Laguna Altura

Only a handful of communities in southern California offer tranquil suburban living with quick access to busier, larger cities. Laguna Altura is one of those places. Located on the east side of Irvine, this master-planned community is surrounded by picturesque canyon views with quiet streets, but it’s also right near major freeways I-5 and I-405. “It’s very accessible to Irvine because you’re right by the freeways, but you’re also very close to Laguna. There are a lot of things to do there, too. You'll never be bored," says Matt Tilley, Realtor with First Team Realty also known as "The British Bloke" on his real estate YouTube Channel.

Behind the 24-hour guarded gate, you will find four tracts spread across the 74-acre community: Cortona and Toscana, which feature single-family homes, and Siena and San Remo, which feature detached condos — all built in 2011 or later. As the tract names may suggest, Laguna Altura homes boast classic Mediterranean-style architecture, with stucco facades, barrel tile roofs, stone detailing and iron metal work on front windows. The single-family homes have five bedrooms and three to five bathrooms, with square footage ranging from 2,400 to 3,200 and prices ranging from $1.5 million to $3.3 million. Lot sizes range between 0.06 acres and 0.13 acres, and while front yards can run a bit small, there is still plenty of room for backyards with secluded patios and maybe even a pool. The detached condos range from 1,600 square feet to 2,200 square feet, with prices ranging from $1 million to $2 million and feature a variety of floorplans. Along with a 24-hour guard-gated entrance, Laguna Altura offers residents access to a clubhouse featuring a junior Olympic-sized pool, a kids’ splash pool, a 12-person jacuzzi, plus multiple picnic areas and barbecues that residents can reserve for entertaining friends and family.

There are many options for schools for Laguna Altura’s residents, both private and public. Students in public school may start their education journey at Alderwood Elementary, then head to Rancho San Joaquin Middle School and University High School, all a part of the Irvine Unified School District. Serving grades nine through twelve, University High is known for its rigorous curriculum and strong academic performance, scoring a 10 out of 10 on GreatSchools for students' test scores and college preparedness. Students also routinely win prestigious awards, like NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory competition which University High has won four out of the last five years. Nearby private schools include faith-based, Montessori and preparatory options.

There are many opportunities for residents to get outside and get fresh air. The Laguna Altura Trailhead, located just outside the second gate at Lake Forest Drive, is ideal for hiking or biking and offers canyon views. If you’re looking for more trails to explore, head a few miles south to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and find nearly 40 paths you can hike, bike or ride your horse along, which will take you through oak and sycamore woodlands and up onto ridges that offer expansive views of Orange County’s natural lands. Need something closer to home? There are multiple playgrounds within Laguna Altura that offer swings, slides and many things to climb on, plus a full basketball court and many green spaces.

Less than three miles from Laguna Altura is the Irvine Spectrum Center. This vast, open-air mall features hundreds of popular retailers like Apple, Old Navy and Target and serves as an entertainment hub for many in Irvine. There you can ride a Giant Wheel and see the whole city or an ornate carousel with a "menagerie" of animals. Kids can play in the Spectrum Climber, an 18-foot three-dimensional climbing sculpture. Check out live comedy at the Irvine Improv or catch the latest blockbuster at Regal Irvine Spectrum, which also features films in IMAX. Dining options are plentiful at the Irvine Spectrum Center, too. If you’re in the mood for authentic Chinese cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere, head to Capital Dim Sum, which offers popular dim sum dishes like shumai, shrimp har gow and steamed barbecue pork buns, as well as Alaskan king crab, French-style filet mignon or Peking duck at dinner. For weekend errands, head just two miles west to Quail Hill Shopping Center and find Albertsons, where you can pick up groceries, CVS for all your health care needs and popular restaurants, plus services like banks, an animal hospital, salons and more.

The I-5 and I-405 freeways will take you anywhere else in Orange County or Southern California you want to go. And if you need to go further, John Wayne Airport, which offers domestic flights and flights to Mexico and Canada, is less than eight miles away. From proximity to airports and freeways, to easy access to shopping to honest to god peace and quiet, Laguna Altura has it all.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

Ling Ge

Video By

Nathan Allen