Adagio is the first collection I visited in the new Cadence Park neighborhood in the Great Park. Built by Lennar, Adagio consists of 53 detached homes with three different floorplans. The homes are on the southern side of Cadence Park, in the middle of the neighborhood. They are bordered by the new K-8 Cadence Park school on the east, the community park on the north, the Cantata collection on the west, and the Great Park itself on the south. Adagio homes range from 2,080 – 2,393 square feet with 3 – 4 bedrooms and 2.5 – 4 bathrooms. Each home has a private, 2-car garage accessed from a shared motor court.

Included Features
Adagio is built by Lennar, which is known for its “Everything’s Included” policy. What you see in the models is primarily what you get and there aren’t many options to upgrade or customize the home. However, you can make changes to things like flooring, backsplashes, and paint. The homes come standard with smart products controlled by Amazon Alexa, including Echo Dot and Echo Show; Baldwin® Evolved smart lock; Honeywell Lyric round™ wi-fi thermostat; Leviton® Z-wave plug-in module; Lutron Caseta® wireless in-wall dimmer, Smart Bridge Pro, lamp module, and Pico remote with double stand; Ring® video doorbell pro; Samsung SmartThings® hub; and Sonos® PLAY:1 wireless speaker. Efficiency features include energy-saving LED lights; radiant barrier roof sheathing; Sherwin-Williams® two-tone low-VOC interior paint; sealed heating and cooling ducts; dual-glazed windows with high performance low-E glass; full exterior door weather stripping; tankless water heater; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and pressure balanced valves in showers and tubs.

The kitchens have a GE stainless steel appliance package Monogram® Professional Series 6-burner gas range cooktop, hood, refrigerator, and freezer; and Profile® single wall convection oven, microwave oven, and built-in dishwasher. They have a large farm-style sink with designer Moen® faucet; quartz countertops with 6” backsplash and full-height splash at cooktop; Shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges; under and over cabinet task lighting; built-in tray rack; and roll-out shelf for trash and recycling.

The bathrooms include Piedrafina™ countertop with 6” backsplash; Moen® bath accessories in brushed nickel; frameless shower enclosure with ceramic tile surround; Fiber Care® soaking tub with surround and deck; and Shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges in pre-selected colors. The laundry rooms have Piedrafina™ countertops with 4” backsplash; sink with Moen® pull-out faucet; and a vacancy switch.

Additional features in the Adagio homes include  barbecue stub; Seagull® decorator-selected coach lights; Win-Dor stackable sliders with specialty casing for indoor/outdoor living; ThermaTru® insulated fiberglass 8’ entry door; Kwikset® satin nickel door levers; 5.5” baseboards; Daltile® glazed floor tile at entry, baths, and laundry; plush wall-to-wall Mohawk® carpeting; USB outlets in kitchen and bedrooms; flat-screen TV blocking with smurf tubing to hide cables; rocker light switches; telephone jack in kitchen and master bedroom; and cable outlets in all bedrooms, living room, and loft.

Schools
Adagio is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school is scheduled to open in August 2018 with grades K – 6. It will add 7^th grade in 2019 and 8^th grade in 2020. Until those grades are added, middle school students will attend Beacon Park School, which will serve grades K – 8 in the 2018-19. The neighborhood is served by Portola High School, which will have grades 9 – 11 in 2018-19 and will add 12^th grade the following year. Seniors moving in this year will attend Northwood High School.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $215 per month at buildout for the Great Park Neighborhood Association
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.0785%
CFD Tax: $6,496 for residence 1, $7,087 for residences 2 and 3
Current prices start at $1,060,000 for Residence 1, $1,130,000 for Residence 2, and $1,199,000 for Residence 3

Residence 1
2,080 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Current pricing starts at $1,060,000

Residence 1 has a covered porch facing the shared walkway in front of the homes. Though Lennar boasts the “everything’s included” policy, there are still numerous upgrades in the model, including flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

Inside, the home lacks a foyer. When you enter, the great room is on the left and the dining room is on the right. The great room has recessed lighting, a large window facing the front, and two smaller ones on the side. The back wall has sliding doors leading to the covered courtyard.

The dining room is a good size and can comfortably seat 8 people, with room to expand a little more if needed. One wall offers space for a buffet or china hutch. There is a big window facing the front and a smaller one on the side.

The kitchen is behind the dining room. The center island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The longer wall has a cooktop in the middle with counter space on both sides, several upper cabinets, and numerous drawers underneath. The other wall has the built-in oven, microwave, and dishwasher. The kitchen is a good size and laid out well but isn’t situated well for good conversation with people in the great room.

The covered courtyard is a fairly small and can be accessed from both the kitchen and great room. There isn’t an option for a fireplace. The back patio is two steps higher than the courtyard and is shown with a built-in barbecue. There is plenty of space for a dining table on the patio as well.

There is a hallway behind the kitchen. The stairs are on the right and have a large closet beneath them. The first-floor bathroom is next to the stairs. It has a large vanity with a single sink, three cabinets, and four drawers. The shower has a shampoo niche but no seat. Access to the two-car garage is at the end of the hall.

Bedroom 3 is on the left side of the hall. It measures 12’ x 11’ and has a three-door closet that fills one wall. The bedroom won’t get much natural light, as it has just one small window facing the side of the home.

On the second floor, there are built-in linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. All the rooms come off one long hallway. The laundry room has another set of linen cabinets just outside it. Inside, there are side-by-side machines and a sink with plenty of counter space. There are both upper and lower cabinets.

Bedroom 2 is next to the laundry room. It has an entryway with a bathroom on one side. The vanity is small and has one sink, one set of cabinets, and a low drawer. There is a shower/tub combo. The bedroom is 11’ x 11’ and has one window facing the street and a smaller one on the side. The room includes a standard bypass closet.

 

The master suite runs along the entire left side of the house. The bedroom is 16’ x 15’ with recessed light and an upgraded fixture. Two small windows sit high on the side wall and sliding doors lead to a balcony overlooking the street. Elevation C does not have a balcony.

The master bathroom has a very long vanity with two sinks, three sets of cabinets, and eight drawers. There is ample counter space, too. The shower and bathtub sit across from the vanity. The tub deck forms a narrow ledge in the shower, which doesn’t have a separate seat. The shower is a good size and the tub has a large window above it. There is a large, walk-in closet at the back of the bathroom, shown with the standard shelves and poles.

Residence 1 is quite similar to Lennar’s other homes throughout Irvine. I like the spacious dining room and kitchen and was happy to see a large closet on the first floor. I wish there was a more formal entryway or drop zone, either by the front door or by the garage.

