Thousand Oaks, a community in Ventura County, California, was named for its abundant population of oak trees. Thousand Oaks makes up the larger part of a master planned city, sharing amenities and a boarder with the nearby Westlake Village. Thousand Oaks was ranked the 4th safest city in the United States when compared with other cities that have more than 100,000 residents.

Thousand Oaks is historic in that it was the first city in the Conejo Valley to become incorporated. Interestingly enough, the mayor of Thousand Oaks is not directly elected. Instead, members of the council take turns rotating into the position of Mayor.

Living in Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks’ community operated amenities include it’s own DMV and an extremely successful library. Thousand Oaks’ library has been ranked as one of the top public libraries in California on several occasions. This library was recently renovated to include a large saltwater fish tank and lots of opportunities for recreational sports. Many of the local kids participate in the community run t-ball teams.

One of the largest employers in the area is Amgen, a pharmaceutical company that has set up headquarters in the Conejo Valley. Another major employer is the area’s premiere shopping mall, The Oaks. This mall is the largest in Ventura County and includes a movie theater as well as a wide selection of shops and boutiques.

Wildwood Regional Park has been used as a backdrop during the filming of several major movies, including a variety of western films, as well as a number of more recent commercials and advertisements. This park is also great for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and jogging. These scenic trails offer a number of spectacular views, including a number of waterfalls, the most famous of which is Paradise Falls.

Real Estate in Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks experienced rapid growth during the 1990s, directly resulting in the expansion of all the nearby highways and interstates. This expansion helped to reduce traffic congestion in the area, and caused housing prices to rapidly increase during the early 2000s. However, the area did not fare particularly well during the recent housing bubble, with many million-dollar homes undergoing foreclosure.

As a result, the properties in Thousand Oaks drastically decreased in value, making them a better present day investment than many other Los Angeles area homes. On a square foot basis, Thousand Oaks’ real estate is cheaper than the Los Angeles average. Many of the homes in this area sell for between $600,000 and $800,000, allowing buyers to acquire a million dollar home without the million-dollar price tag.

The homes in Thousand Oaks are spacious, including large lawns, 3, 4, or more bedrooms, 3 to 5 bathrooms, and large attached garages. Many of the homes also have backyard pools, allowing their owners to take full advantage of the sunny Southern California weather. If a home in Thousand Oaks or nearby Westlake Village sounds like something you might be interested in, contact one of our team members today to take the next steps in your property search.