Golden Hill Real Estate:
A Fullerton Real Estate Guide
The Golden Hill neighborhood is one of the most diverse grouping of homes in all of Fullerton, CA. The styles range from those of the 1920's all the way to modern construction, providing the kind of unique character hard to find in many of the modern cookie cutter type communities. Part of the charm of Golden Hill real estate comes from the fact that different parts of the neighborhood present different housing options, all of which happen to be very popular. For the vintage homebuyer, the options are endless; from Spanish Revivals to Craftsman Bungalows and everywhere in between. 
On the other hand, lovers of mid century real estate in Fullerton will find many of the staples including the popular ranch style homes. There’s even a small area of more modern construction that many people don’t realize is there! This guide will help you see what Golden Hill real estate has to offer so you can determine if the neighborhood is right for you. If you decide you like the area, our Tools section below will quickly aid you in selling, purchasing, or just tracking real estate in Fullerton’s Golden Hill area.
Tools:
History of Golden Hill
Following the annexing of the city of Fullerton, development stretched away from the railway and downtown area into the adjacent foothills. One of the first of these developments was what we know today as the historical neighborhoods of Golden Hill. The Golden Hill neighborhood consists of quite a few different areas. From a historical standpoint, there are two areas of distinct interest.
Upper Golden Hill Historical Neighborhood
The first, known as the Upper Golden Hill area was built in the mid 1920s as an upper-income residential neighborhood.
It was one of the first hillside communities of expensive homes in the city of Fullerton. As such, the lots in the Upper area of Golden Hill are very spacious with generous yards, custom architectural lines, detailed streetlights, and mature trees. These are some of the most pictured houses in all of the area.
Lower Golden Hill Historical Neighborhood
The Lower Golden Hill area was developed throughout the 1920s when the Concoran ranch was subdivided. Still standing, the Concoran house at the Southwest corner of Richman and Union, was actually owned at one time by a member of our team… Bob Foust!
The lower area of Golden Hill consists of a variety of old ranch, Spanish colonial, and Cottage style homes. The homes are elevated away from the street and add to the well-constructed look of the area.
Mid 1950’s in Golden Hill
Besides the vintage era build, the mid 1950’s is the other dominant development time period. There are many different streets of homes built in the mid fifties and it may be the most prevalent decade of the entire area.
The Post 1960’s Slowdown
Very little was built in the early and mid sixties in the area with the exception of one street, lower Avolencia which was built in the mid and latter part of the decade. There were also a few houses built in the very late part of the sixties that are part of a small interior tract of homes predominantly built in the 1970’s. More on those later…
Area Home Models
Golden Hill Vintage Home Area
Most of the homes built in this general area of the neighborhood, the two above included, are what we would consider to be vintage. Years built range from pre 1920 and into the 40’s. If you are a homebuyer who wants a vintage home and would like to be in the Golden Hill area, this is the place to look!
West Mid Century Area
Homes in the West Mid Century area were built during the mid-1950s to the 1960s era. A nearby park and Fern Drive Elementary School, which was constructed around 1954 is in very close proximity in this area of the Golden Hill neighborhood.
Upper Mid Century Area
Most of the upper mid century area of the Golden Hill neighborhood are built in the 1950s and have varying lot sizes. Most of the area around Sunnycrest Dr, Avolencia, and Marelen have the premium lots and the rest of the area are more of tract homes with Ranch style.
Special Features
Hillside terrain – The Golden Hill neighborhood is carved into a moderate hillside. This results in many things like view property and undulating topography, which adds to the areas charm and uniqueness. This undulation in terrain may pose an issue for some people who like to walk but will most definitely result in a good workout. Despite the rolling streetscapes, the houses themselves are all on fairly flat lots.
Mature Trees – The character of the area is further enriched by mature trees, which dot the undulating streetscapes. Many of the trees change colors with the seasons and provide a warm feel that is often hard to find in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Most of these trees are on city property and therefore maintained by the City of Fullerton. Homeowners may find that some of the trees shedding their leaves will create a mild mess that will require a little raking on behalf of the homeowners.
Walking distance to area schools – While the respective school district will be covered in the next section, it is worth noting that parents of children living in Golden Hill will be walking distance to both the elementary, junior high, and high school.
Area Fundamentals
Schools – Golden Hill feeds some wonderful schools in the city of Fullerton. If one is truly looking for an exceptional education for their children, this school district will not disappoint. As of this time, the area feeds into Fullerton High School as well as Nicholas Junior High and Golden Hill Elementary. For more info on each of the respective schools, please contact the districts using the links at the bottom of the page.
Moderate Views – Very rarely does one single area offer such a diverse array of view property opportunities as the Golden Hill neighborhood. Perched into the side of a hillside, potential home buyers can shop for all sorts of views ranging from city light to hillside. It is more common for homes on the south side of the neighborhood streets to have the best views since the entire area rests on the south side of the hill. Of course, home buyers will be paying a premium for these lots as well.
Quiet Area – One of the most surprising features of this area is the relative serenity of the neighborhoods. Very little through traffic, city noise, or other distractions provides an excellent venue for escaping the stress of the workday without feeling totally isolated. Golden Hill is still in close enough proximity to many local entertainment venues to satisfy those that like to go out for a night on the town.
Expert Insider Information
Fullerton Loop – Outdoor recreation has a good home and strong following in the Sunny Hills area. The 12 mile long Fullerton Loop is an extension of this as well as natural terrain features and city foresight. The Fullerton Loop is a loose term for the connecting of many of these paths to form one continuous riding trail for outdoor enthusiasts. Horseback riding, hiking, walking, jogging, running, and mountain biking are all activities allowed on the trails. Motorized vehicles are prohibited from using the trails of the Fullerton Loop.
View Properties – Some of the homes in the Golden Hill neighborhood have view properties that many homebuyers will surely enjoy! In particular, those located in Vista Verde Dr. are surrounded by homes with the most excellent views, thus making the area one of the most desirable ones in the neighborhood.
Varying Lot Sizes – Different sized lots are available in the Golden Hill neighborhood to suit anyone’s taste and preference when it comes to the sizes of their homes.
Mansionization – This is an increasing issue that is continuously being addressed when it comes to real estate properties. More and more builders are developing new homes by demolishing the older ones in the area. Older homes are bought so that builders may use the land itself to construct newer and bigger homes. One of the purposes of this growing trend is because it brings in more wealth; however, people living in the area are getting affected especially since they are losing their privacy as well.
The 1970’s tract of homes – Actions towards improving and preserving the historical landmarks in Fullerton before the 1970s were basically non-existent. However, the 70s era started to recognize historical areas and explored the neighborhood of the community. Events at the time also made people more alert and knowledgeable about Fullerton’s past while at the same time informing them about the possibility of losing historical properties.
A Note From Your Local Real Estate Professional
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While these tools, articles, and guides about buying a home in Fullerton, California, will be extremely helpful, we would like to note that they are no substitute for our own personal insight and attention. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding the Fullerton real estate market.
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