Thinking of moving from Toronto Canada to Irvine California (Los Angeles: condo, low crime)

[Sunshine2006]

We are thinking of moving from Toronto to Irvine. When I read the stuff about the traffic, air quality, house prices, etc....I wonder if its the right thing to do.

Toronto is a great city and the only thing I don't like is the long winter. I am just not sure after reading all the comments, if there is enough attraction to moving to Irvine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, we are kind of in limbo right now!
I also have a 3 year old daugther, so schools and quality of life for children is also important.

[darah]

Most of socal, if not all, gets real smoggy. It is not good for children. I lived in socal for over 40 years since I was 14 and there were times I couldn't tolerate the smog. Of course over the years I've heard that there has been improvements. If you live along the coast the air is better but if you live inland then good luck, you may need an oxygen mask. Most cities in socal are real nice.
I live in Temple City about several miles from the city of Pasadena and during the hot summers there is usually a smog alert for most of socal.
Before my parents moved to socal from the san joaquin valley california we use to visit relatives in socal and before we reached la from a distance I would wonder what that big black cloud was, it frieghten me. As we entered la the black cloud was not fog but a grayish cloud, like when it rains. That is a smog cloud. Have you ever been to Irvine.
Even the san joaquin valley is full of smog nowadays because of its population grow and because everyone needs to have a car. san joaquin valley use to be clean air except for the farming dust.
I have never lived in Irvine but I hear it's a pretty nice place. Your child doesn't need smog. Do your research about Irvine. If there is good air quality where you live why change it. I'm use to the smog, infact I don't think I could live without it. I'll be a fish out of water .
California, best state to live in if you have the money and if you can tolerate the smog, except for calcoast. Good Luck!

[Laguna]

Originally Posted by Sunshine2006

We are thinking of moving from Toronto to Irvine. When I read the stuff about the traffic, air quality, house prices, etc....I wonder if its the right thing to do.

Toronto is a great city and the only thing I don't like is the long winter. I am just not sure after reading all the comments, if there is enough attraction to moving to Irvine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, we are kind of in limbo right now!
I also have a 3 year old daugther, so schools and quality of life for children is also important.

Hey Sunshine,

I am Darryl from Laguna Beach, LA and have a very good frineds of mine who cre moving from Toronto to Irvine for good in Dec. They have a son about 4 years old and are facing the same situation. It would help you if you could get in touch with them and if you do wish to do that send me an offline message with your contact info and I will have them call you.

[deborahb]

Originally Posted by Sunshine2006

We are thinking of moving from Toronto to Irvine. When I read the stuff about the traffic, air quality, house prices, etc....I wonder if its the right thing to do.

Toronto is a great city and the only thing I don't like is the long winter. I am just not sure after reading all the comments, if there is enough attraction to moving to Irvine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, we are kind of in limbo right now!
I also have a 3 year old daugther, so schools and quality of life for children is also important.

If you are thinking of moving to Irvine, CA., from Toronto, get ready for a culture shock. Irvine is a great place to live and raise a 3 year old. It's more expensive, but definitely a nice place with excellent education. Home to UC-Irvine.

I moved from Toronto in 1991 as I married a American. Nothing could have prepared for the violence and crime here, far worse than Toronto, but it really does make a big difference where you live. You can't avoid the other areas and you do get used to it (crime).

I love the State and the weather, the earthquakes are not nearly as bad as what you may hear or fear. I wouldn't go back to snow or cold and I still have family there.

Before moving here I would suggest a short term stay or visit as you have a lot at stake. It's a major move and should be carefully considered.

Deborah

[Des_Demona]

Irvine is an area mostly populated by Asians. Just something you should know ahead of time so you aren't suprised when you look around. They are all upwardly mobile upper middle class and it's a very nice area to live. Very very suburban and the houses tend to look the same and everything is manicured the same. It's very nice though very low crime almost non-existent. The weather is mild year round so if weather is your main reason for moving and you can afford Irvine (Orange County) then why not? I would rather live in Canada personally but then I've never experienced the long cold winters you have so perhaps my opinion is colored by that.

[LoveBoating]

Our prospective of Irvine:
We use to (left in May 2002) live in Costa Mesa (by OC College) and have worked in the Irvine area. A Supervisor that I use to have in Irvine, lived in a very nice condo in Irvine. The condo was in a very nice area of Irvine that (at the time in 1985, would have loved to live in). We can't really say too much about the area now, but it "use to be" an excellent area to live in.......if you could afford it. A lot of So CA is just to expensive to live in for families. Having kids can cost a lot and it can definitely cost people to live there. There are a quite a number of families that do find less expensive housing inland, but the commute can be terrible.
We now live in Parker, CO, which is part of the Denver metro area and the commute I make to work in downtown Denver is (in one word) GREAT!! We don't have kids (older couple, 57/58). In So CA, people spend so much time on the freeway system, it can affect their family situation. That don't happen here.
Good Luck with your search!

[love SoCal]

I was born in Toronto and moved to Southern California with my family when I was 3. Grew up in Orange County. I'm not going to give you the "Hollywood" version-- but I love it here. I'm a doctor now and have seen many changes in OC, mostly for the better. I worked in Irvine most of my life. Irvine went from a sleepy farm area to a sprawling neighborhood town. We moved from Costa Mesa to Rancho Santa Margarita because that is a little farther out from the beach, the town is less busy, and the prices are lower than Irvine. Most the time, the days are clear blue skies and in the 65-75 degree range. There is lots of traffic in OC if you don't live close to where you work. To make your lives less stressful, find a place to live near where you will have a job and where your child should go to school. Try anywhere in South County right now (Irvine south). North County is getting old and too much like Los Angeles with crime and smog. Love it here in RSM.

[Des_Demona]

Yeah Rancho Santa Margarita is nice... my cousins live close to there in Coto de Caza. Everything you said (love so_cal) is pretty much right on.

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by Sunshine2006

We are thinking of moving from Toronto to Irvine. When I read the stuff about the traffic, air quality, house prices, etc....I wonder if its the right thing to do.

Toronto is a great city and the only thing I don't like is the long winter. I am just not sure after reading all the comments, if there is enough attraction to moving to Irvine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, we are kind of in limbo right now!
I also have a 3 year old daugther, so schools and quality of life for children is also important.

You could become one of "The Housewives of Orange County" and then we could watch your foibles !

[CmpEngineer]

Originally Posted by love SoCal

Love it here in RSM.

THe one complaint I constantly hear from people about Rancho Santa Margarita is it is so hot. But, the city seems to be newer and is nicely laid out. Much nicer than an old city like Anaheim. Also, RSM seems to be a bit cheaper than Laguna Hills, Irvine, or Mission Viejo.