Residence 2
2,356 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Loft
Current pricing starts at $1,130,000

Residence 2 is modeled in elevation C and has a small covered entry but not a true porch like we saw in residence 1. All three elevations have a deck on the second story above the front door. Upgrades in the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

This home has a small but designated entryway. The stairs are on the right and there is space across from the door for a table or bench.

The great room is just left of entryway. It is a spacious room, measuring by 17’ x 13’ and has recessed lights, a large window facing the street, and a small window on the side.

The dining room is directly behind the great room. It measures 10’ x 10’ but could have a larger table that stretched into the great room if desired. There is a small window on the side and a wall of sliding doors leading to the California room at the back.

An alcove on the right leads to a large coat closet beneath the stairs and a powder room. The closet has a single shelf and pole on the left side. The bathroom has a small vanity with one set of cabinets.

The kitchen is behind the dining room but offset, so it wouldn’t be easy to have a conversation with someone in the great room or dining room. The kitchen is a good size and has a lot of cabinets. The island includes the sink and dishwasher on one side and seating on the other. The longer wall of the kitchen has a cooktop in the middle and ample counter space on each side. The shorter wall has the fridge, built-in oven, and built-in microwave. One wall of the kitchen has a set of sliding doors that lead to the California room. Access to the 2-car garage is right next to the oven and microwave.

Outside, the California room is long and narrow, stretching across the full length of the kitchen. It doesn’t have an option for a fireplace but could hold a wall-mounted TV. There is a small backyard beyond the California room, modeled with a patio and some landscaping.

On the second floor, the stairs open to a 16’ x 13 loft. It has three windows facing the side of the house and recessed lighting. The model shows an upgraded, built-in desk with two workstations. There are also upper and lower built-in linen cabinets on another wall.

A hallway at the back of the loft leads to the laundry room and secondary bedrooms. The laundry room is on the left, with side-by-side machines and cabinets above them. There is a sink with very little counter space but a shelf above it and linen cabinets across from it.

Bedroom 2 is on the right side of the hall. It is the smallest room at 10’ x 12’ and has a standard bypass closet. There is a single window on the side, so it doesn’t get a lot of natural light.

Bedroom 3 is at the end of the hall. This room is much bigger and brighter, measuring 14’ x 11’ and with two windows facing the back of the house. There is a walk-in closet in the back corner, with shelves and poles on two walls and a window on the third.

The bedrooms share a secondary bathroom in the hall. The vanity only has one sink even though it has enough space for two. There are three cabinets and four drawers.  A separate door leads to the shower/tub combo.

The master suite is accessed from the other end of the loft. The entry hall has a walk-in closet on one side and the bathroom on the other. The closet is a good size and has shelves and poles on three walls. The bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. It isn’t as large as in some master suites, but still has enough space for two people. The shower and tub sit across from the vanity. The tub deck forms a true seat in this shower, rather than a narrow ledge like we saw in residence 1. There is a second walk-in closet that is larger than the first.

The master bedroom is 17’ x 13’ and has a big window facing the front of the house and two smaller ones on the side. The front-facing window could have a built-in window seat or cabinets beneath it. The third wall has a single French door opening to the balcony, which is narrow but has space for a couple of chairs and a small table.

Though most new homes I’ve seen have a bedroom on the first floor, residence 2 does not. This may deter some buyers, but the model was sold out at the time of my visit, so it definitely still appeals to others. I was happy to see good storage throughout the home.

Residence 3
2,393 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Bonus room
Current pricing starts at $1,199,000

Residence 3 has more variation in the elevations than the others. In the modeled elevation A, there is a balcony above the front door, off of bedroom 2. In elevation B, the balcony is off the master bedroom. Elevation C doesn’t have a balcony at all. Throughout the model, upgrades include flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

When you enter residence 3, the dining room is directly in front of the front door. It measures 10’ x 15’ and has space for a table to expand into the great room or kitchen. There is one small window on the side of the house. There is space next to the front door for a narrow table or bench.

The great room is just left of the door. It is 17’ x 15’ and has windows at the front and side of the room. The third wall has sliding doors leading to the covered courtyard. The room includes recessed lights.

The kitchen is directly behind the dining room. It is similar to the other residences. The center island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The long wall has a cooktop in the middle with ample counter and cabinet space on both sides. The shorter wall has the fridge, oven, and microwave. The last wall has a set of sliding doors leading to the courtyard.

The courtyard is shorter and wider than in residence 2 and also has space for a wall-mounted TV. The yard beyond it is shown with a patio, pool, and landscaped area. Though not large, it is one of the bigger yards I’ve seen in the last few sets of models that I’ve visited.

There is a hallway off the back of the kitchen. The stairs are on the right and have a large coat closet beneath them. Access to the 2-car garage is at the end of the hall.

Bathroom 4 is just past the stairs. It has a large vanity with one sink, three cabinets, and four drawers. There is more counter space than in most first-floor baths. The bathroom also has a shower without a seat.

Bedroom 4 is at the end of the hall on the left. It is 12’ x 11’ with just one small window on the side. The closet has three drawers and stretches the full length of the room.

There are upper and lower linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. A hallway on the right leads to bedroom 3 and the bonus room.

Bedroom 3 is the smallest room in the house at 11’ x 11’ and has small windows on two walls. As in bedroom 4, the closet has three drawers and stretches the length of the room.

Bathroom 3 is across the hall from the bedroom. It has a single sink set into a vanity with good counter space, three cabinets, and four drawers. The shower/tub combo is through a separate door.

The bonus room is at the end of the hall. It is 15’ x 12’ and, though it’s alone at the back of the house, it has just two small windows in one corner.

A hall on the other side of the stairway leads to the laundry room and the other two bedrooms. The laundry room has a sink, side-by-side machines, a second counter with base cabinets, and three sets of upper cabinets. Another set of upper and lower linen cabinets sits just outside the room.

Bedroom 2 is next to the laundry room. When you enter, the bypass closet is on the left in an entry hall. The bedroom itself is 12’ x 12’ and has a small window on the side. In this elevation, sliding doors lead to a balcony overlooking the street. The other two elevations have a single, small window facing the front instead. The bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. It includes a large vanity with one sink and a shower/tub combo.

 

The master suite is next to bedroom 2. It is 15’ x 16’ and has a big window facing front and two smaller ones on the side. Elevation B has sliding doors leading to a balcony instead of the front-facing window.

The master bathroom is similar to the other two residences. The vanity is on the right and has two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and six drawers. The tub deck forms a narrow ledge in the adjacent shower as in residence 1. There is a set of upper and lower linen cabinets next to the vanity and a walk-in closet at the far end of the room.

    

Residence 3 is the only Adagio home to include four bedroom and a bonus room. It has a first-floor bedroom and good storage throughout the home.

