Foothill Ranch

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SoCal78_IHB

SoCal78_IHB

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After thinking we had been set on Irvine, we've been looking at houses lately in Foothill Ranch. I can not believe what breath-taking views many of the homes have... and without the costly Irvine premium. The schools there (Foothill Ranch Elementary, RSM Intermediary School and Trabuco Hills High) seem very good. The only thing I don't like are the industrial complexes you have to pass to get to the homes... unless you take the toll road. There is a lot of convenient shopping there at Foothill Ranch Towne Center and there is even a library so no need to venture far into Lake Forest. I have a friend that lives in neighboring Portola Hills and says he loves the place. The kids play with the neighbor kids on the cul-de-sac until past dark. I am impressed with the lot sizes. They are still small, of course. But compared to Irvine where your neighbor is breathing down your neck... it is nice. Did I mention the views?!?



Has anyone here lived in F.R.? If so, what do you think of it? I would like to know more from someone's first-hand experience.
 
What don't you like about the industrial buildings on the way?



They are mostly warehousing and knowlege based businesses. It is too expensive to do manufacturing in South OC. Frankly, I like it because there is an independent job base. I used to live in Chino Hills and there was no job base there. It is a lovely neighborhood (Chino Hills) but nobody works there and you miss a lot of the neighborhood-esque interaction I think you find when have a job base close to the neighborhood.
 
I think Portola Hills is a wonderful neighborhood and the elementary school is tops. One disadvantage is that the intermediate school is RSM which is miles away.
 
I have friends who love it there. According to them it is a bit more diverse than Irvine, and only one neighbor keeps doesn't interact with them and the rest of the neighborhood, whereas in Irvine more people kept to themselves. They are really happy about the schools too.



I like their neighborhood, but it bugs me that every third house is exactly the same. I am pretty sure there was a thread about Foothill Ranch before, where I talked about the sameness and the spotty quality in the homes. A lot of the area was built in the 90s by builders that went bk and the builders that took over them. I know Lennar (crap), and I think KB (the crappiest of crap) built a lot of the homes out there. I also know William Lyon built some of the tracts, and while they are not one of BK's top builders, IMO they are not nearly as bad as the other two I mentioned. If you think about buying there, I would make sure you get a very high quality inspector to inspect the home. I would also make sure to check who the builder was, and the chain of title to see if was built by a builder that took over another builder. In that thread BK picks on the design, or lack there of design of the homes. It definitely isn't unique in the design department, but there are other factors that make up for that.



Have you spent much time out there? Like the grocery store, where I thought everyone was very friendly, and the demographic seemed to be similar to mine and yours. Not sure where your husband works, but if it is in Irvine the commute can be a little longer than expected. My friend worked near the marketplace and he said the commute wasn't bad at all. But, when I worked by the airport and I had an early morning appt. with him, he was a half hour late because he didn't factor in that much traffic.
 
Thanks guys, for the input.



No Vas: That's true, I haven't exactly seen smoke-stacks over there. I guess what I meant is, it's not as welcoming entering the community as you would find in most parts of Irvine.



awgee: Yeah, I agree that's one of the drawbacks. I checked the distance on mapquest - looks like the junior high in RSM is about 11 min / 6.5 miles away. Thankfully the elementary school in FR goes up to grade 6 so junior high would only be 2 years instead of 3 driving over there.



Graph: My husband works where the 261 & 5 meet. We currently live in Portola Springs. His drive now takes 12 minutes. Our friend who lives on the other side of FR, in Portola Hills, and works with him, says his drive is 20 minutes (this guy also bikes to work a couple times a week.) Anything shorter than his commute of the last 5 years (when we lived in Chino) would feel like a blessing by comparison, I think. I will take your advice about checking the homebuilder and I will do more searching for that FR thread (did a search but didn't have too much luck - will try again.) Thank you!!
 
