What do you want to ask the Irvine Company?

[IACRenter_IHB]

I was very appreciative of Dan agreeing to meet with the IHB community and take questions. I too was surprised at the level of detail in his answers. I was hoping for more controversial/tough questions from IHB folks but that didn't happen. I'm not sure who asked that trail question, but that was a waste of valuable time. But I can't complain too much since I never hit the *3 button myself. Overall I was very happy with the conference and would wish for another event in the future.

 

[High Gravity_IHB]

That wasn't you that was concerned about Irvine becoming Monterey Park?

No, I wasn't on the call. I'm be more concerned about Irvine turning into Alhambra. haha

I think Mr. Young shares your concern, that's probably why he lives in 99 Ranch-free Coto.

 

[Bubblegum_IHB]

I commend Dan and TIC for even participating!! While I think some of the answers were sugar coated, I do appreciate his responses to timing of new communities.

How about the TIC paying IHB to come up with a several focus groups for surveying. I for one, would love to participate in giving my say to whatever TIC wants to ask!

 

[High Gravity_IHB]

I am very thankful that Mr. Young agreed to address us last night. We now have a much better factual basis for our prognostications. Unfortunately, I was standing in line at the Spectrum for the Ruby's $2.70 special so I wasn't able to hear it live. I would also like to thank IrvineRenter for getting Mr. Young to participate. I'll have to admit I thought IR was crazy when he invited TIC to participate. I was wrong and I'm glad IR was able to pull this off.

 

[reason_IHB]

He's very diplomatic and tactful. Regarding the affordable housing apts.: According to Dan, they don't look any different than any other Irvine Apt. Complex (IAC). True. Unfortunately, the residents do make it look different by hang drying their clothes on the balconies; using the balconies as a storage space; and, putting up satellite dish on every single one of the balconies. Case in point, the affordable housing apts. near Woodbury Town Center.

Not saying that regular apt. residents don't do these things. Just not as much.

 

[bkshopr_IHB]

This is what IHB has become, a self promoting group of brokers and laid off architects that have no grasp on reality. Your problem with TIC's design is that they lack feung f-ing sheui? What first time home buyer or move up homebuyer cares about that? Even the asian demographic knows that feung sheui is bs when it comes to a bottom line.

Get over it. No one is going to use you as an architect if you continue to use feung sheui as a your primary marketing point. You're like the architects that market the fact that 75% of their staff are LEED AP's, total idiots.

Other factors that B/L ignores? If you can only complain about the floor plans, you're grasping at straws. The market for first time home buyer has bottomed. IHB has acknowldeged it, CR has acknowledged it. Now go start your pathetic attempt at being a real estate agent.

It’s about time someone stood up and said something. I’ve been feeling disgusted about this self-promotion too. Unfortunately, I completely disagree with your feng shui argument. Anyways, I find it hilarious that the all the top posters on this website are the most prevalent “haters” of Irvine. IHO being the only non-bear I can think of. I seriously think that the Irvinehousing blog needs to address this bias. Take a look at bkshpr and graphrix.

bkshpr clearly is a smart person who is knowledgeable about architecture and design. Very knowledgeable, I might add. But what gets me is that this is a person who lived for 7+ years in Irvine without making any friends. He tries to portray modesty but can’t help posting “The Birkin Bag was over $10,000. The other was a cheap LV.” Must be the Asian in him. Also, the self-promotion to TIC on this thread resonates with desperation. I don’t blame tkaratz for thinking he was unemployed. Seriously, 7 years and no friends? I really hope you were exaggerating then.

As for graphrix. As one of the moderators on here, you really should care enough to listen to the conference call. I find it odd why you would choose to moderate the Irvinehousingblog when you clearly “hate” Irvine and would not envision yourself here. By the way, it also detracts from the blog when the moderators start a post with “I don’t know what crawled up your ass and died.” I’d think they’d be more, uh, “moderate” and less reactionary. (Although it does make for more entertaining reading)

Just my 2 cents.

I have made more friends here at this blog that is enduring everlasting than all the years I lived in Irvine. BTW I live there more than 7 years. All my neighbors were flippers and as soon you get to wave at them they were gone. No one uses the front door except to occassionally clean up the fliers piled at the front door. Rather than trying to explain I suggest you read my posts from 2-1/2 years ago where I explained the behavior of the residents.

