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.

 

The Padova collection is the last set of homes currently under construction in Orchard Hills, though I know there are plans for future developments. Set in the gated enclave of The Groves, the Padova homes are up in the hills off Woody Knoll, near the Bella Vista and Alta Vista collections. Built by Shea Homes, there will be approximately 40 homes, with potential for additional lots to be released at a later date. The four floor plans range from 2,898 – 3,474 square feet, with 4 – 5 bedrooms and 4.5 – 5.5 bathrooms. All models have a bedroom on the first floor and a bonus room on the second floor. Elevations include Spanish, Italian, Tuscan, and Provence.

 

Included Features
The Padova homes have three-coat stucco exterior walls; fire resistant concrete tile roofing; designer entry doors with Baldwin La Jolla Venetian bronze hardware and deadbolt; decorative exterior Coach lighting; rear-yard gas stub for grill; central heating and air-conditioning with programmable zoned or dual system thermostat; Rheem® tankless water heater with expansion tank; Metlund pump with buttons at kitchen sink and master bathroom; tan or bronze dual-paned vinyl windows with low-E glass; pre-wire for solar; and conduit for EV charging station up to 50 amps. Inside, the homes have smooth finish two-panel interior doors with Venetian bronze hardware; decorative baseboards and door casings; open rail paint grade stair system with vertical balusters; choice of Euro-styled frameless hardwood maple cabinets with sage stain or Thermofoil white shaker cabinets; soft-close hinges at kitchens and master baths; concealed hinges throughout with brushed nickel bar pulls; Decora® light switches and dimmer switches; multi-media outlet at great room; advanced Category 5e wiring; covered California rooms with multi-panel folding glass doors; designer bath accessories from Moen® Voss Collection in polished chrome; ceramic 6” x 6” tile shower walls; and cultured marble countertops in secondary baths and laundry room. The kitchens include quartz slab in Morning Frost White countertops with 6” backsplash and full-height at cooktop; stainless steel Amersink® single basin sink; Insinkerator® Badger 5 waste disposal with air switch; Moen® Align pull-down faucet with spot resistant stainless finish; fluorescent under-cabinet and LED recessed lighting; USB/duplex outlet at backsplash; roll-out wood dovetail drawers in select pantries; and a stainless steel GE® built-in appliance package with Monogram professional-style dual fuel range with six burners and grill, Monogram 48” wall mount designer hood; built-in microwave; and Monogram Pro Handle built-in dishwasher. Finally, the master suites have walk-in closets with dual-sided mirrored doors; Morning Frost White thin quartz slab countertops with 4” backsplash; no threshold 6 x 6” tiled showers with linear shower drain, solid surface seat, and clear frameless glass enclosure in chrome; bath accessories from Moen® Voss Collection in polished chrome; Kohler® toilets; and Kohler® rectangular undermount sinks.

Schools
Students living in Padova will attend schools in the Tustin Unified School District.  Children in grades K – 4 currently attend Hicks Canyon Elementary while students in grades 5 – 8 attend Orchard Hills School. However, beginning in August 2018, Orchard Hills School will open for all students in grades K – 8, offering Padova families a chance to attend a school much closer to home. Students in grades 9 – 12 are served by Beckman High School.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Approximate HOA Dues: $279 – $297 per month for the Orchard Hills Association
Basic Property Tax Rate: Approximately 1.00%
CFD Tax: $5,199 – $5,644 per year, based on square footage of home
Prices start from mid $1.3 million for Residences 1 and 2, high $1.3 million for Residence 3, and high $1.5 million for Residence 4

Residence 1 (not modeled)
2,898 square feet
4 – 5 bedrooms, 4.5 – 5.5 bathrooms
Lounge (aka bonus room)
Optional outdoor kitchen at California room
Optional prep kitchen
Optional conservatory
Optional bed + bath 5 at lounge
Prices start at mid $1.3 million

Residence 1X (not modeled)
2,864 square feet
4 – 5 bedrooms, 4 – 5 bathrooms
Lounge (aka bonus room)
Optional outdoor kitchen at California room
Optional prep kitchen
Optional conservatory
Optional bed + bath 5 at lounge
Prices start at mid $1.3 million

Residence 1 and 1X are not modeled. The key difference between them is that residence 1 has a powder room on the first floor but residence 1X does not. There is also a minor variation to the layout in the first-floor bedroom.

