For an overview of the Arcadia Tract at Stonegate and a review of Residence One, click here

Residence Two

3,143 Sq Ft

4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Bonus Room, Optional Office at Bedroom 4

Base Price from $1,206,900

There are very few differences between this home and Residence One. When you enter, you do see all the way down the hall, rather than looking right at a wall. The downstairs bedroom is immediately to the left of the front door and has the option to be an office instead. The only key difference would be the lack of a closet (French doors, no walk-in). The model shows an office with an upgraded, built-in bookshelf across one wall. The downstairs full bath (no tub) is adjacent to the room in both options. The model has upgraded cabinets and counters but kept the original shower tile and hardware. A small coat closet is also located off the little hallway.

As you walk toward the back of the house, you pass the stairs on your left and garage access on your right. This garage doesn’t have an extra storage area. The kitchen and great room are at the back of the house. They are nearly identical to Residence One except that the kitchen is on the left and the great room on the right. The great room has an upgraded fireplace surround and built-in media with additional flat screen outlets. The center row of recessed lighting is also an upgrade.

The kitchen is very similar to the other model as well. This home shows an upgraded Wolf appliance package, countertop, backsplash and edge, along with upgraded cabinet finish and door styles. The highlight of the kitchen is the walk-in pantry, which extends (with a low ceiling) all the way under the stairs. There isn’t a butler’s pantry.

This home has a formal dining room behind the kitchen. It has a door to the backyard on one wall, a slider to the loggia on another, and two windows on the third, so it gets a lot of light. The room is wide enough for a large table and has space for a buffet or china cabinet.

This home has a smaller loggia, so the backyard is a bit bigger, but is still quite small. A patio behind the dining room makes a nice spot for a grill. There is room for a large seating area next to the loggia.

Upstairs is also basically the same: bonus room immediately in front of you, master suite to the left at the back of the home, and two secondary bedrooms at the front. A built-in linen cabinet midway up the stairs is a standard feature of the house. The laundry room again has side by side machines, a deep sink, and several cabinets. The bonus room is shown with an upgraded built-in desk and media center and recessed lighting.

The master suite is a bit larger than in the first house, but is otherwise similar. It has a huge window on one wall and a small one on another. The wall paneling, ceiling treatment and recessed lighting are all upgrades. The his and hers walk-in closets are connected, but have separate doors and some division between them. The bathroom, like in Residence One, has dual sinks divided by the soaking tub and a separate shower. The model shows upgraded cabinets, counters and backsplash, and a jetted tub.

The two secondary bedrooms are basically the same. One has an entry hallway with a two-door sliding closet. The room has two windows facing the street and a third facing the side. The private bath is exactly like those from Residence One – sink with small counter and a shower/tub combo. The bathroom is shown without any upgrades. The other room is identical to Bedroom 2 from the first house, except there is a large window facing the street instead of two small ones. The bathroom is identical as well.

Highlights of this home are the huge pantry in the kitchen, the added dining room, the bigger yard, and the bigger master suite (including larger closets).

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4212.0.html

Last week, I reviewed Stonegate’s new Cambria tract, featuring three different models of townhomes. This week, I visited the new Arcadia tract in Stonegate, a neighborhood of luxury homes. Built by TRI Pointe Homes, each model includes four bedrooms (all with one downstairs), four bathrooms, a bonus room and a two-car garage. Arcadia is at the north end of the community and will be most easily accessed from Portola and Jeffrey, once the roads all go through. While the website lists all homes as temporarily sold out, approximately eight new residences will be available this Saturday, August 10.

A few of the standard amenities in each home are a gas fireplace in the great room; marble countertops in all bathrooms; ceramic tile in entry, kitchen, and all baths; crown molding in some rooms; choice of Thermofoil or maple stain in master bath; his and her dual vanities; Kohler oval soaking tub and separate shower; choice of Thermofoil or maple stain in kitchen; under-cabinet lighting; granite countertops with 6” splash and full splash at cooktop and a KitchenAid Architect ® Series II stainless steel appliance package that includes a 48” cooktop with griddle, 48” hood, 30” double convection oven, microwave, 4-cycle dishwasher, and a 42” refrigerator opening pre-plumbed for water and ice. Prices range from approximately $1,181,900 for Residence One (2,909 square feet) to $1,293,900 for Residence Three (3,202 square feet).

