Rancho Santa Margarita
Gracious Town in the Foothills
Rancho Santa Margarita is a scenic, master-planned community in south Orange County, nestled in the foothills near Mission Viejo and Trabuco Canyon. Known for its family-friendly neighborhoods, winding streets, and beautiful lake, it offers a blend of suburban comfort and natural surroundings, with easy access to freeways and nearby coastal destinations.
Real estate in Rancho Santa Margarita includes single-family homes, townhomes, and condos, with many neighborhoods featuring Mediterranean, Spanish, and contemporary architectural styles. Homes often have spacious yards, outdoor living areas, and access to community amenities, making the city appealing to families, first-time buyers, and those seeking a well-rounded suburban lifestyle.
Outdoor recreation is a highlight of the city. Lago Santa Margarita provides boating, walking paths, and lakeside relaxation, while O’Neill Regional Park and nearby trails offer hiking, biking, and equestrian opportunities. Residents also enjoy local parks, pools, sports fields, and shopping centers, creating a vibrant, active, and convenient lifestyle.
Rancho Santa Margarita | Real Estate
Rancho Santa Margarita is a scenic and well-organized community nestled against the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Real estate offerings range from affordable condos and townhomes to family-friendly single-family homes and lakefront properties near Lago Santa Margarita.
You’ll find a mix of Mediterranean, Spanish, and contemporary architecture throughout the area. The Saddleback Valley Unified School District serves local students, with schools that are highly rated for both academics and community involvement.
Residents enjoy abundant recreational options, from Central Park and the Beach Club Lagoon to nearby O’Neill Regional Park. With a charming town center and convenient shopping, Rancho Santa Margarita blends natural beauty, community amenities, and a relaxed suburban vibe.
Rancho Santa Margarita | Recreation & Shopping
RSM might be tucked into the foothills, but it’s big on outdoor options. The city wraps around the beautiful Lago Santa Margarita—a manmade lake perfect for lakeside strolls, paddleboat rides, or just relaxing by the water with a book and some sunshine.
Nearby, the O’Neill Regional Park entrance opens up a world of hiking and biking through canyons, woodlands, and ridgelines. And if you’re more into sports or splash time, the city’s parks and pools offer everything from tennis courts to family swim days.
RSM blends small-town vibes with big access to the outdoors. Add in community events, clean streets, and mountain views around every corner, and it’s easy to see why locals love to get outside and stay awhile.
Rancho Santa Margarita | Brief History
Rancho Santa Margarita, California: A City Born from the Ranchlands
Carved from the rolling hills of Rancho Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita was master-planned in the 1980s and incorporated as a city in 2000. Developers emphasized village-style planning with parks, schools, and commercial hubs.
Surrounded by wilderness areas and scenic foothills, the city blends nature and neighborhood. Communities like Dove Canyon and Rancho Cañada boast trails, golf courses, and suburban comfort with a semi-rural edge.
For a deeper dive into the history of Rancho Santa Margarita seen through the lens of real estate development over time, read our in-depth Rancho Santa Margarita History here.
Harvesting rig on the Trabuco Mesa (what is now Rancho Santa Margarita), CA, circa 1909. Image courtesy Orange County Library Historic Archives.
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Rancho Santa Margarita | Villages & Neighborhoods
Dove Canyon
Las Flores
Melinda Heights
RSM Central
RSM North
Rancho Cielo
Robinson Ranch
Wagon Wheel
Walden
Rancho Santa Margarita | Lifestyle, Landscapes & Living
Jesse is always out in the local communities, taking photos of the people, places, and landscapes, trying to capture the spirit of the place. Fun fact – with the exception of the historic photos, almost every photo on this website was taken by Jesse. Whether you are a long-time Rancho Santa Margarita resident or are only now just considering moving here, we hope you will enjoy these photographs and further acquaint yourself with some of the Rancho Santa Margarita homes found in the different neighborhoods of Rancho Santa Margarita; enjoy!
Ridgeline Above Robinson Ranch at Sunset
Ridgeline Above Robinson Ranch at Sunset
A trail runs through the spring grass along a ridgeline in the hills above RSM's Robinson Ranch neighborhood at sunset - what a time for a hike to take in the panoramic scenery!
Sweeping Aerial Over Rancho Santa Margarita
Sweeping Aerial Over Rancho Santa Margarita
A springtime aerial over Rancho Santa Margarita & Lake RSM
Peeking Out from The Pepper Tree
Peeking Out from The Pepper Tree
On the Trabuco Creek trail, a shady rest under a pepper tree frames the vista.
