Last week, I wrote about 27 Eden, a four bedroom home in Northwood’s Park Paseo community. Today, I will tell you about 17 Prosa, located just across the greenbelt from the Eden home.

The basics:

Asking Price: $729,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,560

Lot Size: 4,356

$/Sq Ft: $467

Days on Market: 16

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1979

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

HOA dues are $85 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

The home is about two thirds of the way down a cul-de-sac street that ends at a greenbelt and the community swimming pool. It’s a fairly quiet street, surrounded by all residential homes, so there won’t be much traffic noise at all. It is a one story home, which may appeal to many buyers.

Upon entering, there is a bright living room to the left that is one step down from the hallway. It has distressed wood floors, high ceilings, and three windows to bring in a lot of light. All of the windows in the home are new except the garden window in the kitchen. There is a white brick fireplace at the far end of the room.

The entryway is large enough that the current owners have an upright piano in it. Beyond that, just across from the front door, a set of French doors leads out to a small courtyard. It likely only gets light when the sun is immediately above and has several very large bushes taking up most of the space.

A hallway leads to the kitchen and family room. The kitchen has been upgraded with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and refinished cabinets. It has attractive tile floors and an all granite backsplash. Recessed lights in the ceiling have replaced the old panel lighting. A wide peninsula creates space for a breakfast bar.

The family room has the same tile floors as the kitchen. It is large enough to accommodate a dining table and it has a high ceiling with crown molding. Two sets of sliding doors lead out to the side and back yards.

The backyard is comparably sized to other older Northwood lots. It has a large concrete patio, plenty of grass and a couple of large trees. There is also access to the backyard from the master bedroom. One of the side yards is wider than average and could easily fit a grill that would be easily accessible from the kitchen.

A hallway off the family room leads to the three bedrooms. These are off a large central area that isn’t really used for anything and is kind of a waste of space. A creative buyer may be able to find a way to utilize it.

The master bedroom has crown molding and a ceiling fan. It has a cut out in one corner that could fit a bed or dresser if one were the right size. It really only has one full wall, as one has a sliding door to the backyard and another has the closet and bathroom. The closet is the original two-door mirrored closet. Like the living room, there are distressed wood floors.

The master bath has been nicely remodeled with granite counters, two sinks and dark wood cabinets. The shower/tub combo has new tile, hardware, and doors. The secondary bathroom matches but has only one sink. The home doesn’t have a half bath, so guests would use the secondary bathroom.

The other two bedrooms are fairly small. Each has a window that looks into the courtyard and a two-door mirrored closet. Unlike the master, these closet doors look newer. These rooms also have distressed floors.

Overall, the home has been nicely upgraded and is in great condition. I really like the location and I think it will appeal to buyers that want single story homes. The price per square foot is very high for the neighborhood though, as recent sales in Park Paseo and neighboring Woodside have all been under $400 per square foot. What would you pay for this house?

While on my way to check out the open house at 17 Prosa, I came across 27 Eden. This week, I will tell you about the Eden home; next week, I’ll write about the Prosa one.

The basics:

Asking Price: $838,800

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,250

Lot Size: 3,485

$/Sq Ft: $373

Days on Market: 6

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1981

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

HOA dues are $85 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

27 Eden is nicely situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, just steps away from a greenbelt and the smaller of Park Paseo’s two swimming pools. The home has been nicely upgraded and expanded to include four bedrooms and an enlarged master suite.

The entryway and hall have hardwood floors, as does the kitchen, while the rest of the downstairs rooms have blue carpet. Upon entering, the formal living room is to the right and the dining room is to the left. Both rooms have crown molding and windows on two sides, all with plantation shutters. The stairs are straight ahead and a hallway leads to the family room at the back of the house.

The family room has a brick fireplace on one wall, next to the sliding door that leads to the backyard. On the opposite wall, a wet bar was converted to a built in wine rack with shelving and storage cupboards. A short hallway leads to the nicely remodeled half bath and the garage access. The bar seating for the kitchen is also in the actual family room.

The kitchen has been fully remodeled to include Caesarstone counters, white cabinets, and a tile backsplash. The newer white appliances fit well with the kitchen’s country feel and a built-in hutch in the breakfast nook offers additional storage and display space. A huge window that extends into the ceiling brings in a lot of light and offers a view of the backyard.

The yard is small, but nicely landscaped. It has a large, covered patio, a small grassy area, and an above-ground Jacuzzi.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The three secondary rooms are pretty small. They each have a mirrored closet (two are small, one is larger) and a window looking out to the backyard. They all have the same blue carpet found downstairs. These rooms share a bathroom that hasn’t been updated but appears clean and well maintained. It has two sinks set into a long counter, tile floors, and a shower/tub combo.

