Columbus Grove: why live there

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1221809440][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1221808246]Man... back when I was a kid, we had to worry about what color clothes we wore.... now you have to be from the right school district?



Orange County is so harsh, yo!</blockquote>


Word, don't be wearin' a red shirt when yous walkin' through a Crip hood.</blockquote>


Watch it........



<img src="http://www.knowgangs.com/gang_resources/411/gangster_rap/photo/IceCube.jpg" alt="" />



Rollin' 60's represent!



(obviously, I'm kidding)
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1221809440][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1221808246]Man... back when I was a kid, we had to worry about what color clothes we wore.... now you have to be from the right school district?



Orange County is so harsh, yo!</blockquote>


Word, don't be wearin' a red shirt when yous walkin' through a Crip hood.</blockquote>


Hahaha, you only have a Yamaha upright I have a Steinway baby grand.
 
I liked some of the homes in this community, however, I have read some negative reviews on their association management company (I believe they are Merit property Management). Anyone else know of any pros/cons on them?
 
[quote author="kayochan" date=1222133445]I liked some of the homes in this community, however, I have read some negative reviews on their association management company (I believe they are Merit property Management). Anyone else know of any pros/cons on them?</blockquote>


About a month ago we received a notice from them that effective Oct. 1st, they will be strictly enforcing the "no parking on the street" covenant.



All homeowners will have to park in their driveways/garages or risk getting fined/towed. Visitors will have to have to be placed on the white list.



It should be interesting because there are numerous homeowners that currently park their cars on the street.
 
<a href="http://www.tustinca.org/documents/Off-StreetParkingWorkshop09-15-2008.pdf">http://www.tustinca.org/documents/Off-StreetParkingWorkshop09-15-2008.pdf</a>
 
I live in Columbus Grove. My wife and I purchased a Madison home. We are very happy to live here. It's so close to everything. We walk to lots of stuff. Here is our list of requirements when we were looking for a home.



1) SF home

2) Driveway

3) Reasonable backyard. At least 5000 sq ft.

4) Home size of 2200 sq ft to 3000 sq ft.

5) $850k or less

6) Irvine school district



We looked for old and new homes. We saw Portola Spring, Woodbury, North Park and Columbus Grove. Once we saw Madison, we knew this is the home for us.



I did lots of research and did lots of comparisons. There were a few contenders to Madison but they didn't fullfill out requirements. Los Arboles in PS. Nice layout but they are consider detached condos because the garage was attached to the neighbors. The associations was so expensive. Plus, the yard size was smaller, and the largest plan was around 2100 sq ft. Plus, PS was way too far from the freeway.



We also liked Stone Manor in WB. For a similar price to Madison in CG, you get 2200 sq ft. Not much of a yard at all, I think it's a courtyard house. I think you get a driveway, I might be wrong. The homes were very close to each other.



Madison smallest plan was 2600 sq ft, and most of the lots are at least 5000 sq ft, and some goes up as big as 13000 sq ft. The one we got was 7000 sq ft. Plenty of space for a decent backyard.



I know all about the stigmas since I did lots of reading on IHB at the time. Powerlines on Harvard, noise from Jamboree, concrete factory on baranca, and train noises. So I figure, if I'm gonna buy in this community, need to minimize as much stigmas as I can. So I went to the different lots and see which one would work for us. We picked a lot that is between Harvard and Jamboree. I couldn't hear the Jamboree noise and I am far away from the powerline. I rarely hears the train and airplane noises. Maybe I got used to it.



Even though the address is in Tustin, the school district is Irvine. Isn't that why people buy in Irvine, to go to the school ? Otherwise, we are just across the street from West Park.



As for the fruit trees, I read the disclosures. Irvine used to be an orange orchard. They used to spray some type of pesticides that they now find out it could be harmful. So I don't think it's only CG that will have this problem, from what I read, lots of Irvine would have this problem. Plus, this stuff probably got into the water system. Either way, disclosures are there to protect the builder but to be on the safe side, better not eat fruits you grow.



Someone mentioned that CG have only 2 community centers while WB have tons of them. Well, WB is a much bigger community with tons of homes, they better have more community centers otherwise, you will never be able to use the pool.



One thing interesting about WB, most of the homes are very close to each other because you don't have much of a lot. When you don't have lots, you don't have much of a yard, hence you're much closer to your neighbors. Plus, since most people don't have a yard, the community have to build parks.



You get what you pay for. If you don't want to see powerlines, cement factory, hear Jamboree, etc, you pay for it. The more you pay, the more you get. As for rate of appreciation, it's hard to tell the future. The size of the house and the size of the lot your house is on will not grow over time, but the stigmas in the community can come or go.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1221627925]So that's what all those gigantic ramps they are grading over near the District are... the pedestrian bridges.



I wonder when they're gonna demo the other hangar... that's going to be a big dust cloud that people won't be too happy about.



Drainage ditch or not... I like that whole linear park idea... even if it is as a disguise.</blockquote>


Here is the master plan.



<img src="http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8356/legacyparkmasterplantv4.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="slamdunk73" date=1222263706]I live in Columbus Grove. My wife and I purchased a Madison home. We are very happy to live here. It's so close to everything. We walk to lots of stuff. Here is our list of requirements when we were looking for a home.



1) SF home

2) Driveway

3) Reasonable backyard. At least 5000 sq ft.

4) Home size of 2200 sq ft to 3000 sq ft.

