Renaissance Homes Neighborhood Guide | Westlake Village, CA Homes

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Quick Facts: Renaissance Homes at a Glance

Renaissance Homes is a gated Mediterranean community of detached single-family homes built in 1998, sitting at one of the most walkable and commercially convenient corners of Westlake Village, all for roughly $250,000 to $700,000 less than the city's median sale price.

What Is Renaissance Homes Known For?

If you've spent any time inside the gates of Renaissance, you already know what sets it apart: it is the one community in Westlake Village where you can walk to Target, grab ramen or a craft beer, be inside a gated community with a pool, and still pay under a million dollars. That is a short list of boxes for any neighborhood in this zip code to check, and Renaissance checks all of them. The community sits along Russell Ranch Road, one of the main commercial corridors of Westlake Village, which means the location is about as central as it gets in this city. I've shown homes on Russell Ranch Road and the interior streets inside these gates for years, and almost every buyer who walks the community is surprised by how quiet the interior feels relative to the activity just outside the perimeter fence. The gate and the internal layout do a real job of buffering the neighborhood from the commercial bustle right next door.

What makes Renaissance distinct from nearby tracts is the specific combination of detached ownership, private yards, Mediterranean architecture, a 1998 construction vintage, and a price point that other gated communities in Westlake Village simply don't offer. The homes carry warm stucco exteriors, clay tile roofs, arched entries, and the kind of clean, symmetrical facades you expect from Southern California's late-1990s Mediterranean revival period. Buyers here tend to be young professionals and first-time buyers who want true Westlake Village addresses, growing families who want the school district without stretching into the $1.5 million range, and empty nesters who are trading down from larger homes but refuse to move into an attached townhome. In my experience, once people buy here, they stay longer than you would expect for a starter community, because the location keeps delivering.

Floor Plans and Home Styles in Renaissance Homes

Renaissance was built by a single developer in 1998 and released with three base floor plan configurations, each originally offered with an optional room addition package. Those additions created what amounts to five distinct floor plan variations you'll encounter inside the community today. The base plans range from approximately 1,400 to 1,600 square feet, while homes where original buyers exercised the addition option push closer to 1,700 to 1,800 square feet. The additions typically took one of three forms: a loft conversion above the main living area, a full additional bedroom, or an expanded primary suite with a retreat or sitting room. When you're buying in Renaissance, it is worth confirming which variation you're looking at, because a loft home lives very differently than a four-bedroom layout, even when the square footage numbers look similar on paper.

Architecturally, all the homes share the same simplified Tuscan Mediterranean vocabulary: stucco exteriors in earth tones, low-pitched clay tile roofs, arched front doorways, and small private rear patios. The density is higher than most single-family tracts in Westlake Village, which means lot sizes are compact and homes are closer together than in surrounding neighborhoods like Westlake Trails or Three Springs. Corner locations within the community are legitimately more desirable because they gain natural light on two sides and feel more open. In practice, the interior footprints are well laid out for the square footage, with two-story configurations that put living and dining areas on the ground floor and bedrooms upstairs. Garages are attached, typically two-car, and direct access from the garage into the home is standard across the tract.

Renovation patterns inside Renaissance follow a predictable and positive arc. Kitchen updates and primary bath remodels are the most common improvements, and because the bones of these homes are relatively modern, the updates hold up well. I don't see the deferred maintenance issues on these homes that you encounter in Westlake Village tracts built in the 1960s or 1970s. Flooring upgrades from original carpet to hardwood or LVP, fresh exterior paint within the HOA-approved color palette, and backyard hardscape additions are the most frequently seen improvements at resale. A well-upgraded Renaissance home presents cleanly and competes effectively against comparable inventory.

What Is It Like to Live in Renaissance Homes?

Saturday mornings inside Renaissance are quieter than the address suggests they should be. Residents walking dogs filter through the interior paths, and the community pool area sees steady activity on warm weekends. The gate keeps the foot traffic self-contained, and the internal streets feel like a proper neighborhood rather than a cut-through. Kids ride bikes in the interior motor courts. The playground gets used. These are small details, but they matter for daily livability, and they're what separates a good community from one that just looks good in photographs.

