Southern California is known for its sunny days, sandy beaches, cultural offerings, and luxurious lifestyle. But discovering the unique personalities of each SoCal area can help you find the right neighborhood for your family. In this blog, we’ll highlight the amenities and lifestyle benefits of some of SoCal’s most upscale areas and look at how TJH is unlocking access to the coolest neighborhoods.
Westside LA
Westside LA is the land of luxury and sophistication. Lauded restaurants, upscale shopping, world-class art museums, and some of the most envied zip codes in North America—they’re all here. Well-known locations include the Rodeo Drive shopping district, the Venice Beach Boardwalk, and Santa Monica Boulevard. Westside LA is a great location for couples who want to be the first to try LA’s latest restaurant or love meeting friends for afternoon tea at the Getty. But it’s also home to some of LA’s most family-friendly neighborhoods, with quiet, tree-lined residential streets and top schools.
If this sounds like the lifestyle for you, we’ll help you build your dream home in Westside LA. We build in many of the most desirable neighborhoods, including Bel Air, Beverly Grove, Beverly Hills, Beverlywood, Brentwood, Castle Heights, Cheviot Hills, Culver City, Culver West, Del Rey, Little Holmby, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Rancho Park, Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, and Westwood.
South Bay
If you want to live near fun in the sun and other sporting events, the South Bay has what you’re looking for. Manhattan Beach inspired “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” and the Redondo Beach Pier is a great place to grab a bite before paddleboarding on King Harbor. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail offers 22 miles of paved biking for those looking for land-based activities. The South Bay is also home to SoFi Stadium, the LA Galaxy, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Orange County
Newport Beach and the other upscale neighborhoods of Orange County are where sophistication meets water recreation. A defining feature of Newport Beach is its harbor, which is one of the largest and finest pleasure-boat harbors in the world. For families who want to spend time sailing, going to the beach, or riding a Duffy, this is the SoCal neighborhood for you. And if you plan to stay ashore, Newport Beach offers shopping at Fashion Island, birding at the Back Bay ecological reserve, and plenty of sunshine at its 69 parks. Other Orange County attractions include the 1,850 foot-long Huntington Beach Pier, several excellent golf courses including the Pelican Hill Golf Club, fishing off the Balboa Pier, and Disneyland in Anaheim.
Living in Orange County is for you if your family loves to get out on the water, shop for the latest fashions, and spend time in nature. In Orange County, TJH builds in Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, Costa Mesa, East Bluff, Huntington Beach, Newport Heights, and the Port Streets.
If your family dreams of an active lifestyle filled with watersports and professional sporting events, there’s no better place than the South Bay. TJH builds in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Westchester neighborhoods.
San Fernando Valley
The best neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley are full of charm, with quiet streets that feel a world away from the hustle of downtown LA. At the same time, the area is centrally located near downtown, Malibu, Topanga State Park, and the attractions of Westside LA. Some favorite spots in the area include Lake Balboa Park, the Chatsworth Nature Preserve, and the boutiques and cafes along Ventura Boulevard.
Families looking for a relaxing, suburban/urban place to call home with easy access to the best Southern California has to offer should consider the San Fernando Valley. We build in Encino, North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Valley Village.
Central LA
Central LA is a great place to live for families who enjoy LA’s iconic attractions. Nearby attractions include the Griffith Observatory, Barnsdall Art Park, the Hollywood Bowl, Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios, the Los Angeles Zoo, and, of course, the Hollywood sign. These neighborhoods are conveniently located for those who work downtown and want a shorter commute. Neighborhoods like Los Feliz are charming, family-friendly enclaves that are surprisingly peaceful given their proximity to some of LA’s most exciting attractions.
Central LA may be just right for those who want to enjoy world-class family entertainment on the weekends and more time at home on the weeknights. We build new homes in Fairfax, Los Feliz, Mid City, Mid Wilshire, and Silverlake neighborhoods.
Love one of these neighborhoods, but don’t have land? BUILD+ is your way in.
Getting your foot in the door is the biggest hurdle for those looking to build in these neighborhoods, which are in high demand and have few available homes. This is especially true if you’re looking for a new construction home and a lot to build on.Fortunately, BUILD by TJH provides land-sourcing services through BUILD+. Let us know what SoCal neighborhood you dream of living in, and we’ll work to find you an off-market property or lot for sale on which to build your TJH home. Our acquisitions team members are experts at finding properties that aren’t available on the market.
And if you’re fortunate enough to already live in your dream Southern California neighborhood, BUILD by TJH gives you the space and amenities your family needs without leaving the address you love. We’ll tear down your existing home and build a new one through our end-to-end homebuilding process.
At TJH, we design homes perfect for the SoCal lifestyle, whether you’re eyeing Westside LA, the South Bay, Orange County, the San Fernando Valley, or Central LA. Our curated home plans feature open-concept layouts, ample natural light, versatile flex spaces, region-specific landscaping, and indoor/outdoor spaces for embracing Southern California’s beautiful weather. Start the journey of building your new home in your dream SoCal neighborhood with our complimentary BUILD Analysis.
“Embarking on a homebuilding journey was really uncharted territory for us…. I was really excited that I could personalize certain aspects of the home. The entire homebuilding process was simple and Thomas James Homes completed our home on schedule and within budget. We are very grateful and proud to say that this is our home.”
Maureen, TJH homeowner, Southern California
