This week, I will review the Prado collection in Cadence Park. Built by KB Homes, these detached condos have three floorplans and 87 home sites arranged in groups of three or six. The homes all have three stories and range from 1,733 – 2,766 square feet with 3 – 4 bedrooms and 3.5 – 4 bathrooms. Some homes also have a loft. Elevations include Transitional, Art Deco, and Farmhouse.

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Included Features
The Prado homes come standard with 10’ ceilings at first floor and 9’ ceilings on the second and third floors; cable and phone outlets; Hawthorne handle set in Venetian bronze at entry door; security viewer and electronic doorbell; carpeting at great room, dining room, hallways, and bedroom; ceramic 13” x 13” tile at kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and entry. The home has 8’ interior 6-panel doors with Commonwealth handles in oil rubbed bronze; open stair rail system with maple handrail; square drywall corners; and white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed satin nickel knobs. The kitchens have Moen® Arbor chrome faucets with pull-our sprayer; granite slab countertops with 6” backsplash and standard edge; soft close drawers and doors; under cabinet lights; and Whirlpool® stainless steel appliances including a 5-burner gas cooktop, vented range hood, single built-in oven, microwave with built-in trim kit, and dishwasher. The bathrooms have Moen® Bradford chrome faucets; engineered stone countertops with 4” splash; undermount rectangular sinks; separate acrylic tub and shower with ceramic tile walls at master bath; fibercare tub/shower with simulated tile at secondary baths; beveled edge vanity mirrors; and mirrored medicine cabinets. The energy-saving features include Carrier® COR-T programmable thermostat; radiant roof barrier – TechShield; tankless water heater; USB charging receptacle at kitchen; energy efficient gas forced air heating and door weather stripping; water saving plumbing fixtures; and dual glazed vinyl windows and sliding doors.

Schools
Prado is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The brand new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school opened 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 serves grades K – 8. 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 1.078%
Mello Roos: $6,111 – 8,531 per year, depending on plan
Recent pricing started at $794,680 for residence 1, $1,037,080 for residence 2, and $1,036,495 for residence 3

Residence 1
1,733 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Recent pricing started at $794,680

Residence 1 has a big front porch with space for a nice seating area. Upgrades found throughout the model include KB Privacy Pack Deluxe with upgraded insulation in walls and between floors, 6-panel doors, maple recessed panel cabinets with Java stain, soft close drawers and cabinets, multi-room audio system, security alarm, flooring, window and wall treatments, lighting, ceiling fans, paint, landscaping, built-ins, and decorator’s items. External upgrades include keyless entry pad for garage, garage floor sealant, gas stub for BBQ, and electrical vehicle charging station.

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Inside, the home has a narrow entryway. Access to the two-car garage is on the left and the stairs are across from the front door. A doorway on the right leads to bedroom 3, which has an option for barn doors.

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Bedroom 3 is a smaller room with windows facing the front porch and the side of the home. It has a small bypass closet and two upgraded Traverse II lights. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with one sink and a shower with a shampoo niche but no seat. Upgrades include the solid surface countertop in Silestone – Pearl Jasmine and floor-to-ceiling shower tile in marble.

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There is a coat closet on the first landing of the staircase. The powder room is at the top of the stairs. It has a vanity with a single sink. Upgrades include the floating mirror, solid surface countertop (Silestone – Coral Clay), and floor-to-ceiling Cashmere Necubea tile wall.

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There is a covered deck off the great room overlooking the motor court. It has space for a dining table and a grill.

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The great room is a good size, with windows on one wall and sliding doors on another. The built-in media center, flat panel prewire and recessed lighting are upgrades.

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The dining area is between the great room and kitchen. The room is flexible, allowing for a table of any size. There is space for a small hutch beneath the windows.

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The kitchen has an island with seating for four, the sink, and the dishwasher. One wall holds the fridge, microwave, oven, and pantry cupboards. The other wall has the cooktop and a long counter. Upgrades include pull-out shelves in lower cabinets, modified cabinets for 36” refrigerator, trash/recycle bin cabinet, solid surface countertop in Quartz – Mystic, custom tile full backsplash, Sterling by Kohler® McAllister single basin sink, and three hanging pendant lights.

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The stairs to the third floor are off the dining area. There are several base linen cabinets in the upstairs hallway with an option for upper cabinets. The laundry room is at the top of the stairs. It has space for side-by-side machines and a shelf above them. There is an option for upper cabinets here as well.

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Bedroom 2 is at the back of the house. It has two big windows at the back and another on the side. The room has a standard bypass closet and en-suite bathroom. The recessed lights are an upgrade. The bathroom has a vanity with one sink and a shower/tub combo. Upgrades include the floating mirror and custom tile backsplash.

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The master suite is at the front of the house. The bedroom has windows on three walls and space for a couch. A recessed area could provide a good space for a built-in. Upgrades include the TV prewire, wall planks, and recessed lights.

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The master bathroom has a vanity with two sinks and a shower with a seat. The floating mirrors, shower seat in Silestone, shower tiles, backsplash, 3” mitered countertop edge, and 600 series clear glass shower enclosure are all upgrades. The walk-in closet has shelves and poles on three walls.

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Residence 1 offers a basic three bedroom condo without any options to alter the floorplan. Families with young children may not like the setup of the bedrooms, with bedroom 3 on the first floor and the master and bedroom 2 on the third floor.

Residence 2
2,307 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Loft
Recent pricing started at $1,037,080

Residence 2 is a three story unit with a detached, two-car garage that can be accessed from the back patio. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window treatments, wallpaper, paint, thermostat and volume control cover boxes, landscaping, bommer hinges on the front door, KB Privacy Pack Deluxe with upgraded insulation in walls and between floors, Kwikset® interior door hardware in chrome, Carrara 2-panel interior doors, multi-room audio system, security alarm system, PCS Lenox (Tsuki 2) flat panel Thermofoil cabinets with brushed nickel bar pulls, and dovetail soft close drawers and cabinets throughout.

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Inside, the home has a small foyer. The stairs are immediately to the right of the front door. A small nook next to the stairs can hold a table. There is a coat closet next to the nook with extra storage under the stairs.

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The kitchen is just beyond the foyer. The island can seat up to four people and houses the sink and dishwasher. The waterfall edge is an upgrade. One wall holds the refrigerator and narrow, pantry-height cupboards. The other wall has a long counter with a range in the middle, a built-in microwave and oven on the end, ample counter space, and a few upper cabinets, including some with upgraded glass doors. On the far side of the microwave/oven, a nook provides additional counter and cabinet space. A walk-in pantry with built-in shelves provides a lot of storage. Additional upgrades include cabinets modified for 36” refrigerator and range, pull-out shelves in lower cabinets, trash/recycle bin cabinet, LED puck lights at upper cabinets with glass doors, solid surface (Quartz – Calacatta Gold) countertop with full backsplash, Kohler® Vault stainless steel single-basin sink, Moen® Align high arc chrome faucet with pull-down sprayer, and two hanging pendant lights. The appliance package is upgraded to include stainless steel KitchenAid® built-in side-by-side refrigerator, 36” gas range, single wall oven, under-cabinet hood, microwave oven, and dishwasher.

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The dining room is behind the kitchen. It can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people and is offset from the living room so it wouldn’t too easy to enlarge it. Sliding doors lead to the backyard. The model shows upgraded multi-panel sliders.

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The backyard is a decent size for the neighborhood. It is one large square, shown with a built-in barbecue on one side and a fountain on the other. Access to the two-car garage is at the back of the patio.