There is a long entry hall with a doorway on the right leading to the bedroom suite. Just past that is a coat closet with storage beneath the stairs. Access to the 2-car garage is across from the staircase.

If you go through the doorway on the right, there is a bathroom on the left. In residence 1, it is a powder room with a vanity and one sink. In residence 1X, it is a full bath with a slightly larger vanity (still one sink) and a shower.

Bedroom 4 is on the right. It has a large window facing the street and a smaller one on the side. There is a walk-in closet in residence 1X. In residence 1, there is an open doorway leading to the bathroom. The vanity is on the right with one sink and there is a bypass closet across from it. A separate door leads to the shower.

The main hall opens to the kitchen. The island has seating on one side and the sink and dishwasher on the other. One wall holds the microwave and refrigerator while the other has the range. There are long counters on both sides of the range. There is a walk-in pantry in the back corner with an option for a wine fridge.

There is an option to convert the pantry into a prep kitchen with a sink and four-burner cooktop. It would have counter and cabinet space as well.

The dining room is behind the kitchen. It has three windows facing the backyard and sliding doors leading to the California room, with an option for stacking or folding doors. The room looks to be a good size. It is set behind the great room and kitchen, so it is a defined space.

The great room is across from the kitchen. It has a fireplace on one wall, two windows facing the side, and windows or doors across the back wall. As in the dining room, there are options for sliding, stacking, or folding doors.

The standard floor plan includes a California room. It would have options for either a fireplace or an outdoor kitchen with a fridge and BBQ.

There is an option for a conservatory in lieu of the California room. It would be open to great room and dining room, with windows on the side and doors at the back.

On the second floor, there is an open bonus room on the left next to the stairs. It has three windows facing the street and one more on the side. The room is quite large. There is an option to convert it to a fifth bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom would have a bypass closet. The bathroom would have an open doorway leading to a large vanity with one sink. A separate door would lead to a shower/tub combo.

The master suite is across from the staircase. The bedroom is large, with three windows facing the street and two more on the side. A hallway leading back to the bathroom has walk-in closets on each side. One is much larger than the other. There is an option for a door at the end of the hall separating it from the bathroom.

The master bathroom has two vanities on opposite walls from each other, each with one sink. The one on the left is longer and includes space for a seat. The bathtub is next to the longer vanity and has an option for a free-standing tub. The shower is across from the bathtub and looks to be a good size on the floor plan.

A hallway on the right side of the stairs leads to the second rooms. There are base linen cabinets on the left and the laundry room on the right. The laundry room has space for side-by-side machines and a sink with a small counter.

Bedroom 3 is next to the laundry room. It has two windows on the side of the house. There is a bypass closet just inside the doorway. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with a single sink and a shower/tub combo.

Bedroom 2 is at the end of the hall. It has two windows facing the backyard and a bypass closet in the back corner. The en-suite bathroom includes a smaller vanity than in bedroom 3 and a shower/tub combo.

Residence 1 and 1X seem quite similar to most of the other new homes being built in Irvine right now. The walk-in pantry or prep kitchen is a nice feature and buyers will like the indoor/outdoor living options of the California room and conservatory.

Residence 2
2,946 square feet
4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Lounge
Optional conservatory at California room
Prices start from mid $1.3 million

Residence 2 has a front porch with space for seating. Upgrades found throughout the model include paint and other wall treatments, flooring, window coverings, Wood Dove Tail drawer boxes with soft close guides and concealed hinges throughout, and a Level 1 optional security package. All decorator’s items are also upgrades.

Inside, the foyer has space on the right for a table or bench and the staircase just beyond that. There is a large coat closet under the stairs.

The powder room is also on the right. It has a vanity with a single sink, two cabinets, and a narrow drawer at the bottom. Upgrades include the rift oak flat panel cabinets in blonde finish, pulls, quartzite countertop, full-height tile backsplash, Kohler undermount vitreous white china sink, and framed mirror.