I was happy to see that all Adagio models have large closets on the first floor and many linen cabinets on the second. The kitchens were all laid out well and it was good to see larger vanities in some of the secondary bathrooms.

Cadence Park is now open in the Great Park Neighborhood. Located east of Beacon Park, this newest enclave will have 14 different home collections. The neighborhood is bordered by Irvine Blvd on the north side, Pusan on the east, Cadence on the south, and the Upper Bee park area on the west. An 8-acre park sits in the center of the Cadence Park neighborhood and the new K – 8 school is just south of it. Residents will have access to all of the Great Park Neighborhood facilities, including pools, parks, clubhouses, sports courts, and more. HOA dues will be approximately $215 per month at buildout for the Great Park Neighborhood Association. There are seven different builders in Cadence Park, with Lennar building eight of the collections and the others each building one. All of Lennar’s models are now open and selling. The other builders haven’t opened their models yet, but they do have a team on site each weekend and are actively selling.

Cadence Park is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The new K – 8 school, also named Cadence Park, is scheduled to open in August 2018 with grades K – 6. It will add 7^th grade in 2019 and 8^th grade in 2020. Until those grades are added, middle school students will attend Beacon Park School, which will serve grades K – 8 in the 2018-19. The neighborhood is served by Portola High School, which will have grades 9 – 11 in 2018-19 and will add 12^th grade the following year. Seniors moving in this year will attend Northwood High School.

The 14 home collections range in size from 1,616 – 4,585 square feet and 2 – 5 bedrooms.

Collection	Square Feet	Beds	Baths	Builder	Estimated Base Price
Deco	1,616 – 2,230	2 – 4	2.5 – 3.5	K. Hovnanian	$700,000s
Chorus	1,651 – 2,408	2 – 3	2 – 2.5	Lennar	Low $700,000s
Lyric	1,667 – 2,346	3 – 4	2.5	Tri Pointe Homes	$800,000s – $900,000s
Muse	1,867 – 2,017	3 – 4	2.5 – 3.5	Taylor Morrison	Low $700,000s
Prado	1,733 – 2,766	3 – 4	3.5 – 4	KB Home	N/A
Adagio	2,080 – 2,393	3 – 4	2.5 – 4	Lennar	$1.06 – $1.2 mil
Cabaletta	2330 – 2,450	3 – 4	2.5 – 3	Richmond American Homes	High $800,000s
Duet	2,338 – 2,900	3 – 4	2.5 – 5.5	Pulte Homes	$1,000,000s
Encore	2,826 – 3,116	4	3 – 4	Lennar	$1.2 – $1.35 mil
Cantata	3,026 – 3,507	3 – 4	3.5 – 4.5	Lennar	$1.37 – $1.53 mil
Marcato	2,891 – 3,575	4	4 – 4.5	Lennar	$1.47 – 1.58 mil
Serenade	2,983 – 3,432	4 – 5	4 – 4.5	Lennar	$1.44 – $1.56 mil
Capella	3,740 – 4,097	4 – 5	4.5 – 5.5	Lennar	$1.67 – $1.78 mil
Crescendo	4,102 – 4,585	4 – 5	4 – 5	Lennar	$1.85 – $1.98 mil

Resort Amenities
Cadence Park features several community buildings. The main information center is located in the Performing Arts Building, a very large room currently furnished with assorted tables and chairs, iPads, and a book exchange. There is a courtyard behind the building with more seating options.

The Studio sits on the other side of the courtyard and is currently filled with open cubbies. I expect it will become an art studio.

The Gallery building is to the right of the courtyard and is where the home builders (aside from Lennar) have their sales teams set up. A few tables and chairs are set up behind the gallery.

There is a half-basketball court behind the studio and some open areas next to it.

 

The Cadence Park pool is to the left of the Performing Arts building. It is a large pool area with a spa and a big deck. A building on the outside edge had doors labeled “catering kitchen” and “office.” There are shuffleboard courts within the gates of the pool area.

A wide lawn sits between the pool and the playground. The park is divided into a section designed for kids ages 5 – 12 and one for kids ages 2 – 5. The older kids area has a rubberized surface with hills built into it and seating around the edges. It has a main climbing structure with one slide and assorted small areas for climbing and playing.

The tot lot for younger kids has a playhouse and logs to climb on. In keeping with the music theme of Cadence Park, it also has dance chimes, babel drums, and Cajon drums.

This side of the park has sports courts, including another half basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and two tetherball poles. A series of tall mirrors form a small maze behind the tetherballs.  A sign points to a bocce court somewhere across the street.

The Cadence Park map I picked up at the info center lists an Art Walk running between the Deco and Muse home collections. The estimated completion date for the art walk is October 2020. There will be unique artwork along the paved path and an amphitheater.

Upper Bee Park runs between Cadence Park and Beacon Park. Upper Bee is a series of paved walking paths and native plantings that separates the two neighborhoods. It stretches from Irvine Boulevard south to Great Park Boulevard and is designed so you never have to cross a street. This walkway connects the Great Park Neighborhoods to the Orange County Great Park.

As I mentioned earlier, Cadence Park residents have access to all of the Great Park Neighborhood amenities, including the pools and parks located throughout Pavilion, Beacon, and Parasol Parks. The newest park, and the one receiving the most attention right now, is The Pools, an 8-acre oasis between Beacon and Parasol Parks. The area features an outdoor fitness and training area, family pool, an 8-lane junior Olympic pool with BBQs, great lawn, sand volleyball courts, a children’s activity building, clubhouse with two outdoor kitchens that can be rented for parties, a large playground, a shallow-water children’s pool, and three spas.

Over the next few months, I will visit and review the 14 home collections in Cadence Park.

This week, I went back to the 55+ Travata community in Cypress Village to check out the Palencia collection. These two-story, single family homes are the largest in Travata, with a total of 61 homes and five different floor plans. Palencia homes range from 1,848 – 2,567 square feet, with 2 – 3 bedrooms, 2.5 – 3.5 bathrooms, and a bonus room or loft. Though each house is two stories, all day-to-day living can be done on the first floor. The second floor has either a bonus room (plan 1) or a loft and third bedroom (plans 3, 4, and 5). Every home has a two-car garage at the front of the house.

Included Features
Palencia is built by Lennar, which is known for its “Everything’s Included” policy. What you see in the models is primarily what you get and there aren’t many options to upgrade or customize the home. However, you can make changes to the flooring, kitchen backsplash, and paint. The homes come standard with smart products controlled by Amazon Alexa, including Echo Dot and Echo Show; Baldwin® Evolved smart lock; Honeywell Lyric round™ wi-fi thermostat; Leviton® Z-wave plug-in module; Lutron Caseta® wireless in-wall dimmer, Smart Bridge Pro, lamp module, and Pico remote with double stand; Ring® video doorbell pro; Samsung SmartThings® hub; and Sonos® PLAY:1 wireless speaker. Efficiency features include energy-saving LED lights; radiant barrier roof sheathing; Sherwin-Williams® two-tone low-VOC interior paint; sealed heating and cooling ducts; dual-glazed windows with high performance low-E glass; full exterior door weather stripping; tankless water heater; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and pressure balanced valves in showers and tubs.

