Welcome to Irvine, California

A Great Place To Live

Irvine is located in the County of Orange and in the heart of Southern California's "Technological Coast".  The City of Irvine is situated at almost the halfway point between Los Angeles to the north (45mi) and San Diego to the south (60mi), four miles inland from the Pacific Coast.  The city was Incorporated in 1971 and in a short thirty years has risen to be not only among the finest as a residential community but is also know as a premier city for business and entertainment.  It is one of the nation's largest and most successfully planned urban cities.  The city now encompasses 65 square miles with approximately 199,775 (2006) people calling the city home.  The city recently annexed former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, most of which is to be made into a park called the Orange County Great Park. A Great Place to Be: The city's location makes it a great place to be, giving residents and businesses alike access to world markets, quality job opportunities and first-class entertainment of three counties: Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego County.  Orange County as a whole is one of the finest in all of California offering everything from fine dining to fine arts, and from beaches to amusement parks.   The climate is ideal with almost 200 days of sunshine.  Winters are very mild with a January (coolest month) average temperature of 46 degrees.  Summers are sunny and comfortable with average August (hottest month) temperatures of 81 degrees.  Overall temperature throughout the year is a very comfortable 71 degrees. Irvine is oft times described as a "total destination" city and is one of the foremost relocation cities in the United States.  The city boasts state-of-the-art transportation systems, a powerful business environment, stellar schools, superb recreational opportunities all in an aesthetically pleasing environment. The City of Irvine has the distinction of being one of the safest cities in the nation.  In 2005 The FBI named Irvine The Safest City in the United States.  The Irvine Police Department credits its community oriented policing (geographic policing) which was implemented in May of 2003 as a major factor in achieving this standard.  A Great Place to Do Business: The City of Irvine has a dynamic business environment and is home to world-class companies for corporate headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing.  Some examples of the quality industrial and office parks are: Irvine Spectrum which is home to over 2,000 companies, Irvine Technology Center and the University Research Park which adjoins which University of California-Irvine and its affiliated bio-medial research centers.  Irvine's proximity to international airport access and its coastal location facilitates businesses with multiple time zones and markets.   Business is drawn to the area by the many development and expansion programs the city offers to new and existing business.  The well planned urban city was created to enhance the business environment; companies want to do business in the city because of the quality lifestyle it can offer its employees, and the business accommodations and entertainment it can offer visiting business associates.   Ease of transportation is also a large factor for business as well as contributing to the quality of life for its residents.  Irvine is located next to the I405 and I5 Freeways giving access to every major freeway in southern California.  The city is served by five airports: John Wayne International Airport, Long Beach Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Bob Hope - Burbank International Airport and Ontario Airport.  Amtrak stations are located in nearby Santa Ana and Los Angeles.  Public transportation service is supplied by the Orange County Transit Authority and Metrolink, a commuter rail service. A Great Place to Learn: Irvine as a city and as a community (parents, the business sector and community leaders) have made student achievement a priority and include values an integral part of the curriculum.  The city is served by two excellent school districts; Irvine Unified School District serves most of the city with the northern and western portions served by Tustin Unified School District.  All of Irvine's schools are nationally known for their successful and innovative education programs, team-teaching concepts and exceptional parental involvement. More than 90 percent of students in both districts go on to college and perform above state and national levels in academics, the arts and athletics. The Irvine District consistently ranks among the nations finest.  University and Northwood High Schools are some of the nation's best high schools and rank within the top 21 public high schools nationally.  The performance of these two high schools has made housing in their districts very high demand.  The district is also renowned for its music program which starts at the fourth grade level.  The schools lead the nation and Orange County in SAT performance, well-above state and national levels. The Tustin District has a history of excellence.  Nine schools have been recognized on a state or national level as schools of distinction.  Two elementary schools have been named National Exemplary Schools, a middle school and high school are National Blue Ribbon Schools and five others have been named as California Distinguished Schools.  The district is known for its excellence in all levels of learning and its emphasis on educational technology.  