Category: orange county

Best Rated K1 to K6 Schools in Orange County, CA

Orange County is a gorgeous location and one of California’s most popular parts. Millions of tourists flock to this region each year to visit Disneyland, the amazing beaches, and other nearby attractions.

The one thing that most people don’t realize about Orange County, CA, is that it offers much more than celebrities, sea, and sand. What does it offer? It has one of the best public school districts in California, making it one of the best places for families with small children.

Orange County as a whole serves nearly half a million students and is home to over 600 private and public schools. While other school systems in the state suffer due to untrained teachers and underfunded schools, the same is not true in Orange County.

So, if you’re on the fence about moving to Orange County, CA, we’ve compiled a list of the best-rated K1 through K6 schools in the area based on reading and math test scores.

Best Elementary Schools in Orange County, CA

Turtle Rock Elementary

This public elementary school is located near the southern end of Irvine, CA, just a couple of miles from the University of California. The students that attend Turtle Rock come from around the world and speak many languages, which creates a richly diverse student body.

Turtle Rock has an average enrollment rate of around 800 students per year and focuses on academically accelerated classes.  As of July 2022, the average home price for a 3 bedroom is $1,829,000 in in Irvine’s 92603 zip code according to Zillow.

Santiago Hills Elementary

Santiago Hills Elementary, also calls Irvine, CA, home. This school serves children in grades K-6 and features very small class sizes, at just ten students per teacher.

Students who attend Santiago Hills are proficient in reading and math, which is evident by their above-average test scores.  As of July 2022, the average home price for a 3 bedroom is $1,500,000 and condos starting at approximately $595,000 according to Zillow.

Stone Creek Elementary

Stone Creek is situated in the village of Woodbridge, within Irvine, CA. This neighborhood school serves children in grades kindergarten through sixth and has an average enrollment of around 585 students.

Stone Creek places great importance on providing a supportive and structured environment for learning.  As of July 2022, the average home price for a 3 bedroom is $1,450,000 according to Zillow.

Eastshore Elementary

Eastshore is yet another top elementary school located in Irvine, CA. This school is best known for its close ties to the local community. Since this school serves a diverse community and aims to serve the best education possible for every student, it’s an excellent option.

Eastshore K-6 teachers are required to participate in regular staff development workshops to ensure they maintain the skills and knowledge required to teach students in the 21st century.  As of July 2022, the average home price for a 2-3 bedroom in the 92604 zip code is $1,197,000 according to Zillow.

Portola Springs Elementary

Portola Springs Elementary is about inspiring students, staff, and parents to collaborate and communicate to create a vibrant learning environment. At this K-6 school, you can expect to find a safe, innovative, inclusive, and encouraging focus on growth.

Your child will feel joy learning at Portola Springs as they learn to be problem solvers and how to care for those around the community and world.

As of July 2022, the average home price for a 2-3 bedroom is $1,383,000 according to Zillow. Buyers will find there’s active new construction homes for sale in this zip code of 92618.

Golden Elementary

Golden Elementary is located in Placentia, CA., and is a very inclusive school. The staff is caring and ready to learn in a safe and considerate environment where every student has the opportunity to shine.

In the past, this school has been named a Gold Ribbon school and was a 3-time Distinguished School.  As of July 2022, the average home price for a 2-3 bedroom is $1,036,000 according to Zillow in the 92870 zip code.

Canyon View

Our final school on the list of best-rated K1 through K6 schools in Orange County, CA. goes to Canyon View Elementary in Irvine. This school’s mission is to provide the best possible education to every child that comes through its doors.

Canyon View is a wonderful school where your children will learn the value of respect and responsibility in the community.  As of July 2022, the average home price in the 92620 zip code for a 2-3 bedroom is $1,450,000 according to Zillow.

Why Own Investment Property In Orange County, CA?

In spite of the financial challenges of owning a California rental property, why do investors continue to buy or retain their properties?

