Moving To California in 2008? (Los Angeles, Orange: for sale, real estate, mortgage)

[$DFW8$]

We are moving to California in 2008 and we can't decide where we want to live. We're thinking about Orange County. We want to live in a gated community that is new, has nice houses, and has an urban feel. We are thinking about Coto De Caza, Ladera Ranch, and a few others. Our price range is $4 to 6 million. Also how are the schools and how close is shopping and restaurants?

We're also thinking about some of the gated communities in Los Angeles, specifically Beverly Hills and Hollywood like Bel-Air. What are some others ones there?

We're coming to LA in January to look at everything and try to make a decision. Any information you could give would be appreciated.

[NaplesRes]

There is no such thing as an urban feel in OC. It's cookie cutter and suburban. That said if you want newer, that is OC, not LA so much.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by longhornfan22

We are moving to California in 2008 and we can't decide where we want to live. We're thinking about Orange County. We want to live in a gated community that is new, has nice houses, and has an urban feel. We are thinking about Coto De Caza, Ladera Ranch, and a few others. Our price range is $4 to 6 million. Also how are the schools and how close is shopping and restaurants?

We're also thinking about some of the gated communities in Los Angeles, specifically Beverly Hills and Hollywood like Bel-Air. What are some others ones there?

We're coming to LA in January to look at everything and try to make a decision. Any information you could give would be appreciated.

With that kind of dough, just hire someone to figure this all out for you.

[lukeache]

Originally Posted by Charles

With that kind of dough, just hire someone to figure this all out for you.

Haha, I would say, good luck finding a bank or mortgage company willing to approve a jumbo loan for that amount. The very best I have seen is 10% down and 6.5% interest rate. If you have 10% to put down on a jumbo(in this case 400K-600k) might as well go all cash, own it free and clear.

[jessemh431]

Between OC and LA, I prefer LA. OC is too suburban for me. Why do you need a gated community? If you live up in the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, or Bel Air, it's pretty much like living in a gated community. Only residents drive up your streets. LA is much more original. In OC, no house looks amazing because they are all planned communities.

Here's some places up in the hills. Included in that search is also Palos Verdes which is not part of the area that the rest of those zip codes make up. But, like a previous poster said, no suburbia is going to feel urban. The listed here are the best areas in LA.
90077, Real Estate Listings and 90077 Homes for Sale - Realtor.com

Here is Mission Viejo in OC. It is my favorite place in the country. There are homes along the lake that you could afford. It is one of the only lakes in the area that you can go in and that has homes right on the water. Also, sometimes the nearby mountains get a small dropping of snow, so while you're cruisin' the lake, you see snow covered mountains.
92692, Real Estate Listings and 92692 Homes for Sale - Realtor.com


Here are some other nice areas in OC.
92679, Real Estate Listings and 92679 Single Family Home for Sale - Realtor.com

[jessemh431]

Here is another nice area called Westlake Village which is on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
91361, Real Estate Listings and 91361 Single Family Home for Sale - Realtor.com

[Jakehorror]

Originally Posted by Charles

With that kind of dough, just hire someone to figure this all out for you.

Werd. Oh, and buy a nice shiny convertable

[LA01]

You should live in the Hollywood Hills. I love it here very family oriented, close to Runyon Canyon Park, I don't know what your price range is, but you can get a single family home in the Hills for as low as $700,000.

[jessemh431]

Wow, is that all you can say? I think it's great that you love where you live, but that's the only place you have suggested in all of these threads.

[LA01]

jessemh431, I don't live in the Hills, I'm there a lot visiting family and friends so I guess it's kind of my second home. I don't mean to sound braty or anything. Hopefully you didn't get the wrong impression of me.