Turtle Rock Condo – Key Options in a Key Area

20 Morning View $1, 115,000

Turning off of Turtle Rock Drive and threading my way back to Morning View brought me to this three bedroom condo in a quiet hilltop area overlooking Shady Canyon. From the street the first thing that stands out is the three car garage on a good sized driveway. Then a private brick side entry leads to double doors which open to a light filled home with an open floor plan on a choice of levels.

Significant Numbers: New to the market (about 12 days), this three bedroom, two and a half bath condo has 2,412 sq. feet. The lot is 4,792 sq. ft. Price per square foot is $462.27. HOA is $295. It is a Peters home, built in 1980 as a Plan D, which was the largest floor plan option.

Close-Up: The first impression stepping into the condo is how the space has been easily defined on different levels to create a dramatic entrance and elegant entertaining area, while simultaneously providing private family space just steps away. Vaulted ceilings and skylights accent the formal dining and living room areas, and a balcony overlooking huge trees sits at the back of the living room.

To the left there is a gourmet kitchen with casual dining area. Throughout the home there is a sense of space and light with effective upgrades, hardwood floors and carpet, custom shutters and granite countertops.

The kitchen is geared for entertaining, with the pass through window, custom cabinetry, built in SubZero refrigerator, Viking oven and range and custom dishwasher.

On the main level there is a master retreat with separate tub and shower, and downstairs there is a nice family retreat area with two bedrooms, each with patio access, and a family room in the middle with patio, and a full bath.

The home also has a tankless water heater, inside laundry, and epoxy flooring and extra storage in the 3-car garage.

Specifics:

Bedrooms, 3

Baths, 2.5

Three car attached garage

One common wall attached

Irvine Unified School District

Association spa and community pool

Central air and central furnace

What will be considered here? The numerous upgrades and location in a prime area of Turtle Rock overlooking Shady Canyon will be weighed against the price and other properties available in this price range in areas such as Woodbridge or Quail Hill. Someone looking for a convenient Irvine location in a secluded area that offers ample space for living and entertaining will see the possibilities here.

Who will choose this condo? A professional couple or family involved in Orange County or the immediate Irvine area might see the possibilities in this condo with its large, well outfitted area for entertaining, and private living space on separate levels. Top schools and key Turtle Rock recreation opportunities add to the appeal.

Recent listings: 10 Morning Glory, $1,199,000 ; 24 Sarena #45, $1,049,000.

Recent Sales: 9 Silver Creek #34, $923,000; 10 Baristo, $843,000

Last week, I wrote about 27 Eden, a four bedroom home in Northwood’s Park Paseo community. Today, I will tell you about 17 Prosa, located just across the greenbelt from the Eden home.

The basics:

Asking Price: $729,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,560

Lot Size: 4,356

$/Sq Ft: $467

Days on Market: 16

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1979

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

The home is about two thirds of the way down a cul-de-sac street that ends at a greenbelt and the community swimming pool. It’s a fairly quiet street, surrounded by all residential homes, so there won’t be much traffic noise at all. It is a one story home, which may appeal to many buyers.

Upon entering, there is a bright living room to the left that is one step down from the hallway. It has distressed wood floors, high ceilings, and three windows to bring in a lot of light. All of the windows in the home are new except the garden window in the kitchen. There is a white brick fireplace at the far end of the room.

The entryway is large enough that the current owners have an upright piano in it. Beyond that, just across from the front door, a set of French doors leads out to a small courtyard. It likely only gets light when the sun is immediately above and has several very large bushes taking up most of the space.

A hallway leads to the kitchen and family room. The kitchen has been upgraded with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and refinished cabinets. It has attractive tile floors and an all granite backsplash. Recessed lights in the ceiling have replaced the old panel lighting. A wide peninsula creates space for a breakfast bar.

The family room has the same tile floors as the kitchen. It is large enough to accommodate a dining table and it has a high ceiling with crown molding. Two sets of sliding doors lead out to the side and back yards.

The backyard is comparably sized to other older Northwood lots. It has a large concrete patio, plenty of grass and a couple of large trees. There is also access to the backyard from the master bedroom. One of the side yards is wider than average and could easily fit a grill that would be easily accessible from the kitchen.

