Thousand Oaks

Atop the glorious hills of Thousand Oaks lies Lynn Ranch, one of the city’s largest and most expensive neighborhoods. “Lynn Ranch is seen as a more affluent area with big houses and lots of money,” says local property manager Jason Trejo. “But anyone who can afford a home in the area wouldn’t regret the investment.” The secluded streets of Lynn Ranch welcome residents who value privacy. Travel up the winding hillside roads to discover sprawling ranch homes with Spanish-inspired designs and open floor plans. Large properties come wrapped in fences and gates under dense vegetation to give every home its own sense of seclusion. Move farther up the rolling hills and find massive estates with Mediterranean and contemporary designs featuring tremendous views of the valley below. Lynn Ranch also hosts the gated community of Rancho Conejo and the Conejo Creek Condominium community. Conejo Creek provides condo options ranging from $300,000 to $400,000 for buyers with more modest budgets. Single-family homes around Lynn Ranch start at $1 million, with the large estates farther up the rolling hills asking as high as $2.25 million, far above the median sales price of $950,000 for the rest of Thousand Oaks. Finding a home in Lynn Ranch comes with a nature lover’s paradise practically in the backyard. The crest of these majestic hills holds the Arroyo Conejo Open Space nature preserve. Residents love to explore the more than 300 acres of serene nature, which includes expansive hiking trails with stunning views, access to the awe-inspiring Paradise Falls and the historical Indian Cave. Lynn Ranch locals also frequently visit the smaller hiking area of Conejo Canyons Open Space, where less challenging trails and smaller crowds provide equally stunning views of the valley. This secluded space is also dog-friendly and a hot spot for birdwatchers and mountain bikers. Not only do Lynn Ranch residents have instant access to Southern California’s natural beauty, but they also have all their shopping needs at the tips of their fingers. Highway 101 runs adjacent to the neighborhood and connects residents to Village Mall, a one-stop shop for big-box retailers like Target and Home Depot, along with a smattering of local restaurants and nationally recognized brands. Head east on 101 and go to The Oaks, where you can build the perfect wardrobe with endless shops for fashion trendsetters and specialty stores for unique gift ideas. When date night strikes, go to the AMC Dine-In theater for the latest movies in a state-of-the-art theater experience offering expanded concessions, a full-service bar and cushy reclining seats. The Conejo Valley Unified School District ranks as one of California’s best school districts, with Niche ranking it the second-best district in Ventura County and number 35 in the entire state. The neighborhood’s youngest residents often attend Madrona Elementary School, which Niche gives an A rating. Redwood Middle School sits nearby Madrona Elementary, so students have an easy transition to their middle school years. Most public school students then move on to Newbury Park High School, ranked by Niche as the fifth-best public high school in Ventura County and host to numerous programs revolving around athletics, performing arts and much more to foster Lynn Ranch’s brightest students. Life in Lynn Ranch brings peaceful solitude and serene surroundings to anyone lucky enough to secure a spot in this coveted piece of Thousand Oaks.

Ranked by Niche as the third best place to raise a family in Ventura County, Casa Conejo makes the suburban dream come true for newcomers to Southern California. “You definitely get a family vibe when you move around Casa Conejo,” says local property manager Becky Newsted. “It’s one of the nicer suburbs around Ventura. There’s a great atmosphere, lots of friendly people, and almost no crime to speak of. Very quaint.” Rob Alvidrez—Co-Owner of Aviara Real Estate, Realtor of 25 years and resident of the community for just as long—gives a similarly glowing review. In particular, he emphasizes the neighborhood’s gorgeous climate. “I don’t know that you’re going to find better weather than in our area,” he says. “We get a little breeze that people in Thousand Oaks don’t get, so it gets a couple degrees cooler here.” When residents aren’t hitting the beach or playing sports at neighborhood parks, they have restaurants, shopping centers and more to explore, and ranch-style houses with generous parcels to return home to. Much of the neighborhood consists of ranch-style homes with American Craftsman and Spanish Mission architectural influences. Streets gently twist and turn, often accompanied by sidewalks and sometimes leading to cul-de-sacs. The Santa Monica Mountains stand tall on the horizon while some homeowners invite the splendor of the California wilderness into their lawns with cacti and palm trees. It’s not just the backcountry that’s spacious, though. “The thing I like about the homes here is they have big lots, and the homes aren’t tremendously huge,” Alvidrez says. “Back when they built them, land was very inexpensive, so they gave you a big piece of land. So now, you can have a pool in the backyard, and some homes even have RV access.” Parcels usually fall between 7,000 and 10,000 square feet, though some exceed a quarter of an acre. Most home prices range between $800,000 and $1.2 million. There’s also the gated manufactured home community of Vallecito for 55+ residents, situated on the northwest corner of the neighborhood. Home prices here range between $200,000 and $400,000. Niche ranks the Conejo Valley Unified School District as the second best in Ventura County. Kids can attend Walnut Elementary, which receives an A-minus from Niche, before moving up to A-rated Sequoia Middle. Niche not only awards Newbury Park High an A-plus but also ranks the public high school as the fifth best in the county. Some of the school’s academic programs include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the Digital Arts Technology Academy, which offers courses such as webpage design and GIS. Locals can find recreational activities for all seasons. “We’re 20 minutes from Pacific Ocean beaches, and we’re a couple hours from ski resorts,” Alvidrez says. Malibu Beach is only about 30 minutes away, Alvidrez notes. Closer to home, residents can explore Borchard Community Park, which features a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a skatepark, an agricultural themed playground and a community center. Athletes will spend a lot of time at Peppertree Park, which is where the Newbury Park branch of the American Youth Soccer Organization plays. The park also boasts a playground and Ventura County’s first and only cricket ground. Casa Conejo residents remember The Alamo, a local restaurant that serves up Mexican favorites from huevos rancheros to flautas. “It’s probably the oldest restaurant in Newbury Park,” Alvidrez says. “It’s probably the staple of the community too. Everyone knows it.” Other semi-casual eating options can be found across Ventura Freeway like Islands Restaurant, which serves up beach-themed burgers and tropical drinks. “For fine dining, we have a restaurant called Holdren’s,” Alvidrez says. “It’s a steakhouse. That’s where you’d go if you’re going out for a special occasion.” Residents can buy home goods and more from shopping centers like Village Mall, with stores like Target and The Home Depot. The Oaks, the county’s largest shopping mall, is about a 10-minute drive or less for most residents. US Route 101 passes along the neighborhood. Residents can expect to reach downtown LA, which is 45 miles east, in between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on traffic. Although the neighborhood is served by Thousand Oaks Transit Route 40, the bus only makes it rounds every hour, so many residents opt to drive their cars. Conejo Valley Days has been a regional highlight for over 60 years, a multi-week celebration featuring loads of carnival rides, vendors and live musical performances. During the springtime, an arts and crafts festival takes place at Borchard Park.