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The living room is across from the kitchen. It has two windows facing the side of the house and is modeled with decorative wall planks. The flat panel TV prewire and four recessed Traverse II lights are upgrades.

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A doorway near the dining room leads to the first-floor bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom is on the left. It has a vanity with a single sink and a shower but no seat. Upgrades include the Moen® Alight 24” chrome towel bar and pivoting toilet paper holder, shower tile walls, hot mop shower, Kohler® Archer undermount sink, Moen® Align two-handle wide-spread faucet, Moen® Align shower head, and solid surface Silestone – Classic White countertop.

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Bedroom 3 is across the hall from the bathroom. The small room has corner windows on two walls that face the street. The room has a standard bypass closet. The wall planks and recessed Traverse II lights are upgrades.

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The second floor has a wide landing and a hallway off to the right. Both areas include base linen cabinets and have an option for upper cabinets.

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The laundry room is across from the staircase. It has space for side-by-side machines on one wall and a sink and counter on the other. There are optional upper cabinets above the machines in lieu of the standard shelf. The sink is an upgraded Kohler® Park Falls deep set porcelain on cast iron.

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Bedroom 2 is the first room on the right side of the hall. It has two windows facing the street and a bypass closet. Upgrades include the two recessed Traverse II lights.

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The secondary bath is across the hall from the bedroom. It has a vanity with a single sink and a shower/tub combo. As in the bathroom downstairs, upgrades include the Moen® Alight 24” chrome towel bar and pivoting toilet paper holder, shower tile walls, Kohler® Archer undermount sink, Moen® Align two-handle wide-spread faucet, Moen® Align shower head and tub spout, countertop edge, and custom tile backsplash.

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The master suite is at the end of the hall off a small alcove. The room is a good side with windows in the corners that overlook the street. The four recessed Traverse II lights and decorative wall are upgrades. There is no door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.

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The master bath has a vanity with two sinks, a shower, and a separate bathtub. It has the same upgrades as the other bathrooms as well as an upgraded tub deck, countertop in quartz, and tile walls. The shower is quite small and has a narrow seat formed by the tub deck. The floor plan shows a larger shower and no bathtub. The walk-in closet has shelves and poles on three walls.

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The third floor opens to a loft with windows on two walls. Windows along the staircase bring in even more light. The room is a good size and is a nice additional living area in the home.

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Bedroom 4 is also on the third floor. It has windows facing the back and side of the house. There is a standard bypass closet.

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Bathroom 4 is adjacent to the bedroom. It has a vanity with a single sink and a shower in lieu of the shower/tub combo. This bathroom has the same upgrades as the other secondary baths, as well as upgraded tile walls.

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I was happy to see a lot of closet and storage space throughout this house. I was surprised to see a detached garage, as none of the other Great Park homes that I have toured had that.

Residence 3
2,766 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Loft
Recent pricing started at $1,036,495

Residence 3 looks very tall and narrow from the street. Upgrades found throughout the home include flooring, window and wall treatments, interior paint, open stair rail system, KB Privacy Pack Deluxe, Kwikset® interior door hardware (Ladera Lever in venetian bronze), Shaker door thermofoil cabinets (mission 5) with upgraded knobs, dovetail soft close doors and drawers, multi-room audio system, security alarm system, and all decorator’s items.

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Inside there is a space for a narrow table or bench across from the front door.

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The foyer opens to the kitchen. It has an island with seating for 3 – 4 people, the sink, and the dishwasher. One wall holds the built-in double oven, and cooktop. The other wall has the refrigerator, wide pantry-height cupboards., and a built-in microwave set beneath the counter. The kitchen is heavily upgraded, including the waterfall island, modified cabinets to accommodate larger appliances, trash/recycle bin, upper cabinets with glass doors and LED puck lights, pendant lights, solid surface (Silestone – Marquina) countertop with waterfall edge, Kohler® Vault stainless steel single basin sink, and a Moen® Sleek high arc faucet with pull down sprayer in Matte black. The upgraded appliances are stainless steel KitchenAid® and include a built-in, side-by-side refrigerator, 48” gas cooktop, double wall oven, canopy hood, microwave oven, and dishwasher. I find the placement of the microwave very inconvenient, as you would have to squat down to put things in and push the buttons.

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Sliding doors off the kitchen (upgraded to multi-sliders) lead to the patio. It extends the full length of the house and has a covered portion by the doors. It is quite narrow and can’t be used for much but it does have enough room for some seating and a BBQ.

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The dining area is adjacent to the kitchen and is really just an extension of the great room. The sliders are on one side the staircase on another, so there is not a place to put a hutch.

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The great room is behind the dining room. It has three windows facing the patio. The built-in media center and the flat panel prewire are upgrades. An alcove off the back corner of the room leads to a large storage closet beneath the stairs and access to the two-car garage.

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There is a doorway on the left side of the foyer that leads to a hallway with built-in base cabinets with an option for uppers. Bathroom 3 is at the end of the hall. It has a vanity with a single sink and a shower. Upgrades include the hot mop shower, 600 series clear glass shower enclosure, Kohler® Archer undermount sink, Moen® Gibson single-handle faucet and shower head, tile walls with solid surface (E-stone) dam, and solid surface (Quartz – Lagos  Azul) counter and backsplash.

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Bedroom 3 is at the front of the house. It has three windows facing the street and the covered porch. There is a walk-in closet with shelves and poles on two walls. The two recessed Traverse II lights are upgrades.

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On the second floor, there are base cabinets at the top of the stairs. Optional upper cabinets are available. A doorway next to the cabinets leads to the secondary bedroom suite.

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The entry vestibule to the suite has another set of base linen cabinets, again with an option for uppers. The walk-in closet is on the left, across from the cabinets. The large closet has shelves and poles on three walls. Bedroom 2 is large and has windows facing the back and side of the house. The recessed lights and flat panel prewire are upgrades. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with a single sink and a shower/tub combo. Upgrades include the acrylic tub, Kohler® Archer undermount sink, Moen® Gibson single handle faucet, tub, and shower head, E-stone tub/shower walls, and the solid surface (Silestone – Serenas) countertop and splash.

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The second floor has a long hallway. The model shows a bench in the hall so it is wide enough to put bookshelves or storage. The laundry room is off the hall. It has a sink, side-by-side machines, and upper cabinets. The upper cabinets, ¼” edge detail at countertop, and Ceco® porcelain on cast iron deep set sink are upgrades.

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The master suite is at the front of the house. Like the secondary bedroom, it has an entry vestibule with a walk-in closet on one side. The closet has a double row of shelves on the long wall. The master bathroom is across from the closet. The vanity has two sinks, upgraded to Kohler® Archer undermount sinks with Moen® Gibson single-handle faucets. The countertop is upgraded to solid surface (Silestone – Charcoal Soap Stone) and linen with 3” mitered edge. The tub and shower are side-by-side with the tub deck forming a seat in the shower. Upgrades include the 600 series clear glass shower enclosure, Moen® Gibson shower head and tub faucet, tub deck and seat in Silestone, and tub face and shower walls in marble (Bianco Gioia). The shower is quite large. The master bathroom also has a set of base cabinets and optional upper cabinets and an upgraded Kohler® toilet with bidet seat.

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The master bedroom has windows on three walls that let in a lot of natural light. The room is a good size and has upgraded recessed lights and prewire for a flat panel TV.

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Like the other Prado homes, residence 3 has a third story. There is a hallway along the stairs shown with a large storage unit. The loft is smaller than in some homes, but still makes a good living space, playroom, or office.

