Monthly Archives: June 2014

Open House Review: 10 Palmatum

Last week I reviewed the same one level floor plan at 38 Christamon West, which sits across the street from Santiago Hills Elementary School. This week I am visiting 10 Palmatum which sits across the street from the back of Santiago Hills Elementary School. Although the model is the same, 10 Palmatum kept the original layout inside the home while 38 Christamon restructured the kitchen and dining room area.

Asking Price: $835,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,664

Lot Size: 5,663

$/Sq Ft: $502

Days on Market: 12

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1980

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. The average price for properties sold in the past 3 months has been about $383 per square foot. However, one level homes have definitely sold at a higher price per square foot. This home advertises for $835,000 versus Christamon’s $875,000 and while the price difference is reasonable, I wonder if either justifies the higher square footage price of over $500?

Directly across the street is the end of the elementary school’s large green soccer fields. Upon entry, the flooring has new tile which looks like wood. The tile flooring continues throughout the dining area, back through the kitchen and family rooms and down the hall and into both bathrooms. The step down living room and the bedrooms have clean neutral carpet. Unlike 38 Christamon West, this home still sports the original windows. The smooth ceilings are cathedral height and the lighting has been updated with recessed lights. There are plenty of windows which bring in an abundance of natural light

To the right, the step down living room is a decent size. The dining area can fit a good size dining table.

On the other side of the dining room wall are the kitchen and family rooms. The kitchen counter is in a U-shape with the refrigerator and gas stovetop to the right. At the end of the U is a large window looking out to the side of the home, with the sink and dishwasher below it. The counter wraps around to a peninsula with bar seating and an open view to the family room. There are overhead cabinets and at the end of the peninsula is the built-in microwave and oven. A potential pantry sits in the wall across from the kitchen, but is located more on the family room side so I am not sure if it is meant as a pantry or storage for the family room. The space was used as an entertainment center in 38 Christamon West. All of the home’s cabinets are original but have been stained a dark brown and fitted with new hardware. The appliances are white, apart from the stainless steel refrigerator and the countertops have been remodeled with black granite. There are plenty of cabinets for storage and countertop space.

The family room has windows in two of the corners plus a large window above the sliding glass door. At the end of the kitchen peninsula, on the other side of the microwave/oven is a built-in bookcase with a couple of cabinets. A nicely remodeled fireplace sits to the right of the sliding glass door.

Outside of the sliding glass door is a covered patio. The concrete area extends out further and wraps to the left to a small in-ground Jacuzzi. There are some larger trees lining the back wall which takes up space in the yard but provides privacy. The side yard is landscaped with some fruit trees. It is still private, but much smaller than the yard on Christamon.

The hallway leading to the bedrooms and garage is lined on the right with upper and lower wood cabinets. On the left is a large coat closet with folded sliding doors.

The first secondary bedroom has double doors leading into the room. It is carpeted with double sliding closet doors.

The middle bedroom is similar in size and is outfitted with double mirrored sliding closet doors. It too, is carpeted.

The shared bathroom sits across from the bedrooms. It has a single sink with a granite countertop, updated mirror, lighting and tile floors. The tub/shower combo looks original and has the original 4×4 tile wall surround, but it is in very clean condition.

The master bedroom is located at the end of the hallway, with a sliding glass door leading to the backyard. The view looks out to the Jacuzzi. With cathedral ceilings and multiple windows, it creates a light and spacious feeling. The same neutral carpet is found in all of the bedrooms. The bathroom is located through an open doorway. Without a privacy door, the lights and noise from the bathroom area may affect someone who is still in bed in the mornings and evenings. The master bathroom has cathedral ceilings which creates a spacious feel. The dual sink area has the same original cupboards which have been stained. The mirrors and lighting have been updated. To the left t is the separate toilet and tub. The original tub is sunken in the ground and completely lined with the original 4×4 tiles. It is dated and may want to be upgraded, but again, it is in very clean condition. A large window sits above the tile surround. On the opposite side of the vanity is the large walk-in-closet which is furnished with an organizer.