The dining room is just past the entry hall. It has space for a large table and a window facing the side of the house. The model shows the optional extended upper and lower cabinets, which eliminate one window from that wall. The tower cabinets are a further upgrade.

The kitchen is behind the dining room. The long island can easily seat four people. The other side has cabinets, drawers, a built-in microwave, and an under-counter wine fridge. The longer wall of the kitchen has several pantry-height cupboards, the refrigerator, and the range. The shorter wall includes the sink and dishwasher. There isn’t much counter space aside from the island. Upgrades in the kitchen include rift oak flat panel cabinets in blonde finish, pulls, quartz countertop at deck and pass-through window, quartzite countertop at island, full-height tile backsplash, GE® Monogram built-in side-by-side refrigerator, wine fridge, Moen “Sto” pull-down faucet in stainless, and J-boxes at island with optional LED pendant light fixtures. The model shows the optional pass-through window between the kitchen and California room. There is an option for a second dishwasher on the other side of the sink.

 

The great room is next to the kitchen. The room is a good size and includes the fireplace with herringbone refractory, ceramic log set, and “Frasier” style precast surround with hearth. The home comes standard with folding doors to the backyard but shows the optional stacking doors instead. Additional upgrades include the LED recessed can lighting, wall paneling, and music package. The small niche next to the fireplace is shown with upgraded glass shelving and mini can light.

A doorway in the corner of the great room leads to a back hallway. Access to the 2-car garage is on the left and bedroom 4 is on the right. Bathroom 4 is just outside the bedroom, with an open doorway to the vanity area. It has a large vanity with one sink, one set of cabinets, and six drawers. The cabinetry, pulls, quartz countertop, backsplash, and sink are all upgrades. A separate door leads to the shower, which has upgraded tile on the walls and floor.

Bedroom 4 is a good size. It has two windows facing the backyard and two tiny windows near the top of the wall on the side. There is an option for a single door leading to the California room, which would be where the chair is in the model. The crown molding and lighting are upgrades. There is a small bypass closet on one wall.

The California room is shown with the optional fireplace and pre-wire for a wall-mounted TV above it. Instead of a fireplace, there is an option for an outdoor kitchen. It would have a fridge and BBQ. There is an option for a conservatory instead, which would be open to the great room. The conservatory does not have an option for a fireplace and would have a window on one side and doors across the back.

The model has a dining table on the patio outside the pass-through kitchen window and a fountain next to it. There is a built-in BBQ in the corner of the yard, with u-shaped counters, seating, and numerous cabinets.

On the second floor, there are linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. The doors are upgraded, but the upper and lower cabinets are included with the home.

The lounge is adjacent to the stairs.  It has two windows facing the side of the home and an option for an open railing along the stairs. The model shows an upgraded built-in desk and shelf along one wall and a window seat on another. The LED recessed lights, ceiling fan, wall-mounted TV and prewire, and music package are all upgrades.

The laundry room is on the other side of the stairs. There are optional linen cabinets just inside the door shown with upgraded doors and pulls. The room is a good size, with space for side-by-side machines and an L-shaped counter with a sink, base cabinets, and upper cabinets. The doors and quartz countertop with 6” splash are upgrades.

Bedrooms 2 and 3 are through a doorway across from the stairs. Bedroom 3 is on the left. When you enter, the walk-in closet is on the left. It is shown with the standard shelves and poles. The room is fairly large, with two windows facing the street and two more on the side. The recessed lights and crown molding are upgrades. The en-suite bathroom has a good-sized vanity with two cabinets and six drawers. The cabinet finish, pulls, and tile backsplash are upgrades. The shower/tub combo also has upgraded tile.

      

Bedroom 2 is also a good size. It has two windows on the side and a walk-in closet in the back corner. The lighting is upgraded. This room also has an en-suite bathroom. The vanity is a little smaller, with two wide cabinets and two small drawers at the bottom. Again, the cabinets and pulls are upgraded. The shower/tub combo has upgraded tile.

