians live in neighboring Redondo Beach and Torrance, Dina notes. And for surfers, the Manhattan Beach coast has its breaks too.

Sources and verification

• Episode 3 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (February 2026), with Dina Silveira and Jason Lanzarini.
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census: population of Manhattan Beach (about 35,000).
• City of Manhattan Beach — walk streets and city sections (Sand, Tree and Hill Section).
• Manhattan Beach Unified School District — the city's public schools, including Mira Costa High School.

This topic comes from the full episode — watch it:

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