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A Review of the Birch Trail Tract at Pavilion Park

Today I am reviewing Birch Trail, the smallest of the ten Pavilion Park’s developments and the only neighborhood built by Richmond American Homes. Eighty-eight homes will feature an Americana-themed architecture and all come with a two-car garage, six solar panels, granite countertops, recessed lighting and front yard landscape package with irrigation. In Residence 1 (Neil) and 2 (Nelson), all bedrooms are located on the second floor, with the option for a bedroom on the first floor in Residence 2 (Nelson). Residence 3 has a bedroom on the ground floor with the option for an additional bedroom.

Residence 1 (Neil) Residence 2 (Nelson) Residence 3 (Newton)
Approx 1,878 Sq Ft Approx 2,011 Sq Ft Approx 2,388 Sq Ft
3 Bed 3 Bed + *Study 4 Bed + *Study
2.5 Baths 3 Baths 3 Baths
Base Price $719,990 Base Price $739,990 Base Price 789,990
*Optional 4th Bedroom *Optional 5th Bedroom

Approximate HOA Dues: $138 – $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.1%

Approximate Mello Roos: $4,400 – $5,400 (based upon the square footage of the home) and subject to an increase by 2% per year.

Residence 1 (Neil) Floor Plan

Residence 2 (Nelson) Floor Plan

Residence 3 (Newton) Floor Plan

Community Amenities include a playground, swimming pools, sport courts, spa, great lawn, pavilion and greenhouse & garden.

All Pavilion Park homes are currently slated to attend Irvine public schools:

– Canyon View Elementary School

– Jeffrey Trail Middle School

– Northwood High School

These schools are subject to change. A new K-8 school is slated to open in the Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 and there are also plans for a new high school in the area.

Standard amenities list

Pricing as of 10/12/2013

The only way to be aware of any upgrades is to check against the handout listing the standard features, which made it challenging to walk through the models and recognize upgraded features. It was a nice surprise to see that the standard bathroom amenities included tiled shower areas (instead of the pre-fabricated fiberglass) and that bedrooms and the family room were prewired for fans. But my all-time favorite standard is the six solar panels.

This particular builder, Richmond American Homes, offers a Sellers Edge Program that can benefit the Buyer if particular requirements are met in the case he/she decides to sell their current home and simultaneously buy a Birch Trail home with a referred 1-2-3 HomeKeys agent. Some of the benefits include, but are not limited to a Commission Rebate of 2%, home staging, a check for $2,500.

Residence One (Neil)

Approx. 1,878 square feet

3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

Base Price from $719,990

Style Options: Elevation A – C

Neil consists of three bedrooms upstairs, a shared bathroom, and a master bathroom with an optional enlarged shower or walk-in shower. Among other standards, the home includes six solar panels. The model home incorporates many of the upgrades, including tiled living room floor, additional cabinetry in the kitchen and linen closet area, as well as dual sinks in the upstairs bathroom. In my opinion, the overall first floor layout has flaws that deem this to be my least favorite model.

The entrance is located under a small covered porch, which leaves room for one chair. I entered into a small square area which opens immediately into the great room. Looking towards the back of the house, I immediately noticed the dishwasher placed in the middle of the back wall. The room brings in plenty of natural light with 6 windows and a sliding glass door. The coat closet is in the hallway located between the living room and kitchen. The hallway consists of a linen closet, garage entrance and half bathroom before leading to the stair case.

The dining area is limited in space due to it being surrounded by the kitchen island, the extended countertop/cabinets running across the entire back wall and the sliding door leading to the small backyard. However, the extended countertop and cabinetry provides ample storage space.

The kitchen consists of a small island with room for a couple of bar stools. Along the back wall sits the refrigerator, oven, and a counter top that runs the rest of the length of the wall, with the sink and dishwasher in the center. The wall adjacent to the refrigerator consists of a hallway opening that leads into a hall with a handy built in desk, walk-in pantry, a laundry room with a sink and a small storage area beneath the stair case. The built-in desk is a great place to have a computer or place bills/mail on. Next to the hallway opening is the stovetop.

There are a few things that bother me with this layout. The distance between the sink and the stovetop is too far, especially with the island hindering smooth transition between the two areas. I cannot imagine prepping food and having to walk so far to the stovetop, and worse, having to carry a heavy pot of boiled pasta/veggies and walking so far to strain it in the sink. In addition, with the sink and dishwasher centered against the back wall, anyone entering the house can plainly see if there is a pile of dirty dishes left on the countertop. Another big downfall is the inconvenience of the laundry room’s location. Someone would have to walk down the stairs, through the kitchen, through the pantry area and back to the laundry area.

