Temecula

Homeowners in Crowne Hill can sip, soar and shop their way through life with a conveniently located home on the edge of Southern California wine country. "It's a quiet, beautiful neighborhood close to the Temecula wineries. I would say that proximity is the biggest draw," says Marcy Sattelmaier, an agent with First Team Real Estate. "There's hot air balloons, horseback riding, the mall and Old Town Temecula, which has all kinds of restaurants." This suburban neighborhood is right on the eastern edge of Temecula, where the city turns into countryside. Residents have easy access to scenic wineries and vineyards to the east while also enjoying a quick trip to popular shopping and dining destinations in town. Just east of Crowne Hill, the rolling hills of the Temecula Valley are dotted with large estates and rows of grapes that will soon be turned into wine. Residents can visit many of these local wineries for a tasting or a sit-down meal. Baily Vineyard has been operating in the area since the 1980s and has a popular restaurant serving sandwiches, steak, fish and pasta. Callaway Vineyard and Winery offers an upscale menu of tapas and entrees at its Meritage Restaurant. Residents can head the other way into town and visit Old Town Temecula, which has several local restaurants. The Goat & Vine is a rustic American restaurant serving innovative pizzas and sandwiches. Several shopping options are nearby in Temecula, including Promenade Mall. This large indoor mall is home to stores like Macy's, Pottery Barn and JCPenney. For groceries and other essentials, Ralphs, Sprouts Farmers Market and Walmart are located just south of the neighborhood on Temecula Parkway. Crowne Hill offers easy access to several parks in the neighborhood, including Crowne Hill Park. This green space has two playgrounds, picnic tables and walking paths. Residents can bring a basketball for a pick-up game or fire up the grill for an outdoor cookout. Just a few miles east, Galway Downs is a large equestrian facility and racetrack, which hosts several races and dressage competitions throughout the year. The space also has multiple soccer and polo fields and constantly hosts games and tournaments. No matter where residents choose to spend time outdoors, Sattelmaier says they'll benefit from good weather in the area. "It's a great town with nice warm days and nice cool nights," she says. One of the annual highlights for Temecula residents is the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, which takes place each May at Lake Skinner, about 10 miles north of Crowne Hill. This three-day festival features live music, hot air balloon rides, wine tastings and a beer garden. Residents can soar above the valley in a sunrise balloon ride, taking in birds-eye views of the scenic countryside below. If the festival's timing doesn't work out, several companies also offer balloon rides seven days a week. A Grape Escape is one of the most popular companies and begins its journeys at Bolero Winery, just 3 miles north of the neighborhood. Homes in Crowne Hill include modern Spanish-style houses with two stories and spacious built-in garages on the front. The homes typically have red tile roofs and white or tan stucco siding. Other styles are new traditional and contemporary homes, with wood and stone accents on the exteriors. Houses are built close together in a suburban setting, but many have large backyards with swimming pools. Sidewalks line the streets, offering walkability through the neighborhood, while tall palms and short, leafy trees add a touch of natural beauty. Homes in Crowne Hill typically range from $800,000 to $1.2 million. Residents rarely have to worry about crime in Crowne Hill, as the neighborhood receives a 1 out of 10 crime score on the CAP Index. However, wildfire risk is prevalent in the area, calculated at about 0.5% according to Risk Factor. Students in Crowne Hill will likely attend Crowne Hill Elementary School, Temecula Middle School and Temecula Valley High School. The elementary and middle schools are rated A-minus by Niche, while the high school receives an A rating. Each school is conveniently located within 3 miles of the neighborhood, and Crowne Hill Elementary is in the neighborhood on Fox Road. Temecula Valley High School serves approximately 2,900 students with a student-teacher ratio of 27-to-1. The school opened in 1985 and was the first high school in the Temecula Valley area. It offers several career and technology education pathways for students, including engineering, hospitality and health sciences. Students can also participate in the Air Force JROTC program. Because of Crowne Hill's suburban nature, the neighborhood has no public transit options. Residents have an easy drive to many destinations, though, including a 5-mile drive to Old Town and just a 3-mile drive to Temecula Valley Hospital. The city of Riverside is about 45 miles north on Interstate 215, a drive that can take about an hour and 15 minutes. Some residents commute to cities like Anaheim and Los Angeles for work, which can take an hour and a half to two hours. Others drive south to San Diego, which takes about an hour on Interstate 15.

