Bixby Knolls Homes For Sale

Bixby Knolls, Long Beach, CA

Some neighborhoods are built. Bixby Knolls grew out of more than two centuries of Southern California history, from Spanish land grants to cattle ranching to the oil boom. You can still see that history in the gentle hills, the old trees, and a main street where long-time family businesses sit next to newer taprooms and galleries.

Bixby Knolls is in north-central Long Beach, between the Los Angeles River and the Atlantic Avenue corridor. It is known for three things buyers rarely find together in coastal Los Angeles County. The first is architecture with real character: Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor storybook homes, and post-war ranch homes. The second is lot sizes more generous than you'll find near the beach. The third is a walkable commercial strip with a strong community identity, anchored by the monthly First Fridays art and music walk.

Many homes here have been owned by the same family for decades. That matters to buyers and sellers alike. Inventory stays tight, homes often come to market after a long ownership, and the neighborhood has a settled, rooted feel that newer suburbs struggle to copy.

This guide covers the neighborhood's history, boundaries, housing, market conditions, daily life, schools, and commute. It is meant to help you decide whether Bixby Knolls fits the way you want to live.

From Rancho Los Cerritos to Today: The History Behind Bixby Knolls

The story begins with Rancho Los Cerritos, a 27,000-acre property that traces its origins to the 1784 land grant to Manuel Nieto. In 1843 the rancho was acquired by John Temple, who built the two-story adobe that still stands today. The Rancho Los Cerritos adobe is now a historic site and museum, and it remains one of the most tangible links to early California anywhere in Long Beach.

In 1866, Llewellyn Bixby, his brother Jotham Bixby, and their cousin Thomas Flint purchased Rancho Los Cerritos. Under the Bixby family the land became a major sheep and cattle operation. The family's long presence gave the neighborhood its name, and the Bixby name still appears across north Long Beach on roads, parks, and landmarks.

The next turning point came in 1921, when oil was discovered on nearby Signal Hill. The oil boom brought money and people into the area and sped up the shift from ranch land to residential subdivisions and commercial development.

Between the 1920s and 1940s, the Bixby Land Company subdivided the rolling terrain northwest of Signal Hill. Bixby Knolls emerged as an upscale suburban enclave where buyers built custom homes in the popular styles of the day: Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and later mid-century designs.

After World War II, Atlantic Avenue grew into north Long Beach's primary shopping corridor. Today the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA) keeps that corridor active through programming like First Fridays. The neighborhood's past as a planned, upscale enclave still shapes its present as one of Long Beach's most desirable addresses.

Where Bixby Knolls Begins and Ends: Boundaries and Sub-Areas

Ask five Long Beach residents where Bixby Knolls ends and you may get five slightly different answers. The broader "Bixby Knolls area" is often used informally to include neighboring enclaves like Los Cerritos and California Heights. The general boundaries are:

For buyers, the micro-neighborhoods matter more than the outer lines, because each offers a different kind of home and a different price point.

Los Cerritos sits on the western side, around the historic Rancho Los Cerritos grounds and the Virginia Country Club. It has the largest estate lots, winding streets, and a heavy tree canopy. This is where you'll find the area's grandest homes.

Bixby Terrace, east of Atlantic Avenue toward Orange Avenue, is known for custom mid-century ranch homes built mostly in the 1940s and 1950s.

California Heights lies just to the south and southeast. It is often grouped with Bixby Knolls because the two share architectural roots, but Cal Heights has its own identity as a designated historic district.

The Atlantic Avenue Commercial Corridor runs north to south through the center of the neighborhood. It holds local boutiques, breweries, restaurants, and civic spaces, and it is where much of the community's social life happens.

The Architecture of Bixby Knolls: Spanish Revival, Tudor, and Classic Ranch Homes

Bixby Knolls was developed mostly between the late 1920s and the early 1960s. Because so many homes were custom-built rather than mass-produced tract housing, walking the neighborhood feels like touring a survey of 20th-century Southern California design. Three styles define it.

