Spring Real Estate: Pacific Palisades

Nestled between the ocean and mountains, Pacific Palisades has a center village and hometown feel that draws plenty of actors, producers and writers with families. Steven Bochco, Bill Cosby, Larry David, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Tom Hanks, Martin Short, Steven Spielberg and Ed Zwick all call the Palisades home. "It's a bedroom community just far enough out of town to give you the feeling of not being in a big city," says Coldwell Banker Previews executive director Joyce Rey.

Diverse architectural stylings range from 1940s traditional and '50s ranch to '60s contemporary and '80s Mediterranean. "What we don't have are vintage Spanish or English. There are some architectural homes, but not a lot," says Coldwell Banker's Michael Edland. "We don't have the grand homes like you'd fine in San Marino or Hancock Park." The average lot size is 5,200 feet, though there are some half-acre parcels and a few one- and two-acre lots.

Part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Palisades public schools are improving, thanks to strong parental funding and involvement. However, most families send their children to local private schools.



Excellent Eateries

Best Sushi: Pearl Dragon, 15229 Sunset Blvd., (310) 459-9790

Best Local Italian: Cafe Misto, 548 Palisades Drive, (310) 573-1411

Best Family Dining: Mort's Deli is a local landmark for comfort food at all hours, 1035 Swarthmore Ave., (310) 454-5511



Shops for the Home

Fernworks offers fun antiques with a focus on the garden. Design services are available, 1017 Swarthmore Ave.,
(310) 573-0092.



What Money Buys

The Riviera offers large lots and big homes in Mediterranean, traditional and ranch styles ($1 million-$10 million). In the Huntington section, homes sell for $2 million-$6 million. The Highlands ($1.2 million-$4 million) has condos, older and newer homes and two guard-gated communities. Artsy types go for the upscale bohemian feeling in Rustic Canyon ($2 million-$10 million) and Santa Monica Canyon ($1.5 million-$9 million). The closest thing to a starter neighborhood can be found in the Alphabet streets, where a modest 1,400-square-foot home recently sold for $1 million.



City Stats

Population: 22,636

Median home price: $1.1 million -- a 21.1% increase from 2003

Number of homes sold in 2003: 441

Average household income: $122,877

Schools: Part of the Los Angeles Unified School District; three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school