Monterey Hills is such a great place to live. It's centrally located next to South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra, Highland Park. It's next to 110 fwy, 5 fwy, 210 fwy, 10 fwy, 134 fwy and 101 fwy. It's minutes from downtown LA, USC, Hollywood and Old Town Pasadena.
Read Also: Monterey Hills and Monterey Hills Jazz Festival and background History of Monterey Hills Redevelopment Project
It's a great area to purchase a condo or a townhome and pay quite a bit less than in the surrounding towns of South Pasadena and Pasadena.
Read Also: Top 10 Monterey Hills Condo Buying Tips
Monterey Hills is also great for investors. Rental condos are always in demand and I'm constantly getting phone calls and emails inquiring about any available leases.
Monterey Hills has been built in the early 1980s. It's set in a serene setting and consists of 21 condominium and townhome complexes with several PUDs (Planned Unit Developments) that run off of Via Marisol and Via Arbolada.
It is also known for its annual Summer Jazz Festival which will be taking place this year on September 13th, so save the date!
So what kind of condos can you expect to find in Monterey Hills?
Condominium Complexes:
For the most part, most complexes have four different types of floor plans.
There is usually a one bedroom, one bathroom condo floor plan. Two different two bedroom condos - one where bedrooms are on opposite sides of the living room and another where the two bedrooms are together. And, some complexes have two bedrooms plus a den or a three bedroom condo floorplan. Although, 3 bedrooms are pretty rare.
Most condo complexes are three stories with individual units being one leve with someone living above or below you. Usually, you will also share side walls with your neighbors on both sides, unless you have a corner unit. Almost all condominiums have balconies and first level units have large patios.
Parking is below in a subterranean garage with most units having two assigned parking spaces. Most of the parking spaces are tandem although some of the larger units have side by side parking. There's plenty of guest parking both inside and outside the complexes and street parking is ample.
When you consider buying a condo in Monterey Hills, location of the unit will drive the price. The higher floor units are usually more expensive since they offer views and most 3rd floor units offer fireplaces. 1st floor units are preferred by families with kids or pets due to their large patios. And, 2nd floor units tend to price a little below 3rd and 1st floor. Corner units offer a little more privacy and more light due to extra windows.
All complexes have pools & spa and washer & dryer hook ups on each floor and inside most of the units. Some of the complexes also have gyms, recreation rooms, saunas, paddle tennis courts and sun decks.
Townhouses:
Most of the townhouses are two to three stories. No one is above or below you, but you might share some common walls with neighbors either on one or both sides of your townhome unit.
All townhouses have an attached, private garage for two cars. The ceilings are usually vaulted with skylights. Balconies are off each floor. Fireplaces grace the living rooms. Kitchens are usually roomy with space for breakfast table and chairs. Washer & Dryer hookups are in each unit.
These complexes have pools and spa. Some have other amenities like gyms.
Points of Interest:
What most people don't know is that Monterey Hills is all electric. There are no gas appliances inside the units. It takes a little getting used to cooking with an electric range and oven, but once you do, it's hard to go back to gas.
Monterey Hills also has a dog park!
Here's a comprehensive list of complexes that you can find on "The Hill".
AUSTIN TERRACE
Austin Terrace is located at 4295 Via Arbolada. Built in 1982, it's one of the smaller complexes in Monterey Hills with only 45 units.
Amenities include a pool and a spa.
Home Owner Association (HOA) dues are in the mid $300 per month.
There were three closed sales in 2007 in Austin Terrace. All three units were 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and sold in the range of $355,000 to $453,000.
In 2008, there has only been one sale through June 12th, 2008.
BRADLEY COURT (PUD)
There are two things that make Bradley Court stand out in Monterey Hills.
First, it's the only PUD (Planned Unit Development) in Monterey Hills. It consists of 16 spacious homes with their own garages and their own individual style.
Second, built in 2001, Bradley Court is the last property complex built on the hill, making it the newest.
These beautiful PUD style homes offer majestic views and a lot of interior space. Most are 3 bedrooms and 3 baths with over 1,600 sq. ft. A little private yard, a gourmet kitchen, bathroom with a spa are just some of the amenities of Bradley Court.
Bradley Court homes were selling originally in the $800,000 range. There was a recent sale, a short sale, that closed a few months ago for $655,000. Because there are only 16 units in this very small Monterey Hills complex, it's very rare to see a Bradley Court come up for sale on the Montere Hills real estate market.
CATALINA TERRACE
CHADWICK TERRACE
DRAKE TERRACE
EATON CREST
Eaton Crest complex consists of 2 buildings. The first one is at 4499 Via Marisol and is large enough to be separated into three different sections. That's why you will find 4499A Via Marisol, 4499B Via Marisol and 4499B Via Marisol. The second building is much smaller and is at 4589 Via Marisol.
Amenities include a pool, a spa and a huge recreation room that can be rented for parties. Eaton Crest just underwent extensive updating, has been repainted and has one of the most beautiful landscape designs on the hill.
Washer & dryer hook ups are on each floor, as well as trash chutes.
