Best of Orange County 2024: Best New Home Community Four Years in a Row
Rancho Mission Viejo Voted #1 New Home Community in Orange County Four Years in a Row from 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024.
In January, Rancho Mission Viejo opened the latest phase of its Rienda development. “Sales have been pretty phenomenal,” says Stephanie Walker, vice president of marketing for the south Orange County new home development. What’s more, by early summer of this year, Rancho Mission Viejo’s Gavilán, the community reserved for residents age 55 and older, had sold out.
“We’re working on the next village, which is scheduled to open in 2026, called Gavilán Ridge,” says Walker, noting that details on the project will be revealed at a later date.
With homes available for various budgets and a multigenerational bounty of amenities, Rancho Mission Viejo has consistently been named one of Register readers’ favorite new home communities. Its appeal extends from young families who can make use of the activities available for children, including several different summer camp programs, to seniors who partake in Gavilán’s exclusive amenities and active social scene.
“The Ranch life really is the secret sauce for every generation,” Walker says. And that’s only going to grow with the addition of new features, like Boulder Pond and Playground. The recreation area, which includes a 3.5-acre pond, is set to open next year.
What stands out more than Rancho Mission Viejo’s scene, though, is the scenery in a space where more than 75 percent of the land is preserved. “We’re completely immersed in nature. You have this beautiful topography all around you,” Walker says. “You don’t feel like you’re in south Orange County. You don’t feel like you’re four or five miles away from the beach. It’s this unique little oasis, a safe haven.”
