Turtle Rock Single Family Home in Highland Gardens

5 Sunrose $949,000

Turning off Turtle Rock Drive onto Willow Leaf takes you to this 3 bedroom, 2 bath single family home in a secluded Highland Gardens cul de sac. Recently, I have seen a number of homes in the $900,000 plus price range in Woodbridge and this was an interesting contrast. Compared to Woodbridge’s inviting, but somewhat snug, neighborhoods that revolve around the North and South Lakes, Turtle Rock offers a more spacious, secluded feeling in the midst of hills and hiking trails. Both communities are strong contenders in the Irvine market offering top schools, parks and easy access to Orange County’s many urban assets. It just depends which fits your preferences. On Saturday this particular Turtle Rock home was proving to be a preferred destination attracting a steady stream of visitors.

Significant Numbers: New to the market, about 6 days, this home was built in 1979. HOA dues are $99. The all one level home is 1,875 square feet on a 6,098 sq. ft. lot, at $506 per square foot. There are no Mello Roos. According to public records, the home was sold for $830,000 three years ago.

Close up: From the street the appeal is strong. Double doors open to a good sized step down carpeted living room on the left with a fireplace and a big helping of windows. The windowed dining room overlooks the living room. Cathedral ceilings, dark stained floors in the entry, dining room and kitchen and many windows work well throughout the home.

The kitchen with sleek granite counters and center island/breakfast bar pairs with a roomy family room with brick fireplace. A good sized landscaped raised brick patio and lush grassy area include an English rose garden.

The master suite opens to the patio and has granite counters and an enclosed tub and shower and a walk-in closet. There are two more bedrooms and another full bath with tub and shower. One of the bedrooms serves as a study/office.

More specifics:

Single family residence
Bedrooms, 3
Baths, 2
Attached, one common wall
Central furnace, central air
Laundry in garage
Double garage
Two parking spaces
Association pool, spa
Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? The appeal of the Turtle Rock setting and the immaculate condition of the home will be weighed against equally strong assets and similar prices in other prime Irvine locations.

Who will move in? More mature buyers will consider the single level floor plan and parents may see the secluded cul de sac as a safer option for children. Bren Park hiking trails are nearby for active families.

Recent nearby listings: 23 Sunlight, $123,888; 30 Morning View, $1,249,000

Recent nearby sales: 6162 Sierra Palos Rd., $1,140,000; 19521 Sierra Raton Rd. $1,310,000.

Woodbridge Two Level Condo in Inner Loop

12 Willowgrove $675,000

Turning off Warner onto West Yale Loop, and then onto Willowspring leads you to 12 Willowgrove, an immaculate two level inner loop condo that is long on finish but tight on outside space. Brand new to the market, about 4 days, this 3 bedroom, 2.25 bath home presents very well and attracted steady traffic this past weekend. The broker said it was already generating offers. This condo has one attached wall at the garage and looks and feels like a single family home in many ways. The element missing is a good sized outdoor space.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1978, the 1,825 sq. foot home has HOA dues of $346, at $370 a square foot. The lot is 2,500 sq. ft. All bedrooms are upstairs.

Close up: Nicely situated in a secluded inner loop area, the wrought iron gate opens to a front and side patio that’s beautifully done in designer rock flagstone, accented with beds of roses and raised planter beds. Inside, the sleek wood entry leads to a large carpeted living room with a designer mantle marble finish fireplace and large shuttered windows. It’s paired with a good sized formal dining room.

The wood floored all white kitchen with warm wood accents and the family room overlook the patio/atrium. Doors open to the patio. There is a powder room to the right off of the front entry.

Upstairs, the master suite includes two large closets and a bath with double sinks, granite counters, and a large shower.

Custom shutters throughout, coupled with sleek wood floors and snowy white carpet give this light filled home a poised elegance.

More specifics:
Two level condominium
Bedrooms, 3
Baths, 2-1/4
Attached, one common wall
Central furnace, newer central air
Laundry in garage
Double garage
Two parking spaces
Association pool, spa
Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? The quiet attractive inner loop location near the park, pool, playground and North Lake will be noted along with the light filled layout and space available inside and out. The outer space is snug, but it has been skillfully utilized providing a comfortable dining area in the back and an exceptional entry and side yard.

Who will move in? Buyers looking for a two level home in the inner loop of the Woodbridge community will check this property. Top notch schools will attract young families and the choice lake recreation assets will appeal to all ages of buyers looking for a key spot in Irvine.

Recent nearby listings: 109 East Yale Loop, $659,000; 32 Wetstone, #45, $575,000.