Since its 2003 groundbreaking, Harveston has remained one of Temecula's most prestigious neighborhoods. Truly a community all its own, the quiet village offers quality schools within walking distance of home and relaxing neighborhood amenities, including a trolley service to nearby town centers that are bursting with entertainment. Whether looking to catch the latest blockbuster, play soccer at local parks, or grab a drink with friends, Harveston offers the option to do many different activities while still maintaining a residence in a calm, manicured lakeside community. Within Harveston, serenity is the goal. The swooping streets that jut out from Harveston Drive encircle a centerpiece lake, offering panoramic views to homes with waterfront backyards. But no matter where in the neighborhood, one- and two-story single-family homes and condominiums sit on small, colorful yards filled with ginkgo, palm and persimmon trees that cast shade onto freshly-paved sidewalks. As far as designs go, some homes go fully Spanish-style with their stucco exteriors and red terracotta roofs, while others adopt a new traditional style with subtler nods to Spanish designs. Pricing is fairly consistent with the rest of Temecula, offering marginally lower buy-in on average. Single-family homes often start at $600,000 or above, up to about $900,000. Condos sell for around $500,000 to $600,000. Thanks to Ysabel Barnett Elementary's prime location, young students can walk to the school daily, resulting in a Niche score of A. Then, students begin attending James L. Day Middle, which has an A Niche score and is just over a mile east of Harveston. Upon reaching high school, walking to school becomes an option again with Chaparral High School, an A-minus-rated school by Niche. The school's student newspaper, the Platinum Press, has won first place in the American Scholastic Press Association six times. After school, students frequent Harveston Community Park for after-school sports and playground games. Dog walkers hit the paved path at Harveston Lake Park for a waterfront lap. Swimmers meanwhile make laps in Harveston's Olympic-sized community pool and splash park. And on rainy days, dancers can still break a sweat by enrolling in a group class inside the Harveston Lake House. Offering walking paths and its own public transportation, Harveston is easy to navigate. A community trolley travels the neighborhood, offering easy, low-cost access to nearby entertainment without a car, including Old Town Temecula. "It has a little bit of country western theme to it with stores, restaurants and bars," says local Realtor and property manager Melissa Pires, who oversees more than 200 properties in the area. "And there's a small theater in Old Town where they have children's productions and a variety of other kinds of shows." Most locals will take the shorter trolley trip and visit Promenade Temecula, a massive outdoor town center directly next to Harveston on Winchester Road. With over 160 stores for clothing, tech retailers and restaurants, the town center is a popular gathering place. Locals go there to catch a screening of the latest blockbuster at Regal Edwards Temecula or make use of their Costco Wholesale membership. If not a member, plenty of other grocery stores line the Winchester Road commercial corridor. And if the hubbub of a town center isn't the goal, Harveston's own Beyond Food Mart is a centrally located convenience store locals walk to for slices of pizza and deli sandwiches. Promenade Temecula is a hotspot for local events, such as a weekly farmers' market. In March, color pours into the town center during the Side Walk Chalk Expo and the local Kiwanis Club's Youth Art Exhibit. The Harveston HOA also organizes 12 recurring events for community residents throughout the year. The neighborhood is in a wildfire ember zone and shares proximity with high-risk areas. Additionally, homeowners in Harveston pay a special assessment every year, known as "Mello-Roos," in addition to standard property taxes. "Based on a percentage of the purchase price of a home, that money is used by the County towards building roads, sidewalks, schools, hospitals and whatever needs to be built to make it a full town," says Pires. "Mello-Roos can double your original property tax once it kicks in."

