Numbers tell a story that anecdotes can’t. And the story Long Beach’s condo appreciation data tells over the past decade is one that more buyers are starting to pay attention to.
Long Beach condos have appreciated meaningfully across every major market cycle since 2015, through the pre-pandemic growth years, through the extraordinary 2020-2022 surge, and through the interest-rate-driven correction and recovery that followed. At every point in that cycle, Long Beach has offered something rare on the California coast: real appreciation potential at a price point that remains accessible relative to comparable beach cities in the region.
This page presents the data behind that story, historical pricing trends, year-over-year appreciation rates, neighborhood-level comparisons, and context that helps buyers and sellers understand what the Long Beach condo market has done and where the fundamentals point. At LovelyLongBeachCondos.com, we believe in transparency about the market, because informed buyers make better decisions, and better decisions build better outcomes for everyone.
10-Year Long Beach Condo Median Price History (2015-2024)
The table below tracks the estimated median condo sale price in Long Beach on an annual basis, drawing from MLS transaction data, PropertyShark, Redfin, and CRMLS public records.
| Year | Est. Median Condo Price | Price / Sq Ft | YoY Change | Market Phase |
| 2015 | $335,000 | $360 | N/A | Recovery |
| 2016 | $358,000 | $385 | +6.9% | Growth |
| 2017 | $385,000 | $412 | +7.5% | Growth |
| 2018 | $408,000 | $435 | +6.0% | Growth |
| 2019 | $425,000 | $452 | +4.2% | Plateau |
| 2020 | $448,000 | $468 | +5.4% | Pandemic Onset |
| 2021 | $510,000 | $535 | +13.8% | Peak Growth |
| 2022 | $540,000 | $565 | +5.9% | Rate Correction |
| 2023 | $530,000 | $555 | -1.9% | Adjustment |
| 2024 | $558,000 | $580 | +5.3% | Recovery |
Sources: CRMLS, Redfin, PropertyShark, MLS transaction data.
Reading the Decade: Four Distinct Market Phases
A decade of data doesn’t move in a straight line, and Long Beach’s condo market is no exception. Understanding the four phases that shaped the 2015-2024 appreciation story gives buyers the context they need to interpret where the market is today.
Phase 1: The Post-Recession Recovery (2015-2018)
Long Beach condos entered 2015 having largely recovered from the 2008 financial crisis but still meaningfully below the city’s pre-crash pricing levels. The 2015-2018 period was defined by steady, consistent appreciation, roughly 6-8% annually, driven by a combination of low interest rates, improving downtown infrastructure, and growing recognition of Long Beach as a genuine coastal alternative to pricier LA beach communities.
This was the era that rewarded early buyers most generously. A $335,000 condo purchased in 2015 was worth approximately $408,000 by 2018, a 21.8% gain in three years before the market even entered its most explosive phase.
Phase 2: The Pre-Pandemic Plateau (2019)
Growth slowed meaningfully in 2019 as the broader California housing market absorbed the impact of rising mortgage rates in late 2018. Long Beach condo prices still appreciated, roughly 4%, but the rapid pace of Phase 1 gave way to a more balanced market. Buyers had more time to make decisions, inventory ticked up slightly, and the market showed the kind of healthy consolidation that tends to precede the next growth cycle.
Phase 3: The Pandemic Surge (2020-2022)
The story of 2020-2022 in Long Beach mirrors the national experience, but with the amplification that comes with coastal California. Remote work, historically low interest rates, and a sudden reassessment of what buyers wanted from a home collided to produce the most rapid appreciation cycle in the city’s recent history.
Long Beach condo prices accelerated sharply through 2020 and hit peak growth in 2021, with year-over-year appreciation estimated at nearly 14%. The waterfront buildings benefited most, West Ocean, Aqua Towers, and Villa Riviera all saw meaningful price increases as buyers who had previously priced themselves out of beachfront living suddenly found the combination of remote flexibility and low rates made it possible. By early 2022, multiple-offer situations and waived contingencies were common even in established high-rise buildings.