The pedestrian gate to Russell Ranch Park is one of the features residents cite most often as a genuine quality-of-life advantage. The four-acre park is directly accessible from the back of the community without needing to get in a car, which matters a lot to families with young kids and dog owners. It's a well-maintained open lawn park with room to spread out, and on a weekday afternoon it is rarely crowded. From the park you can also connect to the pedestrian pathways that thread through this part of Westlake Village toward Lindero Canyon Road and beyond.

The commercial convenience is real and it is immediate. The Shoppes at Westlake Village at 30770 Russell Ranch Road is a 240,000-square-foot outdoor retail center within easy walking distance of the front gate. It is anchored by Target and includes Los Agaves, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Novo Cafe, Q Sushi, Crumbl Cookies, In-N-Out, and Board and Brew, among others. Across Russell Ranch Road sits a Costco, and on the eastern edge of the commercial district you'll find the Westlake Village Marketplace with a Smart and Final. On the Thousand Oaks Boulevard side, The Stonehaus wine bar and The Royal Egg Cafe are both under two miles away. For a neighborhood priced in the $850,000 to $1,000,000 range, the walkable dining and retail amenity package rivals neighborhoods priced twice as high.

The demographic inside Renaissance has evolved since the community first sold out around 1998 and 1999. Original buyers who were young families then are now empty nesters, and you see both generations represented in the community at any given time. It is not a purely family neighborhood, nor is it a retirement community. It lands in the comfortable middle: professional adults in their 30s and 40s with young children, dual-income households who work in the Valley or remotely, and downsizers from larger Westlake Village homes who still want to stay in the city. Halloween is noticeably active, the HOA keeps the common areas tidy, and street noise from Russell Ranch Road is more noticeable on homes facing the perimeter than on homes tucked into the interior of the tract.

Renaissance Homes Market Snapshot

Renaissance operates in a tight, low-inventory micro-market. There are only about 60 homes in the community, which means meaningful resale activity might produce four to eight transactions in a typical year. When a well-presented home hits the market here, it does not linger. Buyers who have been watching the community sometimes wait months for the right floor plan to appear, and when it does, they move quickly. Prices have held firm through the broader rate-driven softening that affected much of the Conejo Valley in 2023 and 2024, partly because the entry-level gated detached product in Westlake Village has almost no real competition in the sub-million-dollar range.

Compared to the broader Westlake Village market, where the median sale price sits around $1,650,000, Renaissance is firmly positioned as one of the most affordable owner-occupied entry points in the city. The negotiation dynamic here tends to favor sellers. Multiple offer situations happen on move-in ready listings, and sellers rarely concede much on price when the product is clean. Buyers can find more leverage on homes that need cosmetic work or that have been sitting due to overpricing, but strong listings in this community do not trade at discount. If you are serious about buying here, come prepared and do not assume you have time to think.

Who Should Look in Renaissance Homes?

First-time buyers entering the Westlake Village market. If you want a Westlake Village address, CVUSD schools, a gated community with a pool, and a detached home with a private yard, this is the only place in the city where you can get all four at under $1,000,000. The monthly carrying costs are manageable, the HOA is low relative to what it covers, and you are not buying a townhome with shared walls. For buyers who have been outbid in Thousand Oaks or cannot justify a $1.3 million starter home elsewhere in Westlake, Renaissance solves the problem cleanly.

Young families who want the school district without the price tag. Westlake Elementary, Colina Middle School, and Westlake High School are all draws for families relocating to the Conejo Valley. Renaissance puts those schools in reach without requiring a $1.5 million or higher budget. The gated setting with the pedestrian park access, the community pool, and the playground makes this a legitimate family neighborhood, not just an affordable fallback.

Empty nesters downsizing within Westlake Village. I work with clients regularly who have lived in Westlake Trails or Three Springs or Westlake Cove for two decades and their kids are gone. They want to stay in Westlake Village, they want a gate, they want low maintenance, and they do not want to manage a 3,500-square-foot house anymore. Renaissance is a natural landing spot. The walkability, the smaller footprint, and the community amenities address exactly what this buyer is trying to accomplish.

