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irvinehomeowner

irvinehomeowner

Well-known member
If you could go back in time and buy a house in Irvine, what time and where?

Should be a time when you could have afforded it because as much as I would like to own in Shady, not sure there was a time when it was within our means.

Most likely for us, probably 2004 to 2010:

-A 3CG Quail Hill home when it first opened (I dismissed them at the time because I was so anti-MRs)
-3CGW newer development in North Lake Woodbridge off Lemongrass (and no MRs)
-Maybe something in Turtle Rock (1 story 3CWG like USC)

But not Laguna Altura... even though I know it had crazy appreciation. Plus they opened after my time range (2011).

There are some Great Park homes I like but also after 2010 and no 3CWG (and the MRs are bleh).
 
I was in Irvine in 1989 with my parents looking at houses for them.

Mom: "This new house is nice but why are we buying in middle of a farm?"

Made U turn and parents ended up buying a townhome in Buena Park for $120k with 15 year loan.

Funny thing is my wife's parents were looking to buy and their agent took them to Diamond Bar.

"This new house is nice but why are we buying in middle of cows?"

They ended up buying a SFR in Lakewood for $150k in 1988 with 15 year loan.
 
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Personally, I bought my first 1 bed condo at oak park (oak creek) in 1999 for $160k.

Just a year earlier in 1998, the same plan 1 condo in phase one started at $110k.

In 2000 when quail hill opened I recall seeing huge line of people waiting to put their names down on the wait list.
 
One of my relatives was looking to buy a new home in Irvine in 1989 (newer WestPark I), they ended up buying a new home in South County instead because they wanted a bigger lot.

The smaller lot/house in Irvine is worth more., $1.7+m to $1.55mm... that's crazy.
 
Parents almost bought 3 bed 2 ba SFR in Harvard Square in 1999 for $275k when it was a new build, but got cold feet and settled with a single story SFR in older Irvine, mostly due to wanting to avoid a floor plan with stairs. I’m seeing the Harvard Square SFRs are now $2m and up while their older SFR is probably worth $1.2-1.3m.
 
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GrowthStateofMind said:
Parents almost bought 3 bed 2 ba SFR in Harvard Square in 1999 for $275k when it was a new build, but got cold feet and settled with a single story SFR in older Irvine, mostly due to wanting to avoid a floor plan with stairs. I’m seeing the Harvard Square SFRs are now $2m and up while their older SFR is probably worth $1.2-1.3m.
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Funny... we looked there too, including Oak Creek (open at the same time) but the available homes they had were too close to freeways and had MRs.

A 1-story SFR in Irvine is nice to have. 3brs are cheaper... but 4br and up you're looking in the $2m+ range.
 
B2FiNiTY said:
I would have just bought in shady canyon or crystal cove when it was new.

most recently should have bought orchard hills 4.
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shady canyon and crystal are way better than OH4. What makes you think OH4 is not over priced now and would appreciate more than other areas.
 
GrowthStateofMind said:
Parents almost bought 3 bed 2 ba SFR in Harvard Square in 1999 for $275k when it was a new build, but got cold feet and settled with a single story SFR in older Irvine, mostly due to wanting to avoid a floor plan with stairs. I’m seeing the Harvard Square SFRs are now $2m and up while their older SFR is probably worth $1.2-1.3m.
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I'd happily buy an older single story SFR on bigger lot vs newer 2 story home.

If the purpose is to buy a house that you can grow old in, I'd avoid the stairs.

Areas like University Park has single level SFR on decent sized lot. But to buy one I'd have to sell 2 houses elsewhere. >_>
 
irvinehomeowner said:
Funny... we looked there too, including Oak Creek (open at the same time) but the available homes they had were too close to freeways and had MRs.

A 1-story SFR in Irvine is nice to have. 3brs are cheaper... but 4br and up you're looking in the $2m+ range.
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I lived in Oak Creek (north side at oak park) on and off for a decade from 2000-2012. Freeway noise was never an issue, but mello roose and double HOA = $$$$.
 
North side has a buffer. Back in 1999, the SFRs that were available were the ones next to the sound wall right next to the 405.

Same thing with Harvard Square, the more affordable SFRs were the ones next to the sound wall south of the 5.
 
I think that was the other thing I didn't like about Oak Creek and Harvard Square, they were both gated.

In the late 90s, I wasn't really looking at resale so maybe that's what I should have done. Didn't really figure out I wanted a 3CWG until mid 2000s.

So yeah. maybe a resale 3CWG back in the late 90s... I think the only other new home development during that time was West Irvine (and those did not have MRs or gates). I totally forgot I looked there too.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
I think that was the other thing I didn't like about Oak Creek and Harvard Square, they were both gated.

In the late 90s, I wasn't really looking at resale so maybe that's what I should have done. Didn't really figure out I wanted a 3CWG until mid 2000s.

So yeah. maybe a resale 3CWG back in the late 90s... I think the only other new home development during that time was West Irvine (and those did not have MRs or gates). I totally forgot I looked there too.
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I remember some of those West Irvine 5 bedrooms were going for cheaper than Harvard Square at the time, like around $250k-$275K range? But of course the school district wasn’t IUSD.
 
GrowthStateofMind said:
how much were HOA and Mello Roos per month back then?
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It was over $200 to start, now $357/month HOA.

Don’t recall exact mello roose amount, but I paid $160k for the condo and annual property tax plus mello roose was $3000.

If memory serves the mello roose was not “forever” and should be paid off by now.

In 1999 the 1 bed model sold for $160k and is now selling for $650k.

The 2 bed model was about $220k, now selling for $850k.

Larger 2 bed plus loft model for $250k in 1999, now selling for $950k.

There was also a weird 1 bed plus small home office model for $180k-200k in 1999, not sure about that one today.
 
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momopi said:
It was over $200 to start, now $357/month HOA.

Don’t recall exact mello roose amount, but I paid $160k for the condo and annual property tax plus mello roose was $3000.

If memory serves the mello roose was not “forever” and should be paid off by now.

In 1999 the 1 bed model sold for $160k and is now selling for $650k.

The 2 bed model was about $220k, now selling for $850k.

Larger 2 bed plus loft model for $250k in 1999, now selling for $950k.

There was also a weird 1 bed plus small home office model for $180k-200k in 1999, not sure about that one today.
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Aren’t there 3 bed 3 bath trilevels there as well? I recall seeing some for around $850K-$900k in late 2022.
 
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