Venturing out to Portola Springs, I visited a spacious 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bathroom home with a large backyard and a 3 car tandem garage.

Asking Price: $1,249,888
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3.5
Square Footage: 2,717
Lot Size: 4,870
$/Sq Ft: $460
Days on Market: 15
Property Type: Residential, Single Family Mediterranean
Year Built: 2007
Community: Portola Springs – Keystone
HOA Fees: $135/month

There are Mello Roos taxes.

At the end of Gray Dove (three houses down), the street wraps around the block and across the street from the homes is a nicely landscaped slope with mature trees; however Portola Parkway sits on the other side. I did not notice traffic noise from Portola Parkway during my visit. The home’s entrance is located under a covered porch. There is space for a bench or a couple of chairs next to the front door. Once inside, beautiful natural stone floors flow throughout the first level of the home. The number of windows in each room provides ample light. The home looks clean and excellently maintained.

Immediately to the left is a light, open living room area. There are 3 large windows and a set of glass French doors which opens to a small square courtyard that has a path leading to the backyard.

Further down to the left, with another set of glass French doors leading to the same courtyard, is the dining room. It has a nook in the wall to provide extra space for furniture. Across from the dining room is the staircase, coat closet, entrance to the garage and half-bathroom. The dining room has a pass thru directly to the kitchen. The short pass thru has a set of lower cabinets under a large window.

The kitchen and family room are found at the back of the home. The rooms open up to each other. To the left is the kitchen with granite countertops, natural stone backsplash and a large rectangular island which contains a sink, dishwasher and additional cabinets for storage. There is space for bar seating at the island. One wall has a built-in refrigerator, oven and microwave. The perpendicular wall has a mix of solid wood and glass front cabinets. The gas range sits along the same wall, with additional drawers and cabinets on each side. There is a generous amount of counter space. At the end of the kitchen is an area in front of the windows and glass French doors that leads out to the backyard. It appears to have enough space to be used as a small casual eating nook.

The family room is a standard room with a nice fireplace. The 5 large windows open look out to the backyard and side yard, but leaves limited wall space in comparison to the room size.

The backyard is spacious and open. It is nicely landscaped with grass, plants, trees and a stone patio, with plenty of space for outdoor entertaining.

The half bathroom comes with a pedestal sink and a window to bring in natural light.

Going up to the second floor the stairs, as well as the bedrooms, are carpeted. Once upstairs, there is a laundry room with cabinets sitting above space for a side-by-side washer and dryer. A small window separates the appliances from a built-in sink and cabinets.

The master bedroom is a good size room with 5 large windows. An open arched doorway leads into the master bathroom. To the right are dual sinks separated by a large soaking tub. A large window sits above the tub. Along the back wall are the separate toilet and a shower with sitting bench and window. To the left is a large walk-in-closet. I am unsure whether a privacy door could be installed at the bathroom entrance to limit the light and noise into the bedroom.

Both secondary bedrooms have attached bathrooms which come with a single sink and a tub/shower combo. The first bedroom has two windows and a glass door that overlooks the courtyard. The door opens up to a small landing, not quite big enough to stand comfortably on. It has a walk-in closet. The bathroom’s sink has small tile backsplash and a white tile countertop. The tub/shower combo has the same white tile and accent as the sink’s backsplash. It is in clean, excellent condition.

The hallway leading to the last bedroom has windows and wood linen cabinets. The last bedroom is very large and has plenty of storage space with dual closets. The space is currently used a large entertainment/bonus room. The only difference with the attached bathroom is it uses pale yellow tile with blue accent tiles for the countertop and tub/shower surround.

This is a spacious 3 bedroom house. It would have been nice if the living room area by the front entrance was an enclosed room to provide an extra enclosed space in the house. However, the rooms are spacious and the bigger secondary bedroom has enough space to be used as a bedroom with office space. The backyard is large and the courtyard provides extra entertaining space. The home is clean and turn-key.

