Irvine Hot Tub Time Machine

[irvinehomeowner]

If you could go back in time and buy a house in Irvine, what time and where?

Should be a time when you could have afforded it because as much as I would like to own in Shady, not sure there was a time when it was within our means.

Most likely for us, probably 2004 to 2010:

-A 3CG Quail Hill home when it first opened (I dismissed them at the time because I was so anti-MRs)
-3CGW newer development in North Lake Woodbridge off Lemongrass (and no MRs)
-Maybe something in Turtle Rock (1 story 3CWG like USC)

But not Laguna Altura... even though I know it had crazy appreciation. Plus they opened after my time range (2011).

There are some Great Park homes I like but also after 2010 and no 3CWG (and the MRs are bleh).

 

[momopi]

I was in Irvine in 1989 with my parents looking at houses for them.

Mom: "This new house is nice but why are we buying in middle of a farm?"

Made U turn and parents ended up buying a townhome in Buena Park for $120k with 15 year loan.

Funny thing is my wife's parents were looking to buy and their agent took them to Diamond Bar.

"This new house is nice but why are we buying in middle of cows?"

They ended up buying a SFR in Lakewood for $150k in 1988 with 15 year loan.

 

[momopi]

Personally, I bought my first 1 bed condo at oak park (oak creek) in 1999 for $160k.

Just a year earlier in 1998, the same plan 1 condo in phase one started at $110k.

In 2000 when quail hill opened I recall seeing huge line of people waiting to put their names down on the wait list.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

One of my relatives was looking to buy a new home in Irvine in 1989 (newer WestPark I), they ended up buying a new home in South County instead because they wanted a bigger lot.

The smaller lot/house in Irvine is worth more., $1.7+m to $1.55mm... that's crazy.