A planned park adjacent to the community will include a Jr. Olympic Pool with Spa and Wading Pool, Tot Lot, Shade Structures and Barbecues with Picnic Tables. The community is a short walk to Stonegate Elementary School and the community park (large playground, barbecues and shaded picnic tables, tennis, sand volleyball, and basketball courts; baseball and soccer fields).

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Estimated Property Taxes: approximately 1.45%

Homeowners Dues: approximately $120 per month

Sales Brochure

Residence One

2,909 Sq Ft

4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Bonus Room, Storage Area in Garage

Base Price from $1,181,900

I like the exterior a lot on this model, as the front has a longer walkway and a small porch. However, inside the home, the first thing you see is a wall, rather than an open view of the interior. To the right is the downstairs bed and bath; the rest of the home is to the left.

The downstairs bedroom could have a private entrance off the front portico, but isn’t modeled with one. It has a big window facing the street and plenty of space. The closet has paneled, French-style doors, but isn’t a walk-in. The crown molding and recessed lighting are upgrades.

The adjacent (not attached) bathroom has a single sink and a shower (no tub). The model shows upgraded counters, backsplash, shower walls and floor, brushed nickel shower enclosure, glazed cabinets and knob.

Moving toward the back of the house, you’ll pass the stairs and then the coat closet. The closet is huge, extending all the way under and around the back side of the stairs. The hall then opens up to the great room and kitchen that span the back of the house.

The great room is to the left. Huge windows cover most of the back wall and there are two smaller windows on the side wall. A 42” gas fireplace comes standard with the house and includes a log set and remote control with painted “manly” precast concrete fireplace surround. The model shows an upgrade to a “stone world finish, Milano color” and added built-in bookcases on both sides. The crown molding and recessed lighting are standard; the ceiling beams are upgrades. A multi-media outlet comes standard on the side wall, as does a flat screen outlet over the fireplace, giving you flexibility in how to set up the room.

There is space for a large dining table between the great room and the kitchen. Unlike the other two models, this home lacks a formal dining room. The kitchen cabinets and counter extend through the dining area. The model shows the optional 15’ glass accordion door leading out to the loggia to create an indoor/outdoor living experience. The loggia has an optional fireplace and is shown with an upgraded flat-screen TV outlet. The loggia dominates the yard and leaves room for little else. There is a built in BBQ directly behind it and a narrow patio area – including a fountain in the model – off to the other side. The space is attractive, but very small.

The kitchen reminds me of pretty much every new house I have seen lately. A large center island dominates the room and offers seating for four. The sink and dishwasher are also in the island. The model shows the standard appliance package and adds a built-in refrigerator, warming drawer and upgraded counters, backsplash, and cabinet finish. In addition to the ample space in the kitchen, there is a butler’s pantry (shown with upgraded wine fridge and cabinet finish/door styles) and a walk-in pantry between the kitchen and the garage.

While all the homes in Arcadia have a two-car garage, Residence One is the only model to have a small extra storage area in one corner.

Upstairs, the house has a bonus room and three additional bedrooms. The top of the stairs has a hallway area, with rooms leading off in three directions. Straight ahead and open to the hall is the bonus room, with a big window looking out to the side and a full wall of upgraded, built-in bookcase cabinetry.

To the left of the stairs are the laundry room and master suite. The laundry room has side by side machines, a deep sink, and many cabinets for linen storage. Aside from the doorknob and the actual washer and dryer, the room is shown without any upgrades.

