Million-Dollar Homes Are Slowly Sliding Toward the Pacific Ocean

Realtor ^ | 3/03/25 | Kiri Blakeley

[Libloather]

Multimillion-dollar estates in the wealthy cliff-dwelling enclave of Rancho Palos Verdes in Southern California are slowly sliding toward the ocean, yet they still carry hefty price tags.

Almost 200 homes in the area are listed for sale, ranging from an $899,000 condo to a $22 million seven-bedroom mansion. However, most are not affected directly by the land movement, which is concentrated in an area called Portuguese Bend.

"Portuguese Bend is clearly on borrowed time," says LAist.

New aerial mapping showed the long-known and slow-moving landslides on the bluffs have sped up due to heavy rain in 2023 and early 2024, according to the New York Times.

"Homes in Rancho Palos Verdes began collapsing in June and August of 2023," said the outlet. "Streets have fissured. Walls have shifted, and floors have cracked open to reveal the dynamic earth below. A downed power line related to the slides started a small brush fire in August."

A $42 million buyout program is helping homeowners voluntarily sell and relocate, but some of them are taking matters into their own hands and listing their properties instead.

Homes continue to have multimillion price tags Of the listed homes, only six mention the land movement.

"Property located in the neighborhood impacted by LAND MOVEMENT and affected by it," says a $1.2 million listing at Admirable Drive.

"Plans to remodel and fix minor land movement damages have been submitted to the city," declared another listing, this one for a $3 million home on Spindrift Lane boasting "180 degree views of the ocean directly out your living room window."

Both agents did not respond to requests from Realtor.com® for comment.

[mairdie]

I lived in an apartment complex across a flower farm from Marineland, right near the cliff. Kept hearing Talk to the Animals. Going to the grocery store was a driving challenge. Almost never did I go and not see an upside down car somewhere along the route. It was the first time I really understood that the earth really did move. Constant road work. We moved as a complete group from the U of Chicago computer center to NCR and all lived in the same complex. A magical year.

[Paladin2]

A million buck$ ain't what it used to be back in the day when The Millionaire used to be on TV.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Millionaire_(TV_series)

[Jonty30]

It’s price will increase, because it will have an underwater view soon.

[oldplayer]

I was a geology student at Cal State Fullerton in 1968. Our professor took us there on a field trip. There had occured recent slippage due to yard and garden watering.

He laughed as he asked us “And why do you think there are steep bluffs and cliffs here in the first place?”

[Kenny Bania]

And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill

-Warren Zevon

[freedomlover]

Thanks for that.
That man is missed.

[yuleeyahoo]

Suburban renewal.

[rellic]

Grew up in that area.
I used to fish off the rocks at PV
Palos Verde for you non Californians.
fished for Sea bass and perch.
We kept a fire in the caves. Surf fishing
from rocks is wet and cold.

I was a kid but I always sensed that where they were building was a bad place to build.
As an adult Engineer I know it was a stupid place to build.
Awesome views though.
Rich people aren’t necessarily all that smart.
Look at what happened in Pacific palisades.
Don’t even get me started on Lahina, Maui.
I now live in Hawaii. so I have some experience
with Stupid Democrats!

[Veto!]

If I were a multimillionaire, I’d still buy a house there. Buy homeowners insurance and hope for the best.

As it is, I couldn’t possibly buy a vacant lot there. So no worries.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

My son and I went to a Dodgers game last spring and stayed at a friend's house in Palos Verdes Estates. We went to the Terrenea Resort for brunch on Sunday morning (highly recommended, but VERY pricey) and then drove through the Portuguese Bend. The roadway was collapsing over a half-mile stretch. That part of the Peninsula is always very active with landslides. It's pretty hard to sell a house if the buyer cannot get homeowner's insurance.

The Terrenea Resort...

[Veto!]

I lived there in the eighties too. We lived in Marina City Club, round buildings on the beach. Our apartment had views of the ocean, Malibu, and downtown LA. We could watch smoke from fires in Malibu and also fires east of LA. There were a few every year,

Wish I still lived there, but I’m very happy in Spokane,, close to relatives and my cat has a nice yard.

[dp0622]

ROFL

new meaning to seafront property :)

seafront, seaback, seaside...seatop :)

[RckyRaCoCo]

She looks like Alice the goon from Popeye.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Insurance companies are crazy enough to insure slippy-slidey homes.

[SaveFerris]

Oh no!

William and Mary won’t do

[nwrep]

Is that Gloria Estefan at the back?

[Fireone]

Headline is misleading.
At least, in Florida, million dollar homes aren’t in a proximity to fall into any water.
You have to spend 3.5 and up to get that privilege.
Pretty sure California is similar.

[Fireone]

Pretty sure most policies have a natural disaster clause in them. I wouldn’t wait to see.

[Dr. Sivana]

“That’ll be the day I go back to Annandale.”

Well, Guadalajara won't do. I got to see "Leonid and Friends" perform this live when they came to Phoenix. The Rox Bros. weren't there, but it was still an exceptional performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8aZZ9d_EA

[Qwapisking]

or a really big boat to slide a house on. say...a cottage industry could be building barges for those homes and then just wait. million dollar houseboat anyone? just think, no more land taxes.