Good/Bad about living in Orange County (Santa Ana, Irvine: for sale, crime)

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by Charles

You're correct in the analogy. Are you sure it is not deductible? I thought it was so that's why I did it. I didn't think I was processing my tax forms incorrectly. (I did a two minute google on this and believe if or not I couldn't find anything conclusive...)

I was told it was not deductible in the early 90’s when I was looking to purchase a home that had a mello roos.

Might be deductable now, I don’t know. I would definitely look into it if I were you. Once they catch you they will dig up all previous years taxes they can and give you an annual checkup from then on.

[picsesmauve957]

Originally Posted by Russel

America is the best country in the world. California is the best state in the USA. Orange county is the best county in California. The beach areas of Orange county are obviously the best places you can find anywhere. Therefore, if you live close to the beach in Orange county you live in the best place in the world.

1. When you live here for a long time you feel the weather change. The weather in Orange county is NOT boring but beautiful. If you don't like anything else the least you can complain about is the California weather.

2. The area is economically diversified and businesses are prospering. If you cannot find a good job here that means you must go back to school to get additional qualifications. You cannot get lazy in Orange county and be successful.

3. It is important to look good in Orange county. That means you have to look after yourself. Orange county will not allow anyone to neglect their body and demand a high pay. It is not going to happen.

4. The area is culturally diversified. There many Asians, Middle Easterners, Mexicans and also the blond white people. Sorry if it bothers anyone. We have incredible Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese cuisine - all kinds of restaurants.

5. As for shopping, very few places on this planet can match the quality and variety of Orange county. The South Coast Plaza and the Fashion Island are the best of the very best anywhere.

6. The Performing Arts Center, the Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Barclay Theatre are again the best of the very best. In fact, the combination of the Orange County Performing Arts Center together with the Segerstrom Hall at least from the architectural point of view is more impressive than the Lincoln Center in New York.

7. Los Angeles with all its diversity is only 1.5 hours away. San Diego is also close by. Las Vegas is 3.5 - 4 hours away. The Palm Springs area with a totally different climate and atmosphere is only 2 hours away.

8. The housing is expensive because people understand the value and they want to live in Orange county. Obviously, it creates a high demand. Those who expect a huge housing price reduction/collapse are living in a fantasy. There are many people from all over the world ready to move here.

9. The traffic is not good but it is not any different from the big metropolitan centers in other parts of the country.

10. Considering that life is not a dress rehearsal but a one-time shot it makes good sense to live in a place that offers the best weather, services, employment/business opportunities, beautiful beaches, etc. etc.

High Five!

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by Russel

America is the best country in the world. California is the best state in the USA. Orange county is the best county in California. The beach areas of Orange county are obviously the best places you can find anywhere. Therefore, if you live close to the beach in Orange county you live in the best place in the world.
.

Except maybe for the beaches in Hawaii? And I'd say the beaches in N. Palm Beach County are nicer and more tropical than in OC. Further, I've heard LA dumps sewage into the ocean, so what? You get to swim and surf in sewage?

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by JMadison

Except maybe for the beaches in Hawaii? And I'd say the beaches in N. Palm Beach County are nicer and more tropical than in OC. Further, I've heard LA dumps sewage into the ocean, so what? You get to swim and surf in sewage?

Our beach living is also probably cheaper than Hawaii and Palm Beach, but you gotta pick the right beach--a lot of LA beaches aren't so safe to swim in... I don't like ocean water anyway (although, I'll swim in Hawaii's beaches and Vietnam 's China Beach any day--beautiful!). Newport Beach, Huntigton Beach, Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar are all nice. San Diego's La Jolla's pretty--and I'm sure there are plenty of nice beaches north of LA (and some in LA, too, I'd imagine--I don't travel much outside of OC) and Carpinteria and Santa Barbara's nice, too.

I mostly just love the volleyball courts on Huntington Beach--my friends and I play there every Thursday night... even now during winter (though maybe not today if it's supposed to rain... >_<). Our beach might not be so tropical, but they're nice and the good ol' SoCal smog makes for pretty breathtaking sunsets (literally, if you're in some parts of LA... >_<).

