The Portuguese Bend area, which is accessed via Palos Verdes Drive South, is infamous for the Portuguese Bend landslide area which began to slide in the late 1970′s. As discussed in this article from California State University Long Beach, the severe movement of an ancient wedge-shaped landslide area has caused some significant damage to the real estate in this area. Many of the homes have undermined foundations and sloping floors and walls out of “plumb” to the ground. However, they also have spectacular views, and because of the slide movement, the real estate in the area is signficantly less pricey than some other parts of the peninsula with equivalent views. The gated Portuguese Bend community is rural and charming, offering extreme privacy and huge lots with horse property and ocean views. If you have a good structural engineer on your side, this could be a wonderful area to remodel or build your dream home.
Also in this part of the peninsula are wonderful open spaces and nature preserves, partially donated to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes by the heirs to the Vanderlip fortune and also purchased with funds donated by local residents. Tidepools for the kids to explore, the Portuguese Bend Beach Club, and Vicente Point lighthouse are also highlights of the area, along with the famous Wayfarer’s Chapel, a stone and glass church designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, for the Swedenborgian church, a Protestant denomination.
Here are MLS listings in this far southern end of the Palos Verdes peninsula:
