Yorba Linda as a place to settle down?

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abs123

New member
Hi folks,
Found this forum while searching for Yorba Linda / OC area info.
I am from out of state, recently relocated to socal (currently renting) but now ready to buy a house.

I am looking to buy in Yorba Linda area but is there any downsides I should know about? (someone I know mentioned something about YL's proximity to a landfill)

How is YL as a place to settle down and grow my family?

Irvine is also a possibility but I read some concerns about toxins...

One house that got me curious in YL is this one:https://www.redfin.com/CA/Yorba-Linda/5305-Via-Cervantes-92887/home/4259382

Any thoughts on why this home is not selling for such a long time? I thought eastlake was a desirable neighborhood?

I am just starting my search so any feedback / input / advice is appreciated!
 
Yorba Linda is too inland for me.

I prefer to be closer to the beach and more central to Orange County.

But depending on where you work, YL could be a better area for you than Irvine.

Good luck in your search!
 
The houses are nice and its a very family friendly atmosphere.
But it gets significantly hotter there, higher wildfire risk, and there's less freeway access if you're commuting. The closest freeway is the 91 which REALLY stinks, unless you're reverse commuting to the Inland Empire, in which case Yorba Linda could be a very viable option for a nice house at a more reasonable price than Irvine, and with good schools.

There's still a lot of open land to build there, so the property values probably won't go up as quickly as in more central Orange County.

 
Since you are out of state and not familiar with Orange County, I would highly advise you to rent before you buy.  It's a cheap preview of a neighborhood and will either confirm that you want to buy in the area or that you want to look elsewhere to buy.

Besides the things noted by the other folks, you may also want to consider your commute/s to work (traffic can be really bad if you are going the wrong way). 
 
Yorba Linda Eastlake is a nice community.
But after living there for awhile, you are going to wish you lived in a more centralized area.
It's like 10 minutes + to anything. 

It's mostly homes out there....which makes it boring.  Sure there are commercial centers, but after going to the same 2-3 plazas for 6 months, you are going to wish you were closer to more shit.
 
I'd suggest looking into West or South side of Yorba Linda, North side of Placentia/Fullerton, and Brea.

Back in 2008 when East Yorba Linda was on fire, my cousin had an apartment there and it was difficult getting in and out.

I'd avoid West Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills due to wildfire (or man made fire) concerns.  South Fullerton and Placentia has crime issues, but the north side is pretty nice. 

Check out Placentia along Alta Vista, between intersections of Alta Vista & Kramer and Alta Vista & North Rose Drive.  There's Kaiser hospital, Fry's Electronics and Metrolink station (Anaheim Canyon) nearby.  If you drive south on N Rose Drive there's Santa Ana Riverlakes and Anaheim Lake for fishing and emergency freshwater supply.  A little further south is Village at Orange Mall and Tulsa Rib Company.  Many nice lake parks nearby.

For South Side of Yorba Linda, check out the area across street from Yorba Regional Park.  It's older homes but the people living there are pretty nice.  I used to park on their street and walk across to the park (paid parking) to go fishing.  Highly recommend taking a walk along the lakes at Yorba Regional, I prefer it over Tri-City Park.  But the homes by Tri-City Park in Placentia are newer.

Brea has a lot of nice new homes built along north side of Lambert.  But I like their downtown area.  The city is also packed with commercial retail by Brea Mall along Imperial.  If you enjoy shooting sports there's an old indoor shooting range that only charges $30/month membership, so it's like $1/day to go there.

For Fullerton, many Koreans like Amerige Heights on the former Hughes plant site.  But I'd suggest taking a drive up to Laguna Lake Park in Fullerton and check out the area.  Then go see downtown Fullerton area, have pizza at Angelo's and Vinci's, coffee or tea at Veronese Gallery & Cafe, and a little shopping at the British Grocer's.  Early Bird is good for breakfast/brunch.

If you plan to live in Yorba Linad area and commute to work in Irvine, I'd highly recommend living within reasonable distance to Anaheim Canyon Metrolink station.  Free 72 hr parking and monthly train pass to Irvine station is $189.  If you buy closer to Fullerton station, that's a main train hub station and there's a lot more trains throughout the day.
 
I don't think you should be afraid of Irvine. Toxins are only a factor in the Great Park area and possibly Portola Springs as far as I know (please elaborate on what you heard). I used to live near Yorba Linda and, even though it was peaceful, I think Irvine is a much more vibrant and desirable place to live, with much better restaurants, shopping, climate, jobs, transportation access, housing options, and diversity.
 
You are going to get a biased view with a post here in my opinion.  Speak to most people that live in yorba linda and anaheim hills and they wouldnt live anywhere else.  The problem is you wont know what you like until you try it since everyone has personal preferences.  You might just want to rent before you buy as USC suggested. 
 
