428 Days on the Market

Jun 11th, 2008   by IrvineRenter  in Rollback

Think for a Minute -- Housemartins

Have you noticed how silent the bulls have become? The ones that used to hold their heads high now hang their heads in shame. Perhaps, if they had thought for a minute about paying double for real estate, they wouldn't have so many troubles now. Today's featured property has been on the market since April 10, 2007 -- a whopping 428 days. It is a story of a year of stress and wishful thinking about the market.

963 Somerville Front 963 Somerville Kitchen

Asking Price: $530,000IrvineRenter

Income Requirement: $132,500

Downpayment Needed: $106,000

Monthly Equity Burn: $4,416

Purchase Price: $628,000

Purchase Date: 1/12/2006

Address: 963 Sumerville, Irvine, CA 92620

Rollback

Beds: 3
Baths: 3
Sq. Ft.: 1,481
$/Sq. Ft.: $358
Lot Size: -
Property Type: Condominium
Style: Contemporary/Modern
Year Built: 1999
Stories: 2 Levels
Area: Northwood
County: Orange
MLS#: S482981
Source: SoCalMLS
Status: Active
On Redfin: 427 days
Unsold in 90+ days

** Large Yard ** Premium Lot ** Feel like detached home ** Spacious Living and Dinning w/ Recess Light, Ceiling Fan, Cozy Fireplace, Netural Wood Floor and Berber Carpet, Custom Paint, Large Kitchen w/ Breakfast Nook, Inside Laundry Room, Walk to Canyon View and Northwood High ** The Best Location and The best Price ** w w w.9 6 3 s o m e r v i l l e.i n f o

 It looks like the realtor put together a nice website.

 Perhaps English is not her native language. We have this sentence-ender we call a period. I don't know where the double asterisk comes from.

When I looked through the records on this property, I was struck by the stress this property must be causing the owners. It was purchased by a married woman as her "sole and separate property" on January 12, 2006. The property was put into a family trust in August of 2006, and the husbands name was on the property. In January of 2008, after 8 months of the property failing to sell, the husband removed his name from the title. I speculate this was done in an attempt to save his credit in the event of a short sale. I can just imagine the conversations these two must have had as she purchased the property without him, then he was brought into the deal, and then he wanted out. Most family arguments are about money. Add a white elephant like this to the mix, and there are bound to be issues. I hope I am wrong. I would not wish that on anyone. Through situations like this one, the housing crash is going to have a detrimental impact on families everywhere.

When this property was purchased for $628,000, the owner put 10% ($62,800) down. They didn't HELOC out their equity, although I imagine they wished they would have at this point. This property was first listed for $645,000. The seller was going to lose a bit of their downpayment at that price due to the sales commission, but the loss would have been minor. It didn't sell. After 90 days, they lowered the price to $599,980. At this price level, their equity would have evaporated, but they would have received enough from the sale to pay off the debt. For obvious reasons, the price did not budge for another 10 months. Even the stubborn and intractable give up eventually. Last month, they accepted that their equity was gone and their credit is shot, and they lowered the price to $530,000 were it sits today. Unfortunately, the market has moved down even faster than their price, and they are still grossly overpriced. The property still is not going to sell. If it did sell, and if the sellers paid a 6% commission, the total loss on the property would be $129,800. The seller would lose $62,800, and the lender would lose $67,000. 

Perhaps 2006 was not a great time to buy...

Something's going on, change is taking place,
Children smiling in the streets have gone without a trace.
This street used to be full, it used to make me smile,
And now it seems that everyone is walking single file

And many hang their heads in shame
That used to hold them high.
And those that used to say hello
Simply pass you by

Think for a minute, stop for a minute
Think for a minute, stop for a minute

I always said it could they never thought it could
The people look so pitiful I'm thinking that it should
and now it's almost here, now it's on its way
I can't help saying told you so and have a nice final day

And nothing I could say
Could ever make them see the light.
Now apathy is happy that
It won without a fight

Think for a minute, stop for a minute
Think for a minute, stop for a minute


Think for a Minute -- Housemartin

Astute Observations

Astute Observation by lee
2008-06-11 05:59 AM

This isn’t anything. Look on reality track. Look at the bank owned house on winterbranch that just sold. I lived on the Northlake for years. This house is 5 doors down from my old home. What a comp killer.