Phase 4: The Rate Correction and Recovery (2023-2024)
The Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hiking cycle beginning in 2022 brought the surge to an abrupt halt. By late 2022 and into 2023, the Long Beach condo market experienced its first meaningful price softening in years, with median prices down slightly from peak, transaction volumes declining, and days on market extending. For buyers who had been priced out during 2021, the correction created genuine opportunities in buildings that had previously been inaccessible.
The recovery through 2024 was measured but real. As buyers adapted to the higher rate environment and inventory remained constrained, prices stabilized and began recovering. By year-end 2024, the Long Beach condo market had largely recaptured its 2022 peak levels, setting the stage for the next growth phase.
Cumulative Appreciation by Holding Period
One of the most useful ways to evaluate any real estate market is to look at what buyers who purchased in different years have experienced over various holding periods. The table below shows estimated cumulative condo appreciation for key purchase years.
| Purchase Year | Purchase Price (Est.) | Value at 3 Yrs | Value at 5 Yrs | Value at 2024 | Cumulative Gain |
| 2015 | $335,000 | $408,000 | $425,000 | $558,000 | +66.6% |
| 2017 | $385,000 | $448,000 | $510,000 | $558,000 | +44.9% |
| 2019 | $425,000 | $510,000 | $540,000 | $558,000 | +31.3% |
| 2020 | $448,000 | $540,000 | $558,000 | $558,000 | +24.6% |
| 2021 | $510,000 | $530,000 | N/A | $558,000 | +9.4% |
| 2022 | $540,000 | N/A | N/A | $558,000 | +3.3% |
Estimated appreciation based on median condo price trend data. Individual results vary significantly by building, floor, unit size, and condition. Source: CRMLS trend analysis, LovelyLongBeachCondos.com research.
A few things stand out from this table. First, the 2015 buyer has been the biggest winner, a 66%+ cumulative gain over nine years, or roughly 7% annualized, which compares very favorably to many other asset classes over the same period. Second, even buyers who purchased at or near the 2021 peak have seen positive appreciation by 2024, the Long Beach condo market didn’t erase pandemic-era gains the way some overheated inland markets did. Third, the 2022-2023 entry point looks attractive in retrospect, buyers who navigated the rate correction environment and purchased in that window are already in positive territory.
Long Beach vs. Comparable SoCal Coastal Markets: Appreciation and Value
Context is everything in real estate. Long Beach’s appreciation numbers only tell half the story, the other half is what you get for the price you pay compared to alternative markets. The table below compares approximate median condo prices and estimated 5-year appreciation across selected Southern California coastal markets.
| City / Area | 2024 Med. Condo Price | 5-Yr Appreciation (Est.) | Price / Sq Ft (Est.) | Beach Access |
| Long Beach | $558,000 | +31.3% | $580 | Yes, direct |
| Signal Hill (adj.) | $480,000 | +22.0% | $490 | Near LB |
| Redondo Beach | $750,000 | +28.5% | $680 | Yes |
| Huntington Beach | $820,000 | +32.0% | $700 | Yes |
| Santa Monica | $1,150,000 | +18.0% | $950 | Yes |
| Manhattan Beach | $1,400,000 | +24.0% | $1,100 | Yes |
| Newport Beach | $1,600,000 | +22.0% | $1,050 | Yes |
Comparative figures are estimated medians based on Redfin, Zillow, and PropertyShark market data for condo/attached units. Exact figures vary by micro-neighborhood and unit type.
The takeaway from this comparison is compelling for Long Beach buyers and investors. Long Beach’s 5-year appreciation, estimated at roughly 31%, is competitive with or exceeds several of the markets that command significantly higher price points. Santa Monica, for example, has seen lower 5-year appreciation despite median condo prices more than double those of Long Beach. You’re paying a substantial zip-code premium in those markets for a lifestyle and price appreciation story that Long Beach matches or beats.
This is the core of the investment case for Long Beach condos: you’re capturing coastal appreciation at a significant discount to the established premium markets, and the gap between Long Beach prices and those markets has been narrowing steadily, which means the relative value opportunity becomes more compressed every year you wait.
