Woodbridge Condo Polished to Perfection

22 Pinewood #58 $890,000

As you turn off of West Yale Loop onto Shorebird, a small lane winds back to 22 Pinewood #58. From the curb the home has a finished presence and it is easy to suspect that will be true inside. Stepping into the gated courtyard with fountain, and then moving inside, suspicions are confirmed. This two level, detached condo is immaculate, beautifully detailed, and inviting throughout. The right buyer can simply move in.

Significant Numbers: This completely detached home has been on the market about 16 days. HOA dues are $456. The home is 2,200 sq. feet and it is $405/sq. ft. Lot size is 5,000 sq. foot. It was built in 1977 and has been upgraded and remodeled.

CloseUp: A formal entry with travertine floors with granite inlays opens into an airy floor plan with cathedral ceilings. The living room with fireplace sits opposite the formal dining area with French doors and multi windows overlooking the patio. Crown molding, carpeting and plantation shutters complete the effect.

The patio is professionally landscaped and beautifully detailed providing an inviting view and a perfect spot for entertaining. There’s also a den and small library.

The kitchen is off to the left of the dining area. It is equally sleek with granite slab counters, two ovens including a convection oven, stainless appliances and light Maple flooring.

Upstairs the Master Suite has cathedral ceilings, custom draperies and a master bath with Ceasarstone countertops, custom glass dual sinks and fixtures, tile flooring with pebble stone insets, pebble stone backsplash and a private balcony. The other bedrooms are also nicely detailed with plantation shutters and recessed lighting.

Specifics:

Bedrooms, 4

Baths, 2-1/2

Irvine Unified School System

Double Garage, two parking spaces

Laundry in garage

Forced air heat, central air

Association pool and spa

Detached, no common walls

What should be considered here? This detached home in immaculate condition in the outer loop of Woodbridge will be evaluated for price, location, superb condition, and overall appeal. For someone looking for a turnkey home this one certainly measures up with its immaculate finish and custom details.

Who will move in? A young family looking for a Woodbridge location, will be attracted to this one. Top schools, parks and lakes make this a very popular family choice. A professional couple looking for a key Irvine location, and a base for entertaining might also select this home.

Recent listings: 11 Oakgrove #48, $725,000; 60 Lakefront, #50, $898,000.

Recent sales: 5 Pinewood #3, $610,000; 77 Pinewood, #39, $780,000.

This week, I visited 3 Atlanta, a four bedroom home in the Northwood Park community in Northwood. It has some nice upgrades and definite potential to do a lot more.

The basics:

Asking Price: $839,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,010

Lot Size: 5,000

$/Sq Ft: $417

Days on Market: 9

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1978

Community: Northwood, Northwood Park

HOA dues are $65 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

This house seems to change owners every few years, with five sales since 1999, plus the current listing. That is far more than any other house I’ve seen in the area. My guess is that the location is the culprit. It is practically at the corner of Yale and Irvine Blvd. While I was surprised that I couldn’t hear more traffic, I think it’s because it was noon on a Sunday. It’s probably a lot louder during rush hour. The house still has its original windows, so buying new, double-paned windows may alleviate the sound as well. On the front side, it’s located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.

Walking up to the front door, there is a wide front porch with room for a table and chairs. The backyard is also a good size, with a wide grassy area, a small patio with an overhang, and an almost new, above-ground Jacuzzi. There is also a wide side yard on one side with plenty of space for a grill and a table and chairs.

When you enter the house, there is a small entryway but it quickly opens up to the living room. Closest to the door is a sunken portion of the room that has a fireplace and makes for a cozy sitting area. This space is carpeted, though the rest of the living room has wood floors. The room has a high ceiling and a wall of windows looking out to the backyard.

The dining room is also at the back of the house, between the living room and kitchen. It has a slider out to the backyard. A large, open area under the stairs makes a nice spot for a wine rack and small buffet.

The kitchen has been partially remodeled, but has definite room for improvement. It has newer granite countertops and black appliances, but old white cabinets that show their age. The granite is tiled, so it doesn’t offer a solid, smooth surface. It also has a high set of cupboards above the peninsula that divides it from the breakfast nook and family room, but they make the kitchen feel very closed in. While this was a common feature of homes constructed in the late 1970’s, most remodeled kitchens remove this overhead cabinets to open up the space. Because the kitchen is on the smaller side, I think opening it up would make it feel a lot bigger.

The family room is a good size and has a cutout area in one wall where you could add a built-in unit. There is a slider out to the large side yard and direct access to the garage. The downstairs half bath has been nicely remodeled with tiled walls and a pedestal sink.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms off of one long hallway. Each of the secondary bedrooms has a walk-in closet and they are all about the same size. The carpet upstairs (and in the sunken living room) is newer, but I did notice a couple of stains. One of the bedrooms has a set of double doors, making it feel a bit more like an office or extra room than a bedroom.

The upstairs bathroom has also been remodeled. It has an engineered stone counter and nice cabinets. There is only one sink and a shower, but no bathtub.

The master bedroom is also a good size. It has both a sliding and a walk-in closet. The bathroom was nicely remodeled with the same materials as the other one. This one has two sinks and extra cupboards on one portion of the counter. It has a combination shower/tub, with a large round tub and attractive tile on the walls. A balcony at the back of the bedroom overlooks the intersection and the shopping center across the street.

Many homes in Northwood are still coming in under $400 per square foot. This one may be a bit overpriced at $417/foot without new windows or a fully remodeled kitchen, especially given the location. However, buyers may be attracted to the larger yard and the walk-in closets in every bedroom. The association has low dues, but still offers a pool and tennis courts.

Why do you think this house has sold so many times in recent years? How do you think the location and the lack of new windows or a fully remodeled kitchen will affect the price?

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?