A hallway off the family room leads to the three bedrooms. These are off a large central area that isn’t really used for anything and is kind of a waste of space. A creative buyer may be able to find a way to utilize it.

The master bedroom has crown molding and a ceiling fan. It has a cut out in one corner that could fit a bed or dresser if one were the right size. It really only has one full wall, as one has a sliding door to the backyard and another has the closet and bathroom. The closet is the original two-door mirrored closet. Like the living room, there are distressed wood floors.

The master bath has been nicely remodeled with granite counters, two sinks and dark wood cabinets. The shower/tub combo has new tile, hardware, and doors. The secondary bathroom matches but has only one sink. The home doesn’t have a half bath, so guests would use the secondary bathroom.

The other two bedrooms are fairly small. Each has a window that looks into the courtyard and a two-door mirrored closet. Unlike the master, these closet doors look newer. These rooms also have distressed floors.

Overall, the home has been nicely upgraded and is in great condition. I really like the location and I think it will appeal to buyers that want single story homes. The price per square foot is very high for the neighborhood though, as recent sales in Park Paseo and neighboring Woodside have all been under $400 per square foot. What would you pay for this house?

University Park Condo – Trim Package in a Top Location

6 Lancewood Way $499,000

Winding back from the main streets of University Park, the condo at 6 Lancewood Way is a nice surprise in an inviting tree filled area. As a first home in Irvine or an investment property, this 2 bedroom condo offers some interesting options.

Significant Numbers: This single level, two bedroom, 2 bath condo is 1,279 sq. ft. on a 3,049 sq. ft. lot. It just went on the market. It was built in 1966. HOA dues are $223. There is no Mello Roos.

CloseUp: The home is neatly tucked into a quiet part of University Park. Walking through the courtyard area and stepping inside the tiled entry takes you to a great room that includes the living room with fireplace opening onto the patio, dining area, and kitchen with a view through window.

The two bedrooms and two baths are off to the right from the entry hall, sharing a common hallway. The master suite also opens onto the back patio.

The kitchen, recently updated and remodeled has granite counters, an extra breakfast bar, and an open window to the dining room. The cabinetry and attention to detail make it a natural extension of the great room.

Overall, the home packs a lot into the space, with a light filled open floor plan that works very well. The back patio is a natural entertainment area with room enough for a fountain, or barbecue.

Specifics:

Bedrooms, 2

Baths, 2

Condominium

Double attached garage

Irvine Unified School System

Association pool and spa

What will be considered? The quiet, secluded location in the established University Park community will weigh in here, along with the price and the size of the home. The open floor plan is a good choice and the remodeling adds to the overall appeal of the home.

Who will select this condo? A young family looking for a first home in Irvine might choose this home. It will also appeal to investors looking for a good location in a key community. It might also work for a professional couple who travel a lot, but still need a comfortable home base in Irvine. University Park’s regional park, top schools and many recreational opportunities will add to the attraction.

Recent listings: 16 Sequoia Tree Lane, $569,000; 33 Fairside #22, $487,000.

Recent sales: 43 Morena, $520,000; 28 Valley View, $580,000

While on my way to check out the open house at 17 Prosa, I came across 27 Eden. This week, I will tell you about the Eden home; next week, I’ll write about the Prosa one.

The basics:

Asking Price: $838,800

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,250

Lot Size: 3,485

$/Sq Ft: $373

Days on Market: 6

Property Type: Single Family Residence

Year Built: 1981

Community: Northwood – Park Paseo

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

27 Eden is nicely situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, just steps away from a greenbelt and the smaller of Park Paseo’s two swimming pools. The home has been nicely upgraded and expanded to include four bedrooms and an enlarged master suite.

The entryway and hall have hardwood floors, as does the kitchen, while the rest of the downstairs rooms have blue carpet. Upon entering, the formal living room is to the right and the dining room is to the left. Both rooms have crown molding and windows on two sides, all with plantation shutters. The stairs are straight ahead and a hallway leads to the family room at the back of the house.

