Army husband being transferred to Mission Viejo... (San Francisco, Irvine: sublets, apartments)

[masalamomma]

Did she have Rancho Santa Margarita on her list? She should look there too.

[mommyntheoc]

You won't find anything in a good area here with 4 bedrooms for under a million, so the mortgage (which translates into rent) on that is over $4000k/month easily. So you'll either need to get 2 sets of bunk beds and get a 3 bedroom in a nice area or he'll have to commute over an hour each day each way...the rental market is swamped here right now due to all the foreclosures so everyone is renting.

CA doesn't have gameroom or rec rooms in general...we use our backyards instead since it never rains or snows. Just move the toys out back. I'd really tell you to consider RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, it may be the only nice area where you will find newer homes that have more space in that price range. :-)

Military is a tough one in OC...good luck!

Originally Posted by Tuff*Army*Wife

We would LOVE to rent in MV itself, but I haven't found anything in MV yet that is within our budget and up to our standards. Of course I've only looked online, so I haven't seen it all yet. We need at least 4 bedrooms, but I'd prefer 5 (so we can have a room exclusively for school), or a 4 bedroom w/an office/bonus/gameroom. We also have 2 dogs. One is a 100 pound labrador retriever. He's trained though, and crated when we are gone, so no worries there about damage. But, I don't know how easily I'll be able to convince a landlord of that. If we can find a place in MV, we'll take it in a heartbeat. The husband has a long enough day without a commute. I was just looking at our options if we couldn't find a house there.

As for it being a tough place to recruit out of...It's probably going to be a challenge, but he's up for it. The things that usually sell kids on the Army these days (paying off student loans, signing bonus, etc.) probably won't mean much to these kids, so he'll have to approach it from a different perspective. We'll see! We're very excited about our upcoming move!

[Tuff*Army*Wife]

Originally Posted by mommyntheoc

You won't find anything in a good area here with 4 bedrooms for under a million, so the mortgage (which translates into rent) on that is over $4000k/month easily. So you'll either need to get 2 sets of bunk beds and get a 3 bedroom in a nice area or he'll have to commute over an hour each day each way...the rental market is swamped here right now due to all the foreclosures so everyone is renting.

CA doesn't have gameroom or rec rooms in general...we use our backyards instead since it never rains or snows. Just move the toys out back. I'd really tell you to consider RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, it may be the only nice area where you will find newer homes that have more space in that price range. :-)

Military is a tough one in OC...good luck!

Thanks for the input, but I've already found SEVERAL 4 bedrooms, and some w/4 plus an office or bonus room, for $3000 or under IN Mission Viejo. And if all those are taken by the time we get there, I've also found several in Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, & Laguna Niguel. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your info because it seems to be contradictory to all the other advice I've gotten here and to my findings?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Tuff*Army*Wife

Thanks for the input, but I've already found SEVERAL 4 bedrooms, and some w/4 plus an office or bonus room, for $3000 or under IN Mission Viejo. And if all those are taken by the time we get there, I've also found several in Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, & Laguna Niguel. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your info because it seems to be contradictory to all the other advice I've gotten here and to my findings?

I don't know what she is talking about either. We have 105 homes for sale with 4 bedrooms and listed UNDER 1 million dollars in Mission Viejo; even newer homes with pools and large lots.

[Tuff*Army*Wife]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I don't know what she is talking about either. We have 105 homes for sale with 4 bedrooms and listed UNDER 1 million dollars in Mission Viejo; even newer homes with pools and large lots.

Thanks! Her post kind of threw me there for a minute. Hmm...

[Raelyn28]

Have you seen pics of these places? My two step-kids and best friend live in the same area and they are living with parents because of the cost of living. Do your research and call the chamber of commerce or a real estate person. It seems like $3,000 is a lot of money to me. You should be able to find something decent for that amount.

Originally Posted by Tuff*Army*Wife

Thanks! Her post kind of threw me there for a minute. Hmm...

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by Tuff*Army*Wife

Thanks! Her post kind of threw me there for a minute. Hmm...

That poster doesn't have a clue. Read her other posts. She issues consistently poor or blatantly false advice and has a very odd outlook on life.

[Tuff*Army*Wife]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

That poster doesn't have a clue. Read her other posts. She issues consistently poor or blatantly false advice and has a very odd outlook on life.

Thanks for the heads up. I did as you suggested, and you're absolutely right. Phew...!

[mommyntheoc]

I've lived here my entire life and see rental signs all over, know what the neighbors moving in are paying, and looking at CL! The 2 bedroom townhomes in Aliso are going for $1500-2000/month currently...4 bedroom houses in Lake Forest are at $4500/month right now...what are some of the addresses (cross streets) you are finding in MV for 4 bedroom houses under $3000? I would really wonder which areas these would be in?

If you want to post any of the houses you've found, or addresses, many of us natives could give you better info about the areas (or conditions of those areas and houses).

Originally Posted by Tuff*Army*Wife

Thanks for the input, but I've already found SEVERAL 4 bedrooms, and some w/4 plus an office or bonus room, for $3000 or under IN Mission Viejo. And if all those are taken by the time we get there, I've also found several in Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, & Laguna Niguel. If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your info because it seems to be contradictory to all the other advice I've gotten here and to my findings?

[mommyntheoc]

For $3000/month the house would need a mortgage under $500k....how many 4 bedroom houses are under $500k in Mission Viejo right now? You might want to look in San Clemente, there is a large military presence there and you won't feel so singled out. You can all doubt me, but when you move here...feel free to post again after being here a few months, I think you'll find my answers have been accurate! Everyone else just wants the world to think they are living in a happy little box...it just isn't that way. Best of luck...

Originally Posted by missionhome

I don't know what she is talking about either. We have 105 homes for sale with 4 bedrooms and listed UNDER 1 million dollars in Mission Viejo; even newer homes with pools and large lots.