If you walk along the beach in Laguna, you may ask yourself, why is that beautiful house so quiet? Where is that beautiful family? How did I get here?
Legitimate questions for a town that is a skeleton of true life. On the surface, it’s bustling and buzzing with activity. But underneath, it’s something else.
The numbers confirm the facts, but the residents tell the story. Laguna Beach has become a haven for out-of-towners with sleepy second homes, vacation getaways or just laissez-faire investments.
Consider that in 2020, of the 10,536 occupied housing units in Laguna Beach, about 65% were owner-occupied, while roughly 35% had renters living in them. And amid everything, 80% of Laguna’s homes don’t have children.
More to the point, a significant percentage of homes along the water are owned by non-residents. Think about that for a minute.
In an analysis by local realtor Jessica Gannon of eXp Realty, there are a lot of very expensive empty homes in Laguna.
“There are 529 homes along the 7-mile Laguna Beach coastline that are owned by out-of-area homeowners,” she said. Which means, no one is home.
If we assume – conservatively – that the coastline holds 10% of Laguna’s homes, then those 529 homes represent almost half of the darkened streets, the fortress-like facades, the soulless security cameras, lifeless picture windows, and fancy art displayed for no one.
This comes as no surprise to the real residents of Laguna.
Chris and Lee Casegrillo live on Gaviota Drive near Brooks Street, arguably one of the most desirable locations in Laguna. Since 2003, they have been resident owners of Blue Agave Beach House, a city-licensed vacation home.
Over the years, they have seen their street slowly wither and become something else.
“The last 20 years have seen a slow and steady decline,” said Chris Casegrillo. “There are nine houses here, and two or three are legal duplex buildings. Of the nine, there appears to be only two houses with full-time tenants, both owner-occupancy, for a total of three people with an average age of about 65. The remaining seven buildings, with the exception of one duplex, are virtually empty all the time.”
One small, envious street in Laguna: seven of nine empty homes.
Casegrillo has watched with sadness the ownership cycles that have ended in something less-than.
Original owners have died off, sometimes leaving trust-fund kids who squander the responsibility. Investors swoop in and turn it into today’s reality.
“There will be no neighborhood potluck get-togethers or laughing children frolicking about,” Casegrillo said. “Now, we only see the out-of-town, home maintenance personnel on retainer and contractors who maintain the ‘estates’ periodically.”
And this is why Laguna is so dark and quiet after the tourists go home every day.
Because it’s not our beautiful house.
