Ventura

Surrounded by farmland and strawberry fields, the Strickland neighborhood of Oxnard is situated on the banks of the Santa Clara River, 10 miles east of the California coastline. The neighborhood itself is quite small – there are only 130 homes within the quarter square mile of land it occupies – but residents enjoy easy access to plenty of nearby amenities, and Highway 101 is less than 3 miles west. “It’s a small and eclectic neighborhood in an up-and-coming area,” says Kay Wilson-Bolton, a local broker with Century 21 Everest who has been representing real estate transactions in the area since 1976. “You’ll find a lot of people who have been living there for a very long time.” Much of the credit for that longevity goes to the convenience of the neighborhood’s location, as it is close to multiple parks, shopping and restaurants, and it is only 5 miles from downtown Oxnard’s historic district. Downtown Oxnard is home to the Oxnard Transit Center, a regional multi-modal transportation facility that offers commuter bus service, Metrolink commuter rail service and other transit options. For those seeking to get to other cities, Thousand Oaks is 20 miles to the east, Santa Barbara is just under 40 miles to the north and downtown Los Angeles is 60 miles to the south.<br><br>The small size of the neighborhood and the desirability of the area mean that houses don’t often come on the market in Strickland, so those who are looking to buy here need to be patient. The median price of real estate in Strickland is $709,500, and buyers should expect to pay an average of $537 per square foot. The value of Strickland becomes more apparent when those prices are compared to those of the city of Ventura as a whole, which are $949,000 and $621, respectively. Wilson-Bolton cites the lower price points as one of the things that attracts buyers to Strickland: “The affordability is a big draw for people. You’ll find some older homes that cost less here than they would be a couple of miles down the road.” A two-bedroom/two-bathroom ranch-style home can sell for $679,000, and a three-bedroom/two-bathroom ranch-style can list for up to $740,000.<br><br>Strickland is districted to the Mesa Union Elementary School District for both elementary and middle schools, and neighborhood students attend Mesa Elementary School for grades 1-8. Both the district and the school earn a B-plus rating from Niche. For high school, the neighborhood is districted to the Oxnard Union High School District, and students attend Rio Mesa High School. Both the district and the high school also earn a B-plus from Niche. Students at Rio Mesa High School can participate in any of nearly 40 school-sponsored clubs, and they have the opportunity to play any of 26 varsity-level sports. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of multiple private school options in the area, including The Thacher School, rated as the best private school in Ventura County by Niche, which gives the school an A-plus rating.<br><br>There are no sidewalks and only one Gold Coast Transit District bus stop in the neighborhood, making Strickland a fairly car-dependent neighborhood. However, residents don’t have to drive far to get some outdoor recreation. East Park is 2 miles away, where visitors will find a playground, a basketball court, a sports field and benches for relaxing tired legs. Dog parents can find an off-leash enclosed dog park a few blocks northwest of East Park in Windrow Park. For a day on the beach, Venutra Harbor is the perfect spot for beachgoers to relax on the sand, swim in the Pacific or catch the breeze on a windsurfer or sailboat.<br><br>When it’s time to shop – for groceries, home necessities or other sundries – residents make the 3-mile trip to The Collection at RiverPark, where they can get groceries at Whole Foods Market and home necessities at Target. Other area shops include The Container Store, Ulta Beauty and REI. The Collection at RiverPark is also home to Bowlero Oxnard for family bowling nights or league play, as well as Cinemark Century RiverPark for catching the latest Hollywood releases on the big screen.

Sixty miles north of Los Angeles and about 27 miles south of Santa Barbara, downtown Ventura is a charming coastal classic with a pedigree that predates California’s statehood. Nestled between hillsides and the coastline, Ventura offers residents an active beach lifestyle with a nod to California history. At the center of downtown is Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, the ninth and final mission founded by Father Junipero Serra. The mission offers tours and is still an active parish and basilica. Within a decade of California’s statehood in 1850, the town had developed around the mission and Main Street, which today is lined with local shops, restaurants, tap rooms and wine bars. In 2021, the City Council approved Main Street Moves, a program that converted five blocks to a pedestrian-only thoroughfare with popular streetside dining offered by restaurants. Downtown is just a short walk or bike ride to the sandy beach at Ventura Pier, a great spot to “catch a wave” or enjoy a day in the sun. The San Buenaventura City Pier, built in 1872, is the oldest pier in California. Both the beach and the pier overlook Pierpont Bay out to the Channel Islands. Downtown Ventura has an eclectic charm, with 1940s through 1950s-era craftsman bungalows and classic Spanish architecture in the Hobson Heights neighborhood. Hillside homes offer sweeping views of the coast. Newer developments include more industrial-style condo and townhome communities, with a trend toward mixed-use development. For homeowners seeking additional rental income or cross-generation homes, downtown offers duplexes and multi-unit properties, some with bungalows in the back. Prices range from the high $800,000s up to $3 million for some properties. Ventura is a popular destination for tourists and day-trippers. Grab your surfboard and head on your beach cruiser to nearby Ventura Pier Beach to catch some waves or sunshine. Stroll Main Street, lined with antique and thrift stores, boutiques, independent bookstores and restaurants. Steps away from the mission is an Italian specialty shop and restaurant in what was Ventura’s first general store. Join locals for an IPA, glass of Pinot from a coastal winery, or a Negroni at a former bank. Don’t miss the Saturday morning farmers market for local produce and artisanal gourmet products, as well as fish fresh from the Pacific. Downtown Ventura is a haven for history buffs, students and art enthusiasts. The Mission Basilica San Buenaventura is a popular field trip destination for Southern California fourth graders. Visit the Old Mission Museum, the Albringer Archeological Museum or the Museum of Ventura County to see local relics. Check out a live musical performance at the Ventura Majestic Theater or Ventura Music Hall. Each summer, the city holds a popular 4th of July street fair and Pushem-Pullem Parade in the downtown district, with arts and crafts booths, live entertainment and activities. Nestled in downtown Ventura, across from the historic Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, Mission Park has a large grassy area that is popular with visitors who enjoy lunching on the lawn. The park is home to annual special events, including art shows. Close to the historical houses on Thompson Boulevard, Plaza Park is known for its beautiful pagoda and 136-year-old Moreton Bay fig tree from Australia, as well as an old Spanish cannon and a pagoda-themed play area. Ventura High School, established in 1889, is known for its expansive music department. The school’s wind ensemble and string orchestra have earned distinction at invitational festivals throughout the country. Cabrillo Middle School is also known for its music department. The school’s facilities include a professional recording studio! The Ventura Unified School District, in collaboration with the Museum of Ventura and the City, holds an annual district-side juried student art show each year for elementary through high school students. In addition to public schools, the area is home to several private, charter and parochial schools, including Holy Cross School located at the historic Mission San Buenaventura. Lincoln, E.P. Foster, and Will Rodgers Elementary Schools located downtown receive positive reviews for their teachers, who are committed to student success. Downtown Ventura is a highly desirable area for people who don’t mind a longer commute in exchange for a beach lifestyle and thriving art and music scene. Start your Saturday with a latte on Main Street before heading to the farmers market for local vegetables and fruits — or jump on your beach cruiser and head for the waves. Meet friends for a salad, sushi or a burger before an afternoon of shopping or gallery hopping. The day doesn’t end when the sun sets in Ventura, which has plenty of spots for an IPA, local vintage, cocktail and live music. Although downtown Ventura is a walkable neighborhood, three in four commuters travel by car, heading on Highway 1 or the Ventura Freeway to their destination. Amtrak offers early morning train service from Ventura to Goleta and Santa Barbara on the Pacific Surfliner. Enjoy coastal views with your morning coffee.

