Menifee

Centrally located in Menifee, Paloma Valley is one of the newest neighborhoods in this quickly growing city. The area gives residents a feeling of suburbia in the city, with everything from tract housing to small farms. In fact, the neighborhood is divided between densely populated housing developments in the northern portion and more spaced-out homes on several acres in the southern part. Originally inhabited by the Pechanga band of the Luiseno people, the Spanish claimed the area in the 1700s. Today, the influence of both groups can be seen and felt in the area’s architecture and nearby town names, like Temecula and Murrieta. “The community i super popular because there’s new construction with open concept kitchens, and builders are bringing in new turnkey houses. Lot sizes are a little bigger, so you feel like you’re getting more for your money. It’s a nice place to live where you can walk your dog and enjoy the parks,” says Karen Myatt, Realtor with Century 21 Masters and 35 years of real estate experience. “The entry-level price has been going up, but there’s still some options here.” While detached single-family homes make up most of Paloma Valley, there’s still a good variety of housing styles. Estate homes on large lots sit among more modest tract housing or semi-rural residences on several acres. Spanish-Revival designs and ranch-style dwellings were chosen to maximize space while protecting residents from extreme desert temperatures. Many combine the two styles, keeping a single-story design and incorporating stucco walls and red-clay roof tiles. Winding streets end in cul-de-sacs where homes often have front and back yards. Houses sell for a median price of $600,000 after 30 days on the market, although housing prices range from $520,000 to $885,000 for ranch-style and Spanish-inspired residences. Students can attend Niche B-plus-rated Evans Ranch Elementary, B-plus-rated Menifee Valley Middle and A-minus-rated Paloma Valley High. Ranch Elementary educates almost 800 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Paloma Valley High works with Mt. San Jacinto Community College to provide college credit for English, math and history courses. Bordered by the 215 Freeway, Paloma Valley is served by major local streets like Murrieta Road or Newport Road, which has the area’s only bus stops along it. It’s a car-dependent neighborhood six miles from the Menifee Global Medical Center and 47 miles from the Ontario International Airport. Sidewalks run throughout the northern portion of the area, although there are very few in the southern part. Gale Webb Action Sports Park rests next to the Paloma Valley High School. The park invites people of all skill levels to try its 22,000-foot bike track and trails. This is Southern California’s largest bike park and was given the Award of Excellence by the California Park and Recreation Society. Marsden Community Park spans just one acre but packs a lot into a little space. There’s a half-basketball court, a tot lot, a jogging path and picnic areas with grills. In Paloma Valley’s southern portion, Greer Ranch offers 200 acres of hiking and biking trails through the foothills. The location is very popular on the weekends, and hikers should be aware of wandering onto mountain biking trails. The neighborhood has fast casual and quick service restaurants along Newport Road, along with a Sprouts Farmers Market, an organic grocer. Local spots like the Breakfast House Los Tejabanes serve Mexican and American classics, while Donut Star has fresh pastries from early morning to late evening. Menifee Countryside Marketplace rests at the edge of the neighborhood and is separated from the adjacent Menifee Town Center by the 215 Freeway. Both offer an assortment of large and small retailers, eateries and supermarkets. Neighborhood residents can find home goods, clothing, veterinary services and Ralph’s grocery. The neighborhood has over a dozen Protestant churches and lies less than eight miles from Islamic and Buddhist worship centers. Paloma Valley has a high chance of flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. To mitigate these hazards, the city is working to update infrastructure to current California building code standards, coordinate communication between municipal departments and promote public awareness and outreach.

Built in 1968, Quail Valley spread up from the Canyon Lake community into the rolling hills. This tranquil, rustic neighborhood is chiefly residential, but just outside of it are community activities in Menifee and access to Interstates 15 and 215. Its location at the northeast tip of the Temecula Valley means Quail Valley is close to towns along the Interstates as well as mountain and lake recreation. “Quail Valley is a fast-growing area in the ‘burbs. A lot of people come from L.A. or San Diego,” says Mark Evans, real estate agent with TSG Premier Realty, specializing in the southern California region. Along the edges of the neighborhood, Quail Valley homes are built on winding hillside avenues. Straight, narrow roads that run east to west make up the center of the neighborhood, and they tend to not have sidewalks. Many of the homes incorporate design touches typical of the Spanish style, whether it be terracotta tile roofing or smooth stucco exteriors with earthy color schemes. Contemporary new builds and ranch-styles are common. Prices begin at $240,000 for an 800-square-foot 20th-century home and peak at about $830,000 for a 3,000-square-foot 21st-century home. Manufactured homes and plots of land are also available in Quail Valley. Students may attend Quail Valley Elementary, rated B on Niche, Hans Christensen Middle School, rated B and Paloma Valley High, rated A-minus. The high school partners with Mount San Jacinto Community College to offer dual enrollment classes in English, history, math and American Sign Language. Quail Valley is part of the newer City of Menifee within Riverside County. Homes are located in between Interstates 15 and 215, so residents can make a straightforward commute south to Murrieta or Temecula. “The traffic’s a nightmare, but people live with it because of the quality of life,” Evans says. Going north, Ontario International Airport is about 43 miles up Interstate 15. Additionally, the Riverside Transit Agency bus route occasionally stops along Goetz Road, taking passengers to Menifee, Murrieta and Perris Station Transit Center. Menifee Global Medical Center is less than 7 miles east. Quail Valley is predominately residential, but nearby grocery stores like Canyon Lake Market and Stater Bros. Markets serve the area. Restaurants such as Mi Pueblo Authentic, serving Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, are a short drive away. The Canyon Cowboy is the place to go for a night out, offering country-style eats and weekly live music performances. Plenty of chain cafes and restaurants are also available within a short distance from Quail Valley. On the hiking and biking trails in the hills surrounding Quail Valley, people “aren’t supposed to ride dirt bikes or offroad vehicles, but you’ll see horses and paragliders in the area,” says Cassandra Borja, Realtor with Coldwell Banker serving Southern California with over 20 years of experience. Further north lies the Roy W. Kabian Memorial Park, an expansive 640-acre park crisscrossed by more hiking and equestrian trails that come alive during springtime foliage blooms. Residents can also head to La Ladera Park for the baseball, soccer and tennis facilities. Though the neighborhood borders Canyon Lake, this body of water is private and not accessible to Quail Valley residents. So for a day on the lake, residents can head to Lake Elsinore, just southwest of the neighborhood. Residents can stay up to date on local happenings through the Quail Valley Community Group. The group meets quarterly and often hears from guest speakers, like officers from the Menifee Police Department. The group also alerts residents to events throughout the year, such as annual Quail Valley Clean Up, the family-friendly Menifee Multicultural Festival, and the free Thanksgiving meal hosted by the City of Menifee. While Quail Valley hillsides are very susceptible to wildfires, “homes are not in the fire zone,” Evans says. Still, clearing brush away from properties is a good practice for fire prevention. Additionally, residents can also sign up for Alert Menifee to be notified of public safety emergencies, and refer to Genasys Protect, an interactive map that shows local evacuation routes.