Lee

Astute Observation by George8
2008-06-11 06:08 AM

The combo of reducing price too slow and short sell will assure the sit and rot continue.

A knife catcher may pick it up at $480-$500k within this summer season. But will the bank go with it?

This property will sell at $350-$400k in 2010.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 06:32 AM

Try 250K.

It would probably fetch 180K in Phoenix.

Astute Observation by idrinkurmlkshake
2008-06-11 08:19 AM

here we go again with the pissing contest…

..at least our desert is next to the ocean.
and sorry...OC heat waves are nothing like Aizona’s.

Astute Observation by thanks
2008-06-11 08:23 AM

Bravo!  Finally, someone mentions the fact that they are tired of these posts.  If it’s not the cut-and-paste images, it’s comments like that which discredit anything that person “adds” to this site.

Go ahead and flame me now..

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 08:59 AM

bobafett_flame.jpg

Astute Observation by PartyPooper
2008-06-11 09:08 AM

Personally, love most of the pics. hate the comparisons to other states/cities. sometimes it’s started by you & sometimes it’s started by Irvine-would-be-knife-catchers-if-it-were-not-for-this-site-&-others-like-it.

Astute Observation by LC
2008-06-11 10:38 AM

I actually like to hear what is going on in other parts of the country. But the prices are irrelevant, I suppose.

Astute Observation by bigmoneysalsa
2008-06-11 01:54 PM

How many tens of thousands of middle class So-Cal families have moved to the Pheonix metro in the last ten years? Anyone who thinks prices in Arizona are irrelevant to prices in OC is badly mistaken.

Astute Observation by Mohan
2008-06-11 06:00 PM

What a cynical response !!! I am amazed at how some one can be so insensitive to some one else’s pain. Do you think these issues will not hurt you ? These problems are hurting every one in the country, be it the Auto manufacturers, banks or any one who needs credit. Here in Bay Area rents have sky rocketed. Just a one bed room apartment costs more than $1350 + utilities. Writing these comments or writing a blog may be fashionable now but sooner or later these problems will affect you too.

Astute Observation by Rentaholic
2008-06-11 10:56 PM

$1350? I wish rents in Irvine were that low. We’re paying 1500-1700+ for a 1 bd. Thanks Irvine Company! Monopolies have their benefits.

Astute Observation by Dave
2008-06-12 09:42 PM

How about this: I have lived in the Bay Area 11 years, make over $100k/yr, and I’m permanently priced out of most desirable areas of both East Bay and peninsula.

What about my pain?

Oh wait… I saved my money… I don’t count…

So, no, these problems will NOT affect me as I did NOT buy a house, I did NOT go into debt, and I did NOT spend most of my income.  In fact, I have 7 years savings at my current burn rate.  Which means I could work at *In-and-Out* for $10/hr, cover my expenses, and NOT even touch my savings.  Since I have a PhD in engineering from Berkeley, I think my employment opportunities are pretty damn good no matter what happens to the economy (because I can afford to undercut *everyone’s* wages). 

This opportunity that I took advantage of… was available to *everyone*.  Nobody put a gun to anyone’s head and made them assume this indebtedness.  They came to it of their own choice.  They CHOSE to become indebted, of their own free will.  I chose NOT to become indebted.

The only effect these problems will have on me is to free up my time for more surfing, on dime-on-the-dollar boards purchased from people strapped for cash.

I have seen this coming for *decades*.

Astute Observation by Mikee
2008-06-13 03:58 AM

Damn right I’m cynical.
It was plainly obvious once banks and mortgage lending was deregulated, and no-paper ARM mortgages were handed out like lollipops at the bank. 
These idiots bought into it and made the prices soar beyond all comprehension.
Who needs regulation, who needs lending best practices or (god-forbid) economic sense.
This is a get-rich culture, and now its biting a lot of folks in the ass. 
Slow and steady wins the race - ya know.  Slow and steady also allows us to laugh at your foolishness, silly rabbit.

