Homes with good aesthetic.

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1244861102][quote author="High Gravity" date=1244860103][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244857599][quote author="High Gravity" date=1244848800][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244806189]



Irvine will always be very attractive. Homes are excellent investment. Seniors represent a very small segment of Irvine's population because homes were never intended to target this aging demographic. The lack of single story homes is a primary reason. Many families lived in Irvine only for the duration of sending their kids to public schools and sold their homes in pursuit of their real dream home by cashing in their place.



Irvine for years have been an equity spring board for families to moving up to the "ridge", "coast" or "canyon". The post bubble years will dampen the elasticity of the platform and render less upward mobility. We will see older folks staying put in Irvine and the homes with a larger bedroom down stairs with a full bath would be worth higher in value ratio.



The importance of low maintenance gardening space is crucial for this aging population. In the last decade Many Asians bought homes and Asian businesses expanded greatly. Caucasians are also appreciating the unique Asian food culture in Irvine and accepting it with open arm that led to even greater success. The aging Asian population is here to stay which is another un-chartered future home market.</blockquote>


I already know where I will live after my kid graduates from HS and it is not in Irvine. However, that does not in any way diminish my appreciation for living in Irvine now. I know what you mean about Irvine springboards, all the houses I have bought in the last few years throughout So Cal, including a very expensive one during the bubble (not in Irvine), the down payments for them can be directly traced back to a little Cal Pac detached condo (thanks BK) I bought in 2000.</blockquote>


Wisteria, Aldea, or San Simeon?</blockquote>


Originally Wisteria, then after 2 yrs, followed friend and car pool companion over to San Simeon for 2 yrs, then followed girlfriend (now mrs.) to west LA.</blockquote> Where in West LA. Mrs BK and I love the AMC at Century City. We only watch movies there.</blockquote>


Culver City. My favorite movie theatre in LA is the Fox theatres in Westwood (part of Mann chain) especially if attending a free premiere. Downside is lots of homeless in Westwood at night, fine if I'm alone but mrs gets nervous when there are homeless around.
 
[quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1244801135][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244790032][quote author="So" date=1244785022]I love the little tudor homes - or storybook homes as I call them. They have so much charm and character. If the landscaping is done right, there is nothing cuter than one of these homes. There are some sprinkled into Floral Park and Pasadena neighborhoods. We also saw some of these (brick-fronted) neighborhoods in Omaha, NB. I wish there was more of a selection in the OC.</blockquote>


The folks designed the original Disneyland were designers trained in the 20's. Their storybook Snow White cottages, castle, and New Orleans architecture are timeless. Disney updated all other sections many times while the well designed buildings remain to be the classic for many generations to come. I view houses the same way.



Homes in Garden Grove and Anaheim were once in high demand and trendy. Architecture was fairytale ranch houses. During that era the now decayed neighborhoods were highly sought after in the 50's like Irvine today. Looking back at newspaper microfilm articles both suburbs had very good schools, safety, and major employment centers. I look at these neighborhoods today executed by suburbia formula did not endure the test of time and learned the folks who once owned them migrated to South County like Irvine and Mission Viejo.



For the last 100 years I studied the life cycle of neighborhoods and my observations and conclusion are often very accurate. Lacking a HOA is not the reason for decaying neighborhood. We do not need HOAs to babysit homeowners like kids. HOA is not only a financial burden but the root of neighbor animosity.



It is the pride and neighborhood identity that maintain good neighborhoods and not controlling HOA that cite how and where you should park your car and store in the garage. Someone we know will be a big violator. Some may say HOA prevents neighbors from doing bad remodels. I laugh at that because the voting volunteered members often are laymen who can't even read drawings, roof plans, architectural details and know nothing about good elevation aesthetic other than convenient floor plan functions. The best enduring communities have an art jury committee of architects just like Rolling Hills, Palos Verde, and Rancho Santa Fe.



In most cases, attractive homes prevent neighborhood decay. Some very nice neighborhoods were ruined by government's eminent domain program by mixing in too many transient housing, mixed zonings, high traffic public road, highway arteries, and industries.



Good schools and safety can come and go just like Garden Grove and Anaheim during the mid 50's era when Disneyland had just opened. The homes and neighborhoods were just ugly people still flocked to the new suburbs for brand new homes, good schools and safety.



<strong>After many years of research I could not find a single cookie cutter neighborhood from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70's with at least 4 decades of history that is highly sought after other than some by the coastal locations</strong>.</blockquote>
So the question needs to be asked...will Irvine follow that same fate?</blockquote>


Everyone is very quiet!! May be it is Friday!!!
 
[quote author="High Gravity" date=1244862029][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244861102][quote author="High Gravity" date=1244860103][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244857599][quote author="High Gravity" date=1244848800][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244806189]



Irvine will always be very attractive. Homes are excellent investment. Seniors represent a very small segment of Irvine's population because homes were never intended to target this aging demographic. The lack of single story homes is a primary reason. Many families lived in Irvine only for the duration of sending their kids to public schools and sold their homes in pursuit of their real dream home by cashing in their place.