The master suite has a small entryway to separate it a bit from the hallway. It opens to a good-sized room with a full wall of windows facing the backyard and two smaller ones on the side wall. Linen cabinets plus separate his and hers closets offer plenty of space. The master bath is past the closet and has separate sinks with a large soaking tub between them. The separate shower is large and includes a seat. The bathroom’s many upgrades include cabinet finish, countertops, backsplash, shower walls and floor, tub deck and apron, extended shower wall height to ceiling and shower enclosure. The model also includes the optional vanity/cabinet at the far end of the bathroom.

The other two bedrooms upstairs are at the front of the house. One bedroom (listed as Bedroom 3) has more style than any of the other secondary bedrooms across all models. It also seems a little larger, but that might just be due to the setup (I don’t have numbers for actual square footage). It has two windows facing the street and is shown with a full wall of built-in desk and cabinets beneath them. An open doorway leads back to the closet and bathroom. This closet has sliding doors, whereas most of the other secondary bedrooms have French-style doors. The en-suite bathroom has a single sink with very little counter space and a shower/tub combo.

The other bedroom is pretty standard and is similar to most of the other secondary bedrooms. It has two small, high windows overlooking the street and another, slightly larger window facing the side. Like the room downstairs, the closet has French-style doors but isn’t a walk-in. The attached bathroom is laid out just like in the other bedroom.

Residence One is a beautiful home with large rooms and a very functional layout. It’s very similar to other new Irvine homes in this price range and didn’t have anything to really make it stand out from the rest. I used to walk into new homes and be “wowed” by the gourmet kitchens and fancy bathrooms, but now they all kind of blend together and I know what to expect before I even open the door. The downstairs bedroom will appeal to many buyers, though the two-car garage may deter others.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4211.0.html

Click here for an overview of Cambria at Stonegate, related documents, and a review of Residence One

Residence Three

1,690 Sq Ft

3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

Base Price: $627,20

Residence Three is always an end unit and is found on the right side of a two-, three-, or four-unit building. A 3R is on the left side of a four-unit building (which is the only difference between a three- and four-unit).

This model is also quite similar to the other two, but does vary a bit more. The entry is more open, with a little nook tucked in by the stairs. It has a big closet with low-ceilinged storage at the back. The powder room is arranged with the sink and toilet side by side, rather than opposite each other on either side of the door. It feels much bigger this way than in the other two homes.

The hall opens to the great room which, like the others, has a wall of windows at the back and a small window on one side. It is shown without any upgrades. In the standard model three, the great room is on the right and kitchen on the left, which is the opposite of the other two residences.

Again, the kitchen is almost identical. Like Residence One, the counters and cabinets extend all the way to the back wall. They upgraded to show glass doors over the counters in the dining area. It shows an upgraded Kitchenaid appliance package, including a 36” cooktop over a separate oven, rather than the standard 30” slide-in range. The dining area is the same, with walls at the back and a door to the back patio. The biggest difference in Residence Three is that it has an option for a real pantry (though the microwave would be inside it). The model shows this option and includes the barn-style door enclosure.

The only difference in the back patio is that the bigger and smaller sides are reversed.

Upstairs, this model is set up very much like Residence One. There are two secondary bedrooms without an option for a loft. Both rooms have standard closets and this model shows the optional storage above them, with cabinets in one and an open space in the other. The rooms are the exact same size, each with a window facing the street, but are mirror images of each other.

Their shared bathroom (not attached) has two sinks and a shower/tub combo with an option for just a shower.

The model shows the upgraded laundry room with sink, though the standard comes with a linen closet instead. The machines are still stacked and there are cabinets over the sink.

The master bedroom is also basically the same, with big windows at the back and two small ones on the side. In this home, the closet is off the bedroom itself, rather than at the back of the bathroom. The model shows upgraded built-ins in the closet and crown molding in the bedroom.

The master bath comes standard with a separate tub and shower. Unfortunately, this means the shower is a lot smaller than in the other two homes and there isn’t an option to change the layout. I think the shower is much too small. The sink and counter area is the same.

