Orange County is not luxurious (Anaheim, Irvine: house prices, neighborhoods, income)

[impala666]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

Newport and Laguna have an upper-class presence that is lacking in the other areas you mentioned which are just middle-class (with the possible exception of Anaheim hills) and filled with McMansions. I'm not sure I would make it a coastal vs inland issue, but its pretty clear that the majority of the inland communities are built to make the middle-class feel wealthy by mimicking the life-style in more upper-class regions (often on the coast).

Also where did you get your income stats? I'm finding much different values, but they show the same thing. The incomes aren't very different in these areas. But I have to say income is a very middle-class measure of class, it only works when comparing different middle-class communities. The people that are truly rich know better than to have a high income, they are rich because they are wealthy (own assets) and not because their yearly income is high. Many people that are worth 10+ million only let 150k or so to be realized as "income", when you own your house, cars etc that ends up being a lot of play money.

Also, just from walking around in Laguna Beach vs Yorba Linda the difference is pretty obvious.

The IRS are not stupid if you own a $15 million house and show an income of $150k p/a they are "gonna come lookin for ya".
Its funny how they spot the houses, cars and boats and the like but never seem to spot the $50 Million worth of Art on the walls.(Not my house I hasten to add)

[Sassberto]

Humanoid, you have a limited and somewhat juvenile view of what "upper class" is.

You need to visit the NYC metro. Most of your theories don't work too well there. Your whole worldview is focused around a less-than-30 year old history of SoCal. Visit westchester county, manhattan, greenwich, north shore Long Island... you will find radically differing types of wealth and class on display.

However I will agree that no matter how hard OC tries to portray itself as a "luxury" destination, it is for the most part... very tacky.

[Raelyn28]

I admire your honestly.. You are right...

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Humanoid, you have a limited and somewhat juvenile view of what "upper class" is.

You need to visit the NYC metro. Most of your theories don't work too well there. Your whole worldview is focused around a less-than-30 year old history of SoCal. Visit westchester county, manhattan, greenwich, north shore Long Island... you will find radically differing types of wealth and class on display.

However I will agree that no matter how hard OC tries to portray itself as a "luxury" destination, it is for the most part... very tacky.

[YoungSanDiegoDude]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

I grew up in the LA area and lived a bit in Orange County (Irvine) and I can't help but laugh at some impression "outsiders" seem to have of the area.

To me the area is just your normal middle-class suburban area of California, but recently its been caste as some sort of upper-class area.

Anybody else get a laugh about this stuff?

I definitely get a little laugh about it. I have been to OC many times and many of these so-called ritzy areas such as Irvine, Seal Beach, RSM, and Mission Viejo are middle class at best. Now they do have pockets of upper class, but they are very SMALL pockets. Other cities like Anahiem, Santa Ana, Westminster, and Fountain Valley are ugly and almost completely ghetto.

If you are looking for "ritzy" and "luxurious", there are only a few places that would actually fit that description: Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Anaheim Hills.

[fipster]

I love Orange County. And yes, it does have a range in wealth... from the slums of Santa Ana to the Newport coast. I don't think that it has the extreme affluence of LA or NY, but it's a very healthy county. In terms of wealth, Orange County is about having money, health, beauty, and activities. It has a more well-rounded approach to be rich. And unlike LA, where the wealthiest homes are nestled in the crappiest areas, OC is overall safe and clean.

[that1guy]

Look, the truth of the matter is that these definintions are hyper subjective that sociologists can't agree on the different classes. What same claim is upper middle class, another will say it's upper class or middle class. With that said, IMO, most of the OC is clearly not luxurious or upper class. However, it is mostly upper middle class (the majority of residents making above the median income of the state, the majority of residents owning their own home, a majority of residents having some form of post secondary education...typically college).

Newport, to some is still considered upper middle class...to others upper class....then to others still middle class. That's the thing about class distinction, its so nebulous in the US, you will never reach a on consensus.

[cmarlin20]

Originally Posted by impala666

The IRS are not stupid if you own a $15 million house and show an income of $150k p/a they are "gonna come lookin for ya".
Its funny how they spot the houses, cars and boats and the like but never seem to spot the $50 Million worth of Art on the walls.(Not my house I hasten to add)

The IRS isn't interested in the value of your house. Of course, they can find out if they believe it can prove fraud. But that in itself certainly doesn't indicate fraud. The other poster is correct, many "wealthy" people have unremarkable annual incomes, but highly valued assets. It is completely legal (and smart) tax planning and money management to strive for a high quality lifestyle with a low taxable income.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cmarlin20

It is completely legal (and smart) tax planning and money management to strive for a high quality lifestyle with a low taxable income.

It's also important to have the bulk of your net worth in your primary residence at Medi-Cal nursing home eligibility time. A primary residence isn't a countable asset. There are basically two tests: an income test and an assets test. A person needs to pass both in order to be eligible for government financing of nursing homes.

That's why you got one guy, Mr. Perfectly Legal, with a $15M net worth having the state pay for his nursing home because $14.95M of his net worth is his house (not countable). In the next room over, Mr. Didn't Plan, spends down his $700K net worth at $4K/month because he owns a $150K home but has $550K of countable assets in the bank and mutual funds.

[impala666]

Originally Posted by cmarlin20

The IRS isn't interested in the value of your house. Of course, they can find out if they believe it can prove fraud. But that in itself certainly doesn't indicate fraud. The other poster is correct, many "wealthy" people have unremarkable annual incomes, but highly valued assets. It is completely legal (and smart) tax planning and money management to strive for a high quality lifestyle with a low taxable income.

$15 Million house will have a property tax of $150 k per year +.

[ehcsrop]

Orange County became an entity simply because there is no dominant city in the county as LA is to LA county. And because the 2 newspapers are not civically centered like the LA Times. What you have there is the Orange County edition of the LA Times the whole region.

Also, most of the emerging cities in South County had and have the Orange County Sheriff as their police. Same with the FD. Lastly, if you look at a map, OC is not that big compared to San Diego County, LA County or the other 2 neighboring counties.

As a counter point, Long Beach had it's own phone book at one time and a home town newspaper. The paper is still here, but there are now 2 phone books. Still, from a business and marketing point of view, a business could focus on Long Beach alone.

Not so in OC. You want a service business in OC, you're either a neighborhood store or you take on the whole thing. Ask me how I know.

The central identity is the county; there is no one city that overshadows the rest, not even the County Seat Santa Ana. That's just a blur combined with Anaheim and others.

However, there are multiple geographically located demographic profiles from the beach areas to Yorba Linda. I've heard as many as 8 areas. I think there are 5 phone books to add to the confusion.