Irvine Central Bark Dog Park
6405 Oak Canyon Rd
Irvine, CA 92618
Open until 10pm for those that work hard, and play hard. There’s water bowls, dog poop bags, and lots of seating
An additional great feature this park is there is an area for small dogs and a separate area for large dogs
A huge park with high ratings but sometimes there were reports of aggressive dogs with owners being very lax.
Laguna Beach Dog Park
20672 Laguna Canyon Rd
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
Well kept and clean park with separate fenced areas for large and small dogs on green real grass. Side street metered parking and closed on Wednesdays are the leading complaints. Doggie bags are available and so is a drinking fountain.
Newport Beach Dog Park
Northeast corner of Avocado Ave and San Miguel Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660 PARKING: There’s designated street parking right across at 1441 Avocado Ave at the Newport Coast Pain/Hoag Surgicare building which is directly before you hit San Nicolas Dr. From the parking area, make a right, follow the long path up the hill after you make a curve and then you will see the dog park at the top of the hill.
There are some picnic tables when you reach the top with a beautiful ocean view.
Other reviews are it is a little small and if your dog enjoys running all over then this park may not meet their standards. Also, the grass is fake and there’s not any separate big/little dog areas.
Laguna Woods Dog Park
24400 Ridge Route Dr
Laguna Woods, CA 92637
Reviews are that it is a smaller park so your dog won’t out run you very far and “a place for paws” has artificial grass. Typically smaller dogs come here and the crowd tends to be older.
Mission Viejo Dog Park
Felipe Rd and Fieldcrest Lane
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Another highly rated park by pet lovers with separate fenced area for large and small dogs and dog fountains. This park in Mission Viejo has real grass, doggy bags and shaded seating area with water fountains for people. Negatives are limited parking as it can get packed after 5pm.
Wagsdale Dog Park
Oneil and Cecil
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
A well kept, tidy and frequented by friendly dogs and people. The size of the dog park is very good and truly large enough for bigger dogs to really run around or to throw a tennis ball or frisbee. There are separate big and small dog areas and real grass. Residents in Ladera Ranch and adjacent areas are getting a petition signed to stop LAMARC from converting the dog park into a community center.
Coto De Caza Dog Park
Via Pajaro
Coto de Caza, CA 92679
A well-kept park with a large percentage of pet owners are very responsible watching their dogs and picking up their waste which makes it ideal for all dog owners
Sure, it can be a daunting task to come up with enough cash for a down payment on a purchase mortgage. Oftentimes, it is one of the single largest deterrents for prospective home buyers. So how much do you really have to have?
The Typical Down Payment
A lot of lenders would like to see 20% down payments. In Southern California’s Orange County, home prices hit $429,000 in April, the highest in 7 1/2 years. That’s $86,000 on a $429,000 home. By having a down payment of 20%, lenders will feel a lot better about your finances. To start with, your chances of getting a loan approval are increased. Your mortgage interest rate will be better. There will be no requirement for mortgage insurance or getting a second mortgage. Property taxes and insurance are also not required to be impounded. More importantly, your monthly mortgage payment be a lot lower.
Okay so you have a down payment but you’ll also need to have your loan closing costs too. If that starts to break the piggy bank, let’s check out a few reduced down payment options.
It is possible to purchase a home with only 3.5% down.
The government agency known as the Federal Housing Administration ( FHA) helps home buyers, particularly first time buyers, to get approved for a residential mortgage. The FHA guarantees a percentage of the loan balance which helps mortgage lenders. This one of the big reasons why borrowers are able to come in with little money down to the tune of just 3.5%.
If you have served in the military or still on active duty, or are living in a rural area, you might have the benefit of no money down programs from the Veterans Affairs or the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development.
Is Less Down Payment Good or Bad?
Most borrowers would like to put down $15,000 instead of $85,800 on a $429,000 home. How does that zero down program sound? There are some small details in the pudding you must not overlook.
A down payment less than 20 percent causes you to become a greater risk to the lender. That’s why it will seek out assistance from the FHA to assure a portion of the loan. It’s known as mortgage insurance. An upfront fee will be charged and integrated into your monthly payment.
While the VA financing programs doesn’t call for mortgage insurance, it will charge an “upfront funding fee” for most service members.
The down payment is only the initial hurdle to overcome. Speak with a lender to find out the rest and it’ll come second nature to you as the process is not very difficult to get through.
Caressing the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, and seated next to the Pacific Ocean, Orange County, California has a number of perfect locations suited for most anyone’s lifestyle. To help you choose a spot, we’re looking at some south Orange County cities and what they can offer residents.
