Transferred from Santa Barbara to Santa Ana

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by BVitamin

I would strongly recommend you visit first to see what areas you like, spend a couple days. I'd choose Newport area over Tustin any day and I'm neither homeless or a partier.

I'm reluctant to respond to certain claims ... why would you recommend Tustin/Orange in lieu of Newport in terms of proximity? Newport area doesn't have anymore rehab centers than Tustin ... ugh, I really don't want to go back and forth contending these claims, it's tiresome.

I suppose the only place the other poster and I can agree on is Irvine. It's safe and will be close to where your work is and your wife's potential job. Also note, Orange County in general is spread out, excluding beach towns.

There are apartment hunting websites and apps that can help you determine where and what you can afford. You can even utilize google street map to give you an idea of the surrounding areas.

All the best.

I have rentals in Newport Beach peninsula for over 20 years . I know the area very well. What I said is Costa Mesa has a lot of rehab areas and a ton of homeless. Newport btw has a L.U.G.O Ordinances. Some huge fines of you get slapped with one. On big weekends Newport gets insanely packed especially in the peninsula area. And there are lots of parties and drunks. Not to mention parking is very very tough. Lots of petty crime mostly due to drunks.
Rents are also very high for what you get to rent. You’re renting a 900 sq ft beach property for 2900 a month. Don’t get me wrong I like high rents. It keeps my renters in the units because I charge less than going rate so i have plenty to pick from if one comes up vacant.

I only recommended Tustin/Orange when it was just his job location. Once i found his fiancée was at UCI I immediately offered Irvine as a great nearby location.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Tustin, Irvine, Anaheim Hills, Orange.

Good choices but Anaheim Hills is a longer commute than the others.

Originally Posted by BVitamin

Newport Beach or Costa Mesa near Newport.

These are great choices if one wants to be closer to the beach and have cooler weather. I like the area by Mother's Market Health Food store. However I also agree with the Electrician's comments. Is being close to the beach and cooler weather worth it for the higher cost and other hassles?!

Originally Posted by pacific2

There are options in South County, as well. You might want to look at Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita.

All nice places with good schools for the kids but an unnecessary commute for an apartment renting couple.

Originally Posted by BVitamin

I suppose the only place the other poster and I can agree on is Irvine.

I cannot stand Irvine. Too planned, perfect and overly controlled by HOA's. Its safe and has very high scoring schools but I would not live there.

Originally Posted by veritasveritas

Fountain Valley

A little longer commute. Great if one wants to be close to all the great Asian restaurants in Westminster and Garden Grove.

Originally Posted by tumor21

Where would you recommend?

I would consider the South Coast Metro area. The is the area nearby South Coast Plaza. This area is very convenient and close to your workplace. This is a good location if one wants to be very close to many stores and has a higher than average walkscore for Orange County. It could also be considered retail on steroids.

https://www.walkscore.com/score/w-ma...a-ana-ca-92704

Also here is an unusual suggestion. Downtown Santa Ana has undergone a revival but if you love Irvine you will not like downtown Santa Ana.

https://www.ocregister.com/2016/10/0...orhoods-in-us/

"downtown Santa Ana made its annual Great Places in America list this year, which recognizes five neighborhoods, five streets and five public spaces across the country demonstrating exceptional planning, quality and character."

https://www.ocregister.com/2015/02/1...work-and-play/

"in this regard Santa Ana excels. It is poised to follow the lead of San Antonio and Santa Fe, whose rich heritage draws tourists and creative types from far and wide. Downtown Santa Ana is a lively and diverse mix of cultures, as are many of the world’s great urban spaces."

http://www.downtown-santaana.com/upl...l-f-review.pdf

https://www.dtsaartwalk.org/

https://www.ocregister.com/2015/02/1...-game-changer/

4th Street Market

Santa Ana, CA Apartments for Rent | Artists Village

Just be sure not to get an apartment next to a freeway if you are planning a family.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21156395

"CONCLUSIONS: Living near a freeway was associated with autism"

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by capoeira

All nice places with good schools for the kids but an unnecessary commute for an apartment renting couple

That's for the OP to decide. The important thing is for him to be aware of his options.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Ahhh, I'm guessing Beckman-Coulter over on Red Hill Ave. Okay. So that rent will get you a nice studio or a 1-bedroom with no view in any of the very nice Irvine Company complexes in Irvine (Spectrum, Park Place, Gateway, etc.). You'll get more in the older Irvine Company projects like Cedar Creek, Deer Field, etc. Spectrum/Gateway and some others are undergoing a Google fiber installation if that is important to you.

Many do not care for the Irvine Company. A history of thin walls, but I have also heard that has been corrected in recent complexes. I can't speak to the veracity of either claim.

There are a handful of very nice and relatively new places along the Jamboree strip between Barranca and Main St. They are all close by your work. The Avalon at Jamboree/Alton consist of three buildings, all next to each other. Phases I-III. The newest is only a few years old. There is 2501 Alton that is a year old. These are all VERY popular with the Chinese (foreign nationals) because it is across the street from a large shopping and restaurant complex called Diamond Jamboree or Diamond Jubilee. There's also an H-Mart Korean grocery store there.

