Homes for sale in Encino, CA

An upscale neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, Encino is situated on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is bordered by Reseda, Lake Balboa, and the Sepulveda Basin to the north, Sherman Oaks to the east, Tarzana to the west, and Brentwood to the south.

 

Encino is a quiet residential community that exudes a laid-back vibe. If you’re the kind who desires life in a hilly retreat with breathtaking views and access to both outdoor recreation and urban conveniences, then look no further than Encino for your next residential property.

 

Learn more about this affluent mountainside community and find out the types of homes for sale that you’ll encounter here in Encino, CA. That way, you can be better informed to make smart decisions in your home-buying journey in Los Angeles.

 

• Welcome to Encino, CA!
• Homes for sale in Encino, CA
• Living in Encino, CA
• Angelo Fierro, your real estate expert in Encino, CA

If you’re a big fan of the movie, The Karate Kid, and its spin-off series, Cobra Kai, you’ll know that the community of Encino plays a major part in both flicks. Further back in time, Brendan Fraser of The Mummy fame brought Encino and its lifestyle into focus with the 1992 teen comedy, Encino Man. The neighborhood was also mentioned in Frank Zappa’s 1982 hit song, “Valley Girl.” These are proof that Encino has been very much a part of American pop culture. Now, Encino can also be your future neighborhood!

 

The 101 Freeway is the main artery that runs right through Encino. From here, you can conveniently get to other Los Angeles communities, including Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Burbank, and the Westside. On its eastern flank, the I-405 will take you to the beach cities down south. Thus, Encino takes you closer to everywhere you’d want to be – from the scenic trails of the Santa Monica Mountains and the fringes of the Pacific Coast to the urban chic of Downtown L.A. and the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.

 

A 9.5-square-mile neighborhood with a population of more than 52,000, Encino has one of the lowest population densities in Los Angeles City. It is among Niche’s top neighborhoods for families and young professionals and is generally one of the best neighborhoods to live in Los Angeles.

 

Encino’s local economy thrives in healthcare, social services, accounting and financial services, real estate, and legal practice. The median household income is around $116,883, while 28% of households here consist of families with children.

 

The dry Mediterranean climate of Encino assures comfortable weather all year round. With only 42.7 days of rainfall throughout the year, there’s no reason not to grab the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors any time you want.

 

 

Encino is Spanish for “oak.” It was named after the venue where a Spanish explorer named Gaspar de Portola and his crew were greeted by the Grabielino Indians – the Valley’s original natives – in 1769. Their first contact occurred under the giant oak trees in a region near Encino Springs, now called the Los Encinos State Historic Park.

 

One of the trees here was eventually declared a historic-cultural monument in 1963. Also named the Lang Oak, the Encino Oak Tree was already more than 700 years old when the Europeans first stepped foot in Encino. Known for its size and longevity, it met its end in an El Niño hurricane in 1998. Only a stump and a monument remain to this day.

 

Fray Juan Crespi, a Franciscan missionary traveling with the Portola expedition, named the valley, “El Valle de Santa Catalina de Bolonia de Los Encinos” (The Valley of St. Catherine of Bologna of the Holm Oaks). Encino’s name was then finally derived from Rancho Los Encinos (Ranch of Holm Oaks), which was established after the owner of the neighboring Rancho Providencia, Vicente de la Ossa, purchased the rancho. The property is now preserved within the Los Encinos State Historic Park.

 

If you have decided to live in Encino, CA, you’ll want to examine the community’s real estate market profile and the available homes for sale here. Know for a fact that this quiet and peaceful residential community ranks high among Los Angeles’ best suburbs. There’s a home for everyone, including young professionals, families, those eager to make it their vacation home, and investors looking for profitable gains.

 

When you have a Los Angeles neighborhood with home values that could go past the $2-million mark, you can almost expect all the bells and whistles of an elite community with its own cosmopolitan flavor like Beverly Hills or Bel-Air. But this is Encino – a lovely L.A. suburb with expansive nature parks and an overall small-town feel. It’s this warm, cozy vibe that makes Encino a desirable location for families and young professionals. That’s why real estate here is much sought-after. It doesn’t take a month before an available home in the market gets snapped up by eager buyers.

