Recent content by penn1_IHB

thanks a lot trooper, I'll try that

Anyone have personal experiences with a good architect and a good general contractor that they would recommend?

thanks guys, I don't think I was all that serious but wanted to crunch the numbers to get a feel for it.

<p>thanks for the answer cdm</p> <p>I'm looking at a house in Garden Grove on a nice 12,000 sq foot lot; in a decent neighborhood. The original house is 1700 sq feet on a raised foundation but it is so damaged that it looks like it needs to be gutted. I'm not looking to put up a McMansion...

I'm thinking about buying a "fixer upper" tearing it down and then rebuilding it. In this market, could some one give a guess as to how much per sq foot it would be. With flippers losing their shirts, are contractors more reasonable as a result? b/c they are probably lacking in work as well.

<p>JB,</p> <p>thanks for the recommendations. I actually am not looking to buy just yet. Like I said we were looking at the Pinnacle and ran into that place. What I'm really looking for is a home with a large lot--Villa Park, Tustin Ranch, Turtle Rock. </p>

<p>Hi JB</p> <p>I agree with you about the shared walls; however at your price range you are smart to wait a little longer. Then again, as far as shared walls go, sometimes when I look at the new houses on postage stamp lots in irvine where your master bedroom window look directly into...

<p>jb,</p> <p>I know you are looking for an SFR, and not in Santa Ana; however, check out this place: <a href="http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1497730">http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1497730</a> -- we saw it today and seemed like a...

<p>no thanks nsr, that is a more realistic price but like I said this neighborhood supports 300K homes in a non-bubble market. We are all blinded by the "deals" when we compare prices to the bubble times. I work in the area so I wouldn't mind purchasing in Garbage Grove while sending the kids...

<p> </p> <p>Anyone interested in 14 Carlysle should not offer anything more than 500K. The property was bought at the peak in '05 for 750K, the flipper spent supposedly "100K" to turn this 70's POS into a mandatory "meditarrenean" look, by adding "stone facade" and "ballasters" to the...

you guys are putting up some beautiful masterpieces here. I didn't start this post to look for the most beautiful house in the OC. This house is smack in the middle of homes that should be worth 300K. The owner bought the land and built an ugly, showy home just for show. I mean C'mon who is...

<p>Although this is not Irvine, I thought it would be interesting to get some input from this board on this house. I was inspired by IR's post today.</p> <p>http://redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1182726</p>

the 10/9/07 date is when the bank got it back. The last price was 930K in '04.

<p>13062 Cortina, Tustin Ranch 92782</p> <p>MLS: S512607</p> <p>Listing at $849,900</p> <p>this is a Repo, last purchased in 2004 for 930K. Now selling for less than $300/sq feet. I really like the Tustin Ranch area, except this one backs up to busy street.</p>

<p>Blackacre,</p> <p>A CD earning 5.5% isn't really earning 5.5% if you take into account income taxes and inflation. On the other hand, a rental property is an appreciating asset (if you look at history over the last 30 yrs) that the government allows you to write off it's...