Moving From Miami. Anyone Live in Ladera Ranch?

[Charles]

Anyone know anything about these developments east of LR? (Not that this is the best time to be asking about new housing developments going up.....)

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[missionhome]

Charles,
That should be the "Ranch Plan" by Rancho Mission Viejo. Rancho Mission Viejo developed communities like Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, and Rancho Santa Margarita. They have proposed 14,000 homes off of Ortega to the east of San Juan Capistrano and Ladera Ranch. This was when the market was red hot though.

I believe it was approved by the OC Board of Supervisors, but SJC has opposed the development because they prefer to "preserve open space" and don't want the traffic on their streets. I also think they plan on calling the community Rancho Viejo or something like that.

Shouldn't be starting anytime soon due to the economy, but in the future I wouldn't be surprised if those hills get built up.

[beach mamma]

Last month I was at Ladera Ranch visiting a friend. She has a lovely home on a very small lot, and no grassy area for her 3 yr. old to play. He plays on the large patio! They paid 800K for this home and they love living there. Most residents are young successful couples raising a family.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by beach mamma

She has a lovely home on a very small lot, and no grassy area for her 3 yr. old to play. He plays on the large patio!

I think the community design/philosophy is to have smaller yards and more neighborhood parks. That's been the trend in the past 10-15 years in masterplanned communities. I like it. The kids and the parents (nannies) meet at the park and play together. Same idea for backyard pool versus communty pool.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by Charles

I think the community design/philosophy is to have smaller yards and more neighborhood parks. That's been the trend in the past 10-15 years in masterplanned communities. I like it. The kids and the parents (nannies) meet at the park and play together. Same idea for backyard pool versus communty pool.

Sucks royally for dogs though, or if you are inbetween the parks. Some of the older 80s/late 70s era masterplanned communities seem to have better yards though

[cabolissa]

Originally Posted by missionhome

Charles,
I also think they plan on calling the community Rancho Viejo or something like that.

Yup.

I love how you can lean out your bathroom window and touch the neighbor's house! Doesn't seem worth more than half a mil to me!

[AKgirlinCA]

Originally Posted by cabolissa

Yup.

I love how you can lean out your bathroom window and touch the neighbor's house! Doesn't seem worth more than half a mil to me!

"But the weather"..............

EVERYTHING is justified by the weather, don't you know?

The state can tax the s*it out of us all year, then give us an IOU, but it doesn't matter.....because of the WEATHER! ( which I can't stand btw ) .

[BearLaker]

We (middle-aged, no children) rented a house in Ladera Ranch for the winter. This is our second winter in So OC. My sister lives here with her husband and two young children.

My impression is that Ladera Ranch is great for families with young children...they are EVERYWHERE. Everything here is based on children.

There are A LOT of stay-at-home parents (mostly moms) who are making careers of homemaking/parenting.

Nearly everything here is manicured and groomed landscaping with nice sidewalks, new streets and great trails. There are wonderful pools and tot lots everywhere.

You will have to drive everywhere (preferably in an enormous SUV).

I've wintered in Miami, too. If you're coming from Miami you will note the lack of arts in LR. You will have to drive to another city if you want professional theater, art, music, dance, etc.

There are tons of houses for sale here right now because it appears that quite a few of these families live beyond their means or right on the edge and when the economy went down it affected some people here. So if you're looking to buy you could get quite a deal (check out Redfin.com and put in zip 92694).

This is just an "outsider's" impression...