Los Ranchitos is an upscale equestrian community tucked between downtown Temecula and the area’s many vineyards. With miles of horse trails and custom-built homes, this community attracts horse lovers looking for a rural environment. “People enjoy feeling like they’re living on the land, but they’re just a mile or two away from the city,” says Lia Forss, a Realtor with Team Forss Realty Group who has sold properties in the area and works in an office facing the community. “There are these rolling hills that offer some residents city and snow-topped mountain views. Some houses are very unusual, and no two houses are the same here.” Residents enjoy living on spacious lots; most have ranch land for their horses. This unique area is primarily residential, so dining and shopping options are fairly limited in the community, but with downtown Temecula and Old Town Temecula being just around a mile away from some residents, unique establishments like the old western-inspired Gambling Cowboy are just a short drive away. With everything from horse amenities to a rose garden and an alpaca farm, Los Ranchitos offers its residents rural living in the heart of the city. Custom-built properties and horse ranches Custom-built properties sitting on spacious lots fill Los Ranchitos. This community was developed between 1966 and 1980 by Henry J. Kaiser, the master planner of Irvine, so properties here often date back to then, although newer builds are available in some of the community’s developments. Tucked within the larger community is the Santiago Estates development, which features often larger, more expensive Spanish-inspired homes. Properties in Los Ranchitos often sit alongside horse ranches that have white fences surrounding them. They go for just upwards of $710,000 to $2.5 million, depending on their age, size, and location. The area has some HOA-governed lots, each with at least two acres. Los Ranchitos is threaded with four miles of equestrian trails, and its two-lane cross streets are marked with rustic, farm-style signs. Mature trees fill the area, and some residents enjoy vineyards in their backyards. Many residents enjoy mountain and city views. Locals here often head on the horse trails for some time outside, but Los Ranchitos is also home to unique outdoor spaces. Flower lovers head to the Rose Haven Heritage Garden to walk through the 3.4 acres that over 2000 roses call home. Visitors enjoy areas like the romantic roses and gazebo section and the perfume garden. In the middle of the garden is a small pond filled with lilies and tadpoles, offering a serene feel to the area. Those wanting to get their hands dirty can join the Rose Society to help with youth gardening outreach, planning events, and maintaining the park. Those wanting to see or purchase fluffy alpacas head to Temecula Valley Alpacas. The farm is also home to a store that sells yarn and garden supplies. Golf lovers wanting to practice their aim will be near both the Redhawk Golf Club and Temeku Hills Golf and Country Club. Locals can take advantage of small community parks scattered throughout the area, and just north of Los Ranchitos is the Ronald Reagan Sports Park, a sprawling complex with athletic fields, a community center, a children’s play area and space for picnics and barbecues. Locals here are in the heart of wine country, making events like the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival just around 13 miles away, and dozens of Temecula Valley wineries are found just around 6 miles northeast of Los Ranchitos. Callaway Vineyard & Winery offers visitors award-winning wines with views of rolling hills beyond the vineyard. For food out, many head to nearby Old Town Temecula, which features rustic old western buildings, unique eateries, and antique shops. The Gambling Cowboy brings a rustic feel to a fine dining experience. Patrons of this steak house sit under a wooden ceiling amid rustic décor featuring horseshoes and taxidermy mounts. Those who dine on the balcony enjoy city-filled views. Tea and spice lovers can find over 250 spices at Temecula Spice and Tea Merchants. At Old Town Antique Fair, shoppers find anything from comic books to estate jewelry. Shopping centers are located all around Los Ranchitos’ borders, making grocery stops at places like Sprouts just a short drive away. Just north of the community is the Promenade Temecula Shopping Mall. Students can attend private schools or schools in the Temecula Valley Unified School District, which is ranked as the second-best school district in Riverside County. Some students are zoned for Vail Elementary, which received a B-plus rating on Niche, Margarita Middle, which received an A-minus rating on Niche and Temecula Valley High, which received an A rating on Niche. The high school features career and technical education classes in areas like engineering and tourism. It is also home to a native plant nursery project. Los Ranchitos is a car (and horse) dependent area with minimal public transportation. Locals here have easy access to the Temecula Valley Hospital and De Portola Medical Center, which are right in the neighborhood, making commutes easy for medical professionals here. Travelers can take the 40-mile drive via Interstate 15 to the McClellan-Palomar Airport, and downtown Temecula is just around a mile away for those wanting to explore some of the city’s shops.

