Turtle Rock Townhouse Magnet

5031 Paseo Segovia $834,300

The Sunday open house traffic was brisk over the holiday weekend as this Turtle Rock single family home opened its doors and a steady stream of visitors trooped through. Just up the hill from Campus Drive off of Turtle Rock Drive, the home is vacant and back on the market.

The home was listed in September, taken off the market with an October offer, and returned to the market in December.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1973, the home is 2028 sq. ft., on a 3,744 sq. ft. lot. The $/sq. ft. is $379. HOA dues are $150. There is no Mello Roos tax and this is a standard sale. This 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, two level contemporary home has been remodeled throughout, but bathrooms appear to be original.

CloseUp: Situated across from the greenbelt, on a secluded street, a spacious courtyard leads into a large living room with shutters, gleaming wood laminate floors, and sliding glass doors and windows overlooking greenery. There is an enclosed patio and a small backyard.

The overall impression is light, bright and ready for a new imprint. It’s easy to picture this home operating as a comfortable entertainment/family base. It could be a fresh canvas for the right buyer, an appealing property in a prime spot in Turtle Rock.

The fireplace in the living room has a custom wood mantel and there is another stacked stone fireplace in the family room. Throughout the home there are vaulted and scraped ceilings, custom paint, custom baseboards, and crown moldings.

The kitchen has been remodeled with custom tile countertops and backsplash, upgraded appliances and a garden/bay window.

There is a main floor bedroom and the second floor has three good sized bedrooms with two baths.

The home also has a newer tile roof and copper plumbing.

More Specifics:

Bedrooms, 4

Baths, 2.5

Forced air, central air

1 common wall attached

Association pool and spa

Double garage, 2 parking spaces

Irvine Unified School System

What should be considered? The home size, location, age and upgrades will all come up for evaluation. With four bedrooms, including one downstairs, two fireplaces, and ample square footage in Turtle Rock, buyers may compare this property with others that are similar in Irvine. The schools, recreational options and overall setting should be competitive.

Who will be the next owner? A family looking for good schools in Turtle Rock will be attracted to this home. A family needing space, and a downstairs bedroom, might also choose this home. Professionals who are working in Irvine or involved with UCI will appreciate the location.

Recent listings: 7 Windsor, $835,000; 26 Summerwind, $739,900.

Recent sales: 4912 Basswood sold for $799,000 in November and 5412 Sierra Baja sold for $959,000 in November.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3453.0.html

Woodbridge Condo CloseUp

131 Goldenrod #70 $530,000

On Saturday I visited the open house for 131 Goldenrod #70 in Woodbridge. This home has also been recently profiled by Cubic Zirconia and is now pending.

This 1,411 sq. ft. condo brings to mind several other condos in Woodbridge that I have seen recently. Most of them were slightly larger at 1,500 sq. ft., and listed in the $600,000 range, but they all shared a similar history of being updated, and refinished and most of them were near Woodbridge’s North or South Lakes.

Significant Numbers: This new to the market 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home is a two level floor plan at $/376 with HOA dues at $297. Built in 1985, It is the end unit on a quiet cul de sac in the South Lake area of Woodbridge. There is no Mello Roos tax.

Close-up: The entry leads to a light filled living room with hardwood floors and a marble fireplace. The space has room for a dining area and features a large bay window. The realtor said the home is occupied, but this area was shown with a minimum of furnishings.

To the right, stairs with powder room underneath, lead to the home’s three bedrooms and two more baths. Straight ahead the kitchen pairs with a family room and leads to the covered patio and double detached garage.

The kitchen has been updated with marble counters, a breakfast bar, and new microwave and oven.

Upstairs the master suite has a walk-in closet, marble bathroom counters with designer tile flooring. The stairs and bedrooms are carpeted. Throughout the home there are scraped ceilings, recessed lighting, crown molding and designer paint.

Specifics for this 2 level contemporary:

Bedrooms, 3

Baths, 2.5

1 common wall attached

Association pool and spa

Detached double garage

Parking off the street

Irvine Unified School System

What should be considered here? The age, condition, size, two level floor plan, price, and location in Woodbridge will all be evaluated. Top schools, a small town community appeal and numerous recreational facilities will all come up too.

Who will move into 131 Goldenrod #70? A young active family might fill the space and enjoy the surrounding community. The home is within walking distance of an award winning elementary school. The home might also become an investment property, or operating base for a busy couple who like being in the Irvine area and need room for a home office or visiting guests.

