Costa Mesa and UCI (Irvine, Corona: neighborhoods, to buy, private school)

[dthoman]

Hi! Everyone on this forum seems so great. Thanks for any help you can offer. My husband will be working in Costa Mesa, with occasional travel to Lake Forest and Alisa Viejo. I will be attending UCI. Right now we live in Nevada, in a brand new country club environment.

We can spend up to $1.9m on a home, but I don't want his commute (or mine) to be horrific. Any advice on the best areas to buy? I have a son who will finish his last year of high school there, too.

I'm seeing some nice properties in Yorba Linda, Mission Viejo, RSM, and Ladera Ranch/Coto.

Thank you again for any advice!

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by adthoman

I'm seeing some nice properties in Yorba Linda, Mission Viejo, RSM, and Ladera Ranch/Coto.

!

HEY THERE!

The cities you listed above our excellent. Don't know about the commute times, be patient someone will answer. Also check out Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel. I believe coming into Yorba Linda there can be a bit of traffic. Your money allows you to live anywhere in the area, which makes me happy for you.

Hope that helps friend.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

How familiar are you with this area?

To answer your question, Coto, Trabuco, MV, and RSM are all great places! The Southern and Coastal Sections are some of the best. There are very few bad neighborhoods(if any). Personally, I love the tall trees of Mission Viejo and proximity to the malls/beaches, but others may prefer to live a bit further out in the quieter communities like Coto, or RSM.

When considering Mission Viejo and/or Lake Forest-the main traffic problem you need to think about is the I-5. This is especially true since both of you plan to commute with the flow of traffic. Despite what I just told you, the renewed measure M, from the OCTA transportation fund, will help alleviate some of this congestion with the future $678 M I-5 project south of El Toro Y.


In regards to Coto, I think Coto De Caza is a great place. I believe in your looking in the right place for your price range, where a decent-size lot is available. Another benefit is the laid-back country-club/vacation lifestyle. (The golfing, swimming pools, fitness center, the General Store, the Riley Wilderness Park, and horseback riding).

However, if you closely consider your husband's commute(and yours), Newport Coast or even Aliso Viejo/Laguna Hills would be a more pleasant drive.

You would use the 73. The 73 is a toll-road which meanders through the rolling hills of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel.

If you decide on Newport Coast, your son will attend the prestigeous Corona Del Mar HS. For Southern California, CDMHS is more like a private school(very college orientated)!

http://www.coastmagazine.com/archive/pre_dec05/feature/images/10.05_f5j.jpg (broken link)


GOOD LUCK!

[dthoman]

Thank you very much for the help so far!

[nevercoldcall]

I just moved to Newport Coast about a month ago and am just thrilled. To be honest, we were very apprehensive at first with the fear that we were moving into a community of plastic snobs, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. We're in a great neighborhood with very friendly neighbors and everyone is so down-to-earth and it's very family oriented. It's much more down-to-earth than Phoenix/Scottsdale where I moved from which was very superficial. I really don't think you can go wrong anywhere in south OC.

[shadow42]

With that kind of money to spend and requiring proximity to UCI and Costa Mesa, for sure your best bets are Newport Beach/Corona del Mar or Irvine.