We are trying to see what is available outside of Irvine. Guard gated communities preferred. Anyone have feedback of Laguna Niguel? Any areas to avoid there? Its far from the freeways. Is it good investment in terms of appreciation? Good schools? Convenient to supermarkets and retail centers? Safe neighborhoods?
Laguna Niguel
- Thread starter lovingit
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I know. This slipped past me for a while. Paying attention to work too much today..
Yes, we looked in Aliso too and had an offer on a few houses before settling on Laguna Niguel. Aliso is close to Irvine but I don't like how they have that huge shopping center where parking is always a pain.
We only looked at 3CWG homes unless the house had a very redeeming quality (beautiful view, large back yard, etc). 3CWG was one of my requirements for my move up home...
davenlei
New member
I sold my house in Irvine and moved to Laguna Niguel (south Laguna Niguel near Dana Point) four years ago. I am very happy I did.
Here is what I like about Laguna Niguel:
1) There is not a lot of traffic (reminds me of how Irvine traffic was 14 years ago).
2) Infrastructure is good. There are a lot of strip malls and stores/restaurants scattered everywhere. Roads are in good condition.
3) Schools are similar (API scores) as Irvine schools (there are a couple not so good but just check).
4) It does not feel crowded (population is ~75K vs. Irvine 200K+). Nice suburb.
5) Lot's of hills and valleys provide nice views everywhere.
6) A lot of nature and greenery on the running/biking trails. The one I run on goes to the ocean.
7) There is a small lake here too for fishing (not as nice as Irvine) and a skate park for kids. Lots of parks everywhere.
8 ) I live only a couple miles from the ocean so I get to see the water when driving home from work on a nice day.
9) I was able to get a bigger/nicer house compared to what I saw in Irvine for the same price.
10) In four years I have increased my equity an estimated 30-33% (corrected initial calculation) based on other comparable sales in the neighborhood.
11) City is fiscally responsible. They did not build the new city hall and library a few years ago until they had the money to pay in cash. No stupid bonds or crazy loans.
12) Very quiet at night. Since we are not near the freeway, I don't hear that constant hum in the distance (I used to live in Westpark).
13) I can see tons of stars at night! Living really close to the ocean reduces the light pollution so on a clear dark night I can see tons of stars and sometimes satellites wizzing across the sky. I like teaching my kids about the constellations and space.
14) It is nice and cool with the direct ocean breeze. During the fall, there are many days where we are blanketed in a marine layer which is usually nice. The first year I was here it felt strange going home from Irvine which was sunny and 78 and driving into a marine layer where the temperature dropped 10-12 degrees from where I drove from.
15) A lot of people here are very beach/out oriented. Lots of surfboards, etc. in a lot of peoples garages.
16) San Diego and La Jolla feels pretty close. When I need some killer Italian food or authentic wedding cake cookies, I can take a trip to Little Italy in San Diego.
17) Density of the city will most likely not get much bigger than it is because of the terrain (hills and valleys).
18) NO MELLO ROOS!
What I don't like about Laguna Niguel:
1) It is a bit of a drive to work but if you carpool, you don't have traffic. If you do not carpool, you have several alternate routes you can take to avoid the freeway (free and toll) and traffic.
2) Food is generally very American. There is not as much variety of authentic Asian foods like in Irvine. If I want dim sum, Vietnamese, etc. I need to come up to Irvine, etc. There are some authentic places opening up down there so it is getting a little better. They do have good Sushi and in San Juan has great Mexican hole in the wall places.
3) There is a bit of lack of diversity here but it does not bother me since I am multi-racial and my kids are total mutts. There is also no issues if you are a different race because everyone I have run into are very laid back and don't care about that as a factor.
4) Driving to the airport is more than 'down the street' now. Maybe that is not a negative all the time.
5) This is not really a negative but there is a lot of wealth around here (like in Irvine) so even if you do well for yourself, you feel poor when you see all those 6,000 - 10,000 SF mansions and lot's of Ferrari, Maserati, Audi R8, Lambo, Astin Martin, Bently and Rolls emblems driving past you on your weekend runs and family walks.
6) Laguna Niguel is patrolled by Laguna Niguel Sheriff's and not a city Police dept. Not really a problem because their response time is great, they are designated for Laguna Niguel and they seem friendly but it felt a little better to have city Police when I was in Irvine because city Police policies and rules are tailored for their city.
7) When there is a major incident on the 5 freeway near San Juan Capistrano area, everyone floods the city streets trying to make their way to PCH since there are not many other routes for people trying to drive home to San Diego county area. That has been the only time traffic has sucked here.
There are a lot gated communities here (guard gated and just gated) as well as open communities just like much of Orange County From Irvine and south. There used to be a web site from a realtor that listed all the communities of Laguna Niguel and identified their perks/positives for the respective community. If I find it, I will post it.
That is what I could think of off the top of my head. If you have any specific questions, please let me know. I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.
