Malibu.
Twenty-one miles of coastline and a pace all its own.
Source: CRMLS MLS data via InfoSparks, residential sales, rolling 12 months through October 2026; year over year compares to the prior 12 months. Figures change monthly; ask us for the latest numbers for your street.
Malibu stretches along about 21 miles of coastline. The city has Point Dume's bluffs, Zuma's wide sand, the private beach colonies and canyon ranches in the Santa Monica Mountains. Life here is slower and centered on the outdoors, and many residents plan their days around surf, hiking and sunsets.
Recent years have been hard. The January 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed homes in eastern Malibu, especially along PCH and in the hills near Las Flores and Big Rock, and the Franklin Fire hit just weeks earlier. Rebuilding is under way through the City's streamlined Rebuild Development Permit. We help clients through Malibu's mix of coastal rules, septic systems and insurance, because those details often decide whether a deal works.
Who it's for: Buyers who value privacy, the ocean and the outdoors above convenience, from families on Point Dume to second-home owners looking for an oceanfront retreat.
Malibu neighborhoods.
Malibu Colony
A gated beachfront enclave next to the Malibu Country Mart. It's long been a celebrity address.
Carbon Beach
Billionaire's Beach. Oceanfront homes along PCH, some of them affected by the 2025 fire.
Point Dume
Bluff-top family neighborhood with beach access, large lots and a strong sense of community.
Broad Beach / Zuma
Wide sandy beaches and oceanfront estates in western Malibu.
Malibu Park / Western Malibu
Ranch-style properties, horse-friendly lots and canyon views.
Big Rock / Las Flores (Eastern Malibu)
Hillside and beach homes. This was among the hardest-hit areas in 2025 and is now a center of rebuilding.
Why people love it.
- Beaches include Zuma, El Matador, Point Dume and Surfrider, a world-famous surf break.
- Malibu Country Mart and the Malibu Lumber Yard are the town's social and shopping hub.
- Hiking runs through the Santa Monica Mountains, including Solstice Canyon and the Point Dume headland trail.
- Pepperdine University anchors the Civic Center area.
- PCH is the only coastal route in and out, so closures and fire-season traffic are part of life here.
- Restaurants are reopening after the fires. Duke's Malibu returned in March 2026.
Where locals go.
- Malibu Country Mart. The town's open-air gathering place for coffee, shopping and lunch.
- Nobu Malibu. Oceanfront dining on Carbon Beach. Reservations open by phone up to 30 days out.
- Malibu Seafood. A casual, cash-friendly fish shack on PCH, a local institution.
- Duke's Malibu. Reopened in March 2026 after the Palisades Fire, about 14 months after it closed.
- Point Dume State Beach. Bluff trails, tide pools and whale-watching in season.
- Zuma Beach. Wide sand and easy parking. It's Malibu's classic family beach.
Trails and surf.
Hiking
- Solstice Canyon. Easy trail to a waterfall and historic ruins.
- Point Dume. Short bluff walk with whale and dolphin views.
Surf
- Surfrider Beach. First Point Malibu, the iconic right-hand point break.
- Zuma. Big open beach break with room for everyone.
A perfect day in Malibu.
Early hike to the Solstice Canyon ruins or the Escondido Falls trail, then breakfast at the Pier Café. Surf or swim at Zuma, lunch from Malibu Seafood on the tables above the water. Afternoon at the Getty Villa or a wine tasting at Rosenthal. Sunset at Point Dume for the whales and the view back to Santa Monica, dinner at Nobu or Lucky's, and the Country Mart for a last coffee.
Where we send clients to eat.
Nobu Malibu
The world's best-known beachfront table; lunch on the deck beats dinner.
Malibu Farm Pier Café
Breakfast and lunch at the end of the Malibu Pier; farm-fresh and casual.
Neptune's Net
Fried seafood and bikers at County Line since 1956; the surf-trip stop.
Malibu Seafood
Walk-up fish market with picnic tables above PCH; the fish and chips.
Lucky's Malibu
Steakhouse at the Country Mart; the locals' birthday dinner.
Broad Street Oyster Co.
Lobster rolls and uni at Malibu Village; the line moves fast.
Brennan's running list. Menus and hours change, so check before you go.
What you'll find.
Malibu's market covers vacant fire lots, condos and mobile-home parks at the entry level, Point Dume and western-Malibu family homes generally running $3M–$8M, and oceanfront estates on Carbon, Broad Beach and in the Colony that often reach $10M–$50M or more. Because inventory is thin and every property is different, medians can swing sharply from month to month.
Price ranges are rough guides. Ask us for current comps.
Public & private.
| Malibu High School | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (a separate Malibu Unified district is pending state approval) |
| Webster Elementary School | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District |
| Point Dume Marine Science Elementary | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District |
| Our Lady of Malibu School | Independent |
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Source: Niche, 2027 Best School Districts in California, checked November 2026. Rankings change yearly.
Always confirm school boundaries for a specific address with the district.
Most of Malibu runs on private septic systems (OWTS), and beachfront and bluff homes depend on seawalls and shoreline protection. Get a septic inspection and confirm the system's permit status with the City, and ask whether any shoreline structures are permitted. Even with the City's certified Local Coastal Program, projects near the shore can be appealed to the Coastal Commission.
Read the Buyer's GuideMalibu is its own city, so LA's Measure ULA does not apply, which is a real edge for high-end sellers compared with the Palisades. If your home or lot was affected by fire, document any Rebuild Development Permit status, prior square footage and septic records. Buyers pay more for a clear rebuild path.
Get a home valuationMalibu questions.
Can you rebuild in Malibu after the fires?
Yes. Malibu's Rebuild Development Permit allows streamlined rebuilds of qualifying homes, generally within about 110% of the prior size, height and bulk. Larger changes require standard coastal permitting.
Does the LA mansion tax apply in Malibu?
No. Measure ULA applies only within the City of Los Angeles. Malibu is a separate city.
Is Malibu getting its own school district?
It's in progress. Malibu and SMMUSD approved separation agreements in late 2025, and the new district still needs state approval. Malibu schools remain in SMMUSD for now.
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