There aren’t a lot of two-bedroom, single family homes in the Northwood area, but this week I found one at 2 Jefferson in the Northwood Glen community.

The basics:
Asking Price: $499,500
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Square Footage: 948
Lot Size: 3,485
$/Sq Ft: $527
Days on Market: 8
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 1985
Community: Northwood – Northwood Glen
Schools: Brywood Elementary, Sierra Vista Middle School, Northwood High

HOA dues are $93 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

The house is located on a corner lot, next to one of the bigger, non-residential streets that passes through the neighborhood. It’s a short walk to the community pool, spa and tot lot. The house doesn’t have a lot of curb appeal – the front isn’t very attractive and the yard, while large, isn’t in great shape. Just inside the front gate is a large yard area with a rose garden and a small front porch.

Inside the home, the living room is to the right and the dining room and kitchen are to the left. There is new ceramic tile in all of the common areas. The living room has high ceilings and a brick fireplace on one wall. Sliding doors lead out to the backyard and are the only windows in the room.

The dining room can comfortably hold a table for six. Anything larger would jut into the hallway, but could fit for special occasions. A single window looks out to the rose garden.

The u-shaped kitchen has new white appliances and solid beige counters. The wooden cabinets and drawers are simple, with no handles, but were just refinished so they are in good shape. One window overlooks the rose garden and there is a small pass through area to the dining room. The kitchen is mostly closed off from the dining and living rooms. The kitchen isn’t fancy, but it is in good condition.

The master bedroom sits directly behind the living room. Both bedrooms have brand new plush, brown carpet. Like the living room, the master bedroom has high ceilings and sliding doors to the backyard. A short hallway leading to the master bath has closets on both sides. Each has two sliding doors and simple hanging rods.

The master bath is more like a typical bathroom than one usually found in a master suite. It has a single sink and a standard shower/tub combo. The counter has a rust-colored stain on one side and the cabinets are plain white, but not remodeled.

The second bedroom is at the far end of the hall, past the kitchen. It’s fairly small and has just one window facing the side of the house. The closet has two sliding doors, but is smaller than average.

Just outside the bedroom, the hallway has a set of linen cabinets and a washer and dryer tucked behind folding doors. The access to the garage is there as well. The second bathroom is back here. Like the master, it has a single sink (though the counter is much smaller) and plain white cabinets. The shower/tub combo matches the master as well. The sink has newer hardware but the tub does not.

The backyard is fully hardscaped with a patio cover extending over most of it. A raised garden area lines the back wall and the rose garden continues on the side.

Overall, there is nothing spectacular about this house. However, the new paint, flooring and carpet, plus the updates in the kitchen definitely gave it a face lift. It would make a good starter home or a nice place for someone looking to downsize. The price per square foot is higher than most similar homes on the market and higher than many recent sales. I’d like to see the price drop below $500 per square foot on this home.

Last week, I reviewed 12 Ivanhoe, a large home in Northpark. This week, I will review 28 Pacific Grove, an even bigger home in the same community. As of May 5, both homes are still on the market. The price on 28 Pacific Grove dropped $70,000 since I visited a week ago.

The basics:
Asking Price: $1,628,000
Bedrooms: 6 (per Redfin); could be 3 bedrooms + 2 offices + bonus room
Bathrooms: 4
Square Footage: 4,000
Lot Size: 7,087
$/Sq Ft: $407
Days on Market: 57
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 2002
Community: Northpark – Huntington Collection Residence Three
Schools: Hicks Canyon Elementary, Orchard Hills Middle School, Beckman High School (Tustin Unified)

HOA dues are $155 per month and there are Mello Roos

This house is on the corner of Pacific Grove and Grass Valley, one of the bigger streets that runs through the Northpark community. It isn’t too busy, but it’s not on a quiet cul-de-sac either. From the outside, the home has a lot of curb appeal, with a well-manicured lawn, lots of windows and nice architecture.

When I entered the home, I was in a large foyer, with rooms and hallways going off in three different directions. To my right, there was a formal living room. It has Berber carpet and windows on three walls. Coffered ceilings add elegance to the room and fresh paint gives it a clean look.

Straight ahead from the entry, a hallway leads to garage access, a large storage closet under the stairs, and an office. The office has the same travertine flooring as the entry and halls, and it took the place of what could have been a tandem third car garage.

As I moved down the main hall on the left, I passed the formal dining room. Like the living room, it has new paint, a coffered ceiling, and several windows. It has a large chandelier as well. An arched doorway leads into the butler’s pantry and through to the kitchen.

The butler’s pantry has cabinets and a built-in wine rack on one side. The other side has a big pantry with several wide, deep shelves.