Encino is definitely not for the budget-conscious. The cost of living here is higher than in the rest of Los Angeles. However, its strategic location, the high level of walkability, and the good schools in and around the area offset the stratospheric costs. Most of all, you earn the bragging rights to say that you live in a community that has cameos in many iconic movies and TV shows.

 

The latest trends show the median listing price of homes for sale in Encino, CA playing at around $3 million, with homes for sale lasting only 40 days in the market on average.

 

As with most of California, Encino is a seller’s market, buoyed by high demand and meager housing stock. Prepare for bidding wars and the possibility of paying more than the selling price point of homes that you take interest in. Some words of advice: A reliable real estate agent’s help and expertise can boost your chances of successfully completing your Encino home-buying journey.

 

It’s quite common to find luxury homes with a lot of outdoor space along the hillside, especially among the gated communities. As you get closer to the community center, residences become more compact but still have enough spaces for outdoor fun. Apart from single-family homes and sprawling estates, you will also find several condos, apartments, and townhomes. New housing developments are also taking shape in Encino, thus, adding to the current housing inventory.

 

House prices range from $700 thousand to $5 million, with the pricier homes located on the northern slopes of the Santa Monica hills, south of Ventura Boulevard. These are stately houses with over 10 thousand square feet and an asking price of at least $10 million.

 

Encino properties are composed of strikingly beautiful houses with interesting architectural styles. You’ll find a mix of Mediterranean and Spanish charm. There are also rustic Craftsman-style, Traditional English, Mid-Century Modern, Ranch, Contemporary, and Cape Cod-inspired homes built with weatherized wooden boards.

 

On the hillside south of the 101 Freeway are large Tuscan and Traditional-style homes made of brick, as well as sleek modern houses made of concrete and glass. Renowned architects, including Martin Stern, Richard Neutra, and Robert Byrd have lent their genius to the designs of several beautiful homes found here.

 

As mentioned earlier, Encino has that warm, family-friendly, small-town feel but with an urban edge. Amenities are within walking distance and the dining and retail options are more than adequate. This is why even celebrities and personalities gravitate toward that wonderful Encino charm. Some of these celebrity Encino residents include Selena Gomez, Channing Tatum, the Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl, and NBA player Tristan Thompson.

 

Each Encino neighborhood has its own unique charm and personality, set in a variety of home sizes and types. Most of these neighborhoods are found right along Ventura Boulevard, which cuts right through this suburb. You’re bound to see most of what these neighborhoods can offer in one drive.

 

Here are some of Encino’s best neighborhoods here.

 

• Encino Village. A subdivision north of the 101 Freeway, Encino Village is known as the location of the former RKO Movie Ranch, a historical landmark near the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. A typical house here has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is set in a quirky mix of well-preserved architectural styles: Traditional, Ranch, Transitional, and Modern. In this subdivision, low-gabled modern ranches sit beside Colonial-style homes with weathervanes. Luxury condos are available in Encino Village, as well.
• Arnestoy Estates. An affluent enclave, Arnestoy Estates is located south of Ventura Boulevard. It features Cape Cod and Mediterranean-style homes with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Home sizes in this neighborhood range from 864 to 16,228 square feet, with an average of 4,006 square feet.
• Encino Woods. This quiet enclave features a combination of homes and condos. Houses range from 1.4k to 5.7k square feet with an average of 2.6k square feet. The average residential property here would usually have three bedrooms and three baths. Encino Woods is bordered by Hayvenhurst to the west, Libbit to the east, Ventura Boulevard to the south, and the 101 Freeway to the north. This charming community found on the south side of the 101 Freeway is composed of larger-than-average lot sizes with big front yards that showcase stunning landscaping. The streets are lined with ranch-style homes with lots of trees.
• Rancho Estates. This highly coveted neighborhood is located below the Encino Reservoir in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Home sizes in Rancho Estates range from 710 to more than 26,000 square feet with an average of around 4,000 square feet. Four bedrooms and four baths complete the average home’s amenities here. Properties have large lots on winding, tree-lined streets and may have backyard pools and tennis courts. Upscale ranch-style properties in Rancho Estates are mostly designed by Robert Byrd.
• Royal Oaks. Also known as Encino Hills, Royal Oaks is a lush hillside community bordered by the 405 Freeway to the east. This gated community of 600 residences has lots ranging from 964 to 15,208 square feet and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
• Clark Gable Estates. Another one of the most coveted neighborhoods in San Encino, Clark Gable Estates is located north of Ventura and was named after enigmatic actor and former resident, Clark Gable. The neighborhood spans 30 acres with 710 to 26,489-square-foot homes that have four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
• Lake Encino. This peaceful neighborhood is known for its scenic views around the Encino Reservoir. Located southwest of Los Encinos Historic Park, Lake Encino is populated by ranch-style houses and estates that date as far back as the 1970s. The houses are about 830 to 11,121 square feet large with four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

