Looking for Rental Housing - New to OC

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
Z

zvillegas_IHB

New member
My husband and I sold our home in Corona in March and decided to lease in Tustin Ranch instead of buy. My husband wants to wait out the market for a couple of years before we do so. Anyhow, we rented private. My lease is up this coming March though and I've been considering moving to Orchard Hills or one of the other IAC complexes. They look great on the website but I have yet to go check them out personally. Are they really all they're cracked up to be? I'd have to assume that maintenance is handled much quicker there rather than dealing with the "accidental landlord".
 
For all the complaints about the pricing strategy of IAC, I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. It's a pretty carefree lifestyle at any of the IAC communities. I'm entering year 3 with them, and won't consider anything but IAC until we buy --- so that should tell you about my experience with them. Too many flakey forced landlords out there in the private market right now, IMHO. Good luck.
 
I agree with CK, we've lived in an IAC Townhouse for almost a year now, the Maintenance Staff are very friendly, they always give a friendly wave as they drive around in their Golf Carts, we haven't had many maintenance problems but in the few instances we have they've been very quick to attend to them, they even wear little Booties over their Shoes when they enter the place, which is a nice touch.



We've just signed up for a second year. There are a lot of IAC Complexes, we checked out a few and chose this one because it's close to the Bike Trail and convenient for work...so it depends what you're looking for.



I think you'll like what you see but report back and let us know what you think.



Good Luck
 
As long as I rent i dont think I would rent outside of the IAC communities for the reasons mentioned by the others here. I live in a detached townhouse at woodbury place and i have yet to hear any of the neighbors. I walk the dogs inside the woodbury community and it is very nicely landscaped, just looks very nice. I would highly recommend IAC properties, Like CK said, you get what you pay for.
 
Yes, you get what you pay for, and the question is, do you want and need what you get? As a former homeowner, I presume you know the drill of doing minor sevice and maintenance. I tired of the 'babysitting' done by the maintenance staff at the IAC complex I lived in. I can change my own furnace filter and smoke detector battery. I didn't want to be inconvenienced by, and pay for these services by others. I moved from the IAC Turtle Ridge complex and now live in a privately owned condo in the University Park area of Irvine. It's an older unit, and the owner has had it nearly forever. No mortgage on record, so I regard it a a safe bet that it won't get sold or foreclosed out from under me. It's definitly 'dated' in its decor (the lime-green oven being the most 'outstanding' example), but that doesn't bother bachelor me. Last month's brined and honey-basted turkey tasted just fine, thank you. California chic I am not. I"m paying about $400 less per month than I was with IAC for a 2-br, 2-ba townhouse.
 
Do you have to be present for all the "babysitting maintenance"? I hope not. I do like the fact that IAC is very modern and I like all the ammenities. Private owners don't always have all the bells & whistles. My current landlord is a super nice guy. Maintenance isn't handled promptly though, and he usually does it himself. I know he's got an ARM and the rent he's asking for doesn't cover his mortgage completely. So I feel guilty everytime I call about something.



Anyhow, I drive by Orchard Hills everyday and I was hoping to check them out today.



Why would they hold your deposit if you've taken good care of the unit?
 
<p>Security Deposit is only $400 and we got ours back pretty easily (minus a cleaning charge) last time we moved. Of course, we did move from one IAC complex to another one. </p>

<p>IAC will do maintenance depending on when you want them there. You can actually set up an appointment time or allow them to go into your place when you are not there. I think they have a website where you can set up maintenance as well but I have never tried it. One word of caution with IAC apartments, make sure you look over the actual unit you are renting. Most units are pretty good but sometimes it looks like they rushed some buildings/units and the work is a little shoddy. </p>

<p>Also, if you rent from IAC, make sure you check out their website to look for specials. You can get a move in special and/or rent reduction.</p>
 
I had no problem getting my deposit back when I left IAC. Cleaning charge deducted, of course. And no, I didn't HAVE to be present for the maintenance, but I preferred to be present. I fully understand your reluctance to rent where foreclosure is a possibility. I think I see the vultures circling one of my neighboring units (purchased in '06), and the young owner accepted a job out-of-state. He tried to sell, but couldn't, and now has the vacant unit listed for rent. Not a good situation for anybody.
 
One other plus of IAC - see a floorplan you like but the location isn't quite right? Chances are there are at least about 5-6 of their other complexes with the same floorplans.
 
The problem I have with the deposit is that they keep the money for the cleaning charges. Every other apartment place I've lived in didn't keep a dime unless they had to do something out of the ordinary. I always got my entire deposit back. It is a lie for the IAC to call it a deposit if you aren't getting all of it back. That $400 deposit should be called a $100 deposit and a $300 cleaning fee.
 
<p>The cleaning/painting fees looked pretty reasonable when I looked at them. Perhaps the handymen that do the other stuff around the apartments do it, rates looked reasonable.</p>

<p>On the upside, when you move in, it's really, really clean and nice.</p>
 
I looked at Orchard Hills and fell in love with that place. Didn't realize they don't have 3 bedroom floorplans which I do need. They recommended one on Central Park....Solana? I think? Anyhow checking it out tomorrow.



Deposits - you are supposed to get the whole deposit back. There's a fine line between normal wear and tear and damages. The following is from www.rentlaw.com.



Faded Paint. Paint may have a "useful life of 2-3 years, depending on who you ask. However, if you paint with a better paint, wiping down the walls works well.

Old, worn carpet when you moved in or furniture marks in carpet. The natural wearing down of carpet or drapes because of normal use or aging.

Worn hinges on doors or locks. Hole or ding in wall from missing door stop. Check each door.

Broken plumbing pipes, unless you damaged them. Central drain problems, not caused by your incorrect disposal of items. Older homes with old sewer lines may get roots growing through them, clogging the system.

Dirty Blinds - as in dusty.

General dust in the apartment. Be sure to clean behind the sofa and under.

"Faded" curtains that were in the unit when you came. However, to remove curtains that you placed and did not remove, you may be charged.

Bulb that went out in the refrigerator.
 
<p>I think our cleaning charge was like $60. . .I think somewhere in an IAC lease states that you are required to show proof that you hire a cleaner to clean the house prior to leaving in order to avoid the charge.</p>
 
<p>Another nice feature of IAC is that if you go for their auto-debit rent payment when you sign your lease, they will knock $200 off the security deposit. Contrast a $200 deposit with the up to 1.5 times rent many private parties like to (try to) get. </p>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top