PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

Every once in a while, a home comes along that makes you stop scrolling and say —   wait, what? A   single-level, 3-bedroom pool home   listed   under $875,000;   and not in the desert, not in the middle of nowhere… but right here in beautiful   Corona’s Mountain Gate neighborhood. If you’ve been house-hunting in Orange County, you know this kind of home would easily be   $1.3 million (or more)   just a few miles east. Yet this gem offers everything — and then some. Take A Peek at our Virtual Tour Here’s what makes it stand out: Expansive front yard with RV parking and a 3-car garage High ceilings and an open, airy floor plan Remodeled kitchen with quartz counters and breakfast bar Private backyard with pool, spa, firepit, and built-in BBQ Plus a single level — no stairs, no wasted space It’s the kind of home that feels like a private retreat, but still close to everything; shopping, schools, freeway access, and those gorgeous mountain views ...

If you’ve lived in Portola Hills or anywhere in Lake Forest the past few years, you’ve probably noticed the traffic, the cranes, and the “Sold Out” signs. That’s not by accident; it’s the ripple effect of Irvine’s price explosion . When prices in Irvine’s Great Park and Portola Springs pushed past $2 million, buyers — and investors — started heading right up the hill to Lake Forest. New communities like Serrano Summit , Baker Ranch , IronRidge , and The Oaks at Portola Hills became the next stop on the migration map. We dove into the how that migration impacted home sellers and buyers...  📊 The Numbers Tell the Story:  Between 2020 and 2025: Irvine new-build cash sales jumped 83 % , peaking around $2.1 million. Lake Forest new-build cash sales soared 225 % , hitting nearly $2.9 million. That’s not organic growth — that’s a surge of capital chasing limited supply. As Irvine became out of reach, Lake Forest became the “affordable alternative”… for about five minutes. Th...

If you were a seller, you’ve felt like the market slowed down this summer, you’re not imagining it. Portola Hills homes, which typically sell in under 30 days, took an average of   64 days   to move this quarter. Many sellers were waiting and watching for offers that took a little longer to arrive. But when interest rates dipped, everything shifted.   Purchase applications jumped 30% , and suddenly, those “just-looking” buyers became serious again. The market energy is changing; and that’s something both buyers and sellers should be watching closely. Inventory increased, mostly due to   resales in IronRidge and new builds in The Oaks , which naturally stretches out the average days on market. Still, well-priced and well-presented homes continue to sell quickly — my most recent listings closed in   under two weeks . What It Means for Portola Hills Sellers If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect time” to list, don’t wait much longer. As demand begins to rise and r...