What makes one Westside condo sell for far more than another that looks similar online? If you are comparing homes in Westwood and Century City, small details can swing value by six figures. You want a clear, local playbook so you can price, negotiate, and buy with confidence. This guide breaks down the real drivers that move condo prices in these two prime Los Angeles neighborhoods and shows you how to evaluate any building or unit. Let’s dive in.
Market snapshot: Westwood vs. Century City
As of late 2025, public portals reported Century City condo medians in roughly the mid–seven figures and Westwood medians in the mid–one–to–high–one–million range. Treat those as broad signals and confirm with recent MLS comps. Building, floor, and orientation often matter more than the neighborhood average.
Why Century City commands premiums: it sits next to an active office core for legal, entertainment, and finance sectors. Ongoing leasing and fresh retail help support full‑service tower pricing near Avenue of the Stars, as recent local coverage notes about Century City’s office and retail momentum. You can see that context in the Los Angeles Times’ reporting on the Century City office and retail boom.
Why Westwood stays resilient: UCLA anchors daily life, from the campus to the Medical Center, and Westwood Village brings strong walkability. Travel and access details from the university show how central the campus is to the area’s rhythm, which underpins steady housing demand. For context, see UCLA’s directions and access overview and a sample Westwood Walk Score location page, where many addresses score in the 80s to 90s.
At the very top of the market, building reputation, views, and amenities create wide price dispersion between seemingly similar floor plans. That is especially true in Century City’s luxury towers.
The core drivers of value
Building age, reserves, and inspections
Post‑Surfside safety laws affect nearly every condo in California. Associations must inspect elevated exterior elements and budget for repairs under SB‑326 and SB‑721. These rules increase near‑term assessment risk in older buildings, which can weigh on pricing if reserves are thin. Review the association’s inspection status and timelines using a clear summary of SB‑326 requirements.
What this means for you:
- Older buildings may face special assessments if balconies or exterior elements need work.
- Healthy reserves and completed inspections often support stronger resale values.
- Ask for the latest reserve study and inspection reports in the HOA package.
Amenities, services, and HOA dues
Amenity packages shape demand. Full‑service buildings with 24‑hour staff, valet, pool, gym, and on‑site management often command premiums, especially near Century City’s office corridor. Lower‑service buildings can appeal to investors but may not achieve the same prices per square foot.
Monthly HOA dues and insurance trends matter to your purchasing power. Rising dues can affect loan underwriting and reduce the buyer pool, which in turn can soften pricing. For national context, see reporting on the growth of HOA‑associated listings and fee pressures in the U.S. housing market from StockTitan’s HOA coverage.
Location, walkability, and daily convenience
In Westwood, walkability around the Village and UCLA adds day‑to‑day value. In Century City, quick access to offices, Westfield shopping, and dining pushes demand for full‑service towers. Address‑level Walk Scores in both areas often hit the 80s, which many urban buyers prize for lifestyle efficiency. You can compare sample scores on Walk Score’s Westwood page and see how close many addresses sit to shops and services.
UCLA’s presence is a unique Westwood driver. The campus and Medical Center bring steady housing needs from students, faculty, and medical staff, which supports demand for a range of unit sizes. For orientation, review UCLA’s getting to campus resource.
Century City’s workday gravity also matters. Active leasing and refreshed retail can support pricing for nearby condos. Local coverage of the Century City office and retail boom helps explain why demand often stays durable there.
Transit: Metro D Line extension
The Metro D (Purple) Line extension is under construction and is planned to serve the Wilshire corridor, Century City, and Westwood. Transit access typically supports a modest premium for condos near stations, though schedules can shift. Check the project’s latest milestones on Metro’s Westside D Line Extension page and factor proximity into your long‑term value view.
Views, floor, layout, and parking
View and floor level premiums are real. Academic work on view amenities shows measurable price effects for superior sightlines, and local comps often confirm meaningful differences between lower and higher floors in the same stack. For background, see a hedonic analysis on the value of a view.