Graph is intelligent and insightful. He made more contributions and shared his knowledge than all of you combined. You can insult me as much as you want but be cordial to Graph.

Thanks for your concern but I am not unemployed. I employ 8 people who live in contribute to the Irvine economy. My business is not Irvine based and my area of expertise is hospitality and retail. Consumer research is a component and I like residential because it is a subject that many people can relate to. You may not agree with my feng shui philosophy and that is Ok. My work will finish when Yuppy Asians and Caucasians ceased to shop and buy.

Really there are communities outside of Irvine that also have high concentration of Asians and Caucasians.

I like many of the readers and I am sad that I will not contribute to their home. Someday I will personally create IHO's 3CWG on a specific lot after his Internet invention made him very wealthy.

 

[irvine_home_owner_IHB]

Was Lasner in on the call? Here's his take:

http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/27/irvine-co-sees-end-of-recession-in-2010/31001/

P.S. I dream to live in a BK-home... I know my garage will be in the back... but it will be a 3-car one!

 

[tmare_IHB]

This is what IHB has become, a self promoting group of brokers and laid off architects that have no grasp on reality. Your problem with TIC's design is that they lack feung f-ing sheui? What first time home buyer or move up homebuyer cares about that? Even the asian demographic knows that feung sheui is bs when it comes to a bottom line.

Get over it. No one is going to use you as an architect if you continue to use feung sheui as a your primary marketing point. You're like the architects that market the fact that 75% of their staff are LEED AP's, total idiots.

Other factors that B/L ignores? If you can only complain about the floor plans, you're grasping at straws. The market for first time home buyer has bottomed. IHB has acknowldeged it, CR has acknowledged it. Now go start your pathetic attempt at being a real estate agent.

It’s about time someone stood up and said something. I’ve been feeling disgusted about this self-promotion too. Unfortunately, I completely disagree with your feng shui argument. Anyways, I find it hilarious that the all the top posters on this website are the most prevalent “haters” of Irvine. IHO being the only non-bear I can think of. I seriously think that the Irvinehousing blog needs to address this bias. Take a look at bkshpr and graphrix.

bkshpr clearly is a smart person who is knowledgeable about architecture and design. Very knowledgeable, I might add. But what gets me is that this is a person who lived for 7+ years in Irvine without making any friends. He tries to portray modesty but can’t help posting “The Birkin Bag was over $10,000. The other was a cheap LV.” Must be the Asian in him. Also, the self-promotion to TIC on this thread resonates with desperation. I don’t blame tkaratz for thinking he was unemployed. Seriously, 7 years and no friends? I really hope you were exaggerating then.

As for graphrix. As one of the moderators on here, you really should care enough to listen to the conference call. I find it odd why you would choose to moderate the Irvinehousingblog when you clearly “hate” Irvine and would not envision yourself here. By the way, it also detracts from the blog when the moderators start a post with “I don’t know what crawled up your ass and died.” I’d think they’d be more, uh, “moderate” and less reactionary. (Although it does make for more entertaining reading)

Just my 2 cents.

I have made more friends here at this blog that is enduring everlasting than all the years I lived in Irvine. BTW I live there more than 7 years. All my neighbors were flippers and as soon you get to wave at them they were gone. No one uses the front door except to occassionally clean out the pile of fliers piled at the front door. Rather than trying to explain why I suggest you read my posts from 2-1/2 years ago where I explained the behavior of the residents.

Graph is intelligent and insightful. He made more contributions and shared his knowledge than all of you combined. You can insult me as much as you want but be cordial to Graph.

Thanks for your concern but I am not unemployed. I employ 8 people who live in contribute to the Irvine economy. My business is not Irvine based and my area of expertise is hospitality and retail. Consumer research is a component and I like residential because it is a subject that many people can relate to. You may not agree with my feng shui philosophy and that is Ok. My work will finish when Yuppy Asians and Caucasins ceased to shop and buy.

Really there are communities outside of Irvine that also have high concentration of Asians and Caucasians.

I like many of the readers and I am sad that I will not contribute to their home. Someday I will personally create IHO's 3CWG on a specific lot after his Internet invention made him very wealthy.

