If you are on the lookout for a four bedroom + bonus room home, take a look at 19 Fortuna West. This home has a great layout and a lot of space.

The basics:

Asking Price: $770,000

Bedrooms: 4 + bonus room

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,673

Lot Size: 5,671

$/Sq Ft: $288

Days on Market: 42

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1977

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

With price per square foot on the rise throughout most of Irvine, Northwood has actually seen a decline this year. This house is even lower per square foot than Northwood homes sold for in November.

Why the low price? This 1977 home still sports its original bathrooms (less new fixtures) and has a kitchen remodel that isn’t on par with other new kitchens. Carpet and flooring throughout the house is about 7-10 years old (per the seller) and both the interior and exterior need to be repainted. The ceilings haven’t been scraped and it backs to a non-residential street.

On the plus side, it boasts a huge bonus room, new windows, indoor laundry (uncommon in many Northwood homes), and a nice backyard. The house is directly across from a greenbelt and is an easy walk to the community pool, elementary school, and middle school.

Upon entry, the stairs are directly in front of you and the living room is to the left. It is one step down from the hallway and has several windows that let in a lot of light. The living room flows directly into an average-sized dining room.

The kitchen and family room are at the back of the house. The kitchen was remodeled with new cabinets and granite counters. The old panel lighting was removed and recessed lighting was installed, partially raising the ceiling. A large garden window looks out to the backyard. However, the kitchen still has a dated look to it. The cabinets and drawers don’t have handles and the oven and microwave are very old. With new appliances, cabinet handles and drawer pulls, the kitchen would look much more modern. While it lacks a pantry, a wetbar in the adjacent family room could probably be converted into a pantry pretty easily. There are bar stools on the family room side of the large counter.

The family room is pretty standard, with a fireplace at one end and a sliding door out to the backyard. There is room for a casual dining table in the family room as well, if the buyer chose not to use the bar stools.

The backyard is a nice size, with a large patio and a grassy area at the back.

The half bath downstairs has new fixtures, but is original otherwise. It is clean and well maintained. The laundry room is inside, and has a large linen/storage cupboard. A big hall closet under the stairs provides plenty of storage space as well.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and a huge bonus room. The master is at the top of the stairs. It’s a big room, with one full wall taken up by a three-door, mirrored closet. The bathroom has two sinks and a set of linen cabinets at the back. It has a big shower but no tub.

The other three bedrooms are average in size. One has a smaller window that is fairly high on the wall and a sliding door closet. The other two each have one window, but at a normal height, and walk-in closets (one much bigger than the other). All three bedrooms share a bathroom with two sinks and a shower/tub combo. Like the other two bathrooms, everything is original except the fixtures.

The bonus room is quite large and can be used for pretty much anything. It’s just one big, open space, so it provides a lot of flexibility. It has a wetbar in one corner and two windows facing the street.

This is a great home for a family. There are plenty of things that could be done to make it more modern, but the owners have really taken great care of it, so there isn’t too much work that is truly necessary.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3411.0.html

This week, I visited a property with an interesting layout in Northpark. For those who know the different floor plans, this one is a Saratoga Modified Plan One.

The basics:

Asking Price: $995,000

Bedrooms: 3 + bonus room

Bathrooms: 2 full + 2 half

Square Footage: 2,700

Lot Size: 5,288

$/Sq Ft: $369

Days on Market: 7

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 2000

Community: Northpark Square

HOA dues are $110 per month and there are Mello Roos taxes.

The front of the home is very attractive, with newly planted flowers and well-groomed grass, plus a small front patio. The entryway has high ceilings, a large walk-in closet (including some built in shelving and plenty of under-the-stairs storage), and an alcove that would make a great landing zone for mail, keys, etc.

To the left of the entry, there is a room that would make a nice formal living room, office, or playroom. It has a large, arched doorway but lacks an actual door, so it couldn’t really be used as a downstairs bedroom. While the rest of the downstairs has wood floors, the front room is carpeted.

