Irvine's El Camino Real community is seen as one of the 10 hottest U.S. neighborhoods for home sales in 2016, according to real estate website Redfin.
The area, with many houses built in the 1970s and '80s, is bordered by the 5 freeway, Culver Drive, Irvine Center Drive and Jeffrey Road.
The online brokerage picked its most popular spots by factoring jumps in page views and 'favorite' designations (homes that potential buyers mark in showing interest), as well as how quickly properties sell. The analysis also reflects agents' input.
?While Irvine has seen a lot of new development in recent years, consisting mostly of two-story houses on small lots, what?s really driving El Camino Real?s popularity are the spacious single-level homes located on large lots,? the report said. It also cited Irvine schools and proximity to shopping and restaurants.
"I?ve always thought this was the diamond in the rough,? said Redfin agent Kim O'Hare in an interview.
While El Camino Real may not be a familiar name to many Irvine residents, O'Hare said she remembered it from when she moved there in the mid-80s. In addition to larger lots, the area tends to have lower homeowner association fees and greater affordability than newer communities, she said. And there are no Mello-Roos taxes.
Listings are relatively few, she added.
?Nobody sells in that area if they?re happy," she said.
Because of that, buyers will grab even a home that needs work.
"They don?t even care if it?s fixed up or not," she said. "They just want to be in that neighborhood.?
The area, with many houses built in the 1970s and '80s, is bordered by the 5 freeway, Culver Drive, Irvine Center Drive and Jeffrey Road.
The online brokerage picked its most popular spots by factoring jumps in page views and 'favorite' designations (homes that potential buyers mark in showing interest), as well as how quickly properties sell. The analysis also reflects agents' input.
?While Irvine has seen a lot of new development in recent years, consisting mostly of two-story houses on small lots, what?s really driving El Camino Real?s popularity are the spacious single-level homes located on large lots,? the report said. It also cited Irvine schools and proximity to shopping and restaurants.
"I?ve always thought this was the diamond in the rough,? said Redfin agent Kim O'Hare in an interview.
While El Camino Real may not be a familiar name to many Irvine residents, O'Hare said she remembered it from when she moved there in the mid-80s. In addition to larger lots, the area tends to have lower homeowner association fees and greater affordability than newer communities, she said. And there are no Mello-Roos taxes.
Listings are relatively few, she added.
?Nobody sells in that area if they?re happy," she said.
Because of that, buyers will grab even a home that needs work.
"They don?t even care if it?s fixed up or not," she said. "They just want to be in that neighborhood.?
