Old Torrance
Historic downtown character and walkability

$425K - $700K for most condos | Del Amo Fashion Center (one of America's largest malls)
Torrance offers the best value proposition in the South Bay, providing quality living, excellent schools, and diverse amenities at prices well below the beach cities. This large, ethnically diverse city (California's sixth-largest by area) combines suburban comfort with urban conveniences, anchored by the massive Del Amo Fashion Center and a thriving Japanese dining scene ranked among the best outside Japan. The city's numerous corporate headquarters, including Toyota's former U.S. base, provide local employment options.
The Torrance condo market serves first-time buyers, families seeking good schools, and investors looking for rental properties in a strong market. Old Torrance condos near the historic downtown offer charming character and walkable access to local businesses. Units near Del Amo provide shopping convenience, while developments in Hollywood Riviera offer proximity to the beach and more upscale settings. North Torrance provides the most affordable entry points.
Torrance's diversity manifests most deliciously in its restaurant scene, particularly Japanese cuisine where Izakaya and ramen shops rival those in Tokyo. The city maintains excellent parks, libraries, and recreational facilities throughout its various neighborhoods. While lacking the prestige of beach city addresses, Torrance offers practical advantages: lower prices, better parking, less traffic than Westside areas, and access to the same beaches just a short drive away.
$425K - $700K for most condos
Ranging from $350K to $1.2M+
Historic downtown character and walkability
Beach-adjacent living near Torrance Beach
Near the shopping center and amenities
Most affordable entry point with good value
Torrance is notably diverse with significant Japanese-American, Korean, Chinese, and Hispanic populations. The city attracts families seeking good schools, aerospace/defense workers, healthcare professionals (near Torrance Memorial), and first-time buyers seeking value. The community is stable with high homeownership rates.
District: Torrance Unified School District
Torrance is larger with more housing supply, lacks direct beach frontage for most areas, and doesn't carry beach city prestige pricing. However, the quality of life—schools, safety, amenities—rivals more expensive neighbors, making it exceptional value.
It varies: Hollywood Riviera is directly adjacent to Torrance Beach, while North Torrance may be 15-20 minutes away by car. The lack of direct beach access for most areas contributes to lower prices but beaches remain easily accessible.
Torrance has the largest Japanese-American population in the South Bay, supporting authentic restaurants ranging from omakase sushi to izakaya to specialty ramen shops. Food critics regularly rank Torrance among the best Japanese food destinations in America.
Torrance Unified School District consistently performs well, with several highly-rated schools. The district offers strong academics, athletics, and programs. While not quite at Manhattan Beach levels, the schools represent excellent value given Torrance home prices.
Get expert guidance on finding the perfect condo in Torrance. Mark Herrera knows this market inside and out and can help you find the right property at the right price.