 

Mobility is probably the biggest advantage one has when living in Encino, given this area’s high degree of walkability, as well as the major freeways intersecting through it that give locals better access to other areas of the state.

 

Encino also has its own share of great attractions and must-do activities that you can watch or participate in. Here are some of them:

 

• Los Encinos State Historic Park was established to preserve an original nine-room structure from the mid-1800s named De La Ossa Adobe. It’s also home to the Garnier Building, a blacksmith shop, a pond, and a natural spring. This five-acre space honors the culture and contributions of the town’s early inhabitants and celebrates the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and French people who are part of Encino’s history.
• The Sepulveda Dam and Recreation Area is a wildlife haven and a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering golf courses, tennis courts, cricket, and bike paths. A lovely Japanese garden, also known as SuihoEn, is also found here.
• Lake Balboa Park is an 80-acre park with three 18-hole golf courses, boat rentals, and fishing spots. There are also paths for jogging and biking, as well as spaces for family picnics and barbecues.
• Balboa Sports Complex features lighted outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and handball. It also has a football field and a baseball diamond as well as a gymnasium, community room, and children’s playground.

 

Encino is also known for its vibrant shopping and dining scenes, particularly in Encino Commons, a popular retail destination on Ventura Boulevard. Along the boulevard is a wide selection of culinary options, including Middle Eastern, Japanese, American, and Italian restaurants, as well as charming cafes. As for shopping, you’ll find a combination of popular stores and locally-owned specialty boutiques here.

 

• The Oaks at Lakeside is where you can enjoy food made of local, organic produce with the lake as your backdrop.
• The Stand is where you’ll find American classic fare, from zesty salads to juicy burgers.
• The Fish House is home to top-rated sushi and seafood.
• Green Cottage features a unique selection of Mediterranean dishes, including hummus, seared ahi tuna, and pizza.

Schools

 

When you have as many as 40 schools in one area, this vast selection puts families with school-age children at an advantage as they have more schools to choose from. Teachers will be able to see each student’s learning requirements, given the low student-to-teacher ratios in these schools. This is the case with Encino. Its public school system is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Schools within the town offer a strong educational curriculum, with Encino Charter Elementary School boasting a 10/10 rating on test scores compared to other elementary programs in Los Angeles.

 

 

• Birmingham Community High
• Emelita Street Elementary School
• Encino Charter Elementary School
• Fred E. Lull Special Education Center
• Hesby Oaks Leadership Charter School
• Lanai Road Elementary School

 

• Bel Air Presbyterian Preschool
• Berkeley Hall School
• Crespi Carmelite High School
• Curtis School
• Discovery School
• Holy Martyrs Armenian High School
• International School of Los Angeles
• Los Encinos School
• Milken Community School
• Mirman School
• Our Lady of Grace School
• Sage Academy
• Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
• Valley Beth Shalom
• Westmark School
• Wise School

To help you find the best homes for sale in the Los Angeles communities of Encino, CA, Sherman Oaks, and Bel Air, trust a real estate expert with superior knowledge of the local market. But if you need a local market expert who can provide a tech-driven, personalized approach to your real estate transaction, then let me – Angelo Fierro – be your working partner.

 

My 15 years of experience in the industry and membership under the highest-grossing Compass brokerage is an assurance that you will receive top-notch, on-demand service with detailed insights and advice that will guide you in finding your next home in Encino.