Chad Rogers On Malibu: Real Estate Market Madness Makes For Hot Summer

Malibu's housing and rental markets are expected to continue operating at the same frenetic pace that started during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic (HILTON & HYLAND).

Malibu’s market madness from a year ago has continued at the same frenetic pace, setting the stage for a hot summer market that shows no signs of cooling down. Among the hottest spots in town? Malibu Colony, an exclusive guard-gated community of about 76 beach-side homes where there’s a chance your neighbor is an A-list celebrity or a member of the Wall Street elite.

Hilton & Hyland’s Chad Rogers, arguably one of Malibu’s top real estate agents, grew up in Malibu Colony. In his 20 years of selling Malibu, he has never seen a market like this. “The activity is insane. I feel like I’ve been riding a real estate tidal wave. Buyers are chomping at the bit for listings to make offers on,” Rogers explains. Sounds like the perfect wave.

23634 Malibu Colony Rd #50 beach decking luxury home on the oceanfront

Steps lead up to the decking of La Luce della Luna, a $25-million luxury home in Malibu Colony (HILTON & HYLAND).

Since the pandemic began, Malibu properties (specifically Malibu Beach real estate) south of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) have seen prices reach $30 million-plus and sales activity increase ten-fold. Multiple Listing Service data shows current year-over-year activity with 101 sales along the coast. That is an increase of 153% from last June.

french doors opening to dining patio in malibu 23634 Malibu Colony Rd #50

French doors flow onto an open-air courtyard at the La Luce della Luna residence in Malibu Colon (HILTON & HYLAND).

Here’s what $25 million or more will buy you in Malibu Colony today. This Italian-vibe beachfront villa, called La Luce della Luna (or The Light of the Moon), is listed at $25 million. It’s a 3,566-square-foot home complete with an ocean-view rooftop, an outdoor fireplace and unending coastal views.

entrance to La Luce della Luna malibu luxury home in malibu colony

Light hardwoods and tilework create a relaxed experience inside the four-bedroom, seven-bathroom La Luce della Luna residence (HILTON & HYLAND).

Measuring more than 3,500 square feet is a midcentury ocean-side estate priced at $25 million. The property and its roughly 55 feet of prized beach frontage recently went under contract, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

malibu beach at la luce della luna

Buyers are paying a premium for direct access to Malibu’s beaches (HILTON & HYLAND).

With clients already on a waiting list to buy in Malibu Colony, it looks to be a very busy summer for Rogers. For those looking for summer rentals in the Colony, expect to pay (if you can find one) upwards of $300,000 for the months of July or August. Malibu’s rental season extended into Fall and beyond last year. “I saw high-net-worth renters who didn’t want to leave [Malibu Colony] become buyers,” Rogers said.

living room inside midcentury estate 23334 Malibu Colony Road

The midcentury compound at 23334 Malibu Colony Road hit the market in December for $25 million and is currently under contract (HILTON & HYLAND).

Rogers currently has all the beach-side listings in Malibu Colony. “I am the MLS of Malibu Colony,” he laughs.  One look at Rogers’ sales since March 2020 confirms this. All seven properties listed, sold or registered as active contract, the latter meaning there is a sale pending, were either listed or sold by the luxury real estate specialist. On two of the properties, he represented both buyer and seller.

oceanfront decking and living room at 23334 Malibu Colony Rd Malibu, CA, USA

Buyers shopping in Malibu’s most coveted markets include owners of multiple trophy homes who want property near the beach or Westside owners looking to downsize, Rogers says (HILTON & HYLAND).

Who are those buyers shelling out cash for eight-figure Malibu properties these days? “There are families with multi-trophy homes who want a place in Malibu. I also see buyers who are downsizing from big homes in Beverly Hills and want the peace and quiet of Malibu,” Rogers observes.

beach decking at 23634 Malibu Colony Rd

From picturesque views to great local shops and eateries, Malibu has a lot to offer (HILTON & HYLAND).

Living your best life in Malibu is a thing buyers will happily pay multi-millions to obtain. From dodging paparazzi while you grab your morning brew at Malibu Village on Cross Creek Road to a low-calorie dessert at Malibu Yogurt, Malibu is just different. Celebrities in sweats, no make-up, and flip flops or UGGs (depending on the season) blend in with the city’s 12,000-plus residents. It’s the beach minus the glitz of the Hamptons. Of course, there is Nobu Malibu on PCH with its share of sushi eating patrons from George and Amal Clooney to Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Malibu is Malibu, and can’t be replicated—the ZIP code of 90265 will always be in demand.

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Author

I have covered the business of real estate (both residential and commercial) for over 25 years, including more than a dozen years working in the Forbes Los Angeles bureau reporting and writing about as I call it, Adventures in Real Estate. From the first tear-downs turning into mega-mansions in Beverly Hills to luxury condos as investments in Las Vegas, I follow the ups and downs of real estate markets around the country just for the fun of it.

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