In continuation of our series on the Great Park’s Pavilion Park Neighborhood, I am going to introduce you to the Whistler Collection. Built by William Lyon Homes, Whistler has three models ranging from 2,336 – 2,896 square feet. With four collections smaller and five bigger, the Whistler homes are truly mid-size for the neighborhood. The homes have four or five bedrooms and 2.5 – 3.5 baths. All houses have a two-car garage and either a standard or optional main floor bedroom. Prices start at $879,990 for the smallest model and 979,990 for the biggest. There will be 83 homes in the collection, which is located on the western side of the neighborhood, about halfway between Irvine Boulevard and Portola Parkway. In a refreshing change from many of the other collections, the Whistler models are actually built on some of the smallest lots, helping to give potential buyers a true picture of what the backyard may look like. Many of the lots are even bigger than in the models. Shade structures are optional in all backyards.

Some of the standard amenities in all homes include KitchenAid® Architect II Stainless Steel Appliance Package, including a 36” gas cooktop with six burners, 30: stacked built-in convection microwave and convection oven combo, Energy Star® dishwasher, and a 36” stainless vent hood; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; granite slab countertop with square edge detail, 6” backsplash and full backsplash above cooktop; and a stainless steel double undermount sink with Moen® single handle pull-out faucet. The master bath offers spacious walk-in closets with wood shelf and pole and double mirrored wardrobe doors; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; solid surface countertops and 4” backsplash; 6 x 6” ceramic tile showers; deep fiberglass tubs; and clear glass shower enclosure with chrome frame and frameless door. The secondary bathrooms have similar features to the master bath, though either with a shower/tub combo or just a shower. The homes also have 8’ interior doors with polished chrome lever handles; structured wiring for phone, data and cable; 12” x 12” ceramic tile floor at entry, kitchen, dining, all bathrooms and laundry; Energy Star® bath fans and energy efficient dimmer switches in baths; programmable thermostats and central air; and laundry hookups including natural gas dryer connection. The external features include tankless water heaters; extra deep garages to allow for storage; Energy efficient weather stripping and insulation; and durable concrete tile and composition shingle roofs.

All Pavilion Park homes are currently slated to attend Canyon View Elementary, Jeffrey Trail Middle and Northwood High Schools, all part of IUSD. However, a new K-8 school is slated to open in the Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 and there are also plans for a new high school in the area.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Approximate HOA Dues: $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.16%

Approximate Mello Roos (aka Community Facilities District tax): Plan 1 from $5,400, Plan 2 from $5,900 and Plan 3 up to $6,500 per year, subject to an increase by 2% per year

Base Prices start at $879,990 for Plan 1, $899,990 for Plan 2, and $979,990 for Plan 3.

Link to Review of Residence 1

Link to Review of Residence 2

Residence Three

2,896 square feet

5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, Formal Dining Room

Optional Bonus Room, Covered Balcony on some elevations

Base Price: $979,990 ($338/sq ft)

Residence Three has a surprisingly low price per square foot if you go with the basic package. It is modeled in the Spanish elevation, with Farmhouse and Monterey as the other two options. All three elevations have a covered porch downstairs; the Spanish and Monterey elevations also have a covered balcony upstairs.

This house is pretty similar to Residences One and Two, but bigger. The foyer is the same, with a room to the left, the great room and kitchen at the back and the stairs, a bath and bedroom off to the right. In this house, the room on the left is labeled Formal Dining Room. It really isn’t much different than the Flex Room from the other two homes though, so I don’t see the need for a distinction in name. There are windows facing the front and side of the house. The brick veneer on one wall is a decorator’s item, though I feel like it makes the room seem less formal. The can lights are included but the hanging fixture is not.

This home has a powder room to the right of the foyer. It has a pedestal sink and, aside from the mirror and brick veneer, it is shown with all included items. There is a regular coat closet next to the bathroom.