The backyard is small in size and located off the dining room’s sliding glass door.

The downstairs bathroom has a pedestal sink and toilet.

Upstairs, the secondary bedrooms are placed each side of the hallway. They are both on the smaller side and similar in size. Each bedroom has a two-door sliding closet. On the left, between the secondary bedroom and master bedroom is a shared bathroom. The model includes the optional double sink, but does not have the optional door separating the sinks from the toilet and tub/shower combo.

The master bedroom has two smaller windows to the left and a larger window on the adjacent wall. The bedroom is a decent size. The master bathroom has dual sinks with no counter space on the outside of both sinks and limited space between the sinks. There is a large walk-in closet and separate toilet. The model includes a walk-in shower with dual shower heads. A different option includes a tub and enlarged shower. There is an optional bathroom door that can be added, and would block out any of the light in the mornings if one person was utilizing the bathroom while another was sleeping.

Residence 1 (Neil) is the smallest of the Birch Trail residences. As mentioned above, my biggest complaint is the kitchen layout, which I find inconvenient. Another downfall is the small backyard. I wish the laundry room was better located as well. This was my least favorite layout.

Residence Two (Nelson)

Approximately 2,011 Sq Ft

3 Bedrooms, Study (with optional 4th Bedroom)

3 Bathrooms

Base Price from $739,990

Style Options: Elevation A – C

Residence Two model is Elevation A. The home is designed to be a corner lot, with the garage on one side of the house and the entrance on the adjacent side. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs, with an option to convert the first level study into a 4th bedroom.

A covered porch, with space for a couple of chairs and small table, leads up to the entrance. Upon entering, the staircase and study are located to the right. A short hallway is straight ahead consisting of a bathroom, coat closet and garage entrance. The left hand opening leads into the great room.

The study in the model home includes the optional built-in bookcase. It is a smaller room which includes a closet and an option to install double doors. Another option is to convert the room into a fourth bedroom. The single bedroom door entrance would also be located in the short hallway, across from the bathroom.

The bathroom has a single sink and tub/shower combo.

The great room has 2 sliding glass doors and 3 windows spread throughout the kitchen, dining room and living room which bring in an abundance of light. The dining area sits between the kitchen and living room. A covered patio is accessed from the living room. It is small patio with space for a couple of chairs and table. The backyard is small.

The kitchen has plenty of cupboards and storage space. Unlike the first residence, the layout is functional but the island does not have space for seating. It does however provide additional storage in the kitchen/dining area.

Upstairs you will find the laundry room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The staircase leads you up to the first secondary bedroom. It’s a decent sized room with a small walk-in closet.

Adjacent to the bedroom is a small laundry room which includes the optional cabinets. There is no sink or counter space so it seems that the cabinets would be a necessity for a homeowner, depending on the type of washer/dryer they owned.

Across from the laundry room is the shared bathroom and next to it, in the back corner, is another secondary bedroom. The bathroom model includes the optional dual sinks which still leaves a good amount of counter space. There is a separate toilet and tub/shower combo.

The back secondary bedroom is slightly smaller than the other. It also has a small walk-in closet.

The master bedroom entrance is located in a separate short hallway between the laundry room and back bedroom, which creates a sense of privacy. A very large linen closet is located in the hallway in front of the master bedroom door. Natural light fills the room with two windows along each of the two adjacent walls. There are also 4 windows in the master bathroom which bring in extra light. The master bedroom is a decent size. Entering the master bathroom, a large walk in closet is immediately to the right, next to a large shower and a separate small room with another linen closet and the toilet. I was surprised to see the shower floor was not tile, but a type of fiberglass. Along the left side are dual sinks separated by a large tub. Each sink has plenty of counter space. There is an optional bathroom door that can be added, and would block out any of the light in the mornings if one person was utilizing the bathroom while another was sleeping.

The layout of Residence 2 is much better than Residence 1. The option to have a downstairs bedroom may appeal to many buyers. Whether the room is used as a study or bedroom, it could serve as multiple purposes. However, the rooms in this model felt small, along with the backyard. Although the master bathroom was large with additional linen storage, it would not be my preference to have the tub between the two split sinks. It also felt like some of the features I would expect to be standard, are options: optional double sinks, cabinets in the laundry room.

