A house in Northwood’s Woodside neighborhood came on the market this week. Built in 1978, the original owners are selling 18 Brillantez “as is” for nearly $900,000. While the home has a lot of potential, it’s tough to say whether a house without any upgrades can sell for this asking price.

The basics:

Asking Price: $899,900

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 2,864

Lot Size: 4,792

$/Sq Ft: $314

Days on Market: 7

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1978

Community: Northwood, Woodside

HOA dues are $99 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

Let’s start by highlighting some of the best features of this home. First of all, it is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, directly adjacent to a nice greenbelt. It is a short walk from the community pool, spa, tennis courts, and tot lot. In addition to four bedrooms (including one downstairs), this home also has a huge bonus room and a master retreat that can very easily convert to a fifth bedroom. Finally, having seen upgraded homes of the same model, I know that it has a lot of potential for improvement.

On August 17, the same model sold at 4 Cintilar for $882,000. That home was also mostly original, though it did have some updates to the kitchen and newer wood floors downstairs. It sits on a 5,400 square foot lot. Currently, 18 Alondra is on the market with an asking price of $950,000 and the same size lot as 18 Brillantez. This home also has an updated kitchen and newer flooring, but some original features as well. Finally, 2 Alondra sold on September 12 for $922,101. The kitchen in this home was upgraded much more nicely than in the other two, plus the bathrooms were upgraded, the windows were new, and the ceilings were scraped. It also sits on an 8,950 square foot lot, though it backs to Irvine Blvd. With so much activity of the same model in the last six months, buyers have a chance to truly evaluate the worth of the home.

When you enter 18 Brillantez, the living room is immediately to your right, with a small railing separating it from the entryway. The room has a huge window facing the front of the house, another window on the side, and vaulted ceilings. It flows directly back to the dining room, which has space for a good sized dining table and china hutch. The dining room doesn’t have a vaulted ceiling and, like the rest of the house, it has not been scraped. Both rooms will need new carpet, as there are permanent indentations from the old furniture.

A doorway from the dining room leads back to the kitchen (also accessible from the end of the long entry hall), which has tile flooring. The cooktop is in a peninsula, the sink and dishwasher are along the back wall and the refrigerator is on the wall opposite the cooktop. The fourth wall (bordering the dining room) has a newer double oven and a walk-in pantry. The cabinets and counters are all original, as are some of the appliances. The room still has large, fluorescent panel lighting. The breakfast nook is a good size and has a sliding door leading to the backyard.

A low wall separates the nook from the family room. Most upgraded models remove this wall to create a better flow between the rooms. The family room has a wet bar with three cabinets and mirrored shelves. It has wood floors that match those in the hall and a tired looking brick fireplace sits at one end. Windows and another sliding door line the back wall.

The backyard has a big patio area, though there are cracks in the concrete and the brickwork needs new grout. There is some grass, but it is in very poor condition. There are only a few plants and most of them are dead.

Off the main hallway, a shorter hall leads to the garage, the downstairs bedroom and a bathroom. The bedroom is carpeted and has a wall of built-in bookshelves, cabinetry and a desk. It has a two-door, sliding closet. The room is about the same size as all of the upstairs bedrooms. The downstairs bath has a single sink and a nice-sized stall shower. The faucet and light fixtures are newer, but the counter, cabinets and shower tile are original.

The master bedroom sits at the top of the stairs. It’s a pretty big room, with windows on two sides that flank a fireplace. Like the living room, the marks from the old furniture are permanently worn into the carpet. There is a big, walk-in closet with adjustable wire shelving and attic access.

The master bath has an interesting setup. The larger, open area has dual sinks with plenty of counter space and a big, sunken bathtub. This area is carpeted. Across from the closet, a separate door leads to the toilet and a very small shower. The shower door is very dingy but the tile is in decent shape. I have seen updated models where the shower is taken out of the water closet and moved to where the bathtub is, either as a stand alone shower or a shower/tub combo.

There is a large retreat attached to the master bedroom. It is the same size as the other secondary rooms and has space on one wall for both a closet and a doorway to the hall, making conversion to a separate bedroom easy. The retreat has a single window overlooking the backyard.

At one end of the L-shaped hallway, there are two additional bedrooms. Each has one window, with one facing the backyard and the other facing the side of the house. The rooms have two-door, sliding closets. The rooms have plenty of wall space, so arranging furniture is easy. There is a set of linen cupboards at the end of the hall between the rooms.

These bedrooms share a hallway bathroom. It has two sinks set in a long counter, with several cabinets and drawers. A separate door leads to the toilet and the shower/tub combo.

At the opposite end of the upstairs hall, there is a large bonus room. It has a vaulted ceiling and two windows facing the front of the house. The room is very versatile and can be used for pretty much anything. Just outside the bonus room, there is a small, walk-in closet.