Recent nearby sales: 28 Willowgrove #13, $630,000; 14 Northgrove #26, $715,000.

Woodbridge Single Family Home with Designer Updates
30 Bluejay $837,000

Turning off of West Yale Loop, onto Burwood and then winding back to 30 Bluejay leads you to an example of a home using designer updates to compete in today’s market. Just down the street from Bluejay Park, and near the end of the cul de sac, this home sits in the outer loop of Woodbridge near Culver Drive. There is a little traffic noise outside. Inside, designer updates have been skillfully used from the inviting front curb landscaping to the immaculate stone floored patio in the back of the home. Each may help this property compete in today’s Woodbridge market. Brand new to the market, about five days, the home is listed at $837,000.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1978, this 1,549 sq. ft. home sits on a 3,920 sq. ft.lot at $540 a sq. ft. HOA dues are $82 a month.

Close up: Wrought iron gates and roses lead to a double door side entrance, where an atrium and wrap around patio create a light filled indoor/outdoor atmosphere. New doors and windows have been installed throughout the home. Wood floors, carpeting, recessed lighting and designer paints work well too.

On the right of the entry there is a good sized living room with fireplace. On the left there is a striking dining room paired with a gourmet kitchen.

The roomy kitchen has a breakfast bar, room for casual dining, new cabinets, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, granite counter tops and a custom tile back splash.

The private side and backyard offers a built in barbecue, stone flooring, artificial grass mixed with raised brick planter beds and detailed landscaping.

The roomy master suite also accesses the patio and includes a bath with walk in shower, custom tile work and granite counters with dual sinks. There are two more light filled bedrooms and another full bath, with laundry in the garage.

More specifics:
Single family home
Bedrooms, 3
Baths, 2 full
Detached/no common walls
Double Garage
Two parking spaces
Association pool, spa
Central furnace, central air
Laundry in the garage
Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? The question of the location in the outer loop near Culver, the immaculate presentation and striking designer upgrades and detailing inside and out, and the price in today’s market will all be evaluated as buyers compare this property to others in Woodbridge and other key spots in Irvine.

Who will move in? Young families looking for Woodbridge’s outstanding schools and parks and lake recreation may be drawn to this home. Other more mature buyers may be attracted to the sleek ready to move in presentation with a convenient all on one level living area with no steps.

Recent nearby listings: 21 Morning Dove, $849,000; 64 Del Venture, $715,000

Recent nearby sales: 38 Bluejay, $720,000; 26 Morning Dove $783,000

Turtle Rock Cottage With A Mix of Options

18705 Paseo Picasso $799,900

This breezy, light filled single level home is tucked into the corner of Turtle Rock that is bordered by Culver and Campus Drive. Nicely remodeled and freshly painted, the home is at the end of a cul de sac, with a privacy wall off the patio that backs up to a busy Culver Street. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and some traffic noise was apparent on the back patio. Additional foliage or fountains could be used as sound buffers. As a three bedroom, two bath attached home, the broker claims the $799,900 price is the least expensive home in Turtle Rock.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1974, the home has been on the market about 10 days. The home is 1,561 sq. ft. at $512 a square foot. The lot size is 3,485 sq. ft. and HOA dues are $100 a month.

Close up: Stepping into the entry, a large wood floored room offers a nice sweep of open space for the living room and dining area. There is an atrium on one side and patio with raised planter beds on the other. Sleek light wood floors, high ceilings and bold paint accents work well here. A newly remodeled kitchen with granite counters and a good sized window is ahead on the left with a hall to the master bedroom and bath on the right. The master also opens onto the patio.

Remodeling has worked throughout the home, updating the kitchen, moving a wall and changing a bar in the dining room into a roomy set of drawers for the master bath, and setting up the atrium for the spa. The house has also been replumbed so there are no pipes in the slab and there is a tankless water heater. There’s also a motorized awning on the patio and ceiling fans throughout. The roof has been replaced and a new skylight opens to cool the house.

More specifics:
Single family home
Bedrooms, 3
Baths, 2
One attached wall
Garage with built-in storage
Laundry in garage
Association pool, spa
Central furnace, central air
Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? The freshly painted open space, updating and remodeling, location and price of this home will all be weighed. Also, University High and the University of California, Irvine are just around the corner.

Who will move in? Someone looking for a central spot in Irvine near UCI may check this home. Also, buyers looking to find all living space on one level may consider this three bedroom, two bath in Turtle Rock.

Recent nearby listings: $899,000; 18771 Paseo Picasso, $799,900; 12 Seton Road, $689,900

Recent nearby sales: 4996 Paseo Segovia, $695,000; 5 Lassen, $658,000.