In Margarita Village-Temeku Hills, residents enjoy serenity without sacrificing the benefits of city life. With downtown Temecula to the west and sun-drenched wine country to the east, this California suburb offers class, convenience and comfort. The neighborhood is home to several planned communities that provide residents access to pools, clubhouses and seasonal events. Families with school-aged children benefit from the impressive roster of nearby public schools, most just a short walk or drive away. <br><br>Margarita Village hosts a bevy of planned communities: Temeku Hills includes Legends Golf Club, a hub for local golf tournaments and special events. At Vintage Hills, residents can join the Vine and Verse book club, which hosts monthly meetings in the clubhouse. Chardonnay Hills is situated on the outskirts of wine country and features a stylish community pool. “It’s right up the street from the winery,” says Sarah Medicke, a Realtor with HomeSmart Realty West. Most homes in these communities and the surrounding neighborhoods are designed in Spanish Revival style dating to the late 1980s. Lots are small but well-manicured, and wide paved sidewalks are ideal for jogging, dog-walking, or visiting the neighbors. Home prices in the region generally fall in the $600,000 to $800,000 range. <br><br>When it’s time to start school, kids can enter Vintage Hills or Rancho Elementary School. Both receive an A-minus from Niche. Temecula Middle School also receives an A-minus, while Temecula Valley High School gets an A grade. A sterling reputation among local parents accompanies these high rankings. <br> <br>Temeku Hills Park spills across 11 acres and includes basketball courts, a baseball diamond and an expanse of grassy fields ideal for kite flying. When the weather is warm enough, families spread out on blankets to watch outdoor movies on a giant screen. The play area is creatively designed, with tunnels and a “pirate boat” to explore. Temecula Duck Pond & Veterans Memorial is lined with plaques and statues honoring servicemen and -women. Aside from the duck pond, the park offers walking paths and benches for walking and reflecting. <br><br>The region’s temperate weather translates into enjoyment of outdoor activities throughout the year. Residents should watch the event calendar for Temeku Hills Park, which hosts Easter egg hunts and other activities that appeal to younger kids. In early December, Santa’s Electric Light Parade illuminates the streets of downtown Temecula, giving community members a chance to connect and celebrate the season. <br><br> Promenade Temecula is the premier shopping and dining destination. Here, residents will find a movie theater, numerous shops and boutiques, and restaurants like Yard House and Lucille’s Smokehouse Barbecue. “You can gain a lot of weight living here,” Medicke jokes. Albertsons, a regional grocer, has a location on Rancho California Road. There’s also a Baron’s Market in Meadow’s Village, a few miles to the west. <br> <br>Margarita Village-Temeku Hills is one of the most walkable areas in Temecula, but people do need cars for most errands. Anyone planning to commute to San Diego or Orange County should note that Temecula is roughly 60 miles away from either city. The drive to San Diego takes about an hour. Navigating the traffic around Orange County can turn that commute into a 90-minute affair. <br> <br>Margarita Village-Temeku Hills is situated on the outskirts of the Valle de Los Caballos, which means “valley of the horses.” While it’s easy to envision wild horses prancing through the open fields, the region is known more for its vineyards than anything else. Tasting opportunities abound at Thornton Winery and Callaway Vineyard & Winery, to name just a couple. Since many of the wineries offer aerial tours of the vineyards, it’s not unusual to see hot-air balloons drifting through the sky. “We actually had one land right in the parking lot recently,” says Mckenna Boyer, community manager at Margarita Summit Apartments.