Appreciation Trends by Long Beach Condo Neighborhood
Long Beach is not one market, it’s a collection of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own appreciation trajectory. The table below summarizes estimated 5-year appreciation and median price by the city’s major condo neighborhoods, ranked by appreciation rate.
| Neighborhood | 2019 Med. Condo (Est.) | 2024 Med. Condo (Est.) | 5-Yr Appreciation | Key Driver |
| Alamitos Beach | $480,000 | $655,000 | +36.5% | Oceanfront scarcity |
| Bluff Park | $450,000 | $610,000 | +35.6% | Ocean views, limited supply |
| Downtown / Waterfront | $440,000 | $590,000 | +34.1% | High-rise demand, revitalization |
| Belmont Shore | $510,000 | $680,000 | +33.3% | Lifestyle premium, walkability |
| East Village Arts District | $360,000 | $470,000 | +30.6% | Revitalization momentum |
| Signal Hill | $370,000 | $470,000 | +27.0% | Views + value play |
| Bixby Knolls | $330,000 | $415,000 | +25.8% | Community character |
| Wrigley Area | $290,000 | $355,000 | +22.4% | Affordability, emerging |
Estimated neighborhood medians based on CRMLS zip code and neighborhood-level transaction data, Redfin neighborhood pages, and LovelyLongBeachCondos.com MLS analysis. Individual building performance varies significantly.
A few neighborhood stories worth highlighting:
Alamitos Beach and Bluff Park have led the city in appreciation, driven by the fundamental scarcity of ocean-facing condo inventory. There are only so many buildings directly on or above the sand, and when demand rises, limited supply amplifies price appreciation. Buildings like Villa Riviera and The Pacific have benefited from exactly this dynamic.
Downtown Long Beach has seen strong appreciation driven by the combination of high-rise demand, the continued revitalization of the waterfront corridor, and the influx of remote workers who discovered that West Ocean and Aqua Towers offered a lifestyle that LA neighborhoods at twice the price couldn’t match.
East Village Arts District represents the market’s most interesting momentum story. Appreciation has been meaningful from a lower base, and the neighborhood’s continued cultural investment suggests the gap between its pricing and Belmont Shore’s is likely to compress further over the next market cycle.
Wrigley and Bixby Knolls have appreciated more modestly in percentage terms, but their lower base prices mean the dollar value of that appreciation still represents strong returns for buyers who purchased early. These neighborhoods also remain the most accessible entry points into Long Beach condo ownership.
Building-Level Appreciation Snapshots: Long Beach’s Key Condo Towers
The most granular level of appreciation analysis in Long Beach’s condo market is at the individual building level, and this is where the data gets most useful for buyers evaluating specific purchase decisions. The table below provides estimated appreciation ranges for Long Beach’s major condo buildings based on available resale transaction data.
| Building | Type | Est. 5-Yr Appreciation | Typical Condo Range (2024) | Key Appreciation Driver |
| Villa Riviera | Historic high-rise | +38-45% | $700K-$1.5M+ | Landmark scarcity, oceanfront |
| West Ocean (Tower 1) | Modern high-rise | +32-38% | $750K-$2M+ | Harbor views, amenities |
| Galaxy Towers | Mid-century high-rise | +33-40% | $750K-$1.2M | Privacy, ocean views |
| West Ocean (Tower 2) | Modern high-rise | +30-36% | $600K-$1.3M | Harbor views, walkability |
| International Tower | Mid-century high-rise | +28-35% | $500K-$900K | Corridor location |
| HarborPlace Tower | Modern high-rise | +27-33% | $480K-$850K | Space + value vs peers |
| Aqua Towers | Modern high-rise | +26-32% | $450K-$800K | Downtown energy |
| The Pacific | Mid-rise | +30-36% | $480K-$750K | Beachfront access |
| Temple Lofts | Historic loft | +25-32% | $380K-$650K | Loft rarity downtown |
| City Place Lofts | Loft | +22-28% | $330K-$550K | Walkability, affordability |
Estimated appreciation ranges based on building-level resale transaction analysis, CRMLS data, and LovelyLongBeachCondos.com market research. Ranges reflect variation across floors, orientations, and unit conditions. Not a guarantee of future performance.
Villa Riviera’s position at the top of the building-level appreciation table reflects the core dynamic of scarce, irreplaceable inventory. There will never be another National Historic Landmark built directly on the Long Beach oceanfront, and that permanent scarcity creates a pricing floor that other buildings simply don’t have. Galaxy Towers’ strong performance reflects a similar dynamic: four units per floor, no shared walls, 20 stories of ocean views in Bluff Park, a configuration that can’t be replicated in any new construction project.
