Tustin

The allure of Tustin Ranch is its above average schools and breezy, Mediterranean style homes. When people think about the OC suburbs, it’s places like Tustin Ranch that spring to mind. “It’s very California,” says Realtor Sally Picciuto of Seven Gables Real Estate. The neighborhood occupies the northeastern reaches of Tustin, a mid-sized city in the heart of Orange County. It’s anchored by the Tustin Ranch Golf Club, known for its verdant golf greens, rolling fairways, blue lakes and palm tree-lined pathways. Here, you’ll find gated communities with rows of contemporary, Mission Revival homes, town homes, condos and apartment complexes lining the streets. These summery, Orange County mainstays, primarily constructed in the 1990s, are known for their warm colors, red-tiled rooftops, stucco facades and small front patios. The streets in the area have a modern suburban feel rich with landscaped lawns, well-maintained sidewalks and curved streets lined with palms, pines and lemon-scented gum trees. For those who want a glimpse of greenery from their kitchen window, some homes and condos are perched along lush golf links. A one-bedroom condo in Tustin Ranch typically costs between $500,000 and $600,000, while two- and three-bedroom units can cost between $700,000 and $1 million. Single-family homes, meanwhile, are usually in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million. “It's slightly more affordable than Irvine, but you've still got highly rated schools," Picciuto says. If you can’t find one of those rare gems that border the golf course, don’t fret — parks are a prominent feature of Tustin Ranch. At its northern edge, you’ll find the rolling hills of Peters Canyon Regional Park, a 340-acre park filled with coastal scrub, marshes and meadows. It’s known for its abundance of native sycamores, black willows and cottonwoods, and the wildlife that are drawn to the shores of Peters Canyon Reservoir. Several trails crisscross the landscape that are perfect for hiking, running and mountain biking. Elsewhere, you'll find community parks tucked away on residential streets where you can take the kids for an afternoon playdate or relax on a park bench. Tustin Heritage Park, Cedar Grove Park and Pioneer Road Park all offer playgrounds, grassy lawns and shady tree canopies to enjoy. Citrus Ranch Park is one of the standout parks in the neighborhood. With hilly trails that meander dreamily through a lemon tree orchard to a hilltop gazebo, it’s a tiny, rural escape in the heart of suburbia. Shopping and dining can be found at The Market Place, a sprawling shopping plaza with big box and grocery stores like Target, Amazon Fresh, Sprouts Farmers Market, Home Depot and Costo. You’ll also find lots of casual dining options including fast favorites like In-N-Out Burger, El Pollo Loco and Starbucks alongside local offerings like Blk Dot Coffee, Corner Bakery and Taco Rosa. Students can attend sought-after schools like Tustin Ranch Elementary School, Ladera Elementary School, Peters Canyon Elementary School and Pioneer Middle School, all of which are walking or biking distance from many homes. Upperclassmen attend nearby Beckman High School, a top-rated Orange County high school with an “A+” rating from Niche. Beckman High is a past winner of the California Distinguished Schools Award, taking home the prize in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Tustin Ranch is ideally situated along Interstate 5, a major transportation corridor that will get you around the county with ease. Hop on the highway and it’s about 7 miles from downtown Santa Ana, 13 miles from Anaheim and 38 miles from downtown Los Angeles, although city traffic could be an issue depending on what time of day you’re traveling. With summery homes, stellar schools and sought-after convenience, you might get more than you bargained for in Tustin Ranch.