Open House Review: 28 Miners Trail, Irvine, CA 92620

March 24, 2014 by Joy

Today I saw a two-level home at 28 Miners Trail, which is located on the corner of Goldrush and Miners Trail in Northwood. It is a property with a private pool and spa in the backyard and sits at the entrance of a small community comprised of 4 short cul-de-sac streets.

Asking Price: $768,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,150

Lot Size: 4,356

$/Sq Ft: $357

Days on Market: 14

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1977

Community: Northwood – Willow Creek

There are no HOA dues or Mello Roos taxes.

The home is one of the lower priced properties of Northwood, at $357 per square foot. Why the low price? This 1977 home does not have central air, still has most original features in the bathrooms and has ceilings that have not been scraped. Carpet throughout the house is worn and the exterior of the house needs to be repainted. Only a few windows downstairs have been upgraded. The home backs to Northwood (a non-residential street) and I could hear the occasional cars driving by. This house sits on a corner with Northwood behind it, the entrance to 4 cul-de-sac streets (Goldmine) on the side, and Miners Trail in front of it.

On the plus side, it has indoor laundry (uncommon in many Northwood homes), and a nice size pool and jacuzzi. The tiled flooring in the home (most of downstairs and bathrooms) is updated and clean. The kitchen is updated, and although it may not be up to par as newer homes, it is clean and has plenty of cabinets for storage. The house is located across the street from Northwood Town Center Shopping Center and is close to a nice walking trail and Northwood Community Park.

The entrance is located on the side of the home, along Goldmine. To the left of the double front doors, is a small front patio with space to sit under a lattice. The windows in the living room and dining room are the only new windows in the home. Upon entry, the stairs and hallway leading to the family room are directly in front of you. Immediately to the right is a step-down living room and to the left is the dining room. The first floor, apart from the carpeted living room has nice tiled floors.

The step down living room has vaulted ceilings and plenty of light. The carpet is light colored and the room is standard.

The dining room has vaulted ceilings and an abundance of natural light. A sliding glass door leads out to the front sitting porch area. The windows on the perpendicular wall look out to the backyard.

The dining room has an open doorway that leads into the kitchen. The kitchen has been partly remodeled and opens up to the family room. There is space for a couple of bar stools on the family room side of the peninsula. The old panel lighting was removed and recessed lighting was installed, partially raising the ceiling. The countertops are 4×4 white tiles, the original cabinets are painted white and the appliances are all white. There are pantry cabinets as well as plenty of upper and lower cupboards and drawers. If you like a lot of counter space then this kitchen would work well for you. The double sink sits in front of a window that overlooks the backyard. It is a split sink, so one sink is along one counter and the other side is on the peninsula, facing the bar stools. Additional natural light comes through a narrow window which runs across the counter top, under the cupboards.

The family room is a long rectangular shape. A single glass door, with a large window on each side of the glass door, leads to the backyard. At the other end of the family room are a wet bar, laundry room and garage entrance. There is not a lot of natural light since no windows are located on the far wall between the two ends of the room. The fireplace is brick and the wall it is located on has wood paneling covering the wall. The wet bar has a single black sink and original cabinets painted white above the bar and below the counter. Next to the wet bar is the laundry room with space for a side by side washer and dryer. Cabinets are located above the laundry machines. In front of the machines, on the back wall is a rack to hang up some clothes.

The backyard is a nice size, but comprises mostly of the pool and jacuzzi with concrete surrounding it. If you are looking for a private pool, this is a great property. However, there is no grass and I did not see any type of safety fencing around the pool. There is space for narrow tables or seats around the pool, but there is not a large area to set out a large table with seating for entertaining.

The half bath downstairs has new fixtures and the original cabinets are painted. The counter top is original but the lighting has been replaced with recessed lights. The same tile flooring is found in the bathroom as the rest of the first floor. It is in clean condition. A big coat closet is found across from the bathroom, under the staircase.