The downstairs half bath is just past the front room. It is surprisingly large, despite only having a toilet and pedestal sink.

The rest of the downstairs is one large great room, housing the kitchen, family room, and eating area. The kitchen has darker granite, creating a nice contrast to the white cabinets and appliances. A large island has room for a few barstools and there is a hanging pot rack above it. The only pantry space is closer to the dining/desk area, so it isn’t terribly convenient.

The dining area is pretty small and, to be honest, I didn’t even realize that’s what it was. I left the house thinking “where do you eat?” and only later realized that it was on the other side of the island. This area also has a small, built-in desk.

On the other side of the room is the living area. It’s pretty small and doesn’t offer a lot of options in arranging it. A spot on one wall is designed for a TV and there is a fireplace in the corner. What I did like is that, if you are entertaining, people can easily flow from the kitchen, to the family room, to the dining room. It is truly one large space without any dividers.

The backyard is pretty big, with both a patio and a large grassy area. The grass is in good condition and there is plenty of space to play or to entertain.

The most interesting design feature of the house is at the back, behind the great room. A back staircase leads up to a large bonus room. Equipped with two ceiling fans, numerous windows, and wooden floors, this is a gorgeous room with many possibilities. It has a two-door sliding closet and a half bath that could be converted to a full bath if desired. Oddly enough, the bathroom also connects to the master bath. This doorway could be taken out and replaced with drywall, to create a fully separate back room. With an added shower, it would make a very private guest suite. It would also work well as a home office or a playroom for the kids.

The rest of the upstairs features the master bedroom, two additional bedrooms, and a laundry room. The master is pretty standard; a good-sized room, a large bathroom with a separate tub and shower and two sinks There is a large walk-in closet with many built-ins.

The other two bedrooms are a good size, with plenty of room to arrange the furniture. They have standard closets and big windows that let in a lot of light. They share a jack and jill bathroom with two sinks and a shower/tub combo. The shower lacks doors or a curtain rod, so the buyer would have to install one or the other. A laundry room (no sink) completes the second floor of the house.

Overall, the house is in good condition and the layout provides a lot of versatility. I can envision a family moving in and making this their home for many years to come.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3399.0.html

On a quiet cul-de-sac in the Canyon View tract of Northwood Pointe, I found 23 Bristlecone. This four bedroom house has a cute porch out front to welcome you into the home.

The basics:

Asking Price: $889,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,200

Lot Size: 5,979

$/Sq Ft: $404

Days on Market: 18

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1998

Community: Northwood Pointe – Canyon View

HOA dues are $100 per month and Mello Roos taxes are approximately $1600 per year.

A bright living room, filled with cathedral ceilings and many windows, awaits when you open the front door. Yellow walls enhance the color in the room, though I did notice many marks on the paint. At the back of the living room is space for a formal dining table and a crystal chandelier helps define the space. These rooms, as well as the kitchen and family room, all have wood floors installed diagonally.

Down a hallway to the right, I found a half bath. The realtor mentioned that it has the plumbing to install a shower if the future owners wanted to, though neither she nor I could figure out exactly where a shower would fit in the small bathroom. A hallway across from the bathroom houses the washer and dryer (plus laundry sink and storage shelves) and provides access to the garage.

Next to the bathroom is the downstairs bedroom, though it currently doesn’t have a closet and is used as an office. It has an attractive window seat, surrounded on both sides by built in bookshelves, cabinets and a desk. The shelves extend across an entire second wall as well.

The kitchen and family room are at the back of the house. The family room has a full wall of windows on one side and a brick fireplace in the corner of another. Another wall of built-ins offers display space, cupboards and room for a good-sized TV, but certainly not a huge one.