Irvine for years have been an equity spring board for families to moving up to the "ridge", "coast" or "canyon". The post bubble years will dampen the elasticity of the platform and render less upward mobility. We will see older folks staying put in Irvine and the homes with a larger bedroom down stairs with a full bath would be worth higher in value ratio.



The importance of low maintenance gardening space is crucial for this aging population. In the last decade Many Asians bought homes and Asian businesses expanded greatly. Caucasians are also appreciating the unique Asian food culture in Irvine and accepting it with open arm that led to even greater success. The aging Asian population is here to stay which is another un-chartered future home market.</blockquote>






I already know where I will live after my kid graduates from HS and it is not in Irvine. However, that does not in any way diminish my appreciation for living in Irvine now. I know what you mean about Irvine springboards, all the houses I have bought in the last few years throughout So Cal, including a very expensive one during the bubble (not in Irvine), the down payments for them can be directly traced back to a little Cal Pac detached condo (thanks BK) I bought in 2000.</blockquote>


Wisteria, Aldea, or San Simeon?</blockquote>


Originally Wisteria, then after 2 yrs, followed friend and car pool companion over to San Simeon for 2 yrs, then followed girlfriend (now mrs.) to west LA.</blockquote> Where in West LA. Mrs BK and I love the AMC at Century City. We only watch movies there.</blockquote>


Culver City. My favorite movie theatre in LA is the Fox theatres in Westwood (part of Mann chain) especially if attending a free premiere. Downside is lots of homeless in Westwood at night, fine if I'm alone but mrs gets nervous when there are homeless around.</blockquote>


I did some work for Sony/Columbia a long time ago in Culver City when I was in the Entertainment design. I do like that area very much.
 
<blockquote>Everyone is very quiet!! May be it is Friday!!!</blockquote>


We're all quiet b/c we're afraid you're tracking our identity. Hence, we are just lurking.
 
<blockquote>However, I do give a lot of credit for the planners for planting the multiple layers of trees along the perimeter to hide the anticipated bad house elevations. Providing the medicine before the disease is an excellent strategy that worked very well.</blockquote>


So true. For those commuters whom only pass through Irvine via the main arterial streets. They will see lots of trees and landscaping. It's a great way of hiding the neighborhoods. But if they make a detour into the smaller streets and venture into the actual older neighborhoods of Irvine. It's another world altogether. I once got lost in one of the older neighborhoods and thought I was in the 'bad' side of Santa Ana.



They do hide it well.
 
[quote author="reason" date=1244864257]<blockquote>Everyone is very quiet!! May be it is Friday!!!</blockquote>


We're all quiet b/c we're afraid you're tracking our identity. Hence, we are just lurking.</blockquote>


Not to worry. I have no idea which exact house you live in. I am not a moderator and I have no access to your IP address. I am also computer illiterate. So keep on posting!! Can you help Socal out on her Spanish question posted?
 
[quote author="reason" date=1244864647]<blockquote>However, I do give a lot of credit for the planners for planting the multiple layers of trees along the perimeter to hide the anticipated bad house elevations. Providing the medicine before the disease is an excellent strategy that worked very well.</blockquote>


So true. For those commuters whom only pass through Irvine via the main arterial streets. They will see lots of trees and landscaping. It's a great way of hiding the neighborhoods. But if they make a detour into the smaller streets and venture into the actual older neighborhoods of Irvine. It's another world altogether. I once got lost in one of the older neighborhoods and thought I was in the 'bad' side of Santa Ana.



They do hide it well.</blockquote>


El Camino and Walnut Village were treasured like Northpark and Woodbury and what do you think went wrong? Great school and safety in the community and even closer to the Chinese stores and restaurants. Most homes even have the IHO gimme gimme garages. I will do an extensive similarity analysis for production master planned communities historically have only a 40 years lifespan before abandonment. Stanton, Buena Park, Westminster, FV, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Walnut Village and El Camino were once the shining beacons of beautiful living in the new suburbs of OC.
 
There are 3-car garages in El Camino and Walnut Village?



I think what lacks in those areas are old house designs and no HOAs. Places like Turtle Rock which are older also have HOAs and the cachet of elevation doesn't hurt.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1244865106][quote author="reason" date=1244864647]However, I do give a lot of credit for the planners for planting the multiple layers of trees along the perimeter to hide the anticipated bad house elevations. Providing the medicine before the disease is an excellent strategy that worked very well.</blockquote>


So true. For those commuters whom only pass through Irvine via the main arterial streets. They will see lots of trees and landscaping. It's a great way of hiding the neighborhoods. But if they make a detour into the smaller streets and venture into the actual older neighborhoods of Irvine. It's another world altogether. <strong>I once got lost in one of the older neighborhoods</strong> and thought I was in the 'bad' side of Santa Ana.