Astute Observation by m1234
2008-06-16 03:20 PM

Dave

When jobs go to places like India/China, they will work for less than $1 per hour. That will still beat your price of $10. Then what, will you work for 50 cents ? If this trend continues to its logical end, your Engineering Phd will be a glorified tissue paper.

Mikee

Not every one caught up in this mess are idiots or did it just frauds. Lots of people just got caught up in this system. I know, you are not the type to help any body but at least don’t show your attitude.
Look around. Do you think like Dave you are immune to what’s happening you ? Price of everything has gone up. Sooner or later it will catch up to you. You are not living in a cave.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 06:48 AM

This was an extremely foolish purchase.  Unbelievable.

Assuming that these idiotic buyers used a fixed 30 year mortgage (highly unlikely) their monthly payment on this apartment is in the neighborhood of 3700.00 per month.  3700.00 per month?  Are you F-ing kidding me?  At this rate you would need two people earning 70,000 per year writing off half their paychecks per month just to the mortgage lender.  What on earth were these douches smoking?  And to throw away a hard-earned 60K - what a waste.

You could rent this place in Scottsdale, AZ for 1300.00 per month.

Astute Observation by thanks
2008-06-11 08:26 AM

This is the IHB (IRVINE HOUSING BLOG).  Don’t really care what this place would rent for in Scottsdale or any other part of that wasteland we call AZ.

Astute Observation by buster
2008-06-11 08:45 AM

Hey, ease up.  Everybody’s welcome, right?  AZDavid’s comments are as welcome as any.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:27 AM

If I were the proud owner an Irvine mortgage - I certainly would not want some out of state jerk telling me that I am a fool. 

I would probably try to trash their home state too in order to reinforce my own beliefs that I paid more because my location is far superior rather than I paid more because I was a sheep in the herd heading to the slaughter.

Perfectly understandable.

Astute Observation by Priced_Out_IT_Guy
2008-06-11 10:13 AM

LOL

Are we calling someone out? :=}

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 01:55 PM

And if I were a bitter, ex-SoCal owner that moved to AZ, a suburb of the sun, I would want to trash those who are still happily living in SoCal.

Perfectly understandable.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 02:06 PM

What makes you think I am a bitter ex-SoCal owner?  I have never lived in California.  Prefer to visit.

I guess it is not perfectly understandable for Tim.

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 02:14 PM

You’ve never lived here?  You are always insulting those who do.  I guess I assumed that no one would insult a place so much without having lived in it at least a little while.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 02:20 PM

I have nothing against, CA.  I have never bashed it like the AZ bashers on here.  I have only said that it is not as special as some people try to make it out to be.

Visited quite a bit.  I would not want to live there, but at the same time can see why some people would want to live there.

I just take exception with the people who make the claim that California is the golden hill that everyone desires.  That is Kool-Aid talk.

Astute Observation by Chris
2008-06-11 05:31 PM

Booya!

Astute Observation by Chris
2008-06-11 05:33 PM

This was an extremely foolish purchase. Unbelievable.

Assuming that these idiotic buyers used a fixed 30 year mortgage (highly unlikely) their monthly payment on this apartment is in the neighborhood of 3700.00 per month.  3700.00 per month?  Are you F-ing kidding me?  At this rate you would need two people earning 70,000 per year writing off half their paychecks per month just to the mortgage lender.  What on earth were these douches smoking?  And to throw away a hard-earned 60K - what a waste.

You could rent this place in Timbuktu for a dollar per month.

Astute Observation by Irvine Lovefest
2008-06-11 11:20 PM

Having lived in both OC and Phx area, I can honestly say I prefer OC. Sure we got high taxes, crowded freeways, poor schools (except Irvine), and high housing costs. But compare that to Snow-birds, 100+* temps, transients, gun tote’n urban cowboys, hee-haws, indian casinos, dust storms, and Mormons.

Astute Observation by colleen
2008-06-12 09:05 AM

LOL, plenty of Mormons in the OC, too.

i love Arizona.  would totally live there if i could.  but you could never pay me enough money to live in the Phoenix area.

Astute Observation by LC
2008-06-11 10:41 AM

That’s right. Irvine is the most important city in the Bubblesphere, because Ramen noodles were invented in Irvine.