Trabuco Creek Trail in RSM
Trabuco Creek Trail in RSM
One of the oak- & sycamore-covered trails that drops into Trabuco Creek in RSM
The Bell Tower in Rancho Santa Margarita
The Bell Tower in Rancho Santa Margarita
RSM's Civic Center is anchored by a working bell tower and is the pride of the city
Thunderheads Over Robinson Ranch
Thunderheads Over Robinson Ranch
We get clouds in Rancho Santa Margarita, but few as articulated as these massive cumulonimbus that stacked up over Robinson Ranch years ago
Late Summer Sunset Over Trabuco Canyon
Late Summer Sunset Over Trabuco Canyon
Like something out of the Kalahari Desert, this blazing red sunset dropping over a ridgetop in Trabuco Canyon was taken from Robinson Ranch in RSM
Sapphire & Fuchsia Skies over Robinson Ranch
Sapphire & Fuchsia Skies over Robinson Ranch
A late summer sunset blooms in sapphire, fuchsia and tobacco over RSMs Robinson Ranch neighborhood
Clouds A-Glow Over Saddleback Snow
Clouds A-Glow Over Saddleback Snow
Clouds glowing in the dying light of day over a lightly snowcapped Saddleback Mountain with the Bell View trail just above Robinson Ranch in the foreground. Does it get any better?
Seasonal Watering Hole in Robinson Ranch in RSM
Seasonal Watering Hole in Robinson Ranch in RSM
Robinson Ranch in Rancho Santa Margarita is surrounded by open space on three sides; on the eastern edge, there is a cascade of small seasonal reservoirs leftover from ranching days.
Peeking Through the Oaks
Peeking Through the Oaks
Framed by the skirt of an oak tree, pink & yellow sunlit clouds hover over Robinson Ranch in RSM
Grassy Vista Atop Robinson Ranch
Grassy Vista Atop Robinson Ranch
Looking south towards the Starr Ranch Audubon, an old cattle trail cuts through the early summer grasses & sage all gone to seed
Soft And Spiky - Cactus Paddles and Wildflowers in RSM
Soft And Spiky - Cactus Paddles and Wildflowers in RSM
This cascade of wildflowers bursting through a stand of cactus paddles caught my eye on the trail near RSMs Robinson Ranch neighborhood
Travellin Frog on the Trail
Travellin Frog on the Trail
I picked this little froggy guy up on the Bell View trail alongside RSMs Robinson Ranch neighborhood
ONeill Park and the 241 at Sunset
ONeill Park and the 241 at Sunset
A warm glow settles over Trabuco Creek in Oneill Park with the 241 toll road cutting a wide arc over.
An Incredible Sweeping Sunset in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
An Incredible Sweeping Sunset in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
With RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood behind, this amazing sweeping sunset holds court over a huge swath of town & country; truly breathtaking
A Springtime Sunset in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
A Springtime Sunset in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
Puffy clouds lit with the last light of day crown Saddleback Mountain in the distance as seen from RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
Grassy Swaths Atop The Mesa in RSM
Grassy Swaths Atop The Mesa in RSM
Homes in Rancho Santa Margaritas Melinda Heights neighborhood sit on the upper canyon edge over neighboring ONeill Park
Homes in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
Homes in RSMs Melinda Heights neighborhood
Homes in Rancho Santa Margaritas Melinda Heights neighborhood sit on the upper canyon edge over neighboring ONeill Park
Lake RSM in Rancho Santa Margarita
Lake RSM in Rancho Santa Margarita
A community-treasure, Lake RSM is a great place to go for a stroll after dinner at the adjoining Mercado Del Lago center
Dove Canyon and the Dove Reservoir
Dove Canyon and the Dove Reservoir
Dove Canyon homes perched on the hillside with the Dove Reservoir below as seen from the Bell View Trail
Sweeping Vista of Dove Canyon's Golf Course
Sweeping Vista of Dove Canyon's Golf Course
Looking out from the Dove Canyon Clubhouse with the 18th hole below
Dove Canyon Golf Course
Dove Canyon Golf Course
A wide shot on the Dove Canyon Golf Course that winds through the guard-gated neighborhood in RSM
Lovely Cactus Blossoms in Dove Canyon
Lovely Cactus Blossoms in Dove Canyon
Dewdrops glisten on pink and yellow cactus blossoms trailside in Dove Canyon in RSM
Trabuco Creek, ONeill Park & RSM at Sunset
Trabuco Creek, ONeill Park & RSM at Sunset
Dramatic skies light up over ONeill Park, Trabuco Creek and the northern edge of Rancho Santa Margarita that sits atop the mesa
Rancho Santa Margarita at Sunset with Trabuco Creek
Rancho Santa Margarita at Sunset with Trabuco Creek
A rarely-seen aerial shot of Rancho Santa Margarita with ONiell Park & Trabuco Creek stretching into the Cleveland National Forest in the distance.
Sunset Glow Over Rancho Santa Margarita
Sunset Glow Over Rancho Santa Margarita
Clouds start to turn pink as the sun sets in this aerial over RSM, looking over some of the churches, commercial centers and residential living that runs along Oneill Park - a local treasure.
ARE YOU A RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA HOMEOWNER?
YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
If you are considering selling your Rancho Santa Margarita home, we will bring you the best results as we understand your home, the community and your potential buyers. Call me to see if I should represent you in selling your Rancho Santa Margarita home.
Jesse Brossa, REALTOR®
Compass
(949) 292-9786
DRE# 01753432
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