Hidden Lakes Townhomes:
Fullerton Real Estate’s Serene Mountain Retreat
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Hidden Lakes townhomes in Fullerton, CA, not only provide a picturesque Orange County setting, but also host some of the most highly desired townhome features available today. Being located in one of Fullerton’s hottest real estate markets and providing residents with a feeling of cozy secluded living has made this community one of the most desirable in all of Southern California. This guide will let prospective homebuyers see all that the area has to offer so that they can decide whether Hidden Lakes will be a good place for them to call home. If they decide they like the area, our Tools section below will quickly aid them in selling, purchasing, or just tracking Hidden Lakes real estate. |
Tools:
Hidden Lakes Homes For Sale - Use the FOUST Home Finder to search for homes yourself, or set up a custom search when you’re ready to dial in on a specific type of property in the Hidden Lakes neighborhood. *This tool can also help to search for real estate in other areas as well.
Hidden Lakes Property Tracker – Whether you’re a savvy investor or just a curious neighbor, our FOUST Property Tracker™ is the best way to keep you “In The Loop” with regards to home sales in your neighborhood or area of interest.
Hidden Lakes Neighborhood Pictures – See for yourself what the neighborhood and its homes actually look like. (Coming Soon!)
Other Local Neighborhood Reviews -
Scroll through our “Learn about Real Estate by Neighborhoods” section to find other neighborhoods of interest.
History of Hidden Lakes
The townhomes of Hidden Lakes were built by Cal Fed Enterprises between the years of 1979 and 1980 and when completed formed a total of 195 units between the streets of Lemon, Brea Boulevard, Skyline Drive, and Shadow Lane in the city of Fullerton.
The units were built on top of some man made water wells that were designed to provide the backbone of much of the ambiance now seen in the Hidden Lakes community.
This project, while not only unique in ambiance, was also unique in architectural style as one of the first townhome style condominium communities within this area of Fullerton. These one, two, and even three bedroom condos not only became some of nicest units in the area, but also some of the most affordable when one takes into consideration the available amenities.
Area Home Models
Bed |
Bath |
Stories |
Bldg. Sq. Ft. |
Insider Tips |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
780 |
Ground entry and loft bedroom |
1 |
1 |
2 |
780 |
Upstairs entry and loft bedroom |
2 |
2 |
1 |
980 |
Master bedroom and guest bedroom
with hall bath, single story |
2 |
2.5 |
2 |
1,150 |
Dual masters both upstairs |
3 |
2.5 |
2 |
1,369 |
Very rare |
Special Features
HOA – The Community of Hidden Lakes has a homeowners association that is responsible for much of the general upkeep in the community. To learn more about an association, visit Step 4 in our Orange County condos guide. The monthly fee that all homeowners must pay is currently at $252.00 (3/1/2008) but is always subject to change up or down a little.
Most people are interested in learning what these dues will cover so here is an abbreviated list:
- Trash pick up
- Some external insurance
- Maintenance, lighting, and heating of 1 pool, 2 spas, 2 tennis courts
- External building maintenance, landscaping, stream operation and maintenance
- Maintenance of barbeque area
- Drive through guard – parking enforcement
- Some basic cable television
- No Mello Roos
In addition to the normal rules and regulations set forth by homeowners associations, Hidden Lakes also has some restrictions with regards to pets. Feel free to contact us to aid in finding the most current regulations.
Garages, Laundry, and Guest Parking – Virtually all of the homes within Hidden Lakes come with some sort of private garage. Many of them are direct access but all of them are attached to the unit. In addition to the primary garage space, the two bedroom units will either have a carport or a two car private garage.
Speaking of garages, all of the homes in the community will have laundry hookups available in the garage. For those who expect visitors, be assured that the Hidden Lakes common area hosts numerous guest parking stalls which makes it a great place for visitors to park.
If there is somebody parking illegally, visitors and residents should know that there is a parking control guard who makes regular visits to ticket or tow violators. Please observe all parking rules and regulations. 
Ambiance – One of the biggest draws of the Hidden Lakes condominiums is the general ambiance of the grounds. An abundance of running streams, waterfalls, tall pine trees, lush foliage, intertwined private patios, and quiet cul-de-sacs are the main reason many associate the feel of the community with that of a mountain resort.
Passers by need to be warned that a quick drive through the community will not give them a good feel for the ambiance of Hidden Lakes as the only thing really visible will be a bunch of garages. This is truly a place where you will need to park, get out of the car, and walk around through the developments interior.
Unit Features - The homes within the condo community have many common features that add to their desirability as homes. Below is a short list of some of them that are common and others that are unique to individual units: Cathedral ceilings Townhouse style architecture with no upstairs or downstairs neighbors Skylights in many units Gas stoves/ranges and water heaters
- Patios on most units (some with both balcony and ground level patios)
- Central air conditioning
- Wet bar
Area Fundamentals:
Close to Downtown Fullerton – Hidden Lakes is well within walking distance to Downtown Fullerton, an area that has become a booming mini-economy of its own. With the area growing every year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see even more jobs close to the homes of Downtown Fullerton residents.
