The Moreno Valley California Real Estate Market: Affordable and Comfortable Living

When buyers come to me, looking for a home in the Riverside area, I often ask them if they’ve considered living in Moreno Valley California. Located just east of the City of Riverside and home to March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley was only incorporated as recently as 1984. While Moreno Valley California housing prices have also increased dramatically over the past year, they're still much more affordable than in other Southern California cities, including Riverside. Many houses there were built in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, and they offer popular amenities such as open floor plans, cathedral ceilings, large closets, and 2 or 3-car garages.  So when buyers are looking for a tract home on a cul-de-sac, I’ll put a few Moreno Valley addresses on the itinerary to let them compare homes in their price range between cities. 

Sometimes people will tell me outright that they won’t consider Moreno Valley, and I tell them that the city is very livable.  There is plenty of shopping, movie theatres, and a large variety of restaurants that serve Mexican, Italian, Soul Food, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisines.  In fact, many Riverside residents often drive east precisely to enjoy what Moreno Valley has to offer. 

On occasion, buyers will ask me if they can still find cheap fixers in Moreno Valley, and I tell them that there aren’t many these days.  In the early 90’s, the combined forces of economic recession and the military’s decision to change March from active to reserve status hit Moreno Valley hard.  Home values dropped sharply, and some residents who had to move but couldn’t sell at a reasonable price found themselves forced to abandon their properties.  For a while, HUD homes were plentiful, and their at times poor condition also helped to keep prices down.  But Moreno Valley has been experiencing a lot of new growth in recent years as buyers from the coast have rediscovered the area.  There has been a burst of new construction as land slated for development but left empty during the lean years is now beginning to fill with houses and stores.  And those who managed to stay on find that their homes are now worth much more than during the peak in the late 80’s.

I’ve heard people say that they will only look at houses in certain parts of Moreno Valley such as Sunnymead Ranch.  However, like Riverside, Moreno Valley is a large, spread-out community with neighborhoods that differ a lot in terms of individual character and feel, and so buyers might prefer one or the other depending on their own tastes.  Additionally, various areas of the city are more accessible to Riverside, San Bernardino, the desert, and San Diego County, so house hunters shouldn’t assume that only certain neighborhoods are best as these locations might not serve them as well. 

Selling Real Estate in Moreno Valley California

An important factor in selling your Moreno Valley home is presenting it to out-of-area buyers who are looking for a property just like yours.  Tracts homes from the 80’s through the present have gotten very expensive further west, and they tend to be smaller and have less land.  Moreno Valley thus presents a nice option for families with children who want their own rooms and a nice yard to play in. 

The main thing that I can do to sell your property is to bring it to the attention of buyers who may not even have thought of looking in Moreno Valley yet.  In addition to the Multiple Listing Service and newspaper ads, I can feature your property prominently on my website where it will catch the attention of homeseekers from all over.  These buyers will be able to appreciate your home’s amenities and price in comparison to real estate values in their own cities. 

Over 75% of home buyers now look on the Web before they even visit houses.  So when you list with me, your property will be seen there first by buyers who looking in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.