The kitchens have a Wolf stainless steel appliance package with a heavy-gauge professional gas cooktop with 6 dual-stacked burners; heavy duty, professional wall hood, dual convection oven, and drop-down door microwave; Sub-Zero heavy-duty stainless-steel built-in side-by-side refrigerator; ASKO® ENERGY STAR® stainless steel turbo drying dishwasher; large double-bowl sink with Moen® faucet and push button disposal; quartz countertops with 6” backsplash and full-height splash at cooktop; shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges (color preselected); under cabinet task lighting; walk-in pantry with obscure glass door (select residences); and roll-out shelf for trash and recycling.

The bathrooms include Piedrafina™ countertop with 6” backsplash; Voss® accessories in the master suite with brushed nickel finishes or Moen® accessories in brushed nickel for the secondary baths; frameless shower enclosure with ceramic tile surround; acrylic tub with surround and deck; shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges in pre-selected colors; and decorative framed mirrors in the master or beveled mirrors in the secondary baths. The laundry rooms have Piedrafina™ countertops with 4” backsplash; sink with Moen® pull-out faucet; and a vacancy switch.

Additional features in the Palencia homes include  barbecue stub; Seagull® decorator-selected coach lights; ThermaTru® insulated fiberglass 8’ entry door; Kwikset® satin nickel door levers; 5.5” baseboards; Daltile® glazed floor tile at entry, baths, and laundry; plush wall-to-wall Mohawk® carpeting; USB outlets in kitchen and bedrooms; flat-screen TV blocking with smurf tubing to hide cables; rocker light switches; telephone jack in kitchen and master bedroom; and cable outlets in all bedrooms, living room, and loft.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $285 per month at buildout
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.06%
No Mello Roos
Current pricing starts at $1,038,990for residence 1; $1,204,990 for residence 2; $1,168,990 for residence 3; and $1,235,990 for residence 4. Pricing not available for residence 5.

Residence 1
1,848 square feet
2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Bonus room
Recent pricing ranged from $1,038,990 – $1,091,990 ($562 – $590 per square foot)

Residence 1 has a small foyer, with space for a table or bench. There is a coat closet on the right. Though Lennar boasts the “everything’s included” policy, there are still numerous upgrades in the model, including flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

Bathroom 2 is just off the foyer. It has a single sink with a small counter and one set of cabinets. The shower is a good size and includes a full bench.

Bedroom 2 is at the front of the house. The room has two windows facing the street and a standard bypass closet. There is space under the windows for a built-in window seat if desired.

The main hall opens to the kitchen. The pantry and additional lower cabinets are immediately on the left as you enter the room. The island can seat 3 – 4 people on one side and has the sink and dishwasher on the other side. One wall holds the refrigerator, oven, microwave, several cabinets, and has some counter space. The other wall has the cooktop, with counter space on both sides, upper cabinets, and lower drawers. Access to the garage is in the corner of the room and the stairs are on the other side of the kitchen.

   

The dining area is just behind the kitchen. It is on the smaller side, though a larger table could be brought in for special occasions. Two windows face the side of the home.

The great room is behind the dining room. It has a window facing the side of the home and sliding doors leading to the California room.

The California room includes a fireplace and has space for a large table, though the room itself is somewhat narrow. The rest of the backyard is shown with fountains and plants along the edge.

A short hall off the back corner of the great room leads to the laundry room and master suite. The laundry room has space for side-by-side machines and four upper cabinets. There are additional upper and lower cabinets just outside the room.

The master bedroom is a good size and has a full wall of windows facing the backyard. It has upgraded wall paneling and space for an armchair in the corner. The room has recessed lights.

The master bathroom has two vanities. The smaller one is nestled into a nook and has a single sink, two cabinets, three drawers, and only a short counter. The other one is in the back corner and has three additional drawers and more counter space. The bathtub has a deck that matches the counters and a window above it. The shower is at the back of the bathroom. It is about the same size as the shower in bathroom 2 and also has a full seat. The walk-in closet is oddly shaped, with extra storage beneath the stairs. The model shows upgraded, built-in organizers that leave little room to walk through the space.

 

The second story of the house is a large bonus room and powder room. The bonus room has windows on three walls, bringing in plenty of light. It includes the built in base cabinets and mini-fridge next to the staircase, but the larger built-in desk unit and shelving are upgrades. The powder room has a single sink set into a small vanity with two cabinets and very little counter space.

Overall, residence 1 is fairly spacious. Both bedrooms have a lot of privacy and there is plenty of storage throughout the home. However, a two-bedroom home designed for people over age 55 shouldn’t cost over a million dollars.

Residence 2
2,220 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Bonus room
Recent pricing ranged from $1,204,990 – $1,214,990 ($542 – $547 per square foot)

Residence 2 is the only Palencia home where the front door is on one side of the house and the garage is on the other. The sales office replaces the garage in the model. As in residence 1, the flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items are upgrades.

The home doesn’t have a true foyer, though there is space across from the front door to put an entry console.

 

There is an office just to the left of the front door. The room is small and fully open to the foyer, without an option for doors. There is one window facing the front walkway. The model shows an upgraded, built-in shelving unit that fills one wall.

The dining room is to the right of the front door. It is much bigger than in residence 1 and can comfortably seat eight people. A recessed area offers a perfect spot for a low buffet or an upgraded, built-in unit, as seen in the model. There is a window facing the front walk.

The kitchen is adjacent to the dining room. The island is shown with an upgraded waterfall edge. It can seat 3 – 4 people on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. One wall has the refrigerator, oven, and microwave. The other wall has the cooktop with counters on both sides and several cabinets and drawers. There are pantry-height cupboards at the end of the counter.

The great room is at the back of the house. The room is a good size, with recessed lights and sliding doors on the back wall. The staircase is between the dining room and great room.

Outside, the California room doesn’t have a fireplace but is otherwise comparable to the one in residence 1. The rest of the backyard is quite narrow, shown with a large fountain in the center.

The master suite is behind the great room, with the bedroom sharing a full wall with the living area. There are linen cabinets just outside the bedroom. The room has three windows facing the backyard and two more on the side. It is an average size.

