Moving to Irvine from Atlanta (Orange, Tustin: fit in, apartments, rental)

[mau]

I am south asian and I will be moving to Irvine from Atlanta with my family. My kids are in elementary school. What are the best places/apartments to live in Irvine for a family with kids? I have heard that irvine has best public schools andit is a good place to live.

[fpbear]

Irvine may be a good fit for you because it is popular with the asian community (not sure why) and a safe place. There are no bad places in Irvine. The city is unique because it is a master-planned city, so every little detail of the expansion is controlled so that traffic, infrastructure, aesthetics, and city services don't get ruined like they have in other nearby communities. For example, the Irvine roads tend to be very wide, much wider than needed because the planners are creating the roads for the future. The downside of Irvine is that there is not much room for creativity in the exterior of your home or business, and like many other parts of OC it is very expensive.

[superkoz]

I think Woodbridge is a great community if you have kids. We lived there before moving out of state (and we plan to move back as soon as we can) and we loved it. There are so many parks, pools, kiddie pools, jacuzzis, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, bike paths, etc. The thing I liked the best is the lake and the beach club. If you live in Woodbridge you get an access card that allows you to use these. Our kids loved it and still talk about it all the time. As for the schools, most schools in Irvine are rated as some of the top in the nation. There is a high asian population (many Chinese, but others as well), so your kids should fit in fine. It is also very close to many professional jobs and constantly ranks as one of the safest cities in the nation. Everyone has a different idea of perfection, but for me I think Irvine is very close to it.

[kturbe]

Irvine is a great city, you can check out the demographics and stats on the city web-site. Schools are excellent, but it also a bit more pricey. There are a ton of new communities it just depends on what school the kids are going to go to. The surrounding areas of Tustin Ranch, Portola Springs, Lake Forest, etc. are also good. If you need any help finding a place please do not hesitate to let me know as I know the area very well.

[RobE]

University High has the stellar reputation in south county academically. I don't know about junior high or elementary schools, though.

Irvine crime stats:
Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

AFAIK, most of the Asians in Irvine are Koreans and Japanese. You say south Asia, is that is it India? There is a building Indian community in Orange County. Many of the hoteliers and realtors are Indian-American or Indian, not to mention the computer engineers. So you should do fine.

[RAMFEB31]

I've notiice the key words 'family' and 'kids'. Even with fair housing laws, most good apts try to limit the number of people in an apt. I think your best rental bet is a house. Besides, a single family house is much better for a family. But be prepared to pay upwards of $2.5k for an apt or house. Irvine is expensive.