Can you please give honest detailed similarities and differences between Newport and Laguna Beach?
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I do have a few questions for you regarding Newport and Laguna Beach:
1. What parts of Newport Beach you would avoid?
2. What are your thoughts about the area around Temple Hills Drive/Rim Rock in Laguna Beach? It's a great area, however I am referring to the sense of community/civic involvement?
3. Have you or any family/friends build their own home? If so, I have a few questions regarding the construction process.
1. The parts of Newport I would personally avoid are the very crowded areas on the Balboa Peninsula and West Newport off Coast Highway. I've lived on the Peninsula and my parents owned rental properties there. Too busy, too crowded, too packed in. It was fine when I was 24.
2. Temple Hills Drive/Rim Rock in Laguna Beach is a nice area, I've had friends live in the area. I wouldn't say no to a house there, but the steep drive (Temple Hills Dr) is tough on brakes. Laguna Beach in general is very engaged civically. I am not sure the topography of Temple Hills Drive/Rim Rock is conducive to neighbors chatting over the fence with coffee.
3. No, but remodels yes. Like every coastal community in CA, the hassles are immense.
1. The parts of Newport I would personally avoid are the very crowded areas on the Balboa Peninsula and West Newport off Coast Highway. I've lived on the Peninsula and my parents owned rental properties there. Too busy, too crowded, too packed in. It was fine when I was 24.
2. Temple Hills Drive/Rim Rock in Laguna Beach is a nice area, I've had friends live in the area. I wouldn't say no to a house there, but the steep drive (Temple Hills Dr) is tough on brakes. Laguna Beach in general is very engaged civically. I am not sure the topography of Temple Hills Drive/Rim Rock is conducive to neighbors chatting over the fence with coffee.
3. No, but remodels yes. Like every coastal community in CA, the hassles are immense.
Thank you for the response. +1 from me.
I agree with you regarding Balboa and West Newport areas.
Besides the steep drive being tough on brakes, do you have any other 'uniquely' Laguna things to keep in mind? I have spent a few months in town here and there. Lived with a friend on Temple Hills, did an Airbnb on Crestview, and spent a wonderful week staying at the Montage. However none of those stays make me a local or have any localized knowledge.
I hope you post more often, you have great knowledge of Coastal OC!
1. I would avoid the peninsula and the inland area between Hoag and HB. I guess that's West Newport?
2. Laguna's steep hilly areas are popular for two main reasons: views, and privacy. Well, maybe not privacy, but not Coast Hwy or village-adjacent The village is the downtown.
3. Yes, my cousin just knocked down and built from scratch on the beach. Took 7 years! Massive bureaucratic red-tape (including the CA Coastal Commission and Historical Society issues) which equals massive expense. NOT fun. Gorgeous and stunning results, but phenomenal cost and headaches. YMMV.
1. I would avoid the peninsula and the inland area between Hoag and HB. I guess that's West Newport?
2. Laguna's steep hilly areas are popular for two main reasons: views, and privacy. Well, maybe not privacy, but not Coast Hwy or village-adjacent The village is the downtown.
3. Yes, my cousin just knocked down and built from scratch on the beach. Took 7 years! Massive bureaucratic red-tape (including the CA Coastal Commission and Historical Society issues) which equals massive expense. NOT fun. Gorgeous and stunning results, but phenomenal cost and headaches. YMMV.
Greats insights. I really the topography of Laguna, particularly on the higher elevations. I had been mulling various options (buy a condo, build a single family) however I haven't been able to pull the trigger because I see Southern CA real estate on a boom and bust cycle.
I have been hearing about the challenges related new construction in Laguna and they are definitely a deterrent. I understand why Laguna wants to be so careful with construction. Its a charming village that is already inundated with summer visitors and the last thing residents want to see is additional congestion/views being blocked.
I have been hearing about the challenges related new construction in Laguna and they are definitely a deterrent. I understand why Laguna wants to be so careful with construction. Its a charming village that is already inundated with summer visitors and the last thing residents want to see is additional congestion/views being blocked.
It's not Laguna Beach per se, it's first CA, which is bad in general, but coastal cities have to run a lot of their construction past the California Coastal Commission. It got so bad that people on Balboa Island would tear down the whole house except the chimney and call it a "remodel". Not sure if you can still do that or not.
It's not Laguna Beach per se, it's first CA, which is bad in general, but coastal cities have to run a lot of their construction past the California Coastal Commission. It got so bad that people on Balboa Island would tear down the whole house except the chimney and call it a "remodel". Not sure if you can still do that or not.
I was aware of the Coastal Commission however didn't think of them as posing a significant impediment in the building process. That Balboa Island example indicates that ground up construction is no easy task. I wish there was a balance between new construction and preservation of the local community/neighborhood.
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