CalBears96
Well-known member
Yeah, but the proposed area for housing is flat or farmland, right?You think it spreads faster than dried bushes and weeds?
all American asphalt
- Thread starter curious george
- Start date
NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
How do I know? Because in Oct, 2020, I defied 4 cop cars (3 that were unmarked) on my way to check my unfinished home. On the way, I stopped at Elderberry (5A) and there were little ember fires all over the place. A lady and I tried to stomp out a bunch of them, but they kept reigniting. There were extremely high winds (if anyone remembers) blowing stuff all over the place. Firefighters came, along with a cop, who told us to get the hell out of there. So I followed his orders by driving to another part of Elderberry. Some other Firefighters showed up to extinguish a few ember fires on the ground. When I asked a firefighter why they're not up at 4B when you could see some walls of flames trying to jump to the south side of the toll fwy, he said they're not worried at all about 4B because of the vegetation that was planted! When I finally got up to 4B, there were a ton of ember fires on the ground and in the thickets around Round Canyon Park, which is just south of the toll fwy. Two days later, when I went back, nothing was even remotely scorched in the thickets! I was the ONLY person (along with a couple cops) up at Talise and Brisa-Celeste during the biggest part of the fire. I told my wife I had to do it because I needed to know. And I know.
Also, Danimal is right, though. Once this area becomes more developed, the less fire hazard it becomes.
As the other person has mentioned, there are other options around that doesn’t require one to even need to worry about this matter.
As for "other options", I've made it clear that my wife is only interested in my new homes, no resales. What "other options" are you talking about?
As the other person has mentioned, there are better options outside of the inland areas in Irvine. That's the point. And if PS is not entirely classified as a fire hazard across all insurance companies, people will run into a situation where their payments will increase drastically in the event a fire happens in the future. Not ideal for people that want to retire. Not to mention the lovely MR you guys already pay.
BTW before insulting people, I recommend you try to understand the fundamentals of the topic prior. I sure hope you don't talk in that manner in person to anyone else
BTW, I love the back-and-forth between Calbears96 and sleepy5136. Reminds me of the good ol' (recent) days of eyephone vs morekaos!
I don’t need to mention other options, it’s quite obvious…. Pull up your google maps and look at Irvine. What areas aren’t inland?
Anyway no one can win with you. I’ll take the L again on this.
As for an older house on a better location and bigger lot, it will cost more too. And some of the IP new builds do have good size lots. Only GP homes have tiny lots. On top of the price itself, major renovation will cost at least $200k-$300k and I suspect tear down and rebuild will cost even more. Not to mention, even if you do tear down and build, the neighborhood still looks old.
Different people have different needs. What we look for is a ~3000 sq ft new home with 5000-6000 sq lot. I checked the Cielo homes, particularly the Plan 1 that we want to buy. They range from 4600 to 7000 sq ft lots, with most of them between 5000 to 6000 that we would be satisfied with.
Anyway, the plan is to down the reservation in 2 years. That way, I can sell my current Bluffs 2 as primary residence for 3 years. That is why I'm hoping that IP would slow down the releases. So I'm hoping the housing market to bottom out end of next year.
But more importantly, I would have a pretty large negative cash flow if I rent it out. My PITI is probably around $7500 and I don't think I can get more than $6000 in rent. Definitely not worth keeping as investment property.
I’ve been in Irvine long enough to experience 2 major wild fires in East Irvine (2008, 2020). Kudos to OCFD, no home was burned. The more house firewall, the better IMO.
CogNeuroSci
Active member
Portola Springs Enclave 4B (Talise, Brisa, Celeste) down to Enclave 5A (Elderberry, Juniper, Legado, Montara) just had a fire (coming from the north side of the toll fwy and trying to jump to the south side) in Oct, 2020. Not a single home was damaged, not even the incomplete homes with only wood framing that were right up against the south side of the toll fwy. The reason is because of the specific types of vegetation that were purposefully put in. I can tell you FIRSTHAND that virtually no fire in the future will be able to burn a single home in PS 4B and 5A. I am extremely extremely confident of that.
