Sold
856 Cliff Drive sold on September 29, 2023 for $3,725,000, 4.4% below the $3,895,000 asking price after 127 days on the market; it was first listed at $4,000,000. The buyer financed the purchase with a conventional loan. The details are below for reference.
856 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
- 3 beds
- 2 baths
- 1,387 sq ft
- 2,500 sq ft lot
- Built 1933
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$3,725,000
Subdivision North Laguna
North Laguna anchors the northern end of Laguna Beach, where Heisler Park follows the bluffs along Cliff Drive above Crescent Bay, Shaw's Cove, and Diver's Cove.
25 single-family homes sold in the past 12 months · median $4,000,000
The home
About 856 Cliff Drive
Available for the first time in over sixty years, this idyllic Laguna Beach cottage exemplifies the quintessential beach cottage lifestyle. Mere feet from the sandy beach of iconic Fisherman’s Cove, with expansive ocean and coastline views, this three bedroom, two bath home was originally constructed in the '20s as a holiday place to enjoy local fishing. The exterior is clad in redwood siding and features a large brick patio with sit down white water ocean views as well as a private side yard which can be accessed from the main living area and one of two ground floor bedrooms. Inside, the main living area features a classic exposed beam ceiling and warmly greets occupants with a wood burning fireplace framed by floor to ceiling wood paneling and a mantle which was sourced from Edgar Allen Poe’s childhood home in Richmond Virginia (c.1810) which earns this home it’s moniker: "Raven House”. Original Knotty Pine “Laguna Paneling” and Douglas Fir flooring are carried throughout the home which has a completely updated electrical system, newer roof and plumbing replaced with copper supply and ABS lines, new central heater and 10’’ of fiberglass batting insulation in the attic. An abundance of light enters the home through glass windows and doors which were assembled on site by carpenters and glaziers in the '20s & '30s. The kitchen houses a vintage steel Youngstown Kitchen sink and cabinet assembly which is original to the home, a walk-in pantry, Lindsay Lockerby Field hand-painted cabinets, and a dining nook with ocean views. The upstairs bedroom suite offers ocean views, a bathroom and can be accessed from inside the home or via a separate outside entrance. At one time, this suite featured a kitchenette and could be easily reconverted for additional living flexibility. A small one car garage & and driveway offer two off-street parking spaces. This beautifully restored and maintained cottage retains all of the charm of an original Laguna Beach cottage with subtle upgrades to the major systems and is an excellent candidate for the Mills Act which could offer an owner tremendous property tax savings. The Raven House presents a truly once in a generation opportunity.
Property details for 856 Cliff Drive
This 3-bedroom, 2-bath single-family home sits in the North Laguna neighborhood of Laguna Beach in Orange County. It has 1,387 square feet of living space on a 2,500-square-foot lot. The home was built in 1933. The MLS record lists the assessor parcel number as 053-155-08. Highlights include ocean and coastline views, a fireplace, an attached one-car garage, a turnkey home, and cottage architecture.
Specifications
Home Details
General Features
- Property Type
- Single Family Residence
- MLS Number
- OC23072396
- Year Built
- 1933
- Living Area (sq ft)
- 1,387
- Living Area Source
- Assessor
- Lot Size (sq ft)
- 2,500
- Lot Size (acres)
- 0.0574
- Levels
- Two
- Bedrooms
- 3
- Full Baths
- 2
- Garage Spaces
- 1
- Parking Spaces
- 2
- View
- City Lights, Coastline, Park Greenbelt, Ocean, Water
- Parcel Number
- 05315508
- On Market Date
- 2023-05-01
- Listing Terms
- Standard
Interior Features
- Interior Features
- Breakfast Area, Eat In Kitchen, High Ceilings, In Law Floorplan, Storage, Bedroom On Main Level, Primary Suite
- Appliances
- Free Standing Range, Freezer, Gas Cooktop, Disposal, Gas Oven, Microwave
- Flooring
- Carpet, Wood
- Heating
- Central, Fireplaces
- Cooling
- None
- Fireplace
- Living Room
- Laundry
- In Garage
- Main Level Bedrooms
- 2
- Main Level Bathrooms
- 1
- Entry Level
- 1
- Common Walls
- No Common Walls
- Accessibility
- Safe Emergency Egress From Home
Exterior Features
- Architectural Style
- Cottage, Traditional
- Exterior Features
- Lighting
- Roof
- Shingle
- Construction
- Copper Plumbing
- Lot Features
- Corner Lot, Sprinklers In Front, Sloped Up
- Patio and Porch
- Rear Porch, Brick, Front Porch, Porch
- Parking
- Direct Access, Garage, Garage Faces Side
- Fencing
- Brick
- Pool Features
- None
- Sewer
- Public Sewer
- Water
- Public
- Utilities
- Natural Gas Connected, Sewer Connected, Water Connected
- Condition
- Turnkey
- Units
- 1
Community Features
- Subdivision
- North Laguna (NL)
- Community Features
- Curbs, Park, Storm Drains, Street Lights, Suburban, Water Sports
The record
Property History for 856 Cliff Drive
| Date | Event | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 2023 | Sold | $3,725,000 | |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Status changed to Pending | From Active Under Contract | |
| Sep 5, 2023 | Status changed to Active Under Contract | From Active | |
| Jul 24, 2023 | Price reduced | $3,895,000 | From $4,000,000 |
| May 1, 2023 | Listed for sale | $4,000,000 |
No prior MLS sales on record for this home since 2012.
