Monthly Archives: May 2014

Open House Review: 63 Turnbury Lane

I recently saw 63 Turnbury Lane in Northwood Pointe’s Carlyle at Lanes End community. The house is now pending, but they are accepting backup offers.

The basics:

Asking Price: $773,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Footage: 1,857
Lot Size: 2,862
$/Sq Ft: $416
Days on Market: 28
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 1998
Community: Northwood Pointe, Carlyle at Lanes End

HOA dues are $136 ($96 + $40) per month and there are Mello Roos.

This single family home is attached on one side; however, only the garage and master bathroom share a wall with the adjoining house, so noise shouldn’t be an issue. The tandem, two-car garage has access both from the street in front and the lane behind, so the cars won’t ever block each other in. I haven’t seen this feature before but I think it’s a great way to design a tandem garage.

From the entry, a long hallway leads straight to the back of the house. The dining room is on the left when you first enter the home. It has French doors on one wall (leading to the front porch) and large windows on another. There is plenty of room for furnishings and it has Berber carpet.

As you walk down the hall, there is a good-sized coat closet on the right, along with a set of cupboards (standard on the bottom, glass-fronted on top). Just past that, a short hallway leads to the half bath and garage. The small bathroom has a pedestal sink.

The kitchen is on the left. It has white, plantation-style cabinets with no handles or drawer pulls. The stainless steel appliances include a five-burner stove, oven, microwave and dishwasher. The cabinets and backsplash are white tile while the floor is a darker tile. A window above the sink looks out to the yard. The kitchen isn’t large, but makes really good use of the space.

The family room sits at the back of the house, just beyond the kitchen. Like the dining room, it has Berber carpet. It has a single French door leading out to the yard, plus two full walls lined with windows. The third wall has a raised, tile hearth running the full length of the room. A fireplace with matching tile and white molding sits toward the back, while a built-in entertainment center is in the middle. The room is pretty big and even has enough space for a large piano.

The stairs to the second floor are at the front of the house. Just a few steps up, there is a small landing with a built-in desk, making it a great space for a small office.

All three bedrooms and the laundry room are on the second floor. The laundry room has a folding counter and a full set of upper cabinets.

The master bedroom is pretty big and, like the rooms downstairs, has Berber carpet. The back wall has two large windows with a window seat running beneath them. It also has a ceiling fan.


The master bath has a large tub in the middle, surrounded by white tile. On each side of the tub sits a pedestal sink with a set of three drawers and small counter next to it. The bathroom also has a small window seat, with storage below. The shower is average sized. There is a walk-in closet with a single shelf and hanging rod.

The other two bedrooms sit across from each other at the end of the hall. They are comparable in size and both have standard, two-door closets. One has windows on two walls. The other has two small windows plus a door that leads to a balcony overlooking the street. The balcony is small and mostly enclosed.

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These rooms share a bathroom off the hall. It has a single counter with two sinks and plantation-style cabinets. The shower/tub combo is done in basic white tile. Like the master bath, all of the hardware is chrome.

The house has a cute, country cottage style inside and out. It is well-priced for the neighborhood and when compared to similar, nearby homes. I think they made good use of the space and the owners have taken good care of the home.

Irvine Community Partnership Fund Grant Nominations

The main agenda item for the May 27 Irvine City Council meeting is the decision regarding how to distribute funds from the Community Partnership Fund Grant. Mayor Choi asked for approval of $250 to the Korean American Federation of Orange County. Councilmember Agran requested funds for the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association, Irvine Pakistani Parents Association, Orange County Human Relations, Friends of Outreach, Arts Orange County, and AIDS Services Foundation Orange County. By the time you read this the city council meeting will have occurred. So if you want to see what organizations were approved, you can watch the archived video of the city council meeting. In the meantime, here is brief description of each of these organizations.

From what I will admit was a brief search on my part, it is unclear if the Korean American Federation of Orange County is a for-profit or non-profit organization. A memo from Major Choi states: “The Korean American Federation of Orange County is a non-profit organization that provides resources including mentoring and scholarship programs, language classes and hosts many cultural events in an effort to create friendship and ties within the community.” However, although not many sites exist online that might help define the nature of this organization, some sites seem to suggest that this is a for-profit business. Bizapedia provides this information: “Korean American Federation Of Orange County is a California Corporation filed on May 22, 1995. The company’s filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is C1763967. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Jin Oh Kim and is located at 9888 Garden Grove Blvd Garden Grove, CA . The company’s principal address is 9888 Garden Grove Blvd Garden Grove, CA 92844. The company has 1 principal on record. The principal is Taek Choi Jung from Irvine CA.” If anyone has any information on this, please leave a comment here or in Talk Irvine.