The staircase, landing and bedrooms upstairs are carpeted. The railing is original so it currently has netting placed along the railing at the top of the landing for safety purposes. Three bedrooms are found on the second floor. On the right are the two secondary bedrooms. The first bedroom is found through double doors. It is a spacious room and slightly larger than the other bedroom. It has a walk-in closet versus the second bedroom’s double sliding door closet. The second bedroom is the only room with scraped ceilings. Both bedrooms look out towards the front of the home.

The shared bathroom has many original features; fluorescent lighting, original counter top, bathtub and tile surround in the tub area. The cabinets have been painted white and the tub/shower combo has newer sliding glass doors. The tile flooring looks newer.

Outside of the master bedroom are cabinets for linens. The master bedroom has double doors leading into a standard size room. The room has vaulted ceilings and plenty of natural light coming in through two large windows and a sliding glass door leading to a small balcony. The balcony looks like it could use some fresh paint. A room air conditioning unit takes up some space on the right hand side of the balcony. The view overlooks the backyard, Northwood and the shopping center across the street. Dual sliding closet doors are next to the bedroom entry.

An open entry to the bathroom leads to another set of mirrored closet doors, dual sinks, a tiled bathtub and a separate toilet. The bathroom is carpeted, and in original condition with paint on the cabinets chipped and the tub/shower completely lined with 4×4 tiles, which definitely dates the tub. There is plenty of counter space and a spot at the countertop to place a chair underneath and sit in between the two sinks.

This is a nice layout but a buyer may want to consider the location and would have to desire a private pool. Having a neighborhood comprised of small cul-de-sac streets is an advantage if you have children. There are plenty of things that could be done to make it more modern but does the lower price make it worth buying and upgrading to your own liking?

18 Diamante is a single level, zero-lot-line property with a mix of original features and some upgrades. One special feature is that the house backs to a walking trail and one of the two Association pools, which provides a private and open feel to the backyard. The home is walking distance to the pools, elementary and middle schools.

Asking Price: $718,800

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,543

Lot Size: 4,356

$/Sq Ft: $465

Days on Market: 12

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1980

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

With it being on a zero-lot-line there are no windows on one side of the home. This house has scraped ceilings, updated kitchen and bathroom countertops, stainless steel appliances, updated lighting and a nice private backyard. The windows are original and some of the carpet is worn. The bathrooms are a mix of new and old. The flooring in the home is a mix of tile, laminate and carpet.

The front door is located on the side of the home, beyond a white iron fence. The same pathway continues along the side of the home to the backyard. The entrance leads into a tiled area with a half wall immediately on the left separating the entryway from the step down living room. Straight ahead is a sliding glass door leading out to the atrium. In front of the atrium is a set of built-in bookshelves. The garage entrance is located to the left, between the atrium and the living room. To the right is a short hallway that leads to the kitchen, family room and back to the bedrooms.

The living room has vaulted ceilings and 3 windows which bring in an abundance of natural light. The atrium brings in additional light to the area. The living room has a floral carpet and a remodeled fireplace. The half wall which separates itself from the entrance is the living room’s built-in bookshelf.

The atrium is tiled and has 3 beams running across the opening up top. It currently has a lot of plants. The atrium has two windows along the right hand wall which are the two secondary bedroom’s windows.

The hallway leading to the back of the house has a coat closet and leads to one big rectangular space which consists of the kitchen, eating nook and family room. The kitchen is to the right with a peninsula that separates the kitchen from a small dining area. Both areas have the same tile flooring as the entrance area. The peninsula has room for bar seating. The old panel lighting was removed and recessed lighting was installed, partially raising the ceiling. A large garden window looks out to the same side as the home’s entrance. The cabinets are original, but the countertop and backsplash are updated with granite and the appliances are stainless steel. There are plenty of cabinets and drawers for storage, as well as a floor to ceiling pantry.

The eating nook has one of the three sliding doors leading to the yard. It is a smaller eating area and the tile flooring defines the area, since the family room has laminate wood flooring.