Good Access to 57 and 91 Freeways – These main arteries will be accessible to residents and will enable commuting to areas like Irvine and South Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire. While traffic congestion will vary with time and destination, at least Hidden Lakes homeowners will not have to travel far to find a major freeway.
Close to Colleges – Hidden Lakes is only walking distance from Fullerton College and a very short drive from Cal State Fullerton. Both of these colleges are continuing to grow making these townhomes even more attractive to administrators, working students, and faculty. On a side note, it’s for these reasons that area landlords shouldn’t have a problem keeping their properties occupied for top of the market rents.
Other Schools – Besides the local colleges, Hidden Lakes feeds into some of the best schools in Orange County. Beechwood Elementary continuously rates high in its academic success and prepares students very well for the challenging curriculum they’ll face at Ladera Vista Junior High. Fullerton High School is the oldest high school in the city but has recently been rating very well in its SAT scoring, especially given the tough competition from local Fullerton schools, Troy and Sunny Hills. We think that parents and students alike will really appreciate the quality of education and extra curricular experience available at all of these schools.
Close to Train Station – Southern Californians all know the frustration associated with a daily commute encumbered with heavy traffic. The Hidden Lakes homeowners and others Fullerton real estate owners may actually have a viable alternative to this drudgery. Many locals are giving in to services such as Metrolink and avoiding other headaches like high-fuel costs, freeway gridlock, and accident avoidance. Train commuters should check with the Fullerton train station for more information about this new way to commute.
Expert Insider Information
Hillcrest Park – Ever feel like going for a walk in the park after a good meal. If Hidden Lakes is where one calls home, this wish is available right outside the doorstep. Hillcrest Park is a large, hilly, historic, and very unique park almost directly adjacent to the townhomes. Residents can enjoy a wide range of activities such as festivals, concerts, theatre, jogging, baseball, softball, football, or sightseeing. Best of all, it’s all free.
Are The Streams Natural? – The short answer is no, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel like a mountainside babbling brook. The water for the streams and ponds comes from a man-made underground water well. From time to time, the association will drain the streams for maintenance and refill the waterscape once all the gunk has been cleaned out. This temporarily annoying process is absolutely essential for keeping the waterways clean and clear.
Stream Noise – Light sleepers need to exercise a little caution as to their prospective homes location in relation to any noisy streams. Many find the gentle lapping noise coming from a little stream may help some to fall asleep while others need total silence. Prospective homebuyers should take unit location into consideration given their own unique sleeping needs.
Parking Spots– These Fullerton condos all have at least on attached garage, but the two and three bedroom units always have two dedicated spots. Sometimes it is two garage spaces and other time it is a garage and a carport.
The Rare 3 Bedroom – If a Hidden Lakes homebuyer decided they absolutely needed three bedrooms, they should know that there is a unit here to fit their needs. The problem is that they may have to wait a really long time for one to come on the market. We’d recommend home buyers either change their requirements, be prepared to exercise a large degree of patience, or just look elsewhere for a three bedroom.
Downstairs Bathrooms – The largest two bedroom unit as well as the three bedroom already have a downstairs half bathroom. We have seen the wet bar in the one bedroom units converted to a half bathroom so that guests will not have to go through the main bedroom to use the restroom. This, however, is a project that any homeowner or potential homeowner should run by the association first to check the legality.
Lot Location – Most of the lots back to a hillside, pool, street, or stream. The quietest and most isolated are the units on the south side of the complex that back to the hill. Walking out the back patio on these, homeowners will see a seemingly endless hillside that gives the effect of living in a forest. Lots in the middle of the community will usually back to streams, waterfalls, swimming pools, and may have waterscape in very close proximity to the back patio. The units on the far north side also back to the waterscape but are the most affected by Brea Boulevard traffic noise. Still, the noise disturbance to these units is minimal at worst. Going back to the south, a little strip of units actually back to the community tennis courts.
Get Out Of The Car – As one can see, there really are no bad locations within Hidden Lakes; some are just different than others. As already mentioned, prospective home purchasers need to get out of their cars and walk these unique grounds to truly appreciate the ambiance.
A Note From Your Local Real Estate Professional
Most of the information contained in this site is free to use and share with friends, family, and coworkers. All we ask in return is that when you see a neighborhood or property that you like, you give us a call to let us know and then tell all your friends and family about our wonderful services!
While these tools for buying a home in Hidden Lakes will be extremely helpful, we would like to note that they are no substitute for our own personal attention and insight. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding the Fullerton Hidden Lakes real estate market.
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