HELP!Thoughts on RSM,LAdera Ranch,Mission Viejo,& Irvine

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Axiom

As with any magnet program, many districts strategically locate their IB programs to help balance demographics and boost achievement scores at targeted schools. Just a guess, but I doubt that Tesoro needs the boost right now.





I'm a bit surprised that SVUSD chooses to maintain the IB program at all their high schools.

SVUSD looks like they will be cutting the IB Program at two of the four high schools in their new budget cuts which were just released and I didn't know about when I made the prior post. It is just planned though. Currently they plan to cut IB at Trabuco Hills High in Mission Viejo and El Toro High in Lake Forest. Mission Viejo High in MV and Laguna Hills High in Laguna Hills (both who have had the program for a long time) will keep the program and they will probably just allow transfers to these schools for students wanting the program.

The proposal saves $90,000: Saddleback district prepares to cut $10 million, 134 jobs | school, district, board, budget, high - News - OCRegister.com

[Charles]

Originally Posted by The Dish

If you like the RSM and Ladera Ranch areas, you might want to look into the Wagon Wheel neighborhood. It's unincorporated (like Coto de Caza) and outside of Coto but not behind "the gates". It starts at Oso and Altura and you have the convenience of the 241 toll road right there (they are also widening and improving Oso right at the toll road too -- it's almost finished!). The 5 freeway is about 15 minutes down Oso.

It's a great neighborhood and an excellent school system (Capistrano District -- Wagon Wheel Elementary, not sure of the middle school and the high school is Tesoro).

Very family friendly neighborhood and everyone goes all out to decorate for Halloween and Christmas (last year the Homestead and Clementine Streets put up lights between the houses and it looked like an old fashioned down town Christmas). There's a nice park right in the neighborhood. We started a neighborhood watch last year -- everyone is real nice and looks out for each other and each other's kids.

The monthly association fees are only $45 (I know RSM and Ladera's are higher because you get more -- pools, parks, etc. but we go to RSM's dog park, RSM's New Year's Eve party and to Ladera's 4th of July celebration every year for FREE and if you need a pool, you can join the Y in Mission Viejo for WAY less than you'd pay in associaton fees in RSM or Ladera).

There are mellos roos in Wagon Wheel but very low compared to Ladera and the low association fee makes up for it by a long shot.

I live in Wagon Wheel and work near the Irvine Spectrum. It's a 20 minute commute in the summer and a 30 minute commute when's school's in session, not bad AT ALL for "The OC".

Good luck -- you'll find the right place for you and your family!

For fun, I looked up the data on the OC assessor's website for

62 Gingham St, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92679 | MLS# S582265

The sellers are asking $759K but two homes across the street recently sold for the low $600Ks - those establish the comps for a buyer. There's also a very comprable listing for the $599K here, so $759K is a Kool Aid price.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Trabuco-Can...9/home/5022100



OK, so I go to the OC assessor website and find the Mello Roos is $496/year (yes, per year). There is a about another $130/year for some other RSM assessment. I don't think Mello Roos changes much at all at resale as do straight property taxes.

http://www.flex-e-bill.com/OCTLink/S...2-13&year=2008

The HOA is $51/month.

You want pools and amenities, four pools (one ten minutes away) are at

http://samlarc.org/Amenities/Default...ickedfiID=1114

So, while you don't get the immediately close pool, you do get a neighborhood park, a sports park, top notch schools (Wagon Wheel, Los Flores, and Tesoro), and the Regional Park (Thomas Riley) - All within walking or biking distance.

Besides the ten minute drive to the 5 freeway, what other cons are there to Wagon Wheel?

[Chava61]

I know that Mission Viejo is a good place to raise children and the schools are good there.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Charles

You want pools and amenities, four pools (one ten minutes away) are at

http://samlarc.org/Amenities/Default...ickedfiID=1114

Correction: This was a mistake. Wagon Wheel is not part of SAMLARC. This may partially explain the ultra low $51/mo HOA for Wagon Wheel.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by The Dish

If you like the RSM and Ladera Ranch areas, you might want to look into the Wagon Wheel neighborhood. It's unincorporated (like Coto de Caza) and outside of Coto but not behind "the gates". It starts at Oso and Altura and you have the convenience of the 241 toll road right there (they are also widening and improving Oso right at the toll road too -- it's almost finished!). The 5 freeway is about 15 minutes down Oso.

It's a great neighborhood and an excellent school system (Capistrano District -- Wagon Wheel Elementary, not sure of the middle school and the high school is Tesoro).

Wagon Wheel attends Los Flores Middle School.

Las Flores Middle School: Home Page

Las Flores Middle School - Las Flores, California - CA - School overview

[ItalianPrincessOC]

I lived in Ladera for about 2 years and I now live in Rancho Santa Margarita. Both cities are beautiful and my kids (kindergarten and third grade) went to a great school in Ladera and now a great school in Rancho. Overall, I like living in Rancho better than living in Ladera. Ladera is more expensive, you get very little yard, and you're slammed up against your neighbors. Rancho is a little less expensive, you get more yard, and you're not as close to your neighbors. I found the people (especially the women) in Ladera to be very snooty with their noses in the air and they LOVE to gossip. My neighbors in Rancho are very friendly and more down to earth. There are tons of parks and trails in Ladera, but luckily the neighborhood I live in now also has trails and parks. Oh, and you may have noticed that Ladera has roundabouts every two seconds. Let me tell you, they drive you insane after awhile! Especially if you're late for work or an appointment. My recommendation is Rancho. I like the area much more, it's not as isolated as Ladera, I like the people more, and I like how I have a decent lot size now.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ItalianPrincessOC

Oh, and you may have noticed that Ladera has roundabouts every two seconds. Let me tell you, they drive you insane after awhile! Especially if you're late for work or an appointment.

I agree with a lot of what you wrote but I'll comment on the above. My understanding is the roundabouts were utilized to slow people (like you?) down in a neighborhood loaded with kids. You'd get an earful from me if I saw you speeding 40MPH+ down my street because you are late for your appointment.


Safety in circles | roundabouts, traffic, ladera - News - The Orange County Register

[ocbuyer714]

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