California city where you can still buy a house for $400,000

A remote town about six hours north of San Francisco may be the only place left on the California coast where aspiring homeowners can snag an affordable beach house for under $400,000.

A remote town about six hours north of San Francisco may be the only place left on the California coast where aspiring homeowners can snag an affordable beach house for under $400,000.

Crescent City, a small town of about 7,000 people, is California’s northernmost county and about 80 percent of the county is made up of state or national parks.

“It’s like living on an island,” Adam Goldstein, who moved to the rugged coastal town eight years ago, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The average price of homes within walking distance or a short drive from the Crescent City beach is $353,000 — the lowest of any other expensive city, according to a Chronicle analysis.

The 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with just over 1,300 square feet is listed on Zillow for $325,000.

Another home that sits at 1,147 square feet and has 3 beds and 1 bath is priced at $315.00.

Although the homes are much cheaper than the millions of dollars people have to spend to acquire property in other coastal cities like Malibu or Santa Monica, they are still very expensive for residents who live in the area and have a higher poverty rate than the state average.

“It’s affordable,” Eric Wier, Crescent City manager told the Chronicle. “But that doesn’t mean it’s affordable for the people who live here.”

Low wages, coupled with limited economic opportunities make it difficult for residents to afford housing, especially when the median price has more than tripled since 2000, the newspaper reported.

“That’s what makes it difficult for us, we really depend on the buyer outside the area,” Kurt Stremberg, a longtime real estate agent told the newspaper.

The area is also not without its topographical challenges – while it boasts stunning ocean views, there are only two access roads with sections often closed due to storms and landslides.

The Last Chance Highway 101 is closed an average of nine times a year, according to the Chronicle, and the only other option is a detour that adds another hour to the drive.

But the city has plans to build a $3 billion tunnel in hopes of fixing the problem and Cindy Vosburg, director of the local trade association told the Chronicle that the public works program is investing millions of dollars to renew the city’s infrastructure and bring new life to the area.

“Like any other community we face problems – and right now we’re at a high point,” Vosburg said.

So, the affordable secret city may not be a secret in the near future.

“We have the redwoods, we have the ocean, we have this amazing landscape, and we need to lean on it,” Wier told the newspaper.

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