Astute Observation by madhaus
2008-06-13 06:18 PM

Um, no they were not.

Per Wikipedia, ramen was invented in China first, introduced to Japan in the late 19th century, and instant ramen was invented in Japan in 1958.  But thank you for playing.

Astute Observation by Kool Aid Man
2008-06-11 11:29 AM

Call AZ what you want, but it’s better than Texas.

Astute Observation by Red
2008-06-11 12:13 PM

Always cracks me up when you guys get in a pissing match over AZ vs Irvine.  I live up in Santa Cruz, and view visiting relatives in OC as a descent into a living hell.  You’re welcome to come back at me about freezing to death up here at the beach in a June fog.  I think folks like to live where the climate is what they are used to, and lots of places have wonderful cultural and recreational opportunities.
The Point is, in some places there are totally absurd home costs by any metric, and others are quite reasonable.  Oddly, some of the absurd areas are not dropping much, while some of the reasonable areas are getting hammered. 
It all makes for interesting conversation, and some perspective from outside CA doesn’t hurt.

Astute Observation by CapitalismWorks
2008-06-11 12:22 PM

Of course Santa Cruz is great if you like lesbians with hairy armpits.

Astute Observation by David
2008-06-11 12:32 PM

I LOVE lesbians with hairy armpits!

Astute Observation by buster
2008-06-11 02:30 PM

And who doesn’t!  Send me two, please.

Astute Observation by CapitalismWorks
2008-06-11 02:33 PM

Personally I prefer mine shaved.

Astute Observation by Chris
2008-06-11 05:36 PM

Don’t forget the Nortenos vs the Sorenos.

Santa Ana with a beach front.

Astute Observation by Dave
2008-06-12 09:45 PM

Actually, I really appreciate reading comparison prices from other parts of the USA.  Arizona is cool.  I might want to move there.

Astute Observation by Mikee
2008-06-13 04:07 AM

Ya know, Raleigh just got named the most-livable city (or best city, or some such.) The real estate is cheap compared to OC.  The schools are hit and miss. The jobs are there, and mountains aren’t far. It’s pretty far from the beach, and there is nothing in Raleigh proper to really recommend it, beyond it being a nice place to live.

I live in Atlanta, and since I live in-town, the market is experiencing some come-uppance like in the OC. Prices went crazy in the last three years. Luckily, I bought before the latest run-up.

Astute Observation by Forbear
2008-06-11 08:42 AM

How do the wages in Arizona compare to the Irvine area?

Astute Observation by PartyPooper
2008-06-11 08:53 AM

According to Census, AZ median HHI in 2006 was $46,693. For “affordable” home mortgage: Multiplied by 3 = $140,079 - Multiplied by 4 = $186,772

According to Wikepedia, Irvine median HHI in 2006 was $84,270. For “affordable” home mortgage: Multiplied by 3 = $252,810 - Multiplied by 4 = $337,080

Astute Observation by no_such_reality
2008-06-11 11:14 AM

Gilbert is a suburb of Phoenix out by Chandler and Scottsdale.  It’s similar socio-economically to Irvine. Median income $76K.  Median family income of $82K.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:08 AM

On average, California cost of living is higher so the wages are higher than Phoenix.

Nevertheless, our household income is higher than the Irvine median.  I suppose that puts us in the above average for Phoenix.  Nevertheless, we are able to rent in a decent area of Scottsdale for roughly 800.00 per month.  Will pay 900.00 when we move to a larger place in 2 months. 

I suppose that would put me in a better position to live in Irvine than many of the people who currently live there.  Would I? Nope.  I don’t buy into hype.

Trash Arizona all you want, I am laughing all the way to the bank.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 09:37 AM

Don’t get hit by a tumbleweed on the way there… I hear they can really scratch up your paint.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:49 AM

Ipoplaya and his tumbleweeds, I love it.

Whenever you say that, I picture something out of the movies like a deserted old ghost town with the tumbleweed rolling past the old cow skull in the middle of the street.

I can’t say that I have seen a tumbleweed recently.  Pretty green where I am located.

