Marina del Rey, California
Marina del Rey Real Estate & Neighborhood Guide
Life on the largest man-made small-craft harbor in the country, where waterfront condos, boat slips, and sunset walks are everyday amenities.
Marina del Rey is the Westside's waterfront playground. Wrapped around a marina full of sailboats and yachts, it offers a relaxed, resort-like lifestyle that is genuinely rare in Los Angeles. The market here is overwhelmingly condos, from accessible one-bedrooms to sprawling waterfront penthouses, which makes it a favorite for professionals, boaters, second-home buyers who want a lock-and-leave place near the coast, and investors drawn to strong rental demand. You are minutes from Venice, Playa del Rey, and the Silicon Beach tech corridor, with LAX just down the road.
Marina del Rey market snapshot
Marina del Rey is primarily a condo market, and prices span a very wide range depending on the building, the views, and the ownership structure:
- Condos: the heart of the market, with the middle half of sales between about $920K and $1.49M, running from the high $600Ks for smaller units up into the multimillions for large waterfront and penthouse homes.
- Single-family homes and townhomes: a much smaller segment at 33 and 30 sales, concentrated in pockets like the Silver Strand and Marina Peninsula, with a single-family median around $3.25M and a townhome median around $1.28M.
Market figures are medians of closed sales in ZIP 90292 for the 12 months ending August 24, 2026: 187 condos, 33 single-family homes and 30 townhomes. Figures are refreshed quarterly. Curious what your Marina del Rey home is worth? Request a free, no-obligation valuation from Megan.
Leasehold vs fee-simple: the most important thing to understand
Here is the single most important thing to know before buying in Marina del Rey: much of the land is owned by the County of Los Angeles, so many condos are sold as leasehold rather than fee-simple.
- Fee-simple means you own the home and the land under it outright, the same as most homes.
- Leasehold means you own the unit but the land sits under a long-term ground lease with the County, often running decades (some to 2067 and beyond). You pay a land-lease cost, usually folded into your monthly dues.
Leasehold units are typically less expensive upfront, but the lease term affects financing, resale, and long-term value, especially as the remaining years count down. Neither is inherently better, but they are very different purchases. I always confirm a building's ownership structure and remaining lease term up front, and I help you weigh the tradeoffs so you know exactly what you are buying.
The neighborhoods of Marina del Rey
Marina Peninsula
A quiet, coveted strip between the marina and the ocean, where beachfront homes and condos occasionally come to market. One of the quieter pockets.
Silver Strand
Quiet and tree-lined, with a mix of larger homes and townhomes, including sought-after fee-simple properties.
Marina Pointe & the waterfront highrises
The high-rise condo towers that ring the marina's north shore and Palawan Way, offering full-service amenities, security, and some of the best water views in the neighborhood.
Villa Marina
Modern condo and townhome complexes that tend to be more accessible, popular with younger professionals and first-time buyers entering the marina lifestyle.
Lifestyle: the harbor at your doorstep
Marina del Rey is built around the water:
- Boating and paddling: boat slips, yacht clubs, and easy kayak and paddleboard launches, with Mother's Beach offering calm, swimmable water.
- Parks and paths: Burton Chace Park for waterfront picnics and concerts, plus the Marvin Braude Bike Trail running right along the coast.
- Dining and shopping: waterfront restaurants, Fisherman's Village, and the Waterside and Marina Marketplace centers for everyday needs.
Schools
Marina del Rey is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, with additional magnet, charter, and private options in the surrounding Westside communities. The neighborhood skews toward professionals and second-home owners, but families do call it home. (Always confirm current attendance boundaries and enrollment directly with LAUSD.)
Location & commute
Marina del Rey is exceptionally central for the Westside. You are adjacent to Venice, Playa del Rey, and the Silicon Beach employers in Playa Vista, minutes from LAX, and have quick access to the 90 and 405 freeways. It is an easy base whether you are commuting to tech, entertainment, or the airport.
Is Marina del Rey a good place to buy?
If you want a waterfront, low-maintenance, lock-and-leave lifestyle, or a strong rental investment, Marina del Rey is one of the best values on the coast. The key is going in informed: understanding leasehold versus fee-simple, the building's HOA and amenities, and the lease term. That is exactly where I add the most value, helping you compare buildings and buy with confidence.
Thinking about Marina del Rey?
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Get the Free Buyer Guide Contact MeganMarina del Rey FAQs
How much do homes cost in Marina del Rey?
In the 12 months ending August 2026 the condo median was about $1.18 million across 187 sales, at about $770 per square foot, up roughly 3 percent from the prior 12 months. The middle half of condo sales ran about $920K to $1.49M. Single-family homes had a median around $3.25 million across 33 sales, and townhomes around $1.28 million across 30 sales.
What is a land lease or leasehold in Marina del Rey?
Because the County of Los Angeles owns much of the land, many Marina del Rey condos are sold as leasehold: you own the unit, but the land underneath is on a long-term ground lease with the County, and you pay a land-lease cost (often included in your dues). Leasehold homes tend to cost less upfront, but the remaining lease term affects financing, resale, and value over time. Fee-simple properties, where you own the land too, also exist in certain pockets. I always confirm which one you are looking at and walk you through what it means.
What are the neighborhoods in Marina del Rey?
Key areas include the Marina Peninsula (quiet, beach-adjacent), the Silver Strand (quieter, with fee-simple homes), the waterfront high-rises around Marina Pointe and Palawan Way, and Villa Marina (more accessible condos and townhomes).
Is Marina del Rey a good place to live?
For many people, yes. It offers a relaxed waterfront lifestyle, boating and beaches, walkable dining and shopping, low-maintenance living, and an extremely central Westside location close to Venice, Silicon Beach, and LAX.
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