The master bedroom has been expanded. The huge room has vaulted ceilings, blue carpet, two windows overlooking the street, and two large walk-in closets. The master bath has new hardware, but is otherwise original. It has two sinks and a stall shower. My favorite feature of the expanded master is a small room added to one end. Fully separated by a door, this room can serve as a nursery, office, sitting room, or gym. It is a great addition to the room.

In addition to the previously mentioned upgrades, the house has new windows and recessed lighting in many rooms. Everything is in very good condition and the location is highly desirable. While the rooms – and the lot – are small, I think the home will be appealing to a family looking for a quiet street near good schools.

About six weeks ago, 25 Carlina was on the market and went into escrow before I even had a chance to see it. Well, that offer fell through and it’s back on again, so I toured the home on Sunday while I had the chance. According to the realtor, the owners would accept an offer the following day. When I checked Redfin on Monday, it was listed as Pending.

The basics:

Asking Price: $830,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,100

Lot Size: 6,098

$/Sq Ft: $395

Days on Market: 41 (offer fell through; property was relisted on 6/6 and is now pending)

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1978

Community: Northwood – Amberwood

There are no HOA dues or Mello Roos taxes.

This home is situated on one of Northwood’s larger lots, with much of the extra land being in the front rather than the backyard. It has a driveway big enough for four cars and a large grassy lawn leading up to a porch and the front door. The backyard is an average size, with a small fountain in one corner, a built-in barbecue, and an extra wide side yard on one side.

The front door leads to a small entry way with a coat closet, then immediately turns into the living room. Large travertine tiles cover the floor, extending into the dining room and kitchen as well. These tiles didn’t feel homey to me at all and seemed better suited for outside than inside. The living room has a cathedral ceiling. The dining room is directly behind the living room, with a large window on one side and French doors leading to the backyard on another.

The kitchen is at the back of the house. It has older, white tile counters that are in good shape but probably are original. The cabinets have been updated to white melamine and all of the appliances (also white) are newer. It includes a double oven and five burner stove. There isn’t a breakfast nook and, though you could sit at the counter on the family room side of the kitchen, it doesn’t really have a big enough overhang to offer any leg room.

The family room is on the other side of the kitchen. Unlike the other downstairs rooms, this one has gorgeous hardwood flooring that is much more inviting than the tile. One wall has a built-in glass-fronted display cabinet. Another wall has a fireplace in the corner and a sliding door to the backyard. Like many of the rooms, this one has recessed lighting and crown molding. There is a half bath off the family room.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, all off of one main square. With the exception of one room, the entire upstairs has a light colored Berber carpet with many small stains/marks and signs of wear. New owners will probably want to replace it.

One of the secondary bedrooms is very large and has a huge built-in unit in one corner to provide a desk, bookshelves, and storage cabinets. Windows flank both sides of the unit and a large, two-door mirrored closet takes up most of another wall.

The other two bedrooms aren’t quite as big as the first, but still offer plenty of space. One has parquet floors, a two-door mirrored closet, two windows, a ceiling fan, and a small cut-out in one corner for shelves. The other has only one window, a ceiling fan, and a newer looking mirrored closet. All three bedrooms share a bathroom with a single sink set into a new vanity, a shower/tub combo and tile floors that I think are nicer than the downstairs tile.

The master bedroom is big. It has a large mirrored closet and a very long, narrow walk-in closet. One large window overlooks the backyard. The master bath has been nicely updated with a double vanity. The shower was designed to double as a bathtub, but it is all made of the same tile.

Overall, the house has been nicely updated, but still has room for more change. The windows haven’t been replaced and the kitchen counters have not been upgraded. Most of the house has attractive crown molding, scraped ceilings, and fresh paint. Many rooms have recessed lighting and ceiling fans. I’m not surprised that it sold quickly.

I was surprised to see a home for sale in the brand new Santa Clara neighborhood of Stonegate, so I decided to check it out. At 66 Overbrook, I found a brand new, never occupied, condo.

The basics:

Asking Price: $529,000

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,305

Lot Size: 5,837 (per Redfin and realtor, but there isn’t a yard)

$/Sq Ft: $405

Days on Market: 8

Property Type: Condominium

Year Built: 2013

Community: Stonegate – Santa Clara

HOA dues are $303 per month ($110 + $193) and there are Mello Roos taxes.

Escrow on the original sale of the new home just closed last week and the property went on the market immediately. Whoever buys this home will be getting a brand new condo, but for a lot more money than it was eight months ago as new construction. Most of the condos in this building and the adjacent one are just closing now, so all of the new residents will move in over the next few weeks.

The condo only has two upgrades – the oven and recessed lighting – but the standard features look nice. The kitchen has granite counters and both the kitchen and the bathrooms have white melamine cabinets. There are stainless steel appliances, carpet throughout, and 12 foot ceilings that make the great room feel very big and open.

I entered the condo on the ground level and found doors to a small coat closet and to the two-car garage. A staircase leads upstairs to the actual unit.