Clear views of the ocean from atop Californian hills. It’s the panorama that Garry Eberhardt says is this Ventura, California neighborhood’s best feature. "Hillside is a highly sought-after neighborhood for anyone looking to live around here because almost all the houses have views of the ocean since the lots are sloped against the hills,” says the Re/Max Gold Coast realtor, a Ventura local himself. “We’re seeing a lot of buyers coming here from Los Angeles, looking for more space. It's a little off the grid, more rural, with a big local park nearby, but still convenient to the beach and to shopping,” he says. With the sprawling Arroyo Verde Park less than 4 miles east and the San Buenaventura State Beach less than 3 miles west, locals are certainly at their leisure to take advantage of the balmy SoCal climate here. But Hillside isn’t so far off the grid that a day trip back to Los Angeles is out of the question. The 70-mile drive is just a straight shot down U.S. Highway 101 and takes about an hour and a half. Arroyo Verde Park sprawls over nearly 150 acres to the east of home, off Foothill Road, and offers everything from hiking trails through the rugged Californian terrain to tree-lined fields great for picnicking. There’s even a nature center and two playgrounds, one of which just re-opened in 2022 after receiving a facelift with an emphasis on inclusivity. Now, the playground features a new colorful, springy play surface, a motion-inclusive carousel, embankment climbers, a sensory wall and more. “It’s probably the biggest, nicest park in Ventura, and a big draw to the area,” says Eberhardt. Residents can take advantage of the Californian sun, which is out for some 270 days a year here, by heading to San Buenaventura State Beach. Palatial Spanish villas and lower-profile stucco bungalows line the hilly residential streets throughout the neighborhood, ranging in price between $1 and $2 million. The higher elevation here gives homes sweeping views of the surrounding city and the ocean beyond it. Eberhardt says that there’s been a lot of new construction recently as homeowners have begun to rebuild on lots previously devastated by a wildfire. “It gives the area an interesting vibe because there are a lot of older homes from the 1960s and ‘70s that survived the fire, but we’re seeing tons of new builds popping up now, in a different style,” he says, noting that most new construction favors single-story layouts. “It speaks to the types of homebuyers looking in the neighborhood,” he says. “The prices have gone up, which reflects both the market and the increasing amount of new construction, so it’s not a neighborhood where we see a lot of first-time buyers. It’s mostly folks looking to the future, maybe couples close to or at retirement age looking to avoid stairs.” For groceries, there are several Vons locations nearby, all within just a couple miles of home. And for other everyday essentials, or just a dose of retail therapy, the Pacific View Mall is less than 4 miles southwest. The mall has everything from Macy’s and JCPenney to American Eagle and Target. Across the parking lot, there’s also a Trader Joe’s, for any specialty items not found at Vons. Everyone’s favorite Californian burger joint, In-N-Out, is near the beach on East Harbor Boulevard just 2.5 miles away. Lure Fish House, on South California Street two blocks from the bay, locals love the fresh seafood and bright, airy atmosphere. Kids here attend schools in the Ventura Unified School District. Many go to either Poinsettia or Loma Vista Elementary School, Cabrillo Middle and Ventura High Schools. All four schools earned A-minus grades from Niche in 2023. The high school has served students since 1889 when it was established as the first in the city. Today, teens there can take a variety of AP and honors-level courses. The Applied Arts Department offers classes in everything from agricultural biology, landscaping and floral design to welding and fabrication and auto mechanics. Beyond academics, students can also participate in any of more than 20 varsity sports. While there’s no public transportation readily available here, travelling up and down the coast is easy with U.S. Highway 101 within 4 miles of most homes. East Main Street, a major thoroughfare through Ventura, is also close by, within 3 miles of most homes. Community Memorial Hospital is just a quick 10-minute drive south to North Brent Street.