Apr 30

Apr 30 HELLO, NEIGHBOR!

The greater Fresno area is home to the Central Valley’s most coveted neighborhoods. With Clovis to the east and Madera to the north, the region manages to have a metropolitan vibe while remaining affordable. It is centrally located between mountains, beaches, and world-class cities, allowing its residents to maintain a quality of life that few Americans have access to. Check out the neighborhood options that make this part of California so diverse and attractive. Discover what makes each neighborhood so special, what’s within its vicinity, from restaurants and shopping to educational institutions and community fellowship, and get a feel for median home prices as well as the highlights these neighborhoods boast.

Northeast Fresno

Median List Price: $752,860
Median Sale Price: $502,000

To the east of Highway 41 and north of Herndon Avenue lies Northeast Fresno. Copper River Ranch, Fort Washington, Monte Verdi Estates, Woodward Park, and Woodward Lake are all here. The shopping centers at Champlain Drive and Perrin Avenue boast a multitude of shops and restaurants in a thoughtfully planned, tree-lined composition. Copper River Ranch, Northeast Fresno’s premier country club community, offers tons of activities and resources. Fort Washington contains an array of luxury apartment options. Monte Verdi Estates is an exclusive, gated portion known for its large lots and estate-style homes. Like the others, Woodward Park and Lake are also located within the coveted Clovis Unified School District.

Highlights
Copper River Country Club
Fort Washington Golf & Country Club
Woodward Park
Gated community options
Views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Close proximity to foothill trails

Restaurants
Campagnia
FIVE
Heirloom
Papi’s Mex Grill
The Restaurant at Copper River
Sakanaya Japanese Restaurant
The Standard
Starving Artists Bistro
Vino Grille & Spirits
Vyxn Restaurant & Lounge
Yosemite Ranch

Tesoro Viejo

Median List Price: $557,000
Median Sale Price: $473,000

Situated within view of Little Table Mountain in Madera’s southeastern corner, Tesoro Viejo is a master-planned community designed with nature in mind. For this reason, the development was recognized with a prestigious Award of Merit for 2020 Best Master-Planned Community of The Year by The Golden Nugget Awards. This community offers access to the San Joaquin River, which is a pillar of lifestyle here. An expansive trail system connects open preserved natural space throughout each neighborhood. With a small-town feel and its own school, numerous seasonal events and even weeknight happenings (often found in and around Town Center, where The Hub and Ranch House are located) foster a sense of neighborly affection year-round.

Highlights
Six neighborhoods
Ranch House
The Hub
Town Center
Views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Little Table Mountain
Proximity to the San Joaquin River
14 miles of trails
Preserved open space and parks
Seasonal community events
Axis Coffee Bar & Eatery

Clovis

Median List Price: $487,500
Median Sale Price: $415,000

The Gateway to the Sierras, Clovis is also known for its sought-after Clovis Unified School District and contains dozens of newly built neighborhoods. Old Town Clovis always has an event in the works and offers a plethora of unique dining options sprinkled among boutiques and antique stores. Refurbished historic buildings lend an old-world charm that only enhances the area’s extreme walkability. It also hosts two farmers markets boasting seasonal abundance and various vendors—there’s a year-round option on Monday mornings and a Friday night event during the summer months. Held the last weekend in April, the Clovis Rodeo has attracted cowboys from across the country for over a century.

Highlights
Clovis Farmers Market
Clovis Rodeo
Big Hat Days
Seasonal community events
Walkable shopping
Great variety of eateries

Restaurants
13 Prime Steak
500 Club Bar & Grill
Blast & Brew
The Craft House
House of Juju
The Local
Luna Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
The Mad Duck
On The Edge Coffee House
Papa’s Place
Salsa’s Cantina
Ten Tavern
Trelio Restaurant

Riverstone

Median List Price: $481,000
Median Sale Price: $410,000

Riverstone Development offers an all-inclusive lifestyle anchored in community relationships and active outdoor living, leading to it being named Master-Planned Community of the Year in 2018 by the National Association of Home Builders. Located in Southeast Madera, it is comprised of eight districts across approximately 200 acres that stretch up from the San Joaquin River. Olive trees now line the streets in homage to the rolling hills that were once filled with groves. Hiking and biking trails allow access to the river as well as a community farm and dog park. Clubhouses like The Lodge, shopping at Riverwalk (the integrative shopping center that is under construction), and a new school are all positioned to encourage walkable access throughout Riverstone.

Highlights
Eight districts
The Lodge
Riverwalk
A dog park
A community farm
Seasonal community events
Views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Proximity to the San Joaquin River
Trails and parks

Old Fig Garden

Median List Price: $830,000
Median Sale Price: $570,000

One of Fresno’s most established communities, Old Fig Garden is also one of Fresno’s most coveted neighborhoods. It stands apart for its custom-built, historic homes on large lots with mature trees lining wide streets. Named for the fig orchards that originally inhabited the area, it is situated just south of Fig Garden Village. Also within its borders are the Fig Garden Women’s Club and Fig Garden Swim & Racquet Club, both long-standing community meet-up locations with deep roots. The neighborhood hosts Fresno’s annual Christmas Tree Lane along Van Ness Boulevard, a seasonal tradition that goes back 98 years and spans two miles—it’s one of the longest-running holiday drives globally

Highlights
Proximity to Fig Garden Village
Fig Garden Women’s Club
Fig Garden Swim & Racquet Club
Christmas Tree Lane
Custom-built, expansive older homes
Generous lot sizes
Established landscaping

Restaurants
Ampersand Ice Cream
Café Van Ness
Elbow Room Bar & Grill
Hungry Bear Cookies
La Boulangerie French Bakery & Café
The Lime Lite
Out of the Barrel Taproom
The Patio Café
Sam’s Italian Deli & Market

Northwest Fresno

Median List Price: $946,750
Median Sale Price: $629,000

The area north of Herndon Avenue that’s perched above the San Joaquin River’s edge, between Highways 41 and 99, is considered Northwest Fresno. The Bluffs, Van Ness Extension, and Lake Van Ness all neighbor each other within this range, some parts of which are gated. It branches into sub-neighborhoods with aesthetics that vary with the decades in which they were originally built, yet all the homes are custom with large lots. Water plays a defining role here—Lake Van Ness is one of few waterfront communities in Fresno, and the lucky few cliffside homes have sweeping views of the river. The San Joaquin Country Club is located at the river’s edge, while the Sierra Sport & Racquet Club is more centrally positioned within the area.

Highlights
Views of the San Joaquin River
Proximity to River Park
Generous lot sizes
Custom-built, expansive older and newer homes
Gated community options
San Joaquin Country Club
Sierra Sport & Racquet Club
Established landscaping

Restaurants
The Annex Kitchen
Cracked Pepper Bistro
Eureka!
Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar
Max’s Bistro & Bar
Mochuelo
The Palms
Parma
P.F. Chang’s
Pismo’s Coastal Grill
Sierra Nut House
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co
Yard House