Still Too High said:
If there were no Chinese buyers in Irvine, home prices in Irvine would be comparable to Ladera Ranch, Aliso Viejo, Fullerton and Yorba Linda on a price per square foot basis. The Chinese demand in Irvine is so strong, the price per sq. ft. is about $50/sf. ft. higher than it really should be. The sad thing is this Chinese influence will probably not stop anytime soon and prices will stay high. I wish they would stop buying for about six months so prices would come down. It would be a good thing for them as well. Paying a higher price for a home only benefits the builder and the County Tax Collector. It does no good for the homeowner in the long run. Can someone connected in the Chinese community spread this word of advice? Please!!
I assume you're being facetious. You can't blame the Chinese buyers for you not being able to afford a house in Irvine. Sometimes you're priced out of the market and have to set your sights lower. I tried to buy an apartment in Manhattan when I lived on the east coast a few years back. We're talking 600k for a 600 sq ft studio, and most of the places sold for over asking price. I ended up renting, and then moving. The Irvine market seems tame in comparison, though still overpriced. Living in the city did help alter my view on how much living space I need to be comfortable.
Besides it's not just the Chinese. I see a lot of Koreans looking at homes too. Or are we just lumping them all together?