Tell me about Carlsbad, Calfornia - Irvine vs. Carlsbad

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panda

panda

Well-known member
Never been there, but I hear very good things about Carlsbad, CA ( San Diego). How does the area compare to Irvine? Schools, demographics, jobs, young families moving in. Though the area is more predominately white, the per capital income is similar to that of Irvine. I think the homes there are also 10-15% cheaper than Irvine and much less crowded. 
 
Due to the outlet, Legoland and some friends living there... we've been there quite a bit.

We've even looked at model homes there... the only problem is all the new home communities are way inland. There are lots of businesses close by and it's a great area but for the 10-15% off... I'd rather stay in Irvine.
 
IHO, I've heard that there are a lot of tech and biotech companies moving into Carlsbad. I've also heard that the south side of Carlsbad near Enchitas is where the newer and nicer homes are located. Do you know how the HOA and Melloroos are for Carlsbad compared to Irvine?

Irvine        ranked #15 wealthiest city in the nation:  per captial income $41,090 median income $94,895 households make over $200k - 11.4%
Carlsbad    ranked #19 wealthiest city in the nation: per captial income $42,283 median income $88,519 household make over $200k - 11.2%

The difference between Carlsbad and Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, and San Clemente is the Carlsbad is more centrally located for the San Diego job center hubs and you are close the beautiful coastal beaches. Also you are not competing with all the wealthy Asian FCBs with cash. If i was in a financial situation to buy a million dollar home.. I'd much rather spend it in the nice part of Carlsbad over Irvine.
 
I only know of it from what I've seen during short stays in the tourist area around Legoland. It is really beautiful, especially The Flower Fields, where people come from all over the world to visit during peek bloom between March and May. Coincidentally, I'm going to be staying in Carlsbad this coming weekend. My stays have been so nice in the past that I've thought in my head how it would be nice to move there, especially with less expensive real estate. I actually do know a guy who commutes every day from Carlsbad to Irvine for work! He takes the train so I guess it's not all that stressful but still... I don't know if that would be worth it to us.
 
I used to go down to Carlsbad often because one of my company's major subcontractor is in Carlsbad.
A great place if love golf.
It's called a golf capital because it has many of the top manufacturer headquarters.  Also many great golf courses near by.
The weather is much better than Irvine.  In summer when it's 95 degrees in Irvine, Carlsbad will be 78 degrees.
Also, Carlsbad has a somewhat hilly terrain, which I like.
 
Irvine2Irvine said:
I used to go down to Carlsbad often because one of my company's major subcontractor is in Carlsbad.
A great place if love golf.
It's called a golf capital because it has many of the top manufacturer headquarters.  Also many great golf courses near by.
The weather is much better than Irvine.  In summer when it's 95 degrees in Irvine, Carlsbad will be 78 degrees.
Also, Carlsbad has a somewhat hilly terrain, which I like.
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Don't forget that most of it is very close to the ocean which is also very nice.
 
Also don't forget that Carlsbad is a lot less crowded than Irvine. My next family vacation is going to Carlsbad and I'll check out some new homes while i am out there....

Akim... I agree... Irvine is not some magical place... it is overpriced for what you pay due to all the wealthy asians with cash bidding up the price.  I will guarantee you if all the Asians living in Irvine (Asian rapture) somehow magically disappeared, Irvine home prices would drop 20% within a second.

USCTrojanCPA said:
Irvine2Irvine said:
I used to go down to Carlsbad often because one of my company's major subcontractor is in Carlsbad.
A great place if love golf.
It's called a golf capital because it has many of the top manufacturer headquarters.  Also many great golf courses near by.
The weather is much better than Irvine.  In summer when it's 95 degrees in Irvine, Carlsbad will be 78 degrees.
Also, Carlsbad has a somewhat hilly terrain, which I like.
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Don't forget that most of it is very close to the ocean which is also very nice.
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Okay.... LOL at "Asian Rapture"... although that should be "FCB Rapture". That's going into my lexicon and I'm gonna use it where I can.

If you look at macro locations... Irvine is ideal because it's in between LA and Carlsbad/San Diego. Once you go to Carlsbad, LA becomes a much harder place to visit, but then I guess you replace that with Mexico?