The South Coast Chinese Cultural Association is a 503c3 (non-profit) corporation at 9 Truman in Irvine. Activities include a school, arts, culture, and humanities.

The Irvine Pakistani Parents Association [nonprofit 501c(3)] is a collection of Irvine and Orange County based parents, who join hands to promote Pakistani culture, as well as encourage parent leadership at Irvine schools. The IPPA is also committed to giving back to the community, the Irvine Public Schools Foundation and Irvine schools by staging various fundraising events throughout the year.”Irvine Pakistani Parents Association

OC Human Relations provides programs in collaboration with schools, individuals, cities, businesses, foundations and the county to support a vision of an Orange County where our diversity is realized as a source of strength.” Programs include Creating Safe and Inclusive Communities, which makes use of the award winning BRIDGES school program; Developing Diverse Leaders, which empowers people to have a voice in the decision making processes of the institutions that affect their lives; and Mediating Conflict, which encourages dialog as an alternative to violence and litigation. See more at the Orange County Human Relations website.

Friends of Outreach is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3, all volunteer, Irvine based organization that helps support the City of Irvine senior outreach programs. (All donations to the organization are tax deductible.) The group conducts service projects, fund-raising programs, and weekly social activities at Lakeview Senior Center. Activities are OPEN to ALL. Community members are encouraged to join, participate, and make friends while serving a worthy cause.”—City of Irvine

Arts Orange County an independent nonprofit organization, is the officially-designated local arts agency of the County of Orange and its official state-local arts agency partner.” The partners are The Million Plates Drive, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, and the County of Orange.

*The Million Plates Drive is a public/private partnership to restore funding for the arts in California through sales of the California Arts Plate.

* The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds and promotes artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities.”Top of FormBottom of Form

*The California Arts Council is the proud founding sponsor for Turnaround Arts CA—a program using arts education strategies to significantly improve ten of California’s lowest performing elementary schools. The Council invested $300,000 in the launch of this powerful arts education initiative, using one-time funds generously provided by the California State Assembly.”

“AIDS Services Foundation Orange County’s (ASF) mission is to prevent the spread of HIV and improve the lives of men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Orange County….ASF helps more than 1,600 men, women, children, and families in Orange County living with HIV disease. Services include food, transportation, housing, emergency financial assistance, kids and family programs, mental health counseling, support groups and HIV education and prevention services.”AIDS Services Foundation Orange County

Again, you can watch the recent Irvine City Council meeting to see what decisions were made on allocating grants to these organizations.

Open House Review: 32 Morning Dove

Woodbridge Single Family Updated Home in Outer Loop

32 Morning Dove $835,000

Turning off West Yale Loop onto Stone Creek N, and then onto Sparrowhawk takes you to this upgraded and remodeled, detached single family home in the outer loop of Woodbridge. Just reduced from $847,500, the home shows well from the curb and all the way through to the backyard and patio that overlooks the park. Several visitors started their Memorial Day holiday weekend with a Saturday tour of this property.

Significant Numbers: On the market about 45 days, this all on one level, three bedroom, 2 bath single family home has 1,525 sq. ft. on a 4,356 sq. ft. lot. Built in 1977, the home has HOA dues of $82. It is $548/sq.ft. There are no Mello Roos taxes.

Close up: Moving down the side entrance and stepping into the entry, there is a large step down living room on the left with custom mantel fireplace, bay window nook, vaulted ceilings, and new carpeting.

Straight ahead the formal dining area overlooks a striking atrium retreat.

To the right the kitchen and casual dining area overlook the patio and back yard that has wood and wrought iron fencing.

The kitchen has been enlarged with a custom pantry and upgraded with new cabinetry, granite counters and stainless appliances.

Around the corner, the master bedroom overlooks the atrium and has a new vanity and recessed can lighting. There are two more bedrooms and another full bath.

This floor plan has been widely used in Woodbridge but this is one of the nicest interior treatments of it that I have seen.

More specifics:
Single family home
Bedrooms, 3
Baths, 2
Detached, no common walls
Central furnace, central air
Laundry in garage
Two car garage
Two parking spaces
Association pool, spa
Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? This single family home is completely detached and all on one level. On the plus side, it overlooks the park and has been nicely upgraded throughout. On the down side, the lot has been well used but is a bit snug and the home sits in the outer loop not far from Culver St. traffic. Woodbridge’s Stone Creek Swim Club, tennis courts and top schools are nearby. On the price side, the property competes with a number of other key spots in Irvine and Orange County, also delivering nice asset packages.