Residence Three (Newton)

Approximately 2,350 Sq Ft

Main Home: 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms + Study (with optional 5th Bedroom)

Base Price from $789,900

Style Options: Elevations A – C

Residence Three is the largest and the only model that comes with a standard bedroom on the first floor and a balcony on the second floor. There is also a first floor study which is the optional fifth bedroom and comes with the option of having a door directly accessing the backyard covered patio. Upstairs consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and the laundry room.

The entrance is located under a small covered porch that is not as open as Residence 2’s. With it being darker and set back it would not be used as a sitting porch. Entering the home you come into a foyer with space to have a table or chairs against the wall. The staircase and entrance into the great room are found straight ahead. To the right is the entrance to a small hallway that consists of a coat closet, study, bathroom and bedroom.

The study is a nice size room with a large window facing the backyard on the back wall and one on the adjacent wall that faces the covered patio. The room has the option of substituting the window into a door for direct accesses to the covered patio. The option for the door is available even if the space was selected as a fifth bedroom. As a fifth bedroom, a two-door sliding closet would be placed immediately to the left and would be smaller than the other secondary bedroom on the first floor.

A bathroom with optional dual sinks and an option to have a separate toilet and tub/shower combo sits between the study and other bedroom. The model includes both options. Even with dual sinks, there is plenty of counter space.

The bedroom faces the front of the house and has 3 windows that bring in a lot of light. As previously mentioned, it is bigger than the study and with it being separate from the living space, it would appeal to buyers that have guests, older family members or just want a bedroom on the first floor.

The great room has a kitchen with a window over the sink, the door to access the garage and this particular model depicts the option of a working desk and cabinets installed between the great room entrance and the pantry. The small dining area has a sliding glass door to the small narrow side of the backyard. I am not quite sure what the purpose of the dining room sliding door is since there is no space to play or entertain on the side of the house. The living room has 3 windows and a glass door out to covered patio. There is plenty of natural light that floods the room.

The optional desk and cabinets make a great place to have mail or files you want to easily access. It is also a great place to have oversight of children on the computer or doing homework. However, if you are comfortable using the study for your everyday files/mail/computer, the room may look larger without the option. However, even without it, the dining area remains small and restricted since it primarily is located between the kitchen island, pantry and great room entrance.

When entering the great room, immediately to the left is the optional desk and the kitchen’s large double door pantry, refrigerator and garage door. On the adjacent wall is the oven and stovetop with plenty of counter space. To the right is the sink and dishwasher. The kitchen island is small and in my opinion it hinders the flow from the sink/prep area to the refrigerator. The kitchen has plenty of cupboards and storage.

Like the other models, the backyard is small. The covered patio is a nice feature that can sit a couple of chairs and small table.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, as well as a laundry room. This is the only model with a balcony which faces the front of the house.

Immediately to left is a secondary bedroom. Although the floor plan depicts two windows, the model has 3 windows. The secondary bedrooms and bathroom appear to be the exact same sizes as the first floor. Again, the bathroom has optional dual sinks but it depicts a bathroom without the optional separated toilet and tub/shower comb. Adjacent to it is the other secondary bedroom that is the same size as the bedroom downstairs. It is bedroom which is slightly larger.

Walking out of the secondary bedroom, a small window on the left overlooks the balcony. Around the corner from the window sits the single door to the balcony. The balcony can fit a couple of chairs and small table.

Adjacent to the balcony is the laundry room. The model home has the optional cabinets above the washer/dryer as well as the optional cabinets installed under the countertop on the side of the machines. A sink is not available in the list of options.

The master bedroom is located off of a short hallway with optional linen cabinets installed. It is nice that the bedroom is on the opposite corner of the secondary bedrooms, providing more privacy. The room brings in a lot of light with two smaller windows on the back wall and three larger windows on the wall to the right, which overlook the backyard. The room is a nice size. An optional bathroom door is offered to block out any of the light in the mornings if one person was utilizing the bathroom while another was sleeping.

The bathroom has a big tub immediately to the right and a shower with two sliding glass doors immediately to the left. Across from the tub and shower are split sinks with plenty of counter space. Beyond the sinks are a separate toilet and an L-shaped large walk-in closet.

This model, with a downstairs bedroom and the option of having either a study or a fifth bedroom will appeal to many buyers. The dining areas in all three residences feel restricted and I wish there was a larger area for a bigger dining table. The biggest complaint I have is the location of the refrigerator with regards to the sink and kitchen island. However, I like the privacy and location of the master bedroom. The master bathroom layout is also my favorite. Which model is your favorite?

