Best communities in Orange county

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Mark Irvine_IHB

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We just started looking in the Orange county area and would like to find out from people the most desirable communities in Orange county?



Our price range is $750K-$900K, we dislike small yard, cookie cutter homes and communities, we like the landscape to be scenic and hilly, large yards with view and we prefer newer communities, some cities meet the hilly landscape and larger yards, such as mission viejo, however the community, homes (floor plans) are too old for our taste. We like Coto but heard part of it was built on landfill, then you have the planned Power plant next to Ladera. We are not sure where to look? I looked at Talega yesterday, seems nice, but want to hear what people thought of it and hope there are no potential or existing power plant, landfill or any other hidden health hazards lurking....
 
All newer tracts will be cookie cutter. Older hillside communities in your price range is rare. San Clemente has homes with good size yard and individuality. Some homes are old and some are new. The community has evolved over the last 82 years.



Here is the best neighborhood in OC voted by people's choice of OC Register.



<object width="325" height="250"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/youtube" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="325" height="250"></embed></object>



Bk is very happy today by learning how to post you tube by following Nude's tech support 2.0

Bk is going to pick up Panda and go watch Kung Fu Panda together and daydream about Irvine.
 
If buried utilities are a priority, what you want doesn't exist in your price range.



Out of curousity, the concern living next to a power plant, a landfill, and power lines? The stuff that 'may' hurt you isn't nearly as dangerous as, say, driving without your seatbelt, smoking, or that extra 30 pounds you're dragging around.
 
[quote author="Mark In Irvine" date=1212735871]We just started looking in the Orange county area and would like to find out from people the most desirable communities in Orange county?



Our price range is $750K-$900K, we dislike small yard, cookie cutter homes and communities, we like the landscape to be scenic and hilly, large yards with view and we prefer newer communities, some cities meet the hilly landscape and larger yards, such as mission viejo, however the community, homes (floor plans) are too old for our taste. We like Coto but heard part of it was built on landfill, then you have the planned Power plant next to Ladera. We are not sure where to look? I looked at Talega yesterday, seems nice, but want to hear what people thought of it and hope there are no potential or existing power plant, landfill or any other hidden health hazards lurking....</blockquote>


Right now, I think, given your price range, that would be difficult. But wait a few years, and maybe you can find it. Given that much of OC is post WWII housing, finding something that is not cookie cutter in a neighborhood with strict zoning may be difficult.



With respect to the Ladera power plant, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-powerplant17-2008may17,0,6206511.story">I think you only got half the story</a>. Also, re: your other posts on landfills, I'm not sure where the "landfill in Coto" came from. <a href="http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/SWIS/SiteListing.asp?Page=1&PG=INV&OUT=HTML&ORDER;=&DD=ALL&COUNTY=Orange&NAME;=&FAC;=&OPSTATUS=Closed&REGSTATUS;=&COMM;=&LEA;=&VW=SWISNO">Per the State, there are no landfills around there</a>. The land, however, <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E0DC1038F93BA1575BC0A962948260">used to be owned by Standard Oil / Chevron.</a>
 
What you want is out of your price range. Perhaps if you waited you can get what you want, otherwise you're looking $1mm.
 
I think my question fits this thread. Are there any newer homes that you guys consider non-cookie cutter homes? What makes it a cookie cutter home? Seems to me, the only place around here that doesnt fit the mold is the custom homes in Shady Canyon.



Basically, point me in the direction of ones you consider non tract, non cookie cutter. Then I will understand the definition of what that is a little better.



I was going to recommend Canyon Crest Estates in Mission Viejo, since they are all on a hill and some of those do have big yards. I believe they are falling down to your price range, but not sure if those are considered cookie cutter as well.
 
too lazy to dig it up right now but a few days ago graph posted a pretty nice hillside home in orange (right at the edge of villa park and orange park acres area). 899k



edit: i lied... i dug it up, along with some other orange, anaheim hills, and tustin homes in the same 800-1M range. non-cookie cutter homes, hillside, nice yards. then what you'd get in diff parts of irvine.



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/589/P638589_1.jpg" alt="" />

5532 E Crest De Ville Ave Orange, CA 92867

Price: $899,000

Beds: 3

Baths: 4

Sq. Ft.: 2,645

$/Sq. Ft.: $340

Lot Size: 9,045 Sq. Ft.



ANAHEIM HILLS



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/155/P637155_0.jpg" alt="" />

456 S Old Bucket Ln Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

Price: $845,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 3

Sq. Ft.: 2,727

$/Sq. Ft.: $310

Lot Size: 10,660 Sq. Ft.





