Comparing types of homes in Redondo Beach, CA by price and competition

by Clara Baum

Townhouses are the value play for buyers in Redondo Beach, CA. Over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, townhouses sold for a median of $739 per square foot, below condos at $818 and well under single-family homes at $944. That gap compounds fast: buying 2,000 square feet at the townhouse rate costs roughly $410,000 less than the same space at the single-family rate. Per-foot medians are a baseline, and individual homes vary, but the broader market clearly rewards buyers willing to share a wall.

You can check the average home cost page and the broader housing market page for citywide pricing trends. Ultimately, the choice between a condo, a townhouse, and a detached house comes down to how you weigh living space against bidding competition and property control.

Key takeaway

For the most living space per dollar in Redondo Beach, start your search with a townhouse. They sell for about $205 less per square foot than single-family homes, and far more of them are currently listed. If your budget sits closer to the condo median, that property type is the entry point and the one where prices dipped slightly this year. Opting for a detached house means competing in the city's tightest and most expensive segment.

Who this guide is for

You're shopping for a home in Redondo Beach and deciding whether a condo, townhouse, or detached house gets you the most for your budget.

Deciding between a house, townhouse, or condo

A few basic questions will narrow the search quickly. Detached ownership means no homeowners association voting on your roof, exterior paint, or remodel plans. The price of that control is steep: it runs about $215,000 more at the median to buy a single-family house than a townhouse. If shared walls are acceptable, the townhouse market is usually the better starting point. Buyers wanting rental income or a second unit on the lot have different priorities entirely and should look directly at duplexes and properties with accessory dwelling units.

Do you need a private yard or full property control?

A median-to-median gap is a rough guide. Location within the city can swing a specific house or townhouse by more than that $215,000 spread. If you require absolute control over your lot and a private yard, single-family homes are your focus. The tradeoff is a premium purchase price, full responsibility for exterior maintenance, and the highest level of buyer competition in the city.

Is your budget near the condo median?

The condo median of $964,901 is the only property type median currently sitting under $1 million, making condos the realistic starting point if your pre-approval caps near that mark. You can review the affordability page for more budget details. What you give up is monthly cost certainty: HOA dues add to your payment and reduce how much mortgage loan you qualify for.

How much bidding competition can you handle?

Competition differs sharply by property type. If you need inspection and financing contingencies, or can't offer over asking, compare townhouses and condos first. That said, competition shifts month to month, so ask for the sold-above-list share on a specific street or complex rather than relying solely on citywide averages.

Townhouses and their space advantages

Townhouse buyers currently have more than twice the choice of single-family buyers. With 62 townhomes listed against just 28 detached houses over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, that extra inventory gives you more time to compare layouts and negotiate terms.

The common Redondo Beach townhouse form is a two-unit or small-lot development, often built across multiple stories. One thing worth confirming early: whether a townhouse is recorded as a condominium or a planned development, because that classification changes what the HOA covers and how lenders treat the property.

North Redondo Beach

Small-lot and two-unit townhomes make up a large share of what's for sale here. These are typically newer construction on former single-house lots, with private garages and little or no common area. You can compare this area directly on the North vs South page.

The downside is that two-unit associations often carry little or no reserve fund. A roof or sewer repair gets split directly between you and one neighbor, so request the CC&Rs and check any reserve balance before you're under contract.

South Redondo Beach

Townhomes closer to the beach and Riviera Village cost more per square foot, and you're paying for walkability. The South Redondo page breaks down area pricing in more detail. What you give up is single-level living: narrow lots push living space into three stories, which means climbing stairs on every trip from the garage to the kitchen to the bedroom. Walk the layout before you count the square footage as a win.

Artesia Corridor

Attached homes near the Artesia Boulevard commercial strip offer convenient access to shops and the east side of the South Bay. The City of Redondo Beach's General Plan includes a dedicated Artesia and Aviation Corridors Area Plan, with updates affecting mixed-use designations along the boulevard. Units fronting or backing onto a busy street carry traffic noise, so visit at rush hour and ask which windows face the street before you decide the location works for you.