Dynamic economy. California is home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, such as Apple, Disney, Google, Intel, and Oracle. The increasing demand for their products and services suggests that growth is certain for these major corporations. This means added job opportunities will come from the company’s expansion.

Moreover, a low jobless rate indicates that landlords and rental property owners have better security because tenants have the means to easily make their rent payments.

Very strong tourism. It should not be a shocker to anyone that California attracts millions of visitors every year. Entertainment venues, famous places to visit, amusement parks, beaches filled with tourists and locals, perfect weather, awesome people, numerous activities to choose from, which translates to significant tourist revenue for local and state government. This makes the strategy of purchasing a short-term rental property increasingly attractive to investors within and outside of California.

  High property demand. With job seekers moving into the state by the thousands for higher paying job options, prices for rental properties remain high. However, investors have noticed more people than normal have moved to inland to rural areas due to remote work opportunities. So, now there are additional choices and premium rents may be charged for highly paid remote workers in adjacent Riverside county.

 Property Value Appreciation. Normally, buying a home is a solid investment since land will more often than not rise in value through time. Although, a smart investor realizes where to search for investment property will enjoy higher returns. Considering the variety of factors that have an impact on California real estate, the rate of appreciation is much higher in comparison to other states.

Some of the negatives for residents are:  homelessness, poor public schools, high property taxes, constant drought, and wildfires.

Best Areas for Short-term Rentals

In many cases, short-term rentals have become among the better alternatives to hotel or motel rooms. Sometimes the savings are significant for visitors and vacationers, and investors have noticed the strong demand for vacation rental properties.

However, investors should understand that each city within Orange County has their own regulations for short-term rentals. Some cities allow it, some allow with a permit, some don’t address it at all, and some prohibit it altogether.  Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Yorba Linda don’t allow it.

However, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point.  It’s a good idea for rental property owners to stay up to date on the rules prior to purchasing an investment property in Orange County, CA.

That being said, here are some of the best places to invest in real estate in California for those who are considering getting into the vacation rentals game:

  1. Anaheim, Orange

Average Home Price: $820,400
Average Price per Square Foot: $509
Days on Market: 30
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 81%
Airbnb Rental Income: $4,937
Airbnb Daily Rate: $298
Walk Score: 50.75

Anaheim is displayed first due to its very robust market for vacationers and visitors. In fact, it is where Disneyland is. Let’s not forget the other nearby attractions of Knotts Berry Farm and Huntington Beach. Real estate investors will not have a difficult time getting their initial investments repaid from this Southern California city.

  1. Huntington Beach, Orange

Median Property Price: $1,200,000
Average Price per Square Foot: $687
Days on Market: 41
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 56%
Airbnb Rental Income: $4,241
Airbnb Daily Rate: $207

Huntington Beach is well known as one of the California’s top holiday destinations which probably explains why it attracts roughly 4.5 million visitors annually. More than just enjoying the best surfing spots in town, vacationers make the most of the area’s ideal temperature throughout the year to participate in its various outdoor recreation for both young and old.

Cities in OC Best for Families

When you think of California it’s normally something about L. A., San Francisco, or San Diego but Orange County, is often the best option to raise a family.

With that said, did you know that four of the top five cities on the NerdWallet’s best places for young families list in Southern California were in Orange County.

The frequent reason is Orange County’s higher quality of schools, a strong labor pool and has alloted funds for infrastructure improvements. Examples of this are expanding Sand Canyon Avenue in Irvine where Interstate 5 is located.

Home affordability in Orange County is reasonable compared to adjacent L.A. county and San Diego down south. The monthly cost of homeownership, which includes mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, and other bills is affordable.

Best cities for young families in Southern California

  1. Irvine

The incredible city of Irvine attracts families with its top-rated public schools and some of the nation’s best, including the renowned UC Irvine. In addition to the honor of a top score of 10 by GreatSchools, Irvine schools have strong backing from the community.

Irvine is a safe, clean, diligently planned city with high-tech, bio-tech and financial companies based there. It has many parks for walking, hiking, and biking and has been awarded America’s safest city by the FBI since 2005.

