Encino

Encino is one of the most established and prestigious neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley, prized by families who want close proximity to West LA. It holds some of the Valley's largest lots and most established estates, and it has highly rated schools that make it a natural fit for buyers who work in the city but want to raise a family outside of it.

Worth Knowing Before You Buy

Encino's reputation for space is earned: many of its streets, particularly north of Ventura Boulevard, were built around larger, flatter lots than neighboring communities, which is part of why it remains one of the Valley's higher price points. Ventura Boulevard here leans more upscale than in neighboring Sherman Oaks or Tarzana, with a concentration of well-regarded restaurants.

Pricing in Encino also varies significantly from one pocket to the next. Encino Village carries a different price point and feel than the area south of Ventura Boulevard and east of Hayvenhurst Avenue, and buyers should expect real swings depending on the exact streets they're looking at. Lanai Elementary School is one of the most sought-after schools in the neighborhood, and it's part of why certain pockets command a premium. Buyers looking up into the hills can also find properties with genuinely beautiful valley views, something not every part of Encino offers.

Who Encino Is Best For

Encino is a strong fit for families prioritizing schools and lot size who still want a reasonable commute toward West LA. It's less of a fit for buyers looking for the most house for the least money, since the premium for the schools and location is real.

Did You Know?

Encino takes its name from the Spanish word for live oak, encina. Long before it was subdivided into residential lots, the natural spring at what's now Los Encinos State Historic Park served as a stop along the historic De Anza Trail, one reason the area has stayed continuously desirable longer than almost anywhere else in the Valley.

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