The kitchen is large, featuring travertine floors, granite tile counters, a full granite backsplash, and white cabinets. Most of the appliances are white, including the double oven, microwave, five-burner stove, and hood. The dishwasher is stainless steel and the kitchen hardware is all brushed nickel. There is more than enough counter and cabinet space, along with some open shelving in one corner and on the island. An oversized breakfast nook makes a nice spot for casual dining. A single French door leads to the backyard and a large, arched doorway leads to the family room.

The family room has wood flooring and a wall of windows overlooking the backyard. One wall has a fireplace, with granite that matches the kitchen and a white mantle. The third wall has a built-in entertainment center.

There is a downstairs office/bedroom just past the family room. It doesn’t have a closet, but does have an obvious space where one could easily go. The room has wood floors (though a different wood than the family room) and a single window looking out to the side of the house.

There is only one downstairs bathroom and it is next to this extra office/bedroom. The single sink vanity has a granite countertop and white cabinets. A pocket door separates the vanity area from the toilet and shower. The stall shower is nicely tiled and is an average size.

The only access to the backyard is off the breakfast nook. The yard is fully hardscaped, with palm trees and lush greenery lining the edges. It has a built-in barbecue in the middle and a fountain in one corner.

Upstairs, there are three additional bedrooms and the master suite. A rounded nook at the top of the stairs could make a nice reading spot, but isn’t really configured well for much else. One side of the hall leads to the master suite, while the other leads to the secondary bedrooms.

The closest bedroom is, by far, the largest and has the same carpet as the living room. The walk-in closet is just inside the entry of the purple-colored room. One wall has three high windows; another has a single, larger window overlooking the street. Technically, this is considered a bonus room in the original floorplans. If it was a bedroom per the builder, it would have had access to a jack and jill bathroom. Though it does have the closet and can easily be a bedroom, it does not have access to a second floor bathroom without going into another bedroom.

The second bedroom is the smallest. This room has dark wood floors, blue paint, and two windows overlooking the street. It has a two-door, standard closet and an en-suite bathroom. This bath has two sinks, as if it were designed to connect to the first bedroom. It has white counters and cabinets, al
ong with simple white tile in the shower/tub combo. A door separates the vanity area from the shower area.

The laundry room is between the second bedroom and the third. It has a long counter, a deep sink, and several upper and lower cabinets.

The third bedroom is painted green and is bigger than the second. Like the first, it has Berber carpet. A single window overlooks the street. One wall has white, built-in shelving and drawers from end to end with a window seat in the center. It eliminates the need for a dresser, but the shelves would be difficult for a younger child to reach. A short hallway has standard closets on both sides and leads to the en-suite bathroom. This bath has the same counters, cabinets and tile as in the other bedroom. However, it only has one sink and no door to separate the vanity from the shower/tub area.

Last, but not least, is the master bedroom. A long hallway leads to the suite, which has a round vestibule leading to the bedroom on one side and the bathroom on the other. The bedroom has Berber carpet and windows on three sides that bring in a lot of light. A small storage cubby sits in the center of one wall. The room is quite large and could easily have a sitting area.

A hallway with travertine flooring takes you to the first of two walk-in closets and bathroom. The first closet is bigger than the second (which sits farther into the bathroom). The bathroom is fancy, with a big tub area in the center, surrounded by granite tile. Vanities on opposite walls each have a single sink with a cabinet and several drawers. There is a dressing vanity next to one and a linen cabinet next to the other. The shower has an open window to the rest of the bathroom. It isn’t as big as it could be, given the size of the suite, but it’s not tiny either. The other walk-in closet is just past the shower.

Personally, this house felt too big for me. It seemed that every time I turned, I found another hallway leading to another room. I thought at least one of the downstairs bedrooms/offices should have had a closet and think the first floor needs an additional powder room since it is so large. I also wonder if more buyers would have preferred a third car garage to the extra office. Upstairs, I wished that the bonus room had access to a bathroom as well. It is a long way to the downstairs bath and could be problematic having to go through another bedroom otherwise. On the upside, the house is tastefully designed (possibly aside from the paint in some of the bedrooms) and looks very clean with the new paint and carpet. Given how long it’s been on the market and the recent price drop, I wonder if someone might be able to get the home for even less. The price per square foot is in line with the neighborhood, it’s just that the home itself is so big that the overall price tag is high.

I haven’t been to a house in Northpark for awhile, so this weekend I visited 12 Ivanhoe. This large home features many upgrades, spacious rooms, a three-car garage, and an oversized lot.

The basics:
Asking Price: $1,558,000
Bedrooms: 4 + library + retreat
Bathrooms: 3.75
Square Footage: 3,600
Lot Size: 6,896
$/Sq Ft: $433
Days on Market: 10
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 2002
Community: Northpark – Huntington Collection Residence Two
Schools: Hicks Canyon Elementary, Orchard Hills Middle School, Beckman High School (Tustin Unified)

HOA dues are $155.40 per month and there are Mello Roos.