Investors and 1031 exchange buyers. Single-family detached homes in gated communities in top school districts tend to hold value and rent well. A Renaissance home in move-in condition will attract strong rental demand from corporate relocation tenants and families who need to be in CVUSD. The price point, relative to comparable rental rates in Westlake Village, produces a more reasonable yield than you will find on higher-end inventory. It is not a cash-flow-positive investment at today's rates, but as an equity hold or a 1031 placement it has a clear thesis.

Pros and Cons of Renaissance Homes

Pros

• Gated community with keypad or card entry, providing genuine privacy and security
• Detached single-family homes with private yards, not townhomes with shared walls
• One of the only sub-million-dollar gated communities in Westlake Village
• Community pool, spa, and children's playground included in a low $150 per month HOA
• Pedestrian gate directly to Russell Ranch Park, a four-acre open lawn park
• Walking distance to The Shoppes at Westlake Village, Costco, Smart and Final, and multiple restaurants
• 1998 construction vintage means modern systems, updated electrical, and no galvanized plumbing concerns common to older Westlake Village tracts
• Strong CVUSD schools including Westlake High School, which is named to the AP School Honor Roll
• Some lots on the perimeter back to Lake Lindero Country Club fairways, with partial mountain views

Cons

• Homes are closer together than most single-family tracts in Westlake Village; density is higher and yard sizes are small
• Homes facing the Russell Ranch Road perimeter experience more road and commercial noise than interior-facing units
• HOA approval required for exterior modifications, including paint colors and any structural or landscape changes to private patios
• Street parking inside the gates is limited; larger gatherings or multiple-car households can create congestion on weekends

Schools Serving Renaissance Homes

• Elementary: Westlake Elementary School (K to 5) and White Oak Elementary School (K to 5), with Lang Ranch Elementary (K to 5) also nearby and accessible via CVUSD's School of Choice program
• Middle School: Colina Middle School (6 to 8)
• High School: Westlake High School (9 to 12)
• School District: Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)

CVUSD is consistently rated among the top public school districts in California. Westlake High is particularly notable: it is recognized at the local, state, and national levels for academic excellence and has been named to the Advanced Placement School Honor Roll. The district's three comprehensive high schools, including Westlake, have all earned AP Honor Roll recognition. Parents who move into Renaissance specifically for the schools are not disappointed. What I hear consistently from families who have been here a few years is that the teachers are engaged, the parent community is active, and the academic baseline is genuinely high. There are also strong private options within a short drive, including Oaks Christian School and St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic School in nearby Thousand Oaks.

Nearby Amenities and Local Favorites

Grocery

• Costco Wholesale (across Russell Ranch Road, approximately 0.2 miles) — one of the most convenient Costco locations in the Valley relative to a residential neighborhood
• Smart and Final (Westlake Village Marketplace, approximately 0.3 miles) — useful for everyday staples without the Costco membership
• Gelson's Market (Westlake Village Promenade, approximately 1.5 miles) — the premium full-service grocery choice for the area

Coffee and Cafes

• Novo Cafe (The Shoppes at Westlake Village, approximately 0.4 miles) — Italian-influenced cafe with fresh pasta and a comfortable indoor atmosphere
• Hibye Coffee (The Shoppes, approximately 0.4 miles) — a newer addition to the lineup, popular with the morning crowd
• Dunkin (Thousand Oaks Boulevard side, approximately 0.5 miles) — convenient pre-commute stop

Restaurants

• Los Agaves (The Shoppes, approximately 0.4 miles) — well-regarded Mexican restaurant, consistently busy on weekends
• Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company (The Shoppes, approximately 0.4 miles) — craft beer taproom with a full gastropub menu and indoor and outdoor seating
• The Royal Egg Cafe (Thousand Oaks Boulevard, approximately 0.6 miles) — a local favorite for brunch
• The Stonehaus (Agoura Road, approximately 1.2 miles) — wine cave, bocce court, and outdoor patio, a true Westlake Village institution
• Lure Fish House (Russell Ranch Road, approximately 0.5 miles) — the go-to for date nights and celebratory dinners in the neighborhood

