Rancho Santa Margarita Apartments and Rentals

Nestled along the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, Rancho Santa Margarita has become a popular Orange County destination with a population of more than 49,000 residents. The planned community was incorporated in 2,000, and boasts a quality of life reflected in its mission statement, "A Small City with the Soul of a Small Village." As the city grows, Rancho Santa Margarita apartments for rent remain a popular choice for families looking for a safe community characterized by well-maintained neighborhoods and natural beauty.

Parks and outdoor recreation facilities are central to the high quality of life enjoyed by Rancho Santa Margarita residents. Although 22 of Rancho Santa Margarita's parks are privately owned, most offer public access and community events. Proximity to the Cleveland National Forest makes Rancho Santa Margarita an excellent launching point for weekend camping trips and hiking excursions.

Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club features a 12.6 acre man-made lake surrounded by almost 17 acres of parks, trails and beaches. The unique lake is only a foot deep at water's edge, and is stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish each spring. The site hosts a number of community events throughout the year including a Fishing Derby and the annual Fourth of July Star-Spangled Spectacular.

In an effort to stimulate the local economy, Rancho Santa Margarita offers businesses attractive incentives to operate within the city. No business license is required, and expedited processing is available to business owners interested in capitalizing on Rancho Santa Margarita's skilled workforce.

Rancho Santa Margarita is home to a mix of industries, and consistently has an unemployment rate well below the national average. The top private sector employers include Cox Communications, Control Components, Inc., Applied Medical and PADI International, an association of diving instructors. Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Capistrano Unified School District and the Trabuco Canyon Water District are the top three public sector employers.

Saddleback Valley Unified School District and Capistrano Unified School District both serve Rancho Santa Margarita students, in addition to four private elementary schools and one private high school. Rancho Santa Margarita is an easy commute from some of the top Southern California universities such as Concordia University, Irvine, University of California, Irvine and Cal State Fullerton.

Many Rancho Santa Margarita residents are eager to save money on transportation costs by finding employment within the city, and recent industrial growth is expected to reduce time residents spend on the road. Because Rancho Santa Margarita is conveniently located off of Interstate 5 and is accessible by bus routes provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority, it's easy to save money by carpooling or opting to use public transportation.

Rancho Santa Margarita rentals have a vacancy rate of just 3.1 percent and prices have increased according to demand. However, Rancho Santa Margarita provides affordable housing by cooperating with the Orange County Housing Authority, which offers rental assistance programs aimed at helping low-income and elderly residents find a place to meet their housing needs. City-data.com reports that the median gross rent in Rancho Santa Margarita was $1,630 in 2009.

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita is dedicated to promoting public health initiatives, and sponsors the annual Healthy Community Expo, 5K and Kids Fun Run on Labor Day. The event is aimed at encouraging physical activity and contributing to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness to make California the "nation's fitness state."

City-sponsored summer concerts bring residents together for live music and family entertainment, and the Taste of Rancho offers local restaurants an opportunity to share their products and services with the community. The Taste of Rancho was added as Santa Margarita's fourth annual event, and showcases the focus on local economic growth shared by city officials and residents alike.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Rancho Santa Margarita, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.