Carmel area  /  High Meadows

A Carmel neighborhood

High Meadows, up the hill, close to town.

High Meadows sits on the hill just east of Highway 1, a few minutes above Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s in unincorporated Monterey County, with a mix of single-family homes and condo communities, wooded settings, and from some homes views across Carmel Valley toward Point Lobos and the ocean. If you’re looking at High Meadows homes for sale, here’s what I’d tell a friend first.

Map of the High Meadows neighborhood, on the hill east of Highway 1 above Carmel
High Meadows, roughly outlined. Boundaries are approximate.
At a glance
Jurisdiction
Unincorporated Monterey County, just east of Highway 1
Schools
Carmel Unified (confirm by address)
Coastal zone
Generally no; it falls under the county’s Greater Monterey Peninsula plan (confirm by parcel)
Walk to
Mostly a drive; Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, and Monterey are all close
The feel
Quiet and wooded, with single-family homes and condos
Day to day

What it’s like to live in High Meadows

It’s a private setting that keeps you close to everything.

  • No through trafficHigh Meadows doesn’t lead to any other neighborhood, so once you’re here there are very few cars passing through. That’s a big part of the appeal.
  • Views for the valueMany homes have forested views, and some look across Carmel Valley to the south or toward Point Lobos and the Pacific. In my experience, the value for a view here is strong.
  • Condo choicesThere are several condo communities, including the High Meadow complex, the condos on High Meadow Lane, and High Meadow Outlook, with vaulted ceilings and a more wooded feel. None of them come to market often.
  • Easy to lock and leaveWhether you want a custom home with ocean and mountain views or a condo you can lock up and leave, Highway 1 is right there.
Straight talk

What to know before buying here

None of this should scare you off. It’s just much easier to plan for up front than to discover in escrow.

01

County rules, not the town’s

High Meadows is in unincorporated Monterey County, under the county’s Greater Monterey Peninsula plan, so permits and planning go through the county.

My advice: don’t assume what you’ve heard about the village applies here. I’ll help you check.

02

Read the HOA documents

For condos, and some single-family homes, the HOA shapes daily life: dues, reserves, rules on rentals, pets, and remodels.

My advice: we’ll go through the budget, reserves, and rules before you commit.

03

Views and trees

Views are a big part of the value, and they can change as trees grow or neighbors build. Removing protected trees can need a county permit.

My advice: we’ll look at what could change around the home, not just what you see today.

04

Fire and insurance

Wooded hillsides around the Peninsula can be mapped in fire hazard zones, which can affect insurance and building requirements.

My advice: check the current CAL FIRE map for the address and get insurance quotes during your inspection period.

Rules change, so we’ll confirm current requirements with Monterey County for any home you’re serious about. Check with Carmel Unified School District for school assignments.

Keep exploring

Nearby neighborhoods

A head start

Seeing High Meadows homes before they hit the market

Condos and homes in High Meadows come up fairly infrequently, so an early look matters. Compass is now part of the same family as Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s International Realty, Corcoran and more, so I can see coming-soon listings from those brokerages too.

Jonathan Balog
Let’s talk

Curious about High Meadows? Let’s talk it through.

Tell me what you’re picturing, and I’ll tell you honestly what it takes to get there: what to watch for and what a fair price looks like. No pitch.

Prefer to text? 831-747-0310 · [email protected]

Selling too? Start with a no-pressure home valuation, and we’ll plan both moves together.