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Irvine
Real Estate Report
Credit:
Data Quick Real Estate News: www.dqnews.com
Orange
County Home Sale Activity
for Home Sales Recorded in March 2007
Reporting
resale single family residences and condos as well as new homes
% Change is from the same month last year
City Zip Median
%$$Chg
Irvine 92602 $780,000 -1.0%
Irvine 92603 $765,000 -37.2%
Irvine 92604 $608,500 -8.9%
Irvine 92606 $597,000 -15.8%
Irvine 92612 $535,000 -13.3%
Irvine 92614 $560,500 -5.6%
Irvine 92618 $525,000 -3.6%
Irvine 92620 $730,000 -10.6%
*One thing to note however is that the upper end properties
are selling much more slowly that the lower end properties, since
the average sale right now is typically the smaller more affordable
home, this is skewing the values above somewhat more negative that
if the high end/low end quanity balance of sales remained the same.
Chart
Credit/Source: Dataquick
History of Irvine
Ancient
History
Archeological research establishes prehistoric man in the Irvine area
at least 12,000 years ago, possibly even 18,000 years ago. Scattered
evidence of early campsites and rock shelters can be seen in the undeveloped
parts of the city.
Gabrielino Indians
moved into the Irvine area 2,000 years ago, establishing dozens of
villages. One village was located near the present San Joaquin marsh
and another near the San Joaquin golf course.
The Gabrielinos
were of the Shosonean language group. They enjoyed an abundant food
supply of shellfish, waterfowl and land animals. They lived in round,
woven huts and were excellent basket weavers and makers of seashell
and stone jewelry.
1700 - 1800
Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish explorer, entered the San Joaquin Valley
in 1769, abruptly ending the tranquil life of the Gabrielinos. With
the Spanish came forts, missions and herds of cattle. The King of
Spain began to parcel out lands for missions and for a few large,
private land grants. In 1831, after gaining independence from Spain,
the Mexican government secularized the missions, assumed control of
land holdings and began distributing ranchos to Mexican citizens who
applied for grants.
Three large Spanish/Mexican
grants made up the land that later became the Irvine Ranch: Rancho
Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Lomas de Santiago.
The oldest, Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, an early Spanish grant to
the Yorba family, was confirmed by the Mexican government.
1800 - 1900
In 1837,
San Juan Capistrano mission lands were granted to Don Jose Sepulveda,
later becoming Rancho San Joaquin. Rancho Lomas de Santiago was granted
to Teodosio Yorba in 1846. In that year, the Mexican army was defeated
in the final battle of the Mexican-American War. The Treaty of Guadalupe
was signed and California was annexed to the United States.
The Congressional
Act of 1851 forced landholders to reapply to the Board of Land Commissioners
to get valid title to their ranchos. Original grantees, however, had
produced large families who were deeding, selling and trading portions
of the large ranchos to family members and outsiders.
Rancho Santiago
de Santa Ana fell prey to tangled titles. In 1868, outside investor
Abel Stearns was successful in his suit to dissolve the rancho and
divide the property among the claimants, four of whom were prosperous
sheep ranchers: Benjamin and Thomas Flint, Llewellyn Bixby and James
Irvine.
Meanwhile, Jose
Sepulveda, owner of Rancho San Joaquin, was heavily in debt. In 1864,
the year of the Great Drought, Sepulveda sold his 50,000 acres to
Irvine, Flint and Bixby for $18,000. In 1866, Irvine, Flint and Bixby
acquired the 47,000-acre Rancho Lomas de Santiago for $7,000. Much
of the rancho was not suitable for cultivation, but did border the
Santa Ana River on the north, thereby securing valuable water rights.
The Irvine, Flint
and Bixby ranches were devoted to sheep grazing, although in the 1870's
tenant farming was permitted. In 1878, James Irvine acquired his partners'
interests for $150,000. His 110,000 acres stretched 23 miles from
the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana River.
James Irvine died
in 1886. In 1893, his son, James Irvine, Jr., came into full possession
of the ranch which he incorporated into The Irvine Company one year
later. James, Jr. began shifting ranch operations to field crops,
olive and citrus orchards.
1900 - 2000
During World
War I, agriculture had intensified, and by 1918, some 60,000 acres
of lima beans were grown on the Irvine Ranch. During World War II,
two Marine Corps air facilities were built on land sold to the government
by The Irvine Company.
James Irvine,
Jr. died in 1947 at the age of 80. Presidency of the company fell
to his son Myford, who began opening small sections of the ranch to
urban development. Myford died in 1959.
In 1959, the University
of California asked The Irvine Company for 1,000 acres for a new campus.
