Orchard Hills: Terra Collection Review

Terra is the last collection in The Reserve at Orchard Hills. Built by Irvine Pacific, there will be 135 homes with three different floor plans. Homes range from 2,721 square feet to 3,221 square feet. The houses have 4 – 5 bedrooms, 3 – 5.5 bathrooms and options for either a den or a loft. All homes have an attached, 2-car garage at the front of the house. The average lot size is approximately 4,600 square feet. However, the models are on lots between 7,000 – 10,000 square feet, so what you see is much bigger than what you get.

 

Included Features
Terra homes come standard with ceramic tile at entry, kitchen, baths, and laundry; plush carpet throughout living areas; single-panel interior doors with Baldwin® satin nickel hardware; 10’ ceiling at select locations; coffered ceiling at master bedroom; pre-wired with media plate consisting of RG-6 and 1 CAT-5 line at great room, master bedroom, and secondary bedrooms; CAT-5 line for phone at master bedroom and dual CAT-5 line for phone/data at kitchen; powder room with Kohler undermount sink and polished chrome faucet; inside laundry room with sink and Kohler® faucet; landscaped walkways and common areas; decorative front entry doors with dark bronze Baldwin hardware; fire-resistant concrete tile roofs; Wi-Fi thermostat; and Lutron home automation system. The gourmet kitchens include a KitchenAid® stainless steel appliance package with a commercial-style 48” cooktop, oven/microwave combination, dishwasher, and hood; cabinetry in white satin Thermofoil finish with concealed and soft close hinges, soft close drawer guides, adjustable shelves, and under-cabinet lighting; granite slab counters with 6” backsplash and full splash at cooktop; Kohler® Smart Divide stainless steel with Kohler faucet; and refrigerator space pre-plumbed for ice maker. The master suites include Kohler freestanding tub, separate shower with 6” x 6” ceramic tile surround and clear glass enclosure; and dual under mount Kohler sinks with cultured marble countertops and Kohler polished chrome faucets. Finally, the energy-efficient features that come with the home are dual-glazed, vinyl windows with low-e glass; whole house fan; high-efficiency air conditioning and 92% a.f.u.e. gas furnace; tankless water heater; and energy-efficient lighting.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $299 at buildout for Reserve at Orchard Hills Community Association
Base Property Tax: 1.05% of sales price
AD Tax: $2,250 per year
CFD Tax: $1,700 per year
Other Taxes: $171 per year
Overall Effective Tax Rate: Approximately 1.3%
Prices start at $1,457,290 for Residence 1; $1,623,100 for Residence 2; $1,597, 369 for Residence 3; $1,611,369 for Residence 3X

Schools
Students living in Terra will attend schools in the Irvine Unified School District.  Children in grades K – 6 will attend Canyon View Elementary School. Students in grades 7 – 8 will attend Sierra Vista Middle School. Students in grades 9 – 12 will attend Northwood High School.

Residence 1
2,721 square feet
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Tech space
Optional den at bedroom 4
Optional back kitchen at pantry
Early pricing ranged from $1,457,290 – $1,467,290

Residence 1 is modeled in the Formal Spanish elevation, with Santa Barbara and Early California options also available. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, Lutron Caseta dimmers and switches, vertical grain metro LM60 rialto cabinets, Lew’s hardware brushed brass bar series knobs and pulls, additional electrical outlets, Wi-Fi thermostat, audio and video systems, and all decorator’s items.

This home has a very wide entry hall with plenty of space for a table or bench. The door to the garage is at the end of the hall on the left. The stairs are at the end of the hall on the right and there is a coat closet with extra storage beneath them. The bathroom is also on the right side of the hall. It features a vanity with a single sink, two cabinets, and two drawers. The cabinetry, hardware, and quartzite countertop and backsplash are all upgrades. The shower has a fully upgraded tile surround. The crown molding in the bathroom is upgraded, too.

 

The den is through a doorway on the right side of the hall, just inside the main entry. The room is a good size, with a window facing the street and two smaller ones on the side. The den replaces the standard bedroom 4. The only difference is that the bedroom would have a closet to the left of the doorway. Upgrades shown in the model include recessed lights, coffered ceiling, and crown molding.