At the top of the stairs, I saw a large great room with a huge wall of windows looking out to the adjacent building and the alley of garages. The great room is really long with plenty of space for both a living and dining area. At the far end, there is access to a good-sized balcony that looks out to Irvine Blvd. The balcony door and adjacent bedroom window are triple-paned to block out the noise. While I could certainly still hear the cars, the windows significantly muffled the sound.

The kitchen is completely open to the great room, divided only by an island with bar seating. The island is pretty wide, with narrow shelving on one end and a sink in the middle. The back wall of the kitchen is a long counter, split in the middle by the four-burner stove and oven. Cabinets line the wall above and below the counter. A built-in desk at one end offers a workspace. The kitchen has tile floors in a similar shade to the carpet so the rooms flow together nicely.

The bedrooms are on opposite ends of the condo, with the master being at the top of the stairs and the secondary room next to the balcony and facing Irvine Blvd. The master bedroom is pretty small – about the size of a secondary room – with a big window dominating one wall. The bathroom has dual sinks and a white-tiled shower, but no tub. The walk-in closet is ample but not large.

The other bedroom is a little smaller and also has an attached bath. This one has one sink and a shower/tub combo. A two-door, sliding closet rounds out the room.

It’s a very nice condo. My only complaints are that the master bedroom is too small and there isn’t a bathroom accessible from the great room. Because it’s brand new, everything is obviously in perfect condition and move-in ready. The biggest turnoff, however, is that I wouldn’t want to pay an inflated price now that the unit is built, compared to the price in the mid-400’s when it was planned construction.

Would you buy this condo, knowing you were paying more than what the new ones are selling for, to avoid the hassle of new construction? Or, would you rather buy a unit that hasn’t been built yet, but gives you the option of customizing yourself and paying what all other new buyers pay?

The original owners of 4 Alondra have listed their house for sale at a low price of $317 per square foot. Why so low? They haven’t done any upgrades, so it’s a great opportunity for a buyer to come in and customize the home to their liking.

The basics:

Asking Price: $760,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,400

Lot Size: 4,792

$/Sq Ft: $317

Days on Market: 48

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1977

Community: Northwood, Woodside

HOA dues are $97 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

Let’s start with the biggest downfall of the house: it backs to Irvine Blvd. This may be a deal breaker for some. Others may be enticed by the three car garage and the chance to remodel. For a home that hasn’t changed much since 1977, it is in very good condition.

A very small entryway leads right into the living room, which is carpeted and has high ceilings. It has several windows, but it doesn’t get a lot of light because of their placement. It leads directly back to the dining room, also carpeted, and with high ceilings. One large window looks into the backyard.

A doorway from the dining room leads to the kitchen at the back of the house. As was the style in the 70’s, the kitchen has u-shaped counters and panel lighting in the ceiling. The counters are white tile with plain wooden cupboards and a nice tile floor. While the dishwasher looks newer, the oven and stove are original. There is a large breakfast nook, surrounded by large windows and sliding doors that lead to the backyard. This kitchen has a lot of potential, as it is a good size and can easily be opened up and reconfigured.

The family room is through the other side of the kitchen and, unfortunately, the rooms don’t open up to each other. I’m not sure if it would be possible to open them up during a remodel, but it would be something to consider. The family room is big, with another sliding door out to the yard. There is a niche cut out for an entertainment unit, a wetbar, and a brick fireplace that is centered between the two. It doesn’t get a lot of light, since all the windows are down at one end. From the family room, you can access the three car garage, laundry room and the half bath.

The home has an L-shaped yard, with the back and side being about equal widths. The big patio has several large cracks in it and a cover over part of it. The owners just planted new grass in the back.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The master is to the right of the stairs and the other three are down the hall to the left. The master is very big but doesn’t leave a lot of space for furniture. One wall is covered with mirrored closets; another with a long, low window. The master bath has a long counter with two sinks, a sunken bathtub and a separate stall shower. The tub and shower are pretty dingy.

One of the secondary bedrooms has double doors and is a little smaller than the other two. It would make a nice office or playroom, but has a closet and could definitely work as a bedroom too.

The other two bedrooms are mirror images of each other. They each have a two-door sliding closet and a set of low, built in cabinets in a niche under the window. With a nice cushion, it would make a great window seat and a storage area for toys or off-season clothes. The upstairs bathroom has one sink and a shower/tub combo that has the original tile but seems pretty clean, though it is missing the shower head.

This home has a lot of potential. A buyer can get in at a lower price with a lower mortgage, and then spend the difference on remodeling. I recently reviewed 34 Alegria, which is just down the street and a comparable size. That one is fully remodeled and priced at $900,000. Which would you prefer? The higher price but not having to do any work, or get in for less, but have to put more money into it and spend the time and energy remodeling?

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