There are a few one bedroom floor plans available, but the majority of the units are two bedrooms with a sprinkling of 2 bedrooms and a den. Some floorplans have 1 bathroom while others have 2.
As of June 11, 2008, there are 7 condos for sale in Eaton Crest ranging from $299,000 to $399,000.
The last 2 bedroom and 1 bath sold for $317,000 and 2 bedrooms and 2 baths sold for $365,000.
FREMONT VILLAS
Built in 1981, as part of the original Monterey Hills residential community plan, Fremont Villas is a 45 unit townhome complex. It is accessed off of Via Marisol and sits next to Vallejo Villas.
With beautiful views of rolling hills towards South Pasadena, Fremont Villas offers Spanish architecture with cozy porches, clay tile roofs, and lush landscaping. As I drive through this complex, the birds are singing and the tree branches are rustling and the feeling of serenity is in the air.
Fremont Villa's amenities include a recreation room, pool and spa, a sun deck, and easy guest parking both inside the complex and on Via Marisol.
For the most part, these are 2 and 3 bedroom homes with attached garages and balconies.
As of the date of this post, there is one unit for sale - 707 Fremont Villas #24 offered at $499,000. This town home is 2 bedrooms and 3 baths and is in move in condition.
HUNTINGTON TERRACE
Huntington Terrace is a condominium complex in Monterey Hills. It consists of 3 stand-alone, 3 story buildings 4000 Via Marisol - 4040 Via Marisol - 4080 Via Marisol.
Huntington Terrace condo units are one level and depending on where the condo is located, you can have someone living above and/or below you. Laundry hook ups are inside each unit as well as coin operated machines on each floor.
Some of the Huntington Terrace condo units have gorgeous city views. The complex is surrounded by beautiful mature trees. All units have balconies or patios. The patios on the first floor can be quite large which can be great for pets or children.
Huntington Terrace was built by J.D. Carley & Associates in 1981 and has four floor plans. A one bedroom condo, two plans of two bedroom condos and a two bedroom plus a den condo.
Parking is in a subterranean garage. Usually, 2 spaces have been assigned to each Huntington Terrace homeowner. Some parking spaces are side by side. Others are tandem. There is plenty of guest parking spaces in the complex and easy street parking.
Amenities in this complex include a pool, spa and a recreation room.
Last year, there was a total of 5 sales in the Huntington Terrace complex ranging from $350,000 to $417,000.
LINDEN HEIGHTS
Linden Heights is one of the newer condo complexes on the hill built in 1987. Located on the corner of Via Marisol and Via Arbolada, it has a beautiful pool and spa, recreation room, sauna and a gym. A gorgeous courtyard with mature trees and beautiful landscaping envelopes this beautiful complex.
There are 50 units in this complex featuring a more modern look and floorplan. All units have central air conditioning and heating, balconies or patios.
The garage is subterranean with most units having two parking spaces.
As of June 15th, 2008, there are two 2 bedroom and 2 bath units available for sale. One is offered at $439,000 and the other at $459,000.
MARSHALL VILLAS
MUIR TERRACE
STANFORD TERRACE
TEMPLE TERRACE
Temple Terrace is a beautiful complex in Monterey Hills. It is very unique for the area since it consists of both condos and townhomes. It is located on Via Marisol, but the postal address is Temple Terrace.
There are 75 condos and 47 townhomes in this complex. It is beautifully landscaped and has mature trees and lush foliage. As you walk around the complex, you almost get a resort-like, almost cottage-like feel.
It is the only complex on the hill that has gas range/ovens. Everything else in Monterey Hills is electric. So if you like to cook with gas and live in Monterey Hills this complex is for you.
Amenities include a pool and a spa and home owner association fees are some of the lowest in Monterey Hills. HOA dues include water, gardening, cable TV & trash service.
There's plenty of guest parking available throughout Temple Terrace although the townhomes have a 2-car attached garage and most condos come with 2 subterranean parking spaces.
VALLEJO VILLAS
Vallejo Villas was built in 1981 and in situated on Via Marisol in the heart of Monterey Hills. It is surrounded by majestic trees and offers gorgeous hill and city views.
All units are built townhouse style - meaning that they are stand alone units with a common side wall. Most of these townhomes are two stories high. Each unit sports an attached two car garage, a balcony and some have back yard style patios.
Vallejo Villas has 58 townhouses with amenities including guest parking, pool and spa, a sun deck. It is truly very beautifully landscaped and it looks like the HOA (Home Owners Association) takes very good care of the complex. A true pride of ownership.
As of May 12, 2008, there are no available townhomes for sale in Vallejo Villas. But, keep checking the most current list of all Monterey Hills homes for sale right here or let me know if youd like for me to run a specific search unique to your individual needs.
In 2007, Vallejo Villas townhome sales were ranging in mid $400,000 for 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom units and mid $500,000 for 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom townhomes.
This complex is just minutes away from downtown Los Angeles, USC, Old Town Pasadena and South Pasadena.
WILSON SUMMIT
Read Also: Monterey Hills Real Estate Market Report
Monterey Hills Federation is a good resource for additional Monterey Hills history information and activities.
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