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Bathroom 4 is off the loft. It has a vanity with a single sink and a shower. Upgrades include the shower in lieu of a shower/tub combo, 600 series clear glass shower enclosure, Moen® Gibson single-handle faucet and shower head, solid surface countertop (Quartz – Lagos Azul) with self-splash, and floor-to-ceiling tile shower walls and soap niche.

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Bedroom 4 is also on the third floor. The bedroom is almost as big as the master bedroom. It has four windows facing the street and upgraded recessed lights. The model shows an upgraded, built-in window seat, desk, and shelves. The bedroom also has a walk-in closet.

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Most bedrooms in residence 3 are spacious and they all have walk-in closets. The home overall has a lot of extra storage space.

Overall, I like the Prado collection more than many of the other Cadence Park homes I have seen. While these models are similar overall to the others, the extra storage makes them a little more desirable and I think the layouts work well.

I recently visited the Aldea collection in the Travata 55+ community. Built by Lennar, these attached condos are configured in six-unit buildings. The development will have 105 units, including some ready for move-in this month. Residences range from 1,499 – 1,910 square feet with 1 – 2 bedrooms and 1.5 – 2 bathrooms. Homes are either one or two stories, with the two-story homes including private elevators. All homes have an attached garage accessed from a shared motor court. There are four primary elevations and a fifth elevation for the development’s only 3-unit building.

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Included Features
The Aldea neighborhood didn’t provide a list of specific features that come standard with the home. However, because this is a Lennar community, most of what you see in the units is included with the homes. Upgrades may include flooring, window and wall treatments, ceiling fans, lighting, and decorator’s items. The smart home features such as Amazon Alexa are included.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $453 per month at buildout
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.06%
No Mello Roos
Recent pricing started at $640,990 for residence 1X, $709,990 for residence 2, and $789,990 for residence 3. Pricing on the standard residence 1 not available.

Residence 1 (modeled)
1,417 square feet
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
2-car tandem garage
Recent pricing not available

Residence 1X (not modeled)
1,499 square feet
1 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms
Den
California room
1-car garage with storage and drop zone
Recent pricing started at $640,990

Residences 1 and 1X are first-floor units. They have a covered front porch with room for seating and a grill. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

When you enter the home, the great room is on the right and the dining room and kitchen are on the left. The great room has three windows facing the front porch and two small ones on the side. The covered porch keeps it from getting a lot of natural light. In the standard residence 1, there is a hallway at the back of the great room that leads to the secondary bedroom, bathroom, laundry, and garage.

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In residence 1X, there is an open den behind the great room. The room has two windows facing the California room and an option for doors opening to a hallway on the side. There isn’t an option to close off the den from the great room, so you couldn’t watch TV in one room and have a quiet sitting area in the other. However, for residents that only need one bedroom, it is nice to have more open space in the common areas. Residence 1X has French doors at the back of the great room that lead to the California room.

The California room is small and open only to the side of the house, as there isn’t a true backyard. The standard residence 1 doesn’t have a California room at all, so the front porch is the only outdoor area.

The kitchen is open to both the dining room and the great room. The center island has seating for 2 – 3 people on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. One wall holds the fridge, microwave, and oven, while the other has the stove and a set of pantry-height cupboards. The kitchen is small but makes good use of the cabinet and counter space. The model shows an upgraded backsplash and glass-front cabinets.

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The dining room has a window facing the street that is small and rectangular in two elevations but large and arched in the third. The dining room is set back into a nook, so it doesn’t have a lot of room to expand the table for larger parties. The model shows a built-in buffet, which includes two sets of cabinets, two drawers, and an under-counter wine fridge.

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In both residences, the master suite is through a doorway between the kitchen and dining room. The bedroom has two windows facing the street and another on the side. The room is an average size and has an upgraded light fixture above the bed.

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When you enter the master bathroom, there is a walk-in closet on one side and a set of narrow linen cabinets on the other. Residence 1X has a larger closet than residence 1. The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity, with two sets of cabinets and three drawers. There is a shower at the far end with a seat and small shampoo niche. The configuration of the shower and location of the water closet varies between the 1 and 1X. Residence 1 has a slightly larger shower than residence 1X. The water closet is wide and long, which would work well for a resident that needed accessible features.

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In residence 1, the laundry room is the first room on the left in the hallway behind the great room. It has space for side-by-side machines and includes upper cabinets.  The door to the garage is just past the laundry room. The garage has tandem parking for two cars and a small storage area on one side. There is a very small coat closet across from the garage.

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The secondary bathroom in residence 1 is at the end of the hall. It has a single sink set into a vanity with one set of cabinets and a shower/tub combo.

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In residence 1X, the hallway is a little longer and closer to the kitchen. Once you turn the corner in the hall, there is a coat closet on the left that is bigger than the one in residence 1. The powder room is next to the closet and has a sink set into a tiny vanity. The laundry room is across the hall from the closet. It has side-by-side machines and a sink. The room also contains a large drop zone with built in lower cabinets/benches. The door to the one-car garage is at the back of the laundry room.

Residence 1 has a bedroom instead of the den. This room is accessed from the hall, with a door across from the garage. The room has just a single window facing the side of the home so it doesn’t get a lot of natural light. There is a standard bypass closet.

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Residences 1 and 1X are good units for individuals or couples looking to downsize. The homes are laid out well and their first-floor location is ideal for when it becomes too difficult to climb stairs.

Residence 2
1,527 square feet
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
2-car garage
Recent pricing ranged from $709,990 – $719,990

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Residence 2 is a two-story unit, but only the garage and entry are on the ground floor. All other living areas and bedrooms are upstairs. The second floor is set behind other units in the building so it does not have any windows facing the street. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

When you enter the home, there is a small foyer with the staircase on the right. A doorway across from the front door leads to a drop zone, elevator, and access to the two-car garage. The elevator is private for the unit and the owner is responsible for its maintenance; it includes a two-year gold warranty. The foyer includes plenty of space for an entry table and the drop zone could fit a built-in bench and storage.

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On the second floor, the elevator and staircase come up next to each other, with the great room just to the right. The room has three windows facing the covered deck, so it doesn’t get a lot of light. The great room is fully open to the kitchen, but only partially to the dining room, which is set back a little. The room is an average size and includes recessed lights.

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The kitchen is quite similar to residence 1. The island holds the sink, dishwasher, and seating for 2 – 3 people. The fridge, microwave, and oven sit on one wall with the stove and pantry-height cupboards on another. It has a comparable amount of counter and cabinet space. Unfortunately, the double-stacked uppers are far too high for most people to reach, especially older residents that may have difficulty climbing a stepladder. I was unable to reach the highest shelf of the middle set of cabinets. The backsplash and pendant lights are upgrades.

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The dining room is behind the kitchen. It has three windows facing the motor court and a single French door opening to the deck. The space can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people and doesn’t have room to expand.

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The deck is small but has room for a grill and a couple of chairs. It overlooks the motor court.

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The master suite is off the dining room. The bedroom has two windows facing the back and three on the side. It has an option for a door to separate the bedroom from the bathroom.

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The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity with two sets of cabinets and six drawers. The shower is across from the vanity and has almost no lip, so it’s very easy to get in and out. There is a bench and shampoo niche. The walk-in closet is next to the shower and includes shelves and poles on three walls.

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The laundry room is right next to the elevator. It has side-by-side machines but no sink. There are four upper cabinets. The secondary bathroom is just down the hall from the laundry room. It has a single sink set into a very small vanity and a shower/tub combo. Outside the bathroom is a very narrow linen closet.