This home has a side entry, with a nice walkway leading up to it. Inside the foyer, the stairs are directly in front of you, the library is to the left, and the rest of the downstairs stretches off to the right. The library has large built-ins on two walls, giving it a formal, office-like feeling.

Moving down the hall, the living room comes next. With vaulted ceilings and numerous windows on three walls, the room feels very bright and spacious. The only think I don’t like about the room is that it is isolated from all the other rooms.

The dining room is at the end of the hallway, just past the living room. There are windows on two walls, crown molding, and tile flooring. There is plenty of space for a large table and an indentation on one wall for a china hutch. This space could be a nice spot for a built-in unit.

Another hallway shoots off to the left, leading to the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. The bathroom has a single sink, tile counters and floors, and a stall shower. The downstairs bedroom has plush carpet (like the living room), a two-door closet and a single window facing the side of the house. It is average-sized and is a pretty basic room.

The kitchen is big, with maple cabinets, a granite island, tile countertops and a decorative backsplash. The appliances are white, including a five-burner gas cooktop, double oven, microwave and dishwasher. The built-in refrigerator has a maple front (as does the dishwasher) and is included with the sale (no warranty). The island is rounded on one side with bar seating. There is a big breakfast nook that includes a butler’s pantry and built-in wine rack. The nook connects to the dining room and has the only door to the backyard.

The family room sits behind the kitchen. One wall has a stone fireplace with a white mantle. Next to that, a small, angled wall includes a maple built-in. The family room is open to the kitchen, but there is a bit of separation from the breakfast nook.

The backyard is bigger than many Irvine lots. One half is paved, including some slate, and shaded by two patio covers. A decorative, stone fountain sits at the back. The other half of the yard is grass, with plenty of room for kids or a dog to run around.

Upstairs, there are two secondary bedrooms and the master suite, which includes a large retreat. The master suite is at the top of the stairs, overlooking the backyard. As you enter the main door to the suite, the retreat is on the right and the bedroom is through a small vestibule. The retreat is as large as the loft-style bonus rooms in many new homes. Two walls have multiple windows and the third wall has a built-in unit spanning the full length of the room. I would have loved to see this room as a true bonus room, accessible from the hall, rather than as part of the master suite.

The master bedroom is very big, with plenty of space for furniture and could include a sitting area. It has crown molding and windows on two walls. Like the other rooms upstairs, there is plush carpet.

An arched doorway leads to the master bathroom, which unfortunately, also has carpet. I have never liked carpet in the bathroom, since it always seems soggy. The bathroom has a very large tub in the middle with a white tile surround. Vanities with single sinks are on either side of the tub, with one side also having a makeup vanity. The shower is pretty small, with mostly white tile and a seat. There are two separate walk-in closets.

The laundry room is
off the main hallway upstairs. The side by side washer and dryer are included with the sale (no warranties). The room also has a sink and numerous linen cabinets.

The two secondary bedrooms are at the front of the house. The first room overlooks the street and has windows facing the side of the house. One wall has an indentation that could be a good spot for bookshelves, a desk or a dresser. It is a good sized room with a two-door closet and an en-suite bathroom. The bathroom has a single sink and a shower/tub combo, all done in basic white tile.

The other bedroom is even bigger. Its single window faces the side of the house and there is a walk-in closet. This room has also has an en-suite bathroom that is basically identical to the one in the other room.

I don’t love the floor plan of this home. I wish that the rooms downstairs flowed together a little bit more and I think the upstairs bonus room should be separate from the master suite. I do like that the rooms are spacious and that everything is nicely upgraded and in really good condition. The bigger yard is another good feature. Overall, I don’t think I would pay the asking price of over $1.5 million for this home.

Last month, I reviewed two condos in Northwood Pointe’s Greystone Villas neighborhood, each with the same floorplan. This weekend, I happened to find a third condo with the exact same layout on the market. As of April 14, the first one I reviewed at 447 Ridgeway is still on the market (59 days) for $515,000, while 159 Islington is now pending with a list price of $529,000. The newest one, 59 Darlington, has been on the market for 23 days and is listed at $529,888. Let’s see how it compares to the others.

The basics:
Asking Price: $529,888
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Square Footage: 1,300
Lot Size: N/A
$/Sq Ft: $408
Days on Market: 23
Property Type: Condominium
Year Built: 1998
Community: Northwood Pointe, Greystone Villas

HOA dues are $286 ($40 + $246) per month and there are Mello Roos.

While the other two condos are both listed at 1,260 square feet, this one is listed at 1,300. I don’t see any actual differences in size and wonder if it’s just rounded up for the listing.