Price Per Square Foot Trends: The Most Reliable Appreciation Metric
Median price comparisons can be influenced by changes in the mix of units sold in a given year, if more large units sell, the median rises even if per-unit prices are flat. Price per square foot is a more reliable normalized metric for tracking true appreciation in condo markets. The table below tracks estimated price per square foot for Long Beach condos from 2015 to 2024.
| Year | LB Condo $/Sq Ft | YoY Change | LA County $/Sq Ft (Est.) | LB Discount to LA Co. | Notable Context |
| 2015 | $360 | N/A | $475 | ~24% | Low-rate recovery phase |
| 2016 | $385 | +6.9% | $505 | ~24% | Sustained growth |
| 2017 | $412 | +7.0% | $535 | ~23% | Supply tightening |
| 2018 | $435 | +5.6% | $558 | ~22% | Rate rise slows market |
| 2019 | $452 | +3.9% | $570 | ~21% | Market pause |
| 2020 | $468 | +3.5% | $585 | ~20% | Pandemic onset, rate drop |
| 2021 | $535 | +14.3% | $660 | ~19% | Record appreciation |
| 2022 | $565 | +5.6% | $685 | ~18% | Peak then rate shock |
| 2023 | $555 | -1.8% | $660 | ~16% | Adjustment year |
| 2024 | $580 | +4.5% | $680 | ~15% | Recovery underway |
Verified data points from Redfin, PropertyShark, and CRMLS. LA County figures are broad metro estimates. The LB discount column reflects Long Beach’s persistent price advantage relative to the broader county, a gap that has narrowed from approximately 24% in 2015 to approximately 15% in 2024, representing significant catch-up appreciation for early Long Beach buyers.
The discount compression story embedded in this table is the most important long-term signal for Long Beach condo buyers. In 2015, Long Beach condos sold at roughly a 24% discount to the LA County median price per square foot. By 2024, that discount had compressed to approximately 15%. That 9-percentage-point compression represents enormous value transfer to Long Beach owners, and the trajectory suggests further compression as Long Beach’s reputation and infrastructure continue to improve.
What Has Driven, and Will Continue to Drive, Long Beach Condo Appreciation
Understanding the structural factors behind Long Beach’s appreciation trend is more valuable than any single data point, because those factors tell you whether the trend is likely to continue. Here’s what the fundamentals look like:
Supply scarcity at the waterfront. The number of oceanfront, harbor-front, and bluff-top condo units in Long Beach is fixed. The buildings that exist on Ocean Boulevard today are essentially all that will ever exist in those positions, the California Coastal Commission and local zoning make new high-rise development along the oceanfront extremely unlikely. Fixed supply plus growing demand equals structural appreciation pressure.
The revitalization narrative has legs. Downtown Long Beach’s transformation over the past decade, the tech and creative economy, the waterfront activation, the restaurant scene, the arts district, is not complete. Investment continues to flow into the city, and each improvement to the urban infrastructure makes the condo market more desirable and supports values across all neighborhoods.
The value gap with peer markets is closing. As documented in the price-per-square-foot table above, Long Beach has been closing the discount to LA County medians for nearly a decade. The story of Long Beach condo appreciation is, in part, a story of a market being recognized and re-priced toward its true relative value. That process hasn’t finished.
Remote work as a permanent structural shift. The 2020-2022 surge introduced a new buyer demographic to Long Beach: remote workers who discovered that the city offered a coastal lifestyle that competing markets priced them out of. That demographic doesn’t disappear when the surge ends, many of those buyers stayed, and the ongoing normalization of remote and hybrid work continues to make Long Beach’s lifestyle calculus compelling.
Limited new condo construction. Unlike multifamily rental housing, new for-sale condo construction in Long Beach has been minimal. Shoreline Gateway, the city’s tallest new tower, is an apartment rental building, not for-sale condos. This means the existing for-sale inventory is not being materially diluted by new supply, which supports values in established buildings.