 

The main hall opens to the great room and kitchen. The great room has a full wall of sliding doors opening to the backyard. The room comes standard with the panoramic sliders, as shown, and with pre-wire for optional motorized window treatments. There are two smaller windows at the far end of the room. The recessed can lights, floor outlet, and flat screen pre-wire are all included. The crown molding is upgraded.

The kitchen is open to the great room on one side and the dining room on another. The center island holds the sink and dishwasher, with seating for 3-4 people, and the rest of the kitchen forming an L-shape around it. The model shows an upgraded appliance package, with a KitchenAid 42” built-in refrigerator, 30” stainless steel warming drawer, and 24” stainless steel wine fridge. The cooktop, oven, and microwave are the included appliances. Additional upgrades in the kitchen include the Caesarstone “Blizzard” countertop with upgraded tile full-height backsplash, waterfall island in quartzite “Avalanche,” vertical grain metro LM60 “Rialto” cabinets, Lew’s hardware brushed brass bar series knobs and pulls, the pot and pan drawers, and the crown molding.

A door in the back corner of the kitchen leads to the walk-in pantry. The small room has L-shaped counters with upper and lower cabinets offering a ton of extra storage. There is an option to convert the pantry to a back kitchen, which would include a cooktop, pantry-height cupboards, and additional cabinetry. Upgrades shown in the pantry are crown molding, Single Lite door, the cabinets (standard is open shelving), countertop, cabinetry, and knobs.

The dining room is at the back of the house. It is very bright, with panoramic sliding doors lining one wall and floor-to-ceiling windows on another. The doors are standard and come with pre-wire for optional motorized window treatments. The crown molding is an upgrade.

The backyard has a large covered patio and a grassy area. The average homesite will have a much smaller yard, though some premium lots may be this size. The model also has a great view of the city and the hills.

The second floor has a tech space at the top of the stairs. There are three windows that face the front and side of the home. The reinforced wall outlets, built-in desk, and Caesarstone countertop are all upgrades. The space is small but could hold one or two workspaces.

The master suite is across from the tech space. It stretches across the back of the house. The master bedroom is large, with a big window facing the backyard and two smaller ones on the side. A recessed area in one wall offers space for a dresser or a built-in. The recessed lights, barn door separating the bedroom and bathroom, paint grade ceiling treatment, and electrical outlets are upgraded.

The master bathroom has two vanities, each with its own sink, cabinets, and drawers. The countertops on each vanity are much smaller than in a typical master suite. The freestanding bathtub sits between them. The shower is across from the tub and has a built-in seat. The walk-in closet is at the end of the bathroom and has a complete organizer system. Upgrades seen in the bathroom include the reinforced ceiling outlets in lieu of recessed lights; quartz countertop with 1” sponge lip and upgraded full-height backsplash; tile shower surround with limestone “Crema Perla” honed slab shower seat, dam, and jamb; rialto cabinetry; Lew’s hardware knobs and pulls; decorative framed mirror; mirrored closet door; closet organizer in Ivory; and 3/8” frameless glass shower enclosure.

 

A hallway across from the stairs leads to the other rooms on the second floor. The laundry room is the first door on the right. It has space for side-by-side machines with cabinets above them on one wall, and a sink and linen cupboards on the other wall.

Bedroom 2 is across from the laundry room. It has a small window facing the street and another small one on the side. The room is an average size, though the closet is somewhat small. The recessed lights are an upgrade.

Bedroom 3 is next to bedroom 2. It also has a small window at the front and another small one on the side. Both the bedroom and closet are the same size as in bedroom 2. The recessed lights and wall treatment are upgraded.

Bathroom 2 is at the end of the hall. It has a large area with two sinks set into a shared vanity. The countertop, backsplash, cabinetry, knobs, and floating mirrors are all upgrades. A separate doorway leads to a shower/tub combo, which is shown with the standard tile and an upgraded ¼” frameless clear glass enclosure. There is an option for just a shower in lieu of the combo.