Just five miles southeast of downtown Temecula, the Morgan Hill neighborhood sits at the gateway to Temecula Valley Wine County and is surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery, offering countryside living with modern amenities. Once the site of vast ranches and citrus groves, the construction of major freeways brought significant suburban and urban development to Temecula, making Morgan Hill one of the newer planned communities, built in just the last 20 years. Winding hillside streets are lined with stylish homes flush with modern comforts in the backyard of everything that Temecula has to offer. “We have this small town community feel but we have big city amenities. We have the restaurants, we have the nightlife, but it’s a great community feel,” says Christine Damko, economic development manager for the City of Temecula. Morgan Hill is a master-planned community primarily made up of single-family houses. Many area homes favor design Spanish design touches with smooth exteriors, neutral tones and striking stucco roof tiles. The area is also peppered with custom-built estates, complete with a large patio and pool spaces to entertain guests for cookouts and to beat the desert heat. As a growing community Temecula began prioritizing additional housing to support the demand and regional economic infrastructure available to residents. Morgan Hill is one of the newer planned communities, constructed in the last 20 years. Home features like spacious floor plans, solar panels and stunning hillside views are common for Morgan Hill dwellings. Morgan Hills is well-maintained and landscaped, and residents are treated to a vibrant spring bloom. Governed by an HOA, residents pay $99 per month to maintain the neighborhood which includes a clubhouse, pool and spa, tennis courts and a playground area. Taxes are a bit on the high side at two percent, but with the abundance of on-site amenities, many residents feel it is well worth the price. Residents live within a short bike or car ride from local parks and community centers. Homes in Morgan Hill range from $800,000 to approximately $1 million. The Morgan Hill Community Club is a central gathering place for residents and features a pool, billiard room and exercise rooms. You can also head to Madigan Park and take a stroll through scenic trails, or visit Morgan Hills and use one of the baseball or soccer fields with landscaping that echoes the feel of orchards and vineyards with flowing vines. Morgan Hill residents have access to the HOA amenities, namely the Morgan Hills community club. Relax in the jacuzzi or exercise on athletic fields and the quality fitness center. Ballrooms and other resource rooms are available to rent for community or club meetings. You can also head to some of the excellent public parks scattered around the neighborhood. Meander through scenic trails at Madigan Park, complete with a picnic pavilion and a large turf area perfect for throwing a frisbee or soaking up the sunshine. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the quality baseball diamond and sprawling field at Morgan Hills Park. At Galleron Park there are two large turf areas, walking paths, picnic areas and two off-leash dog run areas. A highlight of the park is the panoramic view of the Temecula Valley. Decorative pergolas, European style plantings and seating areas provide a destination overlook to enjoy this view. Residents are served by the Temecula Valley Unified School District with students beginning at Tony Tobin Elementary School. Students move on to Vail Ranch Middle School and Great Oak High School. Great Oak High School has an excellent cross-country program with a combined seven championships from the boys' and girls' teams; the school has also maintained a status as a California Distinguished School since 2009. All three schools received an A grade or better on Niche.com. Residents are only a short drive from some of California’s finest vineyards and tasting rooms with Temecula Valley Wine Country home to more than 50 wineries, known for its Mediterranean climate, drawing wind off the Pacific Ocean into the valley, which makes it a pristine location for viticulture. North of Route 79, residents can head to Baily Vineyard and Miramonte Winery. Both located on sprawling estates, attend a tasting session and pair your favorite luscious red with a meal on grounds resembling the French countryside. While not in Temecula proper, it’s an entertainment asset that is more busy than Napa Valley. “It’s a part of our culture. It’s a part of our brand. When we talk to people in trying to recruit businesses we bring a bottle of wine,” Damko said. “You have to pass through Temecula to get through it. Not only does it bring tourism dollars to our community, but it’s also part of the resident culture.” For everyday necessities, the Rail Vanch Center shopping mall has large supermarkets like Stater Bros. and Walmart and a number of quick-serve and sit-down restaurants close by. Located on Temecula Parkway, Damko says the area is one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors with projects constantly in the works. “You’ll find a retailer and a restaurant will have a location around the mall but they’ll also want a location on the Parkway. From a commercial standpoint, it’s very high-end demand. There’s not that much space left, “Damko noted. Vail Pizzeria offers quality pizzas at fair prices, as well as sides, salads and a selection of beers and wines. The Vail Ranch's HQ is home to the Smok'd Hog, serving up homestyle greens and savory smoked meats in a family-friendly setting.