They do hide it well.</blockquote>






See it's not just me! If bk can get lost in Irvine, I don't feel so bad.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1244866695][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244865106][quote author="reason" date=1244864647]However, I do give a lot of credit for the planners for planting the multiple layers of trees along the perimeter to hide the anticipated bad house elevations. Providing the medicine before the disease is an excellent strategy that worked very well.</blockquote>


So true. For those commuters whom only pass through Irvine via the main arterial streets. They will see lots of trees and landscaping. It's a great way of hiding the neighborhoods. But if they make a detour into the smaller streets and venture into the actual older neighborhoods of Irvine. It's another world altogether. <strong>I once got lost in one of the older neighborhoods</strong> and thought I was in the 'bad' side of Santa Ana.



They do hide it well.</blockquote>






See it's not just me! If bk can get lost in Irvine, I don't feel so bad.</blockquote>


Hey! Bk's posting and mine got switched. Hmm.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1244864864][quote author="reason" date=1244864257]<blockquote>Everyone is very quiet!! May be it is Friday!!!</blockquote>


We're all quiet b/c we're afraid you're tracking our identity. Hence, we are just lurking.</blockquote>


Not to worry. I have no idea which exact house you live in. I am not a moderator and I have no access to your IP address. I am also computer illiterate. So keep on posting!! Can you help Socal out on her Spanish question posted?</blockquote>


Aww, I knew I should have taken Spanish class in h.s. Took French, instead.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1244865106]

<strong>El Camino and Walnut Village were treasured like Northpark and Woodbury and what do you think went wrong?</strong> Great school and safety in the community and even closer to the Chinese stores and restaurants. Most homes even have the IHO gimme gimme garages. I will do an extensive similarity analysis for production master planned communities historically have only a 40 years lifespan before abandonment. Stanton, Buena Park, Westminster, FV, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Walnut Village and El Camino were once the shining beacons of beautiful living in the new suburbs of OC.</blockquote>


Could it be the ethnicity make up of the neighborhood have changed, Bk? You've often mentioned that a certain ethnic group will tend to spray stucco onto a classic Craftman. :-)
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1244866298]There are 3-car garages in El Camino and Walnut Village?



I think what lacks in those areas are old house designs and no HOAs. Places like Turtle Rock which are older also have HOAs and the cachet of elevation doesn't hurt.</blockquote>


Can you tell which is which? Turtle Rock and El Camino?



<img src="http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:VEuZUCi6_YAZIM:http://www.richsatisfaction.com/images_feature/SN202097 (Small).JPG" alt="" />

<img src="http://socalmls.idxnetwork.com/photos1/83/S551483_1.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="ABC123" date=1244869330]If i had to guess, i would say the one with no trees is Turtle Rock</blockquote>


Smart! It is a more attractive elevation than El Camino?
 
<img src="http://mlsimages.movoto.com/203/021/S567921_0.jpg" alt="" />



3 car garage in El Camino.



IHO's favorite double door.

IHO's favorite double story high ceiling.

IHO's favorite driveways.

Combine the garages he would be in heaven.



Houses like this in the neighborhood are the reason why good neighbors start to move out or rent out their homes instead of living there. The people living there are very happy that they got their 3 car garage, double door, high ceilings and driveway.
 
[quote author="ABC123" date=1244869498]Turtle Rock HOAs would never allow anyone to grow their trees that tall</blockquote>


yes!!!!!!!!!!! Blocking view.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1244869547]<img src="http://mlsimages.movoto.com/203/021/S567921_0.jpg" alt="" />



3 car garage in El Camino.



IHO's favorite double door.

IHO's favorite double story high ceiling.

IHO's favorite driveways.

Combine the garages he would be in heaven.



Houses like this in the neighborhood are the reason why good neighbors start to move out or rent out their homes instead of living there. The people living there are very happy that they got their 3 car garage, double door, high ceilings and driveway.</blockquote>


Ick. I don't understand double garages. If you want/need that much garage space, build one garage, not two. Plus, talk about the house being dominated by the garage (well, garages). The front entrance is crammed in between the two garages, almost as an afterthought.
 
[quote author="reason" date=1244868028][quote author="bkshopr" date=1244865106]

<strong>El Camino and Walnut Village were treasured like Northpark and Woodbury and what do you think went wrong?</strong> Great school and safety in the community and even closer to the Chinese stores and restaurants. Most homes even have the IHO gimme gimme garages. I will do an extensive similarity analysis for production master planned communities historically have only a 40 years lifespan before abandonment. Stanton, Buena Park, Westminster, FV, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Walnut Village and El Camino were once the shining beacons of beautiful living in the new suburbs of OC.</blockquote>


Could it be the ethnicity make up of the neighborhood have changed, Bk? You've often mentioned that a certain ethnic group will tend to spray stucco onto a classic Craftman. :-)</blockquote>


Sometimes and especially when Blacks and Hispanics move into the neighborhood. The silent rule is to move away. This is true and I am not being a racist. Look at Inglewood and Santa Ana.



When home elevations were developed with trendy elements, form and materials deviating from the pictures I posted the neighborhood will eventually become undesirable. It is the mullets of home style that date the architecture. Both of the posted pictures in EC and TR clearly said <strong>1970</strong>
 
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