South OC Living; Close to Everything

Lake Forest

The City of Lake Forest is located in the heart of South Orange County, draped across the beautiful Saddleback Valley. Settled by Don Jose Serrano in the mid-1800’s, the area was originally called the Rancho Canada De Los Alisos (the Valley of the Sycamores). The area then became known as El Toro, named after the bulls that roamed the ranch. In the early 1900's, Dwight Whiting, a resident of the area, planted 400 acres of fast-growing eucalyptus trees in this growing agricultural community as an answer to the California lumber shortage (though eucalyptus was found to be an inferior building timber over time). Read more below

Lake Forest Real Estate Statistics

Average Price $692K
Lowest Price $0
Highest Price $4.2M
Total Listings 171
Avg. Days On Market 48
Avg. Price/SQFT $374

Property Types (active listings)


During the peak of activity at the nearby El Toro Marine Base (1960’s – 1980’s), the need for new homes and support services increased at a steady rate and efforts to create a master-planned community began in earnest with development springing up around the abundant trees and man-made lakes. While not suitable for building, the eucalyptus trees provided landscaping for the new modern homes and led to the "Forest" neighborhood in Lake Forest.

With interest from its residents, Lake Forest was finally incorporated as a city in 1991. Lake Forest has since expanded its city limits to include the newer master-planned communities of Baker Ranch, Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills.

Like other neighboring South Orange County cities, the climate in Lake Forest is generally pitch-perfect year-round with mild Mediterranean weather, coastal breezes, lush green hills in the spring, and shady groves of eucalyptus trees that run throughout the neighborhoods.

Lake Forest’s 30+ public parks & sport courts and the incomparable Whiting Ranch Regional Wilderness Park offer access to endless outdoor activities.

Homes in Lake Forest run a wide gamut – there are older, funkier neighborhoods near the 5 freeway that are slowing redeveloping as the value of land increases and neighboring Irvine’s orbital market pull makes them look like relative bargains… there are the aforementioned master-planned communities of Baker Ranch, Foothill Ranch and Portola Springs which still seem to have a stream of new homes available and offer snappy architectural choices with all the amenities that the developments offer – great parks, pools, trails, proximity to shopping, and good schools. From a macro perspective, Lake Forest’s central location in the County makes it an excellent choice for folks who have to commute either north or south.


Lake Forest Listings

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27092 Burbank, Lake Forest

$4,180,000

27092 Burbank, Lake Forest

0 Beds 0 Baths 0 SqFt Commercial Sale MLS® # OC22213946

Zutila, Inc

23 Sorrel, Lake Forest

$3,350,000

↓ $150,000

23 Sorrel, Lake Forest

5 Beds 6 Baths 4,761 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23031626

Visionaire Real Estate Inc.

3022 Viejo Ridge N. Drive, Lake Forest

$3,192,995

3022 Viejo Ridge N. Drive, Lake Forest

5 Beds 5 Baths 3,867 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC22173291

Melissa Hazlett, Broker

1092 Summit Oak Drive, Lake Forest

$2,748,000

1092 Summit Oak Drive, Lake Forest

5 Beds 5 Baths 4,682 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23033720

Bullock Russell RE Services

58 Cooper, Lake Forest

$2,498,000

58 Cooper, Lake Forest

5 Beds 6 Baths 3,723 SqFt Residential MLS® # IG23003492

Realty ONE Group West

11 Swift, Lake Forest

$2,398,000

11 Swift, Lake Forest

5 Beds 5 Baths 3,467 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23031008

Aspero Realty, Inc

21922 Erie Lane, Lake Forest

$2,299,000

↓ $86,000

21922 Erie Lane, Lake Forest

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,900 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23000233

Pacific Sotheby's Int'l Realty

19391 Jasper Hill Road, Lake Forest

$1,999,000

19391 Jasper Hill Road, Lake Forest

5 Beds 3 Baths 2,985 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23039504

Coldwell Banker Realty

22 Torosa, Lake Forest

$1,999,000

22 Torosa, Lake Forest

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,507 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC22206161

HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty

181 Wild Flower, Lake Forest

$1,998,000

181 Wild Flower, Lake Forest

5 Beds 5 Baths 3,111 SqFt Residential MLS® # PW22239277

Coldwell Banker Platinum Prop.

21986 Yellowstone Lane, Lake Forest

$1,995,000

↓ $100,000

21986 Yellowstone Lane, Lake Forest

4 Beds 3 Baths 2,561 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC22239990

Pacific Sotheby's Int'l Realty

5507 Heritage Oak Drive, Lake Forest

$1,960,000

↓ $39,000

5507 Heritage Oak Drive, Lake Forest

4 Beds 4 Baths 3,569 SqFt Residential MLS® # OC23031621

JC Pacific Capital Inc.

Lake Forest Living

  • Lake Forest is located just south of Irvine and runs from the east side of the 5 fwy to the foothills that border Trabuco & Modjeska Canyons.
  • Lake Forest is home to several master-planned communities and has a wide range of amenities for residents & visitors alike.
  • Lake Forest has over 30 parks + sports fields and is home to Whiting Ranch Regional Wilderness Park which offers world-class mountain biking trails

A park in Baker Ranch, Lake Forest, CA

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