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
 
a lot of people love yorba linda though.  so don't take my word for it, i'd check it out yourself.  live there for a year and see if you like it.
 
dethman said:
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
Click to expand...

definitely get more for your money out there.  I disagree with a couple things though.  There are tons of retail centers if you live in yorba linda.  Brea is literally a few mins drive and there are a ton of stuff out there.  Furthermore, I think the traffic on the 5 is worse than the 91 now.  I just refuse to get on the 5 now during weekdays...
 
hello said:
dethman said:
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
Click to expand...

definitely get more for your money out there.  I disagree with a couple things though.  There are tons of retail centers if you live in yorba linda.  Brea is literally a few mins drive and there are a ton of stuff out there.  Furthermore, I think the traffic on the 5 is worse than the 91 now.  I just refuse to get on the 5 now during weekdays...
Click to expand...

Depends on which way you are going on the 5 and which part of the day but yeah it can be bad.
 
hello said:
dethman said:
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
Click to expand...

definitely get more for your money out there.  I disagree with a couple things though.  There are tons of retail centers if you live in yorba linda.  Brea is literally a few mins drive and there are a ton of stuff out there.  Furthermore, I think the traffic on the 5 is worse than the 91 now.  I just refuse to get on the 5 now during weekdays...
Click to expand...

i think it depends where in yorba linda you're looking.  we were looking at the estates and enclave, in northeast YL where the high school is.  after we checked them out, my wife and i just went around looking for a place to eat, but there was nothing but houses around, very little retail in that area.  feels like the middle of nowhere.  brea is 15-18 minutes away from there through a bunch of stoplights.  my wife works at the spectrum, so traffic down the 5 in the morning and back up the 5 in the evening is horrendous.
 
dethman said:
hello said:
dethman said:
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
Click to expand...

definitely get more for your money out there.  I disagree with a couple things though.  There are tons of retail centers if you live in yorba linda.  Brea is literally a few mins drive and there are a ton of stuff out there.  Furthermore, I think the traffic on the 5 is worse than the 91 now.  I just refuse to get on the 5 now during weekdays...
Click to expand...

i think it depends where in yorba linda you're looking.  we were looking at the estates and enclave, in northeast YL where the high school is.  after we checked them out, my wife and i just went around looking for a place to eat, but there was nothing but houses around, very little retail in that area.  feels like the middle of nowhere.  brea is 15-18 minutes away from there through a bunch of stoplights.  my wife works at the spectrum, so traffic down the 5 in the morning and back up the 5 in the evening is horrendous.
Click to expand...

Santiago canyon without taking the 5
 
had to go to corona yesterday around rush hour, too cheap for toll, took santiago, about 1.5 hours to Magnolia, ouch
 
If you are going to Corona @ 5PM on a weekday, you should get on at Katella & 55 and pay the $12 toll on the 91 express way.  The 241 toll is also backed up.  91 & 15 is getting major construction and will not be done for another 2 yrs.

If you have 3 people in the car, the 91 express way is free.
 
ps9 said:
had to go to corona yesterday around rush hour, too cheap for toll, took santiago, about 1.5 hours to Magnolia, ouch
Click to expand...

Because of traffic on the 91 and construction on the 91 around Corona?
 
Wobert said:
I don't think you should be afraid of Irvine. Toxins are only a factor in the Great Park area and possibly Portola Springs as far as I know (please elaborate on what you heard). I used to live near Yorba Linda and, even though it was peaceful, I think Irvine is a much more vibrant and desirable place to live, with much better restaurants, shopping, climate, jobs, transportation access, housing options, and diversity.
Click to expand...

Irvine=Diversity?

It's turning into SGV
 
dethman said:
hello said:
dethman said:
we looked at yorba linda as an alternative to irvine as you get a lot more for your money.  however the terrible freeway access from most of the newer, larger homes, lack of large retail centers in that area, and terrible traffic to central OC where my wife works makes it a no go.  i grew up in anaheim hills and it felt like the boonies, there just wasn't anything around. 

unfortunate, i can get 1500 more sq ft, a huge lot, and a pool for the same price as a much smaller home on a small lot here in irvine.
Click to expand...

definitely get more for your money out there.  I disagree with a couple things though.  There are tons of retail centers if you live in yorba linda.  Brea is literally a few mins drive and there are a ton of stuff out there.  Furthermore, I think the traffic on the 5 is worse than the 91 now.  I just refuse to get on the 5 now during weekdays...
Click to expand...

i think it depends where in yorba linda you're looking.  we were looking at the estates and enclave, in northeast YL where the high school is.  after we checked them out, my wife and i just went around looking for a place to eat, but there was nothing but houses around, very little retail in that area.  feels like the middle of nowhere.  brea is 15-18 minutes away from there through a bunch of stoplights.  my wife works at the spectrum, so traffic down the 5 in the morning and back up the 5 in the evening is horrendous.
Click to expand...

I think Diamond Bar or Walnut might be a better location than Yorba Linda.  It's right off the freeway, takes less time to get to the heart of Brea shopping and the schools are good. 
 
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