Monopi, if you don't have to live in Irvine, I think AV is an excellent alternative.
- View homes at AV instead of flatland in Irvine.
- price / sq ft is cheaper.
- excellent shopping, and dinning locally, and easy access to LB.
- Aliso High is good school
- The only issue is kids facilities, i.e park, tennis, pool, etc. In the new section of AV, none of the communities have pool.
- Personally, I will only consider AV and irvine.
I know the new areas (built after 1999) of AV really well. All the gated communicties (SF only) are in the new section. If you are looking for SF, can tell me what specific information you are looking for, I might be able to tell you more about historical, price, HOA, etc. Hard to describe AV in general, as the older part of AV and the "newer" (after 1999) part of AV feels quite different in my opinion.
Some of the other comments posted here are more applicable to the relatively "older" section. Not sure which areas savvyxuzzy were comparing to, I found AV to be much cooler than Irvine / Mission Viejo area. AV gets ocean breeze, and can be foggy from time to time.
Traffic wise:
* 73 North takes you to Newport Beach area in no time.
* The new 133 takes you to irvine in less than 20 mins (less if you live in the older section of AV, which is closer to 133), even at rush hours.
* The new 133 puts you 15 mins away from downtown Laguna Beach
* 73 South takes you to south I-5.
* It is not as easy to get to Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, El toro area, as you have to drive locally for 10 to 15 mins to reach I-5.
Shopping wide:
AV town center is really nice. Also next to laguan Niguel, Laguan Nills, so that gives you access to more shopping and dinning.