Malibu is home to families, migrating birds, the migrating film industry, horse lovers, ocean lovers, hikers, farmers, dreamers and fishermen…. Malibu is also home to Pepperdine University and the  Monastery, Serra Retreat. The Malibu (as locals call it) stretches east to west from Coastline drive to the Ventura County line (27+ miles). Topanga, Malibu and Ventura are famed for board surfing, Surfin' Movies, Beach Boys, beautiful coves, beaches, and endless sets of waves.

Incorporated in 1990, the city of Malibu shares a public school system (the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District).  There are severalparochial and private schools. The new city relies on Los Angeles County services for Fire. There is a local Sheriff's Dept. and Courthouse.  As yet, Malibu has no sewer system. All properties are on septic systems.
Malibu boasts several dry, sandy beaches populated by elegant, architectural beach residences to a very few crumbling 1930's beach getaways used by yesteryear's Hollywood famous.

Homes on "dry, sandy beaches" and private sandy coves fetch premium prices ($4Mil to $50Mil depending on the ocean front footage). Examples of close in "dry, sandy beaches" are La Costa Beach and Carbon Beach. There is some inevitable noise from the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Malibu Colony, a 24-hour guard-gated community has both beach side and land side homes behind the gates. The land side homes have deeded access to the beach. A 3 bedroom home on the land side of Malibu Colony recently sold for under $1.5Mil, whereas a 6,000+ sq. ft. beach front home with a private pool sold for over $5Mil.
There are several bluff areas with dry beaches below. Often these properties have private tennis courts and pools and may be only steps to private, secluded beaches.


Broadbeach Road, just past Zuma Beach, is renowned for its deep sandy beach and signature dunes. A true escape from the bustle of the city, this popular residential beach area has a romantic and historical Hollywood past. A teardown on an average lot size will run $3Mil + , depending on width of lot at mean high tide.
It is expensive to build on the sand. The plans and permits must have the stamp of approval from the Coastal Commission.
Ocean front homes with wet or no beach can start at $1,300,000. The average home on such a beach (45-50 front feet) is about $4 Mil.

Land side properties command prices from approximately $500,000 to $75 Mil depending on the acreage, view and home plus amenities.

In spite of fires, mudslides, high tides, and earthquakes, Malibu properties continue to appreciate.
I recommend leasing in the area before purchasing. There is no "average rental." Furnished beach homes rent for about $10,000-$40,000 per month. The lease terms may be as short as 30-60 days. Privacy, furnishings, distance and number of bedrooms are the pricing criteria.