Tulare

As the city of Tulare grows, many are moving to Tulare Southeast for newer homes and suburban living. “The biggest draw is all the new construction,” says Ignacio Villanueva of Keller Williams Realty, who has sold nearly 200 properties in the area. “All of the major development companies have come in, and thousands of homes have gone up in the southeastern portion of the city.” The neighborhood is dominated by homes, and locals will have to make a short drive for dining and entertainment. “It’s a suburban area, but Tulare isn’t big, and everything is within a 10-minute drive,” says Villaneuva. Most will get to know their neighbors as over 55% of the population owns instead of renting. Tulare Southeast features a plethora of housing styles, including modern and traditional builds, classic ranch-style houses and Mediterranean-inspired homes. Prices range from around $350,000 to over $600,000 for new construction. Houses are clustered into large subdivisions on quiet residential streets. Many of the houses feature long driveways and attached multicar garages. Lots tend to be more spacious in the northern end of the neighborhood near East Tulare Avenue, where residents may have private pools in the backyards. Kids in the area attend the Tulare City School District, beginning at Cypress Elementary. Niche gives Cypress Elementary a C overall grade. Next is Cherry Avenue Middle School, which has a C-minus rating on Niche and an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Mission Oak High School has a B-plus rating on Niche, and the service rates it as one of the best places for teachers in the school district. Mission Oak was opened in 2008, and the school offers an arts, media and entertainment academy for students who want to pursue a career in those fields after graduation. “It’s not in the neighborhood, but a lot of people make the quick drive to Del Lago Community Park. It’s the best park in Tulare,” says Villanueva. As its name suggests, the main feature of the park is a lake that locals use for fishing, but it also has basketball hoops and a splash area for children. Cypress Park is the spot for locals to go for a walk or have a picnic. The 10-acre park also has a volleyball court and basketball hoops. Locals can visit the Elk Bayou Soccer Complex, which features four lighted soccer fields. Nearby Elk Bayou Regional Park includes a baseball diamond and playground equipment for children. The Tulare Golf Course is an 18-hole public track totaling 6,762 yards of play. The course offers lessons, a driving range and a pro shop. Locals head to Vejar’s Mexican Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge for margaritas on the outdoor patio. Black Bear Diner is a regional chain with a mountain theme. The restaurant is known for its all-day breakfast specials and large sandwiches. Just north of Highway 137 is La Piazza Ristorante Italiano. “It doesn’t matter where you live in Tulare; people make the drive to come to La Piazza,” says Villanueva. Family-owned Wimpy’s Hamburgers is a throwback drive-in with a dessert menu, including banana splits and milkshakes. Tulare Southeast residents can easily shop for groceries at Smart & Final, and Target, located off Highway 99, provides locals with household conveniences. Shoppers can spend an entire day at the Tulare Outlets, which are also located off Highway 99. The Tulare County Regional Transit Agency provides several bus stops throughout Tulare Southeast. In addition, California State Route 99 runs through the middle of Tulare Southeast and serves as the main artery for quick trips up to Visalia, where locals can check out a Minor League Baseball game or explore other dining options.