Spanish Colonial Revival

This is the style most people picture when they think of Bixby Knolls. Look for red clay tile roofs, smooth stucco walls, arched doorways, wrought-iron details, and sheltered courtyards. These homes are most common on the western side near Los Cerritos and in adjacent California Heights. They range from modest 1920s cottages with decorative tile alcoves to sprawling multi-story estates with original wrought-iron balconies and interior fountains. Buyers drawn to this style often value original details more than modern upgrades, and well-preserved examples attract strong interest.

Tudor and English Revival

The Tudor homes of the 1930s give several tree-lined avenues an English-countryside feel. Their signatures are steeply pitched gables, prominent front chimneys, decorative half-timbering, leaded glass windows, and asymmetrical facades. Many were built by skilled local builders, with brickwork and woodwork that would be very expensive to reproduce today. They are sometimes called "storybook" homes, and when one comes to market it tends to draw buyers who have been waiting for exactly that house.

Classic and Mid-Century Ranch

Post-war ranch homes dominate areas like Bixby Terrace. These homes were built through the 1940s and 1950s and are designed for indoor-outdoor living. They have long, low profiles, wide street frontage, attached garages, open floor plans, and sliding glass doors onto private backyards. Most are single-story on generous lots. Families and buyers who want to stay in a home long term, including downsizers who want to avoid stairs, like them for that reason.

A practical note for buyers: homes of this age deserve a careful inspection. Original electrical systems, galvanized or cast-iron plumbing, sewer lines, and foundation condition all affect both value and future costs. Homes that pair updated systems with preserved period character command the strongest prices in the neighborhood.

Bixby Knolls Real Estate Market Snapshot

Bixby Knolls is one of Long Beach's steadiest mid-to-upper-tier markets. Demand is consistent, inventory is limited, and appreciation has been steady. The figures below are estimates at the time of writing and will shift with market conditions.

Three forces shape this market.

Space at a better value than the coast. Detached single-family homes here regularly sell above $1 million. Buyers are paying for lots that are often larger than what you'd find in coastal neighborhoods like Belmont Shore, along with architectural character and access to well-regarded neighborhood schools.

Condition drives price. Because the housing stock is older, condition matters more than it does in newer suburbs. A home with updated electrical, plumbing, and kitchen, and with restored hardwood floors and original details intact, can sell for far more than a similar home that needs work. For buyers, that gap is an opportunity: homes needing updates are one of the few ways into the neighborhood below the median.

Tight inventory. Long-term ownership, Proposition 13 property tax benefits, and owners holding onto low mortgage rates all keep listings scarce. Well-priced homes often draw multiple offers within the first few weeks. Buyers should be pre-approved and ready to move before the right house appears.

Life Along Atlantic Avenue: Dining, Shopping, and Local Businesses

Atlantic Avenue is the heart of Bixby Knolls. It feels less like a commercial district and more like an old-fashioned main street, lined with independent shops, family-owned restaurants, and newer spots that fit in without overwhelming the neighborhood's character.

Craft beer is part of the local identity. Residents sometimes call the area "Brewery Knolls." Dutch's Brewhouse is known for its craft pours and brew-your-own-beer sessions, and Ambitious Ales is another neighborhood favorite. Just west on Long Beach Boulevard, SteelCraft is an open-air food hall built from shipping containers, with communal seating that makes it an easy weekend stop for families and groups.

The dining scene covers a lot of ground. Highlights include modern Mexican at Lola's Mexican Cuisine, breakfast and patio dining at MeeMa's, Peruvian-Japanese fusion at Sushi Nikkei, and East Coast-style pies at Thunderbolt Pizza. Small coffee roasters, juice bars, and independent doughnut shops keep the avenue busy on weekday mornings.

Retail leans local and specialty. Vintage clothing stores, antique dealers, and home décor boutiques draw shoppers looking for mid-century furniture. Many buyers who move into a period home end up furnishing it from these same shops. The corridor also has independent bookstores, children's toy stores like Pixie Toys, plant nurseries, and wellness studios. Together they make it possible to handle much of daily life without leaving the neighborhood.

