Are you thinking about moving to Stevenson Ranch, California, and want to know what it’s really like? In this episode of Living In Santa Clarita, I’m going to give you the pros and cons of living in Stevenson Ranch so you know exactly what to expect. We’ll look at everything from housing options to HOAs so you can decide if this community is right for you.

 

 

An Ideal Location

Stevenson Ranch is a great community in California. It features two-bedroom townhomes starting in the mid $400,000 range along with single-family homes starting around $800,000, going up into the $2.5 million range. The one thing people love most about Stevenson Ranch is the proximity to the freeway. You're so close to the 5 Freeway, making this a great neighborhood for commuters.

Additionally, there are a lot of shopping and tons of restaurants in the area. Within Stevenson Ranch itself, there's just a little pocket in the neighborhood of local restaurants—such as a small donut shop. These offer nearby options and, while they’re not large chains, are conveniently located right in the community.

Schools And Views

The second reason people choose Stevenson Ranch is because of the schools. All four schools are award-winning, including Pico Canyon Elementary School, Stevenson Ranch Elementary School, West Ranch High School, and Rancho Pico Junior High School. All the schools that accommodate the neighborhood are great places for your kids to get their education.

Along with location and schools, the third thing people love about living in Stevenson Ranch is the views. You have some great views, including beautiful parks and quite a bit of hiking nearby. There are some incredible hikes in Stevenson Ranch and just outside of the neighborhood that allow you to take in the scenery around you.

HOA Fees

Now that you know what is truly awesome about Stevenson Ranch, let’s talk about some things that could be improved. While there's not a whole lot there, there are a few things you should consider. The first thing that I think some people don't like is the HOA.

The payment is not much if you're living in a single-family home, though they’ll be a little higher if you're living in a condo or townhome. This is because the HOA fees cover the buildings and exterior of condos and townhomes.

Amenities And Mello Roos

However, the HOA for Stevenson Ranch really only covers that big mountain as you're coming in and some of the common area maintenance. There are no community pools, spas, tennis courts, clubhouses, or anything like that—unless you're living in the townhome complexes that do have pools.

When people purchased these homes back in the day, the neighborhood was supposed to have a lake, pools, and more amenities. The HOA was also going to be quite a bit higher. However, when they did the build-out, they decided to eliminate those things.

The other thing that some people don't like about Stevenson Ranch is that some of the homes do have a Mello Roos tax. If you are home searching, make sure that you check into whether or not that home has a Mello Roos tax. Some homes are getting a little older, and those Mello Roos have dropped off. However, you’ll need to ask your realtor when you’re home shopping to find out for sure.

Make Stevenson Ranch Your Home

I hope this gave you a good idea of everything that Stevenson Ranch has to offer. If you’d like more information about this community or other areas of the Santa Clarita Valley, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

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