Move from Bay Area (Peninsula) to Irvine area (Los Angeles, Santa Ana: low income, neighborhood)

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by Mossy

Here in the bay area Los Gatos, Palo Alto and Los Altos have nice downtowns you can walk to with restaurants and shops. I think Laguna would be the closest to what I am thinking. Thank you for the suggestions. The job would be near UC Irvine. I know the area is pretty spread out.

There aren't too many walkable downtowns where Irvine is. Tustin has this thing called "The District" that's okay. Anaheim has a couple spots like Garden Walk and Downtown Disney. But Laguna Beach, SJC, and Dana Point have those traditional walkable downtown areas that you're looking for. PCH in Newport has a few spots too, and can't forget Balboa Island which is very nice to walk around. You'll definitely have your fair share and each offerings something different. More variety than the Peninsula in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Yeah, I see quite a few Lambos. Teslas, Audis, Range Rovers, Mercedes etc seem more common than Toyotas where I live.

You might live near me lol. A lot of Cayennes too. I think the only cars in the area that aren't luxury models or high-priced models of "normal" cars are those for UCI students. Pull up at almost any shopping center in South OC and the majority of cars are luxury models.

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

I suppose that is true if you think the only route from Irvine to "LA" (in this case DTLA) is the 5 Freeway. I get from my home in Corona del Mar to my office in DTLA in less than an hour most days. I won't give up my secret route, but in the days of Waze, it isn't hard to duplicate. It also helps to have a working knowledge of all the freeways that are possible (5, 605, 710, 91, 105, 110, 60) and an Express Pass.

So maybe you can do the drive in under an hour, but you’re proving my point that SoCal traffic is a way of life unless you know the “secret” routes. There’s just no way around it, you will end up scheduling your life around traffic if you live in OC.

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

There aren't too many walkable downtowns where Irvine is. Tustin has this thing called "The District" that's okay. Anaheim has a couple spots like Garden Walk and Downtown Disney. But Laguna Beach, SJC, and Dana Point have those traditional walkable downtown areas that you're looking for. PCH in Newport has a few spots too, and can't forget Balboa Island which is very nice to walk around. You'll definitely have your fair share and each offerings something different. More variety than the Peninsula in my opinion.



You might live near me lol. A lot of Cayennes too. I think the only cars in the area that aren't luxury models or high-priced models of "normal" cars are those for UCI students. Pull up at almost any shopping center in South OC and the majority of cars are luxury models.

Eh. District is a huge shopping center to me. Nice shops or whatever. But pass. Yea the cars in Irvine are just insane

[meameame12]

funny that you are looking to escape to Irvine. We are looking to escape to Texas based on insane cost of living down here in OC. We are not outdoorsy people, so didn't benefit from living here. Irvine is well placed as its about 10 degrees hotter mid-day than by the beach to our west and about 10 degrees cooler than the mountains to the east. So its ideally placed.

My kid has ASD as well and northwood high school had been a disaster to the point where they now fully fund her tuition at a special school. the schools here are brutal, the atmosphere is competitive.

Once we list the house for sale, we are OUTTA HERE

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

So maybe you can do the drive in under an hour, but you’re proving my point that SoCal traffic is a way of life unless you know the “secret” routes. There’s just no way around it, you will end up scheduling your life around traffic if you live in OC.

When you live in an area of 20 million people, there is going to be traffic, but it isn't paralyzing. OC to DTLA traffic isn't even as bad as it was 30 years ago because there are so many other business centers. I see as much traffic heading into Irvine and I do leaving it on the freeway.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

There aren't too many walkable downtowns where Irvine is. Tustin has this thing called "The District" that's okay.

Tustin has this thing called "Old Tustin" that IS its downtown.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Anaheim has a couple spots like Garden Walk and Downtown Disney.

Anaheim too has a real downtown that is very nice, but I'd never send my kids to school in Anaheim.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

But Laguna Beach, SJC, and Dana Point have those traditional walkable downtown areas that you're looking for.

Almost all the older cities of North OC have downtowns; Fullerton (very nice one), Brea, Orange, Garden Grove and even Seal Beach, but the OP asked about schools too and that makes things more complicated.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

Anaheim too has a real downtown that is very nice, but I'd never send my kids to school in Anaheim.

Almost all the older cities of North OC have downtowns; Fullerton (very nice one), Brea, Orange, Garden Grove and even Seal Beach, but the OP asked about schools too and that makes things more complicated.

No one is going to any of these as a destination besides Fullerton and Orange, and for DT Anaheim all anyone goes to there is the Packing District. Those three are a nice trek from South OC where all the great schools are. The rest of the ones you named are not anything to write home about, especially Tustin and Garden Grove. DT Santa Ana is better than all of them except Fullerton although it looks like Brea has been building up. Being in South OC and going between Corona del Mar, San Clemente, Laguna B, and Dana Point is going to be more of an entertaining "old downtown" walking experience than the one block downtown that Tustin has for example.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

No one is going to any of these as a destination besides Fullerton and Orange, and for DT Anaheim all anyone goes to there is the Packing District.

