Irvine Housing Blog

That picture through the window sums up why I will never buy in one of these newer housing tracts.  They are all like that.  This is Irvine.  There is plenty of space.  No need to live like sardines. 

Take a look at any condo tract in Woodbridge or Turtle Rock to see how condos should be done.  Plenty of space, parking, grass and trees.  The days of people blindly buying whatever crap the builders give you are over.
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Amen!

The days of 600k+ CONDOS are rapidly coming to an end.

Good riddance.

I know this is the Irvine blog, but take a look at this sorry attempt to gild the sow’s ear in NorCal.  They act like the worst is behind us… the only thing I agree with in the story is that, yes, storm clouds are a-brewing…

http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_095213933.html

This is what happens when you buy at the top of the market. I think they thought the market would turn around at some point so they could still make a profit. It aint going to happen.

Anyone else notice the strange color palette on the inside?

This might be converted to a rental, because the buyer apparently does not want to take a loss on a sale. As a rental they can take a loss every month and get a tax writeoff.

According to ZIP
Price Reduced: 08/05/06—$778,500 to $765,000
Price Reduced: 08/11/06—$765,000 to $748,500
Price Reduced: 09/04/06—$748,500 to $725,000
Price Reduced: 09/12/06—$725,000 to $705,000
Price Reduced: 01/10/07—$705,000 to $665,000
Price Reduced: 01/11/07—$665,000 to $650,000
Price INCREASED: 02/17/07—$650,000 to $675,000

So after 200+ days on the market, they decide that LOWERING the price isn’t doing anything, so why not RAISE the price! that’ll sell it quick! how brilliant!!

Plenty of land in Irvine not to have to live like this, building condo’s like this is why Irvine still has developable land, they are trying to make the future small and more cramped housing so that more ppl can live per square foot and thus make more profit. It’s all a business model for corporate living.

Personally, I like a small cozy home. 1800 sf is ideal for me. I definitely prefer a place under 2000 sf for a family of two or three (even four). I prefer nicer quality over larger square footage. What I find pathetic of these new places in Irvine is the pretense to make them look like a single family house. They have all these weird configurations. For example, what the heck is with those “great rooms” ? They are so small but it looks and feels pathetic. Just make them what they are. If they have to be 4 or 5 stories, that should be ok. Just make them spacious (sacrifice the number of bedrooms) and of high quality.

Is it just me or does the interior photo looks kinda creepy?

It’s a new construction…  IMO it should be nice and bright, and not dungeon-like.

As for lot/yard space, personally I don’t really care so long as the HOA has good amendities.  When I lived with my parents we had a decent sized yard that was a royal pain to maintain, and I think we bought 3 different grills over a decade, each was left to rust after 2-3 uses.

I like my HOA taking care of the common lawn/park areas and maintaining the grills, pools, and jacuzzi’s.  I only use them few times a year anyway, so having all that in my personal backyard would’ve been a waste.  I’d be happy with just a side yard where I can plant a dwarf lemon tree.

smaller is better, that’s the trend of housebuilding. association ammenties is a good concept, especially since they are rarely used.

it is new construction, which walls are shared? just the entry it looks like, that’s almost the same thing as single family home.

small families = smaller homes

new construction takes this into account, i think the great room is like a dual/multi purpose room, kind of like living/dining/den combined. activity specific rooms are a remnant of the upper-class structure of the 1900’s, construction is catching up with this once again.

00’s = multi function rooms
1900’s= individual task rooms (dining, living, media, study etc.)