Recent listings: 420 East Yale Loop #31, $598,900; 228 Greenmoor #101, $494,900. Recent sales: 91 Goldenrod #57 sold in June for $425,000; 504 East Yale Loop #3 sold in June for $435,000.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3431.0.html

Turtle Ridge Condo Challenge

110 Coral Rose, $509,000

Either this condo will fit the buyer like a glove, or not at all. That was my first impression when I drove up Coral Rose, a short distance from Newport Drive. The street is quiet, lined with three story condos, each carefully framed with well tended greenery.

Inside, the condo was humming with a steady stream of open house traffic. When I saw it the home had just been placed on the market, and 6 days later it is listed as a pending sale. Evidently it fit someone perfectly.

Significant Numbers: This 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath Ashton Green model is 1,354 sq. ft. arranged on three levels. Built in 2004, HOA dues are $238 a month and the $/sq. ft. is $376. There are Mello Roos taxes.

CloseUp: 110 Coral Rose is the end unit with a nice band of green space along the walkway leading to the patio entrance. The overall space has been nicely staged with high ceilings, wood floors, built ins and crown moldings giving the home a crisp put-together image.

On the flip side, the three levels and flights of stairs may present some challenges and will certainly shape daily living routines.

As you step inside, there are double doors straight ahead that open into one of the home’s two bedrooms with ensuite bath. The master is many steps away on the third level.

Depending on the buyer, as an individual, couple, or perhaps two roommates, this could work. The main floor bedroom could also function as a guest room, or become a study/office.

To the left of the entry a flight of steps takes you to the main living area with a living room/family room, built in desk corner, and nearby dining area. Around the corner there is a powder room, and a slim slice of a kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, double sinks and a tiled backsplash. Opposite the kitchen there is a small covered deck.

Then up the final flight there is the master bedroom with large walk-in closet, and bath with double vanity, tile counters, and shower backsplash.

Specifics:

Bedrooms,2

Baths, 2.5

Sq. ft., 1,354

$/sq. ft. $376

HOA dues, $238

1 common wall attached

Double garage, epoxy floor

Two parking spaces.

Association pool and spa

Throughout the home there is a lot of light with well placed windows. But the views are limited, with duplicate units sitting across the way. The unit has double paned windows and a stacked washer and dryer in a laundry area on the ground floor.

What is to be considered here? The three levels, open floor plan, overall square footage and price will all be evaluated, perhaps as an investment, or a first home in Irvine.

Who will be moving in? Since it is a pending sale we may soon know. But it could be an individual who works in the area and wants easy access to the airport and nearby beach communities, or a busy couple who travel but need a sleek local operating base.

Recent listing: 5 Moondust #30, $580.000. Recent sales: 211 Lonetree sold for $580,000 in June; 231 Coral Rose sold for $450,000 in October.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3420.0.html

Contrasting Homes in Woodbridge

21 Soaring Hawk $664,500

In the last two weeks I have visited two open homes near the lakes in Woodbridge. Both have been remodeled. One is 1700 sq. ft., the other 1750. One is a two level condo and the other is a single level, single family home. First I saw the condo at 5 Pinewood #3, just two blocks from North Lake. The realtor described it as a “total customization.” The property has been on the market 27 days and now it is listed as a pending sale.

This week I found myself near South Lake at 21 Soaring Hawk in a single family home with 1,700 sq. ft. that had also been remodeled and expanded. The property has been on the market 12 days.

Significant Numbers:

CloseUp: 21 Soaring Hawk is on a quiet street in the North Lake area. Inside, there is an entry with limestone tile that blends perfectly with a pale thickly carpeted living room with tiled fireplace, followed by a patio, and a dining room to the right. The kitchen completes the circle leading from the dining room back to the front hall.

Throughout the home the limestone flooring is contrasted with the carpeting. Recessed lighting, custom boxed shutters, skylights and window treatments accent the pale color scheme of the floors.

The kitchen could use the spark of new stainless appliances, but the cabinetry, flooring and tile backsplash with bright inserts work well with the rest of the home.

Off to the right of the entry, there is a den/office that was originally a bedroom. The door has been widened and the closet removed. Continuing down this hallway to the left there is a master bedroom and bath with double vanity, skylights, shower and tub, and another bath. Two more adjoining bedrooms to the right could easily become a master retreat. This was achieved as an expansion using former patio space.

The laundry is in the double garage that is completely finished with storage cabinets. It may be one of the most immaculate garages that I have ever seen.

