Updated October 6, 2026
Clairemont is a large mesa-top community of mostly 1950s-70s single-story homes on curving streets, split by Tecolote and San Clemente canyons. Canyon trails, Mission Bay shoreline and Balboa, Genesee and Clairemont Mesa Blvd shopping corridors set a spread-out, car-friendly pace, with trolley service at the edges.
Homes in the 92117 ZIP sold for a median of $1,159,498 over the Redfin rolling window, typically in about 15 days (Redfin).
Selling at that price runs about $1,000 in fixed closing costs — county transfer tax and the natural hazard report — plus title and escrow, which scale with price, plus commission. At a 5% total commission that is roughly $59,000 all-in (estimate).
If you're getting ready to sell your home in Clairemont, you're selling one of the most sensible houses in San Diego: a mid-century home on a real lot, about ten minutes from the beach, at a price the coast can't match. That's exactly what your buyer wants — and they've often just lost an offer somewhere closer to the water.
| Median sale price | $1,159,498 |
|---|---|
| Year over year | +12.7% |
| Median days on market | 15 days |
| Homes sold | 125 |
| Sale to list | 100% |
| Median $/sq ft | $788 |
Source: Redfin, ZIP 92117, Three months ending August 2026 (Redfin rolling window). Retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Clairemont is overwhelmingly single-family, which puts it on the tight side of the county's current market — detached homes had about 2.4 months of supply in the June 2026 data. It's also where buyers land after being priced out of Pacific Beach, Point Loma or the bay-view streets, which keeps demand steady even when the coast slows down.
The homes that move fastest feel finished: updated kitchens and baths inside the original ranch footprint, a usable yard and systems that won't need attention next year. Original-condition homes sell too, often to buyers planning a remodel or an ADU, but they sell on a different number.
Clairemont is big, and the address inside it matters. These are the pockets buyers treat differently.
The western slope of Clairemont stepping down toward Morena and Mission Bay. Many homes have bay or ocean views, with the trolley, the bay and I-5 close by. View lots here are among the most valuable in greater Clairemont, and buyers often compare them against Point Loma.
The hillside neighborhood between Bay Park and central Clairemont, with winding streets and view pockets. Quieter than the main arterials, and in demand for a bay-side address at a Clairemont price.
The northern stretch near San Clemente Canyon and Marian Bear Natural Park. Plenty of cul-de-sacs and canyon-edge lots, quick access to UTC and the 52, and a strong pull for anyone who commutes north.
The central mesa neighborhoods of mid-century tract homes most people picture when they hear "Clairemont." Consistent lots make comps cleaner here than almost anywhere in the city — which also means buyers notice fast when a home is priced above its street.
The eastern side of the mesa, closer to Kearny Mesa, Convoy Street and big employment centers. Often the most approachable part of Clairemont, with a strong draw for first-time buyers and anyone working nearby.
Weighing Clairemont against the coast? I wrote about the ten-minute drive that separates Clairemont and Pacific Beach — and what the price gap actually buys.
Clairemont is the move-up buyer's neighborhood: households trading a condo for a yard, or a long commute for a short one. They're practical, they've done the math and they know the comps.
A hand-built Equity Update from Clairemont comps — not an algorithm. Three business days, free.
Many Clairemont homes back onto Tecolote Canyon, San Clemente Canyon or smaller finger canyons. Those lots are private and beautiful, but they can carry brush-management requirements, a fire hazard severity zone designation in the Natural Hazard Disclosure and, lately, a harder time getting homeowners insurance. Buyers now ask about insurance before they write. Gather your quote history and brush-clearance record early.
Clairemont's lot sizes make it one of the better neighborhoods in the city for an ADU or, on some lots, an SB 9 split. That's a real selling point — if it's presented honestly. San Diego's ADU rules, including the bonus program near transit, have changed more than once, so point buyers to the city rather than promising a unit count. I covered how to present this in the North Park permit piece.
Galvanized supply lines, older electrical panels and cast-iron drains show up regularly in 1950s and 1960s homes. Buyers expect them and discount for them. Replace what's failing, document what's been done, and inspect before you list.
Because so many Clairemont homes share a footprint, every street has a fairly clear top price. A beautiful remodel can get you to that ceiling; it rarely gets you through it. Price to the best comparable sale on your street and let the finish work sell the home quickly.
I'll send you the most recent closed sales in your part of Clairemont — the three or four that genuinely compare to your home, with a note on why each sold where it did. Ask for your comps.
These are the spots I actually send people to when they ask what Clairemont (Clairemont Mesa) is like. Nothing sponsored, no affiliate links — just places I'd go on a normal weekend.
park
I walk the canyon trails when I want 6.5 miles of open space without leaving the neighborhood; the nature center is a good first stop.