Who will move in? A young family valuing the park access and Irvine Unified schools will be attracted. Families with more mature members will be drawn to this all one level home. Professional couples looking for an appealing, move in ready home, needing little updating, that’s close to everything, will check this one too.

Recent nearby listings: 34 Morning Dove, $799,000; 30 Bluejay, $829,000

Recent nearby sales: 3 Ironwood, $839,980; 38 Bluejay, $720,000

Open House Review: 40 Christamon West

Today I am reviewing a two level home in Northwood’s Park Paseo Community. 40 Christamon West is found on a larger internal corner lot and situated on a cul-de-sac street across from Santiago Hills Elementary School and community amenities. The nicely landscaped large yard and location on a single loaded street left a feeling of privacy and openness.

Asking Price: $888,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.25

Square Footage: 2,191

Lot Size: 6,098

$/Sq Ft: $405

Days on Market: 10

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1985

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

HOA dues are $89 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

Prices in Northwood have been on the rise, however in the past 3 months it appears two level homes in this neighborhood have primarily sold for less than $400 per square foot. This house is in very clean condition and is well maintained, but has original textured ceilings, carpet that looked worn in areas, original doors with hardware and a couple of original features in the bathrooms. The rest of the home has been upgraded with wood flooring, a remodeled kitchen, updated windows and a relaxing backyard.

The front door is located up a few brick steps. Once inside, the entrance has outdated tile flooring which is a step up from the rest of the main level of the home. There is an abundance of natural light coming in from the extra-large windows throughout the living and dining rooms. Although the ceilings have the original texture, the cathedral ceilings provide an open feeling to the rooms. To the left is a wide carpeted staircase leading straight up to the second floor. There is also a hallway with one of the entrances to the kitchen and a 3-step down family room. To the right is the step down living room and dining room. The kitchen is located behind the wall, next to the dining room.

The living and dining room are carpeted while the hallway, kitchen and family room have hardwood floors. The living room windows face out toward the school’s large green fields. The dining room window faces out to the backyard. One of the two kitchen entrances is found off of the dining room.

The kitchen has updated fluorescent lighting with a ceiling fan. There is a large window with a casual eating area sitting in front of it. An older dishwasher and updated sink with a garden window are located along the same wall. The corian countertop wraps around to the electric stovetop. There are plenty of cabinets and counter space. The cabinets are a cherry finish. On the other side of the entrance door are additional cabinets, built-in microwave, oven and refrigerator. The kitchen has railing that overlooks the family room which is three steps down. A pantry sits between the 3 steps and the casual eating area.

After walking down the three steps, a small nook and short hallway with a coat closet, garage entrance and bathroom are located to the left. The nook previously had a small wetbar, but currently has a desk. The family room has a brick fireplace in the middle of the wall. There are two large windows in the corner and a large sliding glass door.

The backyard is nicely landscaped. Out the sliding glass door you walk onto a small lattice covered patio. To the right is a path to a newer jacuzzi and towards the back of the yard is another small paved area that has space for entertaining. The remainder of the yard is grass and in the back is a low retaining wall with lush greens. The mature trees and a light post add a nice touch to the space.

The half bathroom sits next to the garage entrance. It has a long frosted window across the top of the wall. The bathroom is wallpapered and has granite countertops and cherry cabinetry. All bathrooms throughout the home have been remodeled with the same granite countertops and cherry cabinetry.

At the top of the staircase is one of the two sets of linen cabinets located in the hallway. All bedrooms are carpeted. It is clean but some sections look slightly worm. To the right are double doors leading into the master bedroom. The room is a good size with a two door mirrored closet next to the entrance. A step-up bathroom is found to the right, directly across from the bed. The double sinks are visible from the sleeping area and with a lack of a privacy door, the light and noise may affect a person that is still sleeping in the mornings and evenings. The carpet runs up to the vanity. The old fluorescent lighting still sits above the double sinks but the countertops and cabinetry are remodeled. To the left is the separate toilet and showe
r. Unfortunately the carpet continues into that space as well. The walk-in shower has been remodeled with a bench. On the opposite end of the double sinks is a walk-in closet.