A downstairs bedroom is also to the right of the foyer and at the front of the house. This room is a little smaller than the bedrooms upstairs, but there is still plenty of space to use for a guest room or office. It has a two-door closet and there is also a storage closet under the stairs that is only accessible from the bedroom. Upgrades include can lights, the ceiling fan, mirrored closet doors and the brick veneer. This bedroom has a private, en-suite bathroom with a single sink and a shower. The entire vanity and shower tile are all upgraded.

The great room and kitchen are a lot bigger in this house than in the other two models, but the setup is similar. The great room is on the left and the kitchen on the right. There is space for a dining table between them, though the model doesn’t show one. The great room exhibits the optional built-in media cabinet. As in the other two homes, it shows the Western sliding doors, so we don’t to see what the standard sliding door and fixed window would look like.

The kitchen has a huge, square island with seating on two sides, along with numerous drawers. The model shows the optional sink in the island but doesn’t show the optional wine fridge. The main sink and dishwasher are along the back of the house, set into a very long counter with drawers and cabinets. Another wall has the cooktop, along with many more cabinets. The third wall has the fridge, microwave, oven, and the pantry. The cabinets – both interior and exterior, Caesarstone countertop, backsplash, lighting and appliances are all upgrades. This kitchen has tons of storage and feels very spacious. My only complaint is that, like the others, the door to the garage is right in the kitchen without any sort of entryway.

The backyard is also quite similar to the others. It stretches the length of the house and is fully hardscaped. Upgraded features include a pool, built in bbq, shade structure with ceiling fan, outdoor speakers and vertical trellis.

Upstairs, the hallway includes two sets of low linen cabinets. There are three bedrooms, plus the master, and an optional bonus room. The bonus room is to the right at the top of the stairs and goes over the garage. It has windows facing both the back and front of the house, and another window on one side, so there is light pretty much all day. It has optional built-in cabinets along one wall, with the model showing an optional desk as well. The room is really big and would be a great extra space for children or teens. If you don’t include the bonus room, the smaller set of linen cabinets are extended across the hallway wall.

The three secondary bedrooms are all similar. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are at the back of the house and are mirror images of each other. Each one has a single window facing the backyard and a two-door closet. The can lights, mirrored doors, ceiling fans, speakers and crown molding are upgrades.

Bedroom 4 faces the front of the house and is a little bigger than the other two. It has a comparable closet with an optional built-in desk and upper cabinets next to it. The drywall window seat is included.

The shared bathroom sits between Bedrooms 2 and 3. It has two sinks and a door separating them from the toilet and shower/tub area. Everything shown is upgraded. The laundry room is across from Bedroom 2. It has an optional sink, shown with an upgraded faucet.

The master bedroom is on the left side of the house and is pretty similar in size to those in the other models. It has windows on the front and side of the house, plus a French door leading to the covered balcony. The large, walk-in closet is L-shaped and is accessed from the bedroom, not the bathroom.

The master bath has two sinks, a soaking tub, and a large shower with a seat. The cabinets, counters, tile, backsplash, framed mirror and handheld showerhead are all upgrades.

This home is very similar to the other two but noticeably bigger. The rooms all feel spacious and there is a lot of storage throughout the home.

Overall, I like this collection of homes. All of the models are very similar to each other, with four bedrooms upstairs and one (or an option for one) downstairs. The layouts are all quite similar. I was disappointed that all three homes had upgraded flooring throughout, so I couldn’t see what the included tile actually looks like. I really liked seeing true-to-size backyards and knowing that many lots will be even bigger. While none of these homes have any “wow” features, there was very little about them that I disliked either. The only major structural changes you can make are turning the Flex Room into a bed and bath in Residence One and turning a bedroom into a loft in Residence Two. This makes it easy to picture exactly what you’re getting, as opposed to some collections that have numerous configuration options. I think this collection will appeal to many buyers.