Single-family homes and market competition

Detached houses are the most competitive segment in the city. With just 1.3 months of supply and 35.4% of houses selling above the list price over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, buyers should expect few choices and quick decisions. You'll likely need to make offers at or over asking and should have financing completely lined up before you start touring. The most expensive areas page provides context on where these detached premiums peak.

Golden Hills

This neighborhood features hillside custom and view homes that typically represent the city's top price tier. Sloped lots dictate much of the architecture and yard space. They also raise the cost of additions, retaining walls, and drainage work, so check zoning, setbacks, and slope rules with the Redondo Beach planning division before you build any addition into your plans.

Hollywood Riviera

Mid-century single-family homes near Riviera Village and the Palos Verdes hills define this area. According to a Hollywood Riviera Homeowners Association historical document, the original Ellinwood Ranch area was bordered by the Torrance and Redondo city boundary line near Via Colusa. That boundary matters practically: much of the Hollywood Riviera lies in the City of Torrance. Confirm the city on the property tax bill to verify your municipal services and school district.

TRW Tract

This North Redondo pocket contains single-story postwar houses on regular, flat lots and is a common target for buyers wanting a traditional neighborhood layout. Original-era houses here often need roof, electrical, and sewer-lateral work, and you'll face builders who want the lot for a rebuild bidding alongside you.

El Nido

Another North Redondo pocket, El Nido offers detached homes on traditional suburban lots with housing stock that varies widely in age and updates. Lot size and setbacks cap how much you can add to the existing footprint, so check the parcel's zoning with the city's planning division before you price in an addition.

The Avenues

South Redondo's lettered-avenue streets near the beach and Riviera Village hold a mix of older beach cottages and newer rebuilds. Walk-to-the-sand appeal drives demand here, and small lots with beach traffic make street parking tight, especially in summer. Count the off-street parking spaces on near-beach properties before making an offer.

Condos and their lower entry prices

Condo values slipped 1% from a year earlier, and only 18.9% sold above list over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026. That gives condo buyers the most room to negotiate on price, seller credits, or inspection contingencies. For buyers priced out of detached houses, condos provide a clear path to ownership. You can review the HOA fees section below for dues expectations and the first-time buyers page for financing tips.

Riviera Village

Condos here put the Village's shops and restaurants within walking distance. The data shows buyers targeting this pocket to avoid weekend driving. The tradeoff is that many buildings are older, which raises the odds of special assessments for roofs, plumbing, or balconies. Request the CC&Rs, current budget, reserve study, and recent board minutes for any association you're considering.

Beachfront and harbor-area condos

Condo buildings along the Esplanade bluff and near King Harbor are the most direct way to own ocean-adjacent living without paying a detached beach house price. The California Coastal Commission has reviewed and approved multiple condominium projects along the Esplanade in Redondo Beach's coastal zone over the years. Salt air wears building exteriors faster, which feeds into dues and assessments, and coastal-zone rules can add permit steps for exterior changes. Ask the HOA for current dues and any planned or recent special assessments before you're under contract.

Duplexes, ADUs, and new construction

Beyond the three standard property types, buyers looking for rental income, multi-generational living, or brand-new systems have other avenues. These property types don't have isolated market figures in the standard property data, but they represent a significant portion of local real estate activity. Whether you want to be a landlord or simply want a pristine interior, these options require a different approach to financing and inspections.

Duplexes and small multi-unit buildings

You can live in one unit and rent the other, or buy purely for income. The investing page provides context on returns and local rent rates. If units are tenant-occupied, you may not be able to move in or raise rent freely. Ask how California tenant protection rules apply before buying a tenant-occupied duplex unit.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

A backyard cottage or garage conversion on a single-family lot adds rental income or space for family. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3264-23 to update ADU rules, and in the Coastal Zone, the city applies a coastal lens requiring compliance with Coastal Act policies even under simplified state approvals. You can check the build page for construction costs.