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Bedroom 2 is at the end of the hall. The room is pretty small but would be a fine guest room. There are two windows facing the motor court and a small bypass closet.

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Residence 2 felt smaller and more cramped than residence 1. The common areas are fairly dark and the bedrooms are small. The elevator is a nice amenity and hopefully won’t require too much maintenance.

Residence 3
1,910 square feet
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
2-car garage
Recent pricing ranged from $789,990 – $859,990

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Residence 3 is also a two-story unit with all common areas and bedrooms on the second floor. It has windows facing the street and sides of the home, but none overlooking the motor court because it is set in front of residence 2. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and all decorator’s items.

Residence 3 has a side entry and is located at both ends of the building. The model shows an accessible ramp leading up to the front door. The foyer has vaulted ceilings, a door to the two-car garage and an elevator. The stairs are across from the front door and there is space for a console table along one wall. The stairs come up at the back of the home.

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On the second floor, the laundry room is directly across from the elevator and staircase. It has side-by-side machines, a small sink, several upper cabinets, and a counter.

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The kitchen is through a doorway at the top of the stairs. Its setup is similar to the other homes, except that the pantry is next to the microwave/oven instead of near the stove. The island can still seat 2 – 3 and holds the dishwasher and sink. Like residence 2, the double-stacked upper cabinets are too high and hard to access.

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There is a small coat closet next to the kitchen.

The great room is just past the kitchen and the two rooms are fully open to each other. The great room has three windows facing the street and an option for a built-in unit spanning the one full wall in the room. The model shows upgraded wall detail. This great room is much more spacious than the one in residence 2. The model shows a dining table between the kitchen and great room in a space that can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people.

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The front corner of the great room has a single French door opening to a covered deck. As in residence 2, it could hold a grill and a couple of chairs.

There is a formal dining room is off the great room, but the model has it set up as a study instead. There is an option for French doors separating the two rooms. The study/dining room has two windows facing the side of the house and two more facing the deck. There is an option for a built-in buffet along the third wall.

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A doorway off the kitchen leads to a small vestibule with built-in linen cabinets. The secondary bathroom is visible from the kitchen but at least has a bit of separation because of the vestibule. The bathroom has a single sink set into a small vanity and a shower with a narrow seat.

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Bedroom 2 is also off the vestibule. It is a small room with a single window facing the side of the house. There is a standard bypass closet.

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The master suite is on the other side of the great room. It has windows facing the street and the side of the house. The room is comparable in size to the other Aldea master suites. There is an option for a door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.

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The master bathroom is long and narrow. When you enter, there is a bypass closet on one side and a walk-in closet on the other. The sinks are set into a shared vanity with two sets of cabinets and six drawers. It has a separate shower and freestanding bathtub at the far end of the room. The large shower has almost no lip and includes a full seat.

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Residence 3 has the same number of rooms as the other homes but is much bigger overall so the rooms are more spacious. The dining area is better for those who have frequent guests or dinner parties but also works great as a study or den.

Aldea’s apartment homes provide an option for those truly looking to downsize. The elevators add accessibility. The homes don’t have much outdoor space but the Travata community does offer a lot of outdoor common areas.

The next collection I’m going to review is Muse in Cadence Park. Built by Taylor Morrison, Muse is a neighborhood of attached townhomes, with either three or six homes per building. The 60 residences sit along the “art walk” path that runs through Cadence Park. The units range from 1,867 – 1,986 square feet, with 3 – 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms in each. All homes are three stories and somehave a loft or bonus room. Each home has a private, two-car garage accessed from a shared motor court. Elevations include Contemporary Spanish, Midcentury Modern, and Abstract Traditional, though only the first two are available in a six-unit building.

Features
The Muse homes come standard with 12” x 12” ceramic tile at entry, kitchen, laundry, and baths; carpet in all living areas and bedrooms; 3 ½” baseboards and 2 ¼” door casings; pony wall with paint grade wall cap on all floors; hollow-core smooth Carrara 2 square-panel door painted to match interior trim; master and secondary baths with solid surface thin quartz countertops and undermount sinks; Moen® chrome plumbing fixtures; master bath shower with 6” x6” D-190 with tile, 90” high with 2” x 2” tile floor; and secondary baths with shower/tub combination and simulated subway tile surround.

The kitchens include recessed panel shaker-style white thermafoil cabinets with concealed hinges and contemporary round knobs with satin nickel finish; quartz slab modern quartz in La Jolla Sand, Del Mar White, or JT Gray; 6” backsplashwith full height at range, square edge; GE® stainless steel appliance package with dishwasher, range, and over-the-range microwave oven; Ceco undermount stainless steel sink with Moen® Sleek pullout faucet in chrome; recycle bins; and under-cabinet lighting.

Homes also have Low-E, dual glazed vinyl windows; tankless water heater; low flow faucets; low VOC interior paint; recessed LED can lights per plan; Therma Tru Smooth Star entry door; Schlage hardware in aged bronze; phone line in masterbedroom and kitchen; TV and data in all bedrooms; and 2×2 media at family and living room.

Schools
Muse is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The brand new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school opened 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 serves grades K –8. 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.

BasicNeighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: up to $560 per month
            $215 per month at buildout forthe Great Park Neighborhood Association
            $345 initially (subsidized to$280) – $261 per month at buildout for the Muse HOA dues
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.0035%
CFD Tax: Approximately $6,050 per year (based on square footage)
Recent pricing started at $790,724 for Residence 1, $803,935 for Residence 2, and $833,210 for Residence 3

Residence 1
1,867 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Loft
Optional suite at bedroom 3
Optional bedroom 4 at loft
Recent pricing ranged from $790,724 – $819,964

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Residence 1 is always a center unit. In both a three- and six-unit building, there will be a residence 3 on one side and a residence 2 on the other. As a result, there are no windows along the sides of the home. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, lighting; sound systems; ceiling fans; and all decorator’s items. Additional upgrades weren’t listed but may include counters, cabinetry, and tile.

The home has a front porch with room for seating and potted plants. Inside, there is a small entryway with space for a table or bench. The stairs are directly across from the front door and access to the garage is next to the stairs.

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A door on the right side of the entry leads to bedroom 3. The room has a window facing the front of the house and includes a standard bypass closet. The attached bathroom has a single sink set into a small vanity, with one set of cabinets and a small drawer at the bottom. There is a shower with seats in two corners. The model shows the room arranged as a sitting room, rather than a bedroom, leaving it open to the foyer. In lieu of the closet, it has a built in counter withlower cabinets and a mini fridge.

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There is an option to convert the bedroom into a full suite, which you will see in Residence 2. The room would be much longer, with space for living and sleeping areas. The bathroom wouldn’t change, but there would be a walk-in closet instead of the bypass. Near the closet, there would be a counter area and an option for an under-counter fridge.

With the optional bedroom suite, the garage would become much smaller. While it would still hold two cars, it would lose a great amount of storage available with the standard bedroom 3. With the smaller garage, there would be a longer hallway off the home’s main entryway. At the end of the hall, there would be a small coat closet on one side and a larger closet beneath the stairs. Access to the garage would also be at the end of this hall.

The living areas are all on the second floor of residence 1. The stairs open to the dining area. This is a windowless room that can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people. Since it is fully open to the living room, the table could be expanded as needed. One full wall offers plenty of space for a china hutch.

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The kitchen is at the back of the house, just behind the dining room. It has a center island with seating for four on one side and cabinets on the other. The appliances are arranged in a u-shape around the island. One wall holds the refrigerator and pantry-height cupboards, the back wall has the sink and dishwasher, and the last wall has the range and microwave. This kitchen has a large amount of counter space and numerous cabinets. There is a window above the sink facing the motor court.