The majority of the city was developed within the last 25 years, so there’s many neighborhoods, each with different styles of home design from French, Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, to Spanish architecture.

According to Realtor.com, Irvine homes for sale have a median listing price of $921,097 as of Oct. 27, 2020

The city’s high home values are on par with the quality the city provides. There’s convenient access to the beach just 20-30 minutes away in Laguna or Newport &Huntington Beach not to mention the many parks residents can enjoy.

  1. Rancho Santa Margarita

Only a 10-20 minute drive from Irvine or the beaches, this late 1990’s master-planned city features a healthy trend of increasing income since 1999. The city features two excellent school districts, Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley. The evidence is supported by students’ state test scores, which are particularly high in science.

Home values in RSM, CA have a median list price of $641,950 which is below the county limit for a conforming loan with rates currently at decades lows.

  1. Cypress

Despite being only 6.6 square miles, Cypress is ideally located for commuting to L.A. or south Orange County for work. The city has seen redevelopment projects in pockets near Lincoln & Moody.

It’s considered a nice quiet middle class community with very highly rated public schools like Oxford Academy, Cypress High and Margaret Lindell Elementary as well as Cypress Junior College. As a result housing demand is constant with apartment rentals, condos, townhomes, and single family homes.

Home values in Cypress, CA have a median sales price of $812,000 which means a down payment of 6% or more will get you a conforming loan rate in 2020.

  1. Yorba Linda

Yorba Linda is an upscale neighborhood within the hills right near the 91 and 57 freeways.  If you enjoy riding horses, there are some equestrian centers, along with trails for horseback riding, hiking and biking.

Many residents say it’s the perfect place to raise kids as its very family oriented and tends to always earn 9 and 10 rankings from GreatSchools which include Fairmont Elementary, Linda Vista Elementary, Bernardo Yorba Jr. High and Yorba Linda High School at 19900 Bastanchury Road.

Recently, the city has undergone multiple redevelopment and expansion initiatives to update roads, public areas, and construct new schools.  The median price for a home is $901,753 according to Zillow in Oct. 2020.

Consider These Orange County Wedding Venues

The third largest state in terms of land, is well known for its enjoyable Mediterranean climate and endless places to go which include the desert, beach, mountains, vineyards, and more. It’s no wonder California also has among the most desirable wedding venues throughout the U.S.  The following are some of the leading wedding venues in Orange County, California to help you pull off an wonderful celebration.

The Vintage Rose

(714) 516-9590
1160 N Tustin St
Tustin, CA
The ideal blend of European charm and modern Californian style! It brings the romantic spirit of France to the heart of Southern California. You will fall further in love with its artistic splendor and contemporary features:

– The venue can has the capacity for as many as 250 guests.
– There are five areas that can be reserved at The Vintage Rose:
–  Urban Barn (mainly reserved for ceremonies)
–  Cocktail Room
–  Ballroom (where reception is held)
–  Bridal Room
–  Covered Outdoor Space (decorated in twinkle lights)

Seven Degrees

891 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Accommodates up to 300 guests.  The hillside terrace offers a peaceful amazing garden which has a waterfall that goes into a fountain to frame the couple ceremony. The spacious property received an award from the Architecture Guild. It provides couples with a blank canvas so they can start to create an original and artful wedding experience.

Bel Event Productions

8 Whatney
Ste 100
Irvine, CA 92618
Provides floral arrangements and rentals in addition to event coordination. The BEL team has almost ten years of experience designing dream weddings all over Orange County.

Muckenthaler Mansion

1201 West Malvern
Fullerton, California 92833

Magnificent Italian Renaissance style structure rests on nine landscaped acres looking over a quiet residential neighborhood.  Families and guests will appreciate the broad lawns and its grand architecture.  There’s even a picturesque lush green wooded knoll for the bride and groom to appreciate.

