Affordable Cities???

hs_teacher_IHB

hs_teacher_IHB

New member
I'm beginning to seriously consider buying a SFR in 2010. Now I'm thinking about what city to buy it in. From my understanding, the 8 most populous cities are:



1. Santa Ana - is probably the most affordable, but I guess we are all advised to stay away from it.

2. Anaheim - is also affordable, but also has a negative reputation.

3. Irvine - is seriously not affordable at all for average income workers.

4. Huntington Beach - is also not really affordable either.

5. Garden Grove - is affordable and not too bad.

6. Orange - is affordable, but is too inland.

7. Fullerton - is affordable, but is too North County.

8. Costa Mesa - is affordable and coastal.



Thus, I'm narrowing down my choices to Garden Grove or Costa Mesa. Of course they're not nice like Irvine or Huntington, but affordability is a serious concern here.

Does anyone else on this blog have an issue with affordability?
 
You forgot your favorite, Fountain Valley. What is affordable to you? Do you have a range that you'd like to share. I'm a teacher also, so I have an idea of how much you make, but what's your target range of price?
 
[quote author="hs_teacher" date=1246369545]I'm beginning to seriously consider buying a SFR in 2010. Now I'm thinking about what city to buy it in. From my understanding, the 8 most populous cities are:



1. Santa Ana - is probably the most affordable, but I guess we are all advised to stay away from it.

2. Anaheim - is also affordable, but also has a negative reputation.

3. Irvine - is seriously not affordable at all for average income workers.

4. Huntington Beach - is also not really affordable either.

5. Garden Grove - is affordable and not too bad.

6. Orange - is affordable, but is too inland.

7. Fullerton - is affordable, but is too North County.

8. Costa Mesa - is affordable and coastal.



Thus, I'm narrowing down my choices to Garden Grove or Costa Mesa. Of course they're not nice like Irvine or Huntington, but affordability is a serious concern here.

Does anyone else on this blog have an issue with affordability?</blockquote>


I used to think like you and get influenced by my peers. Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim all are along the same genres. Just because you are more familiar with Garden Grove it is labeled as "not too bad". It is just multi ethnically diverse and just as populated with immigrants like Anaheim and Santa Ana.



Anaheim and Fullerton both have good vision in revitalization and the transformations are noteworthy. I like North County and not liking it is purely subjective. I like the proximity to Rowland Heights and the Asian market and eateries in Anaheim.



Have you really tried to learn about Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana yourself by walking its old downtown and going to the planning department to study their vision or participate in some local cultural events or farmer market weekends or nights? Do forget about Orange.



I see that you are much more conscientious about not putting FV in your listings. Irvine's El Camino is affordable and all it takes is to update the home with new fixtures, appliances and cosmetic finishes at reasonable discounts in todays sluggish market.
 
If I was capable, I would choose to buy in Irvine or Huntington; but that's not the case. I'm sure there are nice areas in Fullerton, Anaheim, and Orange; but I don't really have any family or friends living in those areas. I am biased against Santa Ana because all the bloggers keep on dissing it. Garden Grove isn't so great, but it's really affordable. As for Costa Mesa, it's centrally located and close to the coast. It's not the ideal city, but I'm really leaning towards buying there.
 
From your above list and the geographical limitations you mentioned, I would pick Costa Mesa. I wouldn't consider Garden Grove at all. But that's just me. I think you should drive around the areas you're considering and get a feel for them.



If you really want Irvine or HB, maybe try for a condo instead of a house? I don't know your budget, so I don't know if that's possible. But location's not really something to compromise on, if you feel strongly about it.
 
How about Washington Square in Santa Ana? If you're concern about the bad elements. You can avoid them by taking 17th St. (eastbound) to Main St. (northbound) pass Bks' neighorhood onto the 5 North then the 22 West. From there, it's about 4 exits to Little Saigon. All in all about 12 minutes to your destination.
 
[quote author="traceimage" date=1246410799]From your above list and the geographical limitations you mentioned, I would pick Costa Mesa. I wouldn't consider Garden Grove at all. But that's just me. I think you should drive around the areas you're considering and get a feel for them.