Parks and Trails

• Russell Ranch Park (pedestrian gate from community, approximately 0.1 miles) — four-acre open lawn park directly accessible from the community's back gate
• Triunfo Park (approximately 1.8 miles) — larger park with sports fields and open space
• Conejo Valley Open Space trails (accessible from Lindero Canyon Road, approximately 1.5 miles) — miles of maintained hiking and biking trails through the hills above Westlake Village

Fitness

• Conejo Valley YMCA (approximately 1.0 mile on Lindero Canyon) — full-facility sports complex on the hilltop above Westlake Village, well regarded by families in the community
• Lake Lindero Country Club (approximately 0.3 miles) — public nine-hole golf course directly adjacent to the community's rear perimeter

Medical

• Los Robles Regional Medical Center (Thousand Oaks, approximately 5 miles) — the primary regional hospital serving Westlake Village residents

What to Expect When Buying in Renaissance Homes

The buying process inside Renaissance is straightforward if you come prepared, and it can be frustrating if you don't. Because the community is small, roughly 60 homes, and turnover is low, active listings are infrequent. In a given year you might see four to eight homes come to market, and the good ones move within two to three weeks. I have worked with buyers who monitored this community for four to six months before the right floor plan appeared. If you're serious about Renaissance, get your financing tight and your decision threshold clear before the listing hits the MLS, because you will not have the luxury of extended deliberation on a well-priced home.

From a financing and appraisal standpoint, the 1998 construction vintage is clean. You are not dealing with galvanized plumbing, aluminum branch wiring, or post-tension slab issues common to 1960s and 1970s Westlake Village construction. Typical inspection findings run to the normal: HVAC systems approaching end of service life on older, non-renovated homes, roof tiles that need spot replacement or resealing after 25-plus years, and water heaters due for replacement. None of these are deal-breakers, and none are particularly expensive. The tighter inspection focus should be on the interior of each specific unit: original versus upgraded systems, condition of the tile roof and gutters, and whether any unpermitted work was done on the addition plans. HOA due diligence here means reviewing meeting minutes for any pending special assessments, confirming the reserve fund status, and understanding the CC&Rs on exterior modifications before you commit to anything cosmetic on the property.

On the negotiation side, expect less leverage than a buyer would have in a higher-priced or slower-moving segment of the market. Sellers in Renaissance know they have a scarce product, and listing agents know it too. That said, you can find reasonable concessions on homes with deferred maintenance, disclosure issues, or overambitious list prices. My general advice for buyers here: if the home is well-presented and priced at market, offer accordingly the first time. Lowball offers on clean inventory insult the seller and cost you the house. If the home has condition issues you can document, that is where your room to negotiate exists. Closing costs in California typically run two to three percent of the purchase price for buyers, and seller concessions toward closing costs are more common at the lower end of the price range than in luxury segments.

Frequently Asked Questions About Renaissance Homes

Is Renaissance Homes a good investment?

For a primary residence, Renaissance checks the core investment criteria: strong school district, gated community in a high-demand city, detached ownership, and a price point that gives you upside relative to the Westlake Village median. For a pure rental investment, you will not generate meaningful cash flow at today's rates and prices, but the equity hold argument is sound. Detached gated homes in CVUSD at this price range are a scarce product and that scarcity supports value over time.

What are the HOA fees in Renaissance Homes?

The HOA fee runs approximately $150 per month, which covers the gated community entry, community pool and spa maintenance, children's playground, and landscaping of common areas. This is a genuinely low HOA fee for what the community provides, particularly relative to townhome communities in Westlake Village where HOA fees frequently run $400 to $700 per month. Always verify the current fee and review the reserve fund study during your due diligence period.

How are the schools in Renaissance Homes?

Renaissance is served by Conejo Valley Unified School District, which is one of the most highly regarded public school districts in California. Westlake High School, the assigned high school, has been named to the AP School Honor Roll and is consistently recognized for academic excellence at the state and national level. Elementary school assignment can vary depending on the specific address; buyers should verify their boundary assignment with CVUSD directly, and note that the district's School of Choice policy provides flexibility for families interested in specific elementary campuses.

Is Renaissance Homes family-friendly?

