Sunset Beach, California, a quaint coastal enclave within Huntington Beach, is a haven of exclusivity and charm along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). With its pristine beaches, iconic water tower house, and a tight-knit community of roughly 641 homes, this 1.5-mile stretch offers a lifestyle that blends serenity with prestige. While South Pacific Avenue hugs the oceanfront and North Pacific Avenue flanks the harbor, Broadway—a lesser-known street running perpendicular to PCH—quietly carves out its own niche in Sunset Beach’s real estate tapestry. As we explore February 2025, this blog post uncovers the allure of Broadway, delving into its unique position, historical resonance, property appeal, and investment potential that make it a captivating draw for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.
Sunset Beach: A Coastal Gem in Context
Sunset Beach’s real estate market is a study in scarcity and value. In February 2025, the median home value hovers at $2.5-$2.7 million, with luxury oceanfront listings reaching $7 million or more (RocketHomes, December 2024 data: $7.18M median list price, $2.19M average). Inventory remains razor-thin—2-5 listings at a time—driving a coastal premium that outpaces Huntington Beach’s $1.28 million median and California’s $909,400 statewide forecast (C.A.R. 2025). Its allure lies in its small size, uncrowded sands, and a demographic of affluent retirees and remote workers (median age 55, income $145,571), seeking a slice of paradise.
Broadway, intersecting PCH and connecting South and North Pacific Avenues, is a short but significant artery in this coastal grid. Stretching from the beachfront to the harbor’s edge, it spans numbered streets (1st to 17th), offering a cross-section of Sunset Beach’s charm. While it lacks the oceanfront frontage of South Pacific or the harbor docks of North Pacific, Broadway’s allure lies in its balance—proximity to both, a quieter ambiance, and a historical heartbeat that resonates through its properties.
Broadway’s Historical Echoes
Broadway’s charm begins with its history, a thread woven into Sunset Beach’s early days. Founded in 1904 as a stop on the Pacific Electric Railway, Sunset Beach was a remote outpost where Broadway served as a practical link between the beach and inland life. By the 1920s, the oil boom brought wealth, and Broadway’s modest homes—often bungalows or cottages—housed workers and dreamers drawn to the coast. The 1930s saw it as a hideout for rum-runners during Prohibition, its unassuming layout shielding secrets. A 1983 flood, flooding PCH to kayak levels, tested its resilience, with Broadway’s homes standing firm.
Today, this legacy lingers in its architecture—mid-century cottages mingle with modern remodels—and its vibe: a quiet, residential retreat steps from Sunset Beach’s action. This historical depth adds an intangible allure, making Broadway a street with stories, not just structures.
Location: The Best of Both Worlds
Broadway’s real estate appeal hinges on its strategic position. Running east-west, it bridges South Pacific Avenue’s oceanfront splendor with North Pacific Avenue’s harbor serenity, placing residents within a 2-5-minute walk of the beach and a stone’s throw from Huntington Harbour’s waterways. Homes here—say, at 10th and Broadway or 15th and Broadway—offer glimpses of the ocean or harbor, often with less PCH noise than South Pacific and more accessibility than North Pacific’s harbor-focused lots.
Linear Park, a 14-acre greenbelt along Sunset Beach’s northern edge, enhances this allure, with walking paths, playgrounds, and a buffer from urban sprawl just blocks away. Broadway’s perpendicular layout means shorter blocks—200-300 feet—fostering a cozy, walkable feel. In 2025, this balance translates to value: not the $5-$7 million oceanfront peaks, but a $1.8-$2.5 million range that captures coastal charm at a slightly lower entry point, broadening its appeal.
Property Spotlight: Broadway’s Hidden Treasures
Broadway’s homes are a mix of vintage charm and modern potential, each with a unique draw:
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- The Classic Cottage (12th & Broadway): Imagine a 2-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot 1950s bungalow, renovated in 2023 with a sunny patio and peekaboo ocean views, listed at $1.9 million ($1,266 per square foot). Its compact charm suits retirees or couples.
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- The Modern Haven (8th & Broadway): A 3-bedroom, 2,200-square-foot 2018 build with open-plan living and a rooftop deck, priced at $2.4 million ($1,090 per square foot). It’s a remote worker’s dream steps from the beach.
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- The Family Retreat (15th & Broadway): A 4-bedroom, 2,800-square-foot remodel with a harbor-view deck, hitting $2.6 million ($928 per square foot). It blends space with proximity to Linear Park.
