Baker Ranch in Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch

[bones]

.options with good lots
.

 

[socal78]

I went to baker ranch today and rode the bus limos.  Very nice.  I say 70% white, 30% other.

So I guess you move here if you are aZn who English-fied your first and/or last name.

Good question. I'd like to know the answer, too. Well, here's one pic from the G.O. Now we just need somebody to do a quickie racial profile on the dark haired people and tell us where they're from. Calling IHS!!

 

[socal78]

Ilovecheese, welcome to TI.

Maybe there will be better luck on the west side of Alton in future phases, with regard to lot location. The three villages are going on something like 30 acres if I recall correctly (somebody correct me if I'm wrong.) At least the W side is pretty barren.

 

[SocalBiz]

Irvinehomeowner.. these prices are probably 5% less than what you can get over at PP.. a little bit more than IP products as well.  No MRs.. that's also a big chunk over time as well. 

I myself still prefer Irvine.. but outside of the jail .. you can't make a huge argument.. esp based on API scores.  Seems like the kids will still get a quality education over there.

1)  Being in Irvine means more stable home prices and a more desirable market to sell. 

2)  There is a pretty big difference in API scores

2013 API scores:

El Toro High: 839
Serrano Intermediate:  894
Foothill Ranch Elementary:  909

compare with

Northwood (SG/PP): 921
Irvine (CV):  878
Jeffrey Trail:  No Data
Stonegate Elementary:  963
Canyon View (PP):  959

the kids from baker ranch are pretty much all coming from high income families which tend to value education more so wouldnt the next logical conclusion be that the APIs of whatever schools they attend will increase and close the gap with irvine schools to the point where it doesnt really matter?

Corona del mar high has an API of 901 and out of 2000 students, only about 174 are asian. ill be damned, non asians are smart too

Maybe...but as of right now...there is a significant difference in API scores.

Just my opinion: a friend lives in Anaheim, and one of his children graduated from Loara High School with honors.  Not sure what the API for that school is, but my friend's child is now a sophomore at DePaul on a full scholarship.  I believe, Foothill Ranch Elementary, Serrano Middle School, and El Toro High School would be just fine for Baker Ranch residents' children's education.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Irvinehomeowner.. these prices are probably 5% less than what you can get over at PP.. a little bit more than IP products as well.  No MRs.. that's also a big chunk over time as well. 

I myself still prefer Irvine.. but outside of the jail .. you can't make a huge argument.. esp based on API scores.  Seems like the kids will still get a quality education over there.

1)  Being in Irvine means more stable home prices and a more desirable market to sell. 

2)  There is a pretty big difference in API scores

2013 API scores:

El Toro High: 839
Serrano Intermediate:  894
Foothill Ranch Elementary:  909

compare with

Northwood (SG/PP): 921
Irvine (CV):  878
Jeffrey Trail:  No Data
Stonegate Elementary:  963
Canyon View (PP):  959

the kids from baker ranch are pretty much all coming from high income families which tend to value education more so wouldnt the next logical conclusion be that the APIs of whatever schools they attend will increase and close the gap with irvine schools to the point where it doesnt really matter?

Corona del mar high has an API of 901 and out of 2000 students, only about 174 are asian. ill be damned, non asians are smart too

Maybe...but as of right now...there is a significant difference in API scores.

Just my opinion: a friend lives in Anaheim, and one of his children graduated from Loara High School with honors.  Not sure what the API for that school is, but my friend's child is now a sophomore at DePaul on a full scholarship.  I believe, Foothill Ranch Elementary, Serrano Middle School, and El Toro High School would be just fine for Baker Ranch residents' children's education.

Don't disagree...a good student will usually do fine regardless of the school s/he go to.  The discussion, however, is very different when you are talking about school district reputation and housing value.

 

[ilovecheese]

Hi everyone....I'm brand new on this board, but I've been following/stalking this thread for a while now, and figured it's finally time to contribute my 2 cents.