I am personally appalled by the lack of respect for both Graphrix and Bk in these posts. As one of those "Irvine haters" I have to say that there are genuine reasons for these feelings. I've actually spent a decent amount of time in several locations in Irvine this summer, this time I decided to really look around. While I completely understand that some people love Irvine for it's perceived benefits, I have yet to find a single house that delivers any sort of decent aesthetic value. It seems that those who want to or do live in Irvine give up quite a bit. So far, my experience in Irvine has been an observation of 60's/70's style ugly stucco homes that are only a bit more landscaped then those same houses you will find in So. Santa Ana. If it's not the uglier older homes, it seems to be a rental village of generic apartments. I have to say that I do love the parks and the fact that there is practically one on every corner (seeing people in them is a bit more rare). The place feels so sterile to me. I have several Asian friends, it seems that the women are particularly in love with Irvine (their spouses just go along), there is high value placed on things that are new and shiny. Bk has extensive knowledge of this phenomenon and I can't doubt it based on personal experience. I really don't want to bash any Irvine lovers, you have different values in what you find appealing in a neighborhood and I appreciate that. As far as making friends, I personally know that Bk has found many friends in his current neighborhood with little effort, unlike my own brother who has owned in Irvine for five years.

While Graph can be a bit harsh, he has provided invaluable information to so many people here. Remember that one forum topic is titled "Irvine Real Estate", the others have many varied titles and I think Graph sees it as his role to provide some info about the fact that there are other nice places in Orange County to live besides Irvine. Sorry for the rant, but this one kind of irritated me.

 

[bkshopr_IHB]

Some of the best things Irvine has to offer are created by outsiders looking in. Diamond Jamboree for example. 85 C bakery is another.

 

[bkshopr_IHB]

Was Lasner in on the call? Here's his take:

http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/27/irvine-co-sees-end-of-recession-in-2010/31001/

P.S. I dream to live in a BK-home... I know my garage will be in the back... but it will be a 3-car one!

IHO, When the right time comes you will get the best looking 3CWG in the 49 sq.mi.

 

[awgee_IHB]

I'm just a 14 year old girl obsessed with Justin Timberlake who posts on RE blogs in my spare time.

IHB moderators

Before I go to work in the morning, I call Graphrix to find out what he is wearing to make sure we do not clash.

 

[awgee_IHB]

I am very thankful that Mr. Young agreed to address us last night. We now have a much better factual basis for our prognostications. Unfortunately, I was standing in line at the Spectrum for the Ruby's $2.70 special so I wasn't able to hear it live. I would also like to thank IrvineRenter for getting Mr. Young to participate. I'll have to admit I thought IR was crazy when he invited TIC to participate. I was wrong and I'm glad IR was able to pull this off.

It is refreshing to hear someone say, "I was wrong."

So many times TIC is brought up on the forum, some know it all goes off on how TIC does not know that the IHB exists or the IHB is meaningless to TIC or how TIC could care less what anyone says on the IHB, etc. It always exemplifies how little they actually know compare to how much they just spout off.

 

[momopi_IHB]

My $0.02

I like Irvine, or at least parts of it, for its "feel". Call it good Feng Shui, geomancy, or anything else you like, it simply "feels" better. I used to live in Placentia in a place that made me feel "bad" and it affected my mental and physical health greatly. After moving back to Irvine, I felt much better and got sick less. I live in the East side of Oak Creek and it has the right "feel" to me. I also like feel of Woodbridge, Quail Hill, and many other parts. I didn't like the part of El Camino Real that's next to the rail tracks + power lines.

Choosing a home is a emotional, not logical decision. Logic is used to choose correct investments. I made the mistake of mixing logical investments with "home" back in 2002 and it made me feel ill for 4 years. I'm still recovering from a chronic tension headache from that period.

Irvine is not a perfect place by logical standards, there's goods and bads. My bathrooms have no windows, and my kitchen hood doesn't have an external exhaust. But, because it "feels" right, I'm willing to pay whatever the cost to be where I am. If it means consuming gallons of cool-aid, I'd just make jello-O out of it.

Some people prefer large lots with big yards. I grew up in Anaheim in a SFR, next to Rio Visa elementary school. I hated mowing lawns, stripping paint, and cleaning the pool every week. HOA's are great for me. I like larger community parks, HOA pools, gym, and all the wonderful amenities that everyone just use once in a while and, somehow, they're magically cleaned every few days by elves while we're away at work. Works great!