I will keep watch though.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 09:54 AM

Dude, I’ve seen them on the 101 between Shea and McDowell.  Our office used to be on Via De Ventura.  You must drive that stretch of freeway don’t you?

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 10:21 AM

Indeed.  You are right in my neck of the woods.  I am all too familiar with Gainey Ranch and the office areas on Via De Ventura.  We have probably crossed paths at some point in time and not even known it!

I don’t drive very much except when going out of town.  I can bicycle the greenbelt for just about everything.

I don’t see the tumbleweeds though.  Perhaps they are there and I have just stopped noticing.  I will start looking for them and report back to you so someone doesn’t make the mistake of moving here under false pretenses and discover a tumbleweed on the side of the 101.

Astute Observation by Blueberry Pie
2008-06-11 11:28 AM

I grew up in Ventura County.  When I was a kid there would often times be tumbleweeds blowing down our street on windy days.  I don’t see many tumbleweeds around here nowadays.  I think it’s because the tumbleweed bushes don’t grow on golf courses, pavement and houses.

I miss the tumbleweeds.

Astute Observation by Vinster
2008-06-11 03:25 PM

Actually, we have tumbleweeds in *gasp* Irvine. I’ve seen them when driving on Irvine Blvd. through the old El Toro base.

Astute Observation by Soapboxpolitico
2008-06-12 06:09 PM

Indeed. I’ve seen them more than once here in Irvine.
In fact, last set of Santa Ana’s I was driving down Barranca and a nearly lost it laughing my a$$ off! A tumbleweed literally came blowing down Harvard and crossed over Barranca on it’s way to city hall!

Astute Observation by no_vaseline
2008-06-11 07:45 AM

I wish you’d quit comparing Scottsdale to Irvine.

It’s about like comparing Beverly Hills to Bakersfield, BH being a wrung above Irvine, and Bakersfield being about 5 above anything in Arizona.

I’ve lived/worked in all the above mentioned places, and can’t live in Arizona because I have desert allergies that make it almost impossible to work 80-100 days a year.  Plus, Phoenix has a bunch of non native trees planted that are all males (plants have gender too), which means they produce lots and lots of polen, which makes it worse.  The city planners don’t plant females because although they don’t make pollen (they actually sweep it out of the air) they make more green waste and require more labor.

In short, I’m unemployeable for long periods of time in Phoenix.  Same for Vegas.

Astute Observation by Party Pooper
2008-06-11 08:08 AM

“It’s about like comparing Beverly Hills to Bakersfield, BH being a wrung above Irvine, and Bakersfield being about 5 above anything in Arizona. “

I’ve lived in Irvine & AZ myself. Never lived in BH, but did party a little there.

If you actually believe Irvine is one step below BH while AZ is at least 5 steps below Irvine, you define the whole “Irvine is special. Everyone wants to be here. Space is limited. Can’t make anymore land. We’re so wealthy compared to everyone else.”

Try reading IrvineRenter’s post from 2 days ago. You might learn something from his research.

Astute Observation by thanks
2008-06-11 08:27 AM

Put down the Kool-Aid, and pull your head out of IRs butt.  He is happily married.

Astute Observation by Party Pooper
2008-06-11 08:33 AM

What kool-aid? How does that apply to me?

Astute Observation by mmg
2008-06-11 10:39 AM

Hey hey, you are going to upset the Irvine is special crowd.

Partypooper-->According to Census, AZ median HHI in 2006 was $46,693. For “affordable” home mortgage: Multiplied by 3 = $140,079 - Multiplied by 4 = $186,772

According to Wikepedia, Irvine median HHI in 2006 was $84,270. For “affordable” home mortgage: Multiplied by 3 = $252,810 - Multiplied by 4 = $337,080

so if you use AZDavid’s estimation of 180k for a similar POS in AZ, then that makes it about 360kish here......Sounds about right if not even optimistic by AZDavidphx LOL

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 10:50 AM

My only issue with the estimation is that the original poster appears to have compared the median income of the state of Arizona with the median income of Irvine which is not going to produce a very accurate result if you attempt to extrapolate from those assumptions.

I typically try to guess the bottom value of an Irvine house using the numbers from the Irvine local economy without bring AZ into the equation.  I just like to post the AZ comparison for fun.

