Where in S.Cali?

[Angel Bear]

Due to my business (home stager/decorator), I need to be in or around an area that has affluent people.

Very cool! I love creative people!

Best of luck with your relocation! Let us know where you settle

[leavingvegas]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

What you may consider "seedy" may be just what I consider "beachy" - there are tons of multi-million dollar homes in Seal Beach and Long Beach....you can't just drive down the coast to assess an area - there are affluent people all over California and often the most expensive homes are not at the beach. If you want to live in an affluent area, then look at realtor.com and look at how expensive the homes are in different areas of So. California - there are areas of tremendous wealth from San Diego to the northern border of California - certainly a concentration of wealth in Orange County - San Francisco has some of the most expensive real estate in the country.

Naples (part of Long Beach) has homes worth tens of millions of dollars with yachts as does Newport Beach.

I agree with you, as far as driving down the coast to make an assessment but a nice beach is important to me since that's one of the main reasons I'm moving there I didn't consider Seal Beach but I'll research it some more. If you had a choice where would you live? That's if you were single, female, 38 yr, not into the party scene but likes concerts, nice dining and beach activites, no children, wanting to start a Home Staging business (work at Neiman Marcus or Saks for a while)?

[Cattknap]

Well I think Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar - I love Corona Del Mar and I think you would too - it is right down the street from Fashion Island (on PCH overlooking the ocean) - one of the nicest outdoor shopping centers you'll find in So. California. In Santa Ana (right on the edge of Costa Mesa) is South Coast Plaza - the nicest shopping center in the area. There are quite a few interior design businesses and lots of real estate offices in Newport and Corona Del Mar.

I live in a middle class (meaning $700,000 for a 1800 square foot home built in 1950) area of Long Beach not too far from the beach and there are quite a few homes that are staged by professionals for open houses. Most of the stagers work for realtors as subcontractors - something you might think about.

There are lots and lots of people trying to sell their homes in So. California right now and I have seen an increase in home staging so hooking up with a good real estate firm might be a way to go....something to think about.

I think Laguna Beach is another very high end area - the beach is gorgeous there but very crowded.

One of the most exclusive and charming places in Orange County is Balboa Island - in the heart of Newport Beach - there is a ferry that crosses Newport Harbor that goes from the peninsula to the island or you can get to the island off of PCH - tons of money there - you will find little cape cod cottages and grand mansions on the island - nothing is cheap.

Be prepared to pay a lot of $$ for a small house or even to rent....1300 square foot homes in our little neighborhood rent for $2100 a month on up.

Hope I've been of help to you.

[leavingvegas]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

Well I think Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar - I love Corona Del Mar and I think you would too - it is right down the street from Fashion Island (on PCH overlooking the ocean) - one of the nicest outdoor shopping centers you'll find in So. California. In Santa Ana (right on the edge of Costa Mesa) is South Coast Plaza - the nicest shopping center in the area. There are quite a few interior design businesses and lots of real estate offices in Newport and Corona Del Mar.

I live in a middle class (meaning $700,000 for a 1800 square foot home built in 1950) area of Long Beach not too far from the beach and there are quite a few homes that are staged by professionals for open houses. Most of the stagers work for realtors as subcontractors - something you might think about.

There are lots and lots of people trying to sell their homes in So. California right now and I have seen an increase in home staging so hooking up with a good real estate firm might be a way to go....something to think about.

I think Laguna Beach is another very high end area - the beach is gorgeous there but very crowded.

One of the most exclusive and charming places in Orange County is Balboa Island - in the heart of Newport Beach - there is a ferry that crosses Newport Harbor that goes from the peninsula to the island or you can get to the island off of PCH - tons of money there - you will find little cape cod cottages and grand mansions on the island - nothing is cheap.

Be prepared to pay a lot of $$ for a small house or even to rent....1300 square foot homes in our little neighborhood rent for $2100 a month on up.

Hope I've been of help to you.

As for Home Staging, that's exactly what I do, is align myself with realtors. The problem here is people really don't have money. They bought all these big homes but can't afford the mortgage when the arm loans were due. So, they want to sell but no money to enhance them.

Besides housing expense, what is your opinion on La Jolla since it's close to San Diego?

Now, I haven't heard good things about Santa Ana, so in that area would you say Costa Mesa or Irvine for living/housing (since it seems less expensive in those areas)?

In conclusion, between Newport and Seal Beach/long Beach, you feel Newport?

[Cattknap]

La Jolla is beautiful - it might be a great area for you. Santa Ana is not a place you want to live - but South Coast Plaza is right on the cusp of Santa Ana and Irvine/Newport Beach in a very nice financial district with expensive homes/condos around - At South Coast you will find Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, BVLGARI, Baccarat, Escada, Brooks Brothers, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Coach, Sak's, Nordstrom, Armani, Barney's, Jimmy Choo, Bloomingdales, Louis Vitton, Montblanc, Tiffany, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Porsche Design, Yves St. Laurant and on and on - believe me, they have what you need there :-).

If it were me it would be a toss up between Newport/Balboa/Corona Del Mar and Laguna..you really should spend a few days here and decide for yourself.

Remember though, it will be very expensive to live in any of those places.

[leavingvegas]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

La Jolla is beautiful - it might be a great area for you. Santa Ana is not a place you want to live - but South Coast Plaza is right on the cusp of Santa Ana and Irvine/Newport Beach in a very nice financial district with expensive homes/condos around - At South Coast you will find Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, BVLGARI, Baccarat, Escada, Brooks Brothers, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Coach, Sak's, Nordstrom, Armani, Barney's, Jimmy Choo, Bloomingdales, Louis Vitton, Montblanc, Tiffany, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Porsche Design, Yves St. Laurant and on and on - believe me, they have what you need there :-).

If it were me it would be a toss up between Newport/Balboa/Corona Del Mar and Laguna..you really should spend a few days here and decide for yourself.

Remember though, it will be very expensive to live in any of those places.

I just spent the last week in those areas, and I was drawn to La Jolla and Newport but it's wonderful getting opinions from people that live there; which is a much different experience.

What is the difference from Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza (which sounds like Caesars Forum shops in Vegas)? I thought Neimans was in Fashion Island??

[Cattknap]

There are a lot more high end designer stores in South Coast....it is an indoor Mall while Fashion Island is outdoors - beautiful fountains, plantings, a big koi pond, great for strolling....you are right Neiman's is at Fashion Island and Sak's is at South Coast. If you love La Jolla go for it!

[leavingvegas]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

There are a lot more high end designer stores in South Coast....it is an indoor Mall while Fashion Island is outdoors - beautiful fountains, plantings, a big koi pond, great for strolling....you are right Neiman's is at Fashion Island and Sak's is at South Coast. If you love La Jolla go for it!

Someone just mentioned Tequesta; do you know where that is and what it's like plus Encinitas didn't look that nice??

Never mind, I just realized that's in Florida. Someone likes it better then So. Cali...