By Payman Shilian | The Shilian Group | Powered by Compass
Disclaimer: This article about homes near UCLA is for informational purposes only and does not constitute real estate, financial, tax, or legal advice. University housing programs, loan terms, and eligibility requirements change regularly. Buyers should verify current program details directly with UCLA and consult qualified professionals for guidance specific to their situation.
Looking for Homes Near UCLA?
If you are searching for homes near UCLA, you are not alone. Every year, professors, physicians, researchers, administrators, and staff members relocate to Los Angeles. They come to join one of the world’s leading universities and healthcare systems.
With nearly 48,000 employees across UCLA and UCLA Health, the university is the largest employer on the Westside. It is also one of the largest employers in Los Angeles County. As a result, housing near UCLA remains one of the most sought-after segments of the West Los Angeles real estate market. For most UCLA-affiliated buyers, the challenge is not deciding whether to live near campus. Instead, it is deciding which neighborhood best fits their career stage, lifestyle, family needs, and long-term financial goals.
Who This Guide Is For
Whether you are a newly hired assistant professor, a UCLA Health physician with on-call responsibilities, a researcher relocating from another institution, or a staff member looking to shorten your commute, this guide is for you. Understanding Westwood’s neighborhoods, housing programs, and market dynamics can help you make a more informed decision.
As a Westwood resident and Westside real estate advisor with over 14 years of experience, I have closed 203 transactions totaling more than $210 million in career sales volume. I regularly help UCLA-affiliated buyers navigate the housing market surrounding campus. This guide covers where UCLA faculty typically buy homes and the best neighborhoods by budget. It also explores UCLA housing assistance programs, strategies for physicians, commute considerations, and long-term investment and tax planning.
Why UCLA Employees Choose Homes Near UCLA in Westwood
The short answer is proximity, convenience, schools, and long-term housing stability. UCLA employs approximately 48,000 people, and Westwood is the closest major residential neighborhood to campus. UCLA Health continues to expand its physician and medical staff footprint. In addition, eligible faculty may qualify for UCLA housing assistance programs, and many Westwood neighborhoods are within walking or biking distance of campus. Consequently, consistent demand from UCLA creates a reliable buyer pool that supports long-term property values.
Commute Time Matters More Than You Think
For many faculty and physicians, living close to campus is not simply a lifestyle preference. It is a professional necessity. Faculty members need to teach early classes, attend committee meetings, conduct research, meet graduate students, and participate in university events. Reducing a daily commute can add hundreds of hours back into a schedule each year.
For UCLA Health professionals, proximity becomes even more critical. Surgeons, specialists, and physicians with on-call responsibilities often prioritize housing that allows rapid access to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Health facilities. As a result, Westwood and adjacent neighborhoods attract a disproportionate share of medical professionals.
Strong Schools for Academic Families
Many faculty members relocate with young families, and Westwood offers access to highly regarded schools. These include Warner Avenue Elementary, Fairburn Avenue Elementary, and Westwood Charter Elementary, along with nearby private options such as Brentwood School and Mirman. My Westwood schools guide covers the full landscape for families evaluating their options. This combination of educational opportunities makes Westwood particularly attractive to academic households.
Long-Term Housing Stability
Unlike many neighborhoods that depend on broader market forces alone, Westwood benefits from an institutional anchor. Every year, new professors are hired, medical staff relocate, researchers join UCLA, and administrative leadership changes. This creates a consistent stream of potential buyers and helps support long-term housing demand across market cycles.
Academic Community
Faculty and staff who buy in Westwood often discover that their neighbors include colleagues, researchers, physicians, and fellow UCLA families. This professional and social network reinforces the neighborhood’s appeal and creates organic demand as new hires follow their colleagues into the same sub-neighborhoods.
Where Do UCLA Professors and Faculty Live?
One of the most common questions prospective faculty ask is where UCLA professors typically buy homes. Most faculty members focus on six primary areas, and my sub-neighborhood comparison guide covers each one in detail.
