PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

Have you been to BRU lately in Lake Forest?  I popped in after some Christmas shopping and was so happy to see it filled with happy customers, celebrating the season.  BRU is one the only restaurants in Lake Forest that offers a place for a great meal, cocktail and ambiance! The new Beer Garden addition to the corner of El Toro and Rockfield is going to really brighten up that corner in Lake Forest.  If you haven't been to BRU,  we thought we would share a bit of what we like about it!  From the moment you step through the door, it's evident that BRU is more than just a place to dine; it's an experience to be enjoyed.  Matt and the team take pride in its diverse menu that caters to every palate. Whether you're a fan of classic American comfort food or crave a more adventurous culinary journey, BRU has you covered. From their mouthwatering burgers to their wild caught seafood, every dish is a work of art.  Beyond a lovely meal, BRU Restaurant offers a warm and inviting a

Residents are moving in.. to where you might ask?  The Portola Senior Affordable Apartments!  This has been a long time coming and the final buildout of the IronRidge community in Portola Hills, Lake Forest.   A little behind the scenes of this development.  When zoning changed in Lake Forest the owner of the land had the opportunity to move from commercial properties to residential.  There was a small group of us Portola Hills residence to who started a steering committee to try and ensure the development followed the wishes of the residents and stayed within natural aesthetic of lovely Portola Hills.  That was not always an easy task between builders and the city and honestly the residents, me included had huge concerns about this development.    Two areas, I am proud of is the Portola Park Dog Park , which was a suggestion of mine and then agreed upon with the city. This was a four million dollar project. This was needed as we only had 1 park in the area, Concourse Park and it was

Have you taken advantage of the City of Lake Forest BOGO to support local businesses.  It is such a great program.  Check out details here! In summary it allows you to purchase a $50.00 or $100.00 gift card and get a second one at the same value!  So you are getting FREE money.   There are over 80 local businesses in the city of Lake Forest that you can use the gift cards at!  Such a great way to support local businesses as well save on your purchases! Lake Forest BOGO Businesses If you have a business you still have time to add your business and with the holidays coming what a great way to bring in some extra business! I haven't seen this program at any other local cities, so I applaud the City of Lake Forest for keeping this program going!

As Portola Hills is a community within Lake Forest and our personal favorite 😍 it is important to understand how the overall real estate market is doing in the city of Lake Forest.  Check out the below graph of how both attached homes and single family homes are current selling.   As you can see from the above numbers, the real estate market in Lake Forest continues to remain strong.  But does that median list price of over $1.8 million dollars surprise you?   Keep in mind, right now there are number of new build homes available in the new neighborhood The Meadows.   New neighborhoods have certainly increased the value of Lake Forest homes. There currently are only 42 single family homes available and 10 attached homes available for home buyers. Low inventory is what continues to drive pricing up, so if you felt you missed out on selling for top dollar, you have an excellent chance today, it just might take a little longer than it did the last couple of years.   Homes priced right, p

When I decided to get my real estate license... 20 years ago, it was super important for me to help clients find a home in an area they are going to love. I can't imagine living somewhere and spending so much time in an area that I didn't enjoy. Of course, things change and moves are made. But when considering a move, I really work with my clients to ensure they feel the energy of their new community. When I look back at my why I selected Portola Hills, I realize I actually manifested this area to live. I had looked at the area about a year before I moved. After one of those lovely breakups we have, I had to find a new place to live. I remember thinking, oh I loved that Condo in Portola Hills. 6 months later, I bought that exact model, it was the first home I bought. 9 years later, I felt the need to change, but even being in the business of real estate II had questions about if that was the right time to make a move. I then walked into an open house and knew.. I found my next

Have you seen those commercials, your home doesn't need anything just my sign in front to get it sold?  What those commercials doesn't tell you, is your home will sell for less in most cases.  Yes, with the current Buyer demand your home is in demand, but that does not mean it is in front of the right buyers nor does it mean it will sell for top dollar.  Plenty of homes sell below market even in this market. 😳 If you ever bought a home, you know walking into a beautiful home makes all the difference.  That is why new homes sell so well. Home buyers often don't realize the cost of those addition and staging would add over $100,000 in upgrades to your purchase. So the question comes up, do we have to stage.  Truthfully, the answers depends on your home!    One thing is for sure, staged homes sell for more $$.   We love helping our clients prepare their home for sale.  Some chose to stage others we assist the sellers on the best preparations for the home to present well.  We

