If you're a fan of reality television, then you're probably familiar with Jeana Keough, former star of "The Real Housewives of Orange County". Recently, I had the pleasure of staying with Jeana at her gorgeous home and taking a tour of some of the stunning properties in Coto De Caza, California. Jeana has been a Realtor® for over 30 years, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see some of the luxurious properties that she has become known for.
FLYING SOUTH TO COTO DE CAZA
Canadians are known for “flying south” during the winter months with Florida being the most popular destination of choice for those looking to own a vacation property outside of Canada. For individuals looking for alternate destinations, California’s west coast is increasing in popularity due to the diverse geographic ranges and the fabulous weather. Having personally visited the golden coast numerous times, one of my favourite destinations is the community of Coto de Caza in Orange County.
Nestled amongst the mesas of the Santa Ana Mountains, Coto de Caza is one of the largest suburban planned gated communities in all of the United States with over 5000 acres of land and more than 4000 homes. "Coto de Caza" means "Preserve of the Hunt". In the late 1800s throughout the Plano Trabuco area, Spanish and Portuguese ranchers enjoyed hunting small game, doves, pheasants, and deer. In the 1940s and 1950s, famous Western movies were filmed in the Coto de Caza area by producer John Ford. Legendary Western actors John Wayne, Bruce Cabot, and Robert Stack also used the area for trap and skeet shooting in the 1950s.
Located within the community is the Coto De Caza Golf & Racquet Club - the first private 36-hole country club in Orange County and one of only three in metropolitan Southern California. Adjacent is the Spa & Sports Club building Sports Club, the Coto Valley Country Club, Equestrian Center Swimming Club, ten tennis courts and the list goes on. The community is also the original setting of the reality-based television show The Real Housewives of Orange County with the pilot being created based on the family life of realtor Jeana Keough.
The climate is ideal – sunny all year round with little or no need for air conditioning due to the Santa Ana winds. There is an average of 11 days of rain per year. It is one of those idyllic places in California where there is no need to talk about the weather – it is beautiful all the time. For those who love both water sports and skiing, you can be in both types of locations in the same day – surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon.
Residents are extremely friendly and most homes are designed with outdoor living spaces for entertaining purposes – inground pools, hot tubs, grottos, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, basketball courts, tennis courts, and more.
Coto de Caza is perfect for those who want to be nestled in a family community with access to all the great amenities. It is approximately 20 minutes from Laguna Beach, 30 minutes to Newport Beach, and 1 hour to Los Angeles. Properties are well-manicured and range from townhomes averaging $500,000 to single-family residences ranging from $1 million to over $29 million. The average home prices are down 50-60% of their original prices from 2008 prices which translates to there being a lot of great investment opportunities being available at this time.
ABOUT JEANA KEOUGH
Jeana Keough is a former model, actress, and reality television personality from the United States. She is best known for her appearances on the reality TV series "The Real Housewives of Orange County", which she starred in from 2006 to 2009, as well as her appearances on other reality shows such as "Date My Ex" and "Thintervention with Jackie Warner". With a career spanning several decades, Jeana has become a familiar face in the world of entertainment and reality TV, and continues to inspire and entertain audiences with her wit, charm, and down-to-earth personality.