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Half Moon Bay - Real Estate
(The Town)

Population: 16,728*
See individual neighborhoods for 2005 Home Sale Prices:
Ocean Colony, Alsace Lorraine, Highland Park, Seahaven, Frenchman's Creek, Miramar, Casa Del Mar

Half Moon Bay real estate first included the Ohlone Indian villages of Shawumte (Princeton area), Shatomnumo (Half Moon Bay town) and Shalaihme (Purisima creek area). Then the Spanish land grants to Guerrero y Palomares, Vanquez and Miramontes. Then the village of San Benito that was replaced by Spanishtown that eventually became the town of Half Moon Bay on the banks of Pilarcitos Creek. So, the actual beginning of the Half Moon Bay real estate boom started around 500 AD when the Ohlone Indians settled in the area.

The coming of the Ocean Shore Railroad in 1905 was the new beginning of real estate development on the coastside. The big quake of 1906 slowed it down some but by 1908 the line extended from 12th and Mission Streets in San Francisco to as far south as Tunitas Creek. The railroad built 12 stations for the 14 miles between Montara and Purisima Creek.

The railroad was the first means of transportation to cross the infamous Devil's Slide. The railroad right-of-way is now State Highway 1 from Pacifica to Santa Cruz.

From 1907 until 1920, when the railroad went out of business, there were numerous subdivisions being touted by real estate land companies. One of the most controversial of these was "Wavecrest" that sold a total of 550 lots for $220,000. Very few of these original owners ever built on their lots. Today north "Wavecrest" is the local buzz-word for the longest ongoing headache the coast has ever seen.

Between the city council and the California Coastal Commission they have managed to keep any development including, but not limited to, a middle school, Boys & Girls Club, small retail shops, a park and some 200+ homes, from being completed. As of this date, March 25, 2005, the land is still vacant. However, other tracts did much better. Arleta park was offered by the railroad company with a model home constructed of reinforced concrete that still stands today on Poplar street and is still faithful to the original design.

Half Moon Bay City is the hub of Half Moon Bay Homes Country. Stop awhile, visit and enjoy the beauty and charm, and maybe even invest in real estate!

*Population based on zip code 94019, not city limits, 2000 census.

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