I am so excited as I had the privilege to help my friend and client sell her townhome in Lake Forest. I love seeing hard work pay off and it has for her! Property Description: It's hard to find a 2 Master Suite Townhome this size in Orange County, especially one that includes a 2 Car Attached Garage and a Huge Yard. Did we mention it's a End-Unit with only 1 neighbor attached. Truly the best location in the community! Recently upgraded with High Grade Wood Laminate Flooring, New Baseboards and on trend fresh paint. Light, Bright with Vaulted Ceilings help to make this living space a rare gem. In addition, you are going to love the spacious Kitchen with Corian Counters and Modern Maple Cabinets. You can decide if you want to have a quick meal in the kitchen or if you have friends coming over, plan a perfect dinner party in the separate dining area. Upstairs are the 2 Master En-suites with plenty of storage space and the wood flooring carried throughout. Need more storage spa

It is going to be such a lovely day in Lake Forest tomorrow, the perfect weather on the lake and perfect weather to see homes.  As you are out and about in the community, make sure to stop in and see this lovely home in the Lake Forest Keys community.. If you have always wanted to live directly on the lake.. now is your chance!!  We will be open Sunday April 2nd at 1pm. 21745 Tahoe Ln, Lake Forest This is a SENSATIONAL WATERFRONT home with private dock, covered patio, and putting green located on the widest channel in the Lake Forest Keys! This 3 bedroom, 2.25 bath home boasts stunning panoramic views of the lake from the moment you walk through the front door. This beauty is newly painted inside and out with crisp and light updated colors, new flooring, updated kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, custom built-ins in the dining area with wine fridge included,and fresh landscaping. Upstairs the master bedroom has a walk-in closet, remodeled bathroom, a wa

Make sure to mark your calendar to pop in and see this beautiful Executive home we are holding open this Saturday and Sunday.    Are you looking for a light and bright updated home in Lake Forest.. Then we have it.. check out the details: Details Include: 3456 square feet 5 Bedrooms with a Main Floor Bedroom and Bath Gourmet Kitchen with Soap Stone custom designed island and counters 6 Burner Thermador Stove and Appliances 3 Ovens..  YES 3 Ovens,  Perfect for holiday cooking. Formal Living and Dining with 19ft Ceilings Italian Tile Flooring State of the art Close Circuit TV/Phone/Security and Surround Sound System Huge Master Suite with his & her Vanities, 2 Walk-in Closets and a huge deck to enjoy a romantic sunset. Expansive Upstairs Bonus Room Inside Laundry Room 3 Car Garage Entertainers Backyard with Built In Grill, Fire Pit and Gardening Beds Amazing views Plus.... $130/Monthly HOA No Mello Roos! We will be open Saturday and Sunday the wee

The Montecido complex located in the city of Lake Forest in the community of Portola Hills is a lovely townhome community that offers 2 and 3 Bedroom spacious floorplans. In addition many of the homes have good size yards with views. This is always a popular complex for condo buyers who are looking in the south eastern area of South Orange County. In terms of sales there has been 14 homes sold so far this year.  Below is a listing of the Montecido homes that have sold so far in 2015... Montecido Portola Hills 2015 YTD sales As you will note the lowest priced home was a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Carriage Unit which sold for $327k earlier in the year.   The highest priced home recently closed escrow at $467,500 and it was the largest model a 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2 Car Garage plan. The median price per square foot is $337k, comparing this to 2014 it is up 1%. The median price for the Montecido complex was $333 in 2014 for the same time period and 17 homes sold. 

Do you want to have input on the planning of the new 5-Acre park as part of the Portola Center and Portola Hills Community?  Mark your calendar for June 3rd at 6:30pm-8:30pm and you can have input on the overall design and amenities for the future of Portola Park.    The proposed park site will be located on the south side of Glenn Ranch Road near the Saddleback Ranch Road Intersection.   Workshop will be held at the Lake Forest City Hall at 25550 Commercentre Drive, Lake Forest Ca. Concourse Park Portola Hills Hope to see you there!!

The Estates Portola Hills The Estates neighborhood is located in Portola Hills a community on the border of Lake Forest and Trabuco Canyon. The Estates are a Single-Family neighborhood that offers amazing Portola Hills views.  Located on the cross-streets of Malabar and Highridge, homes on this ridge provide amazing views to the Pacific Ocean and the Saddleback Mountains. The community consist of 142 homes and offers four floorplans with the following details: Graceland* - 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 2271-2571 sq. ft, with a 3 car garage San Simeon - 5 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, 2821 sq. ft, with a 3 car garage Hermitage - 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, 3063 sq.ft, with a 3 car garage *This tract offers 4 rare single family homes in this tract. This tract falls into the Portola Hills II Association that offers many amenities, such as club house, gym, pool, spa, tot lot, volleyball, etc. Currently homes are selling between $750,000 to over $1,000,000.  Currently only One home is activ