South of Wilshire
South of Wilshire is popular among professors, early-career faculty, and first-time buyers. The neighborhood offers walking distance to campus, more attainable entry prices, strong condo and townhome inventory, and easy access to Westwood Village. Many locations are only minutes from campus by bike, scooter, or car. For current pricing, my Westwood cost guide breaks down the market by area and property type.
Comstock Hills
Comstock Hills attracts professors, medical specialists, and growing families. The neighborhood offers larger homes on quiet residential streets, a family-oriented atmosphere, strong school access, and a short commute to campus. Indeed, Comstock Hills has become one of the most desirable neighborhoods for faculty families seeking additional space while maintaining easy access to UCLA. This is the neighborhood where you are most likely to run into colleagues at the local coffee shop or while walking children to school.
Little Holmby
Little Holmby appeals to senior faculty, department chairs, medical leadership, and university executives. The neighborhood offers estate-sized properties on larger lots with privacy and a prestigious location near campus. Many of the neighborhood’s homes sit just minutes from campus while offering a significantly different lifestyle than more densely populated areas of Westwood.
Westwood Hills
Westwood Hills combines scenic views, larger properties, and a residential atmosphere with access to both UCLA and the broader Westside. The neighborhood attracts buyers seeking a balance between convenience and privacy, and the biking distance to campus makes it practical for daily commuters.
Wilshire Corridor
For buyers preferring a luxury condominium lifestyle, the Wilshire Corridor remains one of the most attractive options near UCLA. Full-service buildings offer concierge services, enhanced security, luxury amenities, and lower maintenance responsibilities. Many physicians and busy professionals appreciate the lock-and-leave convenience that Corridor living provides.
Brentwood and Santa Monica
Although Westwood remains the most common choice, some UCLA-affiliated buyers prioritize lifestyle amenities over maximum proximity. Brentwood offers larger lots, excellent private schools, and a luxury housing stock. Santa Monica provides walkability, a coastal lifestyle, dining and entertainment, and ocean access. However, the tradeoff is a longer commute compared with living directly adjacent to UCLA.
UCLA Housing Programs Most Buyers Overlook
One of the biggest mistakes I see UCLA-affiliated buyers make is assuming they need to approach the housing market the same way as every other buyer. In reality, UCLA offers several housing-related programs that can significantly improve affordability, reduce upfront cash requirements, and create opportunities that many buyers never fully explore. Understanding these programs before you begin your home search can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.
UCLA Mortgage Origination Program (MOP)
The Mortgage Origination Program is one of the most valuable housing benefits available to eligible University of California faculty members. The program provides a first mortgage with an interest rate tied to the University of California’s Short-Term Investment Pool (STIP) plus an administrative fee. Historically, this structure has often produced rates that are competitive with or below conventional financing options.
However, many faculty members do not realize that MOP participation is not automatic. Eligibility is generally limited to Academic Senate Faculty, Senior Management Group members, and select university leadership positions. Most importantly, participation often requires departmental support or nomination. Accordingly, newly recruited faculty members typically have the greatest opportunity to negotiate MOP participation as part of their employment package. If you are currently negotiating a position with UCLA, discussing housing benefits before signing your offer may create opportunities that are difficult to obtain later.
Supplemental Home Loan Program (SHLP)
Another program that many UCLA employees overlook is the Supplemental Home Loan Program. The purpose is straightforward: reduce the cash needed for a down payment. For many faculty members relocating to Los Angeles, monthly income is strong, but accumulating a large Westside down payment can be challenging. In neighborhoods near UCLA, down payments often range from $200,000 to $600,000 and substantially higher for luxury properties.
The SHLP helps bridge that gap by providing supplemental financing that reduces the amount of cash required at closing. For many early-career faculty members, this can be the difference between continuing to rent and becoming a homeowner in Westwood.
Temporary UCLA Faculty Housing
Many newly hired professors feel pressure to buy immediately after relocating. In most cases, that is a mistake. UCLA offers temporary housing options near campus, including properties on Weyburn, Levering, and Wilkins near Westwood Village. These furnished apartments with month-to-month leases allow new faculty members to learn the market before making a major purchase decision.