 

[irvine_home_owner_IHB]

somehow, they're magically cleaned every few days by invisible elves while we're away at work.

Maybe in your area they are invisible, my elves are maintaining the landscape at 6:45am... quite noisily.

But I'm with you... I have too much going on to live in a DIY house with a DIY yard... and I don't want to have to worry about DIY criminals. Maybe when I'm retired I'll move somewhere else but as long as I have a family to look after, I'll stick with the "better" schools and the "safer" city. I enjoy my newer stucco boxes... while not as aesthetically pleasing as others, I don't spend the majority of my time looking at the outside of my house anyways.

 

[traceimage_IHB]

Deleting. Dammit. Not letting you guys suck me in this time.

 

[graphrix_IHB]

Seriously, can somebody please start a Really-Nice-Places-In-Orange-County-Other-Than-Irvine Forum, so all the people who dislike Irvine so much can post there?

It's called the Orange County thread. Which was essentially created because of me, and several other posters back then (circa 2007) that were interested in places other than Irvine. While this may be the "Irvine housing forums" it has developed into a much broader audience. If all we talked about was Irvine housing, this place would be a boring echo chamber, and that is why we have the dining, economy, off topic threads etc. BTW, I know of quite a few posters who have broaden there housing search away from Irvine because of the knowledge they gained from the posters who have exceptional knowledge of the areas outside of Irvine. I think they are quite happy for all the non-Irvine housing discussions.

 

[graphrix_IHB]

I'm just some dumb ass on the internet with zero knowledge

Well said.

And... from your posts, you have even less knowledge than me. So... what does that say about yourself?

 

[irvine123_IHB]

As one of those "Irvine haters" I have to say that there are genuine reasons for these feelings.

... I have yet to find a single house that delivers any sort of decent aesthetic value.

It seems that those who want to or do live in Irvine give up quite a bit.

If it's not the uglier older homes, it seems to be a rental village of generic apartments.

I really don't want to bash any Irvine lovers, you have different values in what you find appealing in a neighborhood and I appreciate that.

Though you say you appreciate others have different values, you have some really strong words / comments for those "different value". I don't understand how and why anyone can develop any "genuine reasons" to be a "Irvine hater"? What did Irvine do to you??

I am very curious.

 

[ABC123_IHB]

He's very diplomatic and tactful. Regarding the affordable housing apts.: According to Dan, they don't look any different than any other Irvine Apt. Complex (IAC). True. Unfortunately, the residents do make it look different by hang drying their clothes on the balconies; using the balconies as a storage space; and, putting up satellite dish on every single one of the balconies. Case in point, the affordable housing apts. near Woodbury Town Center.

Not saying that regular apt. residents don't do these things. Just not as much.

I don't live in low income housing but I have been known to be guilty of letting my clothes air-dry during hot & dry days as a result of spending a year in Europe when I didn't have a dryer. After a year I realized my clothes lasted longer and did not fade as quickly if I refrained from using a dryer.

None of my neighbors is low income either but most, if not all of them were born in another country so they all have satellite dishes because Cox cable does not provide them with the stations they wish to see.

 

[traceimage_IHB]

Seriously, can somebody please start a Really-Nice-Places-In-Orange-County-Other-Than-Irvine Forum, so all the people who dislike Irvine so much can post there?

It's called the Orange County thread. Which was essentially created because of me, and several other posters back then (circa 2007) that were interested in places other than Irvine. While this may be the "Irvine housing forums" it has developed into a much broader audience. If all we talked about was Irvine housing, this place would be a boring echo chamber, and that is why we have the dining, economy, off topic threads etc. BTW, I know of quite a few posters who have broaden there housing search away from Irvine because of the knowledge they gained from the posters who have exceptional knowledge of the areas outside of Irvine. I think they are quite happy for all the non-Irvine housing discussions.

I agree that other topics should be discussed, with respect for all. But I think a lot of people here are vehemently anti-Irvine, and they get really irked when someone praises Irvine too much. Or they get irrationally defensive when someone says something negative about another city. There's a definite bias against Irvine among a number of people here. It just strikes me as odd. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other for any city (except maybe my hometown, I guess), so I just don't understand why it pushes people's buttons.