If you hate perfect weather, stay away!
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4/13/2022
I've lived in Ladera for 18 years and, after looking around the country to see if it's worth moving, I've concluded Ladera is the best place to live. Not perfect, but great. Pros:
1) Perfect weather all the time. If you're bored by snow in the winter and suffocating humidity in the summer, Ladera Ranch (and all of South O.C.) is beautiful all the time. You know a place has great weather when the only complaint by locals is "there's no seasons". True. It's sunny ALL the time.
2) Beautiful, well-kept grounds. It's a master-planned community with about 22,000 people and there are no slums, nothing unkempt, no dangerous places. Very, very kid-friendly.
3) Great amenities. Walking, biking, hiking trails, community pools, tennis and basketball courts, clubhouses. You get your HOA money's worth
4) Most of your neighbors are hard-working professionals who value keeping their homes in good shape. No stray dogs wandering around, no loud parties all hours of the night, it's just a quiet, safe, upper-middle class place to live
5) South O.C. has lots of restaurants and diversity, especially in nearby Irvine.
Cons:
1) High pressure, high competition culture. While the schools are great and the neighborhoods safe, there is a culture of competition amongst the kids (who has the best stuff, who gets the best grades) that seems to be everywhere in the community, causing lots of anxiety disorders and online (and in person) bullying. I've known a number of families who have pulled their kids from the schools here or even moved because it was so unhealthy for their children. And I'm talking about elementary and middle school.
2) Too many damned Ebikes. 12 year olds going 30 MPH on the sidewalks and roads while looking at their phones
3) Because so many people are in high-stress, high pressure jobs, it seems like everyone here drinks all the time or smokes pot. (Maybe for some that would be a Pro)
4) Housing here is very, very expensive and getting worse all the time.
Bottom line, Ladera Ranch is a high-end, incredibly family-friendly bedroom community that has lots to do and has perfect weather all the time.
Elliot | Ladera Ranch, CA