My husband and I have been waiting to see Baker Ranch since summer of last year....we've spent a LONG time considering the pros and cons of living in that area vs Irvine. And when BR opened this weekend we were there on Fri for the VIP event and then went again on Saturday. We looked only at the Toll Bros models (The Heights and The Highlands) and we thought models were lovely and met our needs. So we put on hard hats and went to see the lots, and let me just say, they were a HUGE disappointment. First of all, the highest priced homes (The Highlands) are on the worst location...right across from these factory/warehouses....literally, just yards across. Not only is that a major eyesore, but the compressor at one of these factories was making a very loud buzzing noise and it was extremely irritating. And this was a Saturday! I can only imagine what the weekday noises would be like. We were STUNNED that million dollar homes would be in such an awful location. Once all the homes are built in, views will be very minimal...unless you count the ones that face Alton Pkwy as a "view". The Heights and Highlands models facing Alton are considered the "premium view lots", which means you'll be paying extra to enjoy all that weekday traffic buzz from Alton.
The remaining lots of Heights and Highlands were all just as crappy as the new homes in Irvine. The sqft numbers look appealing at first (5500, 6200), but then when you get to the lot and see where the home is placed, it's terrible. The CA room cuts into most of it. And then many have a big slope behind them which is included in the sqft of the lot. Ridiculous.

Overall, BR was a huge letdown. Like I said, models are gorgeous, community amenities are fantastic, but lots are ATROCIOUS. Just the same that you'd get in Irvine, minus MR.

Welcome to TI!  Another woman!  We will soon take over this site! 

And thanks for your feedback on the Toll Brothers product.  Have you checked out Pavilion Park?  In the square footage you are looking at, there's some options with good lots

My other thing about Baker Ranch is that it's basically setting the market for $1M+ homes in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch right?  I looked up how many homes sold for over $900k in Lake Forest/FR in the past year and there aren't that many.  Most of the ones that sold in that price range were on the lake.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm proud to be a hardcore lady real estate hunter

To answer your question yes, we did look at PP, and the lots were a bit better, but it was still priced a bit higher than BR, and with the added MR, it put it out of our budget. We were looking at the Sagewood at Rosemist models there. The Sagewood lot we wanted backed a noisy road, so that was ruled out. And a 3200sq ft Rosemist which was IDEAL for us, started at 1.2 mil, vs BR Highlands starting in low 1 mil's. Also, we thought that just the one park and one pool for PP was not good. Additionally, I'm concerned about the chemical waste in the land there. I know that's a debatable topic, but it's a chance we weren't willing to take. When we looked at Lambert Ranch, we ruled that out immediately due to the massive, active landfill. It's funny, we were at the opening event for LR, and we asked the sales rep about the landfill, and her response was "you'll only be able to catch a slight whiff of it in the summer on a windy day". Lol. My husband and I hightailed it outta there. Gorgeous homes though.

 

[bones]

.

 

[qwerty]

Additionally, I'm concerned about the chemical waste in the land there. I know that's a debatable topic, but it's a chance we weren't willing to take.

these are fighting words to bones! let the games begin!!

 

[qwerty]

Irvinehomeowner.. these prices are probably 5% less than what you can get over at PP.. a little bit more than IP products as well.  No MRs.. that's also a big chunk over time as well. 

I myself still prefer Irvine.. but outside of the jail .. you can't make a huge argument.. esp based on API scores.  Seems like the kids will still get a quality education over there.

1)  Being in Irvine means more stable home prices and a more desirable market to sell. 

2)  There is a pretty big difference in API scores

2013 API scores:

El Toro High: 839
Serrano Intermediate:  894
Foothill Ranch Elementary:  909

compare with

Northwood (SG/PP): 921
Irvine (CV):  878
Jeffrey Trail:  No Data
Stonegate Elementary:  963
Canyon View (PP):  959

the kids from baker ranch are pretty much all coming from high income families which tend to value education more so wouldnt the next logical conclusion be that the APIs of whatever schools they attend will increase and close the gap with irvine schools to the point where it doesnt really matter?

Corona del mar high has an API of 901 and out of 2000 students, only about 174 are asian. ill be damned, non asians are smart too

CDM high school is prob not the best example to use:http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79161245/

hey look at that - the person showing them white kids to cheat was asian and he is from irvine. irvine is full of cheaters and craigslist scammers.

 

[Coleman]

[quote author=SocalBiz]

Just my opinion: a friend lives in Anaheim, and one of his children graduated from Loara High School with honors.  Not sure what the API for that school is, but my friend's child is now a sophomore at DePaul on a full scholarship.  I believe, Foothill Ranch Elementary, Serrano Middle School, and El Toro High School would be just fine for Baker Ranch residents' children's education.

