There are several condos available in Northwood Pointe’s Greystone Villas neighborhood. Three of them – 447 Ridgeway, 159 Islington, and 947 Somerville – have the same layout (Islington is reversed). I’ll review 447 Ridgeway today and 159 Islington next week. Somerville wasn’t open so I didn’t see that one.

The basics:

Asking Price: $525,000

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,260

Lot Size: N/A

$/Sq Ft: $417

Days on Market: 34

Property Type: Condominium

Year Built: 1998

Community: Northwood Pointe, Greystone Villas

HOA dues are $284 ($40 + $244) per month and there are Mello Roos.

With a listing price of $525,000, 447 Ridgeway costs less than the other two, which are each listed at $549,000. Ridgeway also has a very motivated seller who is willing to negotiate. The condo is freshly painted and in good shape, though it doesn’t have as many upgrades as the others.

When you walk in the front door, you immediately go upstairs to get to the unit. The master bedroom is just to the right at the top of the stairs. It is definitely smaller than most master bedrooms. While it probably doesn’t have space for a chair or seating area, it should be able to hold a queen size bed, a pair of nightstands and a dresser. Three small windows look to the front while one larger window faces the garages and units across the street. The walk-in closet stretches behind one wall and is actually a pretty good size. There is an adjustable, wire-rack organizing system in place.

An arched doorway leads into the master bathroom. There are two sinks, set into a white vanity with smooth countertops and basic cabinets and drawers. The shower is on the left, with basic white tiles and a built-in seat. There is a basic showerhead and sliding chrome doors. The water closet is to the right of the sinks. There is a set of linen cabinets in there as well.

The living room is slightly to the left off the entry stairs. One wall has an alcove for an entertainment unit. The owner is willing to include the current unit with the sale and may have a TV available that fits inside. Just next to it is a small fireplace surrounded by simple white molding, a white hearth and without a mantle. Two large windows, fitted with brown shutters, line the back wall. The oak floor is designed to have an older look and is in good condition.

The living room and dining room flow together, though a slight change in the depth of the wall does designate the separate spaces. Two more windows line the back wall of the dining room. Another wall has a sliding door leading to the large patio.

The long, narrow kitchen sits parallel to the living and dining rooms. The counters are basic white tiles and the cabinets are a light maple color without handles or knobs. A few cabinets have glass fronts. The long counter facing the living room has a double sink in the middle, a stainless steel dishwasher, several small drawers and a few cabinets. A slight angle at the end leads to the refrigerator (included with the sale), a built-in desk and a walk-in pantry. The opposite wall has a long counter, the range and microwave. There are additional cabinets and drawers here as well. Just off the kitchen sits a laundry room with upper cabinets. The washer and dryer are also included with the sale.

The second bedroom and bathroom are just past the dining room. The bedroom has plush carpet and mirrored closet doors. There is a small alcove in one corner. Another wall has a sliding door to the patio. Overall, the room isn’t very large but everything is in excellent condition. The bathroom is just outside the bedroom. It has a single sink, large white tiled floors, and a shower/tub combo, also with basic white tile. Like the master, it isn’t fancy but is functional.

This is a pretty basic condo. Nothing is particularly fancy, but everything is in good shape and there are nice, smaller upgrades like recessed lighting and ceiling fans. The neighborhood has a swimming pool with spa and it’s an easy walk to Canyon View Elementary and Northwood High School. According to the realtor, it is also generally easy to rent these units if you’re looking for an investment property. The price is lower than the other two units with the same floor plan and is average for condos in the general area. With the motivated seller, the buyer may be able to negotiate a pretty good deal.

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

Asking Price: $718,800

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,543

Lot Size: 4,356

$/Sq Ft: $465

Days on Market: 12

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1980

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today, I visited a cute cottage in Northwood Pointe’s Lanes End community. At 114 Winslow, I found a single family home set back from the street. With a recently reduced price and beautiful staging inside, this home is ready for a buyer.

The basics:

Asking Price: $659,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 1,340

Lot Size: 2,187

$/Sq Ft: $492

Days on Market: 95

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1998

Community: Northwood Pointe, Glenneyre at Lanes End

HOA dues are $134 ($94 + $40) per month and there are Mello Roos.

This home is at the end of a three-house walkway. Though it doesn’t have a neighbor on one side, it does sit up against Portola Parkway. From outside, you could hear the street noise, but inside the house I didn’t hear anything. As an end unit, the home has a good amount of patio space for the neighborhood. One patio wraps around the front and side of the house and another sits off the dining room. The first is big enough for a Jacuzzi and a seating area; the other has a nice outdoor dining table. A Dutch front door adds to the quaint feeling of the cottage.

