Cottage Ln, Aliso Viejo

Freshly divorced and out on my own for the first time in a while, I began my search for quality living on a budget and wound up on Saphir Way in Aliso Viejo. First of all, having lived in many parts of Orange County, I discovered that Aliso Viejo is a great money-stretcher town. Great values in real estate as compared to some its neighboring towns. It's also a relatively young community, very well-planned with easy access to all of the amenities a town offers.

When I was looking for the La Mirage condos on Wood Canyon Drive, I missed the street turn because I couldn't tear my gaze away from the magnificent spectacle of Soka University that lay nestled against the hills of Aliso Regional Park. The architecture is so unique and peaceful which made sense when I found out it was Buddhist college.

The condos at La MIrage do offer a glimpse into French country architecture. In addition to being spacious, my condo had an interesting two-level floor plan that included a round stair well leading from the entry to the living room. You always have to love attached garages and this one had a sizable storage alcove.

For a biker and hiker such as myself, there is no better place than a home near Wood Canyon Dr. to be able to access several trails that take you through the sprawling hills of the Regional Park, to the summit and all of the way to Laguna Beach.