First Fridays and the Community Events That Define Bixby Knolls

If you want to understand what living in Bixby Knolls feels like, come to First Fridays. Organized by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, the event takes place on the first Friday of every month from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, along Atlantic Avenue between Bixby Road and San Antonio Drive.

For three hours, the corridor becomes an open-air art and music walk. Bands, acoustic performers, and DJs play in storefronts and inside businesses. The Allery, an alley turned into an outdoor mural gallery, and the Expo Arts Center host rotating exhibits and live painting. Shops stay open late, often with snacks, tastings, or specials, and free golf-cart shuttles loop up and down the avenue so visitors can cover the whole route.

What makes First Fridays meaningful for residents isn't just the entertainment. It is a monthly chance to see neighbors, meet local business owners, and feel part of a place. For many buyers who attend before purchasing, it is the moment they decide this is the neighborhood they want.

The BKBIA also runs community programming throughout the year. The Literary Society book club and the Good Spirits Club, which meets monthly at local lounges and restaurants, give residents regular reasons to connect. Seasonal traditions, including Halloween costume contests and winter holiday events along the avenue, round out the calendar.

Parks, Green Space, and the Virginia Country Club Setting

For a neighborhood with such an active commercial core, Bixby Knolls is surprisingly green. Mature street trees, large lots, and several parks give it a relaxed, suburban feel.

Virginia Country Club and the Los Cerritos Estates

The Virginia Country Club defines the western edge of the Bixby Knolls and Los Cerritos area. The club was founded in 1909 and moved to its current site in the 1920s. It is a private, member-owned club with an 18-hole championship golf course along the Los Angeles River basin.

Even for residents who aren't members, the club shapes the neighborhood. Its fairways create a wide green buffer around the estates on Country Club Drive and nearby streets, contributing to the quiet, secluded feel that makes that part of Los Cerritos so sought after. The historic Rancho Los Cerritos adobe sits nearby, so history and open space share the same corner of the neighborhood.

Public Parks

Scherer Park, near Del Amo Boulevard on the northern edge, is the largest public green space in the area. It has walking paths, sports courts, playgrounds, and a dog park, and it is busy with families on weekends.

Los Cerritos Park, west of Long Beach Boulevard, is quieter. It offers open lawns, shaded tennis courts, a playground, and picnic areas suited to smaller gatherings.

For buyers with children or dogs, living within walking distance of one of these parks can make a real difference day to day, and it is worth considering when you compare specific streets.

Schools and Education Serving Bixby Knolls Families

Bixby Knolls is served by the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). The district combines neighborhood schools with open enrollment and school-choice programs, which gives families more flexibility than a strict attendance-boundary system.

At the elementary level, Los Cerritos Elementary on the western side is known for strong family involvement, a historic campus, and solid academic performance. Longfellow Elementary, near the southern part of the neighborhood, offers language enrichment programs and an active PTA.

Hughes Middle School, centrally located on California Avenue, offers STEM programs, visual and performing arts pathways, and competitive athletics.

For high school, many Bixby Knolls addresses feed into Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a nationally recognized school known for its PACE and CIC magnet programs. Families also consider LBUSD's specialized options, including Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science and CAMS (California Academy of Mathematics and Science).

Private and alternative options include St. Barnabas Parish School, a Catholic K–8 school within Bixby Knolls, and Intellectual Virtues Academy, a charter middle school in Long Beach focused on character development and critical thinking. Several preschools and early learning centers operate along the Long Beach Boulevard corridor.

Because school assignments depend on the exact address, confirm them directly with LBUSD before you make an offer on a specific home.

Getting Around: Commuting, Freeway Access, and Long Beach Airport

Bixby Knolls is one of Long Beach's most convenient neighborhoods for commuters. It sits in the middle of the region, with easy routes to both Los Angeles and Orange County.