Northeast Tulare is home to the city’s best shopping in the Tulare Outlets, new homes and a pair of large parks. “Having the outlets is amazing, and they keep adding on with higher-end shops like Coach and Kate Spade,” says Kristy Martinez of Modern Broker, who has lived in Tulare her whole life. “It’s not just the outlets. You also have plenty of big box chains, and that convenience is important to people when deciding where to live.” Kids can walk to public schools during the week and on the weekends, families can walk around the corner to some of the city’s best parks. Highway 99 runs through the neighborhood from north to south, providing access to Visalia, Fresno and the broader the San Joaquin Valley. New subdivisions are popping up, making Northeast Tulare one of the most popular markets in the city. “This is where most of the development is, which makes it really desirable,” says Jonathan Arroyo, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and 30-year local to the area. Home prices tend to be higher here compared to the rest of the city. Older two-bedroom ranch-style builds begin at $315,000, and newer houses with Spanish-style architecture are in the $450,000 to $600,000 ballpark. Older homes sit on larger lots, around 8,500 square feet on average, with big yards for entertaining. Houses in the newer subdivisions are on smaller lots but don’t feel on top of one another. These properties have attached garages and long driveways. Oaks Gates is a 55-plus mobile home community where two-bedroom homes cost between $109,000 and $140,000. The Tulare Outlets sit in the heart of the neighborhood just off Highway 99. Shoppers can check out high-end stores and athletic retailers like Nike and Adidas or grab a snack from Auntie Anne’s or the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. In addition to the outlets, there are plenty of big box stores, including Target, Home Depot and Walmart. Grocery shopping is easy, with Vallarta’s and Smart & Final both having locations in the neighborhood. Locals head to the neighborhood's south end for a nice dinner out to visit La Piazza Ristorante Italiano off East Tulare Avenue. This upscale spot has Italian classics and an extensive wine collection. Apple Annie’s, just east of the outlets, has diner staples for breakfast, lunch and dinner like egg sandwiches and burgers. Model airplanes hang from the ceiling and vintage paintings adorn the walls at Apple Annie’s Local and national chain restaurants like Blaze Pizza and Chili’s surround the outlets. The 13-acre Del Lago Park sits near the outlets on the neighborhood’s west end. Locals can visit the park to cool off in the splash park or drop a line in the fishing lake. Live Oak Park features an exercise course and baseball fields, while Centennial Park is where residents head for a tennis match or to let their children play at the playground. Live Oak Park is also linked to the Tulare-Santa Fe Trail, a 5-mile lighted trail for walking and running. Galaxy Theatres of Tulare have the newest Hollywood blockbusters, and Planet Fitness offers a spot for an indoor workout. Kids head to the Tulare City School District, beginning either at Garden Elementary or Mission Valley Elementary, both of which have C grades on Niche. Next is Live Oak Middle School, which holds a C-plus Niche Grade. Tulare Union High School has a B-plus Niche grade and is rated by the service as one of the top 10 public high schools in Tulare County. The high school was founded in 1890 and is known for its Arts, Media and Entertainment Academy. Students in this academy will attend interview readiness workshops and guest speaker sessions and have internships preparing them for a career in the industry after graduation. A car is necessary in Northeast Tulare, but the proximity to highways makes getting around easy. Highway 99 intersects the neighborhood from north to south and provides access to Bakersfield, 60 miles south, and Fresno, 45 miles north. Tulare Country Regional Transit Authority buses linking with downtown Tulare. Locals won’t need to worry about going far for medical attention, as the Adventist Health Tulare Hospital is located in the neighborhood

Tulare Northwest is well-positioned for those who enjoy quiet and convenience. “The majority of the neighborhood is residential, and there is not much noise at all,” says Kristy Martinez of Modern Broker, who is a Tulare native and still lives there. “A lot of expansion has been done in the east and the south, but on this side of town, it still has a small-town feel, which has brought in a lot of families and retirees.” There are various homes in Tulare Northwest, but ranch-style bungalows make up most of the inventory. Many of the houses are lined in subdivisions that only see residential traffic. Prices in the area typically range from $280,000 to $415,000. These houses feature large lots and spacious yards. In addition, houses have private driveways and attached garages. Paved sidewalks make it easy for kids to walk to school or a friend's house. The Parkview Mobile Estates is a 55+ community located on the east side of the neighborhood. These homes start at $250,000 for a two-bedroom and $290,000 for a three-bedroom. Parkview offers community events and a pool. Children in Tulare Northwest attend the Tulare School District, beginning at Heritage Elementary, with a C-minus rating on Niche. Next up is Los Tules Middle School, which also has a C-minus Niche grade. Teens attend Tulare Western High School, part of the Tulare Joint Union High School District. Tulare Western has a B-plus Niche score. The high school offers a variety of academies that can prepare students for careers after graduation. The AME Academy is for students interested in art, media and entertainment, while other students can join the Pre-Medical Academy or Protective Services and Law Academy. Local youth sporting events happen at Prosperity Sports Park. The recreation area features multiple athletic fields, a lighted basketball court, and a walking path. Kids enjoy exploring the playground at Bender Park, and the sand volleyball courts are popular with adults and children. Residents visit Centennial Park with horseshoe pits and lighted tennis courts, ensuring play can happen after the hot California sun goes down. For dining and shopping, residents head to North J Street. They can grab one of the daily specials at Rancho Grande, a favorite local Mexican joint. Round Table Pizza is a local chain where Tulare Northwest residents can grab a slice in a relaxed setting. Bakery Mi Panaderia is known for making fresh croissants, donuts and bread each morning. When craving classic diner food, locals head to Salles Café. The café is open for breakfast and lunch and offers large servings of diner staples. The Grocery Outlet on J Street provides a convenient spot to stock up on food for the week. Boutique shopping outlets and more dining options are available a few blocks away in downtown Tulare. The Tulare Country Regional Transit Agency operates a bus service with stops throughout the Tulare Northwest Area. There are over 20 TCRTA bus routes in total. For those who prefer to drive, locals can hop on Route 99 to access Visalia and the rest of the San Joaquin Valley.