<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/646/S505646_7.jpg" alt="" />

1102 Dorsetshire Ln North Tustin, CA 92705

Price: $950,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 3

Sq. Ft.: 2,750

$/Sq. Ft.: $345

Lot Size: 0.32 Acres





WEST IRVINE



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/592/P640592_4.jpg" alt="" />

16 Garden Gate Ln Irvine, CA 92620

Price: $829,900

Beds: 3

Baths: 3

Sq. Ft.: 2,165

$/Sq. Ft.: $383

Lot Size: -



WOODBURY



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/280/S530280_1.jpg" alt="" />

249 Vintage Irvine, CA 92620

Price: $995,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 4

Sq. Ft.: 2,609

$/Sq. Ft.: $381

Lot Size: 4,500 Sq. Ft.



NORTHWOOD POINTE



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/805/S519805_1.jpg" alt="" />

6 WHISPERING Pne Irvine, CA 92620

Price: $999,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 3

Sq. Ft.: 2,804

$/Sq. Ft.: $356

Lot Size: 5,000 Sq. Ft.



TURTLE ROCK



<img src="http://i-0.rfimg.us/photo/46/bigphoto/934/S529934_1.jpg" alt="" />

18772 Saginaw Dr Irvine, CA 92603

Price: $949,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 3

Sq. Ft.: 2,040

$/Sq. Ft.: $465

Lot Size: 5,300 Sq. Ft.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1212813895]too lazy to dig it up right now but a few days ago graph posted a pretty nice hillside home in orange (right at the edge of villa park and orange park acres area). 899k</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.redfin.com/CA/Orange/2224-N-Azalea-Dr-92867/home/4340539">Yup, it is in a gated community called Parkridge</a>. Supposedly it is a short sale with multiple offers, so they must have a pretty big HELOC on that home for a price of $899k and a NTS of $555k. We will see if it closes sometime this year, as short sales are taking forever. Hopefully the loss mit. dept. communicates well, because this would be a nice home to pick up at the auction for $555k on 7/1. I told my buddy to offer $625k and attach a packet of Kool-Aid with the offer, and if they didn't like it he would just buy it at the auction. Like I said, we will see if the short sale goes through, as I have seen many becoming bank owned because the bank didn't accept the offer.



Banks are smart huh?



And I type too slow.
 
Wow! I like the home in Orange, I might drive by the neighborhood this weekend to check it out! I also like Anaheim Hills but it might be too far from work, I work in San Clemente.



As far as cookie cutter homes, track homes from the 80s or early 90s have tracts that all the homes look the same without any character to them. Red tile roofs with big garages and driving down the street all you see are garages, a friend of mine who lives in Irvine, missed her home and drove right into her next door neighbor's garage (the neighbor had their garage opened at the time) because every home looks the same!



I am not sure about Mission Viejo, I know there are plenty hills with bigger homes, homes prices there are falling fast and are in my price range. I have not looked closely but driving down the streets in MV, there isn't much energy in the communities, the city seems old and uncared for..... perhaps I didn't go into the nicer part of the town?



I am in no hurry, can use the time to save up for more down payment, if I were to wait for the prices to come down, how long do I need to wait?
 
[quote author="Mark In Irvine" date=1212893208]I am in no hurry, can use the time to save up for more down payment, if I were to wait for the prices to come down, how long do I need to wait?</blockquote>


I didn't realize you were so new to the blog (as opposed to the forums). Grab yourself an iced tea or beer, sit down, and <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/analysis/">enjoy some reading</a>.
 
Mark-



If you work in San Clemente you should look at place in Talega. It's a great place, especially if you have kids. Others who perhaps have made this commute can comment - i haven't, so I plead ignorance, but I bet the Orange to SC commute is upwards of 40 minutes. Not kosher at $5/gallon gas.
 
oh, if you work in san clemente whats wrong with living there? you just answered your own question about bigger lot, hills, view, and lower prices.
 
San Juan has several neighborhoods of homes that are a little older, have some big lots and are not at all cookie cutter. Pretty good commute from their to San Clemente too. I would say the east side of the 5, either down Ortega or around Marbella CC or San Juan Hills golf course. A few examples:



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/26552-Royale-Dr-92675/home/4910672



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/28331-Via-Anzar-92675/home/4943945



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/28331-Via-Anzar-92675/home/4943945



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/31461-Paseo-Campeon-92675/home/5960472



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/31261-Paseo-Sereno-92675/home/4900063



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/31332-Via-Del-Verde-92675/home/4949578



http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Juan-Capistrano/31972-Avenida-Evita-92675/home/4901769
 
I looked at 5532 E Crest De Ville Ave Orange, CA 92867 this Sat, the house has a bright and great floor plan, except the view is really roof-top view. I think I will check out San Clement.
 
Thanks for the links to the homes in San Juan, they look pretty awesome, I will check them out this weekend.



Homes in OC seem to be still out of synch with what is going on with the economy, many of the homes we have looked at are still way priced too high for what they are worth, I am going to take my time and don't mind waiting for 1-2 years, I believe after this Spring selling season is over, OC home prices will take another big leg down.
 
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