The master bathroom has split vanities, with one on each side of the doorway. Both have a single sink with ample counter space, two cabinets, and six drawers. The vanities show the standard countertop but have an upgraded backsplash. The bathtub is next to one vanity and the shower is next to the other. The tub has two windows above it and the shower has a narrow seat. The walk-in closet at the back of the bathroom is shown with upgraded, built-in organizers.

There is a hallway off the foyer. It has a small coat closet on the right. The powder room, laundry room, and garage access are also on the right. The powder room is under the stairs, so it feels a little cramped. The vanity has a bit of counter space on each side and two cabinets. The laundry room has side-by-side machines and upper cabinets on one wall. The other wall has a sink with both upper and lower cabinets.

Bedroom 2 is at the end of the hall. It has windows facing the front and side of the house. One corner has a walk-in closet and the other has access to the en-suite bathroom. The closet includes a shelf and pole on two walls. The bathroom has a single sink set into a small vanity and a good-sized shower with a full seat.

Bedroom 3 is on the second floor. This is the only Palencia home to have only a bedroom upstairs and not a bonus room or loft. However, the bedroom could be used as a bonus room if desired. It has windows on three walls, so it gets a lot of light. There is a standard bypass closet and en-suite bathroom. The bathroom has a single sink in a larger vanity, comparable to the ones in the master suite, and a shower/tub combo.

I don’t like the layout of this home as much as residence 1. The bedrooms share more walls with living spaces, so it doesn’t have as much privacy. I also don’t think the kitchen has as much storage. I did like the extra office on the first floor.

Residence 3
2,305 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Loft
Recent pricing started at $1,168,990 ($507 per square foot)

Residence 3 only has two different elevation options (all others have three or four) and only the modeled elevation has the large balcony above the garage. Throughout the home, the flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items are upgrades.

Inside, the house has a long entry hall, with two rooms coming off it on the right and the stairs on the left. There is a small coat closet off the first landing of the stairs, which is two steps above the hall. While it isn’t a lot of stairs to climb, it isn’t a convenient location for a house that it supposed to be designed for single-story living.

The first room on the right is an office, which has a wide, open doorway to the hall. There are two windows facing the street. The office is shown without any upgraded built-ins, though the room is big enough to include one if desired.

Bedroom 2 is just past the office. It has a single window facing the side of the home and a standard bypass closet. The en-suite bathroom has a single sink set into a very small vanity, with little counter space and two narrow cabinets. The shower includes a full seat.

An alcove on the left side of the hall leads to the laundry room. There are base linen cabinets just outside the room. Another closet sits across from the linen cabinets; this one is much bigger than the one at the front of the house and extends beneath the stairs.  The laundry room has side-by-side machines and an L-shaped counter with a sink. There are upper linen cabinets on two walls and three base cabinets.

There is a powder room across from the laundry room. It has a vanity with a single sink and one set of cabinets.

The hall opens to the great room. It has three large windows facing the California room and recessed lights. The model shows an upgraded, built-in media center on one wall.

The kitchen island can seat 3 – 4 people on one side and has the sink and dishwasher on the other side. The refrigerator, stove, and microwave are on one wall, as well as a short counter and a few cabinets. The longer wall has the cooktop, lower drawers, upper cabinets, and more counter space. The corner between the two walls has a walk-in pantry, shown with the standard shelving. This pantry provides a lot of extra storage.

 

The dining room is behind the kitchen. It is a smaller space than in residence 2, but bigger than in residence 1. It can probably comfortably seat 6 and doesn’t really have room to expand for a larger group. Two windows face the backyard and sliding doors lead to the California room.

A doorway in the corner of the great room leads to the master suite. The bedroom has three windows facing the backyard and two more on the side. It is an average-sized room that shares a full wall with the great room.

The master bathroom has a long vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and six drawers. The bathtub and shower sit across from the vanity, with the tub deck forming a ledge in the shower. The shower also has a full seat. The walk-in closet is shown with the standard shelving and poles.

The California room is like the one in residence 2 and does not have an option for a fireplace. The rest of the yard is just a narrow strip running the length of the house, as in the other Palencia homes.

On the second floor, the stairs open to a loft. It has two windows facing the side of the house. The built-in unit by the stairs is included and has a set of cabinets, two drawers, and a mini-fridge. There seems to be some sort of extra storage area across from it, but the small door was locked.

Bedroom 3 is also on the second floor. It is much bigger than bedroom 2. It has one window on the side of the house and a single French door leading to the large balcony. In the other elevation, there would be two windows facing the front of the house. There is a walk-in closet in one corner. The en-suite bathroom is in another corner, though it was hidden by the bedroom door and I didn’t notice it at first. It has a vanity with a single sink and two cabinets and a shower/tub combo.

 

I like that this home has both a loft and an office, as it adds a lot of flexibility to the house. I didn’t like the coat closet being off the main floor and wish the master bedroom didn’t share a wall with the great room, but I like the layout otherwise.

Residence 4
2,425 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Loft
Recent pricing started at $1,235,990 ($509 per square foot)

Residence 4 has three elevations. Elevation B has a large balcony over the garage but elevation A and C (which is modeled) do not. Upgrades found throughout the home include the flooring, window and wall treatments, built-ins, lighting, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items. The model shows a bench on the small, covered porch.

Like residence 3, this home has a long entry hall with the stairs running up one side. It has a bedroom on the left and, farther down, the powder room and laundry room.

 

The front bedroom is a junior master suite. It is larger than most secondary bedrooms but not as big as the true master. It has one window facing the street.

The junior master bathroom has a very long vanity with two sinks, six cabinets, and numerous drawers. Unlike the other homes, it has undermount sinks, so they are probably upgraded. It doesn’t have a bathtub but does have a shower with a full seat. The closet is smaller than in most masters, but still has shelving and poles on three walls.

The powder room is near the end of the hall on the right. It has a single sink set into a vanity with one set of cabinets. There is a hall closet across from the powder room that extends beneath the stairs. Access to the garage is next to the closet.

The laundry room is across the hall from the powder room. It has side-by-side machines and a sink but no counter space. There are upper cabinets above the machines and a shelf above the sink.

The hall opens to the dining room on the right and the kitchen on the left. The dining room can comfortably seat six but could have space for a slightly larger table if needed.  Sliding doors at the far end of the room lead to the California room.

The kitchen is similar to the one in residence 3. The island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. One wall has the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and a short counter. The other wall has the cooktop and more counter space. Both walls have upper and lower cabinets and the longer side also has drawers. The pantry in the back corner has upgraded built-ins.

The great room is behind the kitchen. It is similar in size to the great room in the other residences. This one has three windows facing the backyard and three more facing the California room.