The Irvine Company agreed, and the State accepted the land and purchased
an additional 500 acres. The University's consulting architect, William
Pereira, and Irvine Company planners drew up master plans for a city
of 50,000 people surrounding the university. The area would include
industrial zones, residential and recreational areas, commercial centers
and greenbelts. The Irvine Industrial Complex West (now known as The
Irvine Business Complex) opened and the villages of Turtle Rock, University
Park, Culverdale, the Ranch and Walnut were completed by 1970.
On December
28, 1971, the residents of these communities voted to incorporate
a substantially larger city than that envisioned by the original Pereira
plan in order to control the future of the area and protect its tax
base.
By January
1999, the City of Irvine had a population of 134,000 and
a total area of 43 square miles. Future plans, however, call for a
population of over 200,000 on 46.7 square miles by the year 2020.
Source: City of Irvine, CA / ci.irvine.ca.us/about/history.asp
Irvine Demographics
Irvine is at about
it's half way point for growth. Irvine being a relatively young city
started out with a very young population, as that population has grown
Irvine has become older. The average age in Irvine California however
is still only about 33 years old. As the city matures that number
will increase, however with all of the Universities and considering
the great employment environment that average age will probably remain
below the national average. Currently the population stands at 170,561.
LEARN
MORE ABOUT IRVINE CA DEMOGRAPHICS
Irvine Leisure
Activities
It's difficult
to point to any one thing that defines "fun" in Irvine,
Irvine is more a rich collection of activities that residents have
at their finger tips. The perfect weather creates an excellent environment
outdoors. To take advantage of this environment Irvine has countless
outdoor recreational activies, much of the spectacular shopping is
also in a fun outdoor oriented space.
Travel 15 minutes
and you will can find yourself at; a world class beach, renowned golf
course, in the "country" away from it all, Disneyland, an
ultimate shopping experience - Irvine is central to everything.
LEARN
MORE ABOUT LIVING IN IRVINE CALIFORNIA
Important Irvine
Phone Numbers
Auto Tags - Driver
License - Irvine DMV
Newcomers must
obtain a California License plates within twenty (20) days of establishing
residency. To get a plate, drivers must show title, registration and
proof of insurance. A new driver's license must be obtained within
10 days of establishing residency in CA.
Closest DMV Office to Irvine:
Laguna Hills
DMV Office
23535 Moulton Parkway
Laguna Hills, 92653
Hours: M, T, TR,
F: 8:00A - 5:00P / W: 9:00A - 5:00P
SA: 3rd of each
month 8:00A-12P
Cable and Satellite
Providers in Irvine
Cox Communications:
949.720.2020
Verizon
FIOS Television 877.707.7066
Direct TV: 888.525.2557
California Emissions Testing in Irvine
Orange County is in an Enhanced Area, you must obtain your inspection
at a Smog Check station which has the BAR-97 Emissions Inspection
System, the most modern type of test equipment. Your car will be tested
for harmful levels of emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and
Oxides of Nitrogen, an important smog-forming compound. All Smog Check
stations in Enhanced areas are required to have the BAR-97 equipment.
Your car must be tested every two years, when sold, or upon initial
California registration. If your registration renewal notice indicates
your vehicle has been directed to a Test-Only Center, then you must
bring it to one of these types of stations, which offer testing but
no repairs.
Source: CA DMV
FIND
A SMOG STATION IN IRVINE CALIFORNIA
Energy Services:
Electric and Gas Serving Irvine
Electric:
Southern California Edison: 800.655.4555
Natural Gas Service:
Southern California Gas Company: 800.427.2200
Irvine Telephone
Services
Providing local
service in Irvine:
Cox Communications: 949.720.2020
SBC: 800.310.2355
Verizon: 800.922.0204
Post Office
For all offices:
1.800.ASK.USPS 1.800.275.8777
East Irvine
14982 Sand Canyon Avenue, East Irvine, CA 92650
949.551.4060
Harvest
17192 Murphy Avenue, Irvine, CA 92623
949.474.0292
Northwood
1 League,
Irvine, CA 92602
949.368.3374
University
4255 Campus Drive Ste A100, Irvine, CA 92616
949.474.0292
School Districts Serving Irvine
Irvine Unified
School District and Tustin Unified School District serve Irvine's
villages.
LEARN
MORE ABOUT IRVINE SCHOOLS AND ENROLLMENT
Irvine Water,
Sewer, and Trash Services
Irvine Ranch Water
District: 949.453.5300
Waste Management:
949.642.1191
Irvine Weather
Weather in Irvine,
just like the rest of Southern California, is pretty much perfect
as you can see from the chart above. Irvine also boast 342 days of
sunshine per year.
