Is Living in Orange County really worth the hype? (Los Angeles: foreclosures, cheap home)

[HomeSeeker28]

I'm sorry you're not having much fun out here in OC. There's plenty of diversity around Irvine, you just have to look for it. I would also suggest driving down to Downtown Long Beach on the weekends. It's about a 30min drive from Irvine and has a lot of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants with a MUCH MORE diverse crowd. I think you'll enjoy it!

Good luck!

[francinia]

seminar on OC living and finance will be at the Sears Plaza in Irvine and Mike, Steven and the attorney staff will give data on orange county and irvine. Information for all persons considering a move to Orange or Los Angeles area.

[Mtnbkrdr98]

I've been torn between OC and Boise, Idaho, and am pretty much getting ready to move back to Boise when a job comes through for me there again (I am looking for one). My family is here (in S. Cal), and there's plenty I love about OC. Also, I'm an avid mtn biker, so the friends I have met here in OC, and the trail rides in the Santa Ana Mtns and all over the county with those people are a good thing. Also the ocean, palm trees, weather, etc......

However, why should I sacrifice my entire lifestyle to live here? I don't want to commute and breath carbon monoxide with like a what avg. 45 minute commute one way (or more)? I don't want to rent a room or have to live with multiple roommates just to have a roof over my head. I thought my "vision" would come true - that I could get a great job in south county, like somewhere in South Irvine, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, etc - then MOVE that way (currently renting a room in Hunt. Bch), so that I have a little bit of Boise here, if you will - short commute to work, close to a nice gym, and close to good mountain biking and wide open road cycling/bike lanes - well instead, the exact opposite happens and the job offers seem to be coming from LA County - I DON'T want to move further away from what I like to do (again, want to live close to work AND the foothills, state parks, santa ana mtns, etc, NOT further way in a cement jungle.........

This may always be home since family is here and friends that matter to me, but so is Boise now

I am returning to the Northwest

[sheri257]

No question about it: traffic is the biggest negative of living in OC. But that's true of pretty much any major metro area.

[Mtnbkrdr98]

Yes, I'm sure it is true of most major metro areas. But also the cost of housing here is prohibitive (for me, at least right now). Groceries, etc - I can be creative by shopping at different discount stores, etc. In fact, I've found better deals on things like energy bars, peanut butter, soy milk, etc than I have at Winco in Boise. However, to have to rent a room - sometimes they don't even GIVE you enough refrigerator and cabinet space and comfortable use of the kitchen. It's a real hassle I hope to avoid. A LOT of good things going to have to come together for me to actually stay here and make this home again - I'm sure that's true of anybody in my similar circumstances. I feel "out there" as if I am just one step up from living out of my car. It's a really crappy feeling

[SurfGod]

Originally Posted by bigd8200

I recently received a job offer in Irvine, CA (Orange County). As great as the weather is and the proximity to the beach and mountains, I really wonder..... IS IT WORTH IT? Many people I talked to want to get out because it is expensive, traffic sucks, overcrowded, etc.

I would like to know from those who are living in Orange County or who have lived there in the past if it is truly worth LIVING and WORKING there! Defend the place you live or vent your frustrations. I want to know the good and bad to living and working there. Some people talk like it is paradise while others say it is overrated for numerous reasons (cost of living being a major factor).

When I interviewed in Irvine, I fell into the "southern california mystique" as most non-Californians do. I want to make an educated and wise decision before I decide to move out to "paradise."

It all depends on what your expectations and prior living experiences are.

Your post really doesn't say much about you as far as: age group, marital status, salary range or ethnicity. ALL of these are vital factors to consider before you can receive any meaningful advice that pertains to your specific situation. Also it's important to know what kind of city you're coming from.

I'm in OC but originally from NY and looking to move back (to Jersey). I've spent 20+ years going back & forth. Give me some basic info and I'll tell you what to expect. And what not to expect

[John23]

Couple thoughts..

-Yes, there's materialism in OC or Irvine. But there's materialism nationwide.

Wanting a BMW or Mercedes is not exclusive to OC/Irvine. I think it shows up here more because of tv/movies, influences, high wage jobs, high tech industry, etc. Per capita, how many more bmw's, mercedes, prada sunglasses are there here, than in Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, or any other city?