The master suite is off the lounge, stretching across the back of the house. It has three windows facing the backyard and two on the side. The large room has a recessed section on one wall that works well for shelves, a dresser, or a built-in unit. The recessed lights and music package are upgrades. An alcove between the bedroom and bathroom has linen cabinets, shown with an upgraded spa tower. There is an option for a door between the alcove and the bathroom.

 

When you enter the bathroom, the large walk-in closet is on the left. It is shown with a fully upgraded organizer system. There are two vanities on opposite sides of the room. Each has a single sink, two cabinets, and six drawers. One also has an extended counter with two small drawers and a place for a seat. The bathtub is next to the longer vanity and the large shower is next to the shorter vanity. There is an option for a free-standing tub. Upgrades in the bathroom include the cabinet doors, pulls, limestone countertop with 6” splash, limestone tub deck and shower seat, tile at tub face and shower, Roman tub with handheld in chrome, handheld shower in chrome, and framed mirrors.

 

This home has good storage, with a large closet downstairs, linen cabinets throughout, and big closets in the bedrooms. The layout works well, and every room is spacious.

Residence 3
3,014 square feet
4 – 5 bedrooms, 4.5 – 5.5 bathrooms
Lounge
Optional conservatory at California room
Optional bedroom + bathroom 5 at lounge

Residence 3 is modeled in the Italian style. Upgrades found throughout the house include the painted trim, flooring, window coverings, Honeywell wi-fi color touchscreen thermostat, security package, music package, lighting, wall treatments, and all decorator’s items.

The house has a long entry hall. The stairs are about halfway down on the right. There is a coat closet just past the stairs with storage underneath them. Just inside the front door, a hallway leads to the powder room and first floor bedroom suite. The powder room has a vanity with two cabinets and two small drawers at the bottom. The quartz countertop, knobs, backsplash, framed mirror, and crown molding are all upgrades.

Bedroom 4 is across from the powder room. The room is an average size and has two windows facing the street. The recessed lights, J-box, light fixture, crown molding, and wall paneling are upgrades. An open doorway leads to the vanity and the bypass closet. The vanity is large, with two cabinets and six drawers. The knobs, quartz countertop, Kohler undermount vitreous white china sink, and 6” splash are upgrades. A separate door leads to the shower, which has upgraded tile.

The main entry hall opens to the great room. It is a good size, with two windows on the side and doors across the back in lieu of the standard windows. There are options for folding doors (as modeled) or stacking doors. Additional upgrades in the room include LED recessed lighting, wall-mounted flat screen TV and prewire, and the music package.

 

The kitchen is adjacent to the great room. The large island has seating for four, the sink and dishwasher, and an optional second dishwasher. The microwave and range are across the longer wall and the refrigerator is on the shorter side. There are numerous cabinets and drawers, giving the kitchen more than enough storage. There are pantry-height cupboards on one side of the fridge and an option for a wine fridge (not modeled) on the other. Upgrades found throughout the kitchen include knobs, glass front stacked uppers with puck lighting, tempered glass doors at pantry, quartz countertop, full height tile backsplash, Wolf appliances in stainless steel, Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator, second dishwasher, stainless steel Lenovo Perma Clean undermount single basin sink, Moen “Align” pull-down faucet in chrome with motion sense technology, and J-boxes with LED pendant light fixtures. Access to the two-car garage is in the corner of the kitchen.

The dining area is behind the kitchen and includes a sitting area with a fireplace. Large windows face the backyard and another wall has doors leading to the California room. Even with the sitting area, there is still plenty of space for a dining table.  There is an option to extend the kitchen cabinets all the way through the sitting area. This would eliminate the fireplace and add two windows in its place. There are options for folding or stacking doors to the outside.

The California room is a good size and could be replaced with an indoor conservatory. The rest of the backyard is modeled with a fireplace and pool. The ceiling fan and music package in the California room are upgrades.

O the second floor, there are linen cabinets at the top of the stairs. A door on the right leads to the master suite, which has a long entryway with more linen cabinets at the end. These are shown with an upgraded spa tower in lieu of standard cabinets.

The master bedroom is on the left. It is a very large room, with space for a couch or other seating. Three windows face the back of the house and two more face the side. Upgrades include the recessed lights, j-box, light fixture, music package, and crown molding.