Specifics for this one level Cape Cod:

Bedrooms, 3

Baths, 1.75

Sq. Ft. 1,700

$/sq.ft. $391

Double paned windows

Forced air heating, central air

Ceiling fans, skylights

Community, Woodbridge

Association pool and spa

Irvine Unified School System

What should be considered here? The choice of single family or condo, the size versus price, and the appeal of the Woodbridge lake area, along with top schools will all be considered. This location is not as near the lake as the condo was and it is closer to the Culver Street traffic. And in the final evaluation, as always, when you know it’s right that’s it. The condo on Pinewood and the single family home on Soaring Hawk each had a distinct appeal.

Who will be the next residents of 21 Soaring Hawk? An active family would fit right in enjoying key recreation facilities and top schools. With three bedrooms, and den, all on one level, this home might also have added appeal for mature buyers with visiting grandchildren, or families with mixed ages.

Recent sales: 3812 Beaver St. sold for $650,000 in December; 97 Summerstone sold for $705,000 in August.

Recent listings: 59 Eagle Run is listed at $619,000; 59 Seton Rd. is listed at $519,000.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3407.0.html

5 Pinewood #3 $629,900

Customized Condo in Woodbridge

Turning into this Woodbridge condo complex, two blocks from North Lake, I was intrigued. The neighborhood is a uniform color, of course, but the color here is a muted greenish brown, and the whole area has a distinct look.

The area is known as Woodbridge Crossing and Pinewood is billed as “one of the most beautiful residential streets in America by Urban Planners.” The homes are clustered across from a park with pool, jacuzzi and play areas. The home that I visited is the Brighton model and the realtor labeled it a “top to bottom customization.”

CloseUp: The gate opens to a wrap-around courtyard and patio with stone pavers accented with succulents and weathered furnishings. Inside, there’s a condo with a lot of polish and just a bit of attitude. The owners have remodeled, updated, and obviously enjoyed their home.

Granite counters, maple and cherry cabinets, oil rubbed bronze hardware and accessories, GE Profile and KitchenAid appliances, and Berber carpeting have all been used to advantage. Dramatic two story ceilings work well too.

It would be interesting to see ‘before and after’ pictures of how this home looked originally.

Significant Numbers: The home was built in 1977 and has been completely remodeled. It is a two level condo in the Craftsman style with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Square footage is 1,750. HOA dues are $456 and $/sq. ft. is $360. It has been on the market 24 days and is now listed as pending.

Stepping into the tiled entry there is a den and half bath off to the right, and living room with wood burning brick fireplace straight ahead on the right. Shutters cover sliding doors that lead to the patio. A formal dining room is on the left paired with a well developed kitchen.

The kitchen was remodeled in 2006. The result is a burnished glow of wall treatments, Santa Fe glass deco tiles with mosaic details, and laminated wood floors. A bank of windows wrap around the breakfast bar area. Granite counters, tumbled stone backsplash, stainless appliances, and custom maple cabinets make this kitchen a place where the cook will linger, along with everyone else.

Upstairs, the master makes the most of the high ceilings and has a customized bath with cherry cabinetry. There is a custom stone tile oversized shower and double vanity with granite counters. There is also a second bedroom, and another customized bath off the hall.

The main floor den could be used as a third bedroom. Laundry is in the double garage and there are two parking spaces.

Specifics:

Bedrooms, 2

Baths, 2.5

Sq. Ft., 1,750

$/sq. ft.,$360

HOA, $456

No Mello Roos

Forced air, central heating.

Full copper plumbing

1 common wall attached

Association pool and spa

Double garage

Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered here? This condo was built in 1977 but the extensive remodeling and attractive location two blocks from North Lake, coupled with the park across the street, give it some market edge. Woodbridge’s small town atmosphere, outstanding recreation facilities, and top rated schools will figure in the buyer’s evaluation. The square footage of 1,750, versus the price, will be weighed. And the prospect of two bedrooms, with a downstairs den that could be a third bedroom, will also be considered.

Who will be moving into 5 Pinewood? A small family, or an active couple attracted to the location, and the whole Irvine area, might see this as an option, in contrast to a single family home. Someone seeking a very pleasant secluded area with easy access to surrounding Orange County attractions will be attracted to this condo.

Recent Sales: 28 Pinewood #55 sold for $650,000 in September; 30 West Yale Loop #15, sold for $630,000 in July. Recent listings: 13 Creekwood is $530,000 and 38 Lakeshore is $709,000.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3391.0.html