Good summary. I would like to add ( something important to us):
LA
SG
LA
- close to hoag hospital - 2 miles
much closer to beach - 7 miles
much closer to the state park on 133 - we mountain bike there
you can feel the ocean breeze
SG
- I did field test- driving to 405 from SG during avg rush hours takes 15 mins or more.
closer to the primary school
IrvineHomeBuyer said:I always prefer to rent in the area I want to purchase before hand so I can get a better feel of which part I like to live, but since we don't have the luxury of doing that, we have to depend on internet research and opinions from friends.
One of my friends that lives in Irvine was telling me Quail Hill/Laguna Altura is too out there, inconvenient and hard to get to, He says Stonegate/Woodbury is a much better location. I would like other opinions regarding the day to day convenience factor of each development, putting aside all the arguments of landfill and freeway.
From what I can see, LA seems more convenient overall.
- Easy access to South Coast Plaza (9 miles) - only takes 12 min
- Spectrum (2 miles)
- Costco (3 miles)
- Ranch 99 (6.5 miles) - further than I'd like
- 85 degree Bakery plaza (7 miles) - only takes 10 min via freeway
- The Market Place (6.7 miles) - 8 min.
- Quail Hill shopping center (not as good as Woodbury town center)
Stonegate
- South Coast Plaza (13 miles) - takes 20 min.
- Spectrum (5 miles)
- Costco (5.3 miles)
- Ranch 99 (4.9 miles)
- 85 degree bakery plaza (7.4 miles) - takes about 15 min.
- The Market Place (4.5 miles) - 12 min. Takes longer to get to than from LA
- Woodbury town center (big plus, better than QH and semi walkable)