This home has a good layout and spacious rooms, though I would have liked to see a bigger loft area instead of just a tech space. It is quite similar to most other new homes on the market.

 

Residence 2
2,853 square feet
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Loft
Optional back kitchen at pantry
Optional bedroom 5 & bathroom 4 at loft
Early pricing ranged from $1,483,100 – 1,623,100

Residence 2 is modeled in the Early California style, with Formal Spanish and Spanish Monterey elevations available. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, Lutron Caseta dimmers and switches, “IP White” Shaker paint grade cabinets, solid core doors, optional Wi-Fi thermostat, audio and video systems, and all decorator’s items.

As in residence 1, this house has a wide entry hall with space on either wall for a table or bench. The stairs are at the end of the hall on the right and have a storage closet beneath them. A doorway on the right leads to the downstairs bedroom and bathroom.

The bathroom has a single sink, with two cabinets and two drawers. The cabinets, polished nickel hardware, countertop, and backsplash are all upgrades. The model shows the optional shower in lieu of the shower/tub combo. The tile surround and limestone seat and dam are upgrades as well.

Bedroom 4 is just across the alcove from the bathroom. It is smaller than the bedrooms in residence 1. There is one window facing the street and two more on the side. The bi-pass closet is small.

The main hallway opens to the great room. It is a wide, open room with two small windows on one side and panoramic sliding doors lining another full wall. The doors are pre-wired for motorized window treatments. The media credenza along the side wall is an upgrade.

As in residence 1, the kitchen is open to the great room and the dining room. The island has seating for 3 – 4 people, the sink, and the dishwasher. It is upgraded with paint grade “spiced rum” cabinets, a Kohler white cast iron apron front sink, and a stainless steel sensate touchless faucet. One long counter holds the cooktop, several drawers, and upper cabinets. The other wall has a built-in oven, microwave, refrigerator, and optional wine cooler. The upgraded appliances are Jenn-Air stainless steel, including a 48” range, 30” oven/microwave combo, 48” canopy wall hood with imperial chimney, dishwasher, warming drawer, 42” built-in fridge, and 24” wine fridge. Additional upgrades include the cabinetry, hardware, clear glass upper cabinets, Caesarstone counter with full-height backsplash, and reverse osmosis system.

The pantry shows the standard open shelves and an upgraded counter. There is an option for a back kitchen, with a stove and pantry-height cupboards.

The dining room is at the back of the house. One wall has floor-to-ceiling windows and another has panoramic sliding doors with pre-wire for motorized window treatments.

The premium-sized backyard features a covered patio with a built-in barbecue and fridge, a pool, and a grassy area.

 

On the second floor, this home has a full loft at the top of the stairs. It is open to the stairway, with three windows facing the street and two more on the side. The model shows an upgraded, built-in credenza beneath the TV; there is an option for a built-in desk in the same space.  The loft can be converted to a fifth bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The bedroom would be on the smaller side, with a standard bi-pass closet that would eliminate one of the windows. The en-suite bathroom would have a single sink set into a small vanity and a choice of a shower or shower/tub combo.

The master suite is across from the loft. The bedroom is a good size, with large windows facing the backyard and two smaller ones on the side. The recessed lights, reinforced ceiling outlet, crown molding, and ceiling treatment are upgrades. There is an option for a door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.

The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity, with two sets of cabinets and three shared drawers. There is a free-standing tub in the corner. The shower is across from the vanity and is larger than in residence 1. It has a built-in seat. The walk-in closet is at the far end of the bathroom. Upgrades include the cabinetry, hardware, cabinets above the toilet, closet organizer, limestone countertop with ogee drop edge, backsplash with ogee edge, tile shower surround, limestone shower seat and dam, crown molding, framed mirror, Kohler HydroRail shower column with rainhead and handshower, and the 3/8” frameless clear glass shower enclosure.

 

A hallway across from the stairs leads to the other rooms. Bathroom 2 is the first door on the right. It has two sinks with two sets of cabinets and three drawers. A separate door leads to the shower/tub combo, which has a shower-only option. Upgrades include the Caesarstone “Ginger” slab with 1” sponge lip and full-height tile backsplash, tile tub surround to ceiling, and decorative framed mirror.

