PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

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 fall hits the calendar, we typically see a seasonal change in the real estate market.  Generally speaking it can be the best time to buy a home has homes that did not sell over summer, will start to see price drops and the hot selling season is over. That really hasn't been the case since before the pandemic however. Even this year, though sales volume is down, home sellers are still receiving top dollar for their home and in fact often times over list price.  That is certainly the case here in Portola Hills. Below is a look at how the Portola Hills real estate market performed in September, as you can see very strong.  We had a total of 8 homes sell and 7 went under contract.  The average days on the market is just 15 days.    Are you thinking about making a move but not sure if it is the right time for you?   Are you wishing you were living closer to family.   Did you know the number 1 reason people are making a move right now is just that, to be near family.   Search Availabl

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

Maybe it is my age, but it is certainly a trend I have seen this past year with clients.  They are deciding to leave Orange County and following their family to new locations.  With over 700,000 people leaving California this is more than a trend, I fear. Have your kids or family moved out of state?  Are you considering following them so you can be close to the grandkids or perhaps you just feel it would be more affordable? Relocating to be near your grandkids is a significant decision, and there are several important factors to consider to ensure a smooth transition and a fulfilling experience for both you and your family. Here are some key considerations: Proximity to Grandkids: Determine how close you want to be to your grandkids. Consider whether you want to live in the same city, within driving distance, or even in the same neighborhood. Family Dynamics: Have open and honest discussions with your adult children and grandchildren about your relocation plans. Make sure everyone is

Did you know there are over 200 original owners here in Portola Hills.  The community was started in the late 80's so that is nearly 40+ years of equity growth for those homeowners.  Especially with the median price of the area nearing $1 million dollars.   Most of those homeowners have very low mortgages or the homes are paid off, which provides them with a wonderful opportunity to leverage their equity into other rental properties.  Perhaps the original home could become or has become their first investment property. With rising rents, right now is an excellent time to perhaps take the jump to become a landlord.   Check out these 3 Mistakes we see first time investors make in the real estate market. 1.  Not doing a cash flow analysis. 🤑 It is easy to say, oh my mortgage is this, I can rent it for that and do the math.  But it goes much deeper than that, understanding your overall cost is critical step in planning. 2.  Not working with a real estate agent. 💁‍♀️ Truth, having a R

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