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The living room is at the front of the house. Space along the staircase offers a good place for a wall-mounted TV and entertainment or built-in unit. Sliding doors and a window at the front of the room lead to a big deck. The room has recessed lighting but lacks much natural light.

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The deck is walled in on three sides and open to the street. It is L-shaped, with just a small nook in the shorter part of the L. The Abstract Traditional elevation has a much smaller opening.

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The second floor lacks a coat closet, so if you choose the standard bedroom on the first floor, your home will not have a coat closet or any general closets at all. It will have storage in the garage.

The stairs to the third floor are in the front corner of the living room. The powder room is off the first landing, three steps up from the living room. It has a pedestal sink and a window facing the deck.

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On the third floor, the staircase opens to the loft. This room is narrow and felt cramped. It has a single window facing the back of the house. The model shows an upgraded ceiling fan. There is an option to convert this room into a fourth bedroom. In that case, closing the room to the hall would make it even smaller. There would be a bypass closet along the new wall.

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Bedroom 2 is next to the loft. It has a window facing the motor court and a bypass closet. The room is small, furnished only with a full-sized bed and two nightstands. With this setup, there isn’t even room for a dresser or bookshelf.

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The secondary bathroom is next to bedroom 2. It includes a vanity with a single sink, one set of cabinets, and three drawers. There is no door separating the vanity area from the shower/tub combo.

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Thelaundry room is also off the main hallway. It has space for side-by-sidemachines and an option for upper cabinets, as seen in the model.

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The master suite is at the front of the house. The room has a small vestibule just inside the entry before opening to the main room. The bedroom is a good size and has two windows facing the street. The walk-in closet is off the bedroom and runs the full length of the room. It includes shelves and poles along three walls. There isn’t an option for a door between the bedroom and bathroom.

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The master bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three shared drawers. The shower is next to the vanity and has a full seat. The tile throughout the shower is upgraded. There isn’t a bathtub in the master suite.

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Residence 1 is a pretty typical townhome with no interesting features. I would have liked to see coat closets on the first or second floor regardless of whether you choose the standard bedroom or the suite downstairs. Overall, I think the home lacks storage space. The rooms felt cramped and dim since few of them got much natural light.

Residence 2
1,933 square feet
3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
Recent pricing ranged from $803,935 – $827,820

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Residence 2 is an end-unit in a three-unit configuration but a middle-unit in buildings with six homes. When there are six, the residence 2 homes are the center two and they each have a residence 1 home next to them. Upgrades found throughout the model include cabinetry, flooring, window and wall treatments, lighting; sound systems; ceiling fans; and all decorator’s items. Additional upgrades weren’t listed but may include counters, cabinetry, and tile.

Like residence 1, this house has a big front porch area. Inside, the entryway has space for a table or bench. The stairs are across from the front door and a hallway leads back to garage access and a coat closet beneath the stairs.

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There is a full guest suite on the first floor, with an option for a standard or barn door separating the suite from the hall. It has a living area at the front of the house with a window facing the street. It includes a built-in counter with two sets of lower cabinets, three drawers, and a mini fridge.

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The back half of the suite is the sleeping area. It has space for one dresser and includes a bypass closet. The full bathroom is next to the closet. The vanity has a single sink with ample counter space, one set of cabinets, and six drawers. The shower is a good size and has a full seat and upgraded tile. This suite is similar to the optional suite that isn’t modeled in residence 1.

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On the second floor, the stairs open to the dining area. It can seat 6 – 8 people and has space for a low hutch under the side-facing window. In a six-unit building, the room wouldn’t have a window, so you could have a full-height china cabinet.

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The kitchen is at the back of the house. Three-unit buildings have a side facing window and all configurations have a rear-facing window. The island can comfortably seat 3 – 4 people on one side and has cabinets and drawers on the other. The rest of the kitchen is arranged in an L-shape around the island. One wall has the fridge, range, microwave, and pantry-height cupboards. The other wall has the sink and dishwasher. The room has plenty of counter space and numerous lower cabinets and drawers, but not a lot of upper cabinets.

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The living room is at the front of the house. It is more spacious than in residence 1 and still has space for a TV and entertainment unit along the stairs. There is a side-facing window in three-unit buildings. All homes have sliding doors leading to a deck at the front.

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Because it is an end unit, this deck has two open walls facing the street instead of just one. However, a six-unit building would have a deck that is only open at the front. All decks have plenty of space for seating and a grill.

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The powder room is off the first landing on the staircase going to the third floor.It has a small vestibule outside it with base cabinets. The model shows an upgraded shelf above the cabinets. The powder room has a pedestal sink.

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On the third floor, there is a single base cabinet in the hall, shown with two upgraded shelves above it. The laundry room is near the top of the stairs. It has space for side-by-side machines and the model shows the optional upper cabinets.

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Bedroom2 is at the back of the house. It has a big window facing the motor court and,in three-unit buildings, a small window on the side. The room is bigger thanthe secondary bedroom in residence 1. It has a small walk-in closet, shown withthe standard shelves and poles. The en-suite bathroom includes a vanity with asingle sink, one set of cabinets, and a low drawer. The shower/tub combo isshown with upgraded tile.

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The master suite is at the front of the house. The bedroom stretches the full width of the home and has two windows facing the street. Three-unit buildings have one additional window on the side. Because the room is wide, there is space for a small seating area across from the bed. The model shows an upgraded built-in unit that fills one wall with cabinets, drawers, shelves, and space for a wall-mounted TV. A built-in like this eliminates the need for a dresser.

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There is no option for a door between the bedroom and bathroom. In the master bath, the vanity has two sinks with two sets of cabinets and three drawers. The shower is across from the vanity and includes a seat. The walk-in closet is at the back of the bathroom and is shown with the standard shelves and poles.

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Residence 2 does not have a loft or bonus room, so there isn’t an extra common space in this home. The rooms are more spacious than in residence 1. I liked the built-ins in the first-floor guest suite and the master bedroom.

Residence 3
1,986 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms + 2 half bathrooms
Bonus room
Optional bedroom 4 at bonus room
Optional full bathroom on third floor
Recent pricing ranged from $833,210 – $842,065

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Residence 3 is the biggest home in the Muse collection. It is always an end unit, regardless of whether there are three or six homes in the building. Like the other models, it has a big front porch with room for seating. Upgrades found throughout the model include flooring, window and wall treatments, lighting; sound systems; ceiling fans; and all decorator’s items. Additional upgrades weren’t listed but may include counters, cabinetry, and tile.

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Inside, there isn’t a true foyer in this model. There is a small entry area, but it doesn’t have room to put anything before it opens to the dining room.

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The dining room can comfortably seat about six people but could expand if needed. One wall has space for a small hutch. The other wall has sliding doors leading to a private courtyard. It has space for a dining table and grill.

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The living room is at the front of the house. It has two windows facing the street and another facing the porch. The model shows an upgraded corner unit with base cabinets and a wall-mounted TV.

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The kitchen is at the back of the house. It has a galley setup, with two longer counters instead of an island. The front counter has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. The range and microwave are along the back counter. The wall on the side holds the refrigerator and pantry-height cupboards. This kitchen doesn’t have as much counter or cabinet space as the first two residences. It also has direct access to the garage in the back. The model shows upgraded cabinetry, pulls, and glass-fronted uppers.

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The powder room is three steps up from the living room. It has a pedestal sink.

