Ladera Ranch Discussion Thread

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[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1208913360]graph, do you know the original purchase price on that home you showed us. It doesn't say on the zillow page. I am guessing about 1.2MM based on the property taxes? Also, why is there property tax data for 2005 and 2006? Did the owner pay that or was that paid by the developer before it was built out?</blockquote>


I don't have the last sale info, but the property tax number is good enough to say it sold for $1.2mil = or - a few $.



I don't know why Zillow has the last three years of property tax data, but the numbers for 2005 and 2006 were most likely what the builder paid in property taxes.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1208919270]

I actually would prefer exactly the opposite...</blockquote>


I'm with bk on this one. I used to have a big house and it was mostly a big headache. More house and more yard meant more maintenance -- more lost time and more spent money. The increase seems exponential compared to the house size. We went from a 1600 sq. ft. house to close to 4000 sq. ft. When we replaced the carpet and replaced the roof - yikes! Mowing the big lawn and mulching the landscaping - ugh. Never again for my wife and I. We are now in an apartment waiting to buy a small place in Newport in a couple years.
 
<blockquote>I?m with bk on this one. I used to have a big house and it was mostly a big headache. More house and more yard meant more maintenance?more lost time and more spent money. The increase seems exponential compared to the house size. We went from a 1600 sq. ft. house to close to 4000 sq. ft. When we replaced the carpet and replaced the roof - yikes! Mowing the big lawn and mulching the landscaping - ugh. Never again for my wife and I. We are now in an apartment waiting to buy a small place in Newport in a couple years. </blockquote>


I agree. I'm amazed why some people need such a big house. Keep life simple - it makes life more enjoyable.
 
Well, obviously you get a diminsihing returns on how much you can use a big house. But for myself, I'm not talking about the difference between a 3,000 square ft house and a ladera psuedo-mansion.



In Irvine for around 500k, you get either a smallish attached place or an even smaller detached condo crammed with tiny rooms. If I can get a big yard, better layout, an an exra 1000(or even more!) square feet for the same price or less, its something I'll consider.
 
I've heard that the weather is noticeably warmer in LR during summer than most of Irvine. Anyone who has lived out there have opinions on this?
 
I drove up to Mission Viejo a few times last year to check out homes over there. Its about 5 degrees warmer there compare to Irvine (at least over the summer). It's funny. I was interested in Ladera originally, but the more I read/hear, the less attractive it becomes. You get a nice size home, but you are far from the freeways, and far from a lot of the convenience in Irvine area. The only attractive part, for me anyways, is if these mcmansions drop down to ridiculously low prices in the next 3-4 years. Then, maybe its worth some consideration.



Until then, Irvine homes near bike trails FTW!
 
[quote author="k.o." date=1209003212]I've heard that the weather is noticeably warmer in LR during summer than most of Irvine. Anyone who has lived out there have opinions on this?</blockquote>


The real concern is not the temperature but Santa Ana wind. LR is right in the high velocity path of the wind near the base of the foothills where the speed funnels and gains its momentum.



Irvine is relatively flat and broad thus the wind spreads out and dissipates its velocity.



The wind vibrates, whistles and howls between the 10' side yard of houses in LR. It is called the "standing waves" where the harmonic cycles of the various sine and cosine waves coincide with one another in the tunnel effect bounded by the parallel side-yard walls of homes. Try sleeping at night with noise.
 
I have no idea where you came up with that wind comment. I live in Ladera, work in Irvine. It seems windier in Irvine. I have never even noticed the sound of the wind.



On a positive note about Ladera amongst everybody else's sea of negative here, I do think they have done a good job of developing a sense of community there. The various activities, clubs, amenities, etc are pretty actively used and it creates a pretty good social environment. I feel like I actually get something for the $200 HOA.



The Mello Roos is a different story.
 
The foothills along the Portola corridor below Saddleback mountains are notorious for Santa Ana wind. When your sideyards are parallel to the direction of the wind then you will have problem with noise unless your sideyards are perpendicular to the wind direction. Santa Ana wind comes down the hills starting from Foothill Ranch to RSM to Las Flores. Ladera Ranch is within close proximity to these hills.









[quote author="Joe33" date=1209009513]I have no idea where you came up with that wind comment. I live in Ladera, work in Irvine. It seems windier in Irvine. I have never even noticed the sound of the wind.



On a positive note about Ladera amongst everybody else's sea of negative here, I do think they have done a good job of developing a sense of community there. The various activities, clubs, amenities, etc are pretty actively used and it creates a pretty good social environment. I feel like I actually get something for the $200 HOA.



