If you’ve been searching for single-story homes in Aliso Viejo, you know they’re rare and in high demand. Across Orange County, one-story floor plans are consistently more popular than two-story models, especially with buyers who want accessibility, convenience, and long-term comfort.

Single-Story Homes Are in Demand

In the past 30 days in South Orange County:

• Two-story homes averaged 29 days on market. 
• One-story homes averaged just 21 days on market. 

That eight-day gap may seem small, but in a cooling housing market, the difference would likely widen like it did during the Great Recession when the difference was weeks not days.

The Challenge in Aliso Viejo

Most Aliso Viejo homes were built between the late 1980s and early 2010s, a time when builders prioritized two-story layouts to maximize living space on smaller lots. As a result, true one-story homes are almost nonexistent here. But there are a few hidden gems.

Glenwood Terrace – The Only One-Story Single-Family Home

The only true one-story, single-family home in Aliso Viejo is located in Glenwood Terrace, near Glenwood and Moulton.

• 3 bedrooms, ~1,400 sq. ft. 
• Rarely available: about once per year. 
• The most recent sale at 17 Spicewood closed in 3 days for $1.3M. 

When one of these homes comes on the market, it’s highly coveted.

Detached Condo Options

There are also a couple of detached condo communities in Aliso Viejo with single-story floor plans:

• San Simeon (across from Don Juan Avila School) 
  • 2-bedroom, single-level model. 
  • Comes up about once a year. 
  • The latest example: 10 Ambrose sold in 7 days for $960K. 
• The Colony (near Wood Canyon Elementary) 
  • Rare one-story detached condo. 
  • Last recorded sale was in 2022. 

Honorable Mention: California Reflections

While not a pure one-story, the San Felipe model in California Reflections has:

• 2 bedrooms on the first floor and ~1,100 sq. ft. total. 
• Only an open loft upstairs, making it almost entirely a single-level layout. 

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a single-story home in Aliso Viejo, your options are limited but not impossible. Communities like Glenwood Terrace, San Simeon, The Colony, and even select models in California Reflections provide opportunities if you’re ready to act quickly when they come up for sale.

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Aliso Viejo? Contact us today for a strategy tailored to this unique market.