Los Angeles County
Lakewood Homes for Sale
Lakewood is the post-war suburb that the rest of Southern California copied. Between 1950 and 1953 its builders put up more than seventeen thousand homes on former bean fields north of Long Beach — the 'instant city' — and laid them out on a grid of quiet through-streets with a regional shopping center, Lakewood Center, at the middle. Seventy years later that plan still reads clearly: single-story homes with front lawns, a park within walking distance of nearly every block, and a city that has been kept up rather than torn down.
The housing stock is remarkably consistent. Most of Lakewood is the two- and three-bedroom stucco tract home from the early 1950s, many expanded over the decades with an added bedroom, a family room or a second bath. Lakewood Village, at the southwest corner near Long Beach City College, predates the tracts and carries larger lots and a mix of 1930s and 40s houses, while the streets around Lakewood Country Club hold some of the city's bigger post-war homes.
Schools are split across three districts by neighborhood: Long Beach Unified School District, Bellflower Unified School District and ABC Unified School District — so the address decides the assignment, and it is one of the first things we check for a buyer. The San Gabriel River trail runs along the city's east edge, and the 605 and 91 meet at its northeast corner, with the 405 and 710 a few minutes south and west.
Ismael Chavez has closed homes in Lakewood on Denmead Street and Bellflower Boulevard, and the team crosses the Long Beach line into Lakewood constantly.
At a glance
- Vibe
- Tidy post-war suburb; lawns, parks and a shopping center at the center of town
- Housing
- Early-1950s single-story tract homes, many expanded; larger lots and pre-war houses in Lakewood Village; bigger post-war homes near Lakewood Country Club
- Location
- Southeast Los Angeles County, bordered by Long Beach, Bellflower, Cerritos, Cypress and Hawaiian Gardens
- Getting around
- The 605 and 91 at the northeast corner; the 405 and 710 minutes away; Lakewood, Del Amo and Carson Boulevards
- Known for
- Lakewood Center, Lakewood Country Club, the San Gabriel River trail, the 1950s 'instant city' tracts
Lifestyle
Lakewood Center and the surrounding retail on Lakewood Boulevard handle the errands; Mayfair, Del Valle and Bolivar parks and the city's youth-sports program fill the weekends.
The San Gabriel River trail runs from the city's east edge down to the beach at Seal Beach, and Lakewood Country Club is the green space at the center of the older neighborhoods.
Housing
The typical Lakewood home is a single-story stucco tract house from the early 1950s on a rectangular lot, two or three bedrooms as built and very often larger today after decades of additions. Because the original plans were so similar, the condition and quality of the updates are what separate one house from the next.
Lakewood Village, near Long Beach City College and the country club, is older and more varied — larger lots, mature trees and 1930s–40s houses. The streets around Lakewood Country Club carry some of the city's bigger post-war two-stories.
Why we love it
Our closings on Denmead Street and Bellflower Boulevard are in the ledger — both classic 1950s Lakewood homes.
It is Long Beach's next-door neighbor, and most of our Long Beach buyers look here too.
The grid is simple, the parks are everywhere, and the homes are honest post-war construction that responds well to a good remodel.
Questions we get about Lakewood
- What are the schools like in Lakewood?
Lakewood is split by neighborhood among the Long Beach Unified School District, the Bellflower Unified School District and the ABC Unified School District — the address decides the assignment. Long Beach City College is on the city's southwest edge.
- What types of homes are available in Lakewood?
Mostly early-1950s single-story tract homes, many expanded over the years, plus larger lots and pre-war houses in Lakewood Village and bigger post-war homes near Lakewood Country Club.
- Which neighborhoods are close to Lakewood?
Long Beach, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens and, across the county line, Cypress. The 605 and 91 meet at the city's northeast corner.
- Who on the team knows Lakewood best?
Ismael Chavez works Lakewood regularly. Call or text (714) 328-4776 and we'll connect you with the team member who knows it street by street.
Recent activity in Lakewood
Closed by The Chavez Team in this city — a record, not a listings feed.
Lakewood · Los Angeles County
$790,000Sold · July 2023
2412 Denmead St
3 BD · 2 BA · 1,327 SQ FT
Agent Ismael Chavez
$790,000
Lakewood · Los Angeles County
$622,000Sold · January 2020
5222 Bellflower Blvd
3 BD · 1 BA · 1,082 SQ FT
Agent Ismael Chavez
$622,000