At almost 200 square feet bigger than Residence One, this house does feel a bit more spacious, but it doesn’t really feel that much bigger. The bigger entry, nicer powder room, and true pantry are nice changes from the other two models, though I wouldn’t like having the microwave inside the pantry. I also like that Residence Three is always an end unit.

Overall, these are basically three different versions of the same floor plan. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all. I like the general layout and it feels like a single family home on the inside even though it’s actually attached. The base prices are reasonable and many of the standard features are nice enough that upgrades aren’t necessary. The homes are most similar to Stonegate’s Santa Maria tract. Cambria has bigger patios, a garage at the front of the home, more square footage in each model, and, in my opinion, a better overall layout of the home. Santa Maria, on the other hand, has an optional downstairs bedroom in some models and is in a better location within Stonegate (closer to the school and community park, farther from any major streets).

Both Cambria and Santa Maria are now selling and have similar price points. Which neighborhood would you choose, and why?

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4188.0.html

Click here for an overview of Cambria at Stonegate, related documents, and a review of Residence One

Residence Two / Two-R

1,504 Sq Ft

3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Optional Loft (open or enclosed) at Bedroom Three

Base Price: $593,700

Residence Two can be found in a two-unit building. Residence 2R (as modeled) is on the end of a three-unit building or is one of the middle units on a four-unit building.

This floor plan is nearly identical to Residence One, though the model shows the reverse version so most things are on the opposite side. The entry has stairs immediately on the left (with the standard coat closet at the bottom) and a hall (with powder room and garage access) leading to the living space at the back.

In the reverse plan, the kitchen, dining, and great room are set up with the same orientation as in Residence One. The kitchen island is virtually identical, as are the placements of the fridge and range. There is a little extra cabinet space to the side of the fridge, as this model has the hall opening up to the great room, whereas the hall in Residence One opens to the kitchen. The cabinets and counter do not extend all the way through the dining area, leaving space for a buffet or china cabinet instead. Upgrades in the model kitchen include maple cabinets, clear glass doors at both sides of the hood, and a Caesarstone counter with upgraded backsplash.

The great room is shown without any upgrades and shows a different arrangement of furniture and TV placement than the other model. Again, it does not have a fireplace.

The back patio is exactly the same as in Residence One.

The model shows an enclosed loft with pocket doors (French doors also available) rather than an open loft or the standard bedroom three. It is a nice-sized room with a window facing the street. If buyers opted for the bedroom, it would include a standard, two-door closet with optional storage above.

The adjacent second bedroom is the same size as the loft, with a bigger window facing the street and a smaller one facing the side, though it looks toward the other homes in the unit and not toward the unattached side of the house. Upgraded beveled mirrored closets are shown in this model.

The secondary bath is just outside of bedroom two. It has dual sinks with a good amount of space between them and shows the optional shower only. The laundry room comes standard with stacked machines and a linen cabinet, but an optional sink can replace the cabinet.

The setup of the master bedroom is quite similar to in Residence One. Because it is an end unit, there are small windows facing the unattached side of the house in addition to the bigger windows on the back wall.

The master bath is basically a mirror image of Residence One. This one shows most of the standard features, including the dual sinks, white Thermofoil cabinets, satin nickel knobs, and marble countertop. It also has the standard sterling tub/shower combo, though there is an option for a shower only. The walk-in closet seems a bit bigger than in Residence One.

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In general, if you like Residence One, you’ll like Residence Two (or Two R, as shown). Residence Two has an additional 50 square feet and could be an end unit in some buildings. The biggest difference is the standard third bedroom with option for a loft, whereas Residence One cannot include in a third bedroom.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4183.0.html

Stonegate’s newest neighborhood, Cambria, opened a few weeks ago. The three townhomes by Irvine Pacific Homes feature two to three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. There aren’t many differences between the first two models, and all three have a lot of similarities. Buildings will be configured with two, three or four residences. Each townhome has a two-car garage at the front of the house and a patio in the back. None of the homes have a bedroom downstairs. Cambria runs alongside Irvine Blvd and is closer to the Jeffrey side of Stonegate.

