Ladera Ranch, Mello Roos, HOA, Commute

[meletonmc]

Hi Charles,
I'll try to help answer your quesitons more specifically!

amenities for small kids?
Ladera definitely wins here! They have great pools, splash parks, neighborhood parks, trails, and a skate park. They also organize great community activities. Talega in San Clemente was beautiful, and they had one nice pool, but it was a little more appealing for adults. They had a small splash area. Talega attracted a lot of families, but there was less to do in the community itself. Beach access was good.

If you are interested in Mission Viejo, I would look at Canyon Crest. They have some great amenities, but not really comparable to Ladera. Older parts of Mission Viejo do not have these amenities. Of course, they do have the lake and some nice parks. You can also join some clubs like Montanoso.

The biggest problem with older parts of Mission Viejo (most parts) is that they are full of empty nesters. The neighbors are much less friendly and keep to themselves. I live on a large street, and I think that there are only three families with children going to the local elementary school. The school district is closing one school, and considering closing another (state budget/declining enrollment). It's unfortunate because I do think that the schools here (Saddleback Valley ISD) are very good. I do appreciate that the people of Mission Viejo are a little less "keeping up with the Joneses." Unfortunately, the flip side of that is that there are many who can't afford to maintain the exterior of their homes and landscaping well. It's a bit depressing, but I understand at the same time.

You may want to consider Lake Forest which does have a neat beach club with tennis and other activities. Homes are a good value there too.

pool access in summer?
Mostly good everywhere. I think that Ladera has mostly heated pools year round, but the splash park is seasonal.

proximity to conveniences such as preschools, shopping, restaurants? Ladera and Talega have preschools, retail, and restaurants close by. In some cases these conveniences are within walking distance. Mission Viejo has more choices since they are more built out, but you'll probably have to drive a bit. The mall is really great, and you have good access to it from Ladera.

value for the HOA fees?
Good value for Ladera and Talega! Good value for Mission Viejo also, but it depends on the neighborhood.

general appearance (common area landscaping, minimal ugly power lines, etc)?
This is a matter of preference. You just need to drive the neighborhoods. Ladera and Talega certainly maintain their landscaping well. They replant frequently as needed. Ladera does have some unattractive power lines. Mission Viejo is also beautiful in that they have some big mature trees and nice hills. Within the neighborhoods however, the maintainance may not be as good.

I think that I enjoyed Ladera the most because it attracted and catered to families with young children. The people there were very outgoing, and we just seemed to "fit." Within our neighborhood, I participated in Bunko groups, and there were a lot of block parties. Ladera did just have a neat feel to it. I think that's part of finding the right neighborhood is spending a little time there, and seeing what seems right for you. If you already have children, I would recommend taking them to the parks so you can meet people. It's a great way to get some "local intel!"

Best of luck to you and your family! Let me know if you have any more questions!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by meletonmc

The biggest problem with older parts of Mission Viejo (most parts) is that they are full of empty nesters. The neighbors are much less friendly and keep to themselves.

Thank you for the excellent post.

I am very familiar with the neighborhood you describe above. We made the mistake of living in a semi-retirement community in Colorado (and this was all 2.5 acres lots so there were no kids at all). Great for adults but horrible for kids.