With housing costs out of reach for many Americans according to the Urban Institute, barriers to home ownership have never been higher. Thankfully, one way of breaking into the crowded and expensive housing market is to buy into a master-planned community. Here, motivated developers are eager to reap investment returns and turnkey homes are priced similarly to existing, dated units on the market.
In the U.S., California is home to five of the nation's top-selling communities — including Rancho Mission Viejo and Great Park in Orange County. These developments also attract buyers to their scenic greenbelts, parks, and schools. Another planned suburb in the region is the hidden gem of Ladera Ranch, a residential community brimming with shops and hiking trails that's often overlooked for its coastal neighbors — such as Irvine, often ranked as America's safest city, or Newport Beach, home to surf and a legendary annual boat parade.
Begun in 1998, the 4,000-acre development sits on former cattle land of the vast Rancho Mission Viejo, about an hour south of Los Angeles. Bordered by San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch is a housing behemoth with 8,100 units structured into nine villages. Comprising a variety of prices and housing options — such as rental apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes — there's something for everyone. Avendale, Wycliff, and Oak Knoll villages, for example, offer family-friendly vibes with parks and tree-lined streets. Meanwhile, Bridgepark, Flintridge, and Township provide easy access to shopping and roadways. Finally, Terramor, Echo Ridge, and the gated enclave of Covenant Hills boast luxurious and innovative home designs and tranquility. Developers eschewed the region's traditional stucco and tile motifs, favoring Spanish, Tuscan, and cottage styles, and incorporated sustainability practices that make it one of the nation's largest solar communities.
Hike, skate, or sing at Ladera Ranch
Aside from feeling good in a community that values environmental concerns, you and your family will also feel good about the offerings at Ladera Ranch that will help you stay active and healthy. This includes everything from pickleball and basketball courts to disc golf, and a newly renovated aquatic park with multiple slides. Each neighborhood set-up differs, with some including parks (such as a skatepark), and others featuring playgrounds, pools, and clubhouses. To foster neighborhood connections, a mile-long, landscaped promenade links a number of the villages, which means residents can easily join and access social programs. Adult soccer and softball leagues, musical theatre, and even etiquette classes for youngsters represent just a sliver of the recreation available.
If you're not a joiner, you can get to know your neighbors at the annual July 4th celebration, during family campouts, or at the winter fest. For parents with school-age children, Niche ranks the area's public schools with an A+, with options like Chaparral and Oso Grande Elementary Schools, Ladera Ranch School (which houses an elementary and middle grades on campus), and San Juan Hills High School, just to name a few.
Lovers of the outdoors will also relish in the landscape, with access to 17 miles of hiking, running, and biking trails. Although some require more stamina than others, the trail system is pretty accommodating. A few standouts include the leisurely Craftsman Trail, a meandering sidewalk path through Oak Knoll Village that connects Dawnwood and Pleasanton Parks; the more demanding Ladera Ranch Trail, which follows the rim of the arroyo along a dirt road; and the 2.9-mile Sienna Botanica Trail, a popular loop that's open year-round.
Where to shop 'til you drop in Ladera Ranch
Urban dwellers who move to suburbs often bemoan the lack of everything in their new community, but Ladera Ranch delivers the goods with two shopping districts. Mercantile West combines the best of both worlds. Stop by for everyday errands like buying groceries, picking up prescriptions, getting a manicure, or picking up Thai food for dinner. For a more leisurely afternoon, pop into A Touch of Jane Boutique for affordable clothes and accessories, go wine tasting at Rancho Capistrano Winery, and cap off the evening with lasagna and chicken marsala at Joe's Italian Restaurant and Bar or fresh sushi and tempura at Choya Japanese Cuisine.
Need more retail therapy? Just 15 minutes away is the Irvine Spectrum Center, with its can't-miss Ferris wheel, improv club, and 160 stores that include household names like Nordstrom, Nike, and H&M. Alternatively, drive about 20 miles to The LAB Anti-Mall, a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, in Costa Mesa featuring art, murals, music events, and smaller stores — such as Buffalo Exchange, a thrifter's paradise — and unique eateries like Cuban favorite Habana.
That said, you might want to balance all that convenience with a careful look at your budget. The cost of living can be pricey, with median sale prices reported around $1.2 million, according to Redfin. The development is also located in a Mello-Roos jurisdiction, which adds a supplemental tax assessment to fund public infrastructure in newer developments, such as schools and roads. So, whatever the monthly HOA is — a Redditor mentioned it's around $250 a month for some homes — you'll need to factor in additional fees that can push monthly costs. Finally, residents on Reddit also complain about teenagers whizzing by on e-bikes, while others wish for more public transportation options.
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