Lake Forest is a suburban city sitting just east of Irvine. It's named for the natural features that are integral to its residential developments. "There are a lot of big, fully grown trees that make the streets feel very mature," says Cayenne Kuang, a broker with Spectrum Realty, who's been selling in the Irvine area since the 1990s. Pines and cedars line the city's main drives and shade grassy lawns within communities. Plus, the Santa Ana Mountains north of the city are home to the Cleveland National Forest. Within the city's neighborhoods, residents enjoy the perks of suburban life. "People who move here really care about the communal amenities," says Kuang. "They like having all the activities around them." Many communities have pickleball courts, pools and green space, and if they don't, a city park is usually less than a mile away.
Lake Forest's real estate blends scenic lakes, lush forests, and rolling hills.
Nearby golf courses offer scenic fairways and a wonderful experience for all players.
Homes in Lake Forest have a stunning view of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The Lake Forest Sports Park has a playground for children of all ages to enjoy.
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Community parks and hiking the Santa Ana Mountains
With over 30 parks in Lake Forest, this town has a lot more to offer than its two neighborhood lakes. Most of these spaces are walkable from nearby neighborhoods or even have connecting trails, a result of intricate planning by the city. Maybe the most popular option is Lake Forest Sports Park, just south of state Route 241. This athletic hub hosts 1,200 attendees at its monthly open gym, and 57 of its 86 acres are devoted to multiuse fields and a recreation center; this makes it one of the biggest sports parks in Orange County. For even more fun, residents could roam around the eucalyptus grove at Serrano Creek Park, and kids can climb a rock-walled playground at Cherry Grove Park. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, toward the Santa Ana foothills, has a bit more open space — 2,500 acres to be exact. Scenic formations along these 17 miles of trails are sure to impress, especially the colorful crags at Red Rock Canyon, and history buffs can find remnants of cattle ranches scattered throughout the park. Lake Forest's climate is friendly to year-round hiking. Temperatures hover around 60 degrees through most months and top out around 70 degrees in the summer.
The Lake Forest Sports Park features multiple fields for soccer, baseball, and more.
Serrano Creek Park offers serene trails, lush greenery, and peaceful picnic spots.
Cherry Park is the perfect family destination for fun in the sun.
Lake Forest's median single-family home price is just over $1 million. This is high compared to national averages, but less expensive than nearby Irvine, which has a median single-family price of over $2 million. Lake Forest is a suburban city comprised of residential developments like Lake Forest Shores, where New Traditional and Mediterranean-style homes sit around human-made lakes. Communities on the city's north end, like Foothill Ranch, provide more extensive views of the Santa Ana Mountains to the north. Prices fluctuate within communities. Most homes are around the median prices, but a modern new build on the next street can cost over $2 million. New developments have set the tone for rising prices, like Baker Ranch just off state Route 241, where many homes approach $3 million.
Larger, Spanish and Mediterranean-style homes can be found in the Lake Forest neighborhood.
The city is named after its two man-made lakes surrounded by lush forest areas.
Foothill Ranch boasts stunning mountain views and a charming suburban vibe.
This Baker Ranch two-story Craftsman emphasizes handcrafted and artisanal details.
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A-rated Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Lake Forest is part of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which gets an overall A rating from Niche. Schools like A-rated La Madera Elementary are walkable from many homes. Lake Forest's Oxford Preparatory Academy is a highly touted public charter option. It's given an A-plus from Niche and ranked the No. 3 best charter elementary school in California. The University of California, Irvine, only 10 miles from Lake Forest, is one of the top 10 public universities in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
La Madera Elementary School is located in Lake Forest and serves students K-6.
Oxford Preparatory Academy provides a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for college.
The University of California, Irvine is a prestigious campus near Lake Forest.
Aldrich Park is centrally located on the UCI campus, offering serene green space.
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Foothill Ranch Towne Center and other nearby malls
Lake Forest isn’t known for its nightlife, but its shopping districts provide all-day entertainment. Foothill Ranch Towne Center is within walking distance of some northern homes and houses more than 80 stores and fast-food chains. Foodies can eat around the globe at its Food Festival Food Court, which has Japanese, Brazilian, Italian and more. Restaurants in The Orchard shopping mall are similarly eclectic: anything from Mediterranean kebabs to down-home barbecue, next to more big-box shopping. Rancho Santa Margarita Town Center is another option, just east of state Route 241. Art lovers can find comfort here with Ovations Performing Arts Conservatory and Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, but if they want more entertainment, they can head five miles west to Irvine Spectrum Center’s Ferris wheel and mall. Newport Beach’s galleries and studios are 18 miles south.
The Giant Wheel is an iconic structure of Irvine Spectrum that has beautiful city views.
Balboa Island Art Walk is a great place for artist to get out and show their masterpieces.
Enjoy some barbecue at Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ in Lake Forest.
Dining options are plentiful at the Foothill Ranch Towne Center.
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Commute to Irvine or San Diego
Interstate 5 runs along the city's south side. Commuters can take it 10 miles west to Irvine, home to many of Orange County's tech and finance companies. Irvine Industrial Center borders the city's west side. It's home to many logistics centers, tech companies and manufacturers. The headquarters of Oakley Sunglasses is located on the city's north side, just off state Route 241. There are Orange County Transit Buses running on the city's main thoroughfares, but most residents rely on a car to get around. Downtown LA is about 50 miles up the 5, and San Diego is about 80 miles south. John Wayne Airport — just over 10 miles away in Santa Ana — is the closest spot for regional flights.
Silverado Fire precautions and low crime
This region’s dry Santa Ana winds can escalate wildfires and sometimes lead to evacuations. In October 2020, the Silverado Fire burned nearly 14,000 acres of forest and encroached into the Irvine area, incited by 80-mile-an-hour gusts. Southern residents just saw the smoke, but those in mountainside communities faced the blaze closer to home: of the 70,000 homes evacuated in greater Irvine, 6,000 of them were in Lake Forest. Residents should follow ordinances by the Orange County Fire Authority and CalFire, in addition to signing up for text notifications via AlertOC and Nixle.
According to FBI data, Lake Forest's crime rates are consistently well below state and national averages. Through 2023, Lake Forest had an average monthly violent crime rate of 39 offenses per 100,000 people, compared to California's monthly average of 104 offenses per 100,000 people.
Calvin Gong is the founder of Pinnacle Real Estate Group, a dynamic and innovative real estate brokerage. Under his leadership, the company has grown to encompass over one thousand licensed California Real Estate Sales Agents and operates from three strategic locations: its headquarters in Arcadia, and additional offices in the City of Industry and Irvine. Calvin was also a repeat recipient of Re/Max’s Global Super Agent, Real Trends and AREAA Awards and the leader of The Advanced Super Team at Pinnacle, the #1 Asian-American Real Estate Top Team, who has been extremely successful for the past years and is also the most productive team in the Real Trends US Top 10 Team. In 2023, The Pinnacle Real Estate Group has recorded a total sale of 2,630 properties.
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