
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
SubdivisionNorth Laguna

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.
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
Schools
- School District
- Laguna Beach Unified
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 offers 1,387 square feet of living space. 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 2,500-square-foot lot, a turnkey home, and cottage architecture. The detail sections on this page cover interior and exterior features, estimated taxes, HOA dues where they apply, and the map location.
Property History
856 Cliff Drive was listed for sale on May 1, 2023 at $4,000,000.
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.
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Listed by Carter Kaufman of Compass
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.
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