French Valley

Modern homes and mountain views await in Dutch Village North. The neighborhood, also known as Winchester after the town's main road, is for the buyer with convenience in mind. Locals here have all their daily comforts close by and several desirable location-related benefits. More and more homebuyers are flocking to the move-in-ready residences in marvelous Murrieta Hot Springs. "It's exploded in the last decade," says John Shafer, Realtor at Inland Realty Services. This region offers lower taxes and a top-rated school district. "It's also one of the most affordable places to live in Southern California," Shafer adds.<br><br>Most properties date to the last 15 to 20 years, lined up neatly in widespread developments with closely trimmed yards and winding networks of sidewalks. These are stucco-sided Spanish-style homes with spacious floorplans provide a sought-after turnkey move-in experience. Homeowners also enjoy HOA amenities with enviable $10 monthly dues. If you're sold on securing a spot here, you can get in with a $550,000 budget, which buys a four-bedroom home with about 2,000 square feet of living space. Price points climb into the upper $600,000 range for designs with larger layouts and newer renovations. <br><br>"Temecula and Murrieta are almost out of land to develop on," says Jake Fioresi, Realtor at Abundance Real Estate. Dutch Village North listings typically find a new owner within a couple of weeks.<br>Many kids living in Dutch Village North start their education journey at Lisa J. Mails Elementary and continue to Dorothy McElhinney Middle before earning their diplomas from Vista Murrieta High. Each public school touts a sky-high A- score or better on Niche and is less than 10 minutes from Dutch Village North locals. The nearby charter schools are also highly regarded for families interested in exploring alternative education options. The local library is across the street, which fills with kids after school, taking classes and tackling homework assignments. <br><br>Dutch Village North is anchored on both ends by grassy parks with playgrounds, a popular spot to bring the kids and dogs at the end of the day. You can also hop on the greenway trail from Leon Park for a long walk or bike ride. For a full day outdoors, Dutch Village locals travel south to Lake Skinner, where visitors come to fish, hike and boat around the lush wetlands. Many community events are also hosted here, like the popular Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, when the hot air fliers hover over vendors and guests during live music performances. <br><br>The French Valley Village Center is a shopping hub off the main drag, less than 2 miles away, where locals visit Stater Bros. Markets for groceries and pick up meals to-go from the many surrounding fast-food stops. Skybox Grill is stationed here, the neighborhood sports bar. You'll find locals dining on pub fare with over-the-top cocktails. Wongz Donuts is another hot spot next door, serving oversized treats to hungry patrons. Dutch Village North residents can visit the new Costco nearby to stock up on bulk items. "You're also 10 minutes from Promenade Mall," Fioresi says. With increased housing demands, locals expect more commercial development in the future. "With new builds means new shopping," Fioresi adds. <br><br>Dutch Village North locals are a 5-mile ride from Murrieta Hot Springs' city center and less than 10 miles from Temecula. "You're halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego - so you can commute either way," Shafer says. Interstate accessibility helps residents travel around the region. "You're also about an hour from the mountains and an hour from the ocean," Shafer adds about this well-positioned locale. If you're in the market for a spacious SoCal stay with nearby amenities, explore Dutch Village North.

Located in southwestern Riverside County, Dutch Village South is a planned bedroom community just eight miles from Interstate 15 and the tech-heavy 215 Corridor. Its proximity to Temecula's renowned wine country is just one of the perks of living there. The area is popular for its relaxed atmosphere combined with proximity to nearby attractions. Top-ranked public schools, natural beauty and a convenient location attract families, nature lovers, and commuters seeking insulation from the Inland Empire's busyness. Homes in Dutch Village South sell for less than those in nearby Temecula or Murrieta. Listings are rare and sell within 30 days for $500,00 to $700,00, with a median home price of around $580,000. Large, front-facing garages accommodate two or three cars, and many homes use solar panels. Its cohesive streetscape features three- and four-bedroom Spanish Contemporary, ranch-style and Craftsman homes. Above the tiled rooflines, tall palm trees peek over homes arranged along curving streets and cul-de-sacs lined with local grasses and sculpted bushes. Students in the area are part of Temecula Valley Unified School District, which has an A rating on Niche. Students start school at French Valley Elementary School and continue at Bella Vista Middle School, both of which have an A rating. Students wrap up their secondary academic journey at Chaparral High School, which has an A rating. Chaparral's ADA-accessible aquatic complex includes a 25-yard by 25-meter competition pool, which is open to the public during the summer months. Temecula Valley Charter School, which has an A-minus rating, offers a private option for kindergarten through eighth grade. Commuters to Riverside, Orange County and San Diego use Interstates 15 and 215 to get to work. Although Riverside is less than 40 miles away, it can take an hour to 90 minutes to get there. The 60- to 70-mile drive to Irvine or San Diego can take one to two hours, depending on traffic. Interstate improvements are underway to help relieve gridlock. Diners can zip to many eateries within five miles. Many restaurants, including national chains, dot State Route 79/Winchester Road. The French Valley Village Center, also along Winchester Road, is a shopping hub for area residents, has several fast-casual restaurants to choose from, and is a convenient place for residents to get groceries at State Bros. Markets. Residents can walk to Rustico Ristorante and Pizzeria to dine al fresco on made-from-scratch Sicilian cuisine. For some time outdoors, residents head to seven-acre Crown Valley Park, a popular recreation area just outside the neighborhood. The park has a variety of sports courts and fields and welcomes visitors to bring baseball bats, tennis shoes, headbands for basketball and cleats to run up and down the soccer pitch. Park-goers also have access to a playground for the kids.