From the doorway, you can see most of the first floor of the house. A living room sits to the right and the dining room is to the left. The kitchen is at the back of the house. The floors downstairs are made up of large, Spanish tiles. The living room has a fireplace on one wall, surrounded by decorative tiles. A white mantle sits about a foot above the tiles. A media niche sits to the right where you could add built-ins. There is also space to mount a TV above the fireplace. French doors on one side lead out to the bigger, L-shaped patio. Although the living room is on the small side, it feels more spacious because it is open to the dining room and the staircase.

The dining room has a big window overlooking the front walkway and sliding doors leading to the second patio. A large, cutout window looks into the kitchen. A low buffet could sit beneath that cutout, but there isn’t a place for a tall china hutch.

The kitchen is L-shaped and the tile counters, cabinets and appliances are all white. There are numerous cabinets and several small drawers. One counter holds the double sink and dishwasher; the other side has the range (four burner stove + oven) and the microwave. The refrigerator sits across from the dishwasher. The appliances are clean and well maintained. Pantry height cupboards sit at front end of the kitchen. Glass cabinets above the sink are accessible from both the kitchen and dining room. At the back of the kitchen, there is a built-in desk that makes a perfect spot for organizing mail, cookbooks, or a computer. The door to the two-car garage is right next to the desk; on the other side is a door to the side patio.

A couple of steps lead up to the powder room. The single sink is set into a counter with open storage below.

The staircase and second floor has clean, plush carpet in excellent condition. The master bedroom is on the right at the top of the stairs. When you first enter, the walk-in closet is on the right. A big window on one wall and two smaller windows on another wall bring in a good amount of light. The room has a ceiling fan. An angled ceiling and arched doorway give the room character. The bedroom has plenty of wall space and was a good size.

The master bath has two sinks set into a short counter. The cabinets underneath are deep and provide a lot of storage. The stall shower has simple white tiles and a built-in seat. Twelve inch tiles cover the floor.

There are two secondary bedrooms upstairs. Like the master, they both have ceiling fans and angled ceilings. The first room is a little smaller and has a two-door, mirrored closet, as well as a single window on one wall. This room has direct access to the bathroom, which is also accessible from the hall. This bathroom has a single sink and a shower/tub combo.

The other bedroom is bigger. A small entryway provides space for the standard, two-door closet. This room has a lot more wall space. In addition to the big window on one wall, a second wall has a smaller window. Because it has the closet in an entryway and doesn’t have a door to the bathroom, this room offers a lot of flexibility in how the furniture is arranged.

Overall, this cottage makes excellent use of the space. Though it is only 1,340 square feet, the rooms felt open and spacious. With the recent price reduction, the home is still higher than recent and pending sales, but is in line with similar homes currently on the market.

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

The basics:

Asking Price: $839,900

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,088

Lot Size: 4,792

$/Sq Ft: $402

Days on Market: 25

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1977

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woodbridge Remodeled Gables Tract Single Family Home

17 Rockwren $920,000

Recently I have seen two remodeled single family homes in the $900,000 price range in University Park. This property offers a similar price with the contrast of nearby Woodbridge, which proved to be a magnet last Sunday, attracting a steady stream of visitors.

The 3 bedroom, 2 bath property is a remodeled single family home inside the loop that’s new to the market. Located on a quiet cul de sac, within steps of North Lake, the home has a large lot and a hefty chunk of remodeling and upgrades working for it.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1978, this all one level home is 1,830 sq. ft on a 5,227 sq. ft. lot at $503 a sq. ft. On the market 12 days, HOA dues are $82. There are no Mello Roos.

Close up: Staged to sell, everything is in place from curbside on through. Inside, the entry opens into a light filled floor plan where there are no steps. The good sized family room has vaulted ceilings, high windows and a brick fireplace.

The remodeled kitchen with granite counters, new stainless appliances and designer tile backsplash, opens to the dining room with French doors.

New windows, wood flooring and fresh paint give the home a crisp presence. To the right off the hall the three bedrooms include a large master suite with new sliding glass doors accessing the patio, dual vanities and a walk-in closet. Along with the two other bedrooms and full bath there is a convenient inside laundry here.

Outside, professional landscaping accents the patio areas and windowed areas throughout the home create an inside/outside atmosphere.

More specifics:

Single Family Home

Bedrooms, 3

Baths, 2 full

Detached, no common walls

Inside laundry

Two car garage

Two parking spaces

Association pool, spa

Central furnace, central air

Irvine Unified School District

What should be considered? As an all on one level home, that has been completely remodeled in a prime North Lake Woodbridge spot, the property competes well and could be expanded. Several homes on the street have been expanded. Top Irvine schools and key lake recreation areas boost the equation.

Who will move in? As a complete single level home, mature buyers and families with older members may find this to be a very natural choice. Other buyers who want a key Irvine lake location in the inner loop or families looking for top schools and Woodbridge’s community atmosphere will be looking at this one.

Recent nearby listings: 11 Mandarin, $950,000; 38 Bluejay, $759,000

Recent nearby sales: 77 Nighthawk, $971,000; 4 Live Oak, $1,025,000