Explore More: Related Pages on LovelyLongBeachCondos.com
- Long Beach Condos for Sale: Complete Guide: The master overview of the Long Beach condo market
- Are Long Beach Condos a Good Investment?: The qualitative case for buying in Long Beach, paired with this data page
- Long Beach Condo Market Report: Current-quarter pricing, inventory, and velocity data
- Average Condo Prices in Long Beach: Current pricing by neighborhood and building type
- Long Beach Condo Rental Market: Rental yield data to complement appreciation trends for investor buyers
- Luxury Condos in Long Beach CA: The premium segment where appreciation has been strongest
- Waterfront Condos in Long Beach: The waterfront buildings that have led appreciation in the market
- Long Beach High Rise Condos: The tower buildings that appear most prominently in the appreciation data
- Villa Riviera Condos: The top-appreciating building in Long Beach’s high-rise market
- West Ocean Condos: Long Beach’s premier modern luxury tower and a strong appreciator
- Complete Guide to Buying a Condo in Long Beach: The process guide every buyer should read before entering the market
- Condo Financing in Long Beach: How financing strategy intersects with appreciation and investment returns
Frequently Asked Questions: Long Beach Condo Appreciation
How much have Long Beach condos appreciated over the past 10 years?
Based on median transaction data, Long Beach condos have appreciated approximately 65-70% in aggregate from 2015 to 2024, from an estimated median of around $335,000 to approximately $558,000. On an annualized basis, that works out to roughly 5.5-6.5% per year over the decade, which compares very favorably to long-term stock market returns when you factor in the leverage typically involved in real estate purchases.
Which Long Beach neighborhoods have appreciated the most?
Alamitos Beach and Bluff Park have led the city in condo appreciation, driven by oceanfront scarcity. Downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore have also seen strong appreciation. The East Village Arts District is the most interesting momentum story in the city right now, appreciation from a lower base, with structural revitalization drivers that suggest continued outperformance. See our neighborhood breakdown table above for the full comparison.
Did Long Beach condo prices fall during the 2022-2023 rate correction?
Yes, modestly. The Long Beach condo market experienced a slight correction in median pricing through 2023 as higher interest rates reduced buyer purchasing power and transaction volumes declined. However, the correction was materially less severe than what inland California markets experienced, Long Beach’s coastal scarcity and lifestyle fundamentals provided a meaningful cushion. By 2024, the market had largely recovered to and exceeded 2022 levels.
Is it too late to buy for appreciation in Long Beach?
The honest answer, and one we try to give every buyer we work with, is that no one can time a market perfectly. What the data shows is that Long Beach’s structural appreciation drivers (supply scarcity, revitalization momentum, closing value gap with peer markets) remain intact. The buyers who say in ten years they wish they had bought in 2025 will be saying the same thing buyers in 2015 say about not buying earlier. That said, entry point matters, which is why understanding which buildings and neighborhoods offer the strongest fundamentals is so important.
How do Long Beach condo appreciation rates compare to other SoCal beach cities?
Long Beach’s 5-year condo appreciation is competitive with or exceeds several higher-priced coastal markets, including Santa Monica, which has seen more modest appreciation despite median prices roughly double those of Long Beach. The value proposition is not just about lower entry prices; it’s about comparable or better appreciation from that lower starting point. See our comparative market table above for the full picture.
Where can I get current Long Beach condo pricing and market data?
Our Long Beach Condo Market Report is updated regularly with current pricing, inventory levels, days on market, and market velocity data. For building-specific data on any address you’re considering, reach out directly, we pull fresh MLS data for every buyer conversation we have.
Ready to Put Long Beach’s Appreciation Story to Work for You?
Data is a starting point, not a destination. What the appreciation tables on this page show is the market trend. What they can’t show is which specific unit in which specific building on which specific floor represents the real opportunity for your situation, your budget, your timeline, your lifestyle priorities, and your investment goals.
That’s where we come in. At LovelyLongBeachCondos.com, we combine the data with the hyperlocal expertise that only comes from years of working in every building and neighborhood in this market. We’ll tell you which buildings have the healthiest HOA reserves, which floors have historically resold fastest, and where the appreciation story is likely to play out most favorably over your holding period.
Browse current Long Beach condos for sale, explore our building guides, and reach out when you’re ready to put this data to work. The market is still delivering, and the right entry point is closer than you might think.