3 Biggest Lessons I Learned from Trading Up in Irvine (What I'd Do Differently)

Описание: Thinking about trading up to a bigger home in Irvine?
I’ve done it myself—and in this video, I share the three biggest lessons I learned from trading up in Irvine, including the surprises I didn’t see coming and what I would absolutely do differently next time.

I’m Regina Chen, an Irvine Realtor, longtime local resident, and mom. In 2023, my family traded up from a 3-bedroom townhome in Irvine to a 4-bedroom + loft new construction home in Tustin Legacy, and the experience taught me valuable lessons that every move-up buyer should understand before making a decision.

This video is for Irvine homeowners and families considering a trade-up move—especially those weighing:

Buy first vs sell first
Keeping the old home as a rental
New construction vs resale
School boundaries and long-term flexibility

⏱ Key Timestamps
[00:00:00] Thinking about trading up in Irvine
[00:01:16] Why we chose new construction & Tustin Legacy schools
[00:01:50] Surprise #1: Upgrade costs added up fast
[00:02:19] Surprise #2: Rental vacancy took longer than expected
[00:02:50] Lesson #1: Study the market earlier than you think
[00:03:58] Lesson #2: Be flexible with location & new construction
[00:05:26] Lesson #3: Budget for vacancy, overlap & surprises
[00:06:54] Macro vs micro advice for trade-up buyers
[00:07:30] Final thoughts: trading up is about lifestyle, not just space


📲 Planning your own trade-up move in Irvine or Tustin?
If you’re unsure whether to buy first, sell first, or keep your current home as a rental, I’m happy to walk through your numbers and options.

👩‍💼 Regina Chen
Irvine & Tustin Realtor | Trade-Up Buyer Specialist

💬 Comment below: What part of trading up worries you most—budget, timing, or school decisions?