Help! What city to move to in Orange County?? (Irvine: home, live)

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by Saphyre

And don't forget Fullerton (I live here ) - Yorba Linda's neighbor Actually the YL, Fullerton, Placentia, Brea area is pretty nice compared to a lot of the earlier cities mentioned.

My dad and [current] wife and my half-sister lived in Fullerton, right down the hill from St. Jude Medical Center. He said on their street, there would sometimes be people riding horses!

I worked for three different companies in Brea, which is a nice, clean city with a vibrant downtown and shopping areas (Brea Mall and others). The one big drawback to Brea and other northern O.C. cities is that they can get blazing HOT during the summer.

[dakicka]

markasaur,

good review here... i am thinking about moving to turtle ridge in irvine (right next to newport) off newport coast dr. im a 26 yr old single male professional looking to have an active life, play golf, do well in my career- financial advisor, and meet people. i read that you said many of the people are the "typical oc" outwardly concerned individuals. i keep hearing this and it turns me off, but i guess u gotta take the good with the bad, right?! even in north jersey you have gorgeous girls but a lot of them are snots, not too into money, but very stuck up! so i guess it goes with the territory, at least theres a hope youll find a diamond in the rough, just makes the adventure more interesting haha.

i wanted some feedback on nightclubs in the newport beach area. please provide place names for me people!!! nightclubs, lounges, more dancing-dance/house music, upscale, dressy. i already found cool daytime beach bars, but i want more upscale nyc style! thanks : )

Originally Posted by markasaur

Hi Tom,

Funny you mention the specifics of your new job. I know exactly where you will be working because I work for the same company. I purposely bought in Irvine (near Spectrum, I-5 and I-405) so as to be central to any potential job changes. The newest neighborhoods in Irvine, Tustin, and Newport Beach would probably serve you well, particularly if the price tag for 1 bedroom rentals doesn't scare you. In fact, I was renting at Baypointe in Newport Beach not long ago... and it was wonderful. All of the Irvine Company rental properties are well managed. removed will get you in touch with what they have available.

Lots and lots of 20-something singles in our area of Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Newport. No problems there. Just be advised, MANY people in this area fit the "OC" stereotype and are quite concerned with outer appearances and monetary pursuits as opposed to the deeper, more important things in life. That being said, there are many wonderful people here as well.

As far as commuting goes, I have no problem whatsoever as I am driving opposite the worst of the traffic. I also leave early so as to be at work by 7, and leave the office no later than 4. I never have a problem making it between south Irvine and Anaheim in 25 minutes. Consider this: Irvine is a city of over 200k, and there are over 3 jobs for every resident (something like that is what I read). It pays to live in an area where everyone else is coming in to work during the day... it really helps the traffic patterns for you.

Hope this helps!

[pootie562]

its pretty funny that you would say that cypress is not safe even though it borders the city of seal beach. Cypress is extremely safe, family oriented, plus it is the most nicest/safest affordable city in orange county. the only parts of cypress not to compare is when it borders hawaiian gardens, and stanton. but the garden grove area of eastgate is ridiculously nice since it borders the collegeparkestates of sealbeach

[Babeebloos]

Something to consider is the temperatures.
The coastal cities are much cooler in the summer with breezes and usually you don't need any AC. Inland...another story, no breeze and very hot in summer can be over 100, 113 many days.
Wintertime, on the coast is warmer, usually needing heat only in the evenings until dawn. Inland...again...colder.
It makes a difference by being just 'over the hill'.

[avery16]

I moved out of socal in December of 06. I had lived in Laguna Niguel, went so school at CSULB and transferred to Fullerton, then bought a place in SJC. The cost of living was so high I had to leave (even renting a room in someones house was minimum 600!). Im in Texas, Houston of all places, but I have a house larger than most in OC for 150k (over 2500sq/ft), with a BACK YARD (I missed those!) and I even get humidity! What a deal... I can't wait to visit California in the summer! Glad to hear some people are able to find good homes in a wonderful place (and ya, like others have said, look out for some of those girls Tom...another reason I moved, and traffic!)

[nevercoldcall]

Originally Posted by Babeebloos

Something to consider is the temperatures.
The coastal cities are much cooler in the summer with breezes and usually you don't need any AC. Inland...another story, no breeze and very hot in summer can be over 100, 113 many days.
Wintertime, on the coast is warmer, usually needing heat only in the evenings until dawn. Inland...again...colder.
It makes a difference by being just 'over the hill'.

The coastal weather is wonderful. I left Phoenix because it was brutally hot in summer and cold and blustery in winter. It sounds like the inland areas of OC are similar.

[Sweetykaat]

Yes, I would be loathe to live so far inland! Really prefer to live near the coast... but, will need to commute during peak times. Is it insane for me to consider residing in Laguna or Newport Beach and driving twice a day to/fro Corona? Can anyone tell me about that drive?

Also, I'd prefer to reside reasonably close to nightlife, I am 45, single and like to be close to places where people hang out to socialize and dance. From reading the posts here, it sounds like that would be Newport? What other areas have nightlife?

[Sweetykaat]

Tom, check out : Newport Beach Balboa Peninsula Nightclubs, Nightlife & Bars * PubClub.com and Orange County, Huntington Beach Corona del Mar Nightclubs, Bars, Nightlife, Events * PubClub.com

for nightlife, bars and clubs.

[missionhome]

Sweetkaat,
The drive into Corona is THE WORST in Orange County. The Inland Empire (Corona, Riverside, San Bernardino) have only ONE route into Orange County. The 91 freeway will be a nightmare at the peak hours during the work days. The weekends can also be bad when Orange County people are using the 91 to get to the 15 to Las Vegas, the Colorado River, Palm Springs, the ski resorts, ect... and the Inland Empire residents are coming into Orange County to the beach. It is too far out of the way to cut up to the 60, 10, and 210 freeways that head into Los Angeles and you will just waste time. You can take the toll road and save maybe twenty minutes, but it will cost you about $6 a day. On the 91, they also have made money by building "Express Lanes" that cost up to $6 one way at peak hours! These are in place of the usual carpool lanes on So Cal freeways. I hope others will second me on how bad a commute you could have. It is really a horrible drive, and during work weeks plan on AT LEAST one hour drives at rush hour. You probably have to pick either a new job or a new city to live in.
You said you wanted to be around nightlife. If you make this drive, you will never have any time to enjoy that nightlife.

You can go to this website to check on how traffic is to Corona from wherever you currently are: Sigalert.com - Orange County Traffic Report

Currently on Sig Alert it is 3:45PM on a weekend and the average speed on the 91 to Corona is 16mph! Coming out of Corona to Orange County is it 55mph. There is no accidents reported going into Corona, it is just that crowded. I think you should come here and drive that route several times (at peak hour) before you move to be sure you can handle it.

Please ask more questions if you have them.

[Jillzs]

Tom,

Huntington Beach is a great place for a single guy to live, BUT it is quite a drive even to get the the freeway. Your commute time would be around 45 mins.

If price is your biggest factor, I'd look into Costa Mesa. It borders Newport. You'd be close to the beach, the bars, clubs and the freeway. Seal Beach is another great option. Unfortunately, rents are high everywhere here.