If you really want Irvine or HB, maybe try for a condo instead of a house? I don't know your budget, so I don't know if that's possible. But location's not really something to compromise on, if you feel strongly about it.</blockquote>


Isn't this the choice that a very large number of people have to make: Either a big place in a not-so-good location, or a not-so-big place in a good location? Sounds like he's leaning towards the former.
 
If location is the factor then buy the cheapest detached home in that city. Condos and townhouses do not retain price as well as a detach home due to the lack of opportunities for curb appeal upgrade and identity.



The comps for condo and townhouse projects are too precise and there is no room for price deviation from the neighbors or else buyers would call it WTF pricing. In new suburbs the price ceiling is always set by new homes. If a developer lower his selling price then you are doomed as a resale homeowner.



In the case of the Inland Empire the developers scraped brand new homes to avoiding long term maintenance and liability cost. When a brand new home was worth more by<strong>not</strong> standing then it would hurt the resales.



I see El Camino in Irvine as an opportunity for a starter detached home with land for expansion.
 
I've realized now that I can't keep hoping to live in the ideal home. Prices aren't going to come down that much more so now is the time to realistically budget. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in Newport, Huntington, Irvine, Villa Park, Seal Beach, etc.? But in terms of affordability, it's going to be Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Orange, or Costa Mesa. Without giving an exact number, my budget is between 300K to 500K. I think a mortgage between 2K-3K/month is affordable.
 
[quote author="freedomCM" date=1246414815]I think you should choose Garden Grove.



BTW, the part of Santa Ana west of the river is in the GG school district.</blockquote>


I've never actually seen a neighborhood anywhere near as nice as North Santa Ana's neighborhoods in Garden Grove. Westminster has a few really nice neighborhoods that border Fountain Valley, which I would imagine may meet your criteria.
 
Stay north of 17th Street. Another area in your price range is Morrison Park north of West Floral Park. Single story houses with large lot. Many mature trees and convenient to your social group. Freeway access is convenient to Little Saigon 5 minutes and Irvine 9 minutes. Neiman Marcus Outlet is coming to the Block and just a few minutes from Morrison Park.



<img src="http://www.santaanarealty.com/photos/1223/large.jpg" alt="" />

499k for 3 BR in Floral Park with 7,000 sf lot. Garage is loaded off the side street.



<img src="http://www.santaanarealty.com/photos/1296.jpg?1246171785" alt="" />

429k in Morrison Park
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1246412422]In the case of the Inland Empire the developers scraped brand new homes to avoiding long term maintenance and liability cost. When a brand new home was worth more by<strong>not</strong> standing then it would hurt the resales.</blockquote>


This happened once, in Victorville, which isn't really the Inland Empire-it's to the Inland Empire what the Inland Empire is to Irvine. Plus, the homes were incomplete, vandalized, and all alone in a field, the infastructure (streets, sewers, etc.) wasn't complete, and the city was fining the bank for code violations on a daily basis. That situation was fairly unique, IMHO.
 
[quote author="Geotpf" date=1246418635][quote author="bkshopr" date=1246412422]In the case of the Inland Empire the developers scraped brand new homes to avoiding long term maintenance and liability cost. When a brand new home was worth more by<strong>not</strong> standing then it would hurt the resales.</blockquote>


This happened once, in Victorville, which isn't really the Inland Empire-it's to the Inland Empire what the Inland Empire is to Irvine. Plus, the homes were incomplete, vandalized, and all alone in a field, the infastructure (streets, sewers, etc.) wasn't complete, and the city was fining the bank for code violations on a daily basis. That situation was fairly unique, IMHO.</blockquote>


Inland Empire x 2 ?
 
[quote author="reason" date=1246419469]Morrison Park? Hmm, thanks Bk.</blockquote>


The SAUSD superintendent lives in Morrison Park.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1246421621][quote author="reason" date=1246419469]Morrison Park? Hmm, thanks Bk.</blockquote>


The SAUSD superintendent lives in Morrison Park.</blockquote>


You're kidding?! Hmm...
 
[quote author="reason" date=1246422091][quote author="tmare" date=1246421621][quote author="reason" date=1246419469]Morrison Park? Hmm, thanks Bk.</blockquote>


The SAUSD superintendent lives in Morrison Park.</blockquote>


You're kidding?! Hmm...</blockquote>


Get out and drive around, reason! There are lots of nice neighborhoods out there!
 
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