[quote author="WALLOFIRON" date=1229250615]too much fire danger imo</blockquote>


No way. It (the fuel) all burned out. It won't be an issue for another 40 years, maybe longer.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1229270867][quote author="WALLOFIRON" date=1229250615]too much fire danger imo</blockquote>


No way. It (the fuel) all burned out. It won't be an issue for another 40 years, maybe longer.</blockquote>


I have lived in Portola since the late '80s and the fire danger is very high around here and Foothill. Fires have come very close 3 different times so that would put a major fire in the area once every 7 years.



I agree with the person who posted about the questionable quality of homes in this area. My place was built by Baldwin and the construction is very shoddy. However, if you can out up with that the neighborhoods since most have views, neighbors are friendly, and many services are close by.
 
In the summer it gets a bit hotter then the south side of Irvine. My office is in foothill ranch. I think its a fairly nice neighborhood, but a bit out of the way for me, as I spend a lot of time in south Irvine/Newport and love quick acesss to the 405.
 
I decided to spend some time in Foothill Ranch this weekend to check it out so more. Did that yesterday. It's o.k. No shortage of shopping so that's always nice.



BUT...



Today we went to Tustin Ranch... far north up Jamboree... up there near Peters Canyon. OMG! Beautiful!!



I looked up info on the Peters Canyon Elementary and Pioneer Middle School. They sound awesome. We drove by and the campuses are beautiful. We went to a couple open-houses. I really like what I see. There doesn't seem to be a better value in terms of price per square foot compared to Irvine... but there is in terms of lot sizes. We stopped at some of the parks there. Very kid-friendly with newer play equipment, water splash pads, volleyball, etc. The hills and hiking trails are gorgeous. I think Tustin Ranch may very well have moved to my #1 favorite spot.
 
[quote author="trabucodom" date=1229307828]



I have lived in Portola since the late '80s and the fire danger is very high around here and Foothill. Fires have come very close 3 different times so that would put a major fire in the area once every 7 years. </blockquote>


Was it the same place every time?



How many times did it burn in the preceeding 20 years?
 
[quote author="trabucodom" date=1229307828][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1229270867][quote author="WALLOFIRON" date=1229250615]too much fire danger imo</blockquote>


No way. It (the fuel) all burned out. It won't be an issue for another 40 years, maybe longer.</blockquote>


I have lived in Portola since the late '80s and the fire danger is very high around here and Foothill. Fires have come very close 3 different times so that would put a major fire in the area once every 7 years.



I agree with the person who posted about the questionable quality of homes in this area. My place was built by Baldwin and the construction is very shoddy. However, if you can out up with that the neighborhoods since most have views, neighbors are friendly, and many services are close by.</blockquote>


I've heard a lot really negative things about Baldwin... things such as him stiffing contractors, so it wouldn't be a big surprise to hear that he cuts corners on the houses.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1229329099][quote author="trabucodom" date=1229307828]



I have lived in Portola since the late '80s and the fire danger is very high around here and Foothill. Fires have come very close 3 different times so that would put a major fire in the area once every 7 years. </blockquote>


Was it the same place every time?



How many times did it burn in the preceeding 20 years?</blockquote>


You are too funny... I can see that you want to be right even if you must find an irrational technicality. Am I right? You cannot agree that if you need to be under evacuation 3 times in 21 years, that there is a frequent fire danger? Even if a different area burns every few years, it is the santa ana winds that blow the embers everywhere that make it a very dangerous area. I cannot be sure if the exact same blades of grass burned every time, but I can tell you it rained burning embers every time, so if that makes you right then you are right, whatever you are right about, I am not sure:)
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1229220087]After thinking we had been set on Irvine, we've been looking at houses lately in Foothill Ranch. I can not believe what breath-taking views many of the homes have... and without the costly Irvine premium. The schools there (Foothill Ranch Elementary, RSM Intermediary School and Trabuco Hills High) seem very good. The only thing I don't like are the industrial complexes you have to pass to get to the homes... unless you take the toll road. There is a lot of convenient shopping there at Foothill Ranch Towne Center and there is even a library so no need to venture far into Lake Forest. I have a friend that lives in neighboring Portola Hills and says he loves the place. The kids play with the neighbor kids on the cul-de-sac until past dark. I am impressed with the lot sizes. They are still small, of course. But compared to Irvine where your neighbor is breathing down your neck... it is nice. Did I mention the views?!?