The California room is bigger in this home than in the other residences and has one of the shorter walls open to the backyard, instead of a long wall as we saw in the other homes. This makes it feel more closed in and separate from the rest of the yard. There isn’t an option for a fireplace. The rest of the backyard is a little wider than in the other homes, so it has rom for a table and built-in barbecue. A separate area behind the great room has a built-in fireplace and patio.

The master bedroom is off an alcove behind the dining room. There are linen cabinets just outside the room. The bedroom has three large windows facing the backyard and two small ones on the side of the house.

The master bathroom has one vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and nine drawers. The bathtub is next to the vanity and has two windows above it. The deck forms a ledge in the adjacent shower, which also has a narrow seat across the back. This shower is larger than in the other Palencia homes. The walk-in closet is a good size as well and is shown with the standard shelves and poles.

The second floor has a large loft at the top of the stairs. The room has two windows facing the street and one more on the side. In elevation B, there is also a French door facing the front, leading to the large balcony. Unlike residences one and three, this loft does not have any built-in cabinets or a mini fridge.

Bathroom 3 is near the top of the stairs. It has a vanity with a single sink, two cabinets, and a small counter. This bathroom has a shower/tub combo.

Bedroom 3 is also on the second floor. It has two windows facing the side of the house and one more at the back. It is an average-sized room with a small bypass closet.

I like the dual master suites on the first floor of this home and think it has a really good layout. It is also nice to see a larger backyard. This home also has a more reasonable price per square foot, though the overall price tag is still quite high.

Residence 5 (not modeled)
2,567 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Loft
Pricing not available

Residence 5 is a large home with a much longer layout on the first floor, as opposed to the other homes, which are more square-shaped. The entry is in the middle of the first floor, with the bedrooms off to the right and the living areas to the left. The foyer has one wall that could hold an entry console or bench. The staircase is on the left side of the foyer and there is a coat closet beneath it.

There is an office directly behind the foyer. It doesn’t have doors so it’s fully open to the hall but should still have some privacy since there aren’t any other rooms adjacent to it. It has two windows facing the backyard.

The powder room is across from the staircase. It has a single sink set into a small vanity.

The hall opens to the kitchen and dining room on the left. The kitchen has an island like the ones in all other Palencia homes. One wall has the refrigerator and a short counter. The other wall has the cooktop, oven, and microwave. The counters on each side of the cooktop are longer than in the other homes so it must have a lot of cabinets as well. There is a walk-in pantry in the corner.

The dining room is across from the kitchen. It has three windows facing the front of the house and looks to be bigger than in the other homes. Sliding doors lead to the California room, which is at the front of this home instead of in the backyard.

The great room is next to the kitchen. The room seems quite spacious and bright, as it has two windows facing the back, three on the side, and three facing the California room at the front.

The hallway on the right side of the foyer leads to the bedrooms, laundry room, and access to the garage. The laundry room has side-by-side machines with upper cabinets and a sink with counter space next to it. There are linen cabinets outside the laundry room. There is also a small drop zone next to the door to the garage.

Bedroom 2 is at the front of the house. The room seems to be a good size, with one window facing the front and one on the side by the front walkway. There is a bypass closet along one wall. The room has an en-suite bathroom just inside the doorway. It has a single sink and a small shower without a seat.

The master suite is in the back corner of the house. It has two windows on the side and three facing the back. It is a large room that looks like it would have space for a small sitting area.

The master bathroom has split vanities, each with one sink. One has a much longer counter than the other. The bathtub and shower are next to each other at the back of the room. The shower looks to be similar in size to the other homes and has a seat. The walk-in closet has shelving and poles along three walls.

The stairs open to a loft on the second floor. It has three windows facing the street and one on the side. This room doesn’t have a built-in unit or mini fridge.

The bathroom is across from the bedroom. It has a vanity with one sink and a fair amount of counter space on each side. There is a shower but no tub.

Bedroom 3 is behind the loft and is about the same size. It has one window on the side and three facing the backyard. There is a walk-in closet in one corner.

This home doesn’t appear to have a backyard at all. The California room is at the front of the house and there aren’t any sliding doors off the rooms along the back.

Even though both bedrooms are on the same side of the house, they don’t share walls with any other rooms or with each other, so they do have a good amount of privacy. I think the office is a great addition to this home and the loft adds more versatility.

Overall, the homes in the Palencia collection don’t differ too much from each other, with the key differences being whether it has a loft, office, or bonus room. I think the prices are too high for a home with only two or three bedrooms especially one designed only for people over age 55.

Last week, I presented an overview of the exclusive 55+ Travata community in Cypress Village. Today, I will review the Castillo collection, one of Travata’s three neighborhoods. Castillo is the mid-range collection, with homes ranging from 1,281 – 1,947 square feet. There will be 77 Castillo homes, with residences 1 and 3 attached to each other while residences 2 and 2X are detached. Homes have 2 – 3 bedrooms and 2 – 2.5 bathrooms. All homes are single-story, except for residence 2X, which has a loft on the second floor. Every home has a two-car garage. The residence 2 and 2X homes are always on the street, with residences 1 and 3 set behind them along a shared motor court.

 

Included Features
Castillo is built by Lennar, which is known for its “Everything’s Included” policy. What you see in the models is primarily what you get and there aren’t many options to upgrade or customize the home. However, you can make changes to the flooring, kitchen backsplash, and paint. The homes come standard with smart products controlled by Amazon Alexa, including Echo Dot and Echo Show; Baldwin® Evolved smart lock; Honeywell Lyric round™ wi-fi thermostat; Leviton® Z-wave plug-in module; Lutron Caseta® wireless in-wall dimmer, Smart Bridge Pro, lamp module, and Pico remote with double stand; Ring® video doorbell pro; Samsung SmartThings® hub; and Sonos® PLAY:1 wireless speaker. Efficiency features include energy-saving LED lights; radiant barrier roof sheathing; Sherwin-Williams® two-tone low-VOC interior paint; sealed heating and cooling ducts; dual-glazed windows with high performance low-E glass; full exterior door weather stripping; tankless water heater; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and pressure balanced valves in showers and tubs.

The kitchens have a GE Monogram® package with a Professional Series stainless-steel 6-burner gas range cooktop, hood, side-by-side refrigerator and freezer, and oven; GE Profile™ Advantium microwave and ENERGY STAR® dishwasher; large double-bowl kitchen sink with designer Moen® faucet and push button disposal; quartz countertops with 6” backsplash and full-height splash at cooktop; Shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges (homesite color schemes pre-selected); under-cabinet task lighting; and roll-out shelf for recycling and trash.

