PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

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...

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!