A few of the standard amenities in each home are Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, white Thermofoil cabinets with adjustable shelves, granite slab counters with a 6-inch backsplash (full backsplash at range), and dual undermount sinks with marble counters in the master bath. The flooring consists of tile in the entryway; vinyl in the kitchen, dining, bath and laundry; and carpet throughout all living areas. Pricing ranges from a base of $548,600 for Residence One up to $627,200 for Residence Three. Homes range from 1503 to 1690 square feet.

Pricing and Maps

Brochure

Plans

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Base Property Tax: 1.05% of sales price

AD Tax: $1,885 per year

CFD: $1,700 per year

Other Taxes: $160 per year

Homeowners Dues: $290 per month (includes $178 for Cambria Assn & $112.50 for Stonegate Assn) – rates are approximate

If you split all of these expenses evenly over 12 months, it amounts to nearly $1,100 in fees, even basing the property tax on the base price for Residence One.

Residence One

1,503 Sq Ft

2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Loft, Optional Enclosed Loft

Base Price $548,600

Residence One can be found in the middle of either a three or four unit building, so you will always have neighbors on both sides of this model. A few of the upgrades shown in the model include brushed chrome pulls, Caesarstone counters and a single basin sink in the kitchen; upgraded flooring, window treatments and baseboards throughout; recessed can lights in the master bedroom; and, in the master bath, decorative mirrors, an upgraded shower enclosure, and upgraded counters and tiles.

I entered the home and immediately saw the stairs to my right and a long hallway leading to the great room and kitchen at the back. Along the hall, I passed a small powder room on my right and garage access on my left.

The hall opens up to the great room and kitchen at the back of the house. Windows line the whole back wall, bringing in light and giving the rooms an open feel. The kitchen features a big (but not huge) island that houses the sink and dishwasher and also has room for several bar stools. Cabinets and drawers line the wall to the right, broken up by the range and the microwave. Ample counter space and storage nooks in the dining area provide plenty of room for prep and storage. It lacks a true pantry. The dining area is at the far end of the room, with space for a good-sized table.

The great room has a big built-in unit on one wall that houses the TV and bookshelves. The room is pretty big and offers space to arrange it in a variety of ways. It does not have a fireplace.

The door to the backyard is off the dining area. It has a wider patio space behind the great room and a narrower spot behind the dining area.

There could be a small coat closet at the bottom of the stairs; however, the model shows a built-in shelving unit instead. As this is the only downstairs closet, most buyers probably wouldn’t swap it for shelves.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and an open loft. The loft is directly at the top of the stairs. While there is an option to enclose the room, it would still lack a closet and couldn’t be considered an actual bedroom. It has a window facing the front and makes a good office space. Even with it open, noise shouldn’t be a problem, as it only overlooks the stairs and is above the entryway, so it isn’t open to any true living space.

The secondary bedroom also faces the street. It is a pretty big room with wall space that allows for easy arrangement of furniture. It has a standard, two-door closet with an option for storage above (as seen in one of the other models). The en-suite bathroom has a single sink and a shower/tub combo with an option for just a shower.

The small laundry room has a stacked washer and dryer and a linen cupboard. An optional sink could replace the storage.

The master suite spans the back of the house. Large windows on one wall let in a lot of light and make the room feel even bigger.

The master bath has dual sinks set in a long counter with cabinets and drawers for each side. A small window brings in some natural light. This model eliminated the tub and shows the optional upgraded shower. The walk-in closet is at the back of the bathroom and, though it’s a good size, it certainly isn’t as big as the closets in many other new homes.

Overall, I like the floor plan. It is basic, but the space is used well and the rooms are pretty big. I think the laundry room is too small, but that is my only real complaint. The back patio is even a good size for a townhome. At approximately $365/square foot (without upgrades), it is on the lower end of the spectrum for townhomes currently on the market in Irvine.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4178.0.html