5180 Tecolote Rd, San Diego, CA 92110
trail
467 acres of canyon along flat, mostly shaded trails; I use the Genesee Ave entrance for a quick loop.
5491 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117
water
Bike path, beaches and bay shoreline along the western edge of the area; 27 miles of shoreline to roam.
2688 E Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
beach
Calm bay beach with a jogging and bike path, picnic tables and fire rings, just south of the Mission Bay Resort.
East Mission Bay Dr (south of Mission Bay Resort), San Diego, CA 92109
park
Home to a skatercross track and skate and bike terrain right on Clairemont Drive in Bay Park.
3401 Clairemont Dr, San Diego, CA 92117
shopping
Long-running comics and manga shop on Clairemont Mesa Blvd; I stop in for new releases and back issues.
5517 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Ste A, San Diego, CA 92117
market
Mediterranean and international grocery with a deli, bakery and halal meat counter; open every day 8 am to 9 pm.
5915 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111
food
Birria tacos, quesadillas and ramen on Genesee Ave; the consomme is the reason I go.
4310 Genesee Ave Ste 104, San Diego, CA 92117
coffee
Neighborhood roaster-cafe on Morena Blvd; I grab a morning coffee here before 2 pm closing.
4140 Morena Blvd Ste A, San Diego, CA 92117
food
Tasting room on Napier St with a rotating draft list; open since 2021 and a handy spot after a bike ride.
4112 Napier St, San Diego, CA 92110
Typical homes. Post-WWII tract homes, mostly built 1950s-1970s, largely single-story on curvilinear streets; some Minimal Traditional homes in Bay Park (1930s-40s); townhomes/condos along corridors.
Sources: sandiego.gov · en.wikipedia.org · sandiego.gov
| Downtown San Diego | 15-25 min |
|---|---|
| San Diego International Airport | 15-25 min |
| UTC / Sorrento Valley job centers | 10-25 min |
Approximate drive times, off-peak. Longer at rush hour.
Fire. About 73% of Clairemont is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (vs 65% citywide), per the Clairemont Community Plan Update staff report.
Other. Canyon systems (Tecolote, San Clemente) and hillsides; city park page warns of rattlesnakes, poison oak and mountain lions in open space. Liquefaction, landslide and airport-noise data not found.
Sources: sandiego.gov · sandiego.gov
Every sale includes a Natural Hazard Disclosure report for the exact address. To check an address yourself:
Clairemont is a large mesa-top community of mostly 1950s-70s single-story homes on curving streets, split by Tecolote and San Clemente canyons. Canyon trails, Mission Bay shoreline and Balboa, Genesee and Clairemont Mesa Blvd shopping corridors set a spread-out, car-friendly pace, with trolley service at the edges. Local spots include Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, Marian Bear Memorial Park, Mission Bay Park.
At the $1,159,498 median for the 92117 ZIP over the Redfin rolling window (Redfin), fixed closing costs run about $1,000 — county transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000 plus a natural hazard report around $125 — plus title and escrow, which scale with price. Add a 5% total commission and it is roughly $59,000 all-in. That is an estimate, not a quote.
About 73% of Clairemont is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (vs 65% citywide), per the Clairemont Community Plan Update staff report. Every sale includes a Natural Hazard Disclosure report for the exact address, and you can check any address yourself on the CAL FIRE and FEMA maps linked above.
Clairemont is mostly single-family, the tight side of San Diego's current market, and it benefits from buyers priced out of the coast. Well-updated homes on usable lots are drawing steady demand. Original-condition homes sell too, to buyers who price in the work.
Sometimes, but it's rarely a quick win. A finished, permitted ADU with rental history can add real value; a half-finished or unpermitted one can cost you. For most sellers, showing that the lot can support an ADU is the better move.
It can. Canyon-edge homes may carry a fire hazard severity zone designation, which must be disclosed, and some buyers are finding homeowners insurance harder to get or more expensive. Having your brush-clearance and insurance history ready keeps buyers engaged.
Bay Park sits on the western slope toward Mission Bay, so many homes have bay or ocean views and it's close to the trolley and I-5. View homes there usually command more than similar homes on the central mesa, and buyers often compare them with Point Loma.
Start with repairs and systems — roof, plumbing, electrical — then light cosmetic updates. Most Clairemont streets have a clear price ceiling, so a full remodel often costs more than it returns. I'll show you where your street tops out before you spend anything.
Tell me about the home and I'll build the number by hand from Clairemont comps. Your Equity Update lands within three business days — no drip campaign, no obligation. Prefer the full walkthrough? See the Equity Update page.
Neighborhood descriptions reflect Nate's experience selling in Clairemont and are general in nature — every home prices on its own comps. Nothing here is legal, tax, or insurance advice. Nate Higginbotham is a licensed California real estate salesperson, DRE #01993621, with Premier Agency. Equal Housing Opportunity.