The Mello Roos is a different story.</blockquote>
 
[quote author="Joe33" date=1209009513]... I live in Ladera, work in Irvine. It seems windier in Irvine...</blockquote>


How is the overal convenience factor? For instance, getting to nearby restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaners, dare I ask, bars?



The thing I'm afraid I'd miss moving away from irvine is beign walking distance to two shopping centers filled with sit down and fast food, two grocery stores, the wine bar, etc.
 
Hmm. Maybe my place just faces the right direction. Or maybe it blows more just over the hill in the canyon/corridor where coto is and where the toll road was supposed to go.



In all honesty I don't think it's much of an issue. The power lines and the commute are bigger issues.
 
"On a positive note about Ladera amongst everybody else?s sea of negative here, I do think they have done a good job of developing a sense of community there. The various activities, clubs, amenities, etc are pretty actively used and it creates a pretty good social environment. I feel like I actually get something for the $200 HOA."



Do they serve punch from large bowls to help engender a "sense of community" at these gatherings?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones
 
How is the overal convenience factor? For instance, getting to nearby restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaners, dare I ask, bars?



The thing I'm afraid I'd miss moving away from irvine is beign walking distance to two shopping centers filled with sit down and fast food, two grocery stores, the wine bar, etc.</blockquote>


It will depend on where in Ladera you live. I live close enough to the two shopping centers to walk. We actually walk every weekend to do our grocery shopping and walk 3 days a week during the week to Starbucks.



There are also a few sitdown restaurants we can walk to - Infusion, Beachfire Grill, Pacific Whey Cafe, Picante. There are plenty of the 'neighborhood retail' staples - dry cleaners, coffee shops, take out food, nail salons.



Not much of a bar scene to speak of. There is a little bit at Beachfire Grill. There is also a wine shop/bar, but it is pretty quiet. They are building a new sports bar/grill at Crown Valley/Antonio. I would say you certainly would not be moving to Ladera for the bar scene.
 
[quote author="Major Schadenfreude" date=1209011351]"On a positive note about Ladera amongst everybody else?s sea of negative here, I do think they have done a good job of developing a sense of community there. The various activities, clubs, amenities, etc are pretty actively used and it creates a pretty good social environment. I feel like I actually get something for the $200 HOA."



Do they serve punch from large bowls to help engender a "sense of community" at these gatherings?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones</blockquote>


Touche. The punch bowl has certainly been taken away from the housing market there. In complete free fall. I would guesstimate early 2004 or late 2003 pricing at this point, and heading south fast as there are just no buyers.
 
[quote author="25w100k+" date=1209002697]

In Irvine for around 500k, you get either a smallish attached place or an even smaller detached condo crammed with tiny rooms. If I can get a big yard, better layout, an an exra 1000(or even more!) square feet for the same price or less, its something I'll consider.</blockquote>


25, i'm assuming you're 25. you've got plenty of time to wait it out and get all those things you mentioned in irvine if you so desire. why settle?
 
I found something interesting today on Ladera. It appears that some Kool-Aid OD victim bought four lots on Coral Blue Street, took out two loans for a total of $12.6 million, yes $12,600,000 dollars, and now on 5/1/08 you can bid a minimum of $2.5mil for two of them, or on 5/9/08 you can bid $5.56mil for the other two. This will be at the Orange foreclosure auction location at 300 E. Chapman. If anyone can make it for the 5/1/08 auction, I would love to know what happens, because I will not be able to make it there that day.



Of course you could save your self some money and haggle big dog <a href="http://www.californiamoves.com/property/propertydetails.aspx?propertyguid=8b49a15e-3bf1-42bc-b97e-4ddc9c4a328e&WT;.mc_ID=201810000000000">John McMonigle down on price for the lot he has listed</a>. Just let him know graphcakes told you about the four lots about to be owned by a private lender.
 
Dammit Major, you made me look. From what I could find (admittedly, not much), there is a family home and I believe he owns the building where his office is located. That's all I could find for OC (and I didn't look anywhere else).
 
I would imagine John is a pretty smart guy when it comes to buying real estate, especially land. I doubt he owns the lots I mentioned, as he also doesn't strike me as some who needs a private loan. However, if I were him, I would have a separate LLC for my land deals, kinda like the CONNEXIAN INVESTMENTS INC. that own these defaulting lots. Good luck in finding out who is behind Connexian.
 
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