Highland

It's rare you find a home with shopping centers and mountain ranges in your backyard. Smack-dab on top of the Highland highway junction, Crossroads is accessible - and sightly. Residential housing clusters in the crooks of the curved highway tendons, flanked by busy commercial plazas. House hunters will find everything from sturdy ranch styles to spacious new builds and well-built manufactured homes here. The area's housing diversity in size, style and price point draws a large pool of buyers. "We have a lot of buyers relocating from Orange County and Los Angeles for the relative affordability," says Connie Olazaba, Realtor at EGA Homes. <br><br>Well-maintained manufactured homes sell for $150,000, while condos with compact floor plans go for closer to $300,000. Spacious single-family residences typically range from $400,000 to $500,000, fluctuating with square footage, location and level of upkeep. Brand new builds fly off the market at $700,000 to $800,000, with buyers paying a little extra for a turnkey move-in experience and contemporary finishes. The housing market ebbs and flows with the neighborhood's wide variety of housing, but most properties sell for the listing price within a month. <br><br>There's a school on almost every block of this San Bernardino suburb. Crossroads students on the public school track can attend the walkable Thompson Elementary before continuing to Beattie Middle and earning their diplomas at Indian Springs High, both about a 2-mile ride away. The high school's expansive multi-building campus holds almost 3,000 students, many of whom are athletes. When they're not in the classroom, you'll find Indian Springs students practicing on the track or the outdoor tennis and basketball courts. The girls' soccer team was also the second runner-up in the 2022 championship game. <br><br>When Crossroads locals need fresh air, they head to Speicher Memorial Park behind San Gorgonio High. The grassy spread's wide stretch of space fills with uniformed kids playing sports on the weekends, with little ones puttering around the playground. Dogwalkers do laps around the track while the community gathers for outdoor movie nights and holiday celebrations. Crossroads residents can also head north toward the mountains for a day exploring the nature preserves and scenic overlooks. "You're also not too far from Disneyland and Universal Studios," Olazaba adds. <br><br>Crossroads residents don't need to travel far for their weekly errands. Stater Brother's Markets is in town for grocery shops, and you'll find pharmacies, retail and restaurants packed into the shopping centers on each corner of the community. For a night out and a little local flavor, find Mi Cocina, a spacious outdoor-indoor spot with live music that's been going strong for over 30 years. 3D Donut is another mom-and-pop shop that gets rave reviews for its chocolate-filled and sprinkle-coated pastries. <br><br>Connectivity is critical for Crossroads buyers. The suburb is 6 miles from Downtown San Bernardino's employment centers and businesses. Residents here are also less than 5 miles from the airport and roughly an hour outside buzzing Los Angeles. Most locals drive to work, but Omnitrans buses also serve the area with stops along the neighborhood's perimeter. For suburban convenience and a wealth of housing styles at a variety of budgets, head toward the highlands and explore Crossroads.

About 5 miles east of San Bernardino is Highland, a city of about 56,000; within Highland lies the neighborhood of Cypress. Here, the distant San Bernardino Mountains create a peaceful backdrop for the neighborhood, whether they are a shade of hazy blue or capped with snow. Residents can walk to the library, the elementary school and several parks from their house, condo or apartment. Though it’s just one mile across, Cypress offers a variety of housing types, recreation opportunities and community resources. Streets are lined with sidewalks and the occasional palm tree. Home sizes and styles vary depending on the subdivision – some with simple one-story layouts, and others much larger, with built-in garages and elaborate landscaping. When it comes to single-family homes, Spanish-styles and ranch-styles with neutral palettes dominate the neighborhood. Prices range from $330,000 to $540,000. Manufactured homes cost between $38,000 and $80,000, while condos go from $205,000 to $285,000. Housing stock is limited, and listings find new owners within a month or so. "There are a lot of investment opportunities here; it's a little more affordable than Riverside," says Connie Olazaba, Realtor at EGA Homes with over 8 years of experience. Apartments, multifamily housing and land parcels also make up the residential landscape. When it comes to eating out, RamenKoko serves big bowls of its brothy namesake dish. Next door, Jenny’s Diner offers an authentic and nostalgic 1950s diner experience. For household essentials and bargains, Family Dollar lies within the neighborhood, while groceries at Cardenas Markets are a few blocks west of Cypress. Ross Dress for Less and Walmart are about 3 miles north along East Highland Avenue. Cypress Elementary is at the center of the neighborhood. It serves Kindergarten through Grade 6 and is rated C-plus on Niche. Students continue to Serrano Middle, rated B-minus, before attending Indian Springs High, rated B-minus. The high school’s Performing Arts Center has been recognized by American School & University Magazine for its design excellence. It seats over 500 people and features an orchestra pit. There are also several nearby charter and private school options, like St. Adelaide Academy, which serves prekindergarten through Grade 8. The neighborhood offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation options. For example, Cunningham Neighborhood Park contains a small green space and path for dog-walking. A mile down the road, the Highland Community Park is the neighborhood spot for little league games and adventures on the playground. The Highland Family YMCA offers a variety of exercise classes, from ballet to swimming. For a workout just beyond the neighborhood, hikers are just a few miles from the San Bernardino Mountain