Life in Encino, CA

If you're thinking of moving to Encino, CA, here are some of the fun reasons why it might be a good neighborhood for you.

Housing prices in the San Fernando Valley are notoriously more affordable than the LA Basin, with a little more bang for your buck. In Encino, it has an additional benefit of being located at the 405 and 101 freeway connection, allowing for easier commutability than other Valley neighborhoods. Just note though - many people have begun using the hilly side streets as a cut through to the Westside. If you're looking to move to these homes, you might want to check the traffic patterns nearby.

There are several great areas of Encino for housing.

There is a saying in the valley that "South Of the Boulevard" (referring to Ventura Blvd) is the place to be. And by and large the values are more expensive the further into the hills you go. However - one of the most exclusive areas in all of the valley is a neighborhood called Amestoy Estates which is just north of the Blvd. Many streets do not cut through over there purposefully so that traffic wouldn't use them as often. Also noticeable is the absence of sidewalks so that less foot traffic goes by these high-end homes. Celebrities, producers, managers and the like have been known to live in these neighborhoods, as they are known to be the 'bedroom of the stars'.

But no matter the location, Encino is known for its great elementary schools.

If shopping is your sport of choice, head down historic Ventura Boulevard you can visit some of the 300 (!) shops and restaurants in the new Encino Commons area of the city. Billed as the Valley’s Miracle Mile, the Encino Commons is fast becoming a destination for locals to shop, get a meal or just sit on a bench and people watch. Or if food is more of your thing, check out the Farmer’s Market on Sundays between 8AM and 1PM.

If the outdoors is what you prefer, the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area is a massive outdoor play space that includes cricket fields and two golf courses. The nearby Balboa Sports Complex includes lighted baseball diamond, lighted outdoor basketball courts, a children’s play area, a community room, a lighted football field, a lighted handball court, an indoor gymnasium without weights and with a capacity for 400 people, an unlighted soccer field, lighted tennis courts, and lighted volleyball courts. For you serious bikers, the Encino Velodrome has all of your bicycling needs.

Want to be outside but not swing a golf club? Why not stop by the Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino. The park includes the original nine-room de la Ossa Adobe, the Garnier Building, a blacksmith shop, a pond, and a natural spring. Or you can visit the the Sepulveda Garden Center, a community garden with 16 acres of land and 420 garden plots. Finally, why not bring Spot with you and visit the the Sepulveda Basin Off-leash Dog Park with it’s six and a half acres of leash free space and half an acre “small dog” park. Make a day of it and have a picnic at the on-leash picnic area. With a hundred parking spots around the park, there is always a place for you and your family – both furry and not!