{"id":416549,"date":"2026-07-29T14:05:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416549\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T14:05:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:05:56","slug":"we-asked-7-real-estate-experts-to-pick-the-best-place-to-live-on-the-west-coast-and-they-all-picked-this-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416549\/","title":{"rendered":"We Asked 7 Real Estate Experts to Pick the Best Place to Live on the West Coast\u2014and They All Picked This Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

The West Coast of the United States boasts thousands of miles of shoreline, spanning inlets, beautiful bays, golden-sand beaches, and tidal areas, many of which lie within California. But what makes the Golden State special is that “the diversity doesn’t stop at the coast,” says Robert Bailey, broker and founding partner of Bailey Properties<\/a>. So it comes as no surprise that all seven real estate agents we asked about the best place to live on the West Coast agreed on California.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know of many other places in the country that can speak to that kind of geographic diversity and lifestyle variety in one state,” Bailey adds. “If you’re an outdoorsy person who wants to spend a good chunk of time in nature, it’s hard to think of a better place than California,” agrees Michele Harrington, the CEO of FirstTeam\/Luxury Portfolio International<\/a>. Whether it’s the state’s many mountain towns<\/a> offering world-class skiing, legendary beach enclaves<\/a>, storybook wine regions, or celebrated cities, California truly has it all (including the country’s largest state economy).<\/p>\n

So if you are looking to relocate to the West Coast, here are some of the best communities in the region, recommended by local real estate agents.<\/p>\n

Sacramento\"The<\/p>\n

The Sacramento skyline at dusk.
Credit: Allard Schager\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

California’s capital is so much more than just a government hub, says Pat Shea, president and CEO of Windermere Signature Properties & Windermere SoCal\/Luxury Portfolio International<\/a>. While the city flew under the radar for a very long time, it is now one of the fastest-growing places in the state<\/a>. Shea says this is due to the excellent quality of life paired with great value. “Compared to many of California’s coastal markets, home prices here have remained much more moderate, while the region still offers an incredible amount in terms of parks, recreation, sports, arts, dining, and access to the rest of the state,” he explains. Zillow estimates the average home value in Sacramento to be about $483,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another perk is the range of housing options, neighborhoods, and different price points. Areas like Land Park, Curtis Park, and East Sacramento are popular with those who prefer urban living and proximity to the state’s capital and downtown. Meanwhile, families tend to gravitate toward suburbs such as Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and El Dorado Hills, which offer good schools, parks, and access to recreation.<\/p>\n

In fact, access, Shea says, is Sacramento’s main draw. “If you live in the Sacramento area, you’re within reach of so much of what makes California special,” he adds.<\/p>\n

Sonoma County\"Vineyards<\/p>\n

Vineyards and hills of Sonoma County.
Credit: Steve Proehl\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Another Northern California area that stands out for its proximity to “all of the natural beauty that makes the West Coast so special,” according to Grace Lucero, a realtor with Vanguard Properties<\/a>, is Sonoma County. She highlights Healdsburg<\/a> for its culinary scene, wineries, strong sense of community, and easy access to the Bay Area and San Francisco. “A lot of people come here to retire because the quality of life is tremendous, but there are also many young families here, which gives the community a wonderful balance. It’s just a lovely place to live\u2014warm, vibrant, and connected,” Lucero adds. Healdsburg’s school district has earned an A- on Niche.com<\/a> and ranks No. 4 in Sonoma County, with top scores for academics, teachers, and college prep.<\/p>\n

San Diego\"Aerial<\/p>\n

Aerial view of the La Jolla neighborhood in San Diego.
Credit: Brandon Colbert Photography\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

California’s oldest city<\/a> has attracted people with its top-notch beaches, Mediterranean climate, education options, and fantastic dining scene for decades. Scripps Ranch is San Diego’s most family-friendly community that blends access to major area employers with top-rated schools. Compared to coastal communities, the neighborhood\u2014located east of Interstate 15 in the northeastern part of the city\u2014offers larger homes and strong value for families, says Michelle Plastiras of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Plastiras adds that Del Cerro “consistently attracts professionals and families seeking excellent schools, safety, and long-term appreciation potential.” This area is near San Diego State University and Mission Valley, known for its abundant shopping and dining options.<\/p>\n

Marin County\"Aerial<\/p>\n

Aerial shot of Belvedere Island, a rocky island in the San Francisco Bay in Marin County.
Credit: halbergman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Marin County is quite literally a force of nature. The list of natural landmarks here spans waterfalls, beaches, and redwood forests, to name a few, and residents are often just minutes away from a trail\u2014and from San Francisco<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Communities here are very diverse, and each has its distinct feel. “Sausalito has long had a reputation as a tourist town, but when you actually live there, there’s a very strong sense of local community,” says Tracey Broadman, a broker associate at Vanguard Properties<\/a>. “These enclaves are incredibly special because they offer so much variety within a relatively small area,” Broadman adds. “They’re not making more single-family homes in Marin County. The geography is fixed, the beauty is permanent, and the lifestyle is incredibly hard to match.”<\/p>\n

San Francisco\"A<\/p>\n

A historic cable car in San Francisco.
Credit: Alexander Spatari\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

As one of the country’s most important technology hubs, San Francisco continues to attract some of the brightest minds in the country and the world. The city is home to more than 17,000 startups, including some of the world’s most valuable<\/a>, as well as over 250 “unicorn” companies, valued at over $1 billion each. Another draw is the sheer variety of neighborhoods and different lifestyles. “Noe Valley is a great example, with that village-like feel and real sense of community, but it’s far from the only one. Neighborhoods like the Castro, the Mission, Nopa, Hayes Valley, Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Ashbury Heights, Corona Heights, Excelsior, and Portola all offer their own distinct character, architecture, and lifestyle,” says Dan Slaughter, a broker associate at Vanguard Properties<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The West Coast of the United States boasts thousands of miles of shoreline, spanning inlets, beautiful bays, golden-sand…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":416550,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[166635,7,276,266,166636,166637,33063,96590,121,101,103,102,104,106,105,159877,490],"class_list":["post-416549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-francisco","tag-bailey-properties","tag-california","tag-east-sacramento","tag-northern-california","tag-pat-shea","tag-portfolio-international","tag-real-estate-agents","tag-robert-bailey","tag-sacramento","tag-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco-headlines","tag-san-francisco-news","tag-sf","tag-sf-headlines","tag-sf-news","tag-vanguard-properties","tag-west-coast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=416549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/416550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=416549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=416549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=416549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}