Personally, I like this unit more than the other two. The laminate wood floors, which are in all rooms except the bathrooms, are a really nice color and in excellent condition. The kitchen was also remodeled and the main counter was leveled out, so it no longer has a higher breakfast bar with a lower countertop. I think it’s a lot more functional this way, since the breakfast bar wasn’t ideal for seating anyway. There are white melamine cabinets with brushed nickel hardware, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. The range has five burners and there is a two-sided, stainless steel sink.

Like on Islington, the Darlington condo has a built-in entertainment unit in the living room. Next to it, the fireplace has matching white molding and, slightly above it, a white mantle. The windows throughout the home have a variety of treatments, including plantation shutters, blinds and curtains.

Both bathrooms are very nicely upgraded. They have granite counters, white cabinetry, brushed nickel hardware, and attractive tile floors. The showers (shower/tub combo in second bath) have plain white tile that is clean and in good shape.

The master closet has adjustable wire shelving. In the second bedroom, the closet has mirrored doors. The master bedroom has a ceiling fan.

It doesn’t surprise me that 159 Islington sold before 447 Ridgeway, since it had more upgrades and felt a lot nicer inside. I think 59 Darlington may be the next to sell, since it is beautifully remodeled and in excellent condition. The price is comparable, as is the location. I’m not sure why so many condos with this floorplan are on the market right now, but I think 59 Darlington is the nicest of them all.

Today, I saw a townhouse at 33 Christamon South, #14 in Northwood. Though it has three bedrooms, one room may function better as an office or master retreat. The owners recently upgraded many areas of the home and made a change to the layout upstairs.

The basics:
Asking Price: $540,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Footage: 1,373
Lot Size: N/A
$/Sq Ft: $393
Days on Market: 8
Property Type: Townhouse, one common wall
Year Built: 1984
Community: Northwood

HOA dues are $314 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

The townhouse is a corner unit, so it only shares walls on one side. It is close to the corner of Yale and Park Place, not far from Irvine Blvd. However, there are double windows throughout the house that block out most of the street noise – not just double-paned windows, but actually two complete windows with a couple inches of space between them.

The downstairs is fairly small, consisting of a living room, dining area and kitchen. All of the rooms have large, square tile flooring in a neutral color. The living room is just inside the front door. A sliding door on one wall leads to the front patio. The opposite corner of the room has a large, recently renovated fireplace with black stone surround that gives at a formal look. The living room is actually much more spacious than the rest of the rooms downstairs.

The dining area is just off the living room and near the front door. Two additional windows help the small space feel a little bigger.

The kitchen is pretty small, but has a good layout so it is functional. The stainless steel dishwasher and sink are on the left, the range is at the back and the fridge is on the right. The appliances, granite countertop, and white cupboards are all new. The kitchen has a clean look to it and makes good use of the space. The counters on the left side overlook the dining area.

Just beyond the kitchen, there is a small coat closet and access to the garage. There is also a remodeled half bath downstairs. The single sink is set into a longer vanity with new granite counters, white cabinets, brushed nickel hardware and a nice light fixture.

The staircase and second floor bedrooms all have richly colored hardwood floors. There is a set of linen cabinets at the top of the stairs for additional storage. The larger secondary bedroom is at the back of the house. It is a good sized room, especially for a townhouse. There is a single window looking over the garages and a large, two-door standard closet. This bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, also nicely remodeled. It has the same granite counters and cabinetry as the downstairs bath, with a single. The shower/tub combo has a new tub and nicely tiled white walls as well as new, brushed nickel hardware.

The layout of the other rooms upstairs is a bit odd, and was changed by the current owner. Rather than having two separate bedrooms, including a true master, it has a large bedroom with a master bath and walk-in closet, but the third bedroom is accessed only through the closet. This smaller bedroom may work better as an office or retreat area, as it doesn’t have a lot of space for furniture and can’t be reached from the hall. The realtor does have information about the original floorplan for buyers that wish to make this room more accessible.

The larger bedroom has vaulted ceilings and a window looking toward the small greenbelt in front of the house. There is plenty of space for furniture, with lots of wall space since the bathroom and closet are set off of a short entryway into the suite. The master bath was also recently upgraded. Like the others, it has granite counters and white cabinets. There are two sinks and a very long vanity. The shower has a built-in bench with a granite seat. The walk-in closet isn’t very big and, because it is open on both ends, there isn’t a lot of wall space available. The closet would also need to be shared with the small bedroom.

Overall, the townhouse is really nicely remodeled. While I don’t like the placement of the third bedroom, it could work well for some purposes (office, retreat nursery, etc) or could be remodeled again for easier access. Recent HOA improvements include new exterior paint, roof repairs, renovated pool/spa, road resurfacing and greenbelt improvements. It is less per square foot than the units I recently reviewed in Northwood Pointe and has the extra room. Though it is about 15 years older, all of the upgrades are brand new, so it has a fresh feel inside.