Tulare Southwest is a rural community that embraces agricultural roots. Each September, the community at the Tulare County Fair for several days of live music and carnival rides. “It’s one of the best weekends of the year with the nonstop concerts, and it’s always fun to ride the rides,” says Kristy Martinez of Modern Broker, who is a lifelong Tulare resident. “The community comes together, and local farmers get to show off their farm animals. Even kids participate with their school’s livestock programs.” Farmland comprises most of the neighborhood, but its northeast corner is suburban, with mid-20th century starter homes and newly constructed houses in just-built subdivisions. The Tulare County Fair, hosted just a few blocks east of the neighborhood, is five days full of live music, stock car races and parades. “When I was younger, I waited all year for the Demolition Derby on Sunday nights and the jumbo corn dogs,” says Martinez. “We still go every year, and it’s still so much fun.” Year round, residents visit Mulcahy Park, a 3.5-acre park within walking distance to some housing, to cool off in the splash park, softball or have a relaxing walk on the paved paths. There’s also playground equipment for children. The Tulare Cycle Park in the pastoral part of the neighborhood features a variety of off-road and motocross tracks for thrill seekers. Residents can rent bikes, and there is even a mini track for children. Just north of the neighborhood is the Tulare Historical Museum. The museum opened in 1985 and strives to preserve Tulare's history while featuring rotating art exhibits, like photography exhibits and exhibits celebrating Hispanic heritage. Homes in Tulare Southwest are clustered into the northeast quadrant of the neighborhood, as the rest is farmland. The streets in the northeast are largely residential, gridded roads lined by homes. Most houses are cross-gabled ranch-style builds that cost between $270,000 and $390,000.Post-war builds from the 1950s dominate the streetscapes, but further to the west, subdivisions with new construction are springing up. It is common for homes in the area to have driveways and attached garages. Lots are large in Tulare Southwest, and yards are big enough for entertaining. Kids attend the Tulare City School District, beginning at Roosevelt Elementary, which holds a C-minus rating on Niche. Next up is Mulcahy Middle School, which also has a C-minus Niche grade. Teens move to Tulare Union High School, which has a B-plus Niche rating. The school is known for its Arts, Media, and Entertainment Academy, where students can participate in internships and mentorship programs with industry professionals to equip them with the skills to succeed in educational and professional pursuits. The school also offers an extensive arts program, with classes such as Wood Sculpture, Three-Dimensional Art and Orchestra. Most of Tulare Southwest is residential streets or farmland, so shopping and dining options are slim. However, nothing is ever too far away in Tulare. Just a few blocks from the neighborhood, Vejar’s Mexican Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge, has an outdoor patio where people can sip happy hour margaritas. Also within a five-minute drive is Salles Café, which has a variety of diner classics, like burgers and milkshakes. The Grocery Outlet, located about two miles from the neighborhood, provides essentials, and residents are about a 10-minute drive from the Tulare Outlets. Locals can hop on Tulare County Regional Transit buses with several stops in the Tulare Southwest area. Route 137 runs adjacent to Tulare Southwest’s residential corridors, and connect to Highway 99, the city’s main thoroughfare. Highway 99 can quickly take drivers out of town to places like Visalia, which is about 16 miles away.