[hcm3]

I've been living in Jakarta, Indonesia for the past 2 years. I really miss OC. The traffic sucks, there's more & more Mexicans, gangs & lots of drugs, but that what California is all about.
I was thinking about it. Where can you live that's worth living that's not going to have a lot of traffic or expensive housing? Orange County is a place worth living for me. It's not the people because most of them are basically *******s. It's that you can get everything there, the scenery is beautiful there, if you travel at off peak hours it's fine. Even if you live by yourself the place has an ora (sp) that will keep you company.
Maybe I just miss it, and I do. But even if you have nothing you can get by in O*C.
Southern California dude. Keep it real. Lots of people are losing what So Cal is all about, but that doesn't mean you can remind them.
It's about surf, sun & fun.

[hina aslam]

please tell me how can we define punishment

[hina aslam]

plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tell me about punishment

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by CTjim

Thinking about excepting an offer to work for a company in Irvine with a 110K salary. Can I afford to live there with my wife and three childern? Thought I would come out rent and check the place out. Then move everyone in the spring but not too sure from what I here. Any advice.

Well I think it depends on your expectations. For most other parts of the country, you can live quite comfortably on 110K. If it were just you and your wife, I'd say you'll have to make some compromises with your housing, but 110K with no kids would still be a nice lifestyle. But with 3 kids, that changes the picture completely. I'd seriously think twice.

[mysticaltyger]

[quote=DixieInOC;177422]I'm a native North Carolian. Moved to Irvine for business school two years ago. I saw mostly good things when I first moved here: beaches, weather, palm trees, scenaries, shops, etc. After two years, I'm starting to see the not-so-good things: the 'me-syndrome', absolutely horrible traffic, rotten roads, ridiculous rents, unaffordable housing, the show-off's, materialistic culture...and oh no country radio station!

I also find it hard to make friends (maybe it's due to my southern drawl). People in Orange County are somewhat friendly, but when it comes to deepening relationships and developing true friendships, many seem incapable. I've made a few great friends, I admit. But many times I have tried to reach out to others but it's tough to get any sincere reciprocation.
quote]

Bingo! I live in the SF Bay Area but much of what you say about OC also applies here (although I admit I'm not into country music). In fact, I know someone who moved here 6 months ago and he can only see the good things you mention.

I said to him: "give it 2 years and you'll start seeing the downside".

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by dakicka

is this really true? are the people all this superficial?
is there a smog? does san diego have this smog?
im from nj and received a big offer to work out in newport beach and live there. with a tentative start date mid march, i am getting scared now. how is sd compared to nb? im a 26 yr old single male, ambitious, hard worker. i thought nb is good because it could be more lucrative for my career as a financial advisor. i hear sd is more party party and college scene....but sd seemed amazing out there. i dont like snots and people who think they are better than everyone i am getting turned off reading this posts! espec me coming from east coat we tell people how it is so if people are fake theyd hear it from me. do people all really judge on your car? i would think real wealthy people are frugle?? i drive a beautiful new honda accord and do well, i could afford a beamer or lex but i choose to spend money on assets not depreciating things...

I live further north in the SF Bay Area, but have visited SoCal enough times to answer some of your questions. They do have a lot of smog in OC. In general, the air in San Diego is somewhat cleaner. In general, the smog levels in SoCal have been going down. It's a long term trend. But they still have quite a bit of smog. The areas near the beach generally have clean or mostly clean air. The inland areas have much worse smog (not every day, but a lot of days, especially in summer).

I'm not sure if OC is as status oriented as people say it is...but from visiting I'd say there's got to be a grain of truth to it. California, in general, tends to be more status oriented than other parts of the country. I also grew up on the East Coast (Philadelphia area) and I do believe Easterners are somewhat more frugal than Californians. Immigrants who move here from other countries are frugal...but a lot of native born Californians seem to have this "magical thinking" about money. They think it will all work out because they want it to.

A lot of people in CA who may appear wealthy are merely high income people who'd be out on the street in a month if they lost their jobs and/or access to credit.

OC is a big county and has a lot of people. If you are working in the financial services industry I'm guessing you'll have a good salary. I'm sure there are non-flashy people who live in OC, but you'll have to make an effort to find them.