There are the Residences on Jamboree which are also very new, and the quieter Kelvin apartments. The Sofi ones on Kelvin are older and less expensive, but they are right across the street from The Residences. Going toward your work on Main St., the older 2555 Main seem nice, and across the street they are in the middle of Phase III of the Sullivans (I'm going by street name or address of 1201 Sullivan because I don't know the name of the complex). Oh, memory spark, they are called The Metropolitan. These are brand new. They are incredibly luxurious with jaw-dropping amenities. The other thing that makes them unique is that they are the first foray into OC of a San Diego based apartment builder. If I had to rent an apartment in the area, these would get my first and most serious consideration.

There are small complexes around there also, some right across from JWA. The Dupont, the Apex are all in the Dupont/Michelson/Von Karman (street names) area, all nice, but they are smaller and quieter. They are also non-Irvine company.

Along Jamboree and closer to UCI (next to a wonderful nature preserve/trails/estuary area called the San Joaquin Estuary or Marsh. The trails lead past UCI to the Newport Beach Upper Back Bay. Beautiful area!) are the apartments on Palatine. I think the complex is called Villa Sienna. It is very near a popular shopping area that contains a 24-hour Fitness (plus their corporate HQ), a Mother's Market, Chase Bank, Houston's steak house, nice restaurants, etc.). That reminds me, there is also a BRAND NEW complex there next to that shopping center. I don't know the name or streets it uses, but I believe it is non-Irvine Company, and is on the north/east corner of Michelson Dr and Carlson.

These areas are ALL near shopping and freeways, short 10-15 minute car ride to anything you could want.

Outside of Irvine, but very nearby and very near to shopping are the Irvine-Company complexes at The District, including The Legacy at The District. These are new, nice, and luxurious. They are in the shadow (practically) of the Tustin Blimp Hangars (Wikipedia them, fascinating bit of history and incredible free-standing wooden structures used to hold blimps that patrolled the coast-line during WWII. They are now used as TV/Film/Commercial sets. Lots of X-Files filmed there.

You might consider renting a condo from a private owner instead of an apartment. There are very nice condos

Anyhow, that's a quick thumbnail-sketch of the immediate area. Hope it helps.

[BVitamin]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

I have rentals in Newport Beach peninsula for over 20 years . I know the area very well.

Baller. Maybe you can give them a deal, heh.

Originally Posted by capoeira

These are great choices if one wants to be closer to the beach and have cooler weather. I like the area by Mother's Market Health Food store. However I also agree with the Electrician's comments. Is being close to the beach and cooler weather worth it for the higher cost and other hassles.

I cannot stand Irvine. Too planned, perfect and overly controlled by HOA's. Its safe and has very high scoring schools but I would not live there.

You guys do realize where the actual city limits of Newport Beach is, right? Don’t need to be on the peninsula.
And yes, Irvine is boring and stale but picking a neighborhood in Irvine won’t be a hit or miss like Tustin. And rates aren’t that significantly higher.... relative to, I guess. I like the ocean breeze, what can I say.

[amokk]

Or you could live in Santa Ana.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by tumor21

I’ve lived for 18 years in SB since moving here for college. We’re in our early 30’s

That’s impressive! At what age did you start college?

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by BVitamin

Baller. Maybe you can give them a deal, heh.



You guys do realize where the actual city limits of Newport Beach is, right? Don’t need to be on the peninsula.
And yes, Irvine is boring and stale but picking a neighborhood in Irvine won’t be a hit or miss like Tustin. And rates aren’t that significantly higher.... relative to, I guess. I like the ocean breeze, what can I say.

If I had a unit available I would. I’m usually 2-400 less than going rate. I may have something available in a year or so but I don’t even advertise as my previous tenants usually know someone who will move right in. It’s a really popular area.

That’s why I also suggested Irvine. It’s expensive but it’s a pretty safe bet.

The problem with Newport is once you get past the peninsula you’re looking at multi million dollar tract homes that aren’t for rent at anything remotely reasonable or renting crap old apartments. Some of the areas around Newport Harbor HS are absolute crap as they but against Costa Mesa. Which has turned into a cesspool. Especially behind Triangle Square and across 55/Harbor area.

[kwong7]

You might want to look into Pinnacle at MacArthur Place. My wife and I lived there between 2008-2012, though the rent has gone up considerably. We rented a 1BA/1BA 819sq ft unit and found it to be about 18% less than comparable Irvine Co Complexes. It wasn't perfect, but I have zero complaints. I can't speak for the current management staff as it's been 6 years since we lived there. On top of that Essex acquire BRE back in 2013.

https://www.essexapartmenthomes.com/...acarthur-place

It's located right off the 55fwy near the 405 interchange and is an easy route to UCI (55S, 73S, exit University or Bonita) and should give you some options to and from work...you'll be going opposite traffic. I really miss my old apartment and thought about reconstructing something like it as an in-law unit.

[OptimusPrime69]

I just relocated from the east coast orange county for a job... I chose to live in Irvine for at least my first year because it's predictably safe... Also in my early 30s and for the 9 days I've lived here I really likeit. Super clean and nice....every kind of convenience is around. Stores, shops, parks, hiking, biking, etc. Tustin also seems super nice.