I generally recommend that most newly recruited faculty spend 6 to 12 months learning Westwood before purchasing. The differences between Little Holmby, Comstock Hills, South of Wilshire, and the Wilshire Corridor are not always obvious during a quick relocation visit. Living in the area first often results in a better long-term housing decision.
Best Homes Near UCLA by Career Stage and Budget
One of the most common questions I receive is where to live if you work at UCLA. The answer depends on both your career stage and your housing budget.
Early-Career Faculty and Staff ($800,000 to $2 Million)
Many assistant professors, researchers, administrators, and first-time physician buyers begin their housing search in South of Wilshire, where walking distance to campus, strong condo inventory, and lower entry price points make it an attractive starting point. Many locations are only minutes from campus by bike.
The Wilshire Corridor also provides excellent value for busy professionals and physicians at this stage. Full-service buildings offer concierge, security, pools, and fitness centers with lock-and-leave convenience. Depending on building and unit size, prices range from approximately $600,000 for a one-bedroom to over $2 million for larger units. The overall Westwood buyer guide covers the full purchase process for first-time buyers in the area.
Mid-Career Faculty and Physicians ($2 Million to $5 Million)
As careers advance, housing priorities often change. Buyers typically seek more square footage, larger lots, additional bedrooms, home offices, and better outdoor space. This is where Comstock Hills becomes one of the most desirable neighborhoods near UCLA. The neighborhood offers quiet residential streets, larger homes, a family-oriented environment, strong school access, and excellent proximity to campus. Many faculty members appreciate the ability to bike, walk, or drive to campus in minutes while enjoying a traditional single-family neighborhood.
For many UCLA families, Comstock Hills represents the ideal balance between convenience and quality of life at this career stage.
Senior Faculty and University Leadership ($4 Million and Up)
Senior faculty, department chairs, deans, and medical leadership with established wealth and long-term commitment to UCLA often look toward Little Holmby and Westwood Hills. These areas offer estate-sized properties on large lots with the privacy and prestige that match a distinguished career.
Little Holmby properties typically start at $5 million and can reach $20 million for the largest estates. Many properties include guest houses, pools, and grounds that feel removed from the urban setting despite being minutes from campus. For senior faculty considering the long-term trajectory, the Prop 13 and Prop 19 tax strategy becomes increasingly relevant as a wealth-building tool.
UCLA Health Physicians: A Different Housing Strategy
Physicians often follow a different path than traditional faculty members. Medical careers typically involve on-call schedules, hospital responsibilities, emergency coverage, long shifts, and unpredictable hours. As a result, proximity often outweighs lifestyle preferences for this group. A surgeon who must reach Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center quickly may prioritize location more heavily than a faculty member who teaches several days per week.
Many UCLA physicians focus on Westwood for maximum proximity, the Wilshire Corridor for luxury and convenience, Little Holmby for larger homes near campus, Brentwood for additional space with a manageable commute, and Santa Monica for buyers prioritizing a coastal lifestyle.
Understanding Physician Income Growth
One factor many lenders and buyers overlook is the income trajectory of medical professionals. Physicians often carry significant student debt early in their careers and purchase their first home shortly after completing training. However, they typically experience substantial income growth within several years. This frequently leads to a two-home strategy: purchase near UCLA early in the career, then upgrade within three to five years as income increases. For anyone evaluating homes near UCLA, understanding this trajectory can significantly influence your initial purchase strategy and the neighborhoods you consider.
Commute Times from Popular UCLA Neighborhoods
For most buyers searching for homes near UCLA, commute time is one of the most important practical considerations. Those saved hours translate into more time with family, increased productivity, and a better overall quality of life.
Walking Distance
South of Wilshire and areas surrounding Westwood Village offer some of the shortest commutes to campus, often within walking distance. Benefits include no parking costs, no traffic, easy access to Westwood Village, and walkability to restaurants and services. For many faculty members, this is one of the most convenient locations in all of Los Angeles.