The master bathroom is on the right side of the entry hall. The long vanity has two sinks, two sets of cabinets, and 12 drawers. The knobs, limestone countertop, backsplash, walls, and framed mirrors are upgrades. The tub is next to the vanity. The model shows the optional Kohler Stargaze freestanding tub in lieu of the standard tub and deck. The shower is very long and includes a seat at the end with an upgraded limestone seat. The tile throughout the shower is also upgraded, as is the rain can shower head in chrome. The walk-in closet is on the other side of the vanity and is shown with the standard shelves and poles.

Bedroom 3 is on the left side of the staircase. When you enter the room, the en-suite bathroom is on the left. It has a vanity with one sink, one set of cabinets, and six drawers. The knobs, quartz countertop, tile backsplash, and Kohler undermount vitreous white china sink. The shower/tub combo is also shown with upgraded tile. The closet is on the right side of the room and has three sliding doors. A small window next to the closet has a ledge that can be used for display or books. The bedroom itself has a window facing the front of the house and another on the side. The lighting, crown molding, and detail on the ceiling are upgrades.

The lounge is across from the stairs. It is a very large space with two windows facing the front, two on the side, and a Juliet balcony with double French doors at the front. The lighting, ceiling fan, TV with pre-wire, and cinema package are upgrades.

There is an option to convert the lounge to a fifth bedroom and bathroom. It would have a bypass closet, one window on the side, and two at the front. The en-suite bathroom would have a vanity with one sink and a shower/tub combo.

An alcove off the lounge leads to the laundry room and bedroom 2. The laundry room has a sink and several base cabinets. The upper cabinets over the counter are included but the ones above the machines are upgrades. The knobs, quartz countertop, and 6” splash are upgrades.

Bedroom 2 has two windows facing the side of the house. There is a bypass closet in the back corner of the room. The lighting and molding detail are upgrades. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with one sink, two cabinets, and two low drawers. The Kohler undermount vitreous china sink, knobs, countertop, and backsplash are upgrades. The shower/tub combo is shown with upgraded tile walls.

Residence 3 is spacious and laid out well. I like the extra sitting area in the dining room and the option for a bonus room or fifth bedroom upstairs.

Residence 4
3,402 square feet (Residence 4X – 3,474 square feet)
4 – 5 bedrooms, 4.5 – 5.5 bathrooms
Den
Lounge
Optional conservatory at California room
Optional bed + bath 5 at lounge

Residence 4 and 4X have the same floor plan. Residence 4X is wider, with the majority of the extra square footage coming in the first-floor bedroom and den. Residence 4 is modeled and shown with upgrades including paint, flooring, window and wall treatments, wood dove tail drawer boxes with soft close guides and soft close hinges, brushed nickel finish package “Voss” series, Honeywell Lyric thermostat, security package, and all decorator’s items.

The home has a long entry hall. It is narrow and doesn’t have a good place for a table or bench. The stairs are near the end of the hall on the right. Unlike the other Padova homes, this one doesn’t have a coat closet by the stairs. Access to the two-car garage is next to the stairs. The cased openings, crown molding, wall paneling, and music package are upgrades.

Just inside the front door, an alcove on the left leads to the powder room and downstairs bedroom. The powder room has a vanity with two cabinets and two small drawers. The cabinets have upgraded Shaker-style doors in white finish with upgraded knobs and pulls. The countertop and splash are upgraded marble. The faucet and coordinating accessories are upgraded to brushed nickel Moen “Voss” and the framed mirror is another upgrade. The top mount sink is the standard sink. There is a small coat closet outside the powder room.

 

Bedroom 4 is at the front of the house. There are doors facing the street, though there isn’t really a patio outside the room. It has a closet with an upgraded, double-sided mirrored door. Upgrades include the lighting and crown molding. In residence 4X, the room would be wider. The en-suite bathroom has a large vanity with two cabinets and six drawers. As in the powder room, the cabinets, knobs, pulls, and faucets are upgraded. The shower has upgraded tile and a heavy clear glass enclosure.

The den is across from the stairs. It has a cased opening with an option for French doors. The room has a big window facing the street. In 4X, it would be wider than in the model. Upgrades include the lighting, mirrored walls, all wall detail, and crown molding.