If you think DT Anaheim is just the Packing House you have obviously not spent much time there. The Rinks and Center Street Promenade are hugely popular as is the Muzeo Museum.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Those three are a nice trek from South OC where all the great schools are.

The two highest ranked high schools in OC are in Fullerton and Orange. Valencia in Placentia is #10.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

The rest of the ones you named are not anything to write home about, especially Tustin and Garden Grove.

Tustin has a great downtown with many great restaurants, including Chaak Kitchen, Christakis, Barolo, Kitajima and many others.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

DT Santa Ana is better than all of them except Fullerton

DT Santa Ana certainly has made a comeback, but the threat of gang violence still looms large.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

although it looks like Brea has been building up.

The only thing wrong with DT Brea is that Brea Blvd is a 6 lane street, not the quaint 2 lane streets of several other.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Being in South OC and going between Corona del Mar, San Clemente, Laguna B, and Dana Point is going to be more of an entertaining "old downtown" walking experience than the one block downtown that Tustin has for example.

There is no downtown in Corona del Mar. There is a mile and a half strip of Coast Highway from Gallo'sDeli to Rothschild's.

[amokk]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Those three are a nice trek from South OC where all the great schools are.

? What? Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Orange (OCHSA), Tustin (Beckman/Foothill), and Irvine all have schools that are just as "great" if not "greater" than South OC schools.

You couldn't pay me to live in the new developments of South OC (AV, MV, Lake Forest, Ladera Range, RSM, etc). SJC, DP, and SC are great but they're really secluded and a pain to get to any stuff in North OC or LA.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

If you think DT Anaheim is just the Packing House you have obviously not spent much time there. The Rinks and Center Street Promenade are hugely popular as is the Muzeo Museum.


The two highest ranked high schools in OC are in Fullerton and Orange. Valencia in Placentia is #10.


Tustin has a great downtown with many great restaurants, including Chaak Kitchen, Christakis, Barolo, Kitajima and many others.


DT Santa Ana certainly has made a comeback, but the threat of gang violence still looms large.


The only thing wrong with DT Brea is that Brea Blvd is a 6 lane street, not the quaint 2 lane streets of several other.


There is no downtown in Corona del Mar. There is a mile and a half strip of Coast Highway from Gallo'sDeli to Rothschild's.

Isnt the OP looking for homes in South OC thouvh? Why recommend Fullerton?

Agree to disagree on Tustin's downtown hecause you are just talking about two blocks essentially.. To me it is not much at all and you dont get that walkable downtown experidnce. Also never said there was a downtown in CDM but like you said you still get a lengthy old walkable downtown vibe experience (which you will not get in Tustin). Definitely not saying dont go to Tustin though and it might even be a good spot for OC. And also Tustins downtown is way better than Irvine's nonexistent one.

I last went out in DT Santa Ana back in Fall 2019 and even then would not recommend for a newcomer. Still has some work to do in Santa Ana.

Originally Posted by amokk

? What? Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Orange (OCHSA), Tustin (Beckman/Foothill), and Irvine all have schools that are just as "great" if not "greater" than South OC schools.

You couldn't pay me to live in the new developments of South OC (AV, MV, Lake Forest, Ladera Range, RSM, etc). SJC, DP, and SC are great but they're really secluded and a pain to get to any stuff in North OC or LA.

I hear you but collectively South OC has better schools across the board. I also consider Irvine as South OC (the start of it). With the OP saying the job is in Irvine why recommend Fullerton or Yorba Linda which would be an annoying commutes. If money isnt an issue and the job is in Irvine I'd just stick with South OC where you dont have to check school boundaries.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Isnt the OP looking for homes in South OC thouvh? Why recommend Fullerton?

I didn'trecommend Fullerton or any North/Central OC city. I am just correcting bad information that those places don't have downtowns that people visit.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Agree to disagree on Tustin's downtown hecause you are just talking about two blocks essentially.. To me it is not much at all and you dont get that walkable downtown experidnce. Also never said there was a downtown in CDM but like you said you still get a lengthy old walkable downtown vibe experience (which you will not get in Tustin). Definitely not saying dont go to Tustin though and it might even be a good spot for OC. And also Tustins downtown is way better than Irvine's nonexistent one.

Old Town Tustin stretches from 1st Street to Sixth Street, C Street to Prospect Ave. It has buildings dating to the 1880s, it is how downtowns are supposed to feel in my mind.

My family has been in CdM since the 1920s. I can guarantee you there is zero feel of a downtown or a downtown experience. There is only busy, crowded Coast Highway.

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

I hear you but collectively South OC has better schools across the board. I also consider Irvine as South OC (the start of it). With the OP saying the job is in Irvine why recommend Fullerton or Yorba Linda which would be an annoying commutes. If money isnt an issue and the job is in Irvine I'd just stick with South OC where you dont have to check school boundaries.

Irvine is not South OC despite what you might consider it, it is Central OC. The link below opens a PDF.

https://tinyurl.com/jy79rrfn