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We closed in mid-April and haven't received anything from OC Assessor, only thing was the homeowner exemption form. Checked 2015-2016 property tax that just came online and it's still using value from year before. I thought by now at least we'd be assessed higher value for the current tax bill...

Have you narrowed down a location? I'm in Lake Forest and it's ok enough. A little far from anything asian (besides Thai) but a quick drive to Irvine, Costa Mesa a little further for ramen galore. Tons of properties out here with a pool can be had for $700kish, but older homes. Don't have kids...

Blaze is my fave for DIY. For fancy Margherita for a date night out we go to Pizzeria Mozza in Newport or more casusal, Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa after 8 PM at the bar for HH, $7/$8. Locally I haven't tried too much other than usual chains, NY Upper Crust (ok), some chef guy on FB I know...

We just went through a remodel, start a thread when you start! Second the Houzz, pinterest for design basically. I will say, if you don't change much layout (we just knocked down load bearing wall then put island there) and where the plumbing/appliances are, it's pretty easy to just tell you...

Totally, if you are talking PER person in a 2 income family. Maybe it's just me and my expenses/income ratio cushion talking, but I personally wouldn't consider anything $800k+ unless we made at least $200k/$250k+ combined even with 20% down. Now if you're rolling equity, have a large sum of...

Went pretty basic on our kitchen remodel, but would like a few pull out sliding shelves. Has anyone had experience with installing/getting these put in? Also any experience particularly with online companies such as Home Depot and Costco have a partnership with Slide A Shelf or...

Hahah, just trying to comment if cops do indeed keep out the riff raff or it's just the home values/area itself. Now, back to the topic!

Not going to get into all up on the cops/firefighter/service and bureaucracy boat. But I do notice 90% of the time Irvine PD has someone pulled over (Sand Canyon north of 5), it's usually some run down jenky car (like peeling paint or bad faded after mkt paint job)......

First summer in our house, ants have been EVERYWHERE for last month. We've gone through 2 boxes of Terro baits. They'll work and ants will swarm for 2-3 days intermittently then they appear to be gone and come back in a week or 2 if we don't keep it spic and span. Once they were attracted to a...

Right?! It's ridiculous, our old IC apt built in 2007 used to get into low 90's at times too. Lots of sun exposure and currently no neighbors behind, a huge hill in Lake Forest.

The inside of our home gets up to 94 lately when we're back from work (older). When I get home, ac goes on full blast for up to 2 hours to get down to 80. Will my bill lower if we put it on at say 87 or so when we're not home or same as if we just crank it when coming home? The AC unit is new...

Ah yes, forgot about the phase out/cap on Roth. I'm all for allowing people to save (maybe just cap the contrib amount) for retirement tax free no strings attached!!

Thanks for responding eyephone. I can get on the what makes financial sense soap box, but you all probably know better on TI as opposed to some people my age who just love to spend and not think about their nest egg. My company is actually in the mutual fund industry so nothing exciting such as...

Just posting thoughts and commentary on what's been said so far. I guess I'll stick to just commenting on food places...

Great discussion! Lots of factors here, some more info/my thoughts: Our situation: - Down: 30% down on home in Lake Forest. Hefty sum (in my book), kept right under Jumbo so got 3.75% 30 yr fixed a few months ago - Parents: Taught us the value of money, didn't eat out or travel much (except to...

Seems to be a lot of stay at home moms too, only 1 income? Or is an Irvine buyer usually dual income?

This puffle aka hong kong egg waffle is pretty good here, new item. You do have to try their ice cream. I know, trendy liquid nitro, but the salted caramel pretzel, milk and cereal, and earl grey lavender are fantastic. You can do to Ritters next door for dinner then here for dessert.

I've been to the one in K-Town, fantastic. It has a great drinking and chow down vibe. The meat quality is good, no AYCE. The totally cook for you and all you do is relax, he even told me, let me do it, this is not AYCE. The sets are best value being either beef or pork, they're very well known...

I've been only on here a short time, but maybe you all have some insight. Who's buying all these new homes in Irvine for 800k, 1m+?! Some of my background: Went to a UC, lived in Costa Mesa for awhile then we rented in Irvine (Portola Springs - only 1 apt community so you can guess). Ultimately...

Let me ask my friend who lived in Lake Forest then Mission Viejo recently. I'm zoned to Lake Forest Elementary, which has a GATE program. Generally I think the schools a tad closer to Muirlands and the 5 between Bake and El Toro are not as great as schools more inland, above Jeronimo. Saddleback...