Getting a Home Loan in Irvine

Irvine has a fairly robust and somewhat competitive housing market. The good news for homebuyers is that currently, Irvine home prices were at a low in 2020, came back up to a high in 2022, and are now slightly down in 2023.

To get the best home loan possible in this market, you’ll need an experienced mortgage consultant. Vic Joshi is happy to arm you with education about the mortgage loan process and use his resources to find the best rate with the best lender for your Irvine real estate transaction.

Irvine CA mortgage loans

Irvine CA Mortgage Loan Reviews

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The City of Irvine Now

Irvine is an ideal city for homeowners, with many options for purchasing, as it is one of the largest planned communities in the United States. Part of Orange County, Irvine boasts many technology industry headquarters, as well as several world-class academic institutions, including University of California, Irvine, and proximity to California’s famous beaches, and Disneyland.

With warm springs and summers, temperate fall weather, and mild winters, Irvine residents enjoy the best of the fine southern California seasons, though the overcast days and light drizzles characteristic of Southern California’s famous “June Gloom” do occur here as well. And the Santa Ana winds will bring hot dry weather, even in winter.

Considered one of the wealthiest and safest cities in America, Irvine is regularly ranked in the top 5 nationally among Best Places to Live and Happiest Places to Live lists published by news outlets and websites including CNN, WalletHub, BusinessInsider, Money magazine, and liveability.com.

Irvine’s residents are highly educated: According to census data, Irvine is ranked 7th nationwide in terms of the number of residents holding graduate-level degrees. Learn more about the City of Irvine’s demograpics.

Before focusing on your search for an Irvine CA mortgage loan, here are some facts about Irvine to familiarize potential home buyers with this unique area.

Irvine Culture & Tourism

Irvine is noted for its lack of traffic. As a planned community with resources to invest in infrastructure, Irvine has cameras and sensors installed along its roads, which are linked to responsive traffic lights, to regulate the flow of traffic based on real-time conditions and use.

As a planned community built essentially from scratch in the 1960s, Irvine’s neighborhoods are designed with specific themes and architecture to match. Styles range from Spanish, Mediterranean, Tuscan, and French Country, to Craftsman, Neo-Eclectic, and California Modern. Planning also included delineating 6,500 acres of dedicated open space, parks, and sports fields.

Shopping, dining, museums and performing arts centers, and nearby mountains and beaches all make Irvine a popular tourist destination, as well as a popular place to live. For example, Irvine’s Spectrum Center boasts over 100 shops and eateries, plus a carousel, children’s play area, and more.

Irvine History*

Inhabited by the indigenous Gabrieleño during this century, forts, missions, and the practice of cattle herding were initiated by the arrival of Gaspar de Portolà, a Spanish explorer, in 1769. Missions and private use parcels were delineated by the King of Spain.

After Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821, 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.

Olive and citrus crops were established during this time period.

In 1888, the Santa Fe Railroad extended its line to just north of San Diego, and named a station along the way after ranch owner James Irvine. The town that formed around this station was named Myford, after Irvine’s son. The town was renamed Irvine in 1914.

The early 1900s brought lima beans to Irvine Ranch. And in the mid-century, Marine Corps facilities were established on ranchland that was sold to the government during World War II. And in 1959, the Irvine Company sold 1,000 acres to the University of California to build the Irvine campus, for $1.

This led to the master plans for designing a city around the new university, with areas designated for commercial centers, greenbelts, industry, recreation, and residential building.

In 1975, the Fall of Saigon led to an influx of Vietnamese refugees to the area, thus a large percentage of Asian Americans settled in the city during this time.

*Source: Wikipedia