The family room has cathedral ceilings and a large sliding glass door. It creates an open feel. There are built-in cabinets along the left hand wall, but it does not appear to have an area for a television. The room creates a good social setting and flow into the backyard.

Another hallway leads back to the shared bathroom. A linen closet sits to the left of the bathroom, outside of the two secondary bedrooms. The master bedroom is to the right, facing the backyard.

The bathroom is partially upgraded with a new granite countertop, mirror and lighting. The newer sink and toilet are black. The tub/shower combo has clean sliding glass doors; however the tub, hardware and tiles look original.

To the right is the master bedroom with a sliding glass door leading to the backyard. It brings in a lot of natural light. The carpet is tan, but looks a bit worn. The room is a decent size with two sets of mirrored closets on separate walls. The partially remodeled bathroom is located through a large opening and has two sinks and a good amount of counter space. A new mirror, lighting and counter top have been installed. To the right is the separate shower and toilet. The shower pan looked a bit worn and while the 4×4 tiles are original, it was in good condition. A narrow window was located at the top of the shower wall. There is no tub in the master.

The other two bedrooms are average in size and have windows looking into the atrium. The first bedroom has pink paint and pink carpet which is worn. It has a mirrored double sliding closet. The other bedroom is used as an office. It has the same floral carpet as the living room. The closet doors have been removed and the space is utilized with built-in cabinets and shelves.

The backyard has no grass, but is nicely hardscaped and has raised planters with fruit trees. It also has a large retractable awning. It is a great space to eat outside and for entertaining. With the wall backing to a walking path, which is on a lower elevation, it creates a private, open space.

18 Diamante has a nice, open layout. It is desirable for anyone looking for a single story home with great community amenities.

The original asking price of $850,000 dropped since the first days the home was listed. On March 4, the price was reduced to $839,900 which I think better reflects the home and some of the recent sales in the area.

The basics:

Asking Price: $839,900

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,088

Lot Size: 4,792

$/Sq Ft: $402

Days on Market: 25

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 it being on a zero-lot-line there are no windows on one side of the home. This house has laminate flooring throughout the first floor, on the staircase and landing of the second floor. It also has clean carpet in the bedrooms, scraped ceilings, clean interior paint and plantation shutters throughout. The windows are mostly original and one of the shared bathrooms is a mix of new and old. The backyard backs to Hicks Canyon (a non-residential street), and although it is not a major street, I could hear the random cars drive by. This house sits on a corner, with Hicks Canyon behind it, the entrance to Entrada East and West on the side, and Entrada West in front of it. However, Entrada wraps around a corner and is a cul-de-sac street so there is not a lot of traffic. The backyard was mostly brick with a corner with dirt, but is advertised to be getting new sod.

The home is walking distance to the community pools and elementary school.

Upon entry, a short hallway and the stairs are directly in front of you and the living room is to the left. To the right, behind the open door, is the dining room. The living room and entrance have cathedral ceilings. There is plenty of light in the rooms and a set of glass French doors are located in the dining room, leading out the backyard.

The kitchen and family room are at the back of the house. The kitchen was remodeled with new cabinets and man-made countertop. The old panel lighting was removed and recessed lighting was installed. The appliances are white and the kitchen is in excellent condition. There is space for bar stools on the family room side of the large counter.

There is a small casual eating nook that can fit a small table and a couple of chairs in front of a large kitchen window looking out to the backyard. The window runs up the wall and continues up, becoming a windowed ceiling in the eating nook.

The rectangular family room is pretty standard, with a remodeled fireplace at one end and a new sliding door out to the backyard. In the back corner is a small nook that has built-in upper cabinets.

The backyard has a built-in bar-b-q and is has a brick patio with a small dirt corner that looks like it once had grass.

The half bath downstairs is located at the back of the family room, next to the garage entrance. It has a newer pedestal sink and tile flooring. A hall closet is found under the stairs.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The master is located at the front of home, above the garage. It’s a decent size room with new carpet and cathedral ceilings. Two sets of large windows bring in an abundance of light. The remodeled bathroom is located through a large opening and has two sinks and plenty of counter space. Travertine floors, new light wood cabinets and a man-made countertop have been installed. To the left is a walk-in closet. To the right is the separate shower with plain 4×4 tiles and a toilet. There is no tub in the master.