The laundry room is across from the bathroom. It has a sink and space for side-by-side machines. There is a shelf above the sink and upper cabinets over the machines. There are open linen shelves at the end of the room. The countertops are upgraded Caesarstone.

Bedroom 2 faces the front of the house. It has double French doors opening to a Juliet balcony overlooking the street and two windows on the side. The Spanish Monterey elevation has a full balcony that stretches across the full width of the garage. The bedroom is large, and the bi-pass closet has upgraded mirrored doors. The recessed lights and closet organizer are also upgrades.

Bedroom 3 is comparable in size and also has a bi-pass closet. The room only has two windows facing the side of the home, so it won’t get as much natural light as bedroom 2. The recessed lights and closet organizer are upgraded.

 

This home is quite similar to residence 1, with the key difference being the full loft (and optional bedroom) instead of the smaller tech space.

Residence 3 & 3X
3,221 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Optional back kitchen at pantry
Optional bedroom & bathroom 5 at family room
Early pricing for residence 3 ranged from $1,597,369 – $1,682,369
Early pricing for residence 3X ranged from $1,562,369 – $1,692,369

Residence 3 is modeled in the Traditional Monterey style, with Santa Barbara, Formal Spanish, and Tuscan elevations available. Residence 3X offers the same four elevations but is not modeled. The key difference between the two is that the garage and front entry are both on the same side in residence 3, but on different sides of the house in residence 3X. Because of this, residence 3X is always a corner unit, with the garage facing the main street and the front door on the side. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, Lutron Caseta dimmers and switches, recessed panel Star Light paint grade cabinets, top knob square bar pull and knobs in flat black, optional Wi-Fi thermostat, garage floor coating, audio and video systems, and all decorator’s items.

Though the entrance to the property in residence 3 is on the same side as the garage, it actually just takes you to a private walkway, and the door to the house itself is on the side. Residence 3X doesn’t have the walkway, but the entry to the home is in the same place as residence 3. When you walk in, there is a wide foyer, with a space across from the door for a table or bench. The stairs are on the left and there is a closet beneath them.

The powder room is through a doorway past the stairs. It has a single sink with a set of cabinets beneath it. The cabinets and knobs are upgraded, as well as the “Calcatta Gold Suprema” marble slab backsplash and a reinforced ceiling outlet in lieu of the standard recessed can light.

Bedroom 4 is at the front of the house. Tall windows face the street and there are two smaller windows on the side. The room has a standard bi-pass closet and is shown with upgraded recessed lights. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with one sink, one cabinet, and two drawers. The cabinets, knobs, and marble slab are all upgraded to match the powder room. The shower has an upgraded tile surround to ceiling with Caesarstone “Pure White” slab seat and dam. The framed mirror is also an upgrade. There is an option for a shower/tub combo in lieu of the standard shower.

The great room is to the right of the foyer. It is a very large space, with two windows on the side and panoramic sliders along the back. There is an upgraded built in unit along one wall and crown molding throughout. The panoramic doors come standard with pre-wire for motorized window treatments.

 

The kitchen is set up in the same way as the other homes, with the great room on one side and dining room on the other. The island in this model is shaped like a wedge, with seating for 5 – 6 around the curved edge. One side has a cabinet and drawers while the other has the sink and dishwasher. The refrigerator, oven, and microwave are on one wall, while the stove and a wine fridge are on another. Upgrades in the kitchen include a reinforced ceiling outlet, recessed panel cabinetry in Star Light paint, top knob square bar pull and knobs in flat black, “Calcatta Gold Supremo” slab with full-height tile backsplash, crown molding, and a Prolific stainless steel sink with Tournant faucet. The upgraded appliance package from Wolf in stainless steel includes a 48” range, 30” oven, 30” microwave, 48” wall canopy hood. Additional appliance upgrades include a SubZero 42” built-in fridge, SubZero 24” built-in wine fridge, and an Asko dishwasher. The door to the garage is in the back corner of the kitchen. There isn’t a drop zone or mudroom separating the garage from the kitchen.