These properties—smaller and less pricey than South Pacific’s oceanfront estates—offer $900-$1,300 per square foot, below Sunset Beach’s $1,500-$2,100 oceanfront norm. Yet, their allure lies in accessibility and character, with rental potential of $4,000-$6,000 monthly tapping into Sunset Beach’s vacation draw.
Lifestyle Appeal: Quiet Coastal Living
Broadway’s allure isn’t just bricks and mortar—it’s the lifestyle it delivers. Residents enjoy a quieter slice of Sunset Beach, free from PCH’s commercial hum yet close to its cafes (e.g., Mother’s Tavern) and surf shops. A 5-minute walk west lands you on uncrowded sands, while eastbound strolls reveal Huntington Harbour’s sailboats. Linear Park offers green space for picnics or jogs, a perk for families or pet owners.
This tranquility attracts a mix—retirees savoring simplicity, remote professionals blending work with waves, and small families seeking a coastal escape. The street’s intimacy fosters a neighborly vibe, with events like the Sunset Beach Art Festival (Mother’s Day tradition) drawing locals together. Broadway delivers coastal living with a softer edge, a hidden allure that feels personal amid Sunset Beach’s exclusivity.
Investment Potential: Value Meets Growth
For investors, Broadway’s allure lies in its balance of charm and profitability:
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- Rental Yields: $4K-$6K monthly ($48K-$72K annually) on a $2M home yields 2.4-3.6%, solid for a premium market. Vacationers and long-term tenants fuel this, drawn by Sunset Beach’s proximity to Huntington Beach’s pier and surf scene.
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- Appreciation: Sunset Beach’s 67-125% growth since 2015 ($1.2-$1.5M to $2.5-$2.7M) suggests Broadway’s $1.8M-$2.5M range could hit $2.2-$3M by 2030 (18-22%, CoreLogic). Less volatile than oceanfront, it’s a steady climber.
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- Entry Point: Lower than South Pacific’s $2.5-$7M, Broadway offers Sunset Beach prestige at $1.8-$2.6M, widening the buyer pool.
Cash buyers dominate (60-65%), but financed options (6.89% rates, $10,550 monthly on $2M with 20% down) work too. Renovations—$100K-$150K—can lift a $1.8M fixer to $2.3M, leveraging the $900-$1,300 per square foot norm.
Market Dynamics in 2025
Broadway benefits from Sunset Beach’s 2025 trends. Inventory shortages (2-5 listings) keep demand high, with DOM at 100-150 days reflecting a slow, seller-driven pace. Cash sales insulate it from rate drops (6.5% projected), while California’s economic strength—unemployment below 5%, GDP growth 2.5-3%—sustains Orange County wealth. A 4-6% appreciation forecast outpaces the state’s 4.6%, promising steady gains.
Environmental risks—43% flood risk, 99% wildfire exposure—raise insurance ($5K-$10K annually) and maintenance ($10K-$20K), but Broadway’s inland tilt softens oceanfront exposure. Resilience shines: a 5-10% dip in 2022-2023 vs. California’s 9% shows its stability.
Broadway vs. Pacific Avenues: A Unique Niche
Compared to South Pacific’s oceanfront splendor ($2.5-$7M) or North Pacific’s harbor charm ($2-$3M), Broadway offers a middle ground. It lacks direct water frontage but compensates with proximity, lower noise, and a $1.8-$2.6M range—Sunset Beach prestige at a more accessible price. Its perpendicular path ties the community together, a subtle allure that South and North Pacific can’t replicate.
The 2025 Allure: Why Broadway Beckons
In February 2025, Broadway’s appeal shines:
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- Buyers: $1.8M-$2.6M secures a 2-4 bedroom retreat, steps from beach and harbor.
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- Sellers: List at $900-$1,300 per square foot; 100-150 days yields premium offers.
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- Investors: $4K-$6K monthly rentals, 4-6% growth to $2.2-$3M by 2030—a charming profit play.
Broadway isn’t the flashiest street in Sunset Beach—it’s the quiet connector, blending history, location, and value into an irresistible allure. For those seeking coastal charm without the oceanfront price tag, or investment potential with a personal touch, Broadway delivers. It’s Sunset Beach’s understated star—where the coast’s magic meets market smarts.
