Moving from Seattle to OC (Irvine, Corona: house, cost of, garage)

[happ]

Originally Posted by dockj

Another cost of living website that compares OC to Seattle has OC with a lower cost of living by 2.3%.
The real comparison would have to be King County to Orange County, which are about the same in many of different respects. King County overall, would definitely have the higher cost of living between the two. One cost of living website actually says that $100000 in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area (equal to Orange County), is $84000 in Orange County.

So, I think the cost of living overall is going to be about equal. Naturally, some places will be more expensive than others. True in Seattle and in Orange County overall.

I'm glad you pointed that out. People here think it is the most expensive area of the country when it is clearly not.

[slang75]

Originally Posted by dockj

If you are not planning on buying a home, there is not that much of a difference overall. If you are planning on buying a home, then there's a difference, but it's like comparing apples to oranges since there is no comparison of cost of square footage. Seattle homes are typically much much smaller with very little yard. We even have condos in the cheap parts of town for $700k for about 1100 sq. feet. I guess it's all how you look at it. There are other considerations as well, such as school district, quality of life overall, crime rate and the like. In order to get the quality I want, even here I would have to move to a different area that would be about equal to San Juan Capistrano, but much less affordable apartments or condos.

I think comparing a world class city like Seattle to any city in OC is apples to oranges. I'm a city kid, though, so I am biased. I was just pointing you to a place where you could pin-point city by city comparisons.

[dockj]

Originally Posted by slang75

I think comparing a world class city like Seattle to any city in OC is apples to oranges. I'm a city kid, though, so I am biased. I was just pointing you to a place where you could pin-point city by city comparisons.

I definitely appreciated your input. Having lived in major cities for all of my adult life, it's time for a smaller venue. I guess I don't think of Seattle as a world-class city either on par with others I've lived in such as New York, Philly, Los Angeles, Boston and a few others. With the exception of some of the skyscrappers, I've always thought of it, the Seattle, Bellevue, Everette area as a whole, as similar to Orange County from my childhood experiences down there.

Thanks.

[dockj]

Originally Posted by happ

I'm glad you pointed that out. People here think it is the most expensive area of the country when it is clearly not.

That they do. Even some of my friends who I've shown the data to. When I tell them I could get a condo down there in a decent area for less than $300k, they're shocked. You simply can't do that up here in any area you'd want to live or even in the areas you don't want to live. Housing is getting completely out of control up here and many are starting to compare it to what happened in San Francisco. From the research I've already done, Seattle already has one of the highest costs of living in the country. And, when I say Seattle, I mean the Seattle, Bellevue, Everett area.

[Scott5280]

The most expensive parts of Coastal Orange County a few uber expensive enclaves in Newport Beach,Corona Del Mar,and select areas of Laguna will be far more expensive than anywhere in Seattle There are currently 500 -800 sqft. condos in a few areas for 2200 sqft. One very expensive area in Laguna offers homes from 8million-78 million, some of them as high as 6000 a square foot.. Orange County as a whole is not too bad at all, but you will have pocket areas that offer some of the highest priced real estate in all of the West Coast....Even as high as Aspen,Malibu,Bev hills..

[dockj]

Originally Posted by Scott5280

The most expensive parts of Coastal Orange County a few uber expensive enclaves in Newport Beach,Corona Del Mar,and select areas of Laguna will be far more expensive than anywhere in Seattle There are currently 500 -800 sqft. condos in a few areas for 2200 sqft. One very expensive area in Laguna offers homes from 8million-78 million, some of them as high as 6000 a square foot.. Orange County as a whole is not too bad at all, but you will have pocket areas that offer some of the highest priced real estate in all of the West Coast....Even as high as Aspen,Malibu,Bev hills..

Yeah, that I do know. Having property that expensive around actually does have its plus side depending on how the property taxes are used. It also tends to skew things a bit in the mind of the average consumer/home buyer.
The highest I've found is for 75 million with a lot size of 42150 sq ft. Can't imagine why anyone would need that much space, but more power to them.
The prices seem to be moving around quite a bit lately in both counties. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the foreclosure business slows down in California. In Seattle, there doesn't seem to be any effect as of yet.

[flo2900]

Originally Posted by dockj

Thanks. I've got that itch and have had it now for a few years. Been trying to figure out a way to finish my dissertation from a distance and get out.

I've been looking at various cities that make up OC and it seems that there is pretty much a little of everything if you're willing to drive short distances. And, given that traffic is much worse up here, I'm imagining getting somewhere won't be as much of a headache.

Corona, CA is 5-10 min from OC, 40 min from Newport Beach, housing about half price comparisson with Seattle and OC!

[dockj]

Originally Posted by flo2900

Corona, CA is 5-10 min from OC, 40 min from Newport Beach, housing about half price comparisson with Seattle and OC!

Thanks. I am looking to live much closer to the coast. From what I remember, it gets significantly hotter the more inland you go.

[flo2900]

Originally Posted by dockj

Thanks. I am looking to live much closer to the coast. From what I remember, it gets significantly hotter the more inland you go.

would you say that about Yorba Linda? YL is just as hot as Corona. From East YL border to West Corona border are 2 miles...and lots of $ difference in price and traffic just as bad !

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by flo2900

Corona, CA is 5-10 min from OC, 40 min from Newport Beach, housing about half price comparisson with Seattle and OC!

Five to 10 minutes?! Yeah, if you're already on the 91 or driving when there's no traffic. I worked in Costa Mesa and Irvine and would rather stab my eyes out with a stick than drive the 55 out to Corona.