Thinking about a move...and looking for a townhome with spectacular views... Then you have found it.  Check out our newest listing in Lake Forest and the community of Portola Hills. This lovely home boast Two Master Suites, Granite Kitchen, Wood Floors, Decorator Paint and Remodeled Master Bathroom Plus a spacious Two Car Attached Garage. Asking Price: $395,000 Interested in scheduling a showing.. Give Kelly a call.  This will go fast!! 28476 Sassetta Way Living Room 28476 Sassetta Way Kitchen 28476 Sassetta Way Granite Bar Master Bedroom Suite w/View Master Suite Bathroom Master Bath  Wood Flooring Throughout Front Entrance Front Patio with Panoramic Views Sunset Views Views from the Saddleback Mountains to the Pacific Ocean

Can you believe it, the Fourth of July is this Friday.   Whether you are staying close to home or venturing out, there are a variety of locations to catch the Fireworks show throughout the Saddleback Valley.  Get out and enjoy!!   Aliso Viejo Celebration and Fireworks:  Location Grand Park Live entertainment, food, beverages, arts, crafts.  Fireworks show at dusk!! Dana Point BBQ Buffet and Fireworks and Cruises:   Location Dana Point Harbor.   Irvine Concert on the Green and Fireworks:  Location Irvine High School Featuring Pyro musical sky concert, fireworks, food court, live music by Derk Bordeaux Group. Laguna Hills Location: 25555 Alicia Parkway Fun, food, carnival rides, games, live music and fireworks. Laguna Niguel   Location:  LN Regional Park (over the lake) 7:30 5k Run/walk, 10k run.  Pancake breakfast, live music by Family Style at Laguna Niguel Community Park Ladera Ranch Location: Founders Park 7:00 am 8th Annual Freedom run starts 5k/10k run. Panc

Check out our our newest Real Estate video of our listing at 18950 Canyon Summit in Portola Hills.  Portola Hills is a lovely community in the city of Lake Forest, Ca. Would you like to see this home personally, don't hesitate to contact Kelly Turbeville to schedule a showing!

Wondering how the Portola Hills Real Estate Market is doing?  Is it true, a sellers market is upon us?  Check out the #'s. Sold Properties: Attached: 5 Style:                                      2 bedroom / 2 bath Avg. Sq. Footage:                   1287 sq.ft. Avg. Sold Price:                      $227,780 Days on the Market:                248 (Note: finally a home sold after being on the market 471 days) Detached:  2 Style:                                      3 bedroom / 3 bath Avg. Sq. Footage:                   1475 sq. ft. Avg. Sold Price:                      $410,000 Days on the Market:                45 days Currently there are 11 active properties on the market.  4 attached properties and 7 single family homes. This averages out to be about a month in half of inventory currently active. A sellers market is generally less then 3 months of inventory on the market.   The rules of supply demand prevail.   It's a seller's market in Portola Hills.

Did you know the city of Lake Forest has a housing program.... Two of the programs offered support both current homeowners as a way to spruce up their homes and second program allows some help to First Time Home Buyers.  Click on the following links for details. First Time Home Buyer Program - A tax credit offered to First Time Home Buyers, up to 15%. Paint Program - This is a NO CHARGE program for those who may need assistance in sprucing up their home. I like seeing the city keep home ownership as a priority.  Now if we can get them to put some pressure and accountability on the Lenders to help Homeowners keep their homes or even hold lenders accountable to maintain homes that are currently in foreclosure, I would truly be happy.  After all over 56% of Lake Forest homes are in distress and this hurts the community in several aspects.

Thought those of you who live in Portola Hills II HOA section might be interested in some highlights from the HOA meeting on 8/10. I decided to attend for two reasons: one a presentation from the city of Lake Forest was to address the communities traffic concerns with the upcoming Portola Center Development and two there was to be a discussion about the upcoming Special Assessment coming to homeowners for the hill sliding off of Highridge. I have to say, 1st I was really shocked with the 2 topics at hand how light the attendance was. A total of 11 attendees was there and not all homeowners.   The Lake Forest City spokesperson spoke about recent changes to Saddleback Ranch..... Did you see that little pork chop figure when you come up Saddleback Ranch and make a right onto Malabar, that is it but other than that there was no discussion about the concerns regarding Portola Center. In addition, he spoke about the the Alton completion with a tentative schedule of April 2012.   He a

Ok have you been looking for a Townhome in lovely Lake Forest or the Saddleback Valley, then you want to check out our listing at 28366 Klondike Drive , in Portola Hills.  This is a beauty but what makes it all the more special is the end unit is located at the end of the street with no one on one side and view all the way to the Pacific Ocean.   You can't beat that.... But wait we just did, we reduced the price down to $335,000 .    Won't find anything better on the market, so hurry! Contact us today for a showing!

Wondering what the Real Estate market is doing in Lake Forest, check out this quick market snap shot! CENTURY 21 Award Lake Forest Market Conditions.