In continuation of our series on the Great Park’s Pavilion Park Neighborhood, I am going to introduce you to the Whistler Collection. Built by William Lyon Homes, Whistler has three models ranging from 2,336 – 2,896 square feet. With four collections smaller and five bigger, the Whistler homes are truly mid-size for the neighborhood. The homes have four or five bedrooms and 2.5 – 3.5 baths. All houses have a two-car garage and either a standard or optional main floor bedroom. Prices start at $879,990 for the smallest model and 979,990 for the biggest. There will be 83 homes in the collection, which is located on the western side of the neighborhood, about halfway between Irvine Boulevard and Portola Parkway. In a refreshing change from many of the other collections, the Whistler models are actually built on some of the smallest lots, helping to give potential buyers a true picture of what the backyard may look like. Many of the lots are even bigger than in the models. Shade structures are optional in all backyards.

Some of the standard amenities in all homes include KitchenAid® Architect II Stainless Steel Appliance Package, including a 36” gas cooktop with six burners, 30: stacked built-in convection microwave and convection oven combo, Energy Star® dishwasher, and a 36” stainless vent hood; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; granite slab countertop with square edge detail, 6” backsplash and full backsplash above cooktop; and a stainless steel double undermount sink with Moen® single handle pull-out faucet. The master bath offers spacious walk-in closets with wood shelf and pole and double mirrored wardrobe doors; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; solid surface countertops and 4” backsplash; 6 x 6” ceramic tile showers; deep fiberglass tubs; and clear glass shower enclosure with chrome frame and frameless door. The secondary bathrooms have similar features to the master bath, though either with a shower/tub combo or just a shower. The homes also have 8’ interior doors with polished chrome lever handles; structured wiring for phone, data and cable; 12” x 12” ceramic tile floor at entry, kitchen, dining, all bathrooms and laundry; Energy Star® bath fans and energy efficient dimmer switches in baths; programmable thermostats and central air; and laundry hookups including natural gas dryer connection. The external features include tankless water heaters; extra deep garages to allow for storage; Energy efficient weather stripping and insulation; and durable concrete tile and composition shingle roofs.

All Pavilion Park homes are currently slated to attend Canyon View Elementary, Jeffrey Trail Middle and Northwood High Schools, all part of IUSD. However, a new K-8 school is slated to open in the Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 and there are also plans for a new high school in the area.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Approximate HOA Dues: $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.16%

Approximate Mello Roos (aka Community Facilities District tax): Plan 1 from $5,400, Plan 2 from $5,900 and Plan 3 up to $6,500 per year, subject to an increase by 2% per year

Base Prices start at $879,990 for Plan 1, $899,990 for Plan 2, and $979,990 for Plan 3.

See Review of Residence 1 here

Residence Two

2,487 square feet

5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Flex Room

Optional Loft in Lieu of Bedroom 2

Base Price: $899,990 ($362/sq ft)

Residence Two is modeled in the Stone Colonial elevation. The others are a Siding Colonial (identical except for wood siding instead of stone work) and Spanish, which has a small balcony off the master bedroom. None of them have a front porch.

The foyer is similar to Residence One, with a flex room to the left, stairs to the right, and a view back to the great room straight ahead. The flooring throughout the home is upgraded, as are the paint, baseboards, cabinet stain and pulls, blinds and shutters, ceiling fans, hanging light fixtures, and picture frame window casing.

The flex room is much less flexible than in Residence One. It borders the kitchen, so it can only open to the foyer, not through to the great room as in the other home. It also only has windows to the front, without an option for sliding doors, since there isn’t a porch area. It also can’t be made into a bedroom. The only flexibility is whether or not to have the optional cabinets, can lights, ceiling fan and special outlets included. Obviously, the room is flexible in that it can be used for a variety of purposes, but it doesn’t have the flexible options as in Residence One.

To the right of the foyer, there is a storage closet under the stairs, though not as large as in Residence One due to a straight staircase. A short hallway leads to a full bath with a single sink and a shower. The cabinet stain, counter and shower tile are all upgrades.