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 01:52 PM

But when you post your AZ comparisons, you say, “This would cost $XXX in AZ.” You don’t say, “This could cost $XXX in Scottsdale.” So, it seems fair for them to use AZ for income comparison.

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 01:56 PM

Although today you DID say Scottsdale, so I am WRONG! tongue rolleye

Astute Observation by AZ to LA
2008-06-11 02:05 PM

According to the most recent Census data Scottsdale’s median HHI is 66K a year while Irvine’s is 74K a year. Moreover, Irvine has a highr unemployment rate 3.1% versus 2.2% in Scottsdale. Educational attainment in both cities is about the same and the violent crime rate is about the same. The idea of comparing the two is silly for housing costs but the idea of comparing Irvine to BH and the idea of Bakersfield to Scottsdale is even worse. Using loaded language and uninformed “information” is far worse. Furthermore, anyone trying to make a valid statistical point by comparing a relatively affluent suburb in OC to the entire state of AZ needs to take a class on data collection and dissemination.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 02:24 PM

Right, it’s like I have always said.  CA incomes may be higher on average BUT NOT THAT MUCH higher.  Certainly not enough to justify such ridiculous housing costs.

Astute Observation by CapitalismWorks
2008-06-11 02:37 PM

I guess the crime statistics don’t include the HEAT.

Astute Observation by no_vaseline
2008-06-12 07:05 PM

I grew up in (well, near) Bakersfield.  I think Bako is five wrungs above ANYTHING in Arizona (because I’m sick all the time there), and I think Bako sucks (but it is home).  All of it beats Texas.

I don’t drink the koolaid about any place being “special”.  I was only stating that I dislike Arizona the same way some people miss V.D.’s like the clap.

YMMV.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:14 AM

I like to compare Irvine to Scottsdale because I encounter a lot of the same types of attitudes.

I am not going to engage in who is better.  Both are nice areas.  Many people here have the same attitude “this is the best place to live” etc etc.  I don’t think it is the best place to live any more than Irvine.  It’s all hype.  You are always going to want to believe that you choose to live in the most desirable area.

I guess I am just more open minded to other locations and tend to not thumb my nose.

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 01:51 PM

“I guess I am just more open minded to other locations and tend to not thumb my nose.”

You don’t come across as more open minded.  You consistently thumb your nose at Irvine.  If you don’t mean it that way, you might want to change the words in your AZ comparisons.  It comes across as you saying AZ is better.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 02:16 PM

I have never stated that AZ is better than anything.  I simply compare and contrast the costs of living and typically am met with a salvo of 50 reasons to hate Arizona by the Irvine mortgage owners just because I state the truth which is that there is nothing special about Irvine that makes it worth the extraordinary costs of housing.  I wouldn’t want to hear it either.  I would be pretty outraged to overpay for my house and then have some out of state jerk tell me that he’s not impressed.

Astute Observation by Major Schadenfreude
2008-06-11 02:22 PM

“Irvine mortgage owners”

LOL!  Love it!

Astute Observation by T!m
2008-06-11 02:26 PM

You may not actually come out and state it, but it comes across that way.  That is why you get that salvo.  It is generally not nice to tell people there is nothing special about where they live.  Why do you pay so much to live where you do?  Surely it is not the cheapest place on the planet.

Every place has something special about it.  I don’t live in Irvine, but it has some really wonderful things about it that you can’t get just anywhere.  How long does it take for you to get to the beach to go surfing?  Can you go to your university’s sail base and take out a sail boat for lunch?  No, you can’t.  So that is something special about Irvine over AZ.  There are many other things, of course, but, really, you will just dismiss all of them.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 02:54 PM

That is why you get that salvo.  It is generally not nice to tell people there is nothing special about where they live.

No place is that special where all the residents are required to get hooked on creative financing to afford housing.

Why do you pay so much to live where you do?

I stay below my means.  I am debt-free.  Quite different from borrowing 600K to purchase an apartment and depending on a second income to barely make the monthly payment.

You are right, I will have to dismiss your surfing and sailboat reasons.  It’s one of those things that I would think “wow cool” and then stop paying attention to after awhile.

