Is Irvine Worth It Without Kids?

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by sonik555

how exactly is Aliso Viejo cheaper then Irvine?
Have been looking at real estate in both places and both appears comparable.

HOA and Mellp Roos lower in a lot of Aliso.

[twnxn]

Is Irvine worth it if you are single? That is a personal question and depends on what you value. Irvine is not cheap to live in. For many Irvine is overpriced for what you get-the higher HOA, mello roos, higher rent prices for cookie cutter homes or apartments, smaller lots, etc. And yes, for many Irvine is sterile, not a lot of activities if you are single. Irvine is more of a city for families. That said, I know some people have argued that Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo or even Rancho Santa Margarita (I never was a fan of Rancho Santa Margarita) are cheaper alternatives. NOTE: Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo or RSM may be cheaper than Irvine, but still not inexpensive to live in. And I do find them the homes just are cookie cutter as Irvine and sterile. They are also cities more geared towards families. I do not find them having any "happening" single scenes or activities going on there. One thing I don't care for is Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo and definitely RSM are less centralized- I know they are a just a few miles more south of Irvine- but in Southern California traffic terms- that can still make a significant difference in commutes.

I do find it amusing that some equate to living in Irvine as "hell". I know everybody has different preferences- but I think that is an extreme description. I could think of a lot of worse places to live.

And I know some argue Irvine has "too many" Asians or at least "too many" people who live there who do not speak English or unassimilated. I get the part of people not wanting to live in a town where you cannot communicate with the people. But, geez- some people make it sound like Asians are a plague. What it make a difference if more spoke English and assimilated?

Again, these are just all personal preferences.

[Bert_from_back_East]

Originally Posted by twnxn

And I know some argue Irvine has "too many" Asians or at least "too many" people who live there who do not speak English or unassimilated. I get the part of people not wanting to live in a town where you cannot communicate with the people. But, geez- some people make it sound like Asians are a plague. What it make a difference if more spoke English and assimilated?

IMO, it's not so much about speaking English and assimilating to American culture and society in general - it's more about the attitudes and mindsets of most Asians and Middle Easterners living in Irvine that most people don't agree with or want any part of.

For the most part, the Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants in Irvine have a strong tendency towards materialism, showiness and pretentiousness that, IMO, pales in comparison to other wealthy areas of Orange County.

It seems like most of the immigrants in Irvine are very wealthy individuals and families who immigrated to US directly from socialist or economically depressed countries, such as China, Korea, Iran, India, etc. They selected Irvine because it's wealthy, safe and its home to established communities of other wealthy people from their respective homes countries. That, and their perception of Orange County is one propagated by reality TV and the media of extreme opulence and indulgence.

My personal experience has been that these immigrants tend to be so flashy and over-the-top in their respective displays of opulence and wealth that comes off as a farce or a burlesque. It's truly laughable, but it certainly leaves a strong imprint on the community.

Unless you grew up in Irvine, attend UCI or feel compelled to live there to be close to your employer and/or take advantage of the high-performing public schools, then I would highly suggest living elsewhere. IMO, Irvine is at the bottom of the list of "nice" communities in Orange County.

[twnxn]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

IMO, it's not so much about speaking English and assimilating to American culture and society in general - it's more about the attitudes and mindsets of most Asians and Middle Easterners living in Irvine that most people don't agree with or want any part of.

For the most part, the Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants in Irvine have a strong tendency towards materialism, showiness and pretentiousness that, IMO, pales in comparison to other wealthy areas of Orange County.

It seems like most of the immigrants in Irvine are very wealthy individuals and families who immigrated to US directly from socialist or economically depressed countries, such as China, Korea, Iran, India, etc. They selected Irvine because it's wealthy, safe and its home to established communities of other wealthy people from their respective homes countries. That, and their perception of Orange County is one propagated by reality TV and the media of extreme opulence and indulgence.

My personal experience has been that these immigrants tend to be so flashy and over-the-top in their respective displays of opulence and wealth that comes off as a farce or a burlesque. It's truly laughable, but it certainly leaves a strong imprint on the community.

Unless you grew up in Irvine, attend UCI or feel compelled to live there to be close to your employer and/or take advantage of the high-performing public schools, then I would highly suggest living elsewhere. IMO, Irvine is at the bottom of the list of "nice" communities in Orange County.