San Clemente
San Clemente is a wonderful community on the coast and excellent choice for people who enjoy living near nature. There are numerous trails for hiking and biking spread throughout beach areas and ridgeline, where of course lies a really nice beach. The city features a great family-oriented environment coupled with restaurants in a walkable town
Median household income: $87,184 1
Unemployment rate: 3.5%
California unemployment rate: 7%
Average home price sold: $784,400 2
source: Realtor.com
Source: Zillow
Available New Homes for Sale in San Clemente
Alta at Talega from Standard Pacific
Conveniently situated within the master-planned community of Talega in San Clemente, Alta boasts fine quality luxury homes, popular areas for entertaining outdoors or inside, spacious lot sizes and fantastic amenities.
Some of the features at Alta include:
– Spanish, Tuscan and Italian architectural styles
– Floor plans ranging from 4,570 to 5,336 square feet
– Views oceans of with certain homesites
– Four to five bedrooms, up to five-and-a-half baths
– Prices start from the mid $1,000,000s
Carillion at Talega
Expansive luxurious, family homes in the coastal hills of Talega. Residents in the neighborhood enjoy the privilege of a 1,000-acre nature reserve, adventurous trails, parks, athletic fields, golf course and the Talega Swim & Athletic Club.
– Spanish, Tuscan and Monterey architectural styles
– Floor plans spanning from 3,484 to 4,061 square feet of living space
– Four to six bedrooms and three and-a half to five-and-a-half baths, spacious great room; certain plans offer bonus room with a covered deck or balcony
– California Rooms with fireplaces and optional panoramic-style doors result in additional entertaining space
– First-floor guest room with kitchenette perfect for relatives and friends
– Priced from the low $1,000,000s
Mission Viejo
Courtesy of Flick – Brent bmh4you
Mission Viejo is a large master-planned city with people coming from diverse backgrounds. While this city is not coastal like much of south Orange County, there is a huge lake in the middle along provides residents of this hillside community access to lakeside property and an array of aquatic things to do.
It is extremely family-friendly, has large homes on large lots, a good majority of the city is zoned residential, and consistently ranked as very safe with low crime rate. If you participate in outdoor activities, it offers residents two parks for every square mile, three golf courses, and a magnificent park featuring eight baseball fields and five soccer fields.
Median household income: $102,926 (source: Realtor.com)
Unemployment rate: 3.5%
California unemployment rate: 7%
Average home price: $580,502 (source: Realtor.com)
New Homes Available
Sendero at Rancho Mission Viejo by Ryland
Sendero is the perfect place just 5 miles from the ocean up Ortega highway offering comfort and convenience. Experience living in a 23,000-acre retreat close to the Ranch Farmers market. The area has citrus and avocado groves, a nature reserve, and agricultural areas.
– Two-story heritage architectural styles
– Floor plans ranging from 2310 to 2610 square feet of living space
– From three bedrooms and two and-a half to three baths
– Priced from $740,900 and up
The Bungalows at Rancho Mission Viejo by Standard Pacific
Ranch-style residences set behind private gates offers first-rate craftsmanship, single-story residences and a active community life for those 55+. Only 3 homes left
– Two-story heritage architectural styles
– Floor plans ranging from 1,276 to 1,843 square feet of living space
– From two to three bedrooms and two baths
– Priced from $790,000 and up
Lake Forest
Courtesy of Toll Brothers
Small, safe and well-planned neighborhoods give Lake Forest an irresistible charm. The landscape is full of hills and, akin to its name, a wealth of trees. Although Lake Forest is a suburban dream it neighbors Irvine, the business hub of Orange County, making it a prime location for young professionals to established families. Lake Forest also has two lakes, a couple of parks, the largest skate park in CA.
Median household income: $120,197 1
Unemployment rate: 3.0%
California unemployment rate: 7%
Median home price sold: $532,700 2
Housing: Inventory varies from post-WWII tract homes to condo communities, multi-family complexes to gated communities, with each being priced reasonably.
source: Realtor.com
Source: Zillow
New Homes Developments in Lake Forest
Highlands at Baker Ranch by Toll Bros.
A luxury community of single-family homes providing homeowners spacious home designs, positioned on generous-sized home sites with optional add-on upgrade for exterior decks
– Two-story contemporary styles; Tuscan, Santa Barbara and Mediterranean
– Floor plans ranging from 2,966 sq. ft. to 3268 square feet of living space
– From five to seven bedrooms and four and-a-half baths to six and-a-half baths
– Priced start at $1,064,000 and up
Ridgewood at Baker Ranch by Shea Homes
– Two-story Spanish, Italian, and California Ranch style with 3 floor plans
– No Mello-Roos Taxes (save some money)
– Floor plans ranging from 2,124-2,390 square feet of living space
– From 3-5 bedrooms and 3.5-4 baths to six and-a-half baths
– Prices start in the low $814,000 and up
Don’t delay any longer in search for a home in your favorite Orange County suburb. In Orange County, you’re never too far from LA and San Diego and can have a soldi family life and enjoy beautiful beaches and excellent food any time of the year. So email or call us to make your appointment to see these new homes or other real estate in Orange County.
