They’ve got connections
Surrounded by rugged ridgelines and arroyos, this south Orange County master-planned community has hiking trails, water parks and a skate park. For many Ladera Ranch residents, it’s like being on a perpetual family vacation.
Beginnings
From humble beginnings as land used to ranch cattle and grow barley and black-eyed peas came the 4,000-acre Ladera Ranch master-planned community, bordered by the 5 Freeway, Antonio Parkway, Oso Parkway and Ortega Highway.
Since the debut of Oak Knoll in 1999, Ladera Ranch’s first “village,” eight distinct villages and districts have been developed. The community now has about 8,100 homes, including four apartment complexes and three complexes for those 55 and older.
What’s it about?
Imagine a self-contained suburb with a strong community adhesive surrounded by 1,800 acres of rustic hills, orchards and shrubbery.Ladera Ranch’s villages and districts are woven together with a network of trails, parks and paseos, placing residents within walking distance of recreational areas and shopping centers. Ladera Ranch’s amenities include five village clubhouses, a skateboard park, water parks, pools, tennis courts, a 24-acre sports park, a dog park, outdoor fireplaces, community citrus orchards, grassy parks with benches and gazebos, and online access to “LaderaLife,” offering community news, event calendaring and message mail.
Housing stock
Ladera Ranch’s luxuries come with a relatively modest price tag compared to the rest of Orange County. A 1,000-square-foot condominium in the Martino complex built in 2003 is listed at around $400,000. It has one bedroom, 1 1/2 bathrooms and a fireplace. Homeowner association dues are $165 a month.
A 2002 single-family English Tudor in the Avendale Village with 2,554 square feet is listed at $976,000. Dues are $202 a month. It has four bedrooms, a den, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a built-in barbecue and a fountain.
An 8,441-square-foot Mission-style home built in 2005 in guard-gated Covenant Hills is listed at $5.9 million. Monthly dues are $405. There are 232 custom homes in Covenant Hills, including some as large as 27,000 square feet. This one has six bedrooms, five bathrooms, two outdoor living areas with fireplaces, a saltwater pool with infinity edge, a rim-flow spa and a basement wine cellar with tasting room.
Insiders’ view
Ladera Ranch is “a very tight-knit community” predominantly made up of young families, said June Radke, who has been selling homes for 18 years and is a community sales specialist for Ladera Ranch Realty.
“A lot of people think that Ladera Ranch is Bumble Town, U.S.A., but it’s not,” Radke says of the community’s slow-paced nature. Whether it’s a carnival at Founders Park, summer-night movie screenings and concerts at the Village Green or a festival like “The Taste of Ladera,” residents say they like the amusement-park-style perks.
“We like the amenities, the architecture and the overall feel,” say six-year residents Ricardo and Neriza Flores.
“My kids tell me that Ladera Ranch feels like its own little island,” says three-year resident Joy Wright. Her children are 12, 10 and 5 years old.
Front porches and pocket parks offset small yards and the proximity of homes. But commuters beware. With only Interstate 5 connected to Crown Valley Parkway and the 241 toll road connected to Oso Parkway, driving during peak hours can be frustrating.
Report card
Ladera Ranch is served by the Capistrano Unified School District. Children from kindergarten through fifth grade attend Chaparral Elementary, which scored 899 out of a possible 1,000 on the 2005 Academic Performance Index Growth Report. Ladera Ranch Middle School and Tesoro High School scored 803 and 810, respectively.
Historical values
Residential resales:
Year...Median Price
2000...$315,5002001...$373,000
2002...$479,750
2003...$570,500
2004...$735,000
2005...$946,500
Sources: DataQuick Information Systems; June Radke of Ladera Ranch Realty; https://www.laderaranch.com , https://www.ranchomissionviejo.com , https://www.realtor.com .