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On the second floor, the laundry room is next to the staircase. It has space for side-by-side machines, one set of base cabinets, and optional upper cabinets.There are additional base cabinets in the hall outside the laundry room. The model shows upgraded floating shelves above them; there is also an option for upper cabinets.

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The secondary bathroom is across from the staircase. The vanity has two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. There is a door separating the vanity from the shower/tub combo.

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Bedroom 3 is at the back of the house. It gets a good amount of light because it has windows facing the back and side of the home. The room is a good size and has a standard bypass closet.

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Bedroom 2 is on the other side of the bathroom. It has just one window on the side and is a little bit smaller than bedroom 3. It also has a standard bypass closet.

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The master suite is at the front of the house. The bedroom is a good size, with windows facing the street and side of the home. It has a narrow walk-in closett hat spans the length of the room. The floorplan shows separate his and hers closets in the same space, so that may be an option in some models.

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The master bathroom has two sinks set into a shared vanity with two sets of cabinets and six drawers. The shower is across from the vanity and has a full bench. It is shown with upgraded tile.

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The third floor has the bonus room and deck. There is a powder room at the top of the stairs with a pedestal sink. The model shows the optional upgrade to a full bathroom. This includes a vanity and a shower with two corner seats.

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The bonus room is a good size and makes a great space to play, work, or have older kids hang out with friends. The model shows the optional wet bar. This is much smaller than I have seen in other bonus rooms. It includes a sink and mini fridge with a short counter. The room has windows on one side and sliding doors leading to the deck on another. If the model had shown the powder room, then the bonus room would have a storage closet.

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The deck is a good size and is fully covered. The model shows an optional ceiling fan and you could install a wall-mounted TV if desired.

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There are several other options for the third floor. One option is to convert the bonus room to a bedroom. In this case, the room would have windows on the side and another window facing the deck, but the bedroom would not have access to the deck. The room would include a bypass closet and there would be a set of linen cabinets in the hall outside the room. If you choose to have a fourth bedroom, you will have a full bathroom instead of a powder room. With thebedroom option, there is a hallway outside the room that would still have the option of including a wet bar. It would also have sliding door leading to the deck.

Finally, there is an option to have a second deck off the back of the house. This option is available with both the bonus room and bedroom configurations, as well as with the powder or full bathroom. The deck would be about 50% bigger than thedeck in the front. It would be accessed by a single French door next to the staircase.

Residence 3 is the only Muse home to have its living areas on the first floor. As a result, it is the only home that doesn’t have a first-floor bedroom or option for a full guest suite on the ground level. The optional fourth bedroom upstairs adds some flexibility and people who like more outside space will enjoy the optional second deck.

Overall, the Muse collection features town homes with good layouts and a few options to customize the home. They provide a good solution for multi-generational living. I would have liked to see more closet space on the first floor in residences 1 and 3.

I recently visited the Cabaletta collection in Cadence Park. Built by Richmond American Homes, there are two floorplans grouped in paired homes, meaning they appear attached but an air gap between them classifies them as detached condos. The 70 homes are on the eastern end of Cadence Park. Homes range from 2,330 – 2,450 square feet, with 3 – 4 bedrooms, 2.5 – 3 bathrooms, and a third-floor bonus room. Each home has a private, two-car garage accessed from a shared motor court.

Features
Neither the included features nor a list of upgrades were provided.

Schools
Cabaletta is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The brand new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school opened 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 serves grades K – 8. 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 1.003%
CFD Tax: Approximately $7.087 per year
Recent pricing started at $874,190 for residence 1 and $969,190 for residence 2

Residence 1 – “The Eden”
2,335 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Bonus room with covered deck
Recent pricing started at $874,190

The Eden home has a covered walkway leading up to the front door. The home has a foyer with space for a small console table or bench.

The dining area is just to the right of the front door. It’s an informal space between the living room and kitchen. It can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people and has a full wall on one side that could hold a china hutch.

The great room is at the front of the house. Large windows face the street and the room has recessed lights.

The kitchen is on the other side of the dining area. It has a large island with seating for four people on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. One wall has the cooktop, oven, and built-in microwave above the stove. The other wall has the refrigerator and pantry-height cupboards. The longer wall has numerous upper and lower cabinets and several drawers. The model shows white cabinetry and white solid-surface counters.

Sliding doors in the kitchen lead to a private courtyard. There is space for a seating area and grill, with the model also including a fountain feature. The side yard runs the full length of the house.

A doorway at the back of the kitchen leads to the powder room, storage closet, staircase, and garage. The powder room has a pedestal sink with an option for a vanity. The coat closet extends deep beneath the stairs.

On the second floor, the laundry room is next to the staircase. It has space for side-by-side machines, upper cabinets, and a very small counter with a base cabinet next to the machines.

The master suite is at the front of the house, just past the laundry room. When you enter the suite, the bathroom is on your left and the walk-in closet is on the right. The bathroom features a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. The shower is across from the vanity and has a bench on one side and a shampoo niche on another. The closet is shown with upgraded organizers.

The bedroom is a good size and is shown with recessed lights and a decorator’s hanging light. The room has sliding doors opening to a large covered deck that wraps around the room on two sides. There is an additional small window overlooking the deck. The bedroom has a second, larger, walk-in closet.

The secondary bedrooms are at the back of the house. Bedroom 3 has windows facing the side and back of the house. There is a walk-in closet in one corner shown with built-in organizers.

Bedroom 2 is next to bedroom 3. It has a single window facing the back of the house. The floorplan shows a walk-in closet with sliding doors, but the closet isn’t really any bigger than a standard bypass closet.

Bathroom 2 is across from the secondary bedrooms. It has a vanity with two sinks and two sets of cabinets. There is a solid-surface counter and decorative framed mirror. The shower/tub combo has white subway tile to the ceiling. There are options for a door separating the vanity from the shower and an option for a regular shower instead of a combo.

The third floor has a large bonus room. Windows face the side of the house and sliding doors lead to a covered deck at the front of the home. The room has an optional wet bar, shown with a sink, beverage fridge, and several cabinets. The model shows a small closet at the top of the stairs, but the floor plan shows it holding an HVAC unit.

The large deck overlooks the street. It has plenty of space for seating and walls that could hold a TV.

This house is just like the Lyric collection I reviewed last week. It has three stories, with the living areas on the bottom, three bedrooms in the middle, and a bonus room on the top.

Residence 2 – “The Evelyn”
2,450 square feet
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Bonus room with covered deck
Optional flex room at bedroom 4
Recent pricing started at $874,190

The Evelyn model has a covered walkway leading to the front door. Inside, the foyer is small but could hold a narrow table.

The great room is next to the foyer. It has sliding doors on one wall but no windows on either of the others. The room has recessed lights and wiring for a flat-screen TV.

The dining area is an extension of the great room. It is shown with a table for six and could have a larger table if needed. One wall could hold a full-height china cabinet and the other has the sliding doors to the courtyard.

The kitchen is behind the dining area. The island can seat up to four people and holds the sink and dishwasher. The model shows a single-basin, apron-front sink and cabinetry with upgraded pulls. One wall shows a cooktop and hood while the other holds the built-in oven, microwave, and refrigerator. The third wall of the kitchen has additional cabinets, including one full-height set. Direct access to the garage is in the back corner of the kitchen.

The garage has a storage closet that goes under the stairs.

The courtyard runs the full length of the house, though it’s wider in the middle. The model shows a table and chairs and a stand-alone grill.

A doorway next to the foyer leads to the first floor bathroom and bedroom. The bathroom has a vanity with a single sink and one set of cabinets. It includes a shower shown with upgraded tile.