Overall, the house has a lot of potential. I have seen multiple homes of the same model, some with zero upgrades, some partially upgraded, and some that have been completely remodeled. Though its lot is the smallest, 18 Brillantez has a far superior location to any of the other recent sales and current listings for this model. Though everything is original, most of it is in decent condition. I don’t think it warrants the price tag in its current state, but I do think the layout and location will appeal to many buyers, especially those with the means to put in the necessary upgrades.

If you were set on this model, would you choose 18 Brillantez or 18 Alondra?

Woodbridge North Lake Family Style Condo

198 West Yale Loop $735,000

Last week I visited another condo in this price range in the same North Lake area. That condo was an entertainer’s dream, a little snug with two bedrooms and a den, but very poised with inside/outside space for parties and custom teak throughout. This week I saw another condo a little further away from the lake, on West Yale Loop that offers a different view. This condo has a roomy family style atmosphere with a variety of options for parents and kids.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1976, this 2,066 sq. ft. two level condo has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. HOA dues are $437 and the sq. ft. price is $356. The home has been on the market 147 days and has been reduced from $765,000 to $735,000.

Closeup: Double doors open into the huge windowed, cathedral ceiling living room. Carpeted stairs to the left lead to the bedrooms and the hallway straight ahead leads to the kitchen and family room with custom marble fireplace. The back of the home opens to a spacious backyard that has a partially covered rock/stone patio, mature fruit trees and a small hobby/crafts/playroom with epoxy floor attached to the garage.

French doors, plantation shutters, Italian marble, carpet and wood floors and double pane windows work create a finished presence.

Upstairs the master bedroom and master bath with marble floor and custom tub open to a view balcony that runs the length of the home and is accessible from the other bedrooms. One of the bedrooms also works as a study with built-in bookcases.

The kitchen has granite counters, mirrored backsplash, new cabinets and a comfortable breakfast nook.

More specifics:

Condominium

Bedrooms, 3

Baths, 2.5

Double garage

Central furnace, central air

Laundry in garage

Attached, one common wall

Association pool, spa

Overall Evaluation: For buyers looking for a Woodbridge location with access to the lake, lagoon, volleyball boat club and tennis courts, this condo covers the bases. It will also be evaluated for upgrades, room for a family, time on the market, location on West Yale Loop, and its price reductions.

Who will move in? Located across the street from Stone Creek Elementary, near Community Park, and two blocks from North Lake, this home could attract an active family looking for Woodbridge’s best options.

Recent nearby listings: 136 West Yale, $725,000; 4 Thunder Tri, $729,000.

Recent nearby sales: 90 West Yale Loop, $725,000; 95 West Yale Loop #3, $699,999.

Today I am reviewing 6 Cintilar in the Woodside tract of Northwood. It is a four bedroom, three bathroom two-level house, with one of the bedrooms on the first floor. The location, on a cul-de-sac street and walking distance to Santiago Hills Elementary School and Sierra Vista Middle School make this house highly desirable for any family. You can compare the same model with Karen’s review at 2 Candela

Asking Price: $899,500

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,209

Lot Size: 5,227 sq ft

Price per Square Foot: $407

Property Type: Residential, Single Family

Style: Two Level

Year Built: 1979

Community: Northwood , Woodside Community

HOA Fees: $99

Mello Roos: No

Days on Market: 6

The home is clean and looks excellently maintained. The carpet looks new, ceilings scraped, paint clean and the windows have plantation shutters. There are still some original features in the bathrooms and kitchen, but some of the cabinets have been stained and lacquered to nicely update the looks. The windows are all original apart from the sliding glass door leading to the backyard.

I walked up 3 steps in order to get to the small covered porch with the double front doors. Upon entry, to the left are the living room and dining area, which have cathedral ceilings that create a spacious feel. To the right are the coat closet and a carpeted staircase.

There is an abundance of natural light coming into the rooms from the large windows. To the left is the living room with laminate wood flooring. It is a decent sized bright room. Currently a couch and some side tables create a defined border between the living room and the dining room, which is three steps down on a lower level. The dining area has white tile flooring and can furnish a good size dining table.

Beyond the dining room, the tile floor flows directly into the rectangular kitchen. As you enter the kitchen, a small eating nook which sits in front of a set of large windows is straight in front of you. To the left, the kitchen countertop is a U-shape. The cabinets are original, but have been stained a dark brown/black and lacquered. The hardware has been updated. All appliances are black. Immediately to the left are the oven with built-in microwave, refrigerator and granite countertop. On the perpendicular wall is the electric stovetop and the countertop wraps back around to the double sink. The countertop stops and the small space for a small eating nook separates another counter/peninsula that overlooks the family room. There are more cabinets below the counter and a pantry butts up against the end of the counter. There is plenty of storage space in this kitchen, but the layout constricts the open feeling into the family room.

