Laguna Altura in 2012
I keep circling back around to the area because I like the overall location as some have stated. They are selling, albeit really slowly. Even thought I like the general vicinity, there are too many issues that I can't get past - $6K per year for MR + $295 for HOA is a lot of money. Guessing kids would rather have college paid for vs. getting to grow up in LA. Second is being next to the 133. Scoped it out a while back and even though there is a stop light at the Lake Forest intersection, cars are driving past the gates at a pretty fast pace since the 405 onramp is right next to the community. It's obviously dangerous which is why it's a no right turn on red coming out of the community. Hard to live off a freeway.
There are a couple of things I noticed - On the Lake Forest gate, the other side of street has construction. I'm not sure what's planned, but someone indicated there could be another small enclave of homes built there sometime in the future (no verification). If they keep building, and once Lake Forest goes all the way through, traffic will increase. Drove down to the area during rush hour and traffic can be pretty bad. Leaving the area heading north is bad also. Onramp to 5 was backed up day I was there. Lastly, things are obviously slow right now. TIC is subsidizing the HOA right now and it shows. It's supposed to be a guard gated community, but there often times isn't a guard there at night. If I were a current resident I'd be pissed. What if you got a ride from somebody, and came home in a car with no transponder and the gate rang through to your home phone... you'd have to get dropped off at the front and walk home (the walkway isn't locked because they figure who in their right mind would walk out there)...
Overall, even though QH right across the street sells into the 400's per foot, LA will not sell at that same price... Although they are marketing it as "more exclusive" then QH.. doh!
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