The bathrooms include top-mount double sinks (master suite); Piedrafina™ countertop with 6” backsplash; Moen® bath accessories with brushed nickel finishes; frameless shower enclosure with ceramic tile surround; acrylic tub with surround and deck (per residence); shaker-style cabinetry with soft-close hinges in pre-selected colors; and decorative framed mirrors in the master or beveled mirrors in the secondary baths. The laundry rooms have Piedrafina™ countertops with 4” backsplash; undermount sink with Moen® pull-out faucet; and a vacancy switch.

Additional features in the Castillo homes include  barbecue stub; Seagull® decorator-selected coach lights; ThermaTru® insulated fiberglass 8’ entry door; Kwikset® satin nickel door levers; 3.5” baseboards; Daltile® glazed floor tile at entry, baths, and laundry; plush wall-to-wall Mohawk® carpeting; USB outlets in kitchen and bedrooms; flat-screen TV blocking with smurf tubing to hide cables; rocker light switches; telephone jack in kitchen and master bedroom; and cable outlets in all bedrooms, living room, and loft.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $285 per month at buildout
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.06%
No Mello Roos
Current pricing starts at $768,990 for residence 1; $900,990 for residence 2; $974,990 for residence 2X; and $944,000 for residence 3

Residence 1
1,281 square feet
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Pricing in current phase ranges from $768,990 – $799,990 ($600 – $625 per square foot)

Residence 1 is a single-story home that is always attached to residence 3. It shares a wall along the kitchen, dining room, secondary bathroom, and laundry room. There is a large patio on the side of the house between the motor court and the front door. The door is equipped with the Ring doorbell system.

Inside, the foyer is small but has space for a very narrow table.

The great room is just past the foyer. The living area is large, with a coffered ceiling, recessed lights, and two windows facing the side patio. The model shows an upgraded built-in media unit.

 

The kitchen is adjacent to the great room. It has an island with seating for 3 – 4 people on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other side. The long wall behind the island holds the cooktop, built-in microwave, and oven. There are short counters on each side of the cooktop. The other wall has the refrigerator and pantry, shown with standard shelving. The kitchen makes good use of the space and has numerous cabinets and drawers.

 

The dining room is behind the kitchen. It can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people. There are base cabinets extended from the kitchen all the way to the back of the dining room. There are sliding doors leading to the small back patio.

The patio is shown with a small table and a grill.

A small alcove off the dining room leads to the master suite. The room isn’t much bigger than an average secondary bedroom. It has crown molding and recessed lights, with windows facing the back patio and back of the house. Signs posted in the room demonstrate the home’s Amazon Alexa system and Sonos® PLAY:1 sound system. The walk-in closet has two shelves and poles with a built-in shoe rack.

The master bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and six drawers. The shower is on the left side of the vanity. It has the standard tile, with a seat at the back and niche along the wall.

A hallway on the opposite side of the great room leads to the secondary bed and bath and the laundry room. The secondary bathroom is the first room on the right. It has a vanity with a single sink and a fair amount of counter space on each side. There is one set of cabinets but there aren’t any drawers. The shower/tub combo has upgraded tile.

The laundry room is next to the bathroom. It has space for side-by-side machines, a short counter, and a sink. There is one set of cabinets below the sink and two sets above the machines. Access to the two-car garage is at the end of the hall. There are linen cabinets beside the door to create a small drop zone.

The secondary bedroom is on the left side of the hallway. It has two windows facing the side patio, crown molding, and recessed lights. The model shows a ceiling fan. The room is on the smaller side and has a standard bypass closet.

 

Residence 1 is a nice home for a couple looking for a smaller house. I think the living areas are spacious and laid out well. The house lacks a hall closet and the small foyer doesn’t really offer space for shoes or coats. I think the price is too high at over $600 per square foot, as many people looking to downsize or move to a retirement community aren’t looking to spend nearly $800,000 for a two-bedroom house.

Residence 2 (not modeled)
1,566 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Sold out in current phase; recent pricing started from $900,990 ($575 per square foot)

Residence 2X
1,947 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Loft
Current pricing starts at $974,990 ($500 per square feet)

Residence 2 and 2X are almost the same, with the exception being the second-floor loft in residence 2X. The staircase leading up to the loft eliminates a coat closet that is present in the standard residence 2. Both residences are always detached homes that face the street, with the garage on the side of the house along the motor court. The foyer has space on one wall for a narrow table or bench. A long hallway on the left leads to the secondary rooms while the living areas are straight ahead. In residence 2, the coat closet is just before the living areas; in residence 2X, the staircase is there instead.

The foyer opens to the dining room, which is between the kitchen and the great room. There are three windows facing the back of the house. The room can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people. Because it is an extension of the great room, there is some flexibility with the layout.

The great room has three windows facing the back of the house and three more on the side. There is a single French door leading to the patio. The room is a good size and has recessed lights. One wall has a niche for a media unit. The model shows a built-in base unit that is an upgrade.

The kitchen has an island with seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The longer wall holds the cooktop, built-in microwave, and oven. It has counter space on each side of the cooktop, along with numerous cabinets and drawers. The refrigerator is on the far left side of the kitchen and the walk-in pantry is on the right.

The back patio is shown with a fountain and built-in barbecue. It is bigger than the back patio in residence 1, but this home doesn’t have the large front patio like that one does.

The master suite is off the back corner of the great room. The bedroom has two small windows facing the street and one small window at the back. The room has crown molding and recessed lights. It is a little bigger than the master suite in residence 1.

The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity, with two sets of cabinets and six drawers. The bathtub and shower are across from the vanity. The tub deck forms a ledge in the adjacent shower, which also has a built-in seat and soap niche. The shower is a good size. There is a walk-in closet in one corner of the bathroom that is shown with an upgraded organizer system.

The secondary rooms are off the long hallway to the left of the foyer. Bedroom 3 is the first room on the right. It is the smallest bedroom in the house and has just one window facing the back. There is a standard bypass closet.

The laundry room is the next room down the hall. There are narrow linen cabinets just outside it. The room is the same as in residence 1, with side-by-side machines, a sink, and a few cabinets. Access to the two-car garage is across from the laundry room.

The secondary bathroom is next to the laundry room. It has a vanity with a single sink and one set of cabinets. There is a shower but no tub, shown with standard tile on the walls and upgraded floor tile. The shower includes a full seat.

Bedroom 2 is at the end of the hall, also on the right. It is slightly larger than bedroom 3 and brighter, as it has windows on two walls. This one is shown with crown molding and a decorative light fixture. There is a standard bypass closet.

 

While the Castillo homes are designed for single-story living, residence 2X has a second-floor loft. This room is great for visiting grandchildren for people who don’t want to use it on a daily basis, though it can also be a bedroom or office. The room has four windows facing the street, while each of the other walls has three small windows near the ceiling. The room is set up with two distinct spaces, including a table and chairs at one end and a sofa and TV at the other. The loft includes a powder room with a single sink set into a small vanity.

