Baker Ranch in Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch

[Burn That Belly]

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[someguy]

I agree with everything you said up there, in fact I can fully attest to the FCB situation that is rather ubiquitous now in new construction Irvine homes because they are all my neighbors.

Ha.  It's like we live in the same neighborhood...

1) The first FCB buyer is a family. They bought a home here but for the most part the home will sit empty 80-90% of the year. They are mostly adults and no kids. This is just a vacation home to them. No way they will qualify for a loan. The home was outright paid in cash for sure. Lights are never on at the home any more. There are several of these, just drive around and you'll see what I mean.

Yep, seen it.  Kinda indifferent towards this.  As long as they're paying their HOA dues, property taxes, and keeping up their house, sweet, world's best neighbor

2) The second FCB buyer is also a family but they have a son. The parents first moved in with the son (or so I thought) but later I found out the parents returned to China, leaving the son here. The son is an average mid-20s guy working an average job in a sub-$1m home. Most likely paid for by mom and dad.

I'm glad he's working at least.  I'd say it's somewhat common for parents to help their kids buy a house when possible.  As long as son isn't driving a $250k exotic car reclessly, keep at it son, work your way up, make your parents proud for giving you a head start in the US.

3) The third FCB buyer is yet again a family. But this time, I had a nice chat with the mother and her three young daughters. She was very reluctant to open her door because it turns out that she lives by herself with the 3 girls. The husband is always away in Shanghai and works there. The reason I knocked on her door was because I found out she had landscaping work done and I wanted to take a look.

I've seen this too.  Dude...  are we neighbors...  anyway, less of a fan of this because public schools cost a lot of tax money to operate and this person is probably paying their first US tax ever when they send off that first property tax payment.  Those property taxes are just a drop in the bucket compared to what it costs to educate the kids.  And in the event they take their education to another country...  well...  Not exactly a great "ROI" for the long time income/sales/property/payroll etc tax paying citizens who subsidized their education. 

On a separate note, it seems like a lonely arrangement for the mom and funny feeling dad is having his itches scratched back in the mainland.  But none of my business.  Props to mom for doing her best to raise her three daughters in a foreign country.

4) The 4th FCB buyer, probably isn't really a FCB buyer but we'll call it a FCB buyer anyways because she's Asian and quite rich. This house also sat empty until I saw a Mercedes pull up. I asked her, do you live here? She told me she lives in another part of Irvine and this is just a rental home and that she's going to rent it out. Sure enough, a week later the tenants moved in.

Meh, could be worse I guess, though I've found owner occupied neighbors generally seem more interested in adding value (in the monetary and non-monetary sense)  to the neighborhood than renters.

Personally, I don't mind living next to these folks. Why? Because they are quiet, keep to themselves, their financial balance sheet is probably quite strong since the homes are outright paid for in cash, and they're not likely to foreclose bringing down my property values.

I'm with you on that to the extent they are staying safe on the roads, showing regard for local customs, and staying current on their bills.

But yes, if you're one of those people that love to invite your neighbors Bob and Martha over for dinner frequently and have small talk, this isn't the place, in fact it probably isn't the place for any of the new construction homes in Irvine.

Meh, I don't really care about Bob and Martha or small talk.  I mostly just prefer to share the road with experienced safe drivers, live near people my family and I can communicate with when needed, and see our local customs well regarded.  By no means does being Bob and Martha guarantee any of these things, but on average, I think Bob and Martha will check those boxes more often than a random sample of Irvine FCBs.

The new Irvine construction community homes have become quite sterile. The focus now has been about money, appreciation, and giving children (if any) a chance at good schools, learning english, and getting citizenship so DHS/ICE doesn't kick them out. Everything else doesn't matter.

Yep, I've seen the same.  Honestly I am all for making a better life for oneself.  It's a tough pill to swallow (for me) when it's in the form of the rapid changes Irvine has gone through in the last 5 or so years.

my .02cent

Ditto.  I appreciate your insights.

 

[inv0ke-epipen]

Put a deposit on plan 1ALT at the Rowe, and pretty sure met @eddieuclabruin at the release 

Although it is a great floorplan, and just across the way from my office, I am starting to get cold feet.

Nervous about location and getting serious FOMO (fear of missing out) on a great resale popping up in Irvine. Also my girlfriend works at Irvine Company, so it would be a cruddy commute for her in the morning with traffic.

Budget is 650-700 depending on Mello Roos and hoa. Two bedroom is great, but wanting a garage for EV charging.

Should I go for the new Buick or wait for the CPO 3 series? Anyone else had similar thoughts and ended pulling the trigger anyway on Baker Ranch?

As an aside, the release process was interesting.... The shea folks taped printouts of the houses up on a wall, and called people up  in order of pre-qual to grab them, with everyone clapping as the person called chose a house. Why are you clapping for someone stealing the unit you might want? Felt like a jerk potentially grabbing someones unit!

 

[eyephone]

Just think when you sell.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

There are pros to having non-renting FCBs as neighbors... more privacy because they are overseas most of the time and more parking on the street.

Our old home was bought by an FCB, but I think they rent it out because our previous neighbors tell us (ie complain) about it... oops.

 

[usctrojancpa]

Put a deposit on plan 1ALT at the Rowe, and pretty sure met @eddieuclabruin at the release 

Although it is a great floorplan, and just across the way from my office, I am starting to get cold feet.

