Newer construction close to hiking and urban conveniences
About 3 miles south of Downtown San Luis Obispo, the suburban neighborhood of Margarita attracts families and retirees with its convenient location, recently constructed housing developments and access to hiking at South Hills Open Space. "It's really centrally located,” says San Luis Obispo resident Stacey Labarge, a broker associate with Compass. “You have close proximity to hiking trails, grocery stores and the freeway. It’s easy to head downtown or to the beach.”
Housing in Margarita is mainly found in two newer, HOA-governed subdivisions, which helps create a sense of camaraderie among those who call each development home. “You see lots of people in the evenings enjoying their neighbors’ company outside on their porches or going for walks throughout the neighborhood,” says area resident Susie Brans, a broker associate with Richardson Sotheby’s International Realty.
Most of the newly built Tuscan style homes in Margarita are two-story.
Some of the homes in Margarita have extended front landscaping areas of drought tolerant plants.
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Two housing developments built within the last decade
The neighborhood’s two main subdivisions, Serra Meadows and Toscano, have both been developed within the last 10 years. “Toscano kind of has that Italian Villa vibe in terms of architecture and Serra Meadows has more of a Craftsman style,” Labarge says. San Luis Obispo resident Lindsey Harn, a Realtor with Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno notes while homes in each of these developments are not necessarily brand-new, she says that “they are definitely new by San Luis Obispo standards,” which tends to be a big draw for buyers.
“A lot of the houses in San Luis Obispo were built between the 1950s and the 1970s, and for a long time, we didn't have any new developments here until Serra Meadows and Toscano,” Brans says. “The lots in these developments are a little bit larger than the brand-new construction in SLO. For the most part, they’re anywhere from 4,500 to 6,000 square feet, while the brand-new homes have lot sizes anywhere from 3,500 to 4,500 square feet.” Both Toscano and Serra Meadows have one and two-story builds with three to four bedrooms, and according to Brans, single stories tend to have a higher price point. “The recently constructed single-level homes here are very desirable,” she says. “With the brand-new construction in other neighborhoods, it’s very difficult to find single levels.” Brans notes that home prices in Toscano are slightly higher than Serra Meadows because it sits higher in elevation, offering desirable views of South Hills. If you want newer construction with views then you’re buying in Toscano,” she says. “Homes in Toscano are usually anywhere from $1.2 million to $1.4 million, and homes in Serra Meadows are around $1.1 million to $1.25 million.”
The homes that are closest to the South Hills Open Space in Margarita are Tuscan in design.
Three Margarita friends enjoy a brisk afternoon walk along the paved community pathway.
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Hiking at South Hills Open Space, local turf fields, and all-ages recreation at nearby Meadow Park
Residents can explore South Hills Open Space, which spans 133 acres on the neighborhood’s north end. Hikers here can make the 1.5-mile trek to the summit of Vulture Peak for panoramic views of San Luis Obispo from an elevation of nearly 600 feet. Trailheads can be accessed from several points throughout the area, including Stoneridge Park a few miles east, where there is half a basketball court for shooting hoops.
In the neighborhood’s southeast corner, the Damon-Garcia Sports Complex has over 10 acres of turf fields for soccer and football. Parents can drive their kids to the playground at 14-acre Meadow Park a few miles north of the neighborhood, where there are also courts for tennis, pickleball and sand volleyball. Meadow Park also has an additional trailhead for South Hills Open Space hiking.
Locally owned eateries, retailers and grocery stores, with the popular SLO Public Market nearby
Locals can pick up groceries at Vons in the Marigold Center shopping center, located southeast of the neighborhood on Broad Street. The shopping center is home to locally owned restaurants like Shalimar, a popular spot for Indian and Pakistani cuisine cooked in a tandoori clay oven. Plenty of additional locally owned eateries line the main thoroughfare of Broad Street. Beda’s Biergarten serves German fare on their popular dog-friendly patio and offers an extensive list of German beers, while next door, Taco Roco is a local go-to for south-of-the-border fare and Taco Tuesday specials. Just west of the neighborhood, Higuera Street has a Trader Joe’s and is home to the San Luis Obispo Public Market, a lively gathering place with indoor and outdoor seating that is home to an array of local restaurants with all different types of cuisine. "It’s like a giant high-end food court where everybody can get a bite to eat of whatever they like,” Harn says. “There’s ice cream shops, pasta restaurants, pizza restaurants, dumpling restaurants and even an Orange Theory.”
Retail shopping can be found within a few miles from the neighborhood, just west of Highway 101, with an array of stores like Kohl’s, Target and Best Buy, as well as additional grocery stores like Sprout’s Farmers Market and Whole Foods Market. Chain restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Dave’s Hot Chicken can also be found here. For boutique shopping and an abundance of additional eateries, locals can head to Downtown SLO.
Learning in the county’s top rated school district
The neighborhood is part of San Luis Coastal Unified School District, which Niche gives an overall A rating and picks as San Luis Obispo County’s best school district. Students can attend the B-plus-rated Hawthorne Elementary and the A-rated Laguna Middle. San Luis Obispo High, which is also graded with an A, offers a variety of career and technical education courses ranging from information and communication technology to manufacturing and product development.
A short commute to Downtown SLO events and museums
Neighborhood residents are within a few miles from downtown events and museums. Each Thursday evening throughout the year, the Downtown SLO Farmers Market hosts vendors selling local produce, as well as live music performers and local food trucks. On Friday evenings during the summer, downtown’s Mission Plaza hosts Music in the Plaza, which is the largest free concert series on the Central Coast. Locals can see a collection of model trails and learn about the region’s railroading history at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum or check out the permanent and rotating exhibits at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art with work from regional artists.
Proximity to downtown, bus lines and major highways
While Margarita is largely car dependent, Labarge says that it’s close enough to downtown to allow for some of the “more adventurous” residents to take their e-bikes to the heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo. The neighborhood is bordered to the east by State Route 227, known locally as Broad Street while Highway 101 is about a mile west of the neighborhood; residents can take both to Downtown SLO. Higuera Street just east of Highway 101 is lined with SLO Transit bus stops. The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is about 4 miles south on Broad Street, while Dignity Health’s French Hospital Medical Center is about 4 miles northeast near downtown.
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Welcome Home to Toscano – A Tuscan-Inspired Retreat. Discover the perfect blend of modern luxury and low-maintenance living in the sought-after community of Toscano. Built in 2018, this beautifully designed 3-bedroom plus loft, 3.5-bathroom home offers a thoughtful layout with upscale finishes throughout—ideal for those who value comfort, convenience, and style. This home features two spacious
Welcome to 3021 Arezzo Drive, a quintessential Central Coast 1986 sqft home nestled in the sought-after Toscano neighborhood of San Luis Obispo. Built in 2022, this residence showcases contemporary finishes, energy-efficienty and smart home features. The spacious and welcoming first-floor entry boasts 9-foot ceilings and includes the first of two primary suites, complete with an en-suite bathroom
A commercial developer’s dream, the Prado Road Business Park presents an approved commercial subdivision in San Luis Obispo, featuring an 11 net acre 6-lot tract zoned Business Park, allowing a wide array of uses. Commercial tracts of this size are rare in the City of SLO and typically take up to a decade to get approved. Construction documents have been completed to finish the tract, and lot
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
823
Median Age
38
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$86,184
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$119,088
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.8%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
48%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
12.7%
% Population in Labor Force
71.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
23''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
29/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
11/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
23/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