Replete with rolling fairways, lush greens and spectacular mountain views, the Redhawk Golf Club is the centerpiece of this Temecula community. Locals and visitors agree that Redhawk offers one of southern California’s most memorable golf experiences. “The homes are built around the golf course,” says Necol Keenan, broker and founder of Luminescent Real Estate. Even folks who don’t know a wedge from a driver appreciate the serenity of the residential neighborhood, which features several subdivisions and gated communities along with a top-notch school system. “It’s one of the most desirable places to live in Temecula. People move there to be part of the Great Oak school district,” Keenan says. Residents know they’re getting close to home when the Redhawk Community Association Waterfall rushes into view. Silver streams dance through hills of stone and shrubbery along Redhawk Parkway, which leads the way to the golf course and residential streets. Paved sidewalks fringed with palm trees create a walkable network between the Spanish Revival-style homes, mostly single- or two-story builds from the early 1990s to the late 2010s. The Santa Ana Mountains peek over the western horizon, creating a rugged framework for the dazzling California sunsets. Sixteen subdivisions, four of them gated, make up Redhawk’s community. Fairways is the largest gated community and the best choice for buyers who love to golf. Some properties include private in-ground swimming pools with built-in Jacuzzis, and some also have views of the fairways. Attached garages and short paved driveways are standard, but it’s not uncommon to see a lot of cars parked on the street. Redhawk home prices range from $550,000 for a small home or condo to $1.3 million for a larger updated house with a pool. Redhawk residents have access to several well-maintained parks. Redhawk Community Park lets rambunctious dogs chase balls and visit with their human and canine neighbors in the grassy fenced-in zone. Kids enjoy climbing on the sunny-hued play structures at Sunset Park, a pocket park tucked alongside a cul-de-sac on Cam San Jose. Vail Ranch Park is just outside the neighborhood’s northern border but is worth a short drive for its meandering walking trails, pavilions and Old West-themed play area. Redhawk is a family-friendly community, and several highly rated schools are within walking distance. Two elementary schools, Helen Hunt Jackson and Red Hawk, get an A from Niche. Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School, just a short drive away, also gets an A. Great Oak High School on Deer Hollow Way gets an A-plus. The Pechanga Reservation, home of the Pechanga Resort Casino, borders Redhawk’s southwestern edge. Residents can walk to the casino to enjoy popular restaurants like The Great Oak Steakhouse and 1882 Cantina. The resort hosts several culinary events throughout the year, including May’s Sushi & Sake Festival and the Microbrew Craft Beer & Chili Cook-Off in June. Following Redhawk Parkway to Route 79 will lead to Redhawk Towne Center. This shopping mall includes Walmart and Kohl’s, as well as chain restaurants like Five Guys and Panda Express. There’s a Ralph’s grocery store along this corridor as well. Old Town Temecula, with its Front Street stacked with shops and restaurants, is just a 10-minute drive away. Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) buses serve the Temecula area, including Redhawk. Residents can find stops along Redhawk and Vail Ranch Parkways. If folks want to commute to San Diego, San Bernardino or Riverside, they can expect an hourlong drive each way.