The homes in La Palma
La Palma started as Dairyland, a city set up by dairy farmers in 1955 to keep housing tracts out. That changed in the mid-1960s, when the city took the name La Palma and planned for homes. Nearly all of the housing was built between 1960 and 1980, most of it in the 1960s and 1970s. Expect ranch-style tract homes with front yards, short driveways and two-car garages.
Because the homes are close in age, what sets one apart is the work done since: the roof, the plumbing, the windows, the kitchen and any added rooms. Ask Tony to check whether additions were permitted. On a house from this era, an inspection of the sewer line and the electrical panel is money well spent.
Neighborhoods and tracts
La Palma is small enough that people place a home by its cross streets more than by a neighborhood name. Walker Street and Moody Street run north to south. Orangethorpe Avenue, Houston Avenue, La Palma Avenue and Crescent Avenue run east to west. Walker Street is the civic spine, with Central Park, the library and the hospital close together.
The line that matters most to buyers is the school district line, which runs roughly along Houston Avenue and again near Moody Street. Two houses a few blocks apart can be in different districts. Ask Tony to confirm the districts for the exact address before you tour.
Schools
The city says five districts serve La Palma. On the city's map, the area north of Houston Avenue is in Buena Park School District and Fullerton Joint Union High School District, with Buena Park High School. South of Houston, most of the city is in Centralia School District, home to Los Coyotes and Miller elementary schools, and the southwest corner near Moody Street is in Cypress School District, with Luther Elementary.
Homes in the Centralia and Cypress areas are in Anaheim Union High School District for grades 7 through 12. Walker Junior High School and John F. Kennedy High School are both in La Palma. The city tells residents to contact the districts to confirm which schools serve an address, and that is the right step before an offer.
Parks, shopping and landmarks
Central Park on Walker Street is the main city park, with lit basketball and tennis courts, a softball field, playgrounds, a gazebo and a pavilion. The La Palma Library, a branch of OC Public Libraries, is across the street, and La Palma Intercommunity Hospital is on the same stretch. The Eternal Flame Veteran Memorial is a city landmark. Larger shopping centers are a short drive away in Cerritos and Buena Park.
Getting around
The 91 crosses the northeast corner of La Palma, and the city sits between the 5 to the east and the 605 to the west. Orangethorpe Avenue and La Palma Avenue carry most of the east to west traffic. The Buena Park Metrolink station, on the Orange County Line and the 91/Perris Valley Line, is the closest train stop.
Buying in La Palma
La Palma is a small city, so there are not many homes for sale at one time and it helps to be ready. Tony is a REALTOR and a licensed mortgage loan originator (NMLS ID 2359276), and he can go through what you may be able to borrow before you tour. His office is next door in Cerritos. Homes in the northeast corner sit closest to the 91, so listen for freeway noise when you visit.
Selling in La Palma
Buyers here ask two things first: which school districts serve the house, and what has been updated. Have both answers ready, with permits for any additions. Tony has held a California real estate license since 2007, works in La Palma and speaks fluently in English and Arabic. Ask Tony to confirm the districts for your address so the listing states them correctly.
