Open House Review: 4 Urbino

Today I saw a house at 4 Urbino.  It is nicely situated on a quiet cul-de-sac street in the gated community of Windstream.  Windstream is divided into three gated sections so it limits the amount of car traffic although pedestrian traffic is not limited between the sections. 4 Urbino is found in one of the smaller portions that consist of 2 short cul-de-sac streets and just steps from the community pool and Hicks Canyon Trail.

Asking Price:     $1,198,999
Bedroom:         4
Bathrooms:      3.5
Square Feet:     2,618
Lot Size:            5,663
Price/sq. foot    $458
Property Type: Residential, Single Family
Style:                 Two Level
Year Built:        1979
Community:    Northwood, Windstream
HOA Fees:       $174
Mello Roos.    No
Santiago Hills Elementary School, Sierra Vista Middle School, Northwood High School

The home was originally a 3 bedroom house with a large bonus room over the garage, but the bonus room is converted into two split bedrooms with a partial wall that divides the room.  The single car portion of the 3-car-garage is also converted into an office area.

 

Although the house has a number of upgrades such as scraped ceilings, wood flooring downstairs, upgraded stair railing, plantation shutters, 6-panel doors, remodeled kitchen, and partially remodeled bathrooms, there are still original features to be aware of such as original windows, the carpet looks worn in areas, fluorescent lighting in the bathrooms, and the garage doors are not roll-up.

Upon entering the wood double doors the staircase, with beautiful railing, is to the right. A small closet with a short door is located on the landing of the stairs.  The flooring on the first floor is wood, while the staircase and second floor are carpeted. The room feels spacious with the vaulted ceilings and there is plenty of light flooding the area through multiple windows.  The windows, although original, are furnished with plantation shutters.  Straight ahead is a step-down living room next to an open dining room.  The living room has a remodeled fireplace and recessed lighting.  It is a nice, open area.  A good sized dining table can be accommodated in the dining area.

 

To the right is a hallway with a coat closet and bathroom which leads to the kitchen, laundry room and family room.  The bathroom is located directly across from the dining area.  It has a single sink with a large countertop with 4×4 tile.  The fluorescent lighting has been replaced with recessed lights.

The kitchen has been updated with recessed lights, black granite counter top and tile backsplash.  Immediately to the right is the entrance to the laundry room, which leads to the garage.  The laundry room has cupboards and a sink and still has the original fluorescent lights. Sitting above the washer/dryer is a cupboard with a built-in laundry chute from the second floor.  There are additional cabinets for storage in the laundry room.

The garage entrance is located off of the laundry room.  To the right is a room with flooring, that was used as an office.  There are no windows or natural light in the room.

The kitchen flooring is slightly different from the family room flooring. There is plenty of cabinetry and counter space in the kitchen.  Black granite counter tops, tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances furnish the space.  A built-in breakfast bar nook is also found in front of a bay window.

The family room has recessed lighting, a remodeled fireplace and a new sliding glass door leading to the backyard.  There are multiple windows that bring in plenty of natural light.  The sliding door leads out to a covered patio.  The backyard is beautifully landscaped with a flat grassy area, vine covered walls and  a deck area a couple of steps up. The yard sits lower than the neighbor in the back so a small, low retaining wall sits against the back wall.

  

Carpeted stairs lead up to the second floor. The carpet looked worn.  Once upstairs, one of the two small linen closets is located at the end of the hallway.  The linen closet sits between the master bedroom which is to the left, and one of the secondary bedrooms which is to the right.  The hallway is L-shaped.  To the right is the shared bathroom, another linen closet, another secondary bedroom and the bonus room which was converted to a split bedroom.

   

The master bedroom is a nice size and has large windows overlooking the backyard.  A remodeled stacked-stone fireplace is found in the bedroom.  The master bathroom is a step up.  Two sets of mirrored two-sliding-door closets are found at the entrance of the bathroom.  There is no bathroom door which can bring some light and noise into the bedroom if someone is utilizing the bathroom in the morning/night.  The tub is new with jets, and new tile surround.  At the end of the bathtub is the glass wall to the shower.  The entrance to the shower and the toilet are separated from the rest of the bathroom by a set of wood slated swinging doors.  There are dual sinks with plenty of counter space and new granite counter tops.  A skylight brings in lots of natural light into the bathroom.

      

The first secondary bedroom is large and has a mirrored two-door sliding closet.  There is enough space for a double bed, bookcase, small desk and nightstands.  A fan is installed in the ceiling.

The shared bathroom has a single sink and tub/shower combo.  It has a granite counter top  but still has the original fluorescent lighting. The tub/shower surround is 4×4 tiles, with some decorative tiles intermixed.

The second secondary bedroom appeared slightly smaller, but still a nice size.  Both rooms have a large window that brings in plenty of light.  The closet has two pull-out doors.

The last bedroom is the converted bonus room.  It currently consists of two separated sleeping areas with a partial wall that does not meet the ceiling.  In order to get to the bedroom with a closet, one must walk through the front bedroom/room area into the back section.  It is a small bedroom which fits a twin bed. The windows face the front of the house.  This would not be my first choice of conversion for this room.

The layout of the house is nice, but if you are looking for a true 4 bedroom house, then the bonus room conversion may not be what you had in mind.  There is plenty of storage space.  The house is walking distance to Santiago Hills Elementary and Sierra Vista Middle schools.  It would be ideal for any family.