Best Neighborhood for Horse Property in Southern California
Los Ranchitos is a hidden gem of the Temecula area and one of the best neighborhoods for horse property in Southern California. With its wide-open space and large lots, it feels as though you are no longer in SoCal! If you are looking for the best horse property in Temecula, Los Ranchitos is going to be your best bet. This community consists of 189 parcels of land that range between 2 and 5 acres each. Most of the people who live here ride horses, and they love the many horse trails that are all over the area. Rolling hills throughout the area offer gorgeous views from many of the properties as well.
Why do we love Los Ranchitos?
This beautiful area is truly a one-of-a-kind community that most don’t expect to see in the Southern California area. These homes are so diverse that they can range anywhere from 1,700 square feet all the way up to 6,315 square feet, which really shows that this is not a “cookie-cutter” community. Just like the homes, it feels as though the community was also custom-made by its residents to maintain a very rural feel. Los Ranchitos does not have streetlights, curbs, or sidewalks. This may not be for everyone, but it does give the area a very quaint and rural feel, which can be hard to find in most of Southern California.
The best part? You may feel like you are far out in the countryside, but the freeway is only a 5–10 minute drive away.
Restaurants
Surprisingly, this small community is still within a 10 to 15-minute drive of many of Temecula’s amenities. Old Town Temecula, which is one of our favorite places, is only 10 minutes away. Within a 10-minute drive, you have many top-rated restaurants, including Bluewater Grill Seafood, Havana Kitchen, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, Yard House, and La Cocina Bar and Grill.
Our favorite in this area is Cork Fire Kitchen. This rustic yet chic restaurant has a deck with a beautiful view and fresh food that completely adds to the rural and authentic feel we get from Los Ranchitos.
Groceries and shopping
When it is time to tear yourself away from the beautiful rolling hills and quaint equestrian trails of the Los Ranchitos community, you will find that all of your shopping needs are never far away. Many big-name grocery stores are within a 5-mile drive. Vons, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Albertsons, and even a Trader Joe’s for the more specialty and organic items.
With Old Town Temecula being located about 3 miles to the west, you will never be far from boutique-type shopping. I know we keep talking about this place, but it really is the heart of Temecula. Check out our full blog post and video about Old Town and the Best Shopping in Temecula; it really gives great details on the specific shops in Old Town.
Another great shopping area is the Promenade Temecula, which is an outdoor shopping center that has a wide variety of stores and restaurants.
Parks and Recreation
This area is very centrally located between a number of great parks and other recreational activities. Within a 10-minute drive, you have Sam Hicks Monument Park, Kent Hintergardt Park, Margarita Community Park, and Harveston Community Park. These all have great facilities, whether you’d like a day out with the kids or a relaxing walk around a scenic lake. Another huge bonus is the Pechanga Resort and Casino, which is located about 8 minutes from Los Ranchitos. Pechanga has a large golf course, a spa, a comedy club, and numerous other entertainment options.
Schools
Los Ranchitos is located in the esteemed Temecula Valley Unified School District, which is rated 9/10 and is generally known for having overall above-average public school ratings. Below, I have listed the schools in this district along with their overall score.
Vintage Hills Elementary School Rating: 8
42240 Camino Romo Drive.
Margarita Middle School Rating: 7
30600 Margarita Road
Rancho Elementary School Rating: 8
31530 La Serena Way
Temecula Middle School Rating: 7
42075 Meadows Parkway.
Temecula Valley High School Rating: 9
31555 Rancho Vista Road
These ratings come from many different places, and they should give you a good idea of how the schools compare to the average for the state. Most people agree that most Temecula schools seem to have better test scores and overall ratings than most schools in the state.
If you’re looking for more information or thinking about purchasing a home in the Los Ranchitos area or any of the beautiful surrounding cities, please contact us below. We would be happy to tailor home searches that specifically meet your criteria. We will factor in taxes, HOA dues, principal, and interest. We own Greenleaf Real Estate and are also licensed, residential appraisers.
We also have a specific blog post on buyer tips for the Southern California area. We put this list together after 10 years of selling real estate in the Temecula area. More information can be found by clicking here.
We have attached a local home search below showing all active homes in Los Ranchitos. You can narrow the search down by size, beds, baths, price, or even draw an area on the map, and everything listed will come up for you.