In other cities, there's more to "drown out" the materialism, if that makes sense. Historic buildings in boston or phili, or the great art museums in nyc. OC is so new (and you could say cookie cutter, beige, big box) materialism shows up more. And with the weather, people are out enjoying their bmw's, covertibles, etc, rather than a cold city.

-I think it's amazing that you can sell in oc/irvine, and in a day or two, you can instantly have a "normal life" somewhere else. Housing, a 1/2 or a 1/3. Great schools. Traffic cut in half. Enough time to go to church, take the kids to piano lessons, etc.

If you don't know your values, you can be miserable here. Really have to prioritize.

-I wonder if oc/so cal has the highest concentration of people stuck in their homes, from traffic, congestion?

If I was moving here now, or attempting to, I'd really have to prioritize. Responsible, good with money. Good job prospects. Whether you want a family or not. You lose too much time otherwise.

[Mtnbkrdr98]

Well said John.

[slowbill]

Originally Posted by onyx

Hubby and I have been here over 20 yrs combined. got good education, good jobs, did not want to buy an overpriced "bubble" house that looks like a dump; did not want to raise our kids here, a superficial place with no-value or ethics whatsoever. Moving outta here in 2 months to Texas where we found our dream house for a fraction of the price, and schools teach students what value of life really means for a change!

California has lost its appeal - driving people like us away. It will regret it soon, if not already. Its middle class are deminishing.

I totally agree. I lived in OC when their were farms and each community looked after it's young people. Anybody with kids should not live here. Getting hit by a car is real. Many people here do not have insurance. Fear and language barriers have led to neighbors not being able to help each other. That and overcrowding.

[mam92]

I find this thread very interesting but very negative and one sided

I feel like people on this thread are expecting something unobtaineable. Orange County in general is expensive, but you get what you pay for. You can move to the midwest and get a cheap home in a cheaper community with all the "perks" you are looking for. But in the midwest, even though global warming is happening, in your lifetime it will not stop snowing in the winter. It will never have the california beaches, or the same great geographical landscape. Orange County is expensive for a reason, because it has what people want. I feel like people on this thread expect orange county to be cheap, even though it can be a near perfect place to live. And personally boring is what you make of it. If you are sitting around all day on your butt and not getting out into the community and doing something, then yes i find that orange county will be extremely boring.

The traffic issue that everyone seems to have is truly with the freeways. Oh well you are going to have traffic, there are a lot of people. It really shouldnt make you a prisoner in your home. I have been raised in southern california, and live with the traffic. You just live with what you are given, and honestly the freeway traffic has never truly been a problem. Learn to deal with the commute. I can tell you that freeways are clear sometimes, and they are horrible a lot of times. But if you know this, then leave earlier, once you get used to it, it is just part of life.

The "snobby" and "materialistic" thing that everyone is talking about is not exclusive to orange county. I find it interesting that people have such a problem with this. I would guess that most people if they had the same amount of money as the people who are wearing those clothes or driving those cars would not still live the way they do and complain about materialstic people. And yes there are some that are "snobby" but i have actually found this more in other states amoung the elite and wealthy, I suppose this might be true because there are less people in their tax bracket where they live. But there are good and bad people wherever you live.

Orange County is full of people who make good income, that is why they live in orange county. There are always going to be expensive places where wealthier people flock to. People with money are going to want to live in places where they can buy more expensive housing. So for people who dont make a whole lot of money to complain about how expensive things are, it is just how it goes. You will be able to find exclusive, wealthy, parts of any state, and a lot of major cities. You will find these to be similar to the parts of orange county that you are complaining about. If you are not able to make a salary that would support the life that you want in an area then dont live in that place. If money is your gripe then move to another city, and dont complain. Do not discriminate and complain about people who may make more money and are able to afford it.

People want to live in Orange County
Places where people want to live, cost more money

end of story

oh, and I am born and raised in so cal, my mother is from los angeles, and my dad is a "transplant" from Minnesota. But i have lived in other states, and honestly there are flaws everywhere. Not every place is right for everyone, but it isnt necessary to bag on a place soo much, espcially when a lot of people want to live here. If a lot of people wish to live in orange county, then how horrible can it really be?

sorry if it is kinda long, i cant sleep and it is pretty early in the morning