The family room has the same laminate wood flooring as the living room. It is a good size with an original fireplace that was painted white. It is a bit dark in the back left corner, but there is still the large sliding glass door opening to the backyard, and a small window in the right corner. A bedroom, laundry room (with entrance to the garage) and bathroom are located off of the family room.

The downstairs bedroom is currently being used as an office. The original sliding closet doors have been removed, but it looks like the frame was left to leave the ability to hang new doors. The room, like all of the bedrooms, has brown carpet. Straight across is the bathroom. The white tile floor runs from the small hallway into the bathroom. The cabinets are original, but match the kitchen’s stained and lacquered cabinets. The large shower has 4×4 white tiles. The bathroom is in excellent condition.

At the end of the short hallway is the door to the laundry area, where the garage door entry is located. The laundry area has a set of cabinet doors for storage, which would be great for laundry supplies or things you would rather store indoors than in the garage.

The backyard is nicely landscaped with a patio area for entertaining as well as enough grass for pets or kids to play. The trees against the back wall provide privacy and shade.

Upstairs are the master bedroom and bathroom, two secondary bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and hallway consisting of a linen closet and built in bookcase. All bedrooms are carpeted.

Immediately to the left, double doors open up into the master bedroom. It is a good sized room with mirrored double sliding closet doors to the left. To the right is an open archway opening up to the dual sinks. To the right of the counter is another set of mirrored double sliding closet doors. Although the dual sink area is original, the hardware has been updated and is in excellent condition. To the left of the sinks is the room with the separate toilet and large tub/shower combo. There are two windows, one above the toilet and a narrow window running along the top of the bathtub wall. They bring in a nice amount of natural light into the area. The only concern with the master layout is the light and noise in the morning as one person is getting ready in the bathroom while the other is still in bed.

The linen cupboards sit between the master and shared bathroom. The bathroom has a single sink and tub/shower combo. Although the cabinets and tub are original, it is in clean condition.

One of the secondary bedrooms faces out towards the side of the house. The double closet doors have been removed. A curtain hangs in its place instead. The last bedroom faces out towards the front of the house. It is slightly larger than the other bedroom, but the closet is slightly smaller.

Between the last bedroom and the staircase is a built-in bookshelf.

Overall the home is nicely laid out, clean and move-in-ready. Although some upgrades would be nice, it is in great condition and shows nicely. I do not fancy the three steps down from the living room to the dining area, but the overall flow is nice. The home would be highly desirable for anyone looking for a home with a downstairs bedroom, a nice size backyard and a great cul-de-sac location. The price is slightly higher than 2 Candela. Which home would you prefer?

For the third week in a row, I visited a property in Woodbury. However, this time, I checked out a townhouse in the Treo tract at 102 Vintage. While the MLS lists it as a three bedroom, it really is more like two bedrooms and a den.

The basics:

Asking Price: $665,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 1,824

Lot Size: N/A

$/Sq Ft: $365

Days on Market: 10

Property Type: Townhouse

Year Built: 2005

Community: Woodbury – Treo

Schools: Woodbury Elementary, Jeffrey Trail, Irvine High

HOA dues are $290 per month ($110 + $180) and there are Mello Roos.

When I first saw the listing online, I thought it was going to be a fairly noisy home, as it is situated just off one of the main entry points into Woodbury. However, the unit is actually set back from the street and I didn’t hear any noise while I was inside. When you look at the picture of the front of the house, the units you see actually sit in front of 102 Vintage; the open door in the center leads through a private courtyard to the actual home. The townhouse is only a block away from Woodbury Community Park, as well as the community’s main swimming pools and Commons area.

Inside the front door, you face a hallway with a staircase at the end. Immediately to the right is the den. Since it doesn’t have a door (the whole room is open to the hall) and it doesn’t have a closet, I find it hard to call it a third bedroom. It does make a great space for an office though. The room has Berber carpet and a window facing the interior courtyard. Because it is the only room downstairs, it offers a lot of privacy.

Also downstairs, there is a half bath with a pedestal sink. Access to the two-car garage is directly beyond the den. There is a small coat closet just past the bathroom.

Moving upstairs, there are two bedrooms, a living room and the kitchen. At the top of the stairs, there is a closet and a small nook

The master bedroom is just to the right at the top of the stairs. Like the room downstairs, the bedrooms have Berber carpet. The master is a good size, with several small windows letting in light from two sides. It has a door leading out to a mini terrace that isn’t actually big enough to stand on. The room has ample wall space, so arranging furniture should be easy. There is a walk-in closet in one corner of the room with really nice built-in organizers.