The downstairs bedroom is adjacent to the bathroom. It faces the street and has a large closet that takes up most of one wall. There is a large bed in the model, which makes the room feel smaller, but it’s actually pretty similar to all of the other secondary bedrooms. The upgrade list doesn’t show anything for this bedroom.

The great room, dining area, and kitchen stretch across the back of the house. The dining area is in the center, directly off the foyer. As is common in many new homes, the space would work well as either a formal or casual area.

The kitchen is to the left. It has a large, rectangular island that has numerous cabinets but no sink or appliances in it. One side has seating and there is an option for a wine fridge. The kitchen forms a u-shape around the island. One wall has the refrigerator, pantry and oven. Another has the cooktop (the model shows an oven here as well) and numerous cabinets and drawers. The wall along the back of the house has the dishwasher and sink. It has ample cabinet space and plenty of counter space, especially around the cooktop. The model shows almost everything upgraded, including all appliances, a warming drawer and wine chiller, cabinetry (stain, interior, accents), granite color, full height tile backsplash, pendant lights, single bowl sink, and professional pull-down faucet. The door to the garage is directly off the kitchen in this model, too.

The great room is pretty similar to the other one as well. There are optional built-in cabinets on one wall. The door to the backyard can be the Western multi-slide (shown) or the standard slider and fixed window. The floor plan lists the Western door as “optional,” but the upgrade sheet lists it as included, so it’s hard to say which door option actually comes with the house.

The backyard is similar to the last, shown with the optional shade structure over a highly upgraded outdoor kitchen. This one doesn’t show a fireplace, but it does have a fountain.

The second floor is also similar to Residence One. There are three secondary bedrooms with a shared bath, laundry, and a master suite. The laundry room has a walk-in linen area with shelves but does not have an option for a sink. The shared bathroom has two sinks with a door separating them from the toilet and shower/tub area. The cabinets, counters, tile and shower enclosure are all upgrades.

Bedroom 2 is at the top of the stairs and can be an optional loft instead of a room. In the bedroom, there is a two-door standard closet on one wall and a window overlooking the backyard. In the loft option, the closet is taken out and the entire front wall is gone so the room is completely open to the hallway.

Bedroom 3 is pretty much identical in size to Bedroom 2 and also looks out to the backyard. The closet is the same as well. The two rooms are side by side and have no noticeable differences other than the placement of the closet. Again, the can lights, mirrored doors, speakers and crown molding are all upgrades.

Bedroom 4 is at the front of the house and is bigger than the other two. The closet is a little bigger and there is an alcove next to it that could fit a bookshelf or small desk. It has windows looking to the street and the side of the house.

The master bedroom also faces the front of the house, with windows on one side as well. In the Spanish elevation, the front windows would be replaced with French doors leading out to the small balcony.

The master bath is highly upgraded in a similar style to the kitchen. The cabinets, counters, backsplash, tile, tub deck and mirrors are all upgraded. There are two sinks with a linen storage area between them. The tub and shower are separated, so the shower is a lot bigger than the one in Residence One. The closet is long and narrow, shown only with the included door, shelves and poles.

There are a lot of similarities between Residences One and Two. The biggest difference is that Residence Two has a flex room and a downstairs bedroom, rather than one or the other. The other main difference is the optional loft in lieu of Bedroom 2. Otherwise, the rooms are all similar in size and style. Residence Two has a bigger kitchen, occupying most of three walls, while the counters and cabinets in Residence One’s kitchen are mostly on only two walls. I would give the edge to Residence Two because of the bigger kitchen and extra room downstairs, but overall the houses are not that different.