The dining room is behind the den. The model shows the standard cased opening between the two rooms. There are also options for French doors or a full-height wall. The dining room is a good size and can fit a large table. It has windows on the side, with options for stacking or French doors.

The great room is behind the dining room. It has three windows facing the backyard, without an option for doors. There is a standard fireplace on the left wall. The wall on the right has windows facing the California room, with options for stacking or folding doors. Upgrades to the great room include recessed lighting, cinema package, wall paneling, and crown molding.

The kitchen is across from the dining room. The large island can seat four people and holds the sink, dishwasher, and optional second dishwasher. The rest of the kitchen is L-shaped and has an upgraded appliance package. The model shows a built-in oven and microwave and a large range. The cabinets, knobs, granite countertop at deck, marble countertop at island, and drawer package are upgrades. This kitchen has great storage. The hood, sub-zero fridge, white cast iron apron sink, and Moen “Align” pull-down faucet are also upgrades.

A door in the back corner of the kitchen leads to the walk-in pantry. It has an upgraded organizer system with additional storage under the stairs.

 

The California room is accessed from the kitchen. The model shows folding doors and there is an option for stacking doors. The model shows the optional outdoor kitchen, which has a built-in grill and mini fridge with upgraded granite counter. The lights and music package are additional upgrades. There is an option for a conservatory, which would have cased openings to the kitchen and great room.

The backyard is modeled with a covered patio and large fireplace, with some grass behind the great room.

The lounge is an open room at the top of the stairs. It has two windows on the side of the house and French doors leading to a Juliet balcony overlooking the street. The other two elevations do not have balconies and have two or three windows instead of doors. The lighting, TV and prewire, cinema package, and built-in cabinet are upgrades.

There is an option to convert the lounge to a fifth bedroom and bathroom. The room would be a good size and would have a walk-in closet. The en-suite bathroom would have a vanity with one sink and a shower/tub combo.

An alcove across the stairs leads to the laundry room and secondary bedrooms. There are linen cabinets outside the laundry room. The uppers are included but the doors and knobs are upgraded. The laundry room has matching cabinets and three drawers with a folding counter, though the uppers here are not included. The quartz countertop and tile backsplash are upgrades. The uppers above the machines are also upgrades.

Bedroom 2 is on the side of the house. It has two windows on one wall and a three-door closet on another. The recessed lights are an upgrade. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity with one sink, two cabinets, and two drawers. The cabinets, knobs, pulls, and faucet are upgrades. The shower/tub combo is shown with upgraded tile and a brushed nickel enclosure.

 

Bedroom 3 is across from bedroom 2. When you enter the room, the walk-in closet is on the right. The room is a good size and has windows facing the front and side of the home. One corner has an alcove with an optional built-in desk. The en-suite bathroom has a vanity to match bathroom 2. The shower/tub combo has upgraded tile.

The master suite is on the other side of the stairs. The hallway leading to it has four sets of cabinets, with the uppers included, and the same upgraded cabinet doors as the rest of the home. The master bedroom is quite large. It has three windows facing the backyard and two on the side. The lighting, crown molding, wall paneling, and music package are upgrades. There is an option for a door separating the bedroom from the bathroom.

The master bathroom has a vanity on each side of the doorway. Each one has two sinks, two cabinets, and six drawers. One of them also has an L-shaped extension with a sitting area and more storage. The cabinets, knobs, quartz countertop with 6” splash, Kohler Tresham vitreous china top mount sinks, Moen “Voss” faucet with coordinating accessories, and framed mirrors are upgrades. The bathtub is next to the larger vanity. It has an upgraded deck to match the counters. The shower is quite large. It has matching quartz, upgraded tile walls, and a rain can shower head in brushed nickel. The walk-in closet is also a good size and is shown with the standard shelves and poles.

Residence 4 is similar to the other Padova homes, with the key difference being the addition of the den downstairs.

The Padova collection has large, luxury homes with spacious rooms and gourmet kitchens. The homes are large, but not as big as Alta Vista and Bella Vista, so they seem more manageable for an average family.