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,11010.0.html

Open House Review: 18 Christamon

Just put on the market, 18 Christamon #30 is a two level, three bedroom townhouse with an attached two car garage. It is a middle unit, sitting on a quiet, nice path.

Asking Price: $525,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 1,383

Lot Size: 1,000 sq ft

Price per Square Foot: $380

Property Type: Residential, Townhouse

Style: Two Level, Capecod

Year Built 1984

Community: Northwood, Amberwood

Days on Market: 8

HOA $329/mo

There are no Mello Roos.

Walking up to the home, a small patio sits next to the front door.

With the home being adjacent to neighbors on both sides, the windows, which are original, face either the front or back of the home, but the rooms are light and bright. Cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms are original but some upgrades have been made and the rooms are in excellent, clean condition. The home’s walls are cleanly painted. The first floor has laminate or wood flooring while the rest of the house has carpet, which shows some wear on the staircase and few places upstairs. The ceilings are smooth and some of the lights have been upgraded.

Upon entering there is a small dining area and small kitchen to the left. Part of the kitchen wall opens up to the living room. The kitchen’s lighting is upgraded to recessed lighting and the flooring is tile. The white 4×4 tile countertop matches the white appliances and the kitchen is in great condition. There are not a lot of cabinets for storage, but a small pantry is located at the far end of the kitchen.

The living room has a remodeled fireplace.

The half bathroom, small coat closet, entrance to the garage and staircase are located in the back left of the first floor. The bathroom has original cabinets and countertops, but the cabinets have been nicely painted. The flooring is tiled and shows nicely.

The upstairs has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The linen closet and secondary bedrooms are to the right while the bathroom is straight ahead. The master bedroom is to the left. The secondary bedrooms are similar in size and both overlook the alley with the neighboring townhouse garages. The first bedroom has a small walk in closet, while the second bedroom has a two-door sliding closet.

The bathroom is mostly original but has updated tile flooring and fresh paint which shows nicely. It comes with a single sink and tub/shower combination.

The master bedroom is a good size with an extra alcove and large walk-in closet. The windows face the front of the home. The downfalls of the master area are the carpet that runs into the toilet/sink area and the lack of a door between the bathroom and bedroom. However, these are items are fixable. The toilet is separate from the double sinks and large shower. There is plenty of counter space between the sinks.

Overall, the condo is in good condition and the layout is nice. The only downfalls are the lack of kitchen cabinets, the carpet in the master bathroom and lack of a door between the master bedroom and bathroom. Even though the bathrooms have many original features, they are very well maintained. The community pool is very close to the unit. The home is also within walking distance of Santiago Hills Elementary and Sierra Vista Middle Schools.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,10991.0.html

Open House Review: 13 Carlina

Today I saw a house at 13 Carlina. It is a two story, zero lot line property with a nice flat back yard. Finding large secondary bedroom sizes, especially for this area, was a pleasant surprise.

Asking Price: $789,900

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,061

Lot Size: 4,356 sq ft

Price per Square Foot: $383

Property Type: Residential, Single Family

Style: Two Level

Year Built 1979

Community: Northwood, Amberwood

Days on Market: 29

There are no HOA Fees or Mello Roos.

The house is nicely situated on a quiet cul-de-sac but backs to Park Place which has some residential traffic (Speed Limit is 40). A small covered porch with room for a couple of chairs leads up the front the door.

Although the house has many upgrades such as scraped ceilings, crown molding and wood flooring downstairs, 6 paneled doors, some new windows and recessed lights, I could not help but notice a musky scent in the family room and hallway. It appears there may be a pet residing at the house so I am not sure if is due to the pet or if it was just a temporary scent. The kitchen and upstairs bathrooms have original cabinets and could definitely use remodeling, but are functional with good amounts of storage. Some of the windows are still original and the master bathroom needs to be updated.

Upon entering there is a small coat closet and the staircase directly in front of you. To the left is the living room and dining area which shares one large rectangular space. Off of the living room is a small hallway that leads to a small powder room, one entrance to the kitchen and the family room.

There is plenty of natural light shining through the multiple windows located in the entrance area, living room and dining area. The living room has built-in bookshelves and cabinets built under the staircase. A good sized dining table can be accommodated in the dining area..

