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Old 11-02-2013, 09:53 PM
 
75 posts, read 194,679 times
Reputation: 15

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the financial OUCH has not worn off yet...
it is highly likely my husbands carer will change slightly and he will be taking a job in Aliso Viejo, only on the same salary (with better bennies and a better bonus potential though) and OUCH! in FL we have no state income tax. Our HOA is $100 a year then out CDD is $2000 a year (rolled into out mortgage) we are looking at getting $500,000 for our home (3 years old, gated neighborhood, 1/2 acre lot, heated pool in the lanai and 3400 sq feet also in a school district that runs 8's and 9's).

So it looks like we should be looking at $600-$750 to get 2000 sq ft and very little yard without pool to stay in school districts between 8 and 10s and within a reasonable commute (45 min to an hour at 7 am or 5 pm)?
Husband is a self admitted not your handy hubby kind of guy so he really doesn't want a house more than 10 years old and really prefers new construction. But are there any new neighborhood where we might get a deal because it is early on?

We have been pointed to Ladera Ranch (which seems high priced), Irvine, Aliso Viejo. Lake Forest & Mission Viejo... any pointers? We have 3 kids pre K, 6th & 8th next year. I don't care about "cookie cutter" so much just nice neighborhoods, great schools, parks & rec, and then driving access to good shopping & restaurants (even if it's 30 min) Any input/ advise? I really do not know the area well at all. Oh and hubby & son love to fish (even lakes) so if access to fishing is available that's a huge plus!
Thanks in advance
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Old 11-02-2013, 11:12 PM
 
Location: Riverside Ca
22,146 posts, read 33,215,981 times
Reputation: 35433
Quote:
Originally Posted by sahara910 View Post
the financial OUCH has not worn off yet...
it is highly likely my husbands carer will change slightly and he will be taking a job in Aliso Viejo, only on the same salary (with better bennies and a better bonus potential though) and OUCH! in FL we have no state income tax. Our HOA is $100 a year then out CDD is $2000 a year (rolled into out mortgage) we are looking at getting $500,000 for our home (3 years old, gated neighborhood, 1/2 acre lot, heated pool in the lanai and 3400 sq feet also in a school district that runs 8's and 9's).

So it looks like we should be looking at $600-$750 to get 2000 sq ft and very little yard without pool to stay in school districts between 8 and 10s and within a reasonable commute (45 min to an hour at 7 am or 5 pm)?
Husband is a self admitted not your handy hubby kind of guy so he really doesn't want a house more than 10 years old and really prefers new construction. But are there any new neighborhood where we might get a deal because it is early on?

We have been pointed to Ladera Ranch (which seems high priced), Irvine, Aliso Viejo. Lake Forest & Mission Viejo... any pointers? We have 3 kids pre K, 6th & 8th next year. I don't care about "cookie cutter" so much just nice neighborhoods, great schools, parks & rec, and then driving access to good shopping & restaurants (even if it's 30 min) Any input/ advise? I really do not know the area well at all. Oh and hubby & son love to fish (even lakes) so if access to fishing is available that's a huge plus!
Thanks in advance

If you don't want cookie cutter houses stay out of Irvine, Aliso, Lake Forrest or Mission Viejo. For the most part that's all there is. Fishing is ok if you're on a boat. Shore fishing sucks.
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Old 11-02-2013, 11:45 PM
 
5,381 posts, read 8,634,053 times
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Welcome.

You may consider most of the newer construction in this area to be cookie cutter, so be forewarned. It looks like there is only one house available in Aliso to fit your criteria of $600-$750K and 2,000 sq ft:
Real Estate Search | Redfin



(Check the photos on Redfin because it looks like the interior has not been upgraded from builder's basic).

BTW, although most lots under $1M are too small for a pool, each development in Aliso has its own community pool. The city also has a aquatics center.

In addition to those you mentioned in your post, also check-out the nearby areas of Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Niguel.

Also, look at sections of Laguna Hills, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano if you are willing to be more flexible about both the newness of the construction and the house size.

Last edited by pacific2; 11-03-2013 at 12:13 AM..
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Old 11-03-2013, 12:11 AM
 
Location: LA/OC
1,083 posts, read 2,159,231 times
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Ladera Ranch is probably going to offer you the most options for detached, 2000sf+, 4-bedroom homes, built after the year 2000, and under $750K. Outside of LR, there is the Aliso Viejo home mentioned above and a short sale in Mission Viejo. There are currently 8 active listings in Ladera Ranch meeting this criteria.

Another thing you'll have to get used to, if you aren't already aware of it, is Mello-Roos. Many of the more recently built homes/communities in the area have one or more Mello-Roos bonds associated with them.
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Old 11-03-2013, 06:30 AM
 
75 posts, read 194,679 times
Reputation: 15
I really don't mind cookie cutter. I have to give up some things obviously. So we are prepared to give up lot size, and about 1000 sq feet & right now we are up against conservation so I am guessing that won't happen either. We actually live in a master planned community now so that's great. We have a pool and since that seems unlikely I am happy to hear that the communities in A.V. all have them. I really just want the best of opportunities for my kids and for my husband not to commute more than an hour at peak traffic time each way. But giving up everyone having their own room and an office and a playroom etc is a shock... Then add in paying an extra $200K but I just can't see us going from this to 1400 sq feet.

What are the town homes like in these same communities? DO you still get a small yard? Is the construction such that you aren't hearing neighbors through the walls? I haven't ever lived in a town home just not so hot apartments when we were younger.

Last edited by sahara910; 11-03-2013 at 07:40 AM..
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Old 11-03-2013, 09:09 AM
 
1,420 posts, read 3,169,103 times
Reputation: 2256
Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest
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Old 11-03-2013, 09:24 AM
 
5,381 posts, read 8,634,053 times
Reputation: 4550
Townhouses in AV are nice and some have a backyard. There are two available in Aliso for under $750K that are at least 2,000 sq ft:
Real Estate Search | Redfin

There are 13 SFRs and townhouses in Aliso Viejo in that price range, if you drop the footage down to a 1750 sq ft min:
Real Estate Search | Redfin

Defintely checkout those mentioned in the post above (Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest) as well.

You'll find newer construction throughout most of South County, so you have options, and these cities are all very close to Aliso.

For example, this 3118 sq ft/5bd/4bth SFR is on the market in Mission Viejo for $739,000:

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Mission-Vie...1/home/5110283

Last edited by pacific2; 11-03-2013 at 09:47 AM..
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Old 11-03-2013, 09:41 AM
 
5,381 posts, read 8,634,053 times
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Just an aside, people in South County easily travel between many of the cities mentioned above on an almost daily basis. Since the houses in AV, LN and MV are so similar, and the cities are right next to one another, you really don't know when you are leaving one and entering another. Lake Forest and Laguna Hills are probably the only exceptions since these cities are older.
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Old 11-03-2013, 10:50 AM
 
64 posts, read 133,454 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheektowaga_Chester View Post
Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest
Agreed. This is your best bet. I would have Lake Forest behind the other 3, but that's just me.
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Old 11-03-2013, 12:34 PM
 
5,381 posts, read 8,634,053 times
Reputation: 4550
There is something else to keep in mind when looking at newer townhouses. A lot of them in this area have cathedral ceilings and some people take advantage of that by adding a loft for extra office/play space.

I know someone who is married, has two kids, and lives in an 1850 sq ft/3bd/2.5 bth AV townhouse with a backyard, and that's what he did a few years ago. I don't know how much he paid for the renovation.
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