In Los Angeles real estate, a view has real value. Put the same house on two different lots and an unobstructed view of the Pacific, Downtown or the city lights can dramatically change what a buyer is willing to pay.
I've spent years showing and selling homes with extraordinary views, but some of the best views in Los Angeles don't require buying a house at all. Here are five places I'd put on the list.
- Griffith Observatory
This may be an obvious choice, but it deserves to be. From its position on Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory gives you a remarkable perspective on the scale of Los Angeles—the city below, the surrounding hills and the Hollywood Sign. General admission to the Observatory building and grounds is free, although parking in the closest lots is paid.
Go late in the afternoon and stay as the light changes. Daytime LA and nighttime LA are two completely different views.
- Palisades Park in Santa Monica
Palisades Park runs along the bluffs above the Pacific and is one of my favorite places for an easy walk with a serious view. You have Santa Monica Bay in front of you, the coastline extending in both directions and, on a clear day, visibility for miles.
It's also proof that you don't have to hike to earn a great LA view. You can walk, sit on a bench or simply stop for ten minutes and watch the ocean.
- Runyon Canyon
Runyon is quintessential Los Angeles: hikers, dogs, recognizable faces and city views all in one place. The higher trails provide broad views across Hollywood and the LA basin, and on a clear day you get a much better sense of how the city fits together geographically.
It can get busy, so earlier is generally better if you're going for the view rather than the scene.
- The Malibu Coast
Malibu doesn't need a specific viewing platform. Part of the experience is the coastline itself.
The drive along Pacific Coast Highway gives you stretches where the mountains seem to drop directly into the Pacific. Stop at a public beach or legal coastal access point and give yourself time to actually enjoy it rather than treating PCH simply as the road to your next destination.
I've been inside some extraordinary oceanfront homes in Malibu, but the Pacific belongs to everyone.
- The Hollywood Hills
My last choice isn't one particular lookout. It's the experience of driving through the Hollywood Hills and unexpectedly turning onto a street where Los Angeles suddenly opens up beneath you.
After years of driving these neighborhoods for work, this still gets me. The combination of hills, architecture, city lights and views is part of what makes Los Angeles residential real estate so unusual.
A view can add millions to the value of a home. Fortunately, appreciating one is still free.