The master bath is interesting, with two arched doorways leading into it. On one side, there is a single vanity with Caesarstone counters, a tile backsplash, and several cabinets and drawers. Through the other doorway is a matching vanity and small water closet. I like the separate his and hers vanities. The shower, oddly enough, is between the two vanities, with a door opening to each side. The shower itself is average-sized, with plain tiles and a built-in seat. The only thing I don’t like about the bathroom is that one vanity doesn’t really connect to the water closet, unless you go through the shower or back through the bedroom. While the setup is odd, the bathroom is nicely upgraded.

The other bedroom is also a good size. It has a single window that overlooks the courtyard. There is a two-door, standard closet. This room has a hallway bath with a single sink and a shower/tub combo. Like the master, it has a Caesarstone counter. The shower tile is ceramic with a decorative, travertine surround.

An arched doorway leads from the bedroom area to the living area. Attractive, cherry wood floors stretch across the living room and kitchen. The living room has a built-in media center on one wall. Another wall has a built-in bookshelf/cabinet unit and a fireplace surrounded by white molding. The third wall is lined with windows looking out the back of the townhouse. The living room is pretty big and I like both the setup and the overall look of it.

The laundry room is off the living room, just before the kitchen. The side by side machines are negotiable with the sale and there are overhead cabinets.

A wide arch leads to the large kitchen, which has high ceilings to make it feel even more spacious. There are three pantry-height cabinets, as well as many other cabinets and drawers to provide ample storage. The stainless steel, four-burner range sits centered on one wall with counters on both sides of it and the fridge (included in the sale) at the far end. The shorter, far wall has the sink in the center, also with counters on both sides, as well as the dishwasher. Glass-fronted upper cabinets frame a small window over the sink. The third wall has two windows with a sliding door between them, which leads to a balcony. The center of the kitchen has space for a big dining table.

Overall, I really liked this townhouse. I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was and I felt that the living areas were very bright and attractive. The rooms are all a good size and the downstairs den is a great extra space, especially if you’re looking for a quiet, private office. The unit next door, 104 Vintage, is also on the market. While it is a bigger house (three full bedrooms plus a den), I like the layout of 102 Vintage much more. I also preferred the cabinets and tile in the kitchen and bathrooms more in 102 Vintage.

Woodbridge North Lake Condo Powerhouse

6 Clearwater $729,000

Stepping through the gate the first impression here is on target. Everything is polished and in place in this Woodbridge condo on a quiet cul de sac in the inside loop about a hundred yards from North Lake.

Beautifully detailed throughout with custom teak used in the entry, kitchen, study and master bedroom, this condo easily exceeds many of the condos that I have seen in the area. The North Lake location and finished presentation make it an interesting option for the right buyer.

Significant Numbers: Built in 1977, this two level contemporary Woodbridge condo in the North Lake area has 1,743 square feet, at $418 a square foot. HOA dues are $456 a month. The home was listed at $749,000 and is now on the market at $729,000. It has been listed for two months.

Closeup: Entering the gated patio and stepping into the entry the home opens to a living room with cathedral ceiling and rock wall fireplace on the right, dining room on the left and carpeted stairway to the bedrooms on the right.

Wraparound windows and doors accessing a large, lush patio give the home an appealing indoor/outdoor feel. This is enhanced by a nicely detailed slate patio that is set up for entertaining with outside dining area, running stream through a rocky watercourse, night lighting, built in barbecue, and wet bar.

Inside, the kitchen backs up the dining room with teak cabinetry, a windowed casual dining area, stainless appliances and granite composite counters.

Upstairs, the master suite includes a good sized private deck and sleek master bath with handsome teak cabinetry. The second bedroom and bath are also good sized and nicely outfitted.

Also, off of the main entry, a custom teak study could become a main floor bedroom. The broker noted the powder room that sits next to it could easily be made into a three quarter bath, similar to the second bath upstairs.

More specifics:

Condominium

Bedrooms, two

Baths, two and a quarter

Double attached garage

Two parking spaces

Irvine Unified School System

Association pool and spa

Central furnace, central air

Laundry in garage

Attached one common wall

Overall Evaluation: Price, location and overall presentation will be weighed here. The home has obviously been enjoyed by its owners and the outside space has been skillfully used. Woodbridge’s many community assets and North Lake recreational facilities add to its market appeal. With a good sized study that could be turned into a guest bedroom or used for an older member of the family the home covers a lot of bases.

Who will move in? Mobile professional couples who travel a lot, entertain, and need a sleek Irvine base of operations will be drawn to this home. Young families looking for Woodbridge’s many options will also be attracted.

Recent nearby listings: 2 Harborcrest, $789,000; 198 West Yale Loop, $745,000.

Recent nearby sales: 11 Oakgrove #48, $740,000; 90 West Yale Loop, 4725,000.