Biking Distance
Comstock Hills, Westwood Hills, and parts of Little Holmby allow many residents to reach campus within minutes by bicycle. Faculty members can avoid traffic, reduce transportation costs, and maintain flexible schedules. Notably, many faculty find biking faster than driving once parking and traffic are factored in.
Short Drive: Wilshire Corridor and Beyond
The Wilshire Corridor offers a unique alternative for UCLA-affiliated buyers. Full-service condominium living with security, concierge services, and luxury amenities comes with commutes that typically range from approximately 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic conditions. The continued expansion of public transportation options, including the Purple Line Metro extension, is expected to further enhance accessibility from the Corridor.
Why Many UCLA Employees Buy Homes Near UCLA Instead of Renting
A common question among newly recruited faculty and physicians is whether to rent or buy homes near UCLA. The answer depends on length of employment, career plans, available cash reserves, and housing goals. However, many UCLA employees ultimately choose ownership because of the long-term benefits.
Ownership offers equity accumulation, fixed housing costs, and long-term tax benefits. It also provides greater housing stability, potential appreciation, and the ability to customize the property. For professionals planning to remain at UCLA for many years, ownership can become a meaningful component of long-term wealth building.
Long-Term Wealth Building with Prop 13 and Prop 19
Many buyers of homes near UCLA are faculty members who spend decades at the university. As a result, one of the largest financial benefits of homeownership often has nothing to do with appreciation. Instead, it comes from California’s Proposition 13 property tax protections.
Under Prop 13, assessed values generally increase by no more than 2% annually, regardless of how much the property’s market value increases. Over a 20- to 30-year academic career, this can create substantial property tax savings. A faculty member who purchased a home decades ago may have a tax basis dramatically lower than current market value. The difference can amount to thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars per year in savings.
Prop 19 and Downsizing Opportunities
As faculty members approach retirement, housing priorities often change. Many homeowners eventually decide to reduce maintenance responsibilities, move closer to amenities, transition from a house to a condominium, or simplify their lifestyle. This is where Proposition 19 becomes especially important.
For qualifying homeowners, Prop 19 may allow the transfer of a lower property tax base to a replacement residence. This could potentially preserve years of Prop 13 tax benefits. This strategy is particularly common among longtime Westwood homeowners moving from Little Holmby, Comstock Hills, or Westwood Hills to luxury condominiums on the Wilshire Corridor. My downsizing guide covers the single-family-to-condo transition in detail, and the Prop 13 and Prop 19 guide explains the full tax framework. Before making any decision, homeowners should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals regarding their specific circumstances.
Sabbaticals and Strategic Real Estate Decisions
For faculty members, sabbaticals can create unique housing opportunities. Many professors choose to buy before a sabbatical, renovate while away, upgrade homes during career transitions, or sell and relocate during periods of increased flexibility. Planning housing decisions around sabbatical schedules can often reduce stress and improve timing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homes Near UCLA
Does UCLA help faculty buy homes?
Yes. Eligible faculty members may qualify for programs such as the Mortgage Origination Program (MOP) and Supplemental Home Loan Program (SHLP), which are designed to assist with housing affordability and recruitment. Both programs require departmental nomination and are used primarily as recruitment and retention tools.
What is the closest neighborhood to UCLA?
South of Wilshire and areas surrounding Westwood Village offer some of the shortest commutes to campus, often within walking distance. Comstock Hills and Westwood Gardens are within a short bike ride.
Where do UCLA doctors typically live?
Many UCLA physicians purchase homes in Westwood, Little Holmby, the Wilshire Corridor, Brentwood, and Santa Monica. The ideal location depends on budget, family needs, and on-call responsibilities.
What do homes near UCLA cost?
Homes near UCLA span a wide range of price points. Entry-level condominiums may begin below $1 million, while single-family homes in Comstock Hills typically run $3 million to $5 million. Larger estate properties in Little Holmby can exceed $10 million.
Is Westwood a good long-term investment?