One of the two entrances into the kitchen is located off of the dining room. With original cabinets and a 4×4 tile countertop, the kitchen could use updating. The painted hinges and cabinets shows chipped paint. The appliances have been upgraded to white appliances and the original fluorescent lighting has been replaced with recessed lighting. The kitchen felt a bit narrow and foot traffic may crowd the are when multiple people are utilizing the area. To the right of the entrance is the double oven and stovetop, while the left had side had the refrigerator, dishwasher and sink. Straight ahead is a breakfast peninsula and pantry, with the family room located on the other side. The second entrance to the kitchen is to the right, which leads you to the small hallway. The location of the powder room is awkwardly placed directly across from the entrance to the kitchen. It’s a tight space but fits a small toilet and pedestal sink.

The family room appeared a bit darker since it only consisted of one sliding glass door leading to the backyard. The garage entrance is found at the opposite end of the room. An original brick fireplace is located to the right of the sliding glass door. On the backside of the kitchen pantry are storage cabinets facing the family room.

The backyard is a nice flat rectangular shape. Accessible through the dining room french doors or family room sliding door, the patio is covered and provides a nice little area for entertaining. There is enough grass to play on and/or for a pet. Park Place is the street backing to the yard.

Upstairs to the right you will find a secondary bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom. To the left are two secondary bedrooms, linen closets and bathroom. Some people do not like the lack of separation between the master bedroom and secondary bedrooms. By sharing a wall, a sense of privacy is lost.

The secondary bedrooms are all large in size, with 3-door closets and plenty of room for extra furniture pieces in addition to a double or queen sized bed. There is space for kids to play in their rooms. One of the secondary bedrooms faces the backyard, thus overlooks Park Place.

The linen closets are located across from the bathroom door. The bathroom has a single sink and tub/shower combination. It appears to be outdated and some of the original features could use remodelling.

Double doors lead into the nice sized master bedroom. There is plenty of sunlight coming in from the large bedroom window and the two bathroom windows, which all face the backyard/Park Place. The walk in closet is in the sleeping area, next to the bed. It was surprisingly deep and provided ample hanging storage.

The bathroom is an open concept solution and the carpet continues into the sink/vanity area. There is no bathroom door separating the bathroom sink area from the bedroom, which can be a disturbance if one person is sleeping and the other is getting ready in the bathroom. Currently the countertop runs along two perpendicular walls, and there is only one existing sink which sits outside of the separate toilet and bath/shower combo. The bathtub is large, but the entire tub is tiled with 4×4 white tiles, which dates it. There is plenty of storage next to the toilet for towels and bathroom supplies. Overall there is a great potential to remodel the bathroom into an amazing area.

If you are looking for a home with larger secondary bedrooms, a yard to play in and a safer street for kids to go out to bike/play on, 13 Carlina would be a good house to look at. One downfall is the layout of the second floor, with the master bedroom amongst the secondary bedrooms. The price seems high for the amount of work that is required in the bathrooms and kitchen, but at the right price, this would give the buyer the opportunity to customize it with their own design and tastes.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,10964.0.html

A Review of the Springhouse Tract at The Great Park

Last week Karen started reviewing one of the ten new sets of developments debuted in the Pavilion Park area of the Great Park Neighborhoods, which opened at the end of September. She reviewed Roundtree, the second smallest and today I will review Springhouse, the third smallest of the ten developments. All residences have a 2 car garage and an Outdoor Room. Residence 3 is the only plan with its own separate living quarters (consisting of a Den, Bathroom and Bedroom) with its own entrance, which would be perfect for extended families or guests.

Residence 1 Residence 2 Residence 3
2,161 Sq Ft 2,348 Sq Ft 2,481 Sq Ft
3 Bed 4 Bed 4 Bed + Den
2.5 Baths 3 Baths 3.5 Baths
Base Price $760,990 Base Price $790,990 Base Price 823,000
Approx Mello Roos:$4,981 Approx Mello Roos:$5,441

Approx Mello Roos:$5,902

Approximate HOA Dues: $138 – $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.1%

The Property Management was not as organized as I had expected. It took multiple attempts just to obtain any of the Base Prices as well as the Approximate Mello Roos of Residence 2. They said they would e-mail me information, and I never received it. When I inquired about identifying upgraded features in the models, they stated they were the first development with model homes to be on display, therefore they were not sure how to present the upgrades in each model. The only way to be aware of any upgrades is to check against the “Included Features” handout, which made it inconvenient and challenging to walk through the models and recognize upgraded features. I would have hoped they could label or find a better method after time had elapsed.

Here is a link to the standard amenities. link

None of the models represent the optional Conservatory. The Conservatory would simply use the Outdoor Room and include that space as part of the Great Room if someone chooses to have a bigger Great Room instead. The only way to preview the installed option is by going into the office and viewing it on their computer.