   

Residences 2 and 2X are priced a little more reasonably per square foot than residence 1, though the overall price tag is still quite high. I was happy to see that residence 2 has a coat closet and wish they could have put one somewhere in 2X. This home has the added bonus of not sharing walls with any other houses.

Residence 3
1,701 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Sold out in current phase; recent pricing started from $944,990 ($555 per square foot)

Residence 3 is connected to residence 1, with the kitchen, laundry room, and master bath on the shared wall. The front door is off the motor court, right next to the two-car garage. Inside, there is a long, narrow hallway with the secondary bedrooms on the left and access to the garage is on the right. The living areas are at the end of the hall.

Bedroom 2 is the first room on the left. This room is much larger than the other secondary rooms found throughout the Castillo collection. It has two windows facing the side of the house and another facing the front walkway. The model shows crown molding and a ceiling fan. This room is the only Castilla secondary room with a walk-in closet.

An alcove outside of bedroom 2 has a small coat closet and the secondary bathroom. This bathroom only has one sink, but the vanity is much larger than in the other homes. It has two cabinets and six drawers. The shower/tub combo has the standard tile.

Bedroom 3 is the next room on the left. It is comparable in size to the rooms in residences 1 and 2. There is a single window on the side and a standard bypass closet.

The hallway opens to the dining room, which, like the other homes, can seat 6 – 8 people comfortably. One wall provides space for a hutch while another has sliding doors to the patio.

The great room is behind the dining room. The sliding doors from the dining room run through the great room as well. There is a niche on the opposite wall for a media unit, which the model shows with upgraded, built-in base cabinets.

The kitchen is across from the dining room. The island can seat 3 – 4 people and holds the sink and dishwasher. One wall has the refrigerator and pantry. The longer wall has the cooktop in the middle and the built-in microwave and oven at the end. There is a lot of counter space surrounding the cooktop and plenty of cabinets and drawers.

 

The laundry room is off the kitchen. The side-by-side machines are on the left wall and the sink is on the right. The counter is more accessible than in the other residences, so it could be used for folding.

The master suite is off the great room at the back of the house. The room is a good size and felt very bright, with two windows at the back and sliding doors on the side. It has crown molding and recessed lights. A niche in one wall shows an upgraded, built-in dresser with highboys on each end.

In the master bathroom, the shower is on the left as soon as you go through the door. It is long and narrow, with a seat under the showerhead instead of on the opposite wall where it usually is. The vanity is the same as in the other master suites, with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and six drawers. The walk-in closet is shown with built-in organizers.

The patio runs along the full length of the house, with a wider section by the living areas and narrower sections outside the bedrooms. The model shows a grill and chairs on one end, a built-in bench and fire pit in the middle, and a dining table at the other end.

 

I like the larger bedrooms that this home has and thought it felt brighter than residence 1. The kitchen utilizes the space well and the home has a coat closet, though it is quite small.

Overall, the Castillo collection offers smaller, single-story homes for those looking to downsize or move into a 55+ community. Every home has some outdoor space and comfortable living areas. The proximity to the Great Park may cause a lot of traffic outside the gates during busy sports times, but that won’t affect the community inside the gates.

Cypress Village has a new community for residents age 55 and over. Travata is a gated community with three home collections built by Lennar. The neighborhood is off Ridge Valley, just north of the 5 freeway and 133 toll road. It is across from the original entrance to the Great Park. All homes are designed for one-story living, though some Aldea flats on the second floor of a building and some Castillo and Palencia homes have second-floor lofts. Aldea’s upper level flats have an option for a private elevator in each unit. There will be 243 total homes between the three collections.

The neighborhood includes a large clubhouse with a pool, spa, fitness center, lounge, and more. Though Travata is technically part of Cypress Village, other residents of the Village will not have access to Travata’s amenities. Likewise, Travata residents will not have access to any of the other pools or private facilities in Cypress Village. Homeowners dues is expected to be $285 per month for the Palencia and Castillo collections and $453 for the Aldea collection; Travata does not have Mello Roos.

The Castillo and Palencia collections have open models and are actively selling. Aldea hasn’t opened its models yet, but they are selling with a move-in date of August 2018. All models have a two-car garage except for Aldea Residence 1, which only has one.

Collection	Square Feet	Beds	Baths	# Floor plans	# Units	Base Price
Aldea	1,430 – 1,910	1 – 2	1.5 – 2	3	105	$655,990 – $879,990
Castillo	1,281 – 1,947	2 – 3	2 – 2.5	3	77	$768,990 – $974,990
Palencia	1,848 – 2,567	2 – 3	2.5-3.5	5	61	$910,000 – $985,000

Resort Amenities
The Travata Club is a large, multi-use facility near the entrance gates to the enclave. This will be the social center of the community and should eventually offer organized activities for the residents. The lobby includes a reception area and information desk. The front room also has a lounge with comfortable seating and a fireplace for casual socializing.

 

A huge multipurpose room on the right can be used for parties or group activities. It has a large bar with a sink and two mini fridges. There is a back kitchen with a sink, microwave, and full-size refrigerator. The room has plenty of seating and can be opened to the outdoor patio.

The meeting rooms are across from reception. A moveable wall provides the option for one large space or two smaller rooms. All the furniture is easy to move so the meeting space is flexible.

The far end of the building houses the gym. It includes a variety of cardio and weight machines, with large windows and doors leading to the back patio. There is a water fountain and refillable bottle station. A smaller room off the main gym holds hand weights, yoga mats, and fitness balls. A large screen TV showed options for different exercise programs.

Outside, the patio has several different areas with comfortable couches for casual get togethers, including some in covered California rooms. One side has a u-shaped bench surrounding a fire pit.

The swimming pool is H-shaped, with one long side designated as a lap pool. There are lounge chairs all around the deck and some covered seating near the back. There is a small hot tub behind the pool. One side of the pool deck has two built-in barbecues and a couple of large dining tables.

Two bocce ball courts run alongside the building outside the fitness room. There is additional seating nearby. A grassy area next to the bocce ball courts is called the “yoga lawn” and will likely have organized yoga classes.

Thought I wasn’t able to walk around the back of the club, there are two pickle-ball courts and a dog park behind the pool (outside the pool gates).  There is also a parking lot at the back.

Overall, the Travata community will be well-suited for residents age 55 and up, with its single-story living options and smaller homes that still offer enough space for visiting grandchildren. The Travata Club will provide a nice gathering place for residents and will offer a good variety of organized activities and classes. The pricing may be high for retirees on a fixed income, especially in the Aldea collection where the HOA fees are over $450 per month. I hope that the Travata neighborhood has a close-knit, community feeling for its residents.