Bedroom 4 is next to the bathroom. It has a single window facing the front of the house and is shown with a decorative pendant light. The room has a narrow bypass closet.

 

There is an option to convert the fourth bedroom into a flex room. It would be fully open to the great room and would not have a closet.

On the second floor, bedroom 3 is right next to the stairs. It has a small window on the side and a bigger one facing the back of the house. There is a standard bypass closet. As in bedroom 4, the room is shown with a decorative light.

Bedroom 2 is right next to bedroom 3. It is comparable in size and has a big window facing the back of the house. This room has recessed lights and a decorative light. The bypass closet is comparable to the one in bedroom 3.

The secondary bathroom is in the hall outside bedroom 2. The vanity is large, with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. The model shows a framed mirror above the sinks. There is an option for a door separating the vanity from the shower/tub combo, which is shown with upgraded tile.

The laundry room is just down the hall from the bathroom. It has side-by-side machines and upper cabinets.

The master suite is at the front of the house. There is a long hallway once you enter the suite, with a door on the left leading to the bathroom and the room at the far end. The model shows the bathroom open to the hall, but the home does have an option for a door. The bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. The wall treatments and framed mirror are upgrades. The shower is next to the vanity. It has a shampoo niche but no seat and is shown with upgraded tile. The walk-in closet is quite large and has upgraded built-ins throughout.

The master bedroom is a good size. It has recessed lights and a decorative pendant. One wall has upgraded tile. The room has small windows facing the front of the house and sliding doors leading to a narrow deck.

The third floor has a big bonus room like the one in the Eden model. Windows face the back and side of the home and the room has recessed lights and an upgraded ceiling fan. The model includes the optional wet bar, which is much smaller than in the other home. It still has a beverage fridge and sink, but not as many cabinets.

The covered deck is also a good size, with plenty of space for seating. It could hold a wall-mounted TV and ceiling fan.

The Evelyn model differs from the Eden and the Lyric homes in that it has a first-floor bedroom. Otherwise, the rest of it is laid out very similarly. I like the option for the bedroom or flex room downstairs, as it adds a little versatility to the house.

Overall, the two Cabaletta homes are just like the other Cadence Park homes. They are three stories, with just a bonus room and deck on the top floor, and a very boxy look from the outside.

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, I saw the Lyric collection in Cadence Park. Built by Tri Pointe Homes, these detached condos have two basic floorplans with an option for a third story on both. While the homes appear connected from the outside, there is an 8” air gap between each one and every house has its own foundation and roof. The development will have 70 units near Modjeska and Irvine Blvd. Homes range from 1,661 – 2,346 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and options for third-floor bonus rooms. Each home has a private, two-car garage accessed from a shared motor court. Elevations include Contemporary, Transitional Modern, and Abstract Traditional.

Included Features
The Lyric homes come standard with 8’ Therma-Tru® entry doors with Kwikset satin nickel handset and SmartCode® hardware; gas stub for barbecue at courtyard; exterior decorative lighting; water-resistant exterior electrical outlets; 3 ½” baseboards and 2 ¼” door casing with enamel finish; ceramic tile flooring in entry, kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room; five-panel interior doors; bathrooms and laundry room with quartz countertop in White Ice, undermount rectangular china sinks, and Delta® Ashlyn® chrome faucets; pedestal sink in powder room; and recessed lighting throughout. The kitchens come standard with European-style, white Shaker, Thermofoil cabinetry with concealed hinges and satin nickel 6” bar pulls; under-cabinet fluorescent task lighting; granite countertops in select colors with 1 ½” square edge, 6” backsplash, and full splash at cooktop; dual-compartment, 18-gauge stainless steel sink with Insinkerator® garbage disposal; Delta® Essa® chrome faucet with pull-down sprayer; refrigerator space pre-plumbed for water; and a Whirlpool® stainless steel appliance package with a 36” 5-burner gas cooktop, 36” 350-CFM range hood, built-in microwave, 30” Accu-Bake® wall oven with Precise Clean® cleaning system, and an ENERGY STAR® certified, multiple-cycle dishwasher with soil sensor.

The master suites have an 8’ contemporary six-panel door; compartmentalized bath with dual vanities; with European-style, white Shaker, Thermofoil cabinetry with concealed hinges and satin nickel 6” bar pulls; quartz countertops in White Ice with 1 ½” square edge and 4” backsplash; , undermount rectangular china sinks and Delta® Ashlyn® wide-spread chrome faucets; walk-in tile shower with semi-frameless enclosure; and handset white ceramic tile in 6” x 6” on shower walls and 2” x 2” on shower floor. The home technology advancements include universal outlets at great room, loft, and bonus room (per residence); TV and data outlets in all bedrooms; phone and USB charging outlets at kitchen and master bedroom; On-Q 30” plastic wiring hub with hinged door; hard-wired smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms with battery back-up; forced-air heating and climate controlled air conditioning; and third-floor heating and cooling system with separate wall-mounted thermostat.

Schools
Lyric is part of the Irvine Unified School District. The brand new Cadence Park School serving grades K – 8 school opened 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 serves grades K – 8. 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 1.0035%
CFD Tax: $5,119 – $7,578 (based on square footage)
Recent pricing started at $807,203 for residence 1, $895,234 for residence 1X, and $857,860 for residence 2. Pricing on residence 2X wasn’t available.

Residence 1 (not modeled)
1,661 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
2 stories
Recent pricing started at $807,203

Residence 1X (modeled)
2,055 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Third-floor bonus room & roof deck
Recent pricing started at $857,860

Residence 1 and 1X are the same on the first two floors. The only difference between them is the third floor in the 1X model. The home has a covered walkway leading to the front door. To the right of the front door, a gate opens into the private courtyard. Upgrades throughout the model include whole house plumbing fixtures and accessories to stainless steel finish, 5 ½” baseboards, sound system, speakers, volume controls, security system, window treatments, flooring, interior paint, and all decorator’s items.

Inside, the house has a small foyer that opens directly into the great room. The great room has large windows facing the street and one smaller window on the side. Upgrades include four recessed LED lights, flat-screen TV outlet with conduit, and the tiled wall. The room is on the smaller side, as it also includes the dining area.

In lieu of a formal dining room, the residence 1 dining area is an extension of the great room. The model shows a table six with enough space for something a little bigger. It also has space for a china hutch or shelving unit along one wall. The opposite wall has a small window and sliding doors leading to the private courtyard.

The kitchen is behind the dining area. The island has seating for 3 – 4 people and holds the sink and dishwasher. The side wall has the cooktop, a few drawers, and numerous upper and lower cabinets. The back wall holds the fridge, oven, microwave, and pantry-height cupboards. Upgrades in the kitchen include two pendant lights and pre-wire, Delta Trinsic Touch faucet in arctic stainless, reverse osmosis with stainless faucet, stained shaker cabinets with painted cabinets at island, roll-outs flanking cooktop and at pantry, stacked glass uppers, upgraded quartz countertop with full-tile splash, upgraded granite island countertop, and Whirlpool side-by-side stainless refrigerator.

A doorway in the back corner of the kitchen leads to the coat closet, garage access, and powder room. The closet is small and has a single shelf and pole. The bathroom includes a pedestal sink, which is full visible from the kitchen. The mirror, faucet, and bath accessories are upgrades.

The courtyard is small and is modeled with a built-in bench and above-ground fire pit.

On the second floor, the secondary bathroom is directly across from the staircase. It has a vanity with two sinks, two large cabinets, and three drawers. The cabinet finish, faucets, and accessories are upgrades. A separate doorway leads to the shower/tub combo, which has upgraded tile walls and an upgraded enclosure in brushed nickel.