Note that the backyards all have a sign stating that it does not represent the true average size of the backyards, which I found rather annoying. The actual lot size of the homes is approximately 4,400 square feet. The Management office said that the true size would be about half the size in Residence 1 and 2, and it is closer to being represented correctly in Residence 3.

Residence One

2,161 square feet

3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms

Base Price from $760,990

Style Options: Spanish (A) , Farmhouse (B), American Cottage (C)

When I entered the home I noticed it was Farmhouse style due to the décor and wood farmhouse closet door upstairs. The stairs were immediately to my right. A bathroom and a coat closet with extra storage under the stairs were down further to my right and a hallway straight ahead led to the kitchen, small dining area and great room. The bathroom had a toilet and upgraded pedestal sink.

The end of the hallway leads you directly into the great room. It is an open square room with the flexibility to arrange it comfortably in a couple of different ways. There are plenty of large windows that provide an abundance of light and a view to the backyard.

The kitchen shows upgraded cabinetry, backsplash, sink and flooring. It has a rectangular island with bar seating. The island contains the sink and the dishwasher. The location of the dishwasher is awkward since it is on the farthest side of the island from the rest of the kitchen’s cabinets/drawers. The oven, refrigerator, large pantry, and garage entry are located on the wall behind the sink. Along the perpendicular wall is the stovetop. The countertop and drawers run across the entire wall. It provides plenty of storage, but with the counter running along the entire wall, it leaves a smaller area for a dining table.

The backyard in all models features an outdoor room. Residence One’s outdoor room is a small covered outdoor entertaining space, and it was placed a bit awkwardly directly between the kitchen slider and yard, which makes it difficult to maneuver around a desired table centered between chairs in the outdoor area. Note, that the yard has a sign that clearly states that it does not represent the true size of their backyards, which was a huge disappointment. The Management office said that the true size would be about half the size.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a laundry room. The master bedroom is off a small hallway to the side as soon as you get upstairs, which creates a sense of privacy. It is a good sized square room with two windows on one wall and a larger window above a built in bench/sitting area. The bench/window may differ in the Spanish style model. The walk-in closet is located in the room, along the third wall, which is not my first choice due to light/noise of accessing the closet in the morning. I would prefer the closet in the bathroom, as the other two models. An open doorway leads to the master bath. The shower and large bathtub are immediately in front of you, along the back wall. There are two sinks, with a good amount of counter space between them. There is an optional bathroom door that can be added, and would block out any of the light in the mornings if one person was utilizing the bathroom while another was sleeping.

The two secondary bedrooms share a bathroom. The bathroom has double sinks, plenty of counter space and a separate toilet and shower/tub combo. All of the bathrooms have solid surface E-Stone countertops. The laundry room which contains a sink, counter space and cabinets separate the two bedrooms.

Residence 1 is the smallest of the Springhouse residences. The secondary bedrooms felt smaller, along with the dining room area and outdoor room, and I wish one of the models had the optional conservatory room to preview. If the Conservatory was opted for, a larger dining table could be furnished. The bathrooms were nicely set up, especially with the option for a privacy door at the master bathroom. Overall I liked the layout of the house and especially the bedrooms upstairs.

Residence Two

2,481 Sq Ft

4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms

Base Price from $790,990

Style Options: Spanish (A), American Ranch (D), East Coast Traditional (E)

Residence Two model was Spanish style. The entry has upgraded flooring and upgraded stair railing. Flipped opposite from the brochure layout, immediately to my left is the staircase with a very large coat closet with storage under the stairs. The downstairs bathroom and bedroom are off of a hallway to the right. This one has a linen cupboard outside the bathroom itself. The entry to the garage is located next to the linen closet. The bathroom is larger for a downstairs bathroom, with a single sink and a large shower which has a sitting bench.

The downstairs bedroom is a decent size with a nook for a dresser next to the sliding two-door closet.

The kitchen and great room are at the back of the house. The kitchen has upgraded cabinets and countertops and has a rectangular island with space for bar seating. Like all models, the sink and dishwasher are located in the island. There is a large walk-in pantry next to the back wall oven. Also on the back wall are the cooktop and refrigerator. Unlike Residence 1, the cabinetry reaches up to the ceiling, but there are only 2 sets cabinets above the countertop.

The kitchen opens directly up to the Outdoor room. It is smaller but a nice little area for sitting in the backyard. Like Residence One, there is a sign posted that the backyard does not depict the average lot size. The Management office said that the true size would be about half the size.