Nervous about location and getting serious FOMO (fear of missing out) on a great resale popping up in Irvine. Also my girlfriend works at Irvine Company, so it would be a cruddy commute for her in the morning with traffic.

Budget is 650-700 depending on Mello Roos and hoa. Two bedroom is great, but wanting a garage for EV charging.

Should I go for the new Buick or wait for the CPO 3 series? Anyone else had similar thoughts and ended pulling the trigger anyway on Baker Ranch?

As an aside, the release process was interesting.... The shea folks taped printouts of the houses up on a wall, and called people up  in order of pre-qual to grab them, with everyone clapping as the person called chose a house. Why are you clapping for someone stealing the unit you might want? Felt like a jerk potentially grabbing someones unit!

For that budget, you should be able to afford a 3-bed attached condo and some of the ones that I'm thinking about have yards with low MR and low HOA.  I always tell my clients to go with their gutt feeling, if your gutt is having second thoughts then maybe you should cancel.  Here are some of the condos that I'm talking about...
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Irvine/97-Ardmore-92602/home/5844526
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Irvine/55-Darlington-92620/home/5494244

 

[Burn That Belly]

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[Burn That Belly]

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[eyephone]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

 

[Burn That Belly]

x

 

[eyephone]

Being next to Alton and the jail. (Not ideal)

 

[eddieuclabruin]

Put a deposit on plan 1ALT at the Rowe, and pretty sure met @eddieuclabruin at the release 

Although it is a great floorplan, and just across the way from my office, I am starting to get cold feet.

Nervous about location and getting serious FOMO (fear of missing out) on a great resale popping up in Irvine. Also my girlfriend works at Irvine Company, so it would be a cruddy commute for her in the morning with traffic.

Budget is 650-700 depending on Mello Roos and hoa. Two bedroom is great, but wanting a garage for EV charging.

Should I go for the new Buick or wait for the CPO 3 series? Anyone else had similar thoughts and ended pulling the trigger anyway on Baker Ranch?

As an aside, the release process was interesting.... The shea folks taped printouts of the houses up on a wall, and called people up  in order of pre-qual to grab them, with everyone clapping as the person called chose a house. Why are you clapping for someone stealing the unit you might want? Felt like a jerk potentially grabbing someones unit!

That is hilarious - yes that was me and my wife that you met!

For what it's worth it, we decided to cancel our reservation as well. There were varying factors that just made it not feel like the right fit: The nearby jail, the fact that baker ranch was built on top of the old ordnance explosive disposal range, and the fact that the foothill ranch shopping center did not appeal to us whatsoever.

Our search continues. Good luck to you both!

 

[inv0ke-epipen]

That is hilarious - yes that was me and my wife that you met!

For what it's worth it, we decided to cancel our reservation as well. There were varying factors that just made it not feel like the right fit: The nearby jail, the fact that baker ranch was built on top of the old ordnance explosive disposal range, and the fact that the foothill ranch shopping center did not appeal to us whatsoever.

Our search continues. Good luck to you both!

Ahh, well with no more cool neighbors, another reason for us to cancel  ;D. Good luck to you too!

Thanks everyone for the advice. Just put an offer down on an 2bd Irvine condo. Fingers crossed!

 

[eddieuclabruin]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

 

[inv0ke-epipen]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

For what it's worth, we had a deposit down on Brisa and cancelled because of landfill...

Talked to my friend who works for OC Public Health and said the Bowerman landfill is pretty low risk, and there would only be a public health impact if there were leaks or other problems. Normal operations shouldn't be harmful. 

Despite this, the new home resale was too much of a question mark. The first google results for landfill were things like "living within 2 miles of landfill equivalent to smoking while pregnant".

EDIT: Also FYI, when we returned our deposit a week later, no other units had been sold.

 

[Burn That Belly]

x

 

[usctrojancpa]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

For what it's worth, we had a deposit down on Brisa and cancelled because of landfill...

Talked to my friend who works for OC Public Health and said the Bowerman landfill is pretty low risk, and there would only be a public health impact if there were leaks or other problems. Normal operations shouldn't be harmful. 

Despite this, the new home resale was too much of a question mark. The first google results for landfill were things like "living within 2 miles of landfill equivalent to smoking while pregnant".

EDIT: Also FYI, when we returned our deposit a week later, no other units had been sold.

If you guys are concerned about issues like this, imagine 5-10 years down the line, the same people that is going to buy the home from you. They're going to have the same reservations and doubts as you do today. That landfill isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Always bet on the BMW.

So what's Tustin Ranch then BTB?  A Ford?

 

[OCLuvr]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

Talked to my friend who works for OC Public Health and said the Bowerman landfill is pretty low risk, and there would only be a public health impact if there were leaks or other problems. Normal operations shouldn't be harmful. 

Despite this, the new home resale was too much of a question mark. The first google results for landfill were things like "living within 2 miles of landfill equivalent to smoking while pregnant".

2 miles should rule out PS/EW/SG/SGE as well

 

[eyephone]

Get PS over BR.

(you will thank me a couple years when you get another house)

Realistically how concerned should we be about the landfill near PS?

It comes down to this. They both don?t have walking distance retail. But PS has a close elementary school and HS.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

The first google results for landfill were things like "living within 2 miles of landfill equivalent to smoking while pregnant".

Was that quote from someone named YellowFever?