Historically, Westwood has benefited from consistent housing demand driven by UCLA and UCLA Health. The university’s size, reputation, and ongoing growth help create a steady stream of prospective buyers. Past market performance does not guarantee future results, but the institutional demand provides stability that many other neighborhoods lack.
Is the Wilshire Corridor close to UCLA?
Yes. Most Wilshire Corridor buildings are only minutes from UCLA and offer an attractive option for buyers seeking luxury condominium living with convenient access to campus.
Which neighborhood is best for UCLA faculty families?
Many faculty families gravitate toward Comstock Hills, Little Holmby, and Westwood Hills because of their larger lots, family-oriented streets, and proximity to schools and campus.
Should I use UCLA’s Mortgage Origination Program or a conventional mortgage?
The answer depends on current interest rates, eligibility, long-term plans, and your personal financial situation. Buyers should compare both options carefully before making a decision and consult with a qualified mortgage professional.
Final Thoughts
Few markets for homes near UCLA and Los Angeles are as closely connected to a single institution as Westwood is to UCLA. The university’s world-class academic reputation, UCLA Health’s continued growth, and the concentration of faculty, physicians, researchers, and staff create a unique housing ecosystem that is unlike any other neighborhood on the Westside.
The right housing strategy begins with understanding the neighborhoods, programs, and opportunities available to you. From South of Wilshire condominiums and Wilshire Corridor high-rises to homes in Comstock Hills and estate properties in Little Holmby, Westwood offers housing options for nearly every stage of an academic or medical career. The overall Westwood 90024 market context provides the broader picture for buyers at any stage of this process.
Get Expert Guidance on Homes Near UCLA
If you are considering buying homes near UCLA, selling, downsizing, or relocating, I would be happy to help you evaluate your options. You can reach me at (310) 299-7655 or pshilian@compass.com.
Important Disclaimer
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, accounting, financial, lending, investment, Fair Housing, or real estate advice. Information regarding UCLA, UCLA Health, the Mortgage Origination Program (MOP), the Supplemental Home Loan Program (SHLP), faculty housing, employee benefits, mortgage programs, school information, commute times, property taxes, Proposition 13, Proposition 19, Measure ULA, and other housing-related matters is believed to be accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change without notice.
Eligibility requirements, loan terms, housing benefits, university programs, school attendance boundaries, transportation options, tax laws, and governmental regulations may change over time. Readers should independently verify all information directly with UCLA, UCLA Health, the University of California, applicable government agencies, lenders, school districts, tax professionals, attorneys, and other qualified advisors before making any financial or real estate decisions. References to neighborhoods, housing types, commute times, schools, amenities, pricing, market conditions, or buyer preferences are general observations and should not be interpreted as guarantees, predictions, recommendations, or representations regarding any individual, group, community, or property. We fully support all federal, state, and local Fair Housing laws. Housing decisions should be based on each buyer’s individual needs, preferences, financial qualifications, and independent evaluation of available properties and neighborhoods. Past market performance does not guarantee future results. Real estate values, interest rates, housing inventory, and market conditions may change. Buyers and sellers should consult their own professional advisors regarding their specific circumstances before making any real estate, tax, legal, or financial decisions.
About the Author
Payman Shilian
Compass Real Estate Agent · Wilshire Corridor & Westwood Specialist · CA DRE 01913874
Payman Shilian has worked the Wilshire Corridor and Westwood markets for 14 years, closing 203 local transactions totaling over $210 million in career sales. Building-by-building expertise across The Carlyle, The Remington, The Wilshire, Beverly West, and the 40+ buildings of the Millionaires’ Mile. Persian and Farsi speaking. Doctorate of Pharmacy from UC San Diego. Designated Realtor for the City of Beverly Hills. Member, National Association of Realtors and California Association of Realtors. Philanthropic involvement with Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Reach Payman directly: (310) 299-7655 · pshilian@compass.com · paymanshilian.com
Explore: Wilshire Corridor · Westwood 90024 · Downsizing Playbook · About Payman