The Great Room seems small to comfortably share with a proper dining area. It has plenty of windows that open to the backyard and side yard. However, if the option for the Conservatory was chosen, it would give ample space for a dining area.

The laundry room is at the top of the staircase to the left. This one has an L-shaped counter area, a sink, plenty of cupboards and it is the only model with the big linen closet.

The shared bathroom upstairs is located across form the laundry room, on the wall adjacent to the stairs. It has a double sink with good counter space and a private toilet with shower/tub combo. The tub is large and deep.

The three bedrooms are next to one another. Some people prefer the Master Bedroom to be on a separate side of the house or a bathroom separating it from the secondary bedrooms. This model has all of the bedrooms sharing its walls. The bedroom adjacent to the shared bathroom is larger than the middle bedroom. They both have two sliding door closets.

The master bedroom is at the corner of the house, adjacent to the laundry room and secondary bedroom. It has a full wall of windows looking out to the backyard and two more facing the side.

Like the other Residences, the bathroom has a shower, large tub and double sinks with plenty of counter space. One advantage compared to Residence One is that the larger walk-in closet is located in the bathroom.

Compared to Residence 1 and 3, this is my least favorite layout due to the configuration and size of the great room, although I do like the fact it has a downstairs bedroom with large bathroom. The bedrooms are also not separated on the second floor.

Residence Three

2,481 Sq Ft

Main Home: 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms + Den

Base Price from $823,000

Style Options: Spanish(A), American Cottage (C), East Cost Traditional (E)

Residence Three is the most different of the tract, featuring a private suite which includes a large den, bathroom and bedroom. It is set up to be a corner house, with the garage on one side (along one street) and the entrance on a different side of the house (on the perpendicular street). No option exists to replace the outdoor room with a conservatory. This is my favorite layout.

Entry to the house and private suite are located under the covered patio. Entry to the private suite is to the left, facing 90 degrees from the main entrance wall, while entry to the main house is in the center as you walk up to the residence. On the opposite side of the suite entrance is the gate to the backyard, which leads directly into the outdoor room.

The suite entrance enters into the private den area. The living area is a nice size for a private suite and can comfortably fit a sofa and coffee table, but there is only space for a tiny dining table that can fit two seats. An optional wetbar and cabinets can be added into the den, which I feel would be a must-have if you plan on having people occupy the suite as a separate living quarter. The bathroom is a nice size with a large walk-in shower and single sink with good counter space. The bathroom sits between the den and bedroom, instead of being en suite, which can be an advantage so that guests are not required to enter the bedroom if they want to utilize the restroom. However, directly outside the den door leading directly into the main house is the main house’s half bathroom immediately on the right, so it may have been worth having an en suite bathroom. The bedroom is similar in size to those in the other models. If you have frequent long-term visitors, have extended family living with you, or want to rent out a portion of your home, this is a perfect way to offer privacy and comfort.

Entering the home through the front door you will find the stairs and large coat closet with storage to your right. As mentioned earlier, the half bathroom and door to the private suite are to the left. The bathroom has a window that faces the front porch. The dining area is visible from the front door.

As the kitchen doesn’t have a separate breakfast nook (only a breakfast bar), this is the only space for a dining table, unless you move the family room closer to the kitchen, and move the dining table towards the back wall. However, if you are going to utilize the table often, that may not be the best solution. The room has space for a long table if desired. Access to the garage is in the kitchen, next to the pantry. The kitchen is to the left and has a rectangular island, but with a nicely rounded countertop with room for seating. As all of the other models, the sink and dishwasher are located in the island, but the location of the dishwasher in this model makes sense since it is close to most of the cabinets. This kitchen has the most set of cabinets and drawers along two sides of the walls, ad well as a nice sized pantry.

The great room has an abundance of natural light, with two windows on one side, windows along the entire wall facing the backyard, and the sliding glass door out to the outdoor room. I like the location of the outdoor room best in this model since it is the largest and doesn’t cause any foot traffic in the middle of the outdoor room in order to access the backyard. Like all models, it has a sign posted in the backyard to remind you that the size of the backyard is not the true average size of the house.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, as well as a laundry room. Like residence one, the laundry room does not include a separate linen closet. But it still has a sink, cabinets and room for side by side washer and dryer.