One thing to verify early: an existing ADU may not be permitted. Ask the seller for permits and a final inspection on any ADU or garage conversion, or pull the permit history directly from the city's building division.

New construction

Newly built townhomes and rebuilt houses give buyers modern systems, energy efficiency, and contemporary layouts. You can browse the new developments page for current builder projects. New builds typically carry a price premium over resales of the same type, so ask about builder warranties and whether any new HOA has a funded reserve from day one.

Closing and carrying costs by property type

Your monthly payment and closing cash depend on the property type you choose. A lower purchase price doesn't always guarantee a lower monthly payment once association fees and loan types factor in.

Clara can pull recent sales for a specific complex or street to help you compare total costs across property types. Home type doesn't determine your school assignment. Check your specific address with the Redondo Beach Unified School District's online School Locator tool and review the schools page.

HOA dues

Condos and most townhomes carry dues; detached houses usually don't. Two-unit townhome associations can be informal and have very low dues, and you can compare these ranges on the HOA fees page. A low fee can mean an underfunded reserve, so request the budget, reserve study, and minutes from the last year of board meetings.

Condo financing and FHA approval

Low-down-payment FHA and VA loans on condos usually require the specific condo project to be approved. HUD provides an official FHA-Approved Condominium Project Search tool that lets users search by city or condo name to check an approval status, which is valid for three years before requiring recertification. Check the mortgage rates page for current loan data.

If the project isn't approved, you may need a larger down payment or a different loan. Check the HUD list before you write an offer, not after.

Property taxes and closing costs

Both expenses scale with purchase price, so the gap between property types carries through after closing. You can review the property taxes page and the buyer closing costs page for specific local rates. Compare total cost, not just purchase price.

Redondo Beach home prices by type at a glance

The following Redfin data covers the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, and every property type has at least 38 sales.

Median sale price (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family $1,794,285; townhouse $1,579,019; condo $964,901; all homes $1,541,766
Change in median sale price vs a year earlier (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family +7.8%; townhouse +5.3%; condo -1%; all homes +0.4%
Median price per square foot (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family $944; condo $818; townhouse $739; all homes $839
Homes sold (90 days ending 2026-09-30): townhouse 67; single-family 66; condo 38; all homes 179
Homes for sale (inventory, 90 days ending 2026-09-30): townhouse 62; condo 35; single-family 28; all homes 136
Months of supply (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family 1.3; townhouse 2.8; condo 2.8; all homes 2.3
Median days on market (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family 39; townhouse 47; condo 47; all homes 47
Sale-to-list price (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family 100.3%; condo 99.9%; townhouse 99.8%; all homes 99.9%
Share sold above list price (90 days ending 2026-09-30): single-family 35.4%; townhouse 23%; condo 18.9%; all homes 26.1%

Frequently asked questions

What are the four main types of housing?

In Redondo Beach, the four main housing types are detached single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and small multi-unit buildings like duplexes. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) also act as an add-on housing type to single-family lots. You can review the sections above to see how each type compares in price and control.

What are six different types of houses?

Buyers looking at Redondo Beach listings will typically see architectural styles like Craftsman bungalows, older beach cottages, mid-century ranch homes, Spanish or Mediterranean designs, and contemporary coastal rebuilds. The specific style you find often depends on the neighborhood, such as mid-century homes in the Hollywood Riviera or newer contemporary rebuilds in The Avenues.

What are the different types of beach houses?

Near-beach housing in Redondo takes several forms, including beachfront and bluff-top condos along the Esplanade, older beach cottages in The Avenues, and multi-story townhomes in South Redondo. A major difference between these forms is the ownership structure: condos require joining an HOA while detached beach cottages offer independent ownership.