Finding Paradise: The Allure of Remote Luxury Living in Southern California

DeeAnn Noland has found her own slice of paradise in Southern California, and it’s not where you might expect. Her sprawling property in Hemet, perched in the hills overlooking the city below, feels more like a resort than a home. With a 6,000-square-foot Spanish-style villa, a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, and space for her horses, goats, and exotic birds, Noland has created a tropical haven for herself.

While Southern California is known for its luxury enclaves with sky-high prices, Noland managed to snag her dream home in Hemet for $740,000. This move away from the big city is becoming more common as housing prices in places like Los Angeles continue to soar. In L.A., $1 million might not even buy a second bedroom, but a few hours outside the city, it can buy a dream house.

Noland’s journey away from city centers started with a small tract home in Baldwin Park and has led her to Hemet, where she now lives like royalty. Despite the typical problems of homelessness and crime in the area, Noland has turned her home into a place she never wants to leave, with themed rooms that allow her to “travel without leaving the house.”

Similarly, the Brills found their own piece of luxury in Palmdale, purchasing a mansion with a massive indoor swimming pool for $1.35 million. The lack of luxury amenities in the area is outweighed by the grand scale and natural beauty of the property, as well as the sense of pride that comes with being a big fish in a small pond.

For some, like Steven Nia and Angelina Leo, the deals found in remote areas are simply too good to pass up. They purchased a stone castle on over 500 acres in Del Sur for the price of a starter home in Calabasas. The majestic estate, which they rent out for film shoots when they’re not there, offers a raw and fascinating escape from their main residence in Calabasas.

These stories highlight the trend of buyers seeking out mansions in nonluxury enclaves for the added acreage, privacy, and unique properties they offer. While the market for these remote mansions may be small, the allure of living like royalty in the middle of nowhere is undeniable.