Freeways. The I-405 runs along the southern edge of the Bixby Knolls and California Heights area and connects east to Orange County and west toward West Los Angeles and LAX. The I-710 runs along the western border by the Los Angeles River, giving a direct north-south route to Downtown Los Angeles (about 25 to 30 miles north) and south to the Port of Long Beach. The CA-91 is a few miles north via Long Beach Boulevard and offers another east-west route to inland Orange County and Los Angeles County.

Public transit. The Metro A Line has stations at Wardlow and Del Amo along Long Beach Boulevard on the neighborhood's west side. It runs south to Downtown Long Beach and north to Downtown Los Angeles and Union Station, which is a real advantage for anyone who wants to skip freeway traffic. Long Beach Transit buses run along Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard, connecting residents to Downtown Long Beach, Cal State Long Beach, and other hubs.

Long Beach Airport (LGB). The airport is about 2 to 3 miles east, typically a 5 to 10 minute drive. For frequent travelers, LGB is a much easier alternative to LAX, with a smaller open-air terminal and far shorter lines. The airport also enforces some of the strictest noise and curfew rules in the country, which limits late-night and early-morning flights. Buyers who are sensitive to aircraft noise should still spend time on a specific street at different times of day before committing.

Bixby Knolls vs. Nearby Neighborhoods: California Heights, Los Cerritos, and Bixby Highlands

These four neighborhoods sit side by side and are often lumped together, but each has its own character, housing stock, and price range. Choosing between them usually comes down to what kind of home you want and how you want to spend your days.

Los Cerritos is the choice for buyers who want the most prestige and space. It has the largest estates, rolling terrain, and almost no commercial activity. It is quiet and secluded, and it is priced accordingly.

California Heights is Long Beach's largest designated historic district. Its architectural guidelines protect the 1920s Spanish and bungalow character of its streets. Homes tend to be smaller than in Bixby Knolls, but the historic charm and tight-knit community associations are a big draw. Buyers should know that exterior changes are subject to historic district review.

Bixby Highlands has post-war tract homes and custom ranches, often with larger backyards, and is still close to Atlantic Avenue. It is often the most accessible way to get a single-family home in the greater Bixby area.

Bixby Knolls itself sits in the middle: more varied architecture than Bixby Highlands, more space than Cal Heights, and more walkability than Los Cerritos, with First Fridays and Atlantic Avenue right at hand.

Buying a Home in Bixby Knolls With The Elmer Team

Buying in Bixby Knolls takes more than an online search. Inventory is limited, the best homes can draw multiple offers quickly, and the housing stock is old enough that two similar-looking homes can differ greatly in condition and long-term cost. Knowing which blocks sit closest to a park, how a Tudor's original systems have likely held up, and when a price reflects real value rather than just scarcity are the details that protect buyers.

Many Bixby Knolls homes also come to market after decades with one family. Some are sold after a family member passes, and some are sold as part of a divorce. These sales have their own timelines, legal steps, and emotional weight. Buyers benefit from an agent who understands how they work, and sellers need one who can handle them with care.

Melinda Elmer and The Elmer Team | Century 21 Masters have helped Long Beach buyers and sellers since 2003. Melinda ranks among the top 1% of agents in today's market. She has been recognized for outstanding achievement by the Women's Council of REALTORS® and is a multi-year recipient of Los Angeles Magazine's Five Star rating. As a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE) and Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES), she brings specialized training to the kinds of sales that are common in long-established neighborhoods like Bixby Knolls, whether you are buying one of these homes or selling one. Her approach grew from her own first home purchase in Long Beach, when she felt unheard by her agent, and her team is built around listening first.

Whether you're searching for a Spanish Revival near Los Cerritos, a mid-century ranch in Bixby Terrace, or your first home anywhere in the greater Bixby Knolls area, The Elmer Team is ready to help. Call Melinda at (562) 316-2915, email [email protected], or visit the office at 5000 E Spring St. #525, Long Beach, CA 90815 to start a conversation. California DRE #1399946.