Woodbridge area of Irvine?

[cobhlad]

the mortage should be a lot smaller. 3,000+ sf where I live currently now runs in the $1M+/- range (I couldn't afford to buy my house now) so $650K is a nice step down.

I've zero interest in materialism and over achievers and all that brings incl comparing kids to one another.
don't get me wrong I want my kids to do well, but I also want them to be happy in whatever they decide to do.

maybe Irvine is not the place for me. we'll see.

[Coldjensens]

Not all of Tustin is that way, but TMA was. By now the nasty compete with each other through children people are gone, but they may have been replaced. In general I have found that the absolute number 1 school in an area tends to attract the types of parents and resulting children that I prefer not to deal with or to inflict on my kids. Once a school gets that reputation, it tends to attract a certain type and eventually that type becomes the majority. I will settle for the fifth best or tenth best school in an area and avoid that type.



The people I know who live in Tustin hills are very nice, down to earth types (except one).

[cobhlad]

Raising kids is a hard enough job without trying to compete with the neighbours & their kids achievements.
maybe it all stems back to the time I heard my mother compare my older brother unfavorably to the boy next door.
My brother is in his mid 50s now and doing fine with his wife of 30 + yrs and their 4 well raised kids - and that other guy is a lonely alcoholic. just goes to show you, it's not how well you start, it's how well you finish.

[goldeneyez]

I lived in Turtle Ridge for 2 years before we moved to H.B., and I worked in the middle of Woodbridge during that time.

Turtle Ridge is far more expensive per square foot because it and Turtle Rock (which is an older area than Ridge) are regarded in Irvine as prestigious and upscale, most likely due to their proximity to Newport. Turtle Ridge is a beautiful area with hilly landscape, and there are some lovely neighborhoods there, great parks, and the possibility of hiking in Bommer Canyon. It feels very secluded, which is both a benefit and a curse - one one hand, there are rabbits hopping around and frogs croaking at night, so it's very peaceful, on the other hand, Turtle Ridge has no shopping center or restaurants within walking distance. However, by car, University Town Center is close by (about 2-3 min) for groceries and necessities, and the proximity to the 73 toll road makes the following places very accessible: 405 fwy (5 min), John Wayne Airport (less than 7 min), South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island (7 min), Laguna Beach (15-20 min), Crystal Cove state Beach (10 min), Irvine Spectrum (20 min). To me, it is the prettiest area in Irvine, which is why we lived there. On the other hand, it is a very affluent area and the materialism is rampant, which is part of the reason we left. The local joke is that everyone who can't afford to be in Newport lives there. In regard to schools, this neighborhood feeds into University High (aka "Uni"), which is one of the highest ranked schools in California I believe, but also very competitive.

Woodbridge has many more amenities due to its more central location, and that lake has many associated activities (the small water park, paddle boats) which are only available to residents. The trees and man-made lake are scenic, and many long-time Irvine residents swear that it's the best place in Irvine to raise kids because there are so many activities within walking distance. I hear that the HOA's are much higher though, because they provide for the lake and the activities.

If you are into the master-planned community vibe, Irvine does it best. The place is absolutely pristine. It just wasn't for us, and I don't miss it at all. Also, we did look around the North Tustin due to the huge lots, varied architecture, and trees, but the beach won out!

~ G.

[cobhlad]

thanks for your perspective goldeneyez. very well put.