5) $850k or less

6) Irvine school district



</blockquote>


I have many of these same requirements slam, but I don't just consider price. You pay $6-7K in mello roos right? Assuming you cheat on your taxes and deduct them just like everyone else, that means your $850K house would be equivalent to $925-950K in most developments built 2001 and prior right now. It's not just price, it's total expense, including association, property taxes, etc. when comparing properties.



What if the FTB or IRS starts cracking down the deductibility of MRs? If you lose that, your $850K is mostly equivalent to $1M price in a pre-2002 development, at least for the next couple of decades...



I think your road noise issues will get much worse later when Moffett opens up through to the Columbus Square side. We were considering a plan 3 backing to Moffett but opted not to go forward as we didn't want to have to deal with cars going through to the District once that road went across the channel.
 
[quote author="asianinvasian" date=1223168511][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1221627925]So that's what all those gigantic ramps they are grading over near the District are... the pedestrian bridges.



I wonder when they're gonna demo the other hangar... that's going to be a big dust cloud that people won't be too happy about.



Drainage ditch or not... I like that whole linear park idea... even if it is as a disguise.</blockquote>


Here is the master plan.



<img src="http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8356/legacyparkmasterplantv4.jpg" alt="" /></blockquote>


Try again.



<img src="http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pfh4JFSeiqmNB8jsBWPeUTw-fXHCPWUpENBChO7cp38PO-bHHTG-yzB5Z1zVZo98oTkHszXLAqIA" alt="" />
 
I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.
 
[quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.
 
[quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>
Students can get into Harvard and Stanford from any schools. Last year, the valedictorian at Uni with 4.0 uw GPA and 2400 SAT got rejected from Stanford.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1223179424][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.</blockquote>


What crack pipe are you smoking, they just built a BRAND NEW elementary school and a BRAND NEW park right ADJACENT to CG.
 
[quote author="asianinvasian" date=1223195049][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1223179424][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.</blockquote>


What crack pipe are you smoking, they just built a BRAND NEW elementary school and a BRAND NEW park right ADJACENT to CG.</blockquote>


Probably the same pipe No_Vas uses.
 
[quote author="asianinvasian" date=1223195049][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1223179424][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.</blockquote>


What crack pipe are you smoking, they just built a BRAND NEW elementary school and a BRAND NEW park right ADJACENT to CG.</blockquote>
Uh... I didn't say park.



And name the "BRAND NEW elementary school".



The one on Barranca and Harvard is not a regular school that's part of the IUSD Elementary program. Columbus Grove residents have to use Stonecreek Elementary... in Woodbridge... not Plaza Vista which is just next door in Westpark.
 
oh well, new homes have mello roos. that's just the way things are. i wished i could have bought a home in the 90's but i didn't. mello roos is expensive. so compare the homes wisely.
 
[quote author="asianinvasian" date=1223195049][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1223179424][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.</blockquote>


What crack pipe are you smoking, they just built a BRAND NEW elementary school and a BRAND NEW park right ADJACENT to CG.</blockquote>


Again, amazing they gave you a credential... The school next to CG houses special programs. For one, they currently have a vocationally-oriented program for older special needs children. It's not an elementary school and never will be.



This information is so easy to obtain, it's sad that you are either too lazy or too stupid to look it up before you post.



Here's the 2011 projected school attendance map, notice CG kids go to STONE CREEK in Woodbridge:



<img src="http://www.ipoplaya.com/cgschools.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223335749][quote author="asianinvasian" date=1223195049][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1223179424][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223178661][quote author="hs_teacher" date=1223172381]I agree that you should convert Mello Roos into a present value. Be it 50K or 100K. After that, compare the two homes. However, MR's tend to have better streets, newer homes, and better constructed schools - because you are paying for them. I have an uncle who bought a home in Orange rather than Irvine because he fears the prop tax and MR's in Irvine. Yet he thinks attending El Modena High will get his kids to Harvard. To him schools are a priority, but he doesn't recognize that the extra he would be paying in Irvine is what brings forth such good schools. Academically, Irvine schools are far ahead of Orange schools. Even just physically, you can see the drastic differences in the buildings and classrooms. I think Irvine is a nice place to live. But you really pay for every bit of it.</blockquote>


You know, there are kids that attend the very same schools that the Columbus Grovers do, and their parents don't pay ANY mello roos at all.</blockquote>
That's what got me. The MRs in CG are so high but they are not building new elementary or middle schools. And the schools that they are sending them to are not only older but farther away than the ones the neighboring Irvine houses are using.</blockquote>


What crack pipe are you smoking, they just built a BRAND NEW elementary school and a BRAND NEW park right ADJACENT to CG.</blockquote>


Again, amazing they gave you a credential... The school next to CG houses special programs. For one, they currently have a vocationally-oriented program for older special needs children. It's not an elementary school and never will be.



This information is so easy to obtain, it's sad that you are either too lazy or too stupid to look it up before you post.



Here's the 2011 projected school attendance map, notice CG kids go to STONE CREEK in Woodbridge:



<img src="http://www.ipoplaya.com/cgschools.jpg" alt="" /></blockquote>


Ipop, I'm not sure who you are directing your comments to, but you really need some basic reading skills. I only said that MR's pay for new streets, sewers, parks, and schools. I never mentioned anything about CG kids going to any specific school - whether old or new.



On the other hand, Asianinvasion stated that they have built a new school by CG. Which I can agree with because that is also what I've heard. As a matter of fact, there are plans to build a new elementary school in Columbus Square as well.



I see MR's as property tax. Are the amenities worth the extra fees - maybe yes, maybe no.
 
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