Cozying Up to Cottages: On the Waterfront

Before the Mediterranean craze and the fondness for modern architecture, Orange County’s coastal landscape was dotted with beach cottages, mostly small, modest, one-story dwellings.

Today, these homes seem downright snug. The average new home in America contains nearly 2,600 square feet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while a cottage in Orange County can have less than 1,000. And that, says local Redfin agent Keith Thomas, can be part of the attraction for buyers who want to downsize.

Just don’t let the small size fool you—the price tag is often anything but. Redfin agent Minni MacFarlane says that local beach cottages typically start around $2 million and make attractive vacation rentals that “can fetch about $5,000 a week.”

A waterfront patio and boat dock are part of the charm of this Newport Beach cottage along Rivo Alto Channel on the Balboa Peninsula. The 1954 single-story home on River Avenue has two bedrooms, two baths, and a kitchen with skylights in 1,300 square feet. The garage holds two cars. Tara Foster Shapiro, 949-478-7781