10 Palmatum is clean and move-in-ready. The yard is private, but I was surprised that the kitchen lacked a pantry and the bathrooms needed new tubs. Although I feel the price may be high, I think the price difference between the two properties is justified due to the upgrades and backyard. Having the luxury of an open green field across the street and the community’s pool and tennis courts just steps away, makes it a nice location. Children can go to the elementary school without crossing the street since Palmatum is a cul-de-sac street, and the middle school is also within walking distance. One level homes are highty sought after and rare in the neighborhood.

Open House Review: 2 Alameda

Today I saw a two level home featuring a bedroom on the ground floor. 2 Alameda is in Northwood’s Park Paseo Community. It sits on the corner of a cul-de-sac street with Santiago Hills Elementary School and the community pool, clubhouse and tennis courts at the end of the cul-de-sac. Children can walk to Santiago Hills Elementary School without crossing any streets.

Asking Price: $850,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 2,271

Lot Size: 3,920

$/Sq Ft: $374

Days on Market: 6

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1978

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. In the past 3 to 6 months houses in Northwood have sold at an average of approximately $387 per square foot. This house is in very clean condition and has been partially upgraded. There are some original features, such as the windows, cabinetry and some of the lights, but the ceilings have been scraped, floors replaced and kitchen and bathrooms remodeled. The yard is smaller for the neighborhood, but there is a patio and a little bit of grass at the end of the patio. Being on the corner of Alameda and Park Place, there is some noise from passing cars on Park Place, but Park Place is an internal street in the neighborhood and Alameda is a cul-de-sac street. The home feeds into Santiago Hills Elementary School, Sierra Vista Middle School and Northwood High School. The elementary and middle schools are walking distance from the home.

The double front door is located on the side of the home. Once inside the cathedral ceilings provide a sense of spaciousness. Directly in front of you is the side of the staircase and a hall leading to the back of the home. To the right are the living and dining rooms. To the left are the bathroom and bedroom. An abundance of natural light comes in from the large windows throughout the entrance, living and dining rooms. The tile flooring in the entrance area continues back through the hall and into the kitchen and family room. The rest of the rooms have wood laminate floors.

The first floor has a bedroom with cathedral ceilings at the front of the house. It has double doors leading into the room. It is bright with three windows, one being high up on the wall. The room has a small closet with sliding doors. The adjacent bathroom has a single sink and a stall shower. The flooring and sink hardware have been updated but the original fluorescent lighting still sits above the sink. The cabinetry has been painted white, but is also original.

The living room is a small step down from the rest of the house. It has vaulted ceilings and is a good size. The windows look into the backyard.

The living room opens to the dining room, which has space for a large table. A short rail separates the two areas. I have seen models with the railing removed to create an open flow between the rooms. The large window looks into the backyard.

The coat closet sits in the hallway leading back to the kitchen and family rooms. The family room has a white-painted brick fireplace and French doors leading to the backyard. It is a decent size room and there is an open solution into kitchen. On the back side of the kitchen wall, at the end of the peninsula is a built-in bookshelf.

The kitchen has been partially remodeled with a mix of white and stainless steel appliances and granite tile countertops. The pantry is to the left of the doorway, located across from the main kitchen, with space in front of the pantry for a computer table or small eating table. The garage entry is located next to the pantry. To the right is the kitchen with the counter in a U-shape. The refrigerator and electric stovetop sit on the back wall, next to the garage door entry. The sink, with a garden window, looks out to the side of the backyard. The counter wraps around onto a peninsula with space for bar seating on the family room side. Cabinets sit above the peninsula which provides plenty of storage, but hinders some of the open feel to the area. At the end of the peninsula is a short wall with the built-in microwave and oven. The kitchen still has the original panel lights and the original cabinets which have been painted white.

The backyard is small for the neighborhood. Outside of the French doors is a narrow covered patio with a high retaining wall on the backside. To the right is a small grassy area.