Both secondary bedrooms are at the back of the house. Bedroom 2 has a small window on one side and a larger window at the back. It’s a fairly small room with a standard bypass closet. Upgrades include the four recessed LED lights and the ceiling fan and pre-wire.

Bedroom 3 has windows across the back wall that overlook the motor court. It is comparable in size to bedroom 2 and has the same bypass closet. Upgrades include the hanging light fixtures and prewire, recessed LED lights, and the wall treatment behind the bed.

The laundry room is on the other side of the secondary bathroom. It is modeled with side-by-side machines and has upgraded cabinets in lieu of the standard shelf. There are additional linen cabinets in the hallway.

The master suite is at the front of the house. The bedroom is large, with windows on the two side walls and sliding doors at the front that open to a narrow balcony. Upgrades include the four recessed LED lights, ceiling fan and pre-wire, flat screen TV outlet with conduit, and tile at bed wall.

There is an option for a barn door separating the bedroom from the bathroom. The bathroom has a vanity with two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. The countertop, backsplash, faucets, and accessories are upgrades. The shower is across from the vanity and includes a full seat. The shower tile surround and floor and shower enclosure are upgrades. There are also upgraded cabinets above the toilet. The walk-in closet is shown with the standard shelves and poles and has an upgraded mirrored door.

Only the 1X model has a third floor. It has a big bonus room with windows on three walls. One side shows the optional built-in bar that spans the full length of the wall. It includes a beverage center, fridge, freezer with ice maker, sink, dishwasher, and several cabinets and drawers. Even without the bar features, it would make a great spot for built-in storage cabinets or desks. Additional upgrades shown in the model are the six recessed LED lights, ceiling fan and pre-wire, flat screen TV outlet with conduit, and floating shelves at bar.

There is a large, covered deck off the bonus room. It has plenty of space for seating and is shown with an upgraded ceiling fan and pre-wire, and flat screen TV outlet with conduit.

Residences 1 and 1X are quite similar to most of the other homes I’ve seen in Cadence Park and Parasol Park. Without the bonus room option, this home is a smaller unit, as it only has three bedrooms and no loft, den, or other common space aside from the great room. The home has a good layout and the kitchen has a lot of storage for a home of this size.

Residence 2 (not modeled)
1,958 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Loft
Optional bedroom 4 at loft
Recent pricing started at $857,860

Residence 2X (modeled)
2,346 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Loft
Optional bedroom 4 at loft
Third-floor bonus room & roof deck
Pricing not available

Residences 2 and 2X are the same on the first two floors; the key difference between them is the third-floor bonus room and deck available in residence 2X. As in residence 1, this home has a covered walkway leading to the front door. Upgrades found throughout the home include chrome poles throughout, cased windows at first floor, cabinet pulls, sound system, speakers, volume controls, security system, window treatments, flooring, interior paint, and all decorator’s items.

The house has a very small foyer but doesn’t have enough space to put anything in it.

The great room is just to the right when you enter the home. It has a big window facing the street and a smaller one on the side. The room is a little bigger than in residence 1. Upgrades include the recessed LED lights, hanging light and pre-wire, recessed flat screen TV outlet with conduit, and the floating cabinet with wrapping shelf.

The dining area is an extension of the great room. It can comfortably seat 6 – 8 people and would have room to expand when needed since it flows into the great room. One wall is shown with optional built-in cabinets and mini recessed LED lights. Without this built-in, there would be space for a freestanding hutch against the stairs. The opposite wall has sliding doors leading to the courtyard with an option for a 10’ slider.

The kitchen is behind the great room. The large island can comfortably seat four people. It has the sink and dishwasher on the other side. As in residence 1, one wall holds the cooktop and most cabinets while the other wall has the microwave, oven, fridge, and pantry-height cupboards. Upgrades in the kitchen include a KitchenAid stainless steel appliance package with second oven and French door refrigerator, soft close doors and drawers, countertop, tile splash, pendant lights and pre-wire, Sonetto stainless single basin sink, chrome pot filler, chrome InstaHot, garbage disposal, and switch for hot water recirculating pump. Direct access to the garage is in the back corner of the kitchen.

A doorway between the dining room and kitchen leads to the powder room and a storage closet. The powder room has a pedestal sink with an upgraded tile wall and inset mirror. The closet is much bigger than in residence one, with storage that goes beneath the stairs.

The courtyard is shown with a seating area and an upgraded, built-in barbecue. The fountains are also upgraded.

On the second floor, there is a loft at the top of the stairs. There is a single window facing the side of the house. The model shows upgraded built-in cabinets and a floating shelf. Additional upgrades include the flat screen TV outlet with conduit, ceiling fan and pre-wire, recessed LED lights, and the power screen shade.

Both residences 2 and 2X have an option to convert the loft into a fourth bedroom. With that option, the closet would be along the new wall separating the bedroom from the hall.

The linen cabinets between the two staircases are an upgrade only available in the 2X model. The linen cabinets at the end of the hallway are included in both models.

The master suite is at the front of the house. The bedroom is a good size and is shown with upgraded recessed LED lights, a hanging light fixture and pre-wire, and the tile wall. There are windows on each side of the bed and sliding doors leading to a small balcony overlooking the street. The balcony is much smaller than in residence 1. The walk-in closet is off the bedroom and is shown with upgraded organizers.

The model shows the optional barn door between the bedroom and bathroom, with an upgrade to a frosted glass door. The vanity has dual sinks with two sets of cabinets and three drawers. The quartz countertop with 6” splash and two framed mirrors are upgrades. The shower is right next to the vanity and has a full seat. The Emerge angular shower column, tile surround, and quartz bench seat are upgrades. Additional upgrades in the bathroom include the Kohler bidet and the switch for recirculating pump.

The laundry room is in the hall just past the stairs. It has space for side-by-side machines and optional upper cabinets, as seen in the model.

Bedroom 3 is across from the laundry room. It has a window facing the side of the house and a standard bypass closet. If the loft was converted to a bedroom, it would basically be a mirror image of bedroom 3. The recessed LED lights in the model are an upgrade.

The secondary bathroom is next to the laundry room, across from the secondary bedrooms. The vanity has two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and three drawers. The quartz countertop and 6” tile splash are upgrades. A separate door leads to the shower/tub combo, which has upgraded tile. The switch for hot water recirculating pump is also an upgrade.

Bedroom 2 is at the end of the hall. It is slightly larger than the other bedrooms and has windows facing both the back and side of the house. The recessed LED lights, hanging light, and pre-wire are all upgrades. This is the only secondary bedroom in the Lyric collection to have a walk-in closet instead of a bypass.

In the 2X model, there is a third-floor bonus room. As in residence 1, the large room has windows on three walls and an optional built-in wetbar. This bar is smaller and includes a sink and beverage fridge, with an upgraded quartz countertop and 6” splash. Additional upgrades in the model are the recessed LED lights, hanging light fixture and pre-wire, and flat screen TV outlet with conduit.

The covered deck is a good size and is shown with curtains for added privacy. The ceiling fan and pre-wire are upgrades.

Residences 2 and 2X are laid out almost exactly the same on the on the first floor as the residence 1 and 1X models. The second floor has a more linear layout in this model and has the addition of the loft/bedroom 4.

Though the Lyric collection is the first I’ve seen in Cadence Park by Tri Pointe Homes, it is remarkably similar to the homes designed by other builders. They are tall and narrow with a very boxy shape. I was surprised to see that neither Lyric home offered a bedroom on the ground floor.