The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 93920 sells for about $1,464,000, or $1,150 per square foot.
Prices are down 1.2% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 85 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $4,200 a month.
ZIP 93920 — Big Sur
The Big Sur housing market remains a high-barrier, low-volume environment characterized by extreme price points and limited inventory. Market activity is constrained by environmental regulations and high insurance costs, resulting in a stable but stagnant price trajectory. Demand remains focused on luxury buyers, while the rental market is severely supply-constrained.
This ZIP is best suited for affluent buyers seeking privacy, nature, and luxury estates, or those working in the local tourism and conservation sectors.
Median prices moved down 1.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 85 days on market with 14.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.2% · poverty 6.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 93920, Monterey County CA
Crime rates in the Big Sur area are significantly lower than the California and national averages, primarily due to its remote, low-density geography. Law enforcement is primarily handled by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
Public schools serving the area are part of the Carmel Unified School District, which is highly rated and serves a small, dispersed student population.
The area faces extreme wildfire risk and significant challenges regarding insurance availability and affordability. Coastal erosion and landslide risks are also prevalent along the Highway 1 corridor.
Economic momentum is driven by high-end tourism and hospitality, with limited residential development due to strict land-use regulations and environmental protections. Infrastructure is heavily focused on maintaining the Highway 1 transit corridor.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (California) — Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act Special Parcel Tax Assessment: Levies an annual direct, non-ad valorem special tax directly on the parcel's secured property tax bill to fund designated community infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewer facilities, school facilities, emergency services) and repay municipal debt bonds. State (California) — California Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption: Reduces the taxable assessed value of the qualifying owner-occupied principal residence by $7,000 against the county assessment roll, generating a direct tax savings of approximately $70 annually (computed as $7,000 × 1% base rate). State (California) — California Proposition 13 Ad Valorem Real Property Tax: Establishes a base ad valorem tax rate capped at 1.0% of assessed value plus voter-approved local indebtedness and direct assessments (typically resulting in an effective tax rate of 1.1% to 1.25%).
Commuting is highly challenging, often requiring long drives along the winding Highway 1 to reach employment centers in Carmel or Monterey.
The area is world-renowned for outdoor recreation, including Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and numerous coastal hiking trails and scenic viewpoints.
The rental market is characterized by very low inventory and high demand for seasonal or long-term housing for service workers, with significant pressure from short-term rental usage.
The economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism, hospitality, and land conservation management.
Transportation is limited to the Highway 1 corridor, which is prone to closures due to environmental events.
Development is strictly controlled by the California Coastal Commission, limiting new construction to minor renovations or replacement builds.
The Monterey County Assessor manages property valuations in accordance with state-mandated assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to various fire protection districts and the Carmel Unified School District.
The area is in a high-risk zone for wildfires, leading to significant challenges in obtaining standard homeowners insurance.
California is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state, with a standard notice of default and trustee sale process.
California requires comprehensive seller disclosures regarding property condition, natural hazards, and environmental risks.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Big Creek Bridge4.85 mi
- Limekiln State Park4.72.8 mi
- McWay Falls View Point4.711.6 mi
- McWay Cove4.711.5 mi
- Willow Creek Picnic Area and Beach4.711.3 mi
- Mission San Antonio de Padua4.815 mi
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park4.712 mi
- Limekiln State Park4.72.8 mi
- McWay Waterfall Trailhead4.311.4 mi
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point4.812.5 mi
- McWay Cove4.711.5 mi
- Sand Dollar Beach4.79.2 mi
- Sand Dollar Beach4.79.2 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Famous for redwood groves and hiking trails.
Home to the iconic McWay Falls.
One of the most photographed bridges in California.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.