Layout is equally important. Open living, an ensuite primary, in‑unit laundry, and usable balconies can make two same‑size units trade at different prices. These features align with what many buyers say they want most, as noted by the National Association of Realtors’ consumer preferences overview.
Parking and storage add utility. In Westwood and Century City, deeded covered spaces and dedicated storage are meaningful pluses. Mechanical or tandem parking can be a discount for some buyers.
How to evaluate any Westwood or Century City condo
Use this quick checklist before you set pricing or write an offer:
- Recent comps: Pull closed sales from the past 6 to 12 months in the same building, including floor, view, plan, and price per square foot. If thin, add adjacent buildings with similar product.
- HOA health: Read the budget, reserve study, rules, rental policies, and insurance history. Look for planned special assessments and the current reserve‑funding level. For reserve concepts, see the Davis‑Stirling context in this continuing education overview.
- Inspections: Confirm SB‑326 and SB‑721 status, especially for older buildings with balconies or exterior walkways. Learn what is required at this SB‑326 explainer.
- Amenities and staffing: Note 24‑hour staffing, valet, fitness, pool, guest suites, and which services are included in dues.
- Unit specifics: Verify measured square footage, outdoor space, number and type of parking spaces, storage, and in‑unit laundry.
- Location factors: Pull the address Walk Score, check bus and future D Line proximity on Metro’s project page, and note commute times to UCLA or Century City offices.
Pricing examples to expect
- Same building, different floor: Two identical plans can trade very differently if one sits on a high floor with open views and the other faces a lower, shaded courtyard. The higher floor often commands a clear premium.
- Similar square footage, different layout: A 1,200‑square‑foot unit with an efficient plan, ensuite primary, and a usable balcony can out‑perform a same‑size unit with a chopped layout and no outdoor space.
- Amenity‑rich vs. low‑service: Full‑service towers near Century City’s office core often achieve higher prices per square foot than older, low‑amenity buildings, even within the same ZIP code, due to lifestyle value and staffing.
The bottom line for sellers and buyers
If you are selling, lead with clarity. Gather your HOA budget, reserve study, and any inspection reports so buyers can price risk accurately. Highlight views, layout advantages, and any recent building upgrades to justify your target number.
If you are buying, underwrite the building first, then the unit. Check inspection status and reserves, weigh HOA dues against your monthly budget, and compare floor, view, and layout to recent in‑building comps. Factor in walkability, UCLA or office‑area access, and the coming D Line as part of your long‑term value calculus.
Ready for building‑level insight tailored to your address and goals? Schedule a Consultation with Joel Cooper for a custom pricing review and strategy.
FAQs
What drives Century City condo prices right now?
- Proximity to the office core, full‑service amenities, and unit‑level factors like floor, view, and layout are key drivers, supported by active leasing and refreshed retail nearby.
How do HOA dues impact what I can afford in Westwood or Century City?
- Higher monthly dues reduce purchasing power and can narrow the buyer pool; factor dues, insurance, and any planned assessments into your monthly budget before setting price targets.
What is SB‑326 and why does it matter when buying a condo in Los Angeles?
- SB‑326 requires inspections of elevated exterior elements in condo buildings; results can trigger repairs or special assessments, which affect carrying costs and unit values.
Will the Metro D Line extension affect condo values near Wilshire, Century City, or Westwood?
- Transit access often supports modest premiums; check Metro’s project updates for timing and weigh station proximity into your long‑term value view.
Do walkability and UCLA proximity raise Westwood condo values?
- Many buyers pay more for convenient daily living; high Walk Scores and close access to UCLA and Westwood Village support demand for nearby condos.
How much do views and higher floors add to a condo’s price?
- Studies and local comps show meaningful premiums for superior views and higher floors, but the exact amount varies by building and recent sales history.
