West Adams is a historic neighborhood in the South Los Angeles region of Los Angeles, California. This area, known for its large number of historic buildings and notable houses and mansions, is considered a popular spot to invest in. Below are some reasons why you should consider looking to purchase in the West Adams neighborhood.
REAL ESTATE
This is currently my favorite area to invest in LA. The areas is unusual in that it’s central and affordable. It reminds me of Venice decades ago in that many artists are moving there living side by side with families who have lived there for decades. The average housing prices are under $1 million and it is fast becoming one of the hottest real estate markets. Houses tend to sell quickly there, with days on market averaging 33 days (where as other areas in LA are 90 -120 days), and most homes sell for over the asking price. Gentrification is well underway in West Adams with many people priced out from other areas that have increased in price (like Venice) moving there. House flippers and developers have already started improving some of the housing stock, and it’s not uncommon to see the same house sell for $200-300k more than it did a year earlier. There are, also, lots of people moving to West Adams who want to redo a house for themselves and make a home in the neighborhood. There’s still a mix of long-time residents and folks new to the neighborhood, making it a diverse and exciting place to live. A sure sign that the area will continue to attract buyers attention is the fact that Whole Foods, Erewhon and Gjelina are all opening there. The fact that you can buy a $13 dollar sandwich from hipster cafes like Highly Likely shows there is already a pool of what the French call BOBO’s (bourgeois Bohemians).
According to Trulia, as of June 26, 2019, the median sales price for a single family home in the West Adams neighborhood is $826,500 (6.1% increase over the previous year). The average rent is $3100 (up 22% over the past year). Most real estate experts are predicting that prices will continue to rise in West Adams over the next few years. I know a lot about the area and so if you are thinking of investing money in real estate I can help you nab one of the fab houses in the area!
HISTORY
West Adams is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with many of the homes were built between 1880 and 1925. Before the Depression, it was one of the wealthiest neighborhoods, and city leaders such as Lawrence Doheny and Isadore Dockweiller, whose names you still see on street signs, built mansions here. As wealthy white homeowners began to move west into Beverly Hills and other newer west side neighborhoods, affluent black people began moving into West Adams, a trend that was further accelerated by the prohibition of segregationist covenants that had previously barred homeowners from selling to minorities. Many wealthy black celebrities such as Gone with the Wind actress Hattie McDaniel and architect Paul Williams called West Adams home. Today, West Adams is known for its concentration of historical homes in many architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries including, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Craftsman, Beaux-Arts, Spanish Colonial Revival and more.
LOCATION
West Adams vs Historic West Adams District
Historic West Adams District is a large central area of Los Angeles that runs from the 110 Freeway on the east to Crenshaw Blvd on the west, and north to Pico Blvd south to Jefferson Blvd. Historic West Adams is comprised of smaller neighborhoods each with their own local personality; these neighborhoods include University Park (around USC), Adams-Normandie, Jefferson Park (all south of the 10 Freeway) and Pico-Union, Harvard Heights and Arlington Heights (all north of the 10).
Just to make things extra confusing, the neighborhood directly to the west of the Historic West Adams District is called West Adams. This area was built in the 1920s and has more modest housing stock. For the West Adams neighborhood, Crenshaw Blvd is the eastern border, Fairfax Ave is the western border, the 10 Freeway is the northern border, and the Expo Line is the southern border. With its central location and close proximity to the 10 and the Expo Line, West Adams is convenient for people working in Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood Downtown LA, and Santa Monica.
THINGS TO DO
Food/Drink
There are great dining options in West Adams, from iconic favorites such as Mel’s Fish Shack and Honey Bee’s House of Breakfast, to newer hotspots like Mizlala and Alta Adams. Plus some of LA’s top restaurant talents are opening up new restaurants in West Adams. Travis Lett of Gjelina and Gjusta fame will be opening a 24-hour spot called Gjohnny Pastrami with a small brewery in the former Johnny’s Pastrami space on W Adams Blvd. Party Beer Co is also going to be opening up a craft brewery and bar on Jefferson Blvd.
WHY LIVE IN WEST ADAMS?
- Relatively affordable neighborhood with housing prices expected to continue to rise.
- Easy to get around town with its central location, 10 Freeway, and the Expo metro line.
- Lots of cool dining, bars and shopping options have opened and even more is in the works.
- Tons of history and examples of classic architecture styles all around.
If you are considering renting or owning a home in West Adams, visit my property portfolio here to see what is available or feel free to email me to find out if I have any upcoming properties to offer.