The stairs have the original railing but are updated with laminate wood flooring. On the landing is a set of lower linen cabinets. The master faces the back of the house and is a good sized room. It has vaulted ceilings. There are two sets of closets, each with mirrored doors. One set is located in the bedroom while the other is in the bathroom area. The master bath has two sinks with a vanity area in the middle. The cabinetry is original but has been painted white. The flooring has updated tile and the shower area is remodeled by removing the tub and creating a large shower with a bench. A large window sits above the shower, bringing in a good amount of natural light. Without a privacy door into the bathroom area, the light may disturb someone who is still in bed, but they have hung decorative curtains to block out most of the light.

One of the other bedrooms has double doors and high ceilings. The window faces the side of the home. One wall is taken up by a three-door closet. The other bedroom also has high ceilings and there is a closet in one corner with mirrored doors. The window faces out to the front of the home.

The upstairs bathroom has one sink with good counter space and a shower/tub combo. The cabinets are original but have been painted white. The floors have new tile and the shower/tub combo has been remodeled with a new tub and updated tile surround. A window sits above the vanity mirror which brings in natural light into the area. The high ceilings create a spacious feel to the space.

Looking at current listings and recent sales, the price for this house seems reasonable. The flow is nice and the downstairs bedroom will appeal to many buyers. The only downfall is the smaller backyard and location on the corner with cars turning onto the Alameda in front of the home. But the home’s location, being so close to the elementary school and community amenities will appeal to many families.

Irvine Housing Overview: Condos and Houses—April 2014

Below are numbers provided by Redfin for Irvine’s April housing market. The numbers are broken down so that the statistics for condos and houses can be seen. Note that a lot more homes in all categories sold in April than was true earlier this year. Also, more homes were on the market than was true earlier this year.

Also note that Altos Research states that the Market Action Index (MAI) for Irvine’s single-family housing market was 38.88 on May 30, 2014.

Following is Irvine’s 2014 housing market data as provided by Redfin.

Type List Price/# Homes Listed Sold Price/# Homes Sold List Per SF Sold Per SF % Chg Y-O-Y Sold Price/SF
Houses
14-Apr $1,096K/270 $900K/97 $447 $440 11.70%
14-Mar n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
14-Feb $1,090K/203 $905K/57 $451 $420 10.50%
14-Jan $1,082K/170 $832K/62 $461 $429 22.20%
Condos
14-Apr $590K/310 $550K/125 $411 $394 4.50%
14-Mar n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
14-Feb $599K/248 $560K/80 $406 $395 13.50%
14-Jan $603K/226 $626K/58 $406 $392 20.60%
All
14-Apr $778K/618 $678K/247 $425 $409 7.60%
14-Mar $799K/487 $680K/na $435 $407 n/a
14-Feb $745K/479 $665K/145 $421 $400 10.50%
14-Jan $412K/422 $688K/130 $422 $412 23.40%

Orchard Hills Overview

After many years of waiting, Orchard Hills finally debuted 12 new sets of models this weekend. The neighborhood is split into two parts Orchard Hills and a gated community known as The Groves at Orchard Hills. This week, I will present an overview of the non-gated side, located within the Culver Drive/Orchard Hills Drive loop. Over the coming weeks, I will present the five sets of models within this neighborhood, as well as an overview of The Groves and the seven sets of models on that side.

There are five collections on the non-gated side of Orchard Hills. The smallest, Entrata, is a combination of townhomes and flats. The next smallest, Vista Scena, are all townhomes. The remaining three collections – Corte Bella, Terrazza, and Strada – are all single family residences. All five collections were built by Irvine Pacific. Each collection has three basic floorplans, though some have one or two additional variations on one of the plans. Every home in these five collections has a two car garage. Here is a quick rundown of the collections, from smallest to biggest:

Collection Sq Ft Beds Baths Base Price School District
Entrata 1,494 – 1,809 2 – 3 2 – 2.5 Upper $700,000s Irvine
Vista Scena 1,586 – 1,914 3 2.5 $700,000s Irvine
Corte Bella 1,833 – 2,325 3 – 4 2.5 – 3.5 Upper $700,000s Irvine
Terrazza 1,981 – 2,408 4 3 – 4 $800,000s Tustin
Strada 2,195 – 2,747 4 3 – 4.5 $900,000s Irvine & Tustin

Entrata, Vista Scena and Corte Bella are all part of the Irvine Unified School District. Students will attend Canyon View Elementary School, Sierra Vista Middle School, and Northwood High School. Terrazza homes are all in the Tustin Unified School District. Currently, students will attend Hicks Canyon Elementary School from kindergarten through fourth grade, Orchard Hills School for fifth through eighth grade, and Beckman High School. However, Orchard Hills School is officially designated as a K-8 school, so as the population of the neighborhood grows, students will likely attend Orchard Hills beginning in kindergarten and will not be slated for Hicks Canyon.

