Why Is It Sunny at My House and Foggy at the Beach? Understanding San Clemente’s Microclimates
After years of showing homes throughout San Clemente, I’ve learned that a few miles—or sometimes just a few streets—can make a surprising difference in the weather and how a home actually feels.
One of the things I love about San Clemente is our weather. But if
you’ve lived here for any length of time, you also know that the weather at
your house isn't necessarily the weather somebody else is having across town.
I've had plenty of mornings where it's gray and cool down by the
beach, and then I drive inland or up into the hills and suddenly I'm looking at
blue sky and sunshine.
That's just San Clemente.
I point this out to buyers because our different little
microclimates can affect more than whether you're wearing a sweatshirt in the
morning.
They can affect how often you use your backyard, how much
afternoon sun you get, how windy your deck is, how much natural light comes
into the house and even how much maintenance you may have from being closer to
the ocean.
It's one of those things that's easy to overlook when you're
focused on bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.
The Marine Layer Is Part of Coastal San Clemente
If you're looking close to the beach, you're going to hear people
talk about the marine layer.
Some mornings it burns off pretty quickly. Other mornings it hangs
around longer. And then there are those days when you can drive a few miles
inland and wonder where all the clouds went.
Areas closer to the coast—Southwest San Clemente, the Pier Bowl,
Central San Clemente and North Beach—generally feel more of that direct ocean
influence.
Personally, I don't think that's a negative.
There are buyers who love the cooler coastal air. They want to
open their windows, feel the ocean breeze and be close enough to hear the ocean
in certain locations.
Other buyers tell me, “Tom, I want sun.”
That one sentence can change where we look.
Head Inland and You May Notice a Difference
As you move away from the immediate coast and into the hills,
things can change.
Talega, Forster Ranch, Rancho San Clemente and other inland or
elevated areas can sometimes be sitting in sunshine while it's still gray
closer to the beach.
They can also feel warmer, especially later in the day.
I've driven across San Clemente enough times over the years to see
this firsthand. There are mornings when the difference is pretty remarkable
considering how small San Clemente really is.
But I would never tell someone that inland is “better” because
it's sunnier.
If your idea of living in San Clemente is walking down to the
beach in the morning with a cup of coffee, a little marine layer probably isn't
going to bother you.
It's about what you want your day-to-day life to feel like.
Sometimes a Few Streets Can Make a Difference
This is where San Clemente gets interesting.
It isn't only about how many miles you are from the ocean.
We have hills, canyons, slopes and ridgelines throughout town. A
house sitting higher on a hill can have completely different sun and wind
exposure than another property nearby.
I've shown homes where you step into the backyard and it's calm
and protected, and then you go to another property in the same general area and
immediately notice the breeze.
That's why I'm careful about making blanket statements about an
entire neighborhood.
I want to see the actual house.
Where does it sit? What's behind it? Is it elevated? Is it
protected? Which direction does it face?
Those details can matter more than the neighborhood name.
One of the First Things I Look at Is Which Direction the House Faces
This is something buyers don't always think about when they first
walk into a home.
They're looking at the kitchen. They're looking at the floors.
They're figuring out where the furniture is going to go.
I'm looking at those things too—but I'm also looking out the
windows.
Where is the sun? Which direction is the backyard facing? What's
the backyard going to feel like at 4:00 in the afternoon? Does the family room
get good natural light? If there's an ocean-view deck, is it protected or
exposed?
I've been doing this long enough that I automatically start
thinking about those things when I walk through a property.
And they're important because you can change a lot about a house
after you buy it.
You can't change which direction it faces.
Ocean Views Are Great, but I Look Beyond the View
I love a great ocean view as much as anybody.
But if you're paying a substantial premium for one, I want to know
exactly what you're getting.
Is the view from the main living areas or only from an upstairs
bedroom? Can you see the ocean while sitting down in the backyard, or do you
have to stand in one particular spot? What's between you and the water? Are
there trees or homes that could affect the view? And what does that beautiful
deck actually feel like in the afternoon?
I've walked onto ocean-view decks that are absolutely incredible.
I've also walked onto decks where the wind immediately becomes part of the
conversation.
Those are things a listing photograph isn't going to tell you.
The Ocean Air Comes With a Little Extra Maintenance
Living close to the ocean is one of the reasons people move to San
Clemente in the first place.
But salt air and moisture can be tough on certain materials.