Space for a small, casual table divides the family room from the kitchen. It features granite cabinets and black appliances. Most of the cabinets are a darker wood, but those in the small island are a redder color. Matching dark wood paneling covers the refrigerator, though it looks a little awkward since space is cut out for the water dispenser and black still shows around the edges. The dishwasher is similarly covered in wood panels. While it lacks a large pantry, it does appear to have plenty of storage space.

The backyard is actually pretty big for Irvine homes and, unlike many of the houses I visit, it has a large grassy area. Off to one side is a small garden with benches, forming a cozy spot for reading or relaxing outside. The grass definitely needs some TLC, but it’s a nice change of pace from the hardscaped yards I’m used to seeing.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms plus the master. The secondary bedrooms are pretty small and each has a small, mirrored closet. They share a jack and jill bathroom with two sinks and a shower/tub combo.

At the end of the hall is the master bedroom, an average-sized room with several windows. One wall has a built in armoire with drawers, shelves and a large mirror. Opposite the bed is a spot on the wall for a built in TV.

The master bath has a long counter with two sinks opposite a separate tub and stall shower. A walk-in closet at the end of the hall is a good size, but small compared to those in most new houses.

I liked the layout of the house, including the many windows, arched doorways, and built-ins. Though the layout is good, most of the rooms are fairly small, so the house doesn’t feel as open as it could. Most of it seemed to be well maintained, though there a few key exceptions. The paint throughout the house is pretty scuffed up, so the entire interior needs a new paint job. Likewise, the carpet is noticeably dirty on the stairway and in several spots throughout the upstairs. As I mentioned earlier, the grass in the backyard, as well as the front yard, needs attention. Finally, the house backs to Canyonwood, a non-residential street that isn’t terribly busy, but will definitely have more cars than a residential street, especially before and after school.

The realtor seemed somewhat surprised that there haven’t been any offers yet, given the current climate in Irvine where many houses see multiple offers. At $404 per square foot, the asking price might be the problem. While other homes are creeping toward the $400/ft mark, most are still lower.

Discuss at Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3366.0.html

When I hear “original owner,” I usually expect a home that looks and feels its age. In 51 Carver, I was pleasantly surprised to find a house in very good condition.

The basics:

Asking Price: $700,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 2,077

Lot Size: 4,750

$/Sq Ft: $337

Days on Market: 9

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1979

Community: Northwood – Shadow Run

There are no HOA dues or Mello Roos taxes.

I entered in the living room, where I was greeted with new laminate floors, cathedral ceilings and a large picture window that made the room surprisingly bright and airy (sadly, my photo doesn’t do it justice – it really was bright). The living room flows into the dining room, though the stairway in the middle provides a distinctly separate space. The dining room is also bright and offers enough space for a large table.

The kitchen is the part of the house that feels the oldest. It has original tile counters and dark brown cabinets, along with a tile floor and panel lighting in the ceiling. There are newer, white appliances. Everything is clean and well-maintained. While a remodel of the kitchen would certainly give it a more modern look and potentially open it up more to the family room, it is functional the way it is now.

The kitchen has a breakfast bar that overlooks the family room. With just a sliding door to the backyard and no other windows, I thought the room was pretty dark. It has a small wetbar and the same laminate flooring in the front rooms.

The last room downstairs is a bedroom. It has a small sliding closet and a fairly large window. It is adjacent to a bathroom with a small stall shower (no tub) and a single sink.

The backyard is a pretty average size for Northwood and is completely hardscaped. It has a storage shed in one corner that looks like a small house, so could possibly be cleaned out and used for another purpose.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms. The master is at the top of the stairs. It isn’t a very large room, so it took me a minute to realize that it was the master. It has a huge window and slightly elevated ceilings. The bathroom is original, with two sinks and a separate tub and shower. More than anywhere else in the house, I felt that the master bathroom looked old and tired. The tub, which is just a standard bathtub, looked dingy and the shower is tucked into a small corner. This would be the first thing I remodeled if I bought this home. The master has a good-sized walk-in closet but needs some organizers installed.

