Today I am reviewing the Santa Maria model of Stonegate at 63 Thornhurst. The condominium is listed as a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. I noticed the “third” bedroom lacked a closet so it may serve as an office or den. The main living area is up a flight of stairs, while the garage and indoor laundry closet are found on ground level. Parking for guests is off the street in front of the home.

The home is nicely located on a cul-de-sac street. Through the outer door is a narrow walkway with no roof cover which leads to the home’s front door. I am not sure what purpose of the enclosed walkway serves apart from the building’s curbside aesthetics and just the shape of the unit with respect to the neighboring units.

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Last weekend, I reviewed 12 New Season; this week, I’ll tell you about 70 Trailing Vine, just down the street in the same neighborhood. Both have three bedrooms, but Trailing Vine is about 100 square feet smaller and the condition of the home isn’t as good. The basics:

Asking Price: $549,999
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Footage: 1,400
Lot Size: 1,500
$/Sq. Ft: $393
Days on Market: 46
Property Type: Condominium
Year Built: 2005
Community: Northwood – Tamarisk
Schools: Hicks Canyon Elementary, Orchard Hills, Beckman High (Tustin Unified)

HOA dues are $306/month ($157 + $149) and there are Mello Roos.

From the outside, the home is similar, with a small patio facing the front walkway. Again, the dining area is right in front of the entryway. Because this is an interior unit, it doesn’t have any windows.

The adjacent living room is similar in size, but doesn’t have a fireplace or a cutout for the entertainment center. Two windows face the front patio. This home also lacks crown molding, which 12 New Season has throughout.

Rather than a walk-in style pantry, this home has a pair of pantry-height cupboards. The kitchen is more square-shaped, with light-colored, solid surface counters. The cabinets are still plain brown and lack handles. The stainless steel appliances include a range, microwave and dishwasher.

The powder room has a pedestal sink.

The first floor is all wood, but the staircase and second floor have carpet. I noticed several stains on the carpet. This home also has a small loft area at the top of the stairs. It has space for a desk and there are several linen cabinets.

The second floor bathroom only has one sink. It has a solid white counter, plain white cabinets, and a shower/tub combo with basic white tile. The shower doesn’t have doors or a curtain rod.

The laundry room is also on the second floor. It has a small counter next to the side by side machines and upper cabinets.

The two secondary bedrooms are similar in size. Each has a single window and a two-door, sliding closet.

The master bedroom is a nice size. The windows face the street in a small, cutout area and a second cutout has space for a dresser.

The master bath has a single counter with two sinks set into a solid surface counter. The plain brown cabinets match those in the kitchen. It has a shower/tub combo, with upgraded tan tiles instead of the basic white. The tub seemed dingy. There is a smallish walk-in closet with a single shelf and pole.

Overall, 70 Trailing Vine isn’t as nice as 12 New Season. It all seemed a bit dingier and didn’t have the nicer touches like crown molding and ceiling fans. The lower price reflects the smaller square footage and fewer upgrades.

88 Lakepines is a short-sale property with one bedroom and one bathroom. It is located just steps away from the adults-only pool in the Lakes Community of Northwood. As an upper unit, there is only one shared wall on one side and has a large balcony overlooking the stream running throughout the community.

Asking Price: $245,000
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Square Footage: 700 square feet
Lot Size: 700 square feet
$/Sq Ft: $350
Days on Market: 221
Property Type: Condominium, Residential
Year Built: 1978
Community: Northwood, The Lakes

HOA dues are $310 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

Upon entering, you walk into the small dining area with a large coat closet immediately to your right. The vaulted ceilings throughout the home create a spacious, light feeling, but the ceilings are still textured. The flooring is laminate wood flooring which flows throughout the home. The walls are painted white and the windows are original.

A small peninsula with overhanging cabinets separates the entrance area from the small kitchen. The kitchen is tight, but has the necessary appliances and cabinet/drawer space for storage. The kitchen sink sits below the garden window which nicely looks out to the stream outside. On the side wall of the kitchen is an opening which looks out to the living room. The kitchen has white cabinets, granite countertops and older white appliances but is in decent condition.

The living room is a couple of steps down. With the cathedral ceilings and extra-large sliding glass door the room is spacious and airy. An updated fireplace is located to the left of the kitchen opening. The sliding glass door opens up to a large balcony overlooking a nice stream and trees. The one downfall I noticed was a neighbor downstairs that was smoking a cigarette outside on his patio. With the full ashtray on his table, it appears that he may smoke outdoors often, and the smell of the smoke permeated the living room. Otherwise, the view and outdoor space is very nice.

The master bedroom is large. The wall separating the room from the rest of the home does not run up to the vaulted ceiling, so there is a space from about 2 feet above the doorway up to the ceiling. The bedroom has a large window and opens up to the bathroom vanity. Above the bathroom sink area is a nice skylight. The single sink has plenty of counter space on each side of the sink and has white cabinetry and a granite countertop. The lighting has been updated. To the left of the vanity is a walk in closet that has hookup for laundry. The space is large enough for a side by side washer and dryer. I do not know if I trust my clothes staying dust/lint-free in a closet space shared with laundry machines, but there is space at the back for clothes/storage. To the right of the vanity are a separate toilet and a fiberglass tub/shower combo.

The condominium is in nice condition. It is ideal for a single person or a couple. The home is spacious and has nice views. The realtor was not sure where the assigned carport was located with respect to the property, but she noted that it does have an assigned parking spot.

Today I am reviewing Stonegate’s Santa Clara plan. It is listed as a two bedroom, 1 ½ bathroom single story condominium, found on the ground level. However, it is actually a 1 bedroom with a large den. Parking for guests is off the street, directly in front of the home.

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