Added by Realatrends Real Estate
Flood, Fire and Earthquake Zones for 856 Cliff Drive
We looked up this home's map point in public government maps. These facts are not part of the MLS listing.
Hazard zones
- Flood zone
Zone X, area of minimal flood hazard. Outside FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area.
FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, FIRM panel 06059C0416K effective March 21, 2019. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Fire hazard severity zone
High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Local Responsibility Area.
CAL FIRE, State Fire Marshal map for Local Responsibility Areas, March 24, 2025. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Earthquake fault zone
Outside the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones.
California Geological Survey, Earthquake Fault Zones. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Liquefaction zone
Outside the liquefaction zones.
California Geological Survey, Seismic Hazard Zones map, Laguna Beach quadrangle, released April 15, 1998. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Landslide zone
Outside the earthquake-induced landslide zones.
California Geological Survey, Seismic Hazard Zones map, Laguna Beach quadrangle, released April 15, 1998. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Tsunami hazard area
Outside the Tsunami Hazard Area on the State's evacuation planning map.
California Geological Survey and Cal OES, Tsunami Hazard Area map for Orange County (2021). Checked October 15, 2026.
Internet and charging
- Fixed internet
Fiber: Frontier, up to 7,000 Mbps, at 12 of 14 residential locations in this census block. Cable: Cox Communications, up to 2,000 Mbps, at 12 of 14. Fixed wireless: T-Mobile, up to 100 Mbps, at 12 of 14.
FCC National Broadband Map, provider-reported data as of December 31, 2025, for census block 060590626563020, not for this address. Not endorsed by the FCC. Checked October 15, 2026.
- EV charging
Nearest public charger 0.9 miles away (ChargePoint, 2 Level 2 ports). 24 public charging ports within 3 miles.
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center. Straight-line distance. Checked October 15, 2026.
These facts are for the listing's map point, which can sit off the lot. A zone line can also cross a lot, and agencies revise their maps. In cities, the fire zone line follows the State Fire Marshal's 2025 map; each city adopts its own map and may add areas. These lines are not a Natural Hazard Disclosure. Check the official maps and the seller's disclosures before you rely on them. Sources for the earthquake zone lines: Reproduced with permission, California Geological Survey, Webservice of Official Maps of Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones (2025). Reproduced with permission, California Geological Survey, Webservice of Official Maps of Seismic Hazard Zones (2025).
Official maps
Next steps
Looking for something similar
856 Cliff Drive is no longer on the market, but comparable homes come up in Laguna Beach regularly. We can tell you what this one actually closed at and set up alerts for listings that match it.
Selling near 856 Cliff Drive
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The neighborhood
About North Laguna
North Laguna anchors the northern end of Laguna Beach, where Heisler Park follows the bluffs along Cliff Drive above Crescent Bay, Shaw's Cove, and Diver's Cove. Its Tree Streets, an alphabetical botanical grid beginning at Aster Street, are lined with early-1900s cottages within the Laguna Beach Unified School District.
North Laguna home sales, past 12 months
- Homes sold
- 25
- Median price
- $4,000,000
- Median days on market
- 40
- Median per sq ft
- $2,109
Recorded MLS closings of single-family homes, Oct 22, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. Days on market run from listing to going under contract.
Recent North Laguna sales
| Address | Closed | Price | Sq ft | Per sq ft | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 477 Hill | Oct 15, 2026 | $2,200,000 | 940 | $2,340 | 64 |
| 429 Aster | Oct 13, 2026 | $4,000,000 | 2,123 | $1,884 | 46 |
| 461 Linden Street | Sep 15, 2026 | $3,725,000 | 1,611 | $2,312 | 32 |
| 486 Locust Street | Sep 8, 2026 | $3,225,000 | 2,066 | $1,561 | 40 |
| 738 Cliff Drive | Aug 28, 2026 | $7,750,000 | 3,200 | $2,422 | 196 |
See homes for sale in North Laguna Laguna Beach housing market
Schools
School District for 856 Cliff Drive
As listed in the MLS record. Confirm attendance boundaries with the school district.
The MLS record lists the school district as Laguna Beach Unified.
Moving to Laguna Beach covers its schools, parks and beaches.
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Listed by Carter Kaufman of Compass
Listing information updated Sep 29, 2023 at 2:14 PM PT. Source: CRMLS.
This information is for your personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties you may be interested in purchasing. The display of MLS data is usually deemed reliable but is NOT guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and should investigate the data themselves or retain appropriate professionals. Information from sources other than the Listing Agent may have been included in the MLS data. Unless otherwise specified in writing, the Broker/Agent has not and will not verify any information obtained from other sources. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.