Yes, genuinely so. The community has a gated environment, a children's playground, a pool, and pedestrian access to Russell Ranch Park, which all support active family living. The CVUSD school pathway from elementary through high school is one of the strongest public options in the region. The density is higher than larger-lot single-family tracts in Westlake Village, but families with young children consistently find the community works well for their lifestyle.

How close is Renaissance Homes to the 101 Freeway?

The community is approximately one to two miles from both the Lindero Canyon Road and the Westlake Boulevard on-ramps to the 101 Freeway. In light traffic the drive is under five minutes, and access to both on-ramps means you have routing flexibility. This is one of the better freeway access positions in the city relative to the residential neighborhoods farther west or north.

What is the commute to Los Angeles from Renaissance Homes?

Westlake Village sits roughly 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. In average morning traffic via the 101, commute times to the Westside run 45 to 75 minutes depending on destination and departure time, and commutes to the San Fernando Valley can run 30 to 50 minutes. Remote and hybrid work arrangements have meaningfully reduced the commute burden on residents here over the past several years, and many Renaissance buyers specifically choose the community because they only need to commute two or three days per week.

What makes Renaissance different from the Watergate Townhomes nearby?

The primary difference is ownership structure and construction type. Renaissance homes are detached single-family residences with private yards and no shared walls. Watergate Townhomes are attached products where you share at least one wall with a neighbor. Both communities occupy a similar price range in Westlake Village, but buyers who want true detached ownership should focus on Renaissance. The HOA fee structure and community amenities also differ; Renaissance's fee is among the lower options in the city for a gated single-family community.

Can I see Renaissance Homes floor plans before scheduling a showing?

I can pull and share the builder's original floor plan documents for all three base configurations, including the addition variants, directly with qualified buyers. Reach out and I'll send them over before we schedule a tour so you arrive already knowing which plan types interest you. This saves time and makes the showing more productive for everyone.

Similar Communities to Renaissance Homes

Renaissance sits in the most accessible and affordable tier of gated homeownership in Westlake Village. If you are evaluating this community, the homes below cover a wide spectrum of price points, lifestyles, and architectural eras in the surrounding area. Some are larger and more expensive, some are attached rather than detached, and some serve different lifestyle priorities. Each one deserves its own evaluation, and I have written guides on all of them. Use this list to understand where Renaissance fits in the broader Westlake Village picture.

• Watergate Townhomes — Similar because it occupies the same price band ($750K to $900K) and is walkable to the same commercial core, though homes are attached rather than detached.
• Westlake Cove — Similar because it is a gated community in Westlake Village with a family-friendly profile, though it steps up significantly in price ($1M to $1.8M) and offers larger square footage.
• Foxmoor Homes — Similar because it appeals to buyers wanting a single-family home in Westlake Village, with a wider price range ($1.1M to $2.8M) and more variation in lot size and home style.
• First Neighborhood — Similar because it is one of the more accessible price points in Westlake Village ($1.25M to $2.3M) and has a strong neighborhood community feel, though it is not gated.
• Ben Johnson Fairway Duplexes — Similar for buyers open to duplex ownership in Westlake Village who want a golf-adjacent setting, priced from $1.5M to $2.5M.
• Three Springs — Similar in the gated, Westlake Village context but at a substantially higher price point ($1.75M to $3M), with larger homes and panoramic views.
• North Pointe — Similar because it is a gated community with a family-oriented character in Westlake Village, priced from $2M to $3M for larger estate-style homes.
• Signature Collection — Similar as a gated Westlake Village community, but at the luxury tier ($2M to $3.25M) with dramatic Mediterranean architecture and large view lots.
• Westlake Trails — Similar in city and school district, but positioned at the top of the Westlake Village market ($2M to $4M) with custom estate homes and trail-side lots.
• Southshore/The Shores — Similar only in city context; The Shores is Westlake Village's premier luxury lakefront tier ($2M to $5M-plus) and represents the top end of what the city offers.

About Davis Bartels

Davis Bartels is the founder of the DB Real Estate Group with Pinnacle Estate Properties (CA DRE #00905345). He has personally closed nearly 1,000 transactions in the Conejo Valley since 2009 and consults on residential sales, investment purchases, 1031 exchanges, and estate-level real estate strategy. DRE #01933814.

Last updated: 2026-04-17

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