Cardiff by the Sea Real Estate
Cardiff real estate, Cardiff homes & Cardiff condo's like other coastal communities, run the gamut from older more moderately priced single-family dwellings to multi-million dollar custom estates, all in a diverse range of styles and sizes. A limited number of luxury townhomes (Mozart Creek, Orinda Village & Cardiff Park) and condominium units (Cardiff Cove & Park Place) range in price from $350,000 to over $1 million. Single-family homes (Poinsettia Heights, Ocean Crest Estates, Playa Riviera, Edgewater Terrace, Sea Village, Sandy Point, Seaside, Cardiff Glen) start in the mid-$600,000s and have recently reached over $2 million for custom homes with panoramic ocean views. West of Interstate 5, many of the single-family homes dot the hillsides affording them exquisite views, with several new custom homes built in small pockets of land. In the exclusive "composer district," large custom homes on streets with names such as Brahms, Liszt and Chopin feature ocean views and private canyons. With a total of approximately 4,700 homes and little vacant land available, less than a dozen new homes are built in Cardiff each year and many are  undergoing major remodels. A good reason why Cardiff homes are so desirable and costly, but well worth it.

Cardiff by the Sea General Facts
Along the coastline of North San Diego County lies cozy Cardiff-by-the-Sea, in the Southern portion of the city of Encinitas. Once a quiet farming community founded in 1911, these three and a half square miles of peaceful coastal village extend along Birmingham Avenue East of Interstate 5 to Crest Avenue. On the South, it’s separated from Solana Beach by the San Elijo Lagoon, a natural preserve, home to various birds and wildlife. With its own zip code, post office, library and elementary school system, Cardiff-by-the-Sea has carved out its own identity. The moderate climate and world-class surf draw professional and amateur surfers from Southern California and other areas. The community features fine dining at Restaurant Row, narrow beaches with impressive tide pools and a beachfront campground all affording spectacular Pacific Ocean views and sunsets.

Cardiff by the Sea History
1875 saw the beginnings of Cardiff-by-the-Sea when the Mackinnon family from Cleveland, Ohio headed West and homesteaded on the north shore of the San Elijo Lagoon. A room in the Mackinnon barn became a school, and in 1881 the first teacher arrived. In 1910, a Boston painter named J. Frank Cullen relocated in San Diego and later set aside his brushes to become a developer. He bought a large tract of land in the San Elijo area, had it surveyed and established streets and lots. Historical accounts claim Cullen chose a Spanish name for his town because of its proximity to Mexico, but his wife, a native of Cardiff, Wales persuaded him to name it Cardiff and give the streets English names, such as Oxford, Cambridge and Westminster. Cardiff's only industry at that time was a kelp works, built by Clarence Cole in 1912. Seaweed was processed for its food and industrial content and the plant's foundation is still visible along the San Elijo Lagoon's muddy North bluff. Cardiff Elementary School District was established in 1913 on property donated by Cullen. The San Diego County Library system opened the first Cardiff Library in 1914, and the 1920s brought the train station, post office and the San Dieguito Irrigation District. Victor Kremer, a German musician developed the composer district North of Birmingham, and he may have added the "by-the-Sea" from the song "By The Beautiful Sea."

Cardiff by the Sea Points of Interest and Events The core of this tiny community is the Cardiff Town Center, the primary shopping area, offering restaurants, professional services, a gym, surf/swim shops and the gourmet Seaside Market. Many tri-athletes call Cardiff home and can work out with other fitness fanatics at the local gyms and exercise centers. The newly remodeled Cardiff Library serves as a hub for computer users, book browsers and buyers (with its used Book Nook) and local functions, such as lectures and book-signings (in the spacious community room). Food lovers have their choice of everything from casual vegetarian to exclusive gourmet along “Restaurant Row.” The glorious sunsets and pounding surf come free with meals. Every September, residents and visitors can celebrate at the annual Greek Festival at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. It’s one of the area's biggest, fun-filled events and features music, exotic dancing and fabulous food. The beautiful, remote San Elijo campus of Mira Costa College offers local residents an opportunity for a two-year program for full-time students or non-credit classes evenings and weekends just for fun. Cardiff Reef, alongside Historic Highway 101 at the mouth of the San Elijo Lagoon, is a small beach park and ideal spot for surfers year-round as the surf consistently breaks both right and left. Bathrooms, a parking lot and lifeguards are available at Cardiff Reef. Other popular surf spots are Pipes, a fun, peaky surf break at the North end of San Elijo Campground and San Elijo, the campground’s own beach. For further recreation, several parks fill the bill: Glen Park, Cardiff Sports Park and George Berkich Park. The San Elijo State Beach Campground often fills to capacity, so advance reservations are necessary.

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