trails. Additionally, "All the big beaches are relatively commutable – you can get to Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach in about an hour," Olazaba says. One of the many community resources is the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center. Between its collections of books, native plants and small animals, visiting here is like going to the library and the zoo at once. It also functions as a cooling center where the public can bask in the air conditioning on days with high heat and poor air quality. Additionally, Cypress has resources that can lessen the cost of living. The median household income is about $20,000 under the national average. However, “There’s the food pantry on 3rd Street, the second Thursday of the month, the YMCA has free food, and the Catholic Church has free food on Fridays from 9 to 11am,” says John Harley, longtime local and library assistant at the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library. Finally, the nearest hospital is Dignity Health-Saint Bernardine Medical Center, less than 5 miles west. Cypress is roughly 5 miles from Downtown San Bernadino, and just west of the Foothill Freeway (Route 210), which leads south to Redlands. Within the neighborhood, 9th and 5th Streets have bike lanes. And though Cypress homes are right around the corner from the San Bernadino International Airport, “You get used to the noise,” Harley says. As for public transportation, “The buses cut out around 10pm, but I can walk to work and to the shopping areas,” Harley says.

At the base of the often snow-capped San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, East Highlands shelters a suburban community close to the best of what the Inland Empire has to offer. Founded as a community in the late 19th century, the area was central to the Inland Empire’s agricultural and timber trade, contributing through its bountiful orange groves and logging operations as the region developed. Major freeways provide residents with simple commutes to neighboring cities while at the same time enjoying stylish homes with scenic walking and biking trails. Residents enjoy East Highland's central location. “East Highland price-point wise is slightly lower than Redlands. And it is just a short drive to Rancho Cucamonga and Redlands ever since they connected the 10 to the 210 freeway. It’s right at the base of the San Bernardino mountains and you have gorgeous views of the mountains,” says Cristina Caministeanu, Realtor with eXp Realty. In only 45 minutes you can drive between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. A relatively newer development, Caministeanu noted most of the homes in East Highlands were built in the late 1980s and 90s with newer builds in the East Highland Ranch homeowner’s association on the neighborhood’s east side. East Highland Ranch has numerous amenities including walking trails, two pools, clubhouses and basketball/tennis courts. “For families it is absolutely great. You don’t have to leave the neighborhood to get what you need,” Caministeanu said. Tract homes are common with the residential market is mainly comprised of single-family houses with residents living on winding hillside streets and around quiet cul-de-sacs, all with clear views of the region’s looming mountain ranges. Most dwellings were built with regional architectural styles, Spanish Revival is one of the most popular with stucco exteriors and terracotta tile roofing. Spanish stylistic touches are often incorporated into other architectural molds, such as ranch-style builds. A common sight in East Highlands, ranch homes are built low and wide for equal distribution of heat and for homeowners to take advantage of every inch of living space. More traditional designs honor classic architectural styles of the past while incorporating the clean lines and symmetry typical of modern home styles. The median home price in East Highlands is $600,000 with most homes falling between $500,000 to $800,000. For people in the market for a home, the lower price point in East Highlands is a major selling point, with the neighborhood having the benefits of being close to Redlands and Loma Linda University. Students attend Highland Grove Elementary School, rated an A on Niche.com. Since opening in 2005, Highland Grove has been recognized as an Accelerated Reader Master School and an Accelerated Reader Model School since 2006-2007 and has also been designated as an Honor Roll School by the California Business for Education Excellence since 2012. Beattie Middle School has an A-minus rating and is recognized for its music and band programs and commitment to social emotional learning as the newest of four middle schools in the district. Citrus Valley High School is rated an A and offers numerous career technical and regional occupational programs. East Highlands residents are also minutes away from several colleges including University of Redlands, University of California at Riverside and California State University San Bernardino. East Highlands is connected to trail system that crisscrosses through the neighborhood, putting every resident only a short walk or bike ride from schools and public parks. The trails link up with the Santa Ana River trail system and will eventually connect to the Orange County coast. The Natural Parkland Trailhead is just one of several pathways from the neighborhood into the mountains, where you can get sweeping views of the valley and watch the sunset behind the San Bernardino Mountains on the three-mile trail. Canyon Oaks Park has a playground and lots of green space for enjoying a picnic or playing catch with the kids. On the south side of the neighborhood, Aurantia Park sits on 12 acres, including a fenced dog park, playsets, and footpaths that provide educational markers about native plant species. Residents are only a short drive from regional grocery stores like Stater Bros. Markets and Albertsons, keeping them stocked with fresh produce, brand products and other household necessities. While most residents head elsewhere for a fancy meal, East Highlands has local and regional chain restaurants to enjoy. Regional favorite Rosa Maria’s Mexican Food offers Mexican favorites at affordable prices.

