Where should we live near Irvine CA?
August 5, 2010 10:28 AM Subscribe
My boyfriend will be attending grad school at UC Irvine in Irvine, CA. We'll be moving there soon and need to find a two-bedroom apartment (or tiny house) thats between Irvine and LA: 30-45 from his school, and not too far from the train station (I'll most likely be commuting to LA by train). Neither of us know much about the area, and we'd prefer not to live in an apartment that's mostly UCI undergrads.
Please recommend towns in the area we should focus on as we begin our search. (Any other southern CA rental tips would be appreciated too. We're from the east coast and have never rented an apartment in CA.)
There are Metrolink stations in Anaheim and Fullerton, there are a lot of apartments in that area that shouldn't be too filled with college students.
posted by InfidelZombie at 11:06 AM on August 5, 2010
posted by InfidelZombie at 11:06 AM on August 5, 2010
"the train station"? Metrolink?
Renting is pretty easy in SoCal - a credit check and you are done. If you are coming from NYC, the process may seem freakishly humane.
posted by pmb at 11:16 AM on August 5, 2010
Renting is pretty easy in SoCal - a credit check and you are done. If you are coming from NYC, the process may seem freakishly humane.
posted by pmb at 11:16 AM on August 5, 2010
Irvine is a nice city, but nearly all the apartments are controlled by the Irvine Company so there isn't much variation in terms of rents - it's generally pricey or... pricier. As far as being surrounded by college kids if you choose Irvine, if you just stay out of the University area you're safe (Irvine is divided into villages, University being one. Others include Quail Hill as mentioned, Oak Creek, Woodbridge, Woodbury, Westpark, Northpark, Portola Springs, etc. - bottom line, none are too far from the train or the school)
But you can find nice places to live really anywhere in Orange County that aren't a long way from a train station: Irvine, Tustin/Tustin Ranch, Santa Ana (dodgy in some parts especially near the train, but there are some neat older areas too), Orange, Fullerton. Traffic headed to and from the areas around Irvine at rush hour is pretty awful, so as you get out to places like Fullerton and Orange, it's a consideration for your boyfriend. 45 minutes in rush hour traffic can take you only a few miles during the worst of it.
Some of the areas closer to the beach aren't far from Irvine either (Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo, etc.) but not near the train.
posted by cecic at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2010
But you can find nice places to live really anywhere in Orange County that aren't a long way from a train station: Irvine, Tustin/Tustin Ranch, Santa Ana (dodgy in some parts especially near the train, but there are some neat older areas too), Orange, Fullerton. Traffic headed to and from the areas around Irvine at rush hour is pretty awful, so as you get out to places like Fullerton and Orange, it's a consideration for your boyfriend. 45 minutes in rush hour traffic can take you only a few miles during the worst of it.
Some of the areas closer to the beach aren't far from Irvine either (Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo, etc.) but not near the train.
posted by cecic at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2010
OC Weekly will have the best all-OC lists of great restaurants and events, which might help you narrow your search.
posted by mdonley at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2010
posted by mdonley at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2010
Having grown up in the area, I would recommend Fullerton or Santa Ana over Anaheim if you want to be near the train. Fullerton is between LA & Irvine and has a cute-ish, walkable downtown where the train is. My mother commuted out of that station and really enjoyed it. But, it is a little far from Irvine. Santa Ana is better for proximity to Irvine & the beach and also has train access, but if you wanted to live a pleasant walk to the train (not just distance but terrain) it might kinda suck.
posted by dame at 12:11 PM on August 5, 2010
posted by dame at 12:11 PM on August 5, 2010
Long Beach. It's about a 30-minute commute to Irvine by car, and you can easily take the Blue Line (subway) up to Union Station in downtown LA.
posted by chicainthecity at 12:35 PM on August 5, 2010
posted by chicainthecity at 12:35 PM on August 5, 2010
Yep, Long Beach. Studio Apartments in Belmont Shore can be had for ~$1000.00/mo, less in other LB neighborhoods (rule of thumb: Stay south of Seventh). ~20 minute Passport Bus ride to the Metro Blueline station, ~50 minute train Ride to Downtown LA.
posted by notyou at 12:52 PM on August 5, 2010
posted by notyou at 12:52 PM on August 5, 2010
I agree with the Long Beach option.
I've found the last two apartments I've lived in through Westside Rentals.
posted by teamnap at 4:24 PM on August 5, 2010
I've found the last two apartments I've lived in through Westside Rentals.
posted by teamnap at 4:24 PM on August 5, 2010
Blue Line (subway)
The Blue Line is at ground level the whole time except for the part immediately next to the 7th/Metro transfer station. It even waits for red lights.
That said, it really depends on where in LA you're trying to go to tell you if the "Taking the train into LA from the OC" thing will work.
posted by sideshow at 9:26 AM on August 6, 2010
The Blue Line is at ground level the whole time except for the part immediately next to the 7th/Metro transfer station. It even waits for red lights.
That said, it really depends on where in LA you're trying to go to tell you if the "Taking the train into LA from the OC" thing will work.
posted by sideshow at 9:26 AM on August 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Would suggest being open to living in the neighboring cities, especially Tustin, and Santa Ana. Despite being less than a ten minute drive away rents are significantly cheaper than living in Irvine itself.
posted by oblio_one at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2010