Carmel-by-the-Sea Homes for Sale | Alex Brant | Compass

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a one-square-mile coastal village defined by its European-style architecture, artistic roots, and walkable layout. Founded as an artist colony in the early 1900s, it became a creative hub for writers, painters, and performers drawn to the rugged coastline and cultural freedom. Its civic history even includes Clint Eastwood, who served as mayor in the 1980s and helped modernize local regulations while preserving the village’s character.

Carmel’s architectural pedigree is unusually strong for its size. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Clinton Walker House—the “Cabin on the Rocks”—stands on Scenic Road as one of the few oceanfront Wright homes ever constructed. Hugh Comstock shaped the town’s signature fairy-tale cottage aesthetic, while M.J. Murphy, Charles Sumner Greene, and other early master builders contributed handcrafted stone, timber, and shingle designs that still define the village. The result is a cohesive mix of historic cottages, Carmel stone homes, and refined coastal modern architecture.

Homes range from small wooded-lot cottages to premium ocean-view estates near Scenic Road and the Golden Rectangle. Lot sizes remain intentionally modest to preserve walkability and charm, driving value through proximity to Carmel Beach and the village center. Properties within the prime coastal corridors command the highest demand.

The climate is cool and coastal—fog-shrouded mornings, mild afternoons, and steady ocean breezes. Residents enjoy daily beach access, boutique retail, galleries, fine dining, and cultural programming at the Sunset Center. The village’s position between Pebble Beach, Carmel Highlands, and Point Lobos adds to its year-round livability and appeal.

Carmel-by-the-Sea attracts buyers seeking walkability, architectural distinction, and artistic heritage—an intimate coastal enclave where design, culture, and natural beauty align.