Here is what I like about Laguna Niguel:
1) There is not a lot of traffic (reminds me of how Irvine traffic was 14 years ago).
2) Infrastructure is good. There are a lot of strip malls and stores/restaurants scattered everywhere. Roads are in good condition.
3) Schools are similar (API scores) as Irvine schools (there are a couple not so good but just check).
4) It does not feel crowded (population is ~75K vs. Irvine 200K+). Nice suburb.
5) Lot's of hills and valleys provide nice views everywhere.
6) A lot of nature and greenery on the running/biking trails. The one I run on goes to the ocean.
7) There is a small lake here too for fishing (not as nice as Irvine) and a skate park for kids. Lots of parks everywhere.
8 ) I live only a couple miles from the ocean so I get to see the water when driving home from work on a nice day.
9) I was able to get a bigger/nicer house compared to what I saw in Irvine for the same price.
10) In four years I have increased my equity an estimated 30-33% (corrected initial calculation) based on other comparable sales in the neighborhood.
11) City is fiscally responsible. They did not build the new city hall and library a few years ago until they had the money to pay in cash. No stupid bonds or crazy loans.
12) Very quiet at night. Since we are not near the freeway, I don't hear that constant hum in the distance (I used to live in Westpark).
13) I can see tons of stars at night! Living really close to the ocean reduces the light pollution so on a clear dark night I can see tons of stars and sometimes satellites wizzing across the sky. I like teaching my kids about the constellations and space.
14) It is nice and cool with the direct ocean breeze. During the fall, there are many days where we are blanketed in a marine layer which is usually nice. The first year I was here it felt strange going home from Irvine which was sunny and 78 and driving into a marine layer where the temperature dropped 10-12 degrees from where I drove from.
15) A lot of people here are very beach/out oriented. Lots of surfboards, etc. in a lot of peoples garages.
16) San Diego and La Jolla feels pretty close. When I need some killer Italian food or authentic wedding cake cookies, I can take a trip to Little Italy in San Diego.
17) Density of the city will most likely not get much bigger than it is because of the terrain (hills and valleys).
18) NO MELLO ROOS!
What I don't like about Laguna Niguel:
1) It is a bit of a drive to work but if you carpool, you don't have traffic. If you do not carpool, you have several alternate routes you can take to avoid the freeway (free and toll) and traffic.
2) Food is generally very American. There is not as much variety of authentic Asian foods like in Irvine. If I want dim sum, Vietnamese, etc. I need to come up to Irvine, etc. There are some authentic places opening up down there so it is getting a little better. They do have good Sushi and in San Juan has great Mexican hole in the wall places.
3) There is a bit of lack of diversity here but it does not bother me since I am multi-racial and my kids are total mutts. There is also no issues if you are a different race because everyone I have run into are very laid back and don't care about that as a factor.
4) Driving to the airport is more than 'down the street' now. Maybe that is not a negative all the time.
5) This is not really a negative but there is a lot of wealth around here (like in Irvine) so even if you do well for yourself, you feel poor when you see all those 6,000 - 10,000 SF mansions and lot's of Ferrari, Maserati, Audi R8, Lambo, Astin Martin, Bently and Rolls emblems driving past you on your weekend runs and family walks.
6) Laguna Niguel is patrolled by Laguna Niguel Sheriff's and not a city Police dept. Not really a problem because their response time is great, they are designated for Laguna Niguel and they seem friendly but it felt a little better to have city Police when I was in Irvine because city Police policies and rules are tailored for their city.
7) When there is a major incident on the 5 freeway near San Juan Capistrano area, everyone floods the city streets trying to make their way to PCH since there are not many other routes for people trying to drive home to San Diego county area. That has been the only time traffic has sucked here.
There are a lot gated communities here (guard gated and just gated) as well as open communities just like much of Orange County From Irvine and south. There used to be a web site from a realtor that listed all the communities of Laguna Niguel and identified their perks/positives for the respective community. If I find it, I will post it.
That is what I could think of off the top of my head. If you have any specific questions, please let me know. I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I was wondering how long it would take for Davenlei to chime in.
If I had to move to South County, I would live in Laguna Niguel or Aliso Viejo... they both have 3CWG homes.
If I had to move to South County, I would live in Laguna Niguel or Aliso Viejo... they both have 3CWG homes.
davenlei
New member
irvinehomeowner said:
I know. This slipped past me for a while. Paying attention to work too much today..
irvinehomeowner said:If I had to move to South County, I would live in Laguna Niguel or Aliso Viejo... they both have 3CWG homes.
Yes, we looked in Aliso too and had an offer on a few houses before settling on Laguna Niguel. Aliso is close to Irvine but I don't like how they have that huge shopping center where parking is always a pain.
We only looked at 3CWG homes unless the house had a very redeeming quality (beautiful view, large back yard, etc). 3CWG was one of my requirements for my move up home...