The master bedroom is the first door to the right. The laundry room is located in the hallway which also leads to the secondary bedrooms and shared bathroom. The master bedroom is similar in size as the other models, and the bathroom is also similar in size with a shower, big tub and double sinks with plenty of counter space. Like all models, there is a nice option for a bathroom door to reduce noise and light in the mornings if someone is utilizing the bathroom while the other is still in bed. The walk-in closet is located in the bathroom and seems to be the biggest of the models.

The two secondary bedrooms are on opposite corners of the house, with the shared bathroom between them. One bedroom is to the right, and faces the backyard. It seems slightly larger than the other bedroom. Although the documentation shows a closet with doors swinging out into the room, the model had a two-door sliding closet. The other bedroom is at the front of the house with two-door sliding closet. Next to the closet is a nook that is big enough for a dresser.

The shared bathroom is similar to the other Residence’s bathrooms with double sinks and plenty of counter space. Like the others, it also has a separate toilet and large shower/tub combo.

I think the private suite will be very appealing to certain buyers. It can also prove to be a great playroom and/or office space if desired. By far, this is my favorite layout in the tract due to the private suite, location of the outdoor room and layout of the bedrooms on the second floor.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,10953.0.html

Open House Review: 14 Alba West

14 Alba West is a single story, zero lot line property that is fully remodeled. Last week I reviewed the same model at 1 Delamesa, selling for $645,000 ($487/square foot), which is still for sale. Other recent comparable sales in the same neighborhood sold at $620,000 ($468/square foot) and $625,000 ($472/square foot) at 32 Entrada and 27 West Lucero, respectively. Is this property worth the highest price?

Asking Price: $650,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1.75

Square Footage: 1,329

Lot Size: 4,792sq ft

Price per Square Foot: $489

Property Type: Residential, Single Family

Style: One Level Contemporary

Year Built 1980

Community: Northwood, Park Paseo

HOA Fees: $85

Mello Roos: No

Days on Market: 11

This house has remodeled bathrooms and kitchen, scraped ceilings, distressed wood flooring throughout, clean interior paint and new windows, most with plantation shutters. The backyard is nicely landscaped with fruit trees, well maintained grass and a covered patio. There does not seem to be much traffic in the surrounding area, but the house faces the entrance of the split streets of Alba West and Alba East, so all cars must drive towards and pass this property if they live anywhere on Alba West.

View from House to entrance:

A side gated porch leads up to the front door. The front door leads into a rectangular shaped great room which consists of the living room (to the left), small dining room (to the right) and open kitchen with a breakfast bar. Straight ahead is a hallway leading to the bedrooms. The vaulted ceilings and large windows create an open, light feel. The kitchen is completely remodeled with new cabinets, granite countertops, tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a wine cooler. There are plenty of cupboards, drawers and a pantry for storage. One garage entrance is located in the kitchen. The dining room has french doors which leads to the side enclosed porch area.

Recessed lights, a ceiling fan and plantation shutters have been installed in the living room and the room also has an updated fireplace. One entrance into the third bedroom is off of the living room. The double doors into the spare room/office have been removed. The entrance could be dry-walled to create more of a private third bedroom, if desired. Currently the closet has been turned into an office desk area with built in cabinets and desk. With the double entrance, one from the living room and one from the hallway, the room lacks some privacy to be used as a bedroom.

Adjacent to the third bedroom is another bedroom which is similar in size with a window facing the backyard. Crown molding has been installed in the two small bedrooms and hallway. The bathroom in the hallway has been completely remodeled with a shower, modern vanity and tiled walls and floor.

The master bedroom has vaulted ceilings, good closet space, a remodeled bathroom and french doors that lead to an enclosed small patio. Another garage entrance is found in the enclosed patio. The bathroom has been completely remodeled with a skylight bringing in extra light. A wall separates it from the sleeping area. It has an open solution to the modern single sink, shower and Jacuzzi bathtub while the toilet is in its own room. There is no door in front of the vanity/tub/shower area, so there may be light and noise in the mornings if another person is utilizing the area while the other is sleeping. In addition, with the tub and shower in the open bathroom, the bedroom door would need to be shut for complete privacy in the tub/shower area.

14 Alba West has been upgraded nicely. The bathrooms are contemporary and the master bathroom’s remodel would not be my first choice in layout, but it is light and modern. The home is clean, move-in ready and would appeal to buyers that are looking for a single story house in the neighborhood. The backyard is good for entertaining and for families with pets and small children. I do not know if the extra $20-25K is worth all of the updates, particularly with the location of the home facing the street entrance to Alba, but it did not appear to have much traffic.