Wait. DePaul as in the school in chicago that's not ranked in the top 100?  Which side of the argument is this supposed to prove?
[/quote]

Whoa, so feisty!  >

Thanks for the feedback on BR!  I also love cheese as long as it's not from a goat!

As Bones mentioned, Foothill Ranch is very limited on the high end in terms of large homes.  I believe there is one neighborhood with homes over 3,000sq. ft.  (Roxford Crest)    From what I have observed, these homes are limited in numbers so they won't come on the market often.  There is a nice one on a flag lot that would have been nice to buy in 2011! haha  But the Alton side of the hill seems far less fancy in terms of cars being driven up the hill.
I see the cars that drive up Alton and the ones that drive up Bake and the winner of the nicest cars goes to the Bake side!

I probably said it before, one house has a Porsche Carrera and a GT3 in the garage! 

 

[socal78]

Why does only one of the Heights models have extra garage space? Highlands are all 2-car garages... for over $1mil? Boo.

Remember earlier in this thread, I posted documents about plans to build 3CWG's, down to the detail. And the agent here that I talked to claims over $1.5M... he actually said closer to $2M. Also, since the Grand Opening over the weekend, it's been reported by other agents that after Phase I, prices WILL increase. So, I think we see where they're going with this.

For those prices, it would be better to live in Irvine, or buy something cheaper with a 3CWG in Foothill Ranch.

The second one is assuming FR home values stay put.  Residents I've talked to, expect BR to buoy their home values. Remember, we're talking the same city now. That isn't to say I'm one of those people. I don't necessarily agree with them. No matter what city it is, I've always viewed new constructions as a threat to resale values, not a helper. But if the lots are as bad as Ilovecheese claims, then I can see why buyers would willingly pay the same or more for better up the hill. Heck, I was one of those buyers, so I see their point and understand why they will hold out. Afterall, BR is not going to release Phase II until Phase I is sold.... So on and so forth. We'll see how it goes the next couple years!

 

[socal78]

hey look at that - the person showing them white kids to cheat was asian and he is from irvine. irvine is full of cheaters and craigslist scammers.

Hey, is this guy still on the run? Last I read, he was evading police who were trying to question him about masterminding this whole thing, hacking into the school's computers, changing grades... I mean, uh, "private tutoring"- he's facing criminal charges, possibly a felony, I read.

As of February 4, he has still not been located. They've been looking for Timothy Lai since December. Like you said, he's from Irvine.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I think I played basketball with that guy.

 

[qwerty]

hey look at that - the person showing them white kids to cheat was asian and he is from irvine. irvine is full of cheaters and craigslist scammers.

Hey, is this guy still on the run? Last I read, he was evading police who were trying to question him about masterminding this whole thing, hacking into the school's computers, changing grades... I mean, uh, "private tutoring"- he's facing criminal charges, possibly a felony, I read.

As of February 4, he has still not been located. They've been looking for Timothy Lai since December. Like you said, he's from Irvine.

is that the kind of haircut TD was referring to on asians?

 

[qwerty]

hey look at that - the person showing them white kids to cheat was asian and he is from irvine. irvine is full of cheaters and craigslist scammers.

Hey, is this guy still on the run? Last I read, he was evading police who were trying to question him about masterminding this whole thing, hacking into the school's computers, changing grades... I mean, uh, "private tutoring"- he's facing criminal charges, possibly a felony, I read.

As of February 4, he has still not been located. They've been looking for Timothy Lai since December. Like you said, he's from Irvine.

irvine is the perfect hiding place for that guy.  from what im told all asians look alike and the white cops will have a hard time identifying him

 

[socal78]

irvine is the perfect hiding place for that guy.  from what im told all asians look alike and the white cops will have a hard time identifying him

Man. You are batting a thousand today! 

 

[qwerty]

irvine is the perfect hiding place for that guy.  from what im told all asians look alike and the white cops will have a hard time identifying him

Man. You are batting a thousand today! 

i kid because i care.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Man. You are batting a thousand today! 

That's what she said?

 

[NASCAR24]

That's what she said?

Exactly

 

[bones]

[quote .