Many of the district graduates are national Merit Scholars. Irvine is also know for its excellence in higher education, the University of California - Irvine (UCI) is one of the nation's top academic institutions.  U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks UCI among the nation's best; three of the university's researchers are Nobel Prize Winners.  Other colleges include USC - Orange County Center, Alliant International University - Irvine and Concordia University.  Three community colleges serve Irvine:  Irvine Valley, Santiago Canyon and Orange Coast.  Irvine's central location gives the community access to all the top learning centers in Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Diego County. A Great Place To Call Home: Irvine is divided into villages - with each village divided by six-lane streets.   Each village and neighborhood has a dominant architectural style consisting of residential units, from multi-units to luxury single family dwellings, along with shopping centers, churches, schools, and parks which are connected parks which are connected by open space trail systems.  All streets are landscaped and utility rights-of-ways serve as bicycle corridors, parks and greenbelts to tie the ecological preserves together.  Many of the homes hillside homes enjoy ocean views of Huntington Beach.  Homeowner Associations govern the villages.  Commercial districts are checker-boarded in and around the central villages.  In regards to amenities, lifestyle, quality of life and safety Irvine is a very reasonably priced area.  Rents begin around $1700 for a two bedroom, two bath apartment, a single family home begins around $700,000 with entry level housing starting about $475,000.  Although prices very slightly from village to village, all areas of Irvine represent quality and show pride of ownership furthermore Irvine is not an oasis of fine living but instead is surrounded by other quality Orange County cities.  For the most current market conditions and information on the various Irvine villages and neighborhoods or surrounding communities, please feel free to contact me. A Great Place to Play: In the City of Irvine you can name your pleasure from outdoor sports to the fine arts.  The city is rich in cultural opportunities within its own city limits as well as throughout the county.  Irvine not only offers its residents many fine art galleries and museums as well as The Fine Arts Center and famous Barclay Theatre but also the availability of cultural activities of three counties which are about an hours drive from the city. Irvine's system of planned nature preserves, wilderness parks and trails is about 20 square miles.  When the city is totally built out it will have one of the largest publicly owned open space systems of any city in California.  There are neighborhood parks, community parks. specialized parks and sport facilities throughout the city, biking and hiking trails are plentiful.  Irvine's community services are some of the finest anywhere in the nation.  The City of Irvine is located within the Irvine Ranch Land Preserve.  The city is located within four miles of Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, USA, making all of the oceanic water-sports close at hand.  No great community would be complete without great golf and Irvine is no exception with many fine courses available to the golfer. Now if shopping is more your style of recreation you will be very happy with the choices in Irvine.  You can find anything from upscale to funk.  The City of Irvine can rival New York with its fine neighborhood shopping as well as its world-class shopping centers.  The beautiful Spectrum Center is renown throughout southern California for its outdoor setting with fine shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities. A Great Place to Visit: A mark of a great city is not only the lifestyle it can give its residents but what if can offer to visitors as well.  Irvine's fine hotel and resort accommodations at competitive pricing is a great benefit to its visitors.  Another benefit for visitors is the knowledge they are staying in one of the premier cities in Orange County and in the safest (locally and nationally).  Its location with access to two major freeways which in turn will connect you to all of southern California within in minutes makes Irvine an ideal vacation locale.  Irvine's location also affords the visitor limitless access to every possible type of entertainment and relaxation experience such as spectacular beaches, fishing, boating, specialized tours, protected wilderness areas, camping, family theme parks, arts, museums, world-renown shopping and award-winning dinning.  All of the famous and not so famous attractions of southern California are within a two hours drive of Irvine. A Great Place to Live!, that is what Irvine is: I have tried to convey to you a picture of the city and its quality lifestyle but there is nothing like seeing and experiencing it for yourself but simple put Irvine is a great place to live. Whether you are considering a move to Irvine, across town or across the nation I can help you with your real estate needs and concerns, just click here to contact me.

 

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Visit Rick Stuart's Irvine listings or  search the Orange County MLS to see what is available in the area. You can contact Rick at: Rick Stuart  CRS, e-PRO Coldwell Banker Real Estate 27742 Vista del Lago, Suite 1 Mission Viejo, CA 92692 Business: (949) 702-4499 Fax: (949) 837-1036 E-Mail: Rick@RickStuart.com