How do I know? Because in Oct, 2020, I defied 4 cop cars (3 that were unmarked) on my way to check my unfinished home. On the way, I stopped at Elderberry (5A) and there were little ember fires all over the place. A lady and I tried to stomp out a bunch of them, but they kept reigniting. There were extremely high winds (if anyone remembers) blowing stuff all over the place. Firefighters came, along with a cop, who told us to get the hell out of there. So I followed his orders by driving to another part of Elderberry. Some other Firefighters showed up to extinguish a few ember fires on the ground. When I asked a firefighter why they're not up at 4B when you could see some walls of flames trying to jump to the south side of the toll fwy, he said they're not worried at all about 4B because of the vegetation that was planted! When I finally got up to 4B, there were a ton of ember fires on the ground and in the thickets around Round Canyon Park, which is just south of the toll fwy. Two days later, when I went back, nothing was even remotely scorched in the thickets! I was the ONLY person (along with a couple cops) up at Talise and Brisa-Celeste during the biggest part of the fire. I told my wife I had to do it because I needed to know. And I know.
Last edited:
I mean homes being destroyed cannot be the bar, that’s a pretty low bar. Evacuation is also an inconvenience. I care about that just as much as I care about high insurance costs or any property damage. We can do mental gymnastics and convince ourselves that everything will be fine (likely it will be) but what happened in 2020 does not give anyone a peace of mind given the plenty of other options available and the high costs relative to the risk. Part of being in Irvine despite the costs is due to the high quality of life. Stomping out ember fires? Ain’t got time for that sorry. Again, it’s not like there aren’t options elsewhere around here. If there weren’t I would understand. There was a large portion of the city who did not deal with anything that other folks dealt with in 2020. It’s just geography.
Last edited:
CalBears96
Well-known member
I pay less than $600/year for fire insurance for my Bluffs home in Portola Springs, so I don't know what high insurance costs you're talking about. But, if you want to buy peace of mind elsewhere, that's your choice, of course. Personally, my wife and I love it here in PS and we're not moving anywhere else. In fact, we're planning to buy a house with a driveway in a couple of years, and my wife refuses to look elsewhere.
The OCR article says the housing development will be 450 units in 80 acres. That sounds similar to the density of Orchard Hills— which only rates as affordable housing to FCBs. Of course, the plan could change, but buying AAA, building a 700 acre park, building homes, and turning a profit likely only pencils out if TIC is planning on this development as a quasi OH5.
sleepy5136
Well-known member
For now. What about in the future when there are fires around your area? Depending on one’s financial situation, a significant increase in monthly payment when you plan to retire is not something that should be brushed off one’s shoulder.
CalBears96
Well-known member
Did you miss the part that Portola Springs is considered fire hazard zone? Did you miss the part that the 2020 fire happened to touch Portola Springs? So is Baker Ranch, Serrano Summit, Foothill Ranch. Pretty much this whole area.
Also, Danimal is right, though. Once this area becomes more developed, the less fire hazard it becomes.
sleepy5136
Well-known member
Didn’t miss it. My point is it’s $600 now. It could be double or triple in the future. As you mentioned before, you plan to retire in PS. I would be concerned about that uncertainty financially and your safety given how inland it is. I personally would never say it’s not possible that any parts of PS will not be impacted as underestimating Mother Nature has led to disasters and deaths in the past.
As the other person has mentioned, there are other options around that doesn’t require one to even need to worry about this matter.
CalBears96
Well-known member
Well, your point is completely invalid then. Why would it double or triple in the future when it's a fire hazard zone NOW and possible becoming a non fire hazard zone in the future? Do you ever try to make sense?
As for "other options", I've made it clear that my wife is only interested in my new homes, no resales. What "other options" are you talking about?
sleepy5136
Well-known member
Why would your insurance premium double or triple if there are future fires in your area? What kind of question is that? If any one of your neighbors files a claim in your zip code, that area will be flagged and it will immediately raise premiums across that zip code. You do know that insurance premiums are based on how many claims there are by zip code right? Bluffs is a new community, how many claims does it have? Why would it not be prone to future increases in the event of an actual fire impacting one of the homes nearby? Also, I don't think all insurance companies classify all of PS as fire zone. 151 Trumpet Flower and 213 Desert Bloom do not classify as a fire hazard currently w/Hippo. I don't know your situation and neither do I care what you or your wife says.
As the other person has mentioned, there are better options outside of the inland areas in Irvine. That's the point. And if PS is not entirely classified as a fire hazard across all insurance companies, people will run into a situation where their payments will increase drastically in the event a fire happens in the future. Not ideal for people that want to retire. Not to mention the lovely MR you guys already pay.
BTW before insulting people, I recommend you try to understand the fundamentals of the topic prior. I sure hope you don't talk in that manner in person to anyone else
Last edited:
CogNeuroSci
Active member
I hear you. But I love it up here, just like Calbears96. If you look at the positive side, since we don't have fireplaces, you can get a real fire right outside your yard up here. My only complaint is they say you have to wait every 5 to 7 years. On a serious note, Woodbury would be an awesome place to live.