The Strada neighborhood is split between the two districts, so buyers should make sure to discuss the schools with the sales office when purchasing a home. Buyers should consider talking directly to the school district offices to ensure that they receive correct information regarding school designations.

All of the homes in these collections are two stories, though some models in Entrata have only the garage downstairs with all living areas upstairs. In the Entrata collection, one model has a downstairs bedroom. None of the models in Vista Scena have a downstairs bedroom. In Corte Bella, Residence One has all bedrooms upstairs, Residence Two has the master downstairs and the other two bedrooms upstairs, and Residence Three has a downstairs bedroom with the master and two additional rooms on the second floor. Both Terrazza and Strada have a downstairs bedroom in every model.

This side of Orchard Hills is home to three parks. The smallest one, Bella Garden Park, isn’t built yet and will be located near the Corte Bella homes. This park will only have shade structures, picnic tables, and barbecues. The other two parks are already built and I think they will be very appealing to residents. Though they are designated as being exclusively for the use of residents in these five collections, the playgrounds aren’t gated. In addition to the parks, these homes surround the existing avocado trees and many will have nice views of the orchards. Some homes will even have views that stretch to the ocean on clear days.

Orchard Vista Park sits at the front of the Strada neighborhood. It has a tot lot and half basketball court. The playground is very cute and is designed to embrace the area, featuring climbing structures that resemble farm crates and trees, as well as a pretend produce stand. Most of the area has a rubber play surface, though there is a small sandbox. Inside the gated area, there is a large lap pool surrounded by a spacious patio area. The spa is tucked into a corner behind the pool. The patio has shade structures, community barbecues and picnic tables. I didn’t notice any barbecues outside of the pool area.

Orchard Terrace Park is a little farther up the hill, in front of the Entrata homes. This larger community area features a tot lot with barbecues, shade structures, picnic tables and a large, grassy lawn around it. Children who love to climb will be in heaven at this park, where the avocado-colored play structures include large, web-like climbing structures. The colors of the structure, the painted butterflies on the ground and the bug-like appearance of some of the climbing zones really tie the park into the natural environment. Like Orchard Vista, this park has a mostly rubber play surface with some sand. Inside the gates, there is a Junior Olympic-sized pool, a wading pool, and a spa, along with additional tables and shade structures. There are separate bathrooms for the playground and pool areas. Orchard Terrace Park is also home to a nice multi-purpose room for community use.

Because parts of Orchard Hills opened several years ago, the area already has an established shopping center located at the corner of Culver and Portola. The Orchard Hills Village Center houses a Pavilions and CVS, several restaurants (including Zov’s and La Sirena Grill), plus a bank, salon, yoga studio, and much more. Residents can also enjoy Settler’s Park, which opened several years ago. In addition to the playground, the park has picnic tables and barbecues, basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, and soccer fields. Settler’s Park is located just outside the gates to the Groves and just below Orchard Hills School.

For those looking to experience nature, Orchard Hills boasts paths that weave along the avocado groves and trails that lead to open space around Loma Ridge. The trail is only open during scheduled, docent-led activities. Its double loop offers a 1.2 mile lower loop trail for beginners and 3.1 mile upper loop for more advanced hikers. On the trail, hikers can discover wildflowers, native birds, Eucalyptus trees, and enjoy panoramic views (including the ocean and Catalina on clear days). The elevation starts at 400 feet and ends at 815 feet if you take the upper loop. Docent-led activities include a sunset hike, full moon hike, morning nature hike and a cardio hike.

I am looking forward to touring the different home collections and reporting back in the coming weeks. I will also go inside the gates of the Groves to tour their resort area and provide a community overview.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,11813.0.html