With a name as elegant as Quinta Do Lago, which translates roughly to "The Lake Estate," one could have high expectations for this suburban neighborhood. Fortunately for homebuyers looking for a quaint suburb in Southern California, this community lives up to the hype, according to Denise McFarland. “It’s a very family-friendly, relaxing, slower-paced neighborhood,” says McFarland, the broker and owner of Community Realty, who has sold multiple homes here. “There are a lot of walking paths and bicycle paths throughout the community. The wineries are nearby. Lake Skinner is nearby, which also has a big park.” Quinta Do Lago blends suburban convenience with natural recreation, including small local parks and large scenic lakes. Homebuyers here also benefit from being in the highly rated Temecula Valley Unified School District while paying less for their homes than in nearby neighborhoods in Temecula. Several parks provide plenty of recreation for Quinta Do Lago residents. Emerald Park is a 7-acre green space popular for sports, with baseball and soccer fields. The park also has two basketball courts and a playground. The Pourroy Fields are located in the neighborhood’s northern end and offer plenty of room for soccer games, with six fields spread across 9 acres. Residents also have larger recreation spots nearby, including two scenic lakes. “Diamond Valley Lake is near the neighborhood, and it’s beautiful. You can go boating, fishing and hiking, but no swimming. They actually found the bones of a Woolly Mammoth in Diamond Valley Lake,” says Jennifer Conklin, the team lead of Conklin Luxury Group with Allison James Estates & Homes. Diamond Valley Lake is about 8 miles north of the neighborhood and has plenty of room for outdoor activity. Swimming is not allowed because the lake is used as a municipal water source. However, the aquatic center near the lake on Searl Parkway has a swimming pool, splash pad and water slides. The Western Science Center is a museum with several exhibits, including fossils found in the lake. Lake Skinner Recreation Area is also close to the neighborhood, about 9 miles to the west. Swimming isn't allowed here either, but there's plenty of room for picnicking, hiking and fishing. Quinta Do Lago provides residents easy access to shopping and dining thanks to its location on Winchester Road, the main thoroughfare between Temecula to the south and communities like Winchester and Green Acres to the north. Groceries are available at multiple stores, including a Stater Bros. on Benton Road and a Grocery Outlet on Winchester Road. The Promenade Temecula is just 7 miles south on Winchester Road, giving residents access to various popular chain stores, like Macy’s, JCPenney and Pottery Barn. The large mall also has a Regal Theater, where residents can catch the latest blockbusters. McFarland recommends French Valley Café for a meal out. This casual spot is located in the French Valley Airport; diners can watch the planes land and take off as they enjoy classic breakfast dishes. Rustico Ristorante & Pizzeria is a popular Italian restaurant serving traditional cuisine in an upscale dining room with exposed brick and hardwood floors. Homes in Quinta Do Lago are primarily New Traditional suburban houses. Most have Spanish features, like tile roofs and stucco or adobe siding, and often have two stories. The neighborhood also has a mix of ranch-style houses. Built-in garages are common, often with room for up to three cars. The homes are built close together on neighborhood streets with wide sidewalks that offer walkability through the community. Three-bedroom houses typically cost between $550,000 and $650,000, while four-bedrooms can cost between $600,000 and $700,000. Students in Quinta Do Lago might attend Susan La Vorgna Elementary School, Bella Vista Middle School and Chaparral High School, each rated an A-minus by Niche. The high school serves approximately 3,000 students and is ranked in the top 10% of all high schools in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Chaparral has been named a California Gold Ribbon School and is consistently rated as one of the best academic schools in Riverside County by Niche. Students can study various career and technical education pathways, including arts, health science and information technology. The school also offers a Navy JROTC program. Winchester Road on the neighborhood’s west side makes it easy for residents to get around Riverside County. The road provides a direct route for the 7-mile drive south to Temecula or north to Winchester and Green Acres. Interstate 215 is about 5 miles west of the neighborhood and gives locals another route through the region. Riverside is approximately 36 miles northwest using I-215. Riverside Transit also has a bus route that passes through Quinta Do Lago, running north-to-south through the area with stops on Thompson Road, Cloche Drive and Pourroy Road.