The family room has a brick fireplace on one wall, next to the sliding door that leads to the backyard. On the opposite wall, a wet bar was converted to a built in wine rack with shelving and storage cupboards. A short hallway leads to the nicely remodeled half bath and the garage access. The bar seating for the kitchen is also in the actual family room.

The kitchen has been fully remodeled to include Caesarstone counters, white cabinets, and a tile backsplash. The newer white appliances fit well with the kitchen’s country feel and a built-in hutch in the breakfast nook offers additional storage and display space. A huge window that extends into the ceiling brings in a lot of light and offers a view of the backyard.

The yard is small, but nicely landscaped. It has a large, covered patio, a small grassy area, and an above-ground Jacuzzi.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The three secondary rooms are pretty small. They each have a mirrored closet (two are small, one is larger) and a window looking out to the backyard. They all have the same blue carpet found downstairs. These rooms share a bathroom that hasn’t been updated but appears clean and well maintained. It has two sinks set into a long counter, tile floors, and a shower/tub combo.

The master bedroom has been expanded. The huge room has vaulted ceilings, blue carpet, two windows overlooking the street, and two large walk-in closets. The master bath has new hardware, but is otherwise original. It has two sinks and a stall shower. My favorite feature of the expanded master is a small room added to one end. Fully separated by a door, this room can serve as a nursery, office, sitting room, or gym. It is a great addition to the room.

In addition to the previously mentioned upgrades, the house has new windows and recessed lighting in many rooms. Everything is in very good condition and the location is highly desirable. While the rooms – and the lot – are small, I think the home will be appealing to a family looking for a quiet street near good schools.

Woodbridge Single Family 4 Bedroom in Outer Loop

27 Songsparrow $789,900 Sale Pending

Turning off West Yale Loop into the outer loop I wound back to 27 Songsparrow, to find a 4 bedroom single family home with quite a few options. When I visited the open house, there were people streaming through the home, ticking off the options and quizzing the realtor. The realtor was telling everyone the buyer was eager to sell and the home was priced to sell. That was Saturday. On Wednesday the home was listed as sale pending.

The home does back up to Culver Street traffic, and a fence and a screen of trees form a buffer. On Saturday afternoon the traffic noise was definitely noticeable on the back patio. Inside with closed windows noise is not apparent. And there is an energy saving whole house fan, plus individual ceiling fans, that can be used to clear all of the hot air out before turning the air on.

Significant Numbers: This four bedroom, two and a half bath, two level detached single family home is 1,946 sq. ft. Lot size is 4,356 sq. ft. Built in 1976, it has been on the market about ten days. The $/sq. ft. is $405. HOA is $82.

CloseUp: Stepping into the entry there is a formal dining room to the left, a large living room with a custom marble hearth fireplace to the right and custom stairway in the middle. In the back of the home the kitchen and family room pair up and lead to a good sized covered patio that also has a pass through window from the kitchen.

The kitchen is recently remodeled with wood cabinetry, under cabinet lighting and pullout shelves, granite countertops with breakfast bar and stainless appliances including a self cleaning convection oven.

Upstairs, the four bedrooms include a remodeled master suite with double vanity, double shower and double closets. The other upstairs bath has also been remodeled and updated. There is a half bath on the lower level.

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Crown molding, high ceilings, plantation shutters, ceramic tile and carpet are used to advantage throughout the home. There is a double attached garage and inside laundry.

Specifics:

Bedrooms, 4

Baths, 2.5

Double Garage

Detached/no common walls

Laundry room inside

Central furnace and central air

Irvine Unified School District

Association pool and spa

What will be the determining points here? As a sale pending, backup offers will be accepted. The issue of traffic noise from Culver St., and the good sized, four bedroom detached home in Woodbridge, are the main considerations for buyers to weigh against price. Also, all bedrooms are upstairs which can be a negative for some buyers.

Who will move in? It could be a young family looking for Woodbridge schools and lakeside recreation, or a couple looking for a key Irvine location, and extra bedrooms for guests, home office, and hobbies.

Recent listings: 41 Songsparrow, $789,000; 90 West Yale Loop, $798,000.

Recent sales: 1 Del Cambre, $763,000; 29 Del Sonterra, $725,000