Irvine which runs along both sides of the San Diego 405 Freeway includes a world class university with a performing arts center, Irvine Meadows Amphitheater and Wild Rivers Waterpark. With Orange County's John Wayne/ Santa Ana Airport directly across the street from the city limit and cities of Newport Beach and Tustin nearby, many Irvine residents enjoy living near their jobs, either at the University of California Irvine (UCI), or at offices surrounding the airport. The city has over 150,000 people, and its housing "villages" and business developments were sculpted from portions of the huge Irvine Ranch, purchased by James Irvine.

The homeowners' associations that govern the villages exercise varying degrees of control on the appearances of homes. In more restrictive areas, houses' roofing, paint-colors, and landscaping are regulated. Some associations also restrict what types of vehicles people are allowed to park outside their homes. So you have to be very neat and tidy, and so will your house.