Irvine homes for sale are highly coveted because this master-planned city is one of the safest cities in the U.S., consistently ranking for the past 13 years according to statistics from the FBI. Irvine is also known for having some of the top high schools in California. The business-friendly town is broken up into over 30 different and unique communities.
Construction for this master-planned city originally began in the 1960s and today it boasts state-of-the-art transportation programs and systems, an enterprising business environment, stellar educational institutions, and a family-friendly lifestyle. Explore homes for sale in Irvine, California.
The Irvine housing market is so strong; it was tough to determine the 10 neighborhoods. Based on the best schools in Irvine, CA, safety, the strength of community, and local search volume, these are the most desirable top 10 neighborhoods in Irvine for homebuyers.
Top Irvine Real Estate
Woodbridge
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Woodbridge is an extremely close-knit community within Irvine. Including approximately 9,500 homes, the city encompasses 1,700 acres featuring nearly 40 parks and pools, two lakes, two beach clubs, 24 tennis courts, and tons of other amenities for residents to enjoy. Homes for sale in Woodbridge Irvine CA include condos, townhomes, and spacious single-family homes.
From the “Summer in the Parks” concert series, to the outdoor festivals and community classes, it is the people and sense of community that make this neighborhood so special. Within the community is also the Woodbridge Village Center, which just recently underwent a $30 million renovation with an expanded center courtyard with dining and activities providing views of the lake.
Orchard Hills
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Interested in new homes for sale in Irvine, CA? Then you’ll want to take a look at Orchard Hills. Tucked into the foothills, Orchard Hills is the northernmost Irvine community featuring grand luxury estates. New home developments in this community were geared specifically toward multi-family living, with several homes for sale featuring guesthouses and other convenient floor plans.
Featuring stunning natural beauty, several homes are set atop picturesque hillsides. Spacious great rooms and glass doors opening to panoramic views are common among Orchard Hills homes for sale. There are actually a total of 12 master-planned neighborhoods within the community, each set against the backdrop of working avocado groves.
Northwood
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Located just south of Orchard Hills, Northwood features tons of parks and distinctive architecture. Homes for sale in Northwood Irvine CA are primarily Mediterranean style architecture including single-story, two-story, and townhomes. Parks nearby provide easy access to hiking, kayaking, and other water sports. There are also several restaurants, cafes and more within walking distance.
A lot of Irvine real estate within Northwood has been remodeled in the past few years. Also located within Northwood is Northwood Pointe, a 24-hour guard gated community with 12 additional home tracts built in 1995.
Woodbury
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Originally built in 2005, Woodbury has continued to develop into an even stronger community. Consisting of 4,155 units in Irvine, Woodbury residents enjoy resort-style amenities including; 14 parks, seven pools, a recreation center, tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, tot lot, and picnic areas. Upcoming community events include a summer kick off for the last day of school at the Lagoon pool with free food, DJ, photo booth, and games.
Woodbury Irvine homes for sale are very popular among young homebuyers with children because of the strong sense of community and plethora of family focused events. Woodbury Town Center is centrally located within the community and includes everything residents need from eateries and services to HomeGoods and Trader Joe’s.
University Park
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Named for his proximity to UCI, University Park was one of the first communities built in Irvine back in 1965. Homes for sale in University Park Irvine CA make great investment properties because of the college as well. University Park is such a popular Irvine neighborhood because prices are comparatively affordable and the community is located just off the 405 freeway for easy access to all of Orange County.
As one of the first Irvine villages built, most of these homes no longer include Mello-Roos taxes – i.e. taxes to repay bonds used to build the community. Nearly all homes have them in cities like Irvine, Aliso Viejo and Ladera Ranch, but they do come to an end.
Beacon Park
Beacon Park is one of the Great Park Neighborhoods. Featuring winding trails and open spaces, this community notably features its very own K-8 neighborhood school. Homes for sale in Beacon Park range from modern condos to traditional single-family homes with an eclectic vibe. New homes for sale in Irvine within Beacon Park are still being sold.
Turtle Rock
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Yes, there is an actual turtle shaped rock in Turtle Rock. This quiet and private community is tucked on the south side of Irvine and gets its name from a huge rock formation that strongly resembles a turtle. Built in 1970, this community includes nearly 20 smaller neighborhoods with a wide range of real estate.
Homes for sale in Turtle Rock range from condos to luxury estates, worth upwards of several million dollars. Near the Newport Beach city limits, it borders Campus Drive by the UCI campus as well. Students living in Turtle Rock are within walking distance to both Turtle Rock Elementary School and University High School.
Columbus Grove
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Columbus Grove straddles the city line between Irvine and Tustin. Built in 2006, Columbus Grove Irvine homes for sale features traditional, colonial and craftsman style homes. There is a nice mix of single-family homes, condos and townhomes available however the community is small so there are not a lot of homes on the market at any time – making this real estate highly coveted.
10 distinct neighborhoods make up Columbus Grove and the home prices range from the mid $400,000s to just over $1,000,000. The community features two parks, scenic walking trails, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and more.
Oak Creek
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Developed from 1999 to 2004, Oak Creek features 17 housing tracts with single-family homes, condos, and townhouses, with a mix of gated and non-gated neighborhood communities. Homes for sale in Oak Creek are some of the most affordable in Irvine, some starting in the high $300,000s. Students living in this development attend Oak Creek Elementary School, Lakeside Middle School and Woodbridge High School.
Bordering Woodbridge near Irvine Valley College, Oak Creek offers several great shopping centers and easy access to the freeway. One of the unique features of Oak Creek is the multi-use trails built along both sides of the large drainage feature. The trail is great for bicycling, rollerblading, jogging, or walking.
Walnut Village
Walnut Village is located off of Jamboree and south of the 5 freeway, bordering on Westpark and El Camino Real. Homes for sale in Walnut Village range from the mid $500,000s to upwards of just over $1,000,000. Most Irvine real estate in this community is single-family homes, with some condos and townhomes available as well. There are several parks within the community including Harvard Circle Park, Colony Park, and College Park.
The community was built as one of the first villages of Irvine and it gets its name from one of the Irvine Ranch’s most important crops, English walnuts. The last walnut trees were converted to citrus groves in 1967 when this community was first established. As one of the first Irvine villages, homes in Walnut Village are popular among home buyers because there is no longer Mello-Roos for most properties.
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It’s so hard to identify the best Irvine homes for sale because all real estate within the city is highly coveted. If you’re looking to discover more about Irvine neighborhoods, check out our other Irvine neighborhood guide. No matter where you choose, Irvine real estate is a great investment. Learn more about living in Irvine, CA, and browse our selection of Irvine California real estate for sale or contact the Irvine real estate specialists at First Team real estate.
