HELP!Thoughts on RSM,LAdera Ranch,Mission Viejo,& Irvine (Los Angeles: foreclosure, renting)

[nappyshouse]

Thank you all for the feedback. It sounds like LR is not as perfect as it seems. Does anyone know what the HOA's and/or mello roos are in that area. Also what about Painted trails? We want to try and stay under $800,000 if possible.

[cabolissa]

I live in a condo in RSM with two kids and agree HOA's are crazy (246/mo)! Property tax is 1.6% or so, and we have a community HOA of $46/mo - which is totally worth it in my opinion as we also have a lake, beach club, 5 community pools, and many parks included in that fee.

I also like Foothill Ranch, Ladera and Wagon Wheel, Los Flores, and Mission Viejo. I wouldn't live in Irvine. I work there and it's sandwiched in between other cities. It has NO character and feels overcrowded. I love being up against the Saddleback mountains and O'Neill park. It's much more relaxing, especially on the weekends. Also, I like the communities more. Lots of community sports, etc.

But don't expect neighbors to welcome you with a basket of cookies! This is Southern California, after all. Everyone's from somewhere else, and people move every 5-8 years or so, and often don't know their neighbors.

[NewportBorn]

Originally Posted by cabolissa

But don't expect neighbors to welcome you with a basket of cookies! This is Southern California, after all. Everyone's from somewhere else, and people move every 5-8 years or so, and often don't know their neighbors.

This is the mentality that keeps the "unfriendly" vibe of socal going.

You have to reach out and be the neighbor that gives cookies.
If you expect them to come to you, then you will be dissapointed.

My parents had plenty of good friends in our neighborhood when we grew up.
I don't know where people are getting this idea.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by NewportBorn

My parents had plenty of good friends in our neighborhood when we grew up.
I don't know where people are getting this idea.

Did your mom work? (I don't know your age), but back in the 1960s and 1970s when I grew up most of the moms didn't work. All the moms and kids had play dates and day trips to places like the LA Zoo, La Brea Tar Pits, the beach, Tapia Park, etc.

My wife didn't work in Thousand Oaks but she found a group of other moms in the vicinity (not too many on our immediate street; They're often "too busy") to hang out with.

May be that there is a higher percentage of two working parents neither of whom is interfacing with the neighbors and nurturing community bonds.

[nappyshouse]

thank you for the info, what do you mean by speculator central? I hope that does not sound too ignorant.

[nappyshouse]

i am a stay at home mom, looking for what you describe your mom doing. It is hard to find these days. I will be the person with the cookies if that is what I have to do. I just want to know, in general, what are the areas in OC that are family friendly, where the kids go to the local public school, not drive across town to the prestigious private school.

[NewportBorn]

Well I lived in San Clemente, and my mom was a stay at home mom, however this was before the economic downfall, so maybe there wasn't a need for a DI family.

I would recommend San Clemente as long as you stay out of the Talega area.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by nappyshouse

Thank you all for the feedback. It sounds like LR is not as perfect as it seems. Does anyone know what the HOA's and/or mello roos are in that area. Also what about Painted trails? We want to try and stay under $800,000 if possible.

Painted Trails is a nice neighborhood at the very northern tip of Mission Viejo. Homes are usually a great value, but it is a little far from the freeway (although toll road is close). Be aware that some of the homes back up to the 241 toll road so some homes are cheaper because of that. Some of the homes do have a nice little view of Oso Reservoir though. You will find a good amount of families there as well. Check out this person's photos of the neighborhood (caution, it has a lound song as background music):Painted Trails, Mission Viejo, CA Picture Page

According to Saddleback Valley Unified School District, the neighborhood attends Trabuco Elementary School (in Rancho Santa Margarita), Los Alisos Intermediate School (in Mission Viejo), and El Toro High School (in Lake Forest). It is the only Mission Viejo neighborhood where students go to schools not in Mission Viejo, but I don't think it is a big deal. I have noticed what seems like a large amount of transfers at the high school level to Trabuco Hills High or Mission Viejo High in the neighborhood. If you drive down a street there, it seems like every other minivan or SUV has a bumper sticker from one of those two schools and none from El Toro. I believe this neighborhood might have an open enrollment for high school due to its odd boundaries, call the district for details. El Toro isn't a bad high school by the way so I am not sure why there would be lots of transfers.

Check out Sandy's photos I provided. I think they show the neighborhood off the best.

[NewportBorn]

Originally Posted by missionhome

Painted Trails is a nice neighborhood at the very northern tip of Mission Viejo. Homes are usually a great value, but it is a little far from the freeway (although toll road is close). Be aware that some of the homes back up to the 241 toll road so some homes are cheaper because of that. Some of the homes do have a nice little view of Oso Reservoir though. You will find a good amount of families there as well. Check out this person's photos of the neighborhood (caution, it has a lound song as background music):Painted Trails, Mission Viejo, CA Picture Page

According to Saddleback Valley Unified School District, the neighborhood attends Trabuco Elementary School (in Rancho Santa Margarita), Los Alisos Intermediate School (in Mission Viejo), and El Toro High School (in Lake Forest). It is the only Mission Viejo neighborhood where students go to schools not in Mission Viejo, but I don't think it is a big deal. I have noticed what seems like a large amount of transfers at the high school level to Trabuco Hills High or Mission Viejo High in the neighborhood. If you drive down a street there, it seems like every other minivan or SUV has a bumper sticker from one of those two schools and none from El Toro. I believe this neighborhood might have an open enrollment for high school due to its odd boundaries, call the district for details. El Toro isn't a bad high school by the way so I am not sure why there would be lots of transfers.

Check out Sandy's photos I provided. I think they show the neighborhood off the best.

Wow that neighborhood is awesome,
just what I would look for if I moved back.

will those hills stay natural missionhome?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by NewportBorn

Wow that neighborhood is awesome,
just what I would look for if I moved back.

will those hills stay natural missionhome?

I hope they stay natural. I don't think we should be pushing development any farther inland. The lack of a freeway out there means more people going down streets like El Toro, Alicia, Oso, Lake Forest, etc... to get to the freeway (the tollroad and its high prices only appeal to so many people for daily commute) and the traffic is already too high in the morning and afternoon.

I think most of those hills are in the Cleveland National Forest and protected somewhat, but who knows what could happen down the road from now. If you type in "Windswept Way Mission Viejo, CA" on google maps, you can do a satellite view of Painted Trails and the area it is in.