The two secondary bedrooms on the right side of the hallway are similar in size and both have double mirrored sliding closet doors. The second bedroom appears slightly smaller than the first one. At the end of the hallway is the third secondary bedroom. It has double doors leading in to the room and is currently used an office. Two large corner windows look out to the front of the home. It has a single door closet.

An updated mirror, cherry cabinets and granite countertop are found in the shared bathroom. The floor is vinyl. The bath/shower combo is original with original 4 x4 tiles.

40 Christamon West is nicely remodeled and if you do not mind living across from an elementary school, it is a great location. At the end of the cul-de-sac is a walking path so with the greenbelt, school fields, community pool and tennis courts just steps away, it is ideal for any family. The price is just slightly higher per square foot than some comparable two level homes, but this home also has a larger than others in the neighborhood.

Open House Review: 16 Phillipsburg

I recently toured 16 Phillipsburg, a four bedroom house in Northwood’s Courtside tract. This home has many upgrades and a downstairs office that could convert to a bedroom, though it doesn’t have a closet.

The basics:

Asking Price: $846,000
Bedrooms: 3 + office (but listed as a 4 bedroom home)
Bathrooms: 3
Square Footage: 2,132
Lot Size: 4,790
$/Sq Ft: $397
Days on Market: 14
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 1985
Community: Northwood – Courtside
Schools: Brywood Elementary, Sierra Vista Middle School, Northwood High

HOA dues are $85 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

The house looks nice from the street and has a small front porch with enough space for a table and two chairs.

The living room sits just inside the entry on the left. It has high ceilings and windows on the front and side walls. Like the adjoining dining room, it has bamboo floors.

The dining room is pretty standard, with space for a large table and a single window on the side of the house. It has a doorway to the kitchen and is open to the front hallway.

The kitchen has been fully remodeled. Large, ceramic tiles make up the floor. There are also granite counters and espresso colored cabinets. While the dishwasher is white, the other appliances are stainless steel, including a five burner range, hood, and sink. It has plenty of counter space and a fair number of cabinets and drawers. There is a breakfast nook in front of a bay window overlooking the backyard.

The family room is a few steps lower than the kitchen. It has bamboo floors and French doors leading to the backyard. One wall has a full set of built-ins surrounding the fireplace. The white cabinets and shelves include a space for a flat-screen TV. The fireplace has ceramic tile at the edges. A small wet bar sits in a hallway just off the family room. Its cabinets and counters match the kitchen.

The hallway leads to the den, a full bathroom, laundry room and the garage. The den has a double-door entry and bamboo floors. A single window looks out to the sideyard. The room is a good size and could work as a bedroom if you added a closet.

The full bath is not attached to the room. It has a single sink, with cabinets and counters to match the kitchen. The shower/tub combo is newer, with brushed nickel hardware and nicer tiled walls. The laundry room has several sets of upper and lower cabinets with counter space for folding.

The master bedroom and two additional bedrooms are upstairs. The master sits near the top of the stairs, overlooking the backyard. Like the family room below, it has bay window that make a nice sitting area. Three mirrored doors span the full length of one wall. Overall, the room isn’t very large, but the high ceilings and mirrored closets make it feel a little bigger than it actually is.

The master bath has also been completely redone, similarly to the kitchen. There are two sinks with brushed nickel hardware and individual mirrors hanging above each one. The stall shower sits next to the tub. I thought the shower was too small, but the bathroom is nice otherwise.

The secondary bathroom upstairs hasn’t been remodeled at all. The original cabinets are white, with a plain, solid-surface counter and original hardware. The shower/tub combo also has its original white tile and hardware. There is a set of upper and lower linen cabinets in the hall outside the bathroom.

Both secondary bedrooms face the front of the house. The one on the left is a lot bigger and has a three-door, sliding closet. There is a ceiling fan and it has windows facing both the front and side.

The smaller bedroom also has a ceiling fan, but only one window. It has a large, walk-in closet. All upstairs bedrooms have the same flooring as downstairs.

The backyard is mostly hardscaped, with a raised garden around the edges.

Overall, the house is nicely redone and is move-in ready. The upstairs bathroom is the only original room in t
he house. I don’t really like how the family room and den are four steps lower than the kitchen and wish that the downstairs was all one level. I also thought the last bedroom upstairs was too small. On the plus side, the home is a short walk from the community pool, tot lot, and tennis courts. It backs to a greenbelt and is a short walk to Brywood Elementary School without crossing any streets. The price per square foot is about $20-50 higher than most similar homes on the market, though there are a few that are $25 or more per square foot higher than this one.