Irvine Employment
/ Jobs
Top Employers:
(as of December, 2005 and portions current)
University of California, Irvine 7,645
Irvine Unified School District 3,707
St. John Knits 2,616
The Irvine Company 2,600
Parker Hannifan 1,985
Allergan 1,922
Epicor Software
1,887 (total)
Freedom Communication Inc. 1,875
New Century Financial Corp. 1,840
Parker Aerospace 1,825
Option One Mortgage 1,801
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. 1,723
Washington Mutual Bank 1,700
Verizon Wireless 1,695
Albertsons - Sav-On 1,508
Claim Jumper Enterprises 1,400
Microsemi 1,343
(total)
Broadcom Corp. 1,313
Western National Group 1,100
In-N-Out Burgers 1,041
Quality Systems
418 (total)
Source: Primarily
city of Irvine
Moving Timeline
and Checklist
One month before
your move:
Arrange
for moving your furniture and personal belongings either by hiring
a moving company, renting a truck, or calling to reserve our FREE
moving truck. Get estimates from several moving companies or truck-rental
companies and be sure to obtain a hand truck (appliance dolly) if
you’re moving yourself.
Gather moving supplies: boxes, tape, rope, and anything
else you might need.
Plan your travel itinerary and make transportation
and lodging reservations in advance if you are driving to your new
home. (Leave a copy with a friend or relative.)
Some moving expenses are tax deductible, so you will
want to save your moving-expense receipts (if the move is employment-related)
for tax deductions, including meals, lodging, and gasoline. Record
expenses incurred during your house-hunting trips.
Develop a plan for packing, such as packing last
the things you use the most.
Notify others of your new address: post office, charge
accounts, subscriptions, relatives and friends, national and alumni
organizations, church, mail order clubs (books, videos, catalogues),
firms with which you have time payments, and your past employer to
make sure that you receive W-2 forms and retirement-account information.
Save your old address labels to speed up filling out change-of-address
forms for your new address.
Notify federal and state taxing authorities or any
governmental agency necessary.
Two weeks before your move:
Notify and get refunds from your present utilities:
gas, electric, water, cable, and phone. Arrange for services at your
new address.
Notify long-distance phone company and arrange for service
at your new address.
Have your car serviced if you are driving a long distance to your
new home.
Recruit people to help you on moving day.
Arrange for someone to take care of your pets and children during
the move.
Confirm moving company or rental-truck arrangements. Call to reserve
our FREE moving truck, if you haven’t already done so.
One day before your move:
Keep moving materials separate so they don’t
get packed until you are finished.
Pick up rental truck if you are moving yourself.
Fill up your car with gas and check oil and tires.
Decide what to move and what not to move. Possibly
have a garage sale (extra cash and less to move).
Transfer your bank accounts. Your new bank will be
happy to open your account by mail.
Contact your local credit bureau to find out if they
are on the same system that your new home town subscribes to; if not,
they will be able to transfer your credit file.
Request records from doctors and dentists, including
eye-glass prescriptions, dental x-rays, and vaccinations.
Obtain your children’s school records to make
for an easier transfer.
Draw up a floor plan of where your furniture should
be placed. This will help avoid confusion for you and your movers.
Pay existing bills and close out local charge accounts.
Arrange any special movers, such as may be necessary
for an expensive piano or to break down and move a pool table or above-ground
swimming pool.
Cancel or transfer deliveries, newspaper, garbage
collection, etc. Coordinate the transfer of gas, electric (water and
sewer when not handled by title company) with the next occupant of
your old home as well as with the previous owner of your new home,
so as to avoid lapses in service and extra re-start expenses.
Check on personal items that might be at the photo
shop, in a safe-deposit box, at a neighbor’s house, on lay-away,
or in a repair shop (e.g., shoe repair, jewelry store, small-appliance
repair, or dressmaker).
Make arrangements for transporting your plants and
pets.
Save the phone book from your former city residence
for tying up loose ends or for future correspondence.
Transfer insurance policies or arrange for new policies.
Gather all valuables, jewelry, important papers (birth
certificates, deeds, documents) to take with you personally.
Pack an arrival kit of necessities just in case you
arrive before the mover, if applicable.
Purchase moving insurance. Your mover’s liability
for lost or damaged goods will not equal their replacement cost. Have
valuable items appraised.
Check with your attorney about your will, if crossing
state lines.
Ask for professional referrals if available (e.g.,
doctor, accountant, etc.).
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