Looking for suggestions on upgraded three bedroom apts.

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waiting08_IHB

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Hi,

I'm finally tired of waiting for the irvine home prices to come down, planning to rent for some time before we buy. I was checking craigslist today and found Santa Maria listing 3bed/3bath for 2565. Was wondering if anyone could point me to a good deal. I have a 5 year old who will be starting school in Sept, so close to a good elementary school is the top priority. Santa Maria loked good but I'll be happy to find something around 2300. Not interested in private owners, as we wouldn't want to move out any time soon for any reason. I'm sure there are lots of renters on these forums. If you see lots of vacancies in your community please let me know. Thanks in advance.
 
We've lived in the 3 bedroom townhome (1303 sq ft) in San Carlo Villa for 2 1/2 years, and have been very happy with it. Floorplan is very nice and bright. Quiet, lots of families and kids (no 1 bed units here). Only drawback is a detached garage, but garages are very close to your apartment and it has never bothered us. Lots of green space and trees. We pay $2,450 --- seems from Craigslist that you can get into a 3 bed for about $2,500 right now.



Also, San Carlo is walking distance to both brand new LePort Montessori (right across the street) and Westpark Elementary (around the corner). Our child is starting Kindergarten at Westpark next month (year round school), and we were very pleasantly surprised with how solid the school is. All four of the Kindergarten teachers are great, and the principal is fantastic as well. We were originally going to move to Santa Maria or Santa Rosa because we wanted Plaza Vista School, but after meeting and spending with the Westpark staff through the orientations and such, decided to stay put.



Good luck!
 
Thanks CK. I didn't see the listing on craigslist for 2500, but can probably check with the leasing office.



Apart from that I didn't know there was something called year round schools, I just checked and found that plaza vista is also year round. The calendar for year round schedule looks kind of inconvenient when both parents are working, too many long breaks in the year. I prefer the 1 week spring, 2 weeks winter and then two months summer break. But I'm wondering how do the other parents manage the year round schedule if both are working.
 
[quote author="waiting08" date=1214545696]But I'm wondering how do the other parents manage the year round schedule if both are working.</blockquote>


Each of the IUSD elementary schools has onsite after school care, which also runs full day camps during each of the inter-session breaks and the summer break. The camps look to be very organized --- in the spring session they have activities organized each day, and had field trips to Bower's, Knott's, and Aquarium of Pacific. Same thing for the summer camp, where they have even more field trips, and weekly beach outings as well.



From a cost perspective, the afterschool care (full time) is about $600 for Kindergarten, and about $400 for 1st grade up. The fees for the camps in the inter-sessions is about $220, incremental to the regular tuition. Summer camp (4 weeks) this year was $720 total. I can't speak to the quailty as we have not used it yet, we just have all the information from attending their open house when we signed our daughter up for the 08-09 school year. But it seemed very organized, and first class...But I would expect as much if affliated with IUSD. I'm sure the care centers at all the Irvine elementary schools are similar.



The year round school actually appeals to us as working parents. We like the idea of having a few shorter breaks as opposed to one really long break in the summer.
 
Thanks for the info. That was really helpful, I was planning to opt for the other schools, but now probably will consider this. We are from India so the long break is good for a vacation to India. Anyways, plan to check out Santa Maria and San Carlo villa this weekend. If we do pick San Carlo probably we can get you a referral fee. :)
 
We live in a 3 bedroom apartment at Solana (near north park). Its all on one floor with an attached garage. So far we haven't had any issues. I think we pay around 2450 a month
 
We've just signed the lease to Santa-Maria apartment for 2BR/2BA (for $1940.00) and planning to move in 2nd week of July. The apartments are really very nice and totally remodeled, with granite etc. We are also planning to buy the home end of next year sometime. We are also from India and realized (during our initial search) that most of the Irvine Community Rental homes has electric cooking and no washer/dryer inside, which is not a good idea (at least for us).



The community is very well maintained and also has on-site activity director (3 days in a week) to arrange kids activities free of charge. My one of the fried also live in the same community and he is totally satisfied with the community services, except guests parking.



At this time Santa-Maria is also giving move-in discounts as they gave us $750.00 off on moving, $200.00 off security, and $100.00 off for direct deposit rent. so we got total $1050.00 off for our moving cost.
 
CK, you're in San Carlo too? Small world huh?



We've been here for 20 months now and really like it, not that we spend much time at Home, we have a 2BR/ 2 1/2 Bath 2-story Townhouse....



The Complex is clean, quiet with great Maintenance Staff...



I love the location, close to everything but no Traffic noise, my Wife and I both have 2 mile Commutes but that's beside the point...



The only down side is horrible Trees, Eucalyptus and Pine Trees that create a green sheen of Pollen, or whatever it is, over the whole Complex, I don't suffer from allergies but my wife does, it drives Her nuts, if you don't drive a green Car you will be doing so for a couple of months a year...



I would highly recommend this place.



The 3 br next door to us was empty for 8 months so it's not like there is a waiting list for them...
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1214661410]if you don't drive a green Car you will be doing so for a couple of months a year...



</blockquote>


lol - yes Peter, the Harvard Place car wash gets a lot of business from us --- our black car starts looking yellowish green after a couple days outside. Next time I see some bikes rolling out of the entrance, I'll know who it is! :)





To give you a hint where we are, we live in the very unit that San Carlo uses in its Craigslist ads (front door picture). Figure out which unit that is, and you know where the CK family lives! <a href="http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/apa/735973375.html">San Carlo Craigslist</a>



Waiting08 - Sorry, looks like I lied, they have listed at $2,630 today. That's as high as I remember seeing the price.
 
We checked out Santa maria yesterday, 3 bedroom apts have a good layout but it's a little congested, so probably will not go for it. We went to the neighbouring Santa Rosa too, overall that complex was more appealing, lots of activities for kids etc, three bedroom townhomes are very spacious, but rent is 2815 or something.



We might check out San Carlo today, CK would you know if WestPark school is already full. Santa Rosa leasing person had informed us that Plaza Vista Kintergarden enrollment is already over and we'll have to be on the waiting list.
 
[quote author="waiting08" date=1214777704] CK would you know if WestPark school is already full. Santa Rosa leasing person had informed us that Plaza Vista Kintergarden enrollment is already over and we'll have to be on the waiting list.</blockquote>


I'm pretty sure Westpark has K slots open. I recall the principal saying at the orientation they could accept as many as 66 incoming K this year, but likely would not hit that number. As a matter of fact, I think Westpark is an overflow school for Plaza Vista....so even if you live in the Plaza Vista attendance area, you may still end up at Westpark. I believe you need to add you name to some sort of waiting list at Plaza Vista early in the calendar year (January?) to even be considered for a spot the following year --- even if you live in the attendance area.



Let me know if you decide to go with San Carlo, I'll PM you my information --- would love the referral! ;)
 
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