Search Carmel-by-the-Sea Homes for Sale

Carmel-by-the-Sea Real Estate

Carmel-by-the-Sea is one square mile of storybook cottages, Monterey pines and white-sand beach at the southern edge of the Monterey Peninsula. For buyers it offers a rare thing: a walkable village where you can stroll from home to galleries, shops, restaurants and the ocean. For longtime owners it is often the home of a lifetime, which makes every sale here a meaningful one.

A village with a story

Carmel was founded in 1902 by developers Frank Devendorf and Frank Powers, who sold lots to artists and writers, many of them displaced by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The arts colony that followed gave Carmel its character, and the city was incorporated on October 31, 1916.

From the beginning, residents worked to protect that village feel, keeping residential streets free of sidewalks, streetlights and, famously, street numbers. That last tradition changed in 2026: after the City Council approved an address map in June, the city began rolling out street addresses in September. If you are buying or selling, Barbara can help you sort out how a property is described in records, insurance and escrow during the transition.

Living in Carmel

  • Carmel Beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue, with its cypress-framed bluffs and sunset walks.
  • Downtown village galleries, tasting rooms, boutiques and restaurants, most within walking distance of home.
  • Carmel Mission, the historic Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, just south of downtown.
  • Easy access to Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, Point Lobos and Big Sur along Highway 1.

Schools

Carmel-by-the-Sea is served by the Carmel Unified School District, which includes Carmel River Elementary, Carmel Middle School and Carmel High School. Assignments depend on the specific address, so confirm boundaries directly with the district before you buy.

Carmel market snapshot

As of mid-November 2026, about 110 homes and condos were listed for sale with a Carmel address on the MLS, ranging from roughly $400,000 to $32 million. The average asking price was about $3.8 million, or roughly $1,500 per square foot, for a home of about 3 bedrooms and 2,400 square feet.

The MLS "Carmel" area includes homes just outside the city limits, such as Carmel Point and the Highlands. Figures change daily and are not a guarantee of value.

Downsizing or selling a longtime Carmel home

Many Carmel homes have been in the same family for decades. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, Barbara helps homeowners and families plan these moves with care, from preparing a well-loved cottage for market to coordinating with trustees and out-of-town relatives. Learn about Barbara's senior transition services.

Thinking about buying or selling in Carmel?

Barbara J. Weidman, REALTOR® and SRES® with Compass, works from the Compass office in Carmel-by-the-Sea and represents buyers and sellers across the Monterey Peninsula.

Contact BarbaraWhat's My Home Worth?

Or call (831) 254-6559.

Header photo: Carmel-by-the-Sea coastline by Chris Leipelt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Carmel Homes and Condos for Sale

2 Rumsen Trace, Carmel
$13,300,000
6 Beds ⋅ 9 Baths ⋅ ML82056617 MLS ⋅ Santa Lucia Preserve BLDG.
The Meadow House. A contemporary residence of exceptional refinement, where architectural integrity, meticulous craftsmanship, and the quiet influence of Korean and Japanese design traditions create a home of extraordinary beauty. Privately positioned on approximately 3.86 acres overlooking expansive meadows, every space is composed with intention, emphasizing natural materials, balanced proportions, and an extraordinary attention to detail. Expansive walls of glass dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, filling the home with natural light & creating a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape. Thoughtfully designed indoor / outdoor living spaces invite both quiet reflection & effortless entertaining, while every finish & detail reflects an unwavering commitment to quality & enduring design. Offering approximately 8,521 square feet, the residence includes six ensuite bedrooms, a detached guest house, & gracious living spaces that embody warmth, serenity, & understated sophistication. Ideally located within Santa Lucia Preserve, moments from The Hacienda, Golf Club, equestrian & sports centers, recreation lake, & more than 100 miles of scenic trails, the property offers an exceptional opportunity to experience one of California's most celebrated private communities.

2 Rumsen Trace, Carmel

Listed by Cicily Sterling, 831-402-7174 from The Agency
(If provided) CoList: Mauricio Umansky from The Agency

26251 Scenic RD, Carmel
$10,250,000
3 Beds ⋅ 2 Baths ⋅ ML82034110 MLS
Welcome to this rare opportunity to experience an elite Carmel dream house from this exceptional front line Scenic Road coastal retreat, perfectly positioned above the open Pacific with sweeping, unobstructed ocean-scapes. Designed to maximize the view and blend with relaxed California living, this home offers seamless indoor-outdoor flow, sun-filled living spaces, and a front-row vantage point to Carmels dramatic shoreline from the living room, primary bedroom suite and wrap around west-facing deck. Walls of glass frame crashing surf and vibrant nightly sunsets creating a sense of serenity and connection to nature that few properties in the world can match. Additional features include two generous-sized bedroom suites with updated baths, cozy 3rd bedroom/flexible space, an attached 2-car garage with workshop and storage, outdoor patios and intimate back yard that provide privacy, dining options and space to zoom out and unwind to the calming sights and sounds of the sea. Located just moments from two of Carmels white, sandy beaches, world-class restaurants and wine-tasting, Pebble Beach Golf links, and Carmel-by-the-Seas charming village, this is a rare opportunity to own an iconic Scenic Road address where beauty of the coastline becomes a part of your everyday life.

26251 Scenic RD, Carmel

Listed by Canning Properties, 831-241-4458 from Sotheby's International Realty
(If provided) CoList: Ellen Krausse from Sotheby's International Realty

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board logoThe data relating to real estate for sale on this display comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the MLSListingsTM MLS system. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Compass are marked with the Internet Data Exchange and detailed information about them includes the names of the listing brokers and listing agents.
Based on information from MLSListings MLS as of . All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.


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