Astute Observation by Major Schadenfreude
2008-06-11 04:42 PM

“No place is that special where all the residents are required to get hooked on creative financing to afford housing.”

I think you mean “condo-ing”. 

When I think of a “house”, I think of something with a front and back yard.  Seems like most abodes in Irvine have forfeited the yards for a greenbelt & park (which are seldom used, so I hear) and great schools.  I like Irvine, but I highly dislike the miserly housing product.

Astute Observation by Genius
2008-06-11 11:25 AM

Sorry to pile on here, but Irvine is trash compared to Beverly Hills.  I take it the majority of posters here live in Irvine, because there is quite a bias toward it being the best place on earth.  It isn’t.

Astute Observation by lowrydr310
2008-06-11 11:48 AM

I think in many ways Irvine is better than BH. Irvine is better isolated from the crime, and it’s easier to get to the beaches and freeways.

I used to live in Irvine, but my family cashed out a long time ago (at half of the peak, but still made more than a few bucks) so I’m not biased. I lived there, it’s nicer than Beverly Hills, but there are much nicer places to live around Southern California. If I was buying a place any time soon, it wouldn’t be in Irvine.

Astute Observation by Genius
2008-06-11 12:02 PM

Just out of curiousity, where would you buy and for what reason(s)?

Personally I’d like a place in La Jolla, but good GAWD it’s expensive there.  It’s the nicest beach city in all of socal, IMHO.  I wouldn’t kick Irvine out of bed though.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 12:28 PM

La Jolla rocks.  I think Rancho PV and Malibu are equally as lovely beach cities, albeit with a different flavor.  PB/Carmel is right up there too…

Astute Observation by skek
2008-06-11 01:34 PM

Santa Barbara for me.  Montecito, especially.

Astute Observation by lowrydr310
2008-06-11 05:05 PM

South Bay.

Rolling Hills, Palos Verdes, Redondo, South or West Torrance, maybe even Hermosa or Manhattan.

In a normal market, South Bay prices may be a bit higher than Irvine, either that or you pay a similar price for an older home, but overall I like it much better.

It’s close to LAX (big plus for me because I have to travel often), mild weather because of the breezes, it’s relatively close to all the things that I like to do, and it has beaches that aren’t polluted with tourists.

Unfortunately there’s no motocross track nearby, but that’s one tradeoff I’m willing to accept.

Astute Observation by Genius
2008-06-11 06:12 PM

Good choice.  I’d love a house in Manhattan Beach, South Redondo Beach or Hermosa Beach, but prices are in there are currently somewhere above the stratosphere.  The Hollywood Riviera or PV would be nice, but it takes an eternity to get from there to the 405.  I work in Santa Monica, so the commute to and from work from MB would be reasonable.

I’m still watching to see when 310 prices come down below the wtf range.

Astute Observation by r€nato
2008-06-11 08:21 PM

It’s snotty “California Uber Alles/Arizona is for losers” douchebags like yourself, who instigate the CA bashing.

California is nice, but it is hardly the bestest. place. evah.

There are plenty of nice things about AZ. For one, the people (outside of Scottsdale that is) are a lot more ‘real’ than 99% of the people I’ve met in CA. Believe it or not, climate does not trump everything for some of us. A reasonable cost of living, the relative lack of the ‘keep-up-with-the-Joneses-using-your-plastic-and-HELOC-or-you-are-a-social-leper’ ethos, the availability of outdoors activities within easy reach of the city, the reasonable traffic…

...and anyone who thinks that Bakersfield is 5 notches above anywhere in AZ has his head up his ass and is just asking to get flamed.

Astute Observation by CapitalismWorks
2008-06-12 10:20 AM

“the people (outside of Scottsdale that is) are a lot more ‘real’ than 99% of the people I’ve met in CA.”

Why is it people with low incomes are always glorified for the “realness”.  Perhaps being uncouth and uncharming are virtues to some…

Astute Observation by been there done that
2008-06-11 07:49 AM

But, didn’t you read that the house (oops, sorry...condo) is on premium lot? (read:  weird angles and corners) That’s totally worth 530k!

