Ever dreamt of living in a neighborhood where Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, the singer Jewel, and the Sultan of Brunei own properties? Want to whiff the air of the land where the aviator, movie producer and billionaire Howard Hughes owned a house? Or fancy playing at a golf course that Bing Crosby financed? Welcome to the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood, an unincorporated area located in the North County of San Diego, cited by the Robb Report and Worth Magazine as one of the premiere addresses in the country and known for its celebrity residents.

Founded in the '30s for the wealthiest of city residents, "RSF" or the "Ranch", as it is fondly called, is a small town among estate-painted hills and a California Historic Landmark famed for its large lots and rural ambiance. According to residents, there's a country life going on in the middle of the city. For the nature lovers, the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood also features rolling hills, winding rural roads, towering eucalyptus trees, citrus groves and fenced pastures.

The schools are outstanding, there's almost no crime and the sun shines 320 days a year. Only residents can join the community's world-class golf club. While the offer is irresistible, only the rich need apply.

Geography and Climate

The Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood is bounded on the South by the City of San Diego (about 30 miles away), on the East by the City of Escondido, on the West by the City of Solana Beach, and on the North by the City of Encinitas. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Census-Designated Place of the Ranch has a total area of 6.9 square miles of which 0.1 square mile is water.

Under a beneficent sun that shines 320 days of the year, Rancho Santa Fe is one of the garden spots of the world. The low-humidity, balmy climate is ideal for the relaxed outdoor life for which the Ranch is known. The incomparable blend of sea and mountain air free of smog gives the Ranch a quality few communities can rival. Following are the climate averages for the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhoods.

Averages based on the 30 year period from 1971 to 2000

Demography

The population of the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood, an unincorporated census-designated place in San Diego County, is about 7,600 people with about 3,000 households. The Rancho Santa Fe community is among the nation's wealthiest with the per capita income more than $100,000. Males have a median income of over $100,000 versus $86,933 for females. The median household income in the year 2000 was in excess of $200,000.

The median resident age is 47 years. The racial makeup comprises of more than 93% Whites, more than 5% Hispanics, and the rest comprises of other races.

Attractions

The Ranch neighborhood is known for its horses (there are bridle paths throughout the Ranch), its golf and tennis, its orange groves and sprawling estates, and its proximity to some of the best beaches in Southern California. Some of the finest horse trainers in the country live here and the area was the site for the equestrian events during the 1984 Olympics. Polo is also a favorite pastime.

The original Ranch is called the Covenant, named for the governing document. Established in 1929, the Covenant is unincorporated county land. The Rancho Santa Fe Association founded in 1927 ensures the preservation of the rural character of the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant area and its natural landscape of approx. 6,200 acres. The Covenant features the home of the first Crosby Clambake golf tournament and 40 miles of riding and hiking trails. The Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club is one of six private golf courses in Rancho Santa Fe, costing up to $300,000 to join. Only Covenant residents (excluding residents of condominiums) can join the community's golf and tennis clubs or use the hiking and equestrian trails. The course itself is an 18-hole, 6,938 yard par 72 course designed by Max Behr and originally opened in 1927. It underwent an extensive renovation and replanting program in 1990 which has restored many of the features of the original design. The 11,000 square foot golf clubhouse was constructed in 1984. In addition to the golf course and trails, the Association also operates and maintains the tennis club and playing fields for its members.

Among the many noteworthy neighborhoods of Rancho Santa Fe is the Fairbanks Ranch. An exclusive gated enclave named after Hollywood actor Douglas Fairbanks who lived here, the Fairbanks neighborhood includes a lakeside club house, tennis courts, 40 acres of open space, fenced horse trails, an equestrian center, two lakes, walking trails and picnic spots. There are a number of such other exclusive gated communities like The Bridges, Cielo, and Rancho Santa Fe Farms.

In addition to many notable Hollywood figures like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford who played important roles in the founding and popularization of the resort town, the Ranch has been the scene for a good deal of San Diego County's high society dramas. The Covenant also features a small, historic village with boutiques and antique shops, the original Inn, and a five-star restaurant. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe has hosted numerous celebrities and is a well-loved destination for Californians and other visitors who want to get away for a vacation. Since its debut in 1924 as La Morada, "The home with many rooms," The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe has grown more storied, playing host to Presidents, Royalty and Hollywood's Elite.

Education and Services

The Rancho Santa Fe community is self-contained with its shops, restaurants, a resort, a post office, a library, community center, churches (including one Catholic Church – the Church of the Nativity) and two public schools. The small, elite Rancho Santa Fe School District is one of the best in the state. It provides a world-class education for K-8 and is a big attraction for families with small children. Schools score at the top of the County and are well-equipped for sports and extra-curricular activities. The local community group called Cap and Gown Society raises over $300,000 each year to contribute to schools' classes and amenities, including saving music and arts programs that were threatened to be cancelled. The Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood offers a very healthy open space to raise children. The following table indicates the high incidence of education in the neighborhood.

The protective Covenant also requires homeowners' associations to maintain the health, safety and general welfare of its members. Residents feel safe enough to leave their keys in cars parked in their driveways. McLady  writes in her blog, "Houses are monitored by security patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Real Estate
Today, the Rancho Santa Fe property median price has reached over $2.2 million, making the Ranch one of the wealthiest communities in the nation. Rancho Santa Fe real estate is prized not only for the majestic and spacious homes that wrap rolling hills, but also for the grounds that surround each property which are usually an acre or more – a rarity in San Diego. The minimum lot size established by the covenant – two acres – ensures that the homes in Rancho Santa Fe are private and highly desirable. Homes are styled in traditional Tudor, Country French, Spanish, Mediterranean or Ranch-style plans and must meet standards set by a design board that calls itself the Art Jury. The Covenant requires homeowners' associations to preserve the rural character of the community and its natural landscape, and to uphold the quality of architectural and land improvement. There are strict regulations that must be met with.

Currently there are 5 RSF condos and 218 detached homes in Rancho Sante Fe that are available. The median single-family home price was $1.7 million, according to DataQuick Information Systems of San Diego. With inventory at higher levels than previous years and the market slightly softer, since recent home prices have flattened out, experts believe that this is a good chance to make a deal on that special estate.

For more information on Rancho Santa Fe real estate and homes, visit our Rancho Santa Fe homes blog.

So if you've got the green bills to spend, and aspire to reside in a place with country character and that has been inhabited by many persons of note, then the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood is the place to be.