Has anyone here lived in F.R.? If so, what do you think of it? I would like to know more from someone's first-hand experience.</blockquote>


We used to live in FH and loved it, the only drawback was it took me 15 minutes to drive to either Bake Pkwy or Lake Forest Dr. from Irvine but 20+ minutes to drive up those streets during the rush hour..using the Tolls can really add up.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1229328925]I decided to spend some time in Foothill Ranch this weekend to check it out so more. Did that yesterday. It's o.k. No shortage of shopping so that's always nice.



BUT...



Today we went to Tustin Ranch... far north up Jamboree... up there near Peters Canyon. OMG! Beautiful!!



I looked up info on the Peters Canyon Elementary and Pioneer Middle School. They sound awesome. We drove by and the campuses are beautiful. We went to a couple open-houses. I really like what I see. There doesn't seem to be a better value in terms of price per square foot compared to Irvine... but there is in terms of lot sizes. We stopped at some of the parks there. Very kid-friendly with newer play equipment, water splash pads, volleyball, etc. The hills and hiking trails are gorgeous. I think Tustin Ranch may very well have moved to my #1 favorite spot.</blockquote>


Thank You!! I'm very proud of my Canyon!! I also have a Landing in Sunset Beach, you should go and see it one Day!!
 
[quote author="trabucodom" date=1229352384][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1229329099][quote author="trabucodom" date=1229307828]



I have lived in Portola since the late '80s and the fire danger is very high around here and Foothill. Fires have come very close 3 different times so that would put a major fire in the area once every 7 years. </blockquote>


Was it the same place every time?



How many times did it burn in the preceeding 20 years?</blockquote>


You are too funny... I can see that you want to be right even if you must find an irrational technicality. Am I right? You cannot agree that if you need to be under evacuation 3 times in 21 years, that there is a frequent fire danger? Even if a different area burns every few years, it is the santa ana winds that blow the embers everywhere that make it a very dangerous area. I cannot be sure if the exact same blades of grass burned every time, but I can tell you it rained burning embers every time, so if that makes you right then you are right, whatever you are right about, I am not sure:)</blockquote>


Actually, I have no idea if I'm right or not. I really wanted to know. That's why I asked.



:(
 
To me, Foothill Ranch is a bit like RSM or even Aliso Viejo... a little too out of the way for my taste.



If you work in FR, it's a great place to live, but if you have friends/relatives in other parts of OC or even LA... the Bake drive gets to be tiresome. Or you could go TollRoadAction... but that gets pricey.



I prefer Tustin Ranch over Foothill Ranch... it's more central and very Irvineish.



We should ask frank69m which one smells better.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1229394518]To me, Foothill Ranch is a bit like RSM or even Aliso Viejo... a little too out of the way for my taste.



If you work in FR, it's a great place to live, but if you have friends/relatives in other parts of OC or even LA... the Bake drive gets to be tiresome. Or you could go TollRoadAction... but that gets pricey.



I prefer Tustin Ranch over Foothill Ranch... it's more central and very Irvineish.



We should ask frank69m which one smells better.</blockquote>


After living in an area where I have a lovely, open view of the mountains from my back yard, I would never give it up to live in the flatlands of Irvine or Tustin Ranch. Nothing to look at but your neighbor's back yard there, unless you can afford Turtle Rock or North Tustin Hills.
 
^^ Where do you live again?? (Memory loss.)



(For what it's worth, several of the homes I looked at this weekend in north Tustin Ranch did have spectacular views.)
 
[quote author="SoOCOwner" date=1229395366]Nothing to look at but your neighbor's back yard there</blockquote>
Especially if your neighbor is Fat Ugly Naked Guy.



(Disclaimer: I am president of the FUNG club.)
 
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