Dos Vientos Ranch, also known simply as Dos Vientos or DV, sits at the westernmost edge of Newbury Park and the foothills of the majestic Santa Monica Mountains. This master-planned community takes its name from the “dos vientos,” or two winds, which blow through the valley, providing comfortable weather year-round. It’s this gorgeous climate, among other factors, that make the neighborhood highly sought-after. “Dos Vientos definitely ranks as one of the most desired areas in town,” says local property manager Michael Rain. “There’s a laidback lifestyle people expect from Conejo Valley. You see a lot of families settle in the area thanks to great schools and lots of opportunities for employment. It’s a nice place to settle down.” Mary McQueen concurs, a Realtor Better Homes and Gardens for 20 years and an on-and-off resident of Dos Vientos for just as long. “The people who live here are very friendly,” she says. “It’s highly desirable for families. There are great schools and activities and sports like soccer and volleyball. And the Conejo Recreation and Park District is amazing.” Dos Vientos can be divided into about 24 different housing developments, all built starting in the late 1980s. “The developments are newer than most others in Conejo Valley,” McQueen says. “And houses have various different looks, if you want something traditional, Mediterranean or modern.” Although many homes tend to take inspiration from Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, with red-shingled roofs lined with rich gold hues, split-levels, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and ranch-style homes appear on the market as well. Lawns are immaculately well-kept while other residents decorate their mulched or rock garden yards with desert succulents and the flora of California. Most subdivisions offer sidewalks. Single-family homes spanning 2,000 square feet or less tend to go for between $800,000 and $1.3 million. Farther up the rolling hills, home prices can start around $1.5 million, getting up to $3 million or more. Residents are never far from the outdoors, with hiking trails abounding through the hills that separate subdivisions. Hikers are well-rewarded at the summits, taking in splendid views of Conejo Valley. A few parks can be found within the neighborhood like Dos Vientos Community Park and Del Prado Playfields, which offer several playgrounds. Sports that can be played there include baseball, soccer, volleyball, pickleball and tennis. The Pacific shore is lined with beaches less than 20 minutes to the south, like Sycamore Cove. The Conejo Recreation & Park District organizes several events like a flashlight egg hunt at Del Prado Playfields, kids who collect all 10 eggs earning a prize. Thousand Oaks is perhaps most famous for Conejo Valley Days, a multi-week festival featuring carnival rides, live music, lots of food and more. Residents are several miles away from stores like The Home Depot and Target found at shopping centers like Village Mall. Fortunately, Newbury Park Plaza is at the center of Dos Vientos, and residents can pick up groceries from Albertson’s, pharmaceuticals from CVS or coffee from Starbucks. Similarly, the bulk of restaurants can be found closer to Thousand Oaks like El Sancho Loco Taqueria, known for having some of the best micheladas in town, and Side Street Café, a popular brunch spot. But there are a few local coffee shops and eateries within the neighborhood, like Honey Cup Coffeehouse and Country Harvest, which serves up comfort food like fried steak with biscuits and gravy. Niche gives Sycamore Canyon School, a K through 8 school, an overall rating of A and ranks it as the second-best public middle school in Ventura County. Niche considers A-plus-rated Newbury Park High to be the fifth best public high school in Ventura County. Newbury Park High is also one of only two high schools in the county to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The high school also offers academic pathways such as digital video production, woodworking and EMT training. Residents are a short drive away from US Route 101, which takes residents 45 miles east to LA in between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on traffic.