5 Factors Attracting Homebuyers to Orange County

Millions of Americans dream of moving to the coast of Southern California, and many choose to place roots down in Orange County. 

Some buyers want proximity to the business centers of Los Angeles and Irvine, while others strive for easy access to the pristine beaches lining the Pacific Ocean.  

But not everyone has figured out their reason for choosing Orange County beyond loving SoCal. So we’ve compiled the top factors attracting homebuyers to Orange County. 

Proximity to the great outdoors 

Seemingly endless days of sun, coupled with the stunning Southern California geography, make Orange County a perfect place for homebuyers who love the outdoors. 

Orange County provides the perfect mesh of oceanfront bliss and rolling hillsides for buyers ready to make a move. Towns like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and San Clemente offer miles of beachline and plenty of shoreside shops and restaurants to serve beach combing residents. But the OC is not just rolling, scrub-filled hills. There are snow-capped mountains that are a few hours away to the northeast. 

Towns like Aliso Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita offer access to sprawling landscapes filled with miles of hiking trails. But residents do not have to trek to the wilderness to find the great outdoors, as each town in Orange County offers plenty of curated parks and green spaces where locals lounge out in the SoCal sun. 

Achievable commutes in SoCal 

Orange County is primely positioned between Los Angeles and San Diego, putting both cities within reach if desired.

One of the main commuting corridors is the Five, which runs north to Los Angeles and south down to San Diego. The 405 originates in Orange County, branching off from the Five to travel towards Santa Monica and beyond. 

Homebuyers interested in Orange County that need to travel to the Inland Empire may consider homes in Anaheim Hills or Rancho Mission Viejo, as local highways can take commuters to the cities north of Santiago Peak. 

And one of the most historic highways is Route 1, which gives drivers stunning vistas as they travel through Pacific coast towns like Laguna Beach and Crystal Cove.

Varied housing styles

The OC provides homebuyers with a vast pool of homeownership opportunities. Many Americans dream of owning homes that sit atop bluffs overlooking the vistas of Southern California or reside near the miles of beachfront property. 

Plus, the temperate climate, coupled with the rolling hills, has inspired architects and homeowners for years. Terracotta-tiled roofs, high-pitched storybook gables, and gleaming post-modern glass and steel compounds dot the cities and towns of Orange County. 

But the OC offers more than suburban single family homes. Buyers can also pick up condo units near the harbor in Newport Beach decked out with private gyms and pools. 

Some of the most picturesque homes are on Balboa Island, where Mid-Century Modern homes and gleaming new construction residences sit along the shoreline with private beaches. 

Buyers can find historic Victorian homes near the surf in Huntington Beach, where they can spend the day enjoying the beach or lounging in one of the many parks in the area. 

Properties for sale in Orange County

Functional neighborhood and city layout

Part of the appeal of Orange County is how densely populated urban and business centers mesh with residential enclaves. 

Hilly geographies divide cities like Irvine and Orange from the seaside retreats of Corona Del Mar, Crystal Cove, and Laguna Beach. Nestled between rolling hillsides are orderly city streets with quaint homes in the metropolitan areas of Anaheim and Santa Ana. 

But buyers can also find plenty of winding hillside communities where giant homes dot the hillsides overlooking the valleys of Orange County. Much of Orange County is master-planned, so residential regions flow seamlessly into commercial hubs where restaurants, big-box retailers, and boutique shopping sit separated from the suburban bliss. 

And connecting the cities and towns of OC are multilane highways like the One, the 55, and the 405, making commuting a breeze when traveling in the OC. 

Well-priced homes near business centers 

Orange County generally has a higher price point than Los Angeles, and it is not hard to see why. Multi-million dollar properties sit on pristine beachfront property, and in the hillsides, buyers can find sprawling glass and steel post-modern complexes.

But in master-planned communities like Irvine Ranch, there are plenty of reasonably priced homes near metropolitan areas. One of the most up-and-coming OC neighborhoods is Aliso Viejo, which features many new homes built around 2000 and is near Crystal Cove State Park. 

Orange County is widely known as one of the best places to start a business. Cities like Irvine offer a wide range of customers ready to patronize new shops. 

Orange County is also an attractive market for tech workers. Google, Blizzard Entertainment, and Amazon all maintain a presence across the county. Plus, pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and Endologix have offices in Orange County.