San Andreas is a sprawling suburban community with rural sensibilities in the city of Highland. The city was founded in 1891 and was an essential contributor to the Inland Empire’s citriculture enterprise. Elegant homes and condos sit just minutes from excellent schools and connecting freeways.<br><br>Here you’ll find a community of traditional suburban tracts, with wide streets fringed by landscaped lawns and tall palm trees, bringing a tropical touch to the neighborhood. Locals walking the neighborhood are treated to the sight of the sprawling San Bernardino Mountain range on the horizon. San Andreas’ residential landscape is home to a range of home styles, including gated townhouse communities and 55+ condominiums. However, most of the real estate properties in San Andreas are single-family houses. Many houses sport the traditional ranch-style, single-story with stucco or stone facades and open-concept interiors that allow residents to make the most of their living space. Occasionally, you’ll spot an elegant Spanish revival home, often featuring covered porches and outdoor patios perfect for entertaining friends and family. The gated town house communities feature updated appliances and spacious floor plans in an upscale living environment. Comfortable and convenient homes are also available in San Andreas’ 55+ condominium complexes, offering community amenities such as a pool, playgrounds, and fitness and business centers. Homes are just a short distance from schools and parks, and local bus stations provide commuting passengers with routes from Highland to San Bernardino. Progressive Properties Realtor Jeff Teel says, "it's a well established neighborhood, kind of a rural area but homes are right next to schools and freeways are just a couple minutes away." Regarding San Andreas’ home prices, homes across the board cost $460,000 on average, slightly less than the city of Highland’s average home price of $537,000.<br><br>Public school students are served by the San Bernardino City Unified School District, attending primary schools like Highland Pacific Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade. Students move on to intermediate and secondary schools such as Serrano Middle and San Andreas High School. The latter high school offers excellent education pathways for students seeking careers in technology, agriculture, healthcare or emergency services through hands-on, work-based learning.<br><br>San Andreas residents are just minutes away from excellent parks and sports complexes. The San Bernardino Soccer Complex is a 47-acre facility designed for year-round youth and adult sports competitions. The complex has hosted both amateur and professional events, such as the regional championship for the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA). Right next door is Speicher Memorial Park, a neighborhood park with playgrounds, large grassy areas, baseball diamonds and the Arrowhead Little League Fields. Nearby freeways also put locals within an hour’s drive of the San Bernardino Mountains and National Forest, offering miles of scenic hiking, biking and equestrian trails and excellent alpine getaways like Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake.<br><br>San Andreas also has excellent retailers and shopping centers when you need to shop for the essentials. Regional grocers like Food4Less offer a wide selection of fresh produce, bulk grocery items and other household goods. There are also some quality local restaurants that are well worth the trip. Start your day with a tasty treat from Christy’s Donuts, a local chain offering an assortment of donuts, sandwiches, and beverages. Taco Joe’s Mexican Restaurant is an unpretentious neighborhood outpost for classic street-style tacos, nachos, burritos and other Mexican favorites.<br><br>Proximity to major freeways gives San Andreas residents access to the best the Inland Empire has to offer.