advice about homes

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Riverne

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I was planning to rent an apartment in a complex like Watermarke Irvine (http://www.watermarke-irvine.com/) or Avalon Irvine (http://www.avaloncommunities.com/avaloncore/nfloor.asp?comm=328); they have nice top-floor 2BR/2BA units for about $2200/mo. But after reading all the complaints about thin walls, noisy neighbors, management not taking good care of trash, etc, I'm thinking to buy (or rent) a 1BD/1BA or 2BD/2BA townhome instead. (I imagine condos have the same problems as apartment complexes?)

Can anyone help me by suggesting a couple developments in Irvine where you think I should start looking? It's the first time I'd be buying anything.

The main thing for me is that everything looks nice and clean, the units are new, amenities and grounds are very upscale and well maintained, e.g., swimming pool with areas to relax nearby, maybe a nice rooftop, etc. I would also hope for a good noise isolation. Lots of trees and open green areas would be great too.

I don't know if the cost per square foot is "you get what you pay for". If it is, I'd actually prefer to pay more, since I like the extras I get.

Thank you very much for any advice!
 
IndieDev said:
Why don't you try Villa Siena? http://www.rental-living.com/Communities/Villa-Siena/

It's a TIC development, but I was there for a party this past Summer, and their main swimming pool area is kind of cool. Looks clean, and it wasn't hard for me to find parking. Gated too.
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Thank you - will take a look. But these are also apartments, rather than townhomes. As I say, I'm kinda thinking to change my search from apartments to townhomes. Would I find the quality of living much higher if I do? Or it's only worth moving to a townhome if I need more space than an apartment provides?

frank69m said:
Doesn't it depend on where you work and how far you want to travel? Irvine is a pretty big city.
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Not really. I am used to 50 min commute, and the whole of Irvine is like 20 min across. I'd rather live in a nicer place than closer to work.
 
Riverne said:
IndieDev said:
Why don't you try Villa Siena? http://www.rental-living.com/Communities/Villa-Siena/

It's a TIC development, but I was there for a party this past Summer, and their main swimming pool area is kind of cool. Looks clean, and it wasn't hard for me to find parking. Gated too.
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Thank you - will take a look. But these are also apartments, rather than townhomes. As I say, I'm kinda thinking to change my search from apartments to townhomes. Would I find the quality of living much higher if I do? Or it's only worth moving to a townhome if I need more space than an apartment provides?

frank69m said:
Doesn't it depend on where you work and how far you want to travel? Irvine is a pretty big city.
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Not really. I am used to 50 min commute, and the whole of Irvine is like 20 min across. I'd rather live in a nicer place than closer to work.
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You can look at Woodbury Place (townhomes).  Are you open to finding a private rental? 
 
Riverne said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
You can look at Woodbury Place (townhomes).  Are you open to finding a private rental?
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Will do, thx... And yeah I guess so - are private rentals much cheaper?
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You do get more for your money for private rentals as well as better quality construction and nicer.  What kind of sized property are you looking for?  What's your budget?
 
I'm looking for something small (600 sq ft is enough; 1200 sq ft is the most I can handle I think - any more and I can't maintain it...) My budget is about $3000/mo, but I was really hoping to get something very nice under $2500.

So far of all places I looked at, I somehow liked Watermarke - but only based on pictures.. Whenever I read apartmentratings.com, they make every community sound like a ghetto :(

I saw several nice high-rises (e.g., the Plaza Irvine - http://www.condosetc.com/listing/building/163/), but I find smaller buildings and a lot more open space between them (in a gated community) somehow more appealing than a tower with a small footprint.

Thanks for your comments, they help a lot.
 
Riverne said:
I'm looking for something small (600 sq ft is enough; 1200 sq ft is the most I can handle I think - any more and I can't maintain it...) My budget is about $3000/mo, but I was really hoping to get something very nice under $2500.

So far of all places I looked at, I somehow liked Watermarke - but only based on pictures.. Whenever I read apartmentratings.com, they make every community sound like a ghetto :(

I saw several nice high-rises (e.g., the Plaza Irvine - http://www.condosetc.com/listing/building/163/), but I find smaller buildings and a lot more open space between them (in a gated community) somehow more appealing than a tower with a small footprint.

Thanks for your comments, they help a lot.
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PM me your email address and I'll email you private rental listings from MLS.  You can get a very nice place for $2,500/mo....definitely a 2 bedroom condo with a 2-car attached garage with no one above or below you.  Remember that Watermarke was originally build as apartments and then converted to condos during the housing bubble.
 
my coworker went to essex skyline and seems to like it.  not irvine but close to a lot of amenities.  got a good move in deal.  if u single, u might like it better than living next to young couples w kids.  im told the pool has nice views :)
 
$1,600 - $2,000 can get you into a rental in University Park/El Camino Real if you don't mind living in a home built in the 70s.
 
isn't central park west being converted to rentals? There were lots of townhouses there as well as the high rise condo there and it is walking distance to watermarke.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
Can't $2500 get you a small newer SFR in Irvine? $3000 definitely can.
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I find the homes I can get in the range $2500 to be either old, or without nice amenities...

IndieDev said:
$1,600 - $2,000 can get you into a rental in University Park/El Camino Real if you don't mind living in a home built in the 70s.
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I do mind :( Really like newer properties (like 2-5 years old), they just have a different feel to them.

so_scared said:
isn't central park west being converted to rentals? There were lots of townhouses there as well as the high rise condo there and it is walking distance to watermarke.
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Looks very nice. Does anyone know about them? On their website, they only offer rental for the units in the tower, not for the homes. I might be unable to afford the home, not sure.
 
Riverne said:
irvinehomeowner said:
Can't $2500 get you a small newer SFR in Irvine? $3000 definitely can.
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I find the homes I can get in the range $2500 to be either old, or without nice amenities...
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Really? What areas are you looking in? I think you can find attached/detached 2+/2 condos in the newest areas of Irvine for around $2500.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
Riverne said:
irvinehomeowner said:
Can't $2500 get you a small newer SFR in Irvine? $3000 definitely can.
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I find the homes I can get in the range $2500 to be either old, or without nice amenities...
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Really? What areas are you looking in? I think you can find attached/detached 2+/2 condos in the newest areas of Irvine for around $2500.
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I was hoping to get amenities similar to Watermarke, Marquee at Park Place, but not in a high rise.

So I looked at http://www.condosetc.com, limiting my search to 2-3k in rent; I was looking for a place with hardwood floors and got next to nothing.

Maybe I should be using a different search site?
 
I think trying to find high-rise amenities in a non high-rise unit may be difficult.

Are you trying to find a 24-hr gym, doorman etc?
 
irvinehomeowner said:
I think trying to find high-rise amenities in a non high-rise unit may be difficult.

Are you trying to find a 24-hr gym, doorman etc?
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That's what I'm starting to realize...

Among the newly built townhome communities, which one has the best amenities / best outdoor feel (like walking from your house to the pool is a nice trail with trees? I'll probably just go for that if I can find it.
 
Hmm... Quail Hill might be a place for you... on the west side where most of the condos are... there is a central park, pool and workout area called The Commons:
http://www.quailhillhoa.org/community/amenities.asp

I think Woodbury is also walkable and their shopping center has a Trader Joe's and an LA Fitness. Their central pool area has a lagoon like feel and they have gated tennis and basketball:
http://www.woodburyhoa.org/custom_page.php?page_id=3

Correction: The Commons is on the west side.
 
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