Well, I am actually an Asian-American, but American born (and quite "Americanized"). I live in Irvine, but did not grow up in Irvine. I ended up here because of my work. True, I could have lived in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Orange, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, etc, but chose Irvine and that was 14 years ago. Despite being an "Americanized" Asian-American 14 years ago, I found South Orange County a bit "too white" ,"plain vanilla", and lacking in diversity for me. I understand what you are saying. Even I can't stand people who are overly materialistic, pretentious and showy be it being East Asian, Middle Eastern, White, Latino, African-American or whatever (and I have come across such people of all backgrounds). NOTE: it is usually the wealthiest ones from Asia and the Middle East that are able to move here, so they don't necessarily represent a large segment of the population.

[vincentwu817]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

IMO, it's not so much about speaking English and assimilating to American culture and society in general - it's more about the attitudes and mindsets of most Asians and Middle Easterners living in Irvine that most people don't agree with or want any part of.

For the most part, the Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants in Irvine have a strong tendency towards materialism, showiness and pretentiousness that, IMO, pales in comparison to other wealthy areas of Orange County.

It seems like most of the immigrants in Irvine are very wealthy individuals and families who immigrated to US directly from socialist or economically depressed countries, such as China, Korea, Iran, India, etc. They selected Irvine because it's wealthy, safe and its home to established communities of other wealthy people from their respective homes countries. That, and their perception of Orange County is one propagated by reality TV and the media of extreme opulence and indulgence.

My personal experience has been that these immigrants tend to be so flashy and over-the-top in their respective displays of opulence and wealth that comes off as a farce or a burlesque. It's truly laughable, but it certainly leaves a strong imprint on the community.

Unless you grew up in Irvine, attend UCI or feel compelled to live there to be close to your employer and/or take advantage of the high-performing public schools, then I would highly suggest living elsewhere. IMO, Irvine is at the bottom of the list of "nice" communities in Orange County.

The materialism and showiness that you have witnessed is not just true in Irvine, but in many other areas in Socal as well. It is just what happens when 18 year old kids have unlimited spending capabilities, regardless of race, culture and so forth. I would say it is a bit unfair to generalize all Asian immigrants into one category - there are just as many Asian immigrants who are highly-educated professionals and speak fluent English despite it not being their first language.

With that said, I'd agree that Irvine is not heading towards the right direction and the housing price is difficult to justify if location and/or schools are not a concern. The lack of culture and sense of community will worsen as the demographics shift.

I am a young renter in Irvine mostly due to the proximity to work. However, Irvine does have other things to offer that may not be true for everyone. First of all, the city is very convenient, you can do most things within a short 10 minute drive - grocery, shopping, food, beach, hiking, parks, etc. Secondly, the extensive network of bike paths allow me to squeeze in a 30 mile bike ride after work only needing to cross the street once or twice. Overall it is a comfortable and convenient place to live in for me for my situation. However, I would never consider Irvine if budget is a major concern and that schools are irrelevant with the exception being that I have a stable career in the city. Other similar priced housing in the general vicinity that offers more value.

Where in your opinion are the "nice communities" that you feel is better than Irvine at the same price point?

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by expatCA

HOA and Mellp Roos lower in a lot of Aliso.

Generally, I think people are just a tad more relaxed in Aliso, and just don't take themselves as seriously as do some in Irvine.
Here's a bit of cornball levity about Aliso Viejo from 2012 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd6PzWqLX_4

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by pacific2

Generally, I think people are just a tad more relaxed in Aliso, and just don't take themselves as seriously as do some in Irvine.

Here's a bit of cornball levity about Aliso Viejo from 2012 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd6PzWqLX_4

Aliso looks a lot more fun than Irvine, hands down!

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Aliso looks a lot more fun than Irvine, hands down!

I like this video where a joyful kid breaks into dance in Aliso while waiting for the 4th of July Fireworks:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vaE4CEm3IQ

[jeffinity]

Better schools, perceived or not, also helps the re-sell value of your home. We raised our kids in Irvine all the way through to college. That means we ended up in a community as empty-nesters. Beautiful walks, bike rides, exciting shopping, dining through out OC, world class colleges with adult education, you name it, Irvine is very good to it's adults without children. You could say that premium prices in Irvine also lead to premium services for adults, too.