Woodbridge

Woodbridge Real Estate

Woodbridge is one of the initial housing developments envisioned by the Irvine Company for its master city plan back in 1975, making it one of the oldest communities in Irvine.  It continued to develop during the 80s and was eventually finished completely by the mid-1990s.

It covers roughly 4 square miles (map here) and is located in what is considered the central part of town.  It is extremely unique in that it is the only Irvine neighborhood that is highlighted with two large man-made lakes at its center.  Each lake is between 3 and 8 feet deep and has a large wooden footbridge extending several hundred feet out into the water (which is how this area got its name – wood + footbridge = Woodbridge).

Woodbridge is bisected into two main residential segments, called “North Lake” and “South Lake”, by a broad strip of retail, commercial, and institutional structures (in between Alton and Barranca Parkways). Each half of Woodbridge has one of the aforementioned lakes at its center.

It is encircled by the 405 freeway on its southern boundary, Irvine Center Dr. to the north, Jeffrey Rd. to the east, and Culver Dr. to the west.  A four-lane circular loop road (Yale Loop) runs the interior of Woodbridge, connecting all its housing blocks and major streets. 

The village is walled off from the rest of Irvine by a row of pine trees and a continuous, 20-foot high Privet hedge. Properties in Woodbridge run the gamut from small condos to larger, custom homes.  Most of the community is uniformly designed to resemble New England Cape Cod style cottages.

Taking the time to research each neighborhood is this city is a must before deciding on which part of this highly desirable segment of the OC to live in.  Because the neighborhoods in Irvine can seem similar, it’s imperative to understand the pertinent facts and differences about each so that you can fulfill your priority list and make necessary distinctions when committing to your next home purchase here.

Woodbridge Home Prices

Currently, there are many affordable Woodbridge homes for sale in Irvine Ca available to prospective homebuyers.  Being one of the larger plots in the area, there are more homes available here than almost any other neighborhood in the city.

At present, a small 1 bed, 1 bath Woodbridge condo for sale with 750 square feet of floor space will run you only $185K – perfect for young singles starting out in the housing market.  On the higher-end of the Woodbridge condo spectrum, there are attached units that resemble unattached single family homes in size with 4 beds and 3 baths inside of 2,700 square feet for around $950K.  Places like these are often on the water which is why they command a relatively high price for an attached dwelling of this type.

Unattached structures (single family homes) with yards are also attractively priced starting at $250K for 2 beds and 2 baths with 1,200 square feet on a 4,500 square foot lot.  Larger homes, located directly on the lake with great views, can go for upwards of $2M, getting you 4 beds, 3 baths, and 3,000 square feet of space.  Very few properties in Woodbridge are located on the water or within view of either lake, so expect prices for these waterfront homes to jump in value with regard to others in the neighborhood.

Does Woodbridge Have Good Schools for Kids?

Having the benefit of your children attending an Irvine Unified School District institution is a major plus that brings people from all over the world to this small section of Southern California.

Younger students will attend either Springbrook, Meadow Park, Stone Creek, or Eastshore elementary schools (all K through 6).  Both Springbrook and Eastshore score an impressive 9 out of 10 on Greatschools.org with California API ratings of 898 and 938 respectively.  Meadow Park and Stone Creek are two of the best schools in the state, hitting the extraordinary 10 out of 10 mark on Greatschools.org and earning exceptional API scores of 938 (Meadow Park) and 970 (Stone Creek), putting both in the top 5% of all elementary schools in the state.

Grades 7 & 8 are handled at one of 2 middle schools in the area – South Lake and Lakeside.  South Lake is yet another great school with a 10 out of 10 from Greatschools.org and a colossal 949 API rating.  Lakeside is no exception with another 10 out of 10 rating from Greatschools.org and an even more impressive 961 API.  

The single high school for Woodbridge is simply enough, Woodbridge High School.  Another fine choice for 9th through 12th graders, it ranks in the 9 out of 10 class on Greatschools.org and measures up at 877 on the CA API scale.

What Amenities are Available to Woodbridge Residents?

First and foremost is the lake and all of its benefits – available only to Woodbridge residents.  The paseos and bridges linking both halves of the area make for great walking or jogging trails and the lake itself is available for fishing and boating.

There is also a North and South lake beach club, each affording residents resort-style amenities with lagoons for swimming, boat rentals, and party/BBQ facilities available for reservation.  

Within Woodbridge’s borders are 2 well-equipped shopping centers – Woodbridge Square and Alton Square.  Within these commercial spaces is a bevy of dining, entertainment, and everyday shopping opportunities including:

• Barnes and Noble
• Woodbridge Starplex Cinema (with $2 & $3 admission for recently released movies!)
• Sticky Fingers Shaved Ice (vote best in the OC!)
• Mimi’s Café
• Islands
• Staples
• Ralphs
• Several banks and credit unions
• And a wealth of medical and dental offices

This particular zone was well designed (like the rest of Irvine) to be self-sufficient and all-inclusive so that creature comforts are always just outside your doorstep.

Should I Move my Family to Woodbridge?

If you’re looking for something a little different from the rest of the neighborhoods in Irvine, then Woodbridge is definitely the place to start.  It has the charm of the Northeast in one of the most picturesque, yet quaint suburbs in all of Southern California.  Living on either or the two lakes really makes this piece of the OC one of the most alluring home prospects anywhere to be found.  

There is a great selection of well-priced Woodbridge homes on the market currently and the pricing makes the area highly-accessible even on a meager budget.  Education for your children is beyond compare and you’ll find fewer places safer in all of the US.

There is fantastic access to all the necessities and conveniences you could ever need as a homeowner.  Commuters will love the benefit of being close to 3 main thoroughfares with the 405 and 5 freeways minutes in either direction or the 261 toll road only blocks to the north.  

Woodbridge definitely sets itself apart from the remainder of Irvine and its stats are undeniable – it’s simply one, if not the best, neighborhood in Irvine for almost anybody.  When you’re researching your next home purchase, make it a point to travel the Yale Loop to take in Woodbridge and see what it’s all about – you’ll be doing yourself a big favor in the long run.