In continuation of our series on the Great Park’s Pavilion Park Neighborhood, I am going to introduce you to the Whistler Collection. Built by William Lyon Homes, Whistler has three models ranging from 2,336 – 2,896 square feet. With four collections smaller and five bigger, the Whistler homes are truly mid-size for the neighborhood. The homes have four or five bedrooms and 2.5 – 3.5 baths. All houses have a two-car garage and either a standard or optional main floor bedroom. Prices start at $879,990 for the smallest model and 979,990 for the biggest. There will be 83 homes in the collection, which is located on the western side of the neighborhood, about halfway between Irvine Boulevard and Portola Parkway. In a refreshing change from many of the other collections, the Whistler models are actually built on some of the smallest lots, helping to give potential buyers a true picture of what the backyard may look like. Many of the lots are even bigger than in the models. Shade structures are optional in all backyards.

Some of the standard amenities in all homes include KitchenAid® Architect II Stainless Steel Appliance Package, including a 36” gas cooktop with six burners, 30: stacked built-in convection microwave and convection oven combo, Energy Star® dishwasher, and a 36” stainless vent hood; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; granite slab countertop with square edge detail, 6” backsplash and full backsplash above cooktop; and a stainless steel double undermount sink with Moen® single handle pull-out faucet. The master bath offers spacious walk-in closets with wood shelf and pole and double mirrored wardrobe doors; white Thermofoil cabinets with brushed chrome knobs; solid surface countertops and 4” backsplash; 6 x 6” ceramic tile showers; deep fiberglass tubs; and clear glass shower enclosure with chrome frame and frameless door. The secondary bathrooms have similar features to the master bath, though either with a shower/tub combo or just a shower. The homes also have 8’ interior doors with polished chrome lever handles; structured wiring for phone, data and cable; 12” x 12” ceramic tile floor at entry, kitchen, dining, all bathrooms and laundry; Energy Star® bath fans and energy efficient dimmer switches in baths; programmable thermostats and central air; and laundry hookups including natural gas dryer connection. The external features include tankless water heaters; extra deep garages to allow for storage; Energy efficient weather stripping and insulation; and durable concrete tile and composition shingle roofs.

All Pavilion Park homes are currently slated to attend Canyon View Elementary, Jeffrey Trail Middle and Northwood High Schools, all part of IUSD. However, a new K-8 school is slated to open in the Great Park Neighborhoods in 2016 and there are also plans for a new high school in the area.

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information

Approximate HOA Dues: $193 per month

Approximate Tax rate: 1.16%

Approximate Mello Roos (aka Community Facilities District tax): Plan 1 from $5,400, Plan 2 from $5,900 and Plan 3 up to $6,500 per year, subject to an increase by 2% per year

Base Prices start at $879,990 for Plan 1, $899,990 for Plan 2, and $979,990 for Plan 3.

Residence One

2,336 – 2,390 square feet

4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Flex Room

Optional Bedroom 5 with Bath 3

Base Price: $879,990 ($377/sq ft if 2,336 square feet)

If you start touring the models from the office, Residence One is actually the last one you’ll see; however, I chose to go there first. It is the smallest of the three and is shown in the Farmhouse elevation; Cottage and Monterey are the other two elevations. Farmhouse and Monterey have a nice, covered front porch.

The entryway gives you a glimpse of the kitchen and great room at the back of the house, the flex room is open to the left, and the stairs are on the right. There is upgraded flooring throughout the home in lieu of the ceramic tile. Additional upgrades throughout include blinds and shutters, 7.25” baseboards, upgraded paint, ceiling fans and hanging light fixtures, and cased openings and window frames.

In the model, the flex room is set up as a casual dining room that is open to the great room. Buyers can choose to close off the wall between the two rooms. French sliders out to the front porch are another option. For those who want a downstairs bedroom, the flex room can be made into a bedroom with a standard closet and an en-suite bathroom with a single sink and a shower/tub combo.

To the right of the foyer, there is a large closet with extra storage under the stairs. The powder room is there as well, facing the street. It is basically shown with all of the standard features, including the pedestal sink, with only the pivot mirror as a decorator’s upgrade.

The great