Why Ventura County Is Becoming Southern California’s Second-Home Capital (And How to Buy Smart Before Everyone Else Does)

Most people think of second homes as something exclusive to Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, or Santa Barbara.
But over the past 18–24 months, Ventura County has quietly emerged as Southern California’s unexpected second-home hotspot.

Buyers from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Jose, and even out-of-state relocation markets like Denver and Phoenix are discovering a new reality:

👉 You can own a second home near the beach — without paying Santa Barbara or Malibu prices.

And the secret is getting out.

🏄 Why Ventura County Is Taking Over the Second-Home Market

Second-home buyers are motivated by three things today:

1. Access to water

2. Space and lifestyle

3. Appreciation potential

Ventura County offers all three.

Ventura — boutique surf town, walkable downtown, thriving food scene
➤ Explore listings: https://rogsummit.com/ventura

Channel Islands Harbor / Oxnard Shores — one of the only affordable marina communities left in SoCal
➤ Browse waterfront homes: https://rogsummit.com/oxnard

Ojai — wellness retreats, boutique estates, mountain views
➤ View Ojai homes: https://rogsummit.com/ojai

Compare that with Santa Barbara County, where the median home price is $1.65M+ (Zillow) versus Ventura County ~ $881K (Redfin).

➡️ Second-home buyers are getting twice the house, half the stress, and the same coastline.

💼 The New Buyer Profile: “Weekend Coastal Commuters”

Ventura County has become the home base for:

• Hybrid workers who split time between LA and Ventura

• Remote tech employees relocating from Silicon Valley

• Investors purchasing coastal VRBO / Airbnb properties

In 2024, short-term rental demand in Ventura County increased by 17.4% (AirDNA), with the strongest returns in:

(Source: AirDNA Ventura Region Holiday Rental Data)

🌴 “Live Where You Love, Work Where You Need”

That’s the new mindset.

Families are keeping their primary home inland…
…but spending every weekend and holiday at their Ventura second home.

“When we bought here, we stopped counting weekends — we started counting sunsets.”

That quote came from a recent buyer who purchased a condo near Ventura Pier.

🚤 The Marina Lifestyle (That Most People Don’t Know Exists)

In Channel Islands Harbor you can:

✅ Dock your boat at your back door
✅ Walk to cafes + restaurants
✅ Kayak or paddleboard before coffee

You simply cannot find that blend of waterfront + affordability anywhere else in Southern California.

Not in LA.
Not in Orange County.
Not even in San Diego.

📈 Appreciation & Exit Strategy: Why Investors Love This Market

Ventura County is limited by:

• Coastal geography

• Harbor and marina preservation

• Zoning protections

➡️ Less land = higher long-term property value.

Historical data shows:

• Ventura County appreciation: +4.3% YoY average

• Santa Barbara coastal appreciation: plateauing due to price ceiling

Investors are buying here because the market still has room to grow.

🔑 How to Buy Smarter (Insider Tips from Realty ONE Group Summit)

1. Buy as close to the water as possible.
   Waterfront homes have the best resale and rental yield.

2. Buy NOW during Q4–Q1 inventory cycles.
   This is when sellers list second homes for tax planning.

3. Don’t wait for rates to drop.
   When they do, prices rise — especially coastal homes.

Ready to explore?
👉 Start browsing second homes: https://rogsummit.com/ventura-investments

🏁 Final Takeaway

If Santa Barbara is the dream,
Ventura County is the smart version of the dream — still attainable, still growing, still under the radar.

At Realty ONE Group Summit, we specialize in:

✅ Second-home search + negotiation
✅ STR investment strategy
✅ Local market data + off-market opportunities

👉 Schedule a strategy call
and let’s find your place by the ocean.