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 08:05 AM

They need to fire their realtor… I almost bought a house from their realtor once upon a time.  She drank the koolaid, bought a house in Tustin Field at peak, and loaded it with upgrades.  She ate a loss of $100-150K or so but she was at least smart enough to get out last summer.

They need to clear the crap out of their house, pay to stage it, and shoot some good pics.

Astute Observation by Condor
2008-06-11 08:12 AM

AZDavidPhx - dude, do you have an obsession with Irvine?  I’ve stayed 4 months (thank god i left in June) in Phoenix and liked it alot, especially Scottsdale and Tempe.  But as a place to live, please stop comparing Phoenix or any of its burbs with Irvine.  Try comparing AZ to the IE, it adds a tinge of rationality to your posts.

Astute Observation by no_such_reality
2008-06-11 09:23 AM

Frankly, I think AZ is wrong.  This is a townhome/condo. I suspect you can rent it for less in $1300.  It’s also small, you can likely rent an SFR in AZ for $1300 at this size.

There are trade offs, but frankly, substitution effects are valid.  When renting this place is $1300 in AZ or buying it gives you a mortgage of about $1000/month.  You will start to see why California has the migration pattern that it has.

Is Irvine a little nicer than Chandler?  Scottsdale?  Not really. The weather is more pleasant, is it $4000/month more pleasant?  We have the ocean, they have resevoirs and mountains to escape too.

Arizona, Washington, Texas have all been net out migration spots for California.  Understanding their market compared to ours helps paint the ridiculous nature of our pricing bubble.  Will there be a premium?  I suspect so, will that premium be 2X, 3X?  Doubtful.  For the IE, it will actually be a negative premium.  AZ’s taxes are lower, traffic less and general hassles more minor.

Do you want to look at large scale employers?  We all think of OC as HCOL, but many employers don’t recognize it that way.  They see SF, Silicon Valley and NYC as high cost, but OC isn’t in that declaration.

Do you want to look at California’s ballot propositions for October.  Anybody see the all the wealth tax proposals? Anybody see the definition of wealth? Think that’ll make a dent in Irvine’s home prices?

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:33 AM

It could very well rent for less.  I guessed 1300.00 because similar townhouses are renting up the street from me for around 1400.00 and I believe they have higher square footage.

Astute Observation by Schadendude
2008-06-11 08:13 AM

No Lube,

Bakersfield 5 above anything in AZ ?  I can appreciate that you have allergies that make AZ undesireable, but dude cmon… Bakersfield ? What an armpit.  I was raised in Fresno and we used to laugh at Bakersfield if you can imagine that.

I’d live in Flagstaff in a heartbeat if I could find work out there.

Astute Observation by AZDavidPhx
2008-06-11 09:16 AM

I love Flagstaff.  I am with Schadendude.

Astute Observation by BigD
2008-06-11 08:19 AM

Hey IrvineRenter,

Check out the WTF price in NorthPark at 7 Willowridge. Do these losers really think someone is going to pay that much for that ???

From the description:
“One Step Inside This Home and you’ll be saying ‘THIS IS THE ONE’. “

HAHAHAHHAHAHAH ROFL !!!! But not at that price!

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Irvine/7-Willowridge-92602/home/5813252

Did they HELOC themslves to the MAX ?

Astute Observation by Kevin
2008-06-11 08:38 AM

To quote the listing: “*** DID YOU SEE THE PRICE? ***”

Yes I did.  Now where’d I put my spare keyboard…

Astute Observation by cara
2008-06-11 08:49 AM

Did you see the 2002 price in the $450’s? I’d take it for that.

I’d like my 12%/year appreciation please, thank you very much.

Um, how about no, not from me thanks.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 09:47 AM

Willowridge is a tad overpriced but not exorbitantly so for this market.  Someone will likely buy it for $850K.  Low $900s is not my definition of a WTF based on recent comps. 

19 Willowridge, which is also 2200sf, got into escrow after about one week, once they re-listed at $869K.

If you think $50-75K above current market value is WTF pricing, what would you call those that are hundreds of thousands over market?

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-06-11 09:49 AM

And if you want to see recent comps, you can of course check them out here:

www.ipoplaya.com