Outside of Orange County, Carlsbad would probably be our 2nd choice to live because of:

1. Oceans
2. Pro football (although I am looking forward to our own NBA team)
3. Alberto's
4. Legoland/Sea World/SDZoo/Wild Animal Park
5. Weather (although not too sure about I2I's comparison, inland Carlsbad is probably hotter than Irvine)

And it's actually much cheaper than Irvine. You can get stuff like this:
http://lyonhomes.com/southern-california/blossom-grove/floorplans/3R

blossom_grove_3R_reversed.gif


2800+sft 5/3 for about $570k... that's actually more like 40% off (compared to Los Colinas Plan 1)!!

So is it "Panda Dreaming of Carlsbad" now?
 
freedomcm said:
you should read Jim the Realtor's website:  bubbleinfo.com for all the dirt
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Jim's video tours should be packaged into a DVD and sold as a set, his comments on certain people's choices on interior decor are comic genius.
 
Martin my man... you need to move there. Why stay in Irvine and pay the "Amarillo" premium? Consider Carlsbad as a place where the FCB rapture has already happened.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Carlsbad/2301-Mica-Rd-92009/home/22806234

Now, this is a house that is worth $835k... 3 car garage, 4000 sq/ft in a golf course gated community in Carlsbad. Not that 2350 sq/ft house in North Park or Northwood II with "Mickey Mouse" gates for the same price.

USCTrojanCPA said:
Damn, that's cheap.  Very tempting to say the least.
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Panda said:
Consider Carlsbad as a place where the FCB rapture has already happened.
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It's already happened or is yet to happen? With the direction "white flight" heads (south) in Orange County, I wouldn't be surprised if it spread there, with Asians entering the market later. I'm not familiar with the residential market there at all... are you saying Asians have abandoned the area?
 
lol. I have no idea... but if i were to guess the white people who are afraid of the Asian Invasion taking place in Irvine are probably already living in Carlsbad (83% of the population is white)

... and many years down the road with many tech and biotech jobs and young families moving down there..... I would imagine the Asians in Irvine would come to the realization, "Hey this is stupid paying a million bucks for a 3 bedroom starter home here in Irvine. What a rip off!" Let's go invade the new "Blanco" land of Carlsbad, and then home prices in Carlsbad will then start to rise.

That's just my guess. :)

In a serious note... schools may not be at par with the Irvine school district, but the Carlsbad and Enchinatis school district is still very good.

SoCal78 said:
Panda said:
Consider Carlsbad as a place where the FCB rapture has already happened.
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It's already happened or is yet to happen? With the direction "white flight" heads (south) in Orange County, I wouldn't be surprised if it spread there, with Asians entering the market later. I'm not familiar with the residential market there at all... are you saying Asians have abandoned the area?
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Panda said:
Martin my man... you need to move there. Why stay in Irvine and pay the "Amarillo" premium? Consider Carlsbad as a place where the FCB rapture has already happened.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Carlsbad/2301-Mica-Rd-92009/home/22806234

Now, this is a house that is worth $835k... 3 car garage, 4000 sq/ft in a golf course gated community in Carlsbad. Not that 2350 sq/ft house in North Park or Northwood II with "Mickey Mouse" gates for the same price.

USCTrojanCPA said:
Damn, that's cheap.  Very tempting to say the least.
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One slight problem for me Panda, Irvine has a big part of me making a living.  Commute from Carlsbad to Irvine is no easy task.  Prices around $200/sf make it tempting though (even cheaper than South OC).  I wonder if these homes are prices around rental parity, I'll have to check MLS.
 
the asian invasion has already happened in north SD coastal.  there are several new developments (CV, SF?) full of FCBs.

that said, if you have a real 9-5 job at the spectrum, it would be easy to commute by train betwixt the two.

 
I don't understand why anyone would even go to Carlsbad. South County has corrected faster than Irvine, and seems to me a much better alternative. You won't find brand new homes at $200/sqft, but if you can compromise on when the home was built, you might get close.

A commute from Aliso Viejo or Laguna Hills to Irvine (if you work in OC), is much more preferable than a commute from Carlsbad.
 
I have been to Carlsbad a couple of times- it just didn't do anything for me, even with the cheaper homes.  Besides, if I were to go the the "city", I'd rather go to LA than San Diego.

It seems the area also lacks job diversity, which is especially important for 2-couple professionals. 
 
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