The shared bathroom located outside of the master bedroom has newer sinks but the cabinets are original. The tub/shower combo and flooring look like they were outdated.

The other three bedrooms are average in size and are in nice condition with new carpet and clean painted. Two have a large window looking out towards the backyard, which also looks out to Hicks Canyon. The first bedroom has built-in closet organizers behind the mirrored sliding closet doors. The other two have smaller closets.

2 Entrada West is a great home for a family. The home is move-in ready and close to the schools and community’s amenities. However, one deciding factor would be the location. The streets do not have high traffic, but having traffic on three sides of the house may want to be considered.

This week I am reviewing Stonegate’s Santa Clara floor plan at 72 Overbrook which is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condominium. The living space is located up a set of stairs upon entering the home from the 2 car garage or front entrance on ground level. Last month I reviewed the smallest floorplan at 168 Overbrook.

Asking Price: $559,000

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,322

Price per Square Foot: $423

Property Type: Residential, Condominium

Style: Two Level, Contemporary

Year Built 2013

Community: Stonegate, Santa Clara

HOA Fees: $308

Mello Roos: Yes

Days on Market: 11

72 Overbrook sits one building over from the street, so a set of parallel buildings sits on each side of the residence. Three visitor parking spaces sit in front of the building and there is additional street parking. Upon entry, you enter into a gray tiled entryway with the garage entrance and cream carpeted staircase on the right. All of the rooms upstairs, apart from the tiled kitchen and bathrooms have the cream carpet. The carpet and paint are clean and the windows have plantation shutters and blinds.

Once upstairs, the open kitchen is to the right and a rectangular room consisting of a dining and living room is towards the left. With high ceilings and plenty of windows, plus a single glass door leading to the balcony, there is an abundance of natural light. There may not be a lot of privacy on the balcony with windows from other housing directly across the alley. The kitchen is to the right with white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The peninsula with a double sink and the dishwasher has space for bar seating. On the perpendicular wall is a gas range. The refrigerator and built-in microwave sit along the back wall. The counter wraps around to a half wall that overlooks the staircase, which consists of lower cabinets and a couple of drawers. There are plenty of cabinets; however the kitchen lacks a pantry.

The dining area accommodates a nice sized dining table. The living room has a white built-in entertainment center with space for a television, drawers and cabinets for storage, and a small space to sit and work on a computer. The door to the balcony sits in between the living and dining areas. It runs the length of the rooms and has space for a bar-b-que and a few chairs. It is narrow so it can’t sit a large table, but it is definitely nice to have a larger space to relax outside.

A hallway leads to the bedrooms, bathrooms and closet for laundry. Immediately to the right is a narrow linen closet which sits outside of the secondary bedroom. The bedroom is a nice size with mirrored double closet doors. Next to the room is the master bedroom with a large window along the back wall and two windows on the perpendicular wall. It is an average size master bedroom with an open entry into the bathroom. It appears a door could potentially be installed at the bathroom entrance.

Immediately to the right is a walk-in shower with standard 4×4 white tiles. Along the same wall is the separate toilet with a large window which brings in natural light. The walk-in closet sits against the back wall in between the toilet and double sinks. The bathroom, like all of the rooms is in excellent condition.

Immediately outside of the master bedroom is a single closet door that fits a stackable washer and dryer. On the other side of the hallway from the bedrooms is the shared bathroom. It has a single sink and large tub/shower combo.

72 Overbrook is in excellent condition but the square footage price seems a bit high in comparison to some of the comps. The paint and carpet, as well as the bathrooms and kitchen are clean. The only downfalls I noticed were the lack of pantry in the kitchen and the lack of separation between the master and secondary bedroom. The home is light and airy and sits close to the parks and pool. The larger balcony is also a big advantage.