I notice it on metal gates, railings, exterior light fixtures,
outdoor furniture and other exposed surfaces.
The closer you get to the ocean—and the more exposed the property
is—the more I want buyers paying attention to exterior maintenance.
Would that stop me from buying near the beach? Absolutely not.
But I'd rather have a buyer know about it before buying the home
than be surprised by it afterward.
That's really my philosophy with a lot of these things.
There isn't necessarily a good or bad answer.
I just want you to know what you're buying.
If You Love the Backyard, Go Stand in It
I mean that literally.
If one of the reasons you're excited about a house is the
backyard, patio or ocean-view deck, spend some time out there.
Don't just look through the sliding door.
Walk outside. Stand there for a few minutes.
Is it sunny? Is it windy? Can you hear traffic? Can you hear the
ocean? How private does it feel? Where is the sun going to be later in the day?
I've seen buyers spend 20 minutes discussing a kitchen they're
probably going to remodel and two minutes looking at a backyard they can never
move.
I think it should sometimes be the other way around.
Don't Judge a Home From One Showing
If you really like a property and have the opportunity, I'd rather
see you go back.
If you first saw it in the morning, take another look later in the
day.
That's especially true if you're buying the house because of the
outdoor space, natural light or view.
San Clemente can look and feel different throughout the day.
Go back and stand in the backyard again. Walk onto the deck. Look
at where the sun is. Pay attention to the wind.
If you're near the coast, notice the marine layer and moisture. If
you're farther inland, notice the temperature.
You're not trying to become a meteorologist.
You're trying to figure out what it will actually feel like to
live there.
So, Which Part of San Clemente Has the Best Weather?
I don't think there is one.
If you love cool mornings, ocean air and being close to the beach,
the coastal areas may be exactly what you're looking for.
If you tell me you want more sunshine and don't mind being a
little warmer on certain afternoons, I'll probably have you spend more time
inland and in the hills.
If you tell me you want an ocean view, sunshine, no wind, a big
backyard and walking distance to the beach...
Well, now you're making my job a little harder.
But that's also what makes looking for a home in San Clemente fun.
There are a lot of different ways to live here.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Clemente Microclimates
Is San
Clemente cooler near the beach?
Generally, yes. The ocean tends to moderate temperatures closer to
the coast. But I wouldn't judge a particular home based on that alone.
Elevation, wind, sun exposure, the marine layer and the home's exact location
can all affect how it feels.
Does Talega get more sunshine than the beach?
There are definitely days when Talega and other inland areas are
sunny while the immediate coast is still under the marine layer. But weather
changes from day to day, so I wouldn't promise a buyer that one neighborhood is
always sunnier than another.
Where is the marine layer strongest in San Clemente?
You'll generally notice more direct marine influence closer to the
coast, but the marine layer doesn't stop at a neighborhood boundary. Some days
it stays close to the ocean. Other days it reaches farther inland.
Does salt air really affect homes near the beach?
It can. With homes that have greater coastal exposure, I pay
closer attention to exterior metals, railings, gates, windows, light fixtures
and other materials that are regularly exposed to moisture and salt air.
Should the weather influence which San Clemente neighborhood I choose?
I think it should be part of the decision.
But I wouldn't choose a neighborhood based on weather alone.
The house, street, lot, view, lifestyle, beach access,
neighborhood feel and budget all matter too.
What I don't want is for you to buy a home and six months later
say, “I wish somebody had told me this.”
What I Tell My Buyers
After years of showing homes throughout San Clemente, I've learned
that some of the most important things about a house aren't necessarily the
things you notice in the listing photos.
The street matters. The lot matters. The elevation matters. The
direction the house faces matters. And how you plan to live in the house
matters.
I've watched buyers fall in love with beautiful kitchens and
remodeled bathrooms, and I understand why.
But here's what I try to remind them:
You can remodel the kitchen. You can replace the floors. You can
redo the backyard.
You can't turn the house around on the lot. You can't move the
ocean. And you can't change where the sun comes up.
Those are the things I want my buyers thinking about before they
buy.
If you're considering a home in San Clemente and you're not sure
which neighborhoods fit the way you want to live, give me a call. I'm always
happy to drive the different areas with you and show you the differences you
simply can't see online.
Tom Bertog
Tom Bertog Real Estate | San Clemente, CA
Serving Orange County since 1989