Anaheim Hills Golf Course Clubhouse

6501 East Nohl Ranch Road
Anaheim Hills, California 92807

The professional staff will make your wedding experience smoother and less painful. Prices are also pretty reasonable for the service and quality you receive.  Reserve the Clubhouse Grand Ballroom for up to 350 guests, and it has an excellent dance floor. The East Terrace room is great for ceremonies and holds up to 250 guests.

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa

25135 Park Lantern
Dana Point, California 92629

Set on a picturesque bend of coastline with white sandy beaches and mild breezes blowing in from the Pacific, this AAA Four Diamond luxury retreat offers the perfect beach wedding venue. This upscale “California romantic spot” also features acres of emerald-green parks and the never-ending views of the Pacific it produces the optimal scenery for weddings and receptions.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

21500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
The venues here range from perfectly manicured lawns to ballrooms with stunning coastal views. Whether you dream a simple small gathering or a lavish formal event, your wedding at this ocean view resort will be treated as a very special event.

The Grand Conference Lobby, with its cathedral-high ceiling and second-story balcony surround, has an extensive intimate courtyard ambiance. The property boasts many ballrooms, courtyards, and terraces. If you want an outdoor ceremony the Lighthouse Courtyard is a popular choice. It has a spacious lawn, with large palm trees on all sides, but first you must pass through the Mermaid Fountain to the resort’s spectacular white Lighthouse Tower and Bridge. The ocean view is amazing and uninterrupted here.

Homeowners Insurance for California Fires

Fires burned forests, dry brush and timber pretty much around-the-clock in 2017, and the year closed with record large fires in Southern California that scorched areas well into 2018.

Jennifer Jones, a spokesperson for the National Interagency Fire Center, said officials no longer talk about “fire seasons anymore instead it’s called fire years”.

In July, people in Redding, California, were sent scrambling for their lives and belongings  after the Carr Fire erupted and sent a 100-foot-high “wall of flame” through the city. The fire has already spread to over 207,000 acres, jumped over the Sacramento River, and is 98 percent contained as of Thursday Aug 30th.

In general, homeowners insurance helps pay for damage to your home and personal belongings due to a wildfire. Basic homeowners policies tend to cover you against specific dangers, which includes fire, but the level of protection may differ based on your location and policy.

In some cases, if the area you live in is prone to wildfires, you could find that homeowners insurance policies won’t covers fires or the premium is very high.

If you believe your home is susceptible, you’ll want to be sure that you know if wildfire damage is included in your homeowners insurance policy and if so, how much coverage you have.

Excluded Circumstances

Usually your homeowners insurance policy will protect you against accidental fires, but it won’t protect against any loss if you deliberately put your home ablaze.  If a nuclear bomb blows up your home, you will not be covered, as homeowners policies do not insure against nuclear disasters. If a foreign army invades the U.S. and burns your home to the ground, your insurer will not be able to help with coverage. Basically, any act of war that results in a loss, you are out of luck. However, in nearly every other incident, you’re protected.

Since erupting on July 13, the Ferguson Fire has burned over 96,900 acres, which is an area around one-half the size of New York City. The wildfire is close to Yosemite National Park and even closed the park down. As of Aug. 18, the fire is 100 percent contained but took the lives of two brave firefighters, along with 19 injuries and 10 structures were destroyed.

 

Ranch Fire (Mendocino Complex)
Acreage: 459,102 acres
Containment: 93%
Damage:157 residences destroyed

 

Holy Fire
Acreage: 23,136 acres
Containment: 93%
Damage:18 structures destroyed
12 Single Family Homes were Destroyed in Orange County
6 Single Homes were Destroyed in Riverside County
Fire began:1:21 p.m. Aug. 7, 2018 in Holy Jim Canyon in Orange County

 

Valley Fire (San Bernardino County)
Acreage:1,350 acres
Containment:82%
Fire began:1:29 p.m. July 6, 2018

 

1. mercurynews.com/2018/01/04/report-homeowner-insurance-more-difficult-to-get-after-devastating-wildfires

2.  fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/2175