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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    After living in San Mateo for "some number of weeks" I'd like to offer the following feedback. Overall happy owner, these new construction have all sorts of new bells and whistles compared to homes constructed even 5 years ago. Its also amazing how much energy efficient these new homes are in...
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    [IHB] Is the Irvine Company?s Rent Equity Program a Good Home Buying Strategy?

    It basically means that in the 6 months that it takes for them to construct your home, you will NOT be getting anymore equity even though you are still paying rent. They give you the impression that all of your rent dollars can be converted to the equity only for you to find out that this line...
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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    Today I asked my engineer at work to put dimensions into the model 2 floor plan... This one will help to get more accurate pricing esp if you are interested in doing price compare with IP's design center.  I'm planning on knocking a few walls down upstairs including master bath and also the...
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    What is it with all these Asian banks?

    IMO, these little asian banks (actually some of them are huge overseas) should offer low rate mortgage, and actively sell them off and make a little profit here and there. I'm working with a loan funding company right now, supposedly they are not that big and just with a few million of capital...
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    Which credit card do you use the most?

    Its not so much of whether they give you a 1099 or not... in fact, you are technically supposed to give a 1099 if you write a check to a non-corporate entity thats over $700 or something in the neighborhood in one calendar year. But with 1099, it doesn't mean you need to report it as hard cash...
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    Which credit card do you use the most?

    This one's because I use the card to run business expenses and if you cut expense by 2% via cash back, you're essentially needing to pay the ~30% income since reducing expense = increasing income. So its why I use my points card more now, because points gained as result of biz expense isn't...
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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    Wow thats crazy.. checked out their site and seems that you have to choose stuff thats in stock over in the LA warehouse. Shipping is a little expensive from out of state warehouses, probable doesnt' make sense unless one was looking for designer pieces.. Hope their sample arrives this week :)
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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    Anyone heard of builddirect.com ? Their granite/marble slab pricing seems unreal although you would need to purchase around 300-400 square feet, a little more than what the little kitchen and bathrooms can handle. In either case I ordered a bunch of porcelain tiles, some of them that simulate...
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    short term family stay

    I helped a cousin rent a short term from TIC for about $5k furnished, 1 month with 3 bedroom. Decent price although it was in an older apartment. Try airbnb or something.
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    [IHB] How Will the Orange County Great Park be Built without Redevelopment Money

    Thousands, almost 10k new homesites means no chance for the rest of irvine to appreciate their home value haha.
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    What is it with all these Asian banks?

    Its a good feeling when you walk into the asian bank, greeted by first name and them being able to pull up your account WITHOUT having to show your atm card and driver's license. (and no, i dont have hundreds of thousands in the account). BofA's can be everywhere, and I use it for their ATM and...
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    Which credit card do you use the most?

    Capital one Spark card gives me 2% rebate on everything thats purchased, there are cards that give you 5% for food/dining on a consistent basis, there are cards that do 5% for fuel purchase on a consistent purchase... and of course, the Amex SPG card. If you stack your cards right, you'll always...
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    1/3 are all-cash sales in Irvine

    Wealthy asian buyers taking LOC's out of their asia based home and by the time they land here, its basically a cash sale. And once the sale goes thru, pull a morgage out. With average real estate price increasing by 100% in China and at least 50% elsewhere in first world Asia, the profit on...
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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    I'll be doing some due diligence to include a few reputable institutions in the mix and let numbers do the talking... Same goes with the interior upgrades, if they try (or think they can) take that much profit, then the buyer walks.
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    San Mateo Phase 2++ @ Stonegate

    My San Mateo cottage is well under way, closing is within a couple of months. Wells Fargo is quoting some rip off rates for the loan, at maybe .25 higher than other lenders. I'm sure TIC will get some sort of kick back if the buyer closes thru WFO. I been thru the whole "design center" upsell...
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    San mateo almost sold out.

    So what upgrade did you choose at the end? Chose very little in terms of upgrades, mostly just wiring and pre-plumbing that will be problematic to install later on. But even with this stuff it ran around $3k for it and I can guarantee you that if I sent contractor/handyman to run wires it...
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    San mateo almost sold out.

    Looks like there will be big amounts of reno/construction after closing date... Options that Irvine Pacific offers are ridiculously priced especially if you compare the prices at the local Home Depot, Lowes or Costco. If it were my choice, I'd skip all of the design center appointments (got 6-8...
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    Readdressing the toxic land issue

    LOL theres already a plume in irvine but some politicians are already conveniently telling everyone that its not hazardous to the residents living above it.
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    San mateo almost sold out.

    Well, to be fair, all sellers have to disclose everything there is to disclose about the home.. Which means that, no matter where you go, you'll see a laundry list. Further south, you'll see a nuclear power plant on the disclosure and about what might happen if theres a meltdown... On this...
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