The other two bedrooms upstairs share a bathroom which has a single sink and a shower/tub combo. One room is bigger than the other, with a large window and a small closet. The other room has two windows and a larger closet.

Downstairs, the ceilings have been scraped in all rooms except the living room; upstairs, none have been scraped. The laminate floors downstairs and carpet upstairs are new, and there are new six-panel internal doors throughout the house. All of the windows are original. While there is a lot to be done in this house to make it as nice and as modern as a brand new home, it is in remarkably good condition for a 1979 house.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3341.0.html

Canyon Creek is a beautiful, gated community, featuring some of Northwood’s biggest homes and nicest floor plans. In 33 Sonrisa, I found a home with a great layout and a lot of potential, but definitely in need of some TLC.

The basics:

Asking Price: $858,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 2,800

Lot Size: 6,240

$/Sq Ft: $306

Days on Market: 27

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1980

Community: Northwood, Canyon Creek

HOA dues are $150 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

From the entryway, the dining room is straight ahead and the living room is immediately to the left, one step down from the hallway. Both rooms have vaulted ceilings and newer carpet, though the carpet actually looked shabby to me.

Down the hallway, there is a bedroom and a full bath (not attached). The room is a good size and has a small, two door sliding closet. The bathroom has been partially remodeled, with a newer vanity, faucet, hardware and floor, but the stall shower still has the original 1980 tile.

A walk-in closet under the stairs provides ample storage. The downstairs laundry room has a small sink and doubles as a pass through area to the garage.

At the back of the house, the family room and kitchen flow together nicely. The family room is large, with a white brick fireplace and a slider leading out to the backyard. It has newer wood floors and a low railing that separates it from the kitchen. It is one step down from the kitchen.

The kitchen is big, with a large breakfast nook and an attractive window seat. Unfortunately, it still features the original cabinets and tile countertops. The stainless steel fridge and Viking 6-burner stove are newer, but the double ovens and dishwasher appear to be original to the home. It still has panel lighting in the ceiling, though there are also two recessed lights above the island. The kitchen is functional and clean, but definitely outdated. It has a nice layout, including a small walk-in pantry, and potential to be made into a beautiful, modern kitchen.

The backyard is much smaller than I expected it to be, given the lot size. A covered brick patio stretches the full length of the yard and large bushes line the edges. While it does have wider than average side yards, the grass on both sides is mostly dead.

Upstairs, the master suite features a large sitting area with a fireplace, a wet bar, and a built in bookshelf. The rest of the room is also quite spacious, including vaulted ceilings and lots of windows. The room felt bright and welcoming. It has two separate mirrored closets – one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. The bathroom is large, but desperately in need of remodeling. The tiny white tiles surrounding the tub, shower, and counter scream 1980 and must be a nightmare to clean. It has a sunken tub, stall shower, and two sinks. The sinks, fixtures, hardware and flooring are new, but it creates an odd contrast to the old shower and tub. With high ceilings and several small windows, this bathroom could be remodeled into something very nice.

The two secondary bedrooms upstairs are pretty big. Both have sliding door closets. One also has vaulted ceilings, built in shelves and a narrow window seat with storage underneath. They share a bathroom with two sinks and a shower/tub combo. Aside from the floor, everything in this bathroom is original.

This house has a lot going for it: a great layout, a nice community, a newer roof, all new windows, spacious rooms, and lots of storage.

There are also several big negatives: original kitchen and bathrooms, outdated fireplaces, wet bars, and built-ins, and a backyard that needs a lot of work. It backs to a bigger street; however, the street dead ends only a couple of blocks farther down the road, so it doesn’t get too much traffic.

Another house of the same model, 3 Trovita, sold on November 5 for $858,000. That led these owners to lower their asking price to the same amount. The other house had zero upgrades, while this one does have new windows, newer carpet and floors, and partially upgraded bathrooms. While the price may seem high for an older home, it is obviously in line with recent sales.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3329.0.html