BTW, I love the back-and-forth between Calbears96 and sleepy5136. Reminds me of the good ol' (recent) days of eyephone vs morekaos!
CalBears96
Well-known member
I only talk like that to people who don't use logic and just assume things. So are you talking about community or zip code now? 92618 includes the area that got affected by the Oct 2020 fire, right? So seems like you're the one who doesn't understand the fundamentals of the topic.
You keep bring up the "other person" mentioning "better options", but you fail to even elaborate on what those are. Where else in Irvine can I buy a new home? I already mentioned that it is better for him to look elsewhere if he wants peace of mind.
And you just love to mention bringing up non-relevant stuff like MR. Well, guess what, I'm paying LESS MR in Irvine than I did for my Eastvale home.
You keep bring up the "other person" mentioning "better options", but you fail to even elaborate on what those are. Where else in Irvine can I buy a new home? I already mentioned that it is better for him to look elsewhere if he wants peace of mind.
And you just love to mention bringing up non-relevant stuff like MR. Well, guess what, I'm paying LESS MR in Irvine than I did for my Eastvale home.
The Motor Court Company
Well-known member
What’s the fascination of new builds? Personally I would want an older house on a better location and bigger lot, and do a major renovation or tear down and rebuild. The newness will wear off, location and lot size won’t.
sleepy5136
Well-known member
Doesn’t use logic? Bro, how many claims were filed? Don’t be yapping when you don’t even know how insurance premiums work. Makes assumptions? Dude you’re the one assuming your premiums won’t go up much in the future because it’s currently flagged as a fire hazard. Point is, premiums can potentially go up significantly if a fire were to occur whether it’s considered a fire hazard or not today. As a retired person it isn’t ideal. You can disagree all you want but let’s not disregard or play down the facts. If you want to play it down, good for you. I wish you the best.
I don’t need to mention other options, it’s quite obvious…. Pull up your google maps and look at Irvine. What areas aren’t inland?
Anyway no one can win with you. I’ll take the L again on this.
Last edited:
CalBears96
Well-known member
Well, whatever that we buy, my wife just wants it new. She doesn't like second hand anything. And I suppose you can say that the new builds have more modern architecture that she likes.
As for an older house on a better location and bigger lot, it will cost more too. And some of the IP new builds do have good size lots. Only GP homes have tiny lots. On top of the price itself, major renovation will cost at least $200k-$300k and I suspect tear down and rebuild will cost even more. Not to mention, even if you do tear down and build, the neighborhood still looks old.
Different people have different needs. What we look for is a ~3000 sq ft new home with 5000-6000 sq lot. I checked the Cielo homes, particularly the Plan 1 that we want to buy. They range from 4600 to 7000 sq ft lots, with most of them between 5000 to 6000 that we would be satisfied with.
someguy
Active member
That Cielo 1 is pretty sweet. Great kitchen layout with tons of counter space and a nice 2 story great room. When are you going to cough up the dough and buy one CalBears96?
CalBears96
Well-known member
The kitchen is what attracts my wife the most to Cielo 1. Most of the RE Youtubers don't seem to put too much weight in the kitchen. All but one of them said that Plan 2 is so much better than Plan 1, even though it's only slightly bigger. I guess that means fewer potential buyers to compete against for Plan 1.
Anyway, the plan is to down the reservation in 2 years. That way, I can sell my current Bluffs 2 as primary residence for 3 years. That is why I'm hoping that IP would slow down the releases. So I'm hoping the housing market to bottom out end of next year.
CogNeuroSci
Active member
Don't sell any of your properties. Rent it out. Not enough cash? Then wait longer to get the next house.The kitchen is what attracts my wife the most to Cielo 1. Most of the RE Youtubers don't seem to put too much weight in the kitchen. All but one of them said that Plan 2 is so much better than Plan 1, even though it's only slightly bigger. I guess that means fewer potential buyers to compete against for Plan 1.
Anyway, the plan is to down the reservation in 2 years. That way, I can sell my current Bluffs 2 as primary residence for 3 years. That is why I'm hoping that IP would slow down the releases. So I'm hoping the housing market to bottom out end of next year.
CalBears96
Well-known member
We're not cut out to be landlord. I've had a property in Lake Elsinore since 2006 that we started renting out in 2007 when we moved to Eastvale. It's too much hassle, especially dealing with not just tenants, but also HOA.
But more importantly, I would have a pretty large negative cash flow if I rent it out. My PITI is probably around $7500 and I don't think I can get more than $6000 in rent. Definitely not worth keeping as investment property.