The pantry is opposite the garage door, though the model shows the optional back kitchen instead. The upgrades include cabinetry, knobs, and countertop to match the kitchen, crown molding, Wolf 15” transitional multifunction module and Wolf 30” SS Pro wall hood. One small window faces the backyard.

The dining room is at the back of the house. As in the other residences, it has one wall with floor-to-ceiling windows and another with panoramic sliders. The crown molding is an upgrade, but the recessed lights and pre-wire for window treatments are included.

The backyard is again on a premium-sized lot. The model shows a large, partially-covered patio with a built-in barbecue, a pool, and a lawn. The view is impressive, though most homes in the neighborhood will just look into the backyard of another house.

On the second floor, there is a loft (called a family room in the brochure) at the top of the stairs. One window faces the street and two smaller ones face the side. In the Santa Barbara elevation, the front-facing window is replaced with a French door and a Juliet balcony. Upgrades in the model include the reinforced ceiling outlet and the media built-in.

There is an option to convert the family room to a fifth bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom would be an average size with a standard bi-pass closet. There would be one window facing the street and two smaller ones on the side. The en-suite bathroom would have a single sink in a small vanity and a shower/tub combo, with the option for just a shower. There would be an additional linen closet just outside the bedroom.

As in residences 1 and 2, the master suite is to the right of the stairs and spans the back of the house. The large room has big windows facing the backyard and two smaller ones on the side. The dual walk-in closets are accessed from the bedroom, rather than the bathroom. Each is shown with an upgraded, built-in organizer. The bedroom is also upgraded with six recessed lights, a cased opening to the bathroom, and crown molding at the coffered ceiling.

The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity, with two sets of cabinets and three drawers. The vanity is upgraded with a “Calcatta Gold Honed’ slab countertop and backsplash, cabinetry, and knobs to match the rest of the house, and Tresham top mount vessel-style sinks. The free-standing bathtub sits across from the sinks. The large shower is at the end of the bathroom. The tile shower surround is upgraded with “Calcatta Gold Honed” full height at all walls and slab at shower seat, dam, and jamb. Additional upgrades include the white Carrara marble base trim, 3/8” frameless clear glass enclosure, and Kohler rain shower head. The water closet has an upgraded Kohler Karing bidet toilet.

The main hallway across from the stairs has a laundry room on the right. It has space for side-by-side machines on one side and a sink on the other, shown with upgraded cabinetry, knobs, and a “Bella Statuario” counter and backsplash. There is an open linen closet at the back with upgraded shelving and a “Bella Statuario” slab.

Bedroom 2 is on the right. This is the smaller of the secondary rooms and has just one window facing the side of the house. The room is upgraded with four recessed lights and two reinforced wall outlets with sconces. The en-suite bathroom has a small vanity with one sink, one cabinet, and two drawers. Upgrades include a “Pental Altea” countertop and backsplash and cabinetry and knobs to match the rest of the house. The shower/tub combo has an upgraded tile surround. There is a shower-only option available.

Bedroom 3 is across the hall and is a lot bigger than bedroom 2. It has two small windows on the side and one at the front, as well as a set of French doors. In the Traditional Monterey elevation (modeled), there is a full balcony spanning the width of the garage. Two of the elevations only have a Juliet balcony and the Tuscan elevation has no balcony at all. The room is upgraded with four recessed lights and includes a walk-in closet. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with one sink, one cabinet, and two drawers. The cabinets and knobs are upgraded, as are the Pullman tile backsplash and framed mirror. The model shows the shower-only option instead of the standard shower/tub combo. Upgrades include the tile surround, shampoo niche, and floor; shower enclosure; and Kohler HydroRail shower column with Kohler Katalyst rainhead.

Residence 3 is the only Terra home with a private bathroom in each bedroom. It has the same number of rooms and layout as residence 2, but is about 350 square feet bigger, making each room a little more spacious.

All the homes in the Terra collection are basically the same. Each has three bedrooms and an extra living (or tech) area upstairs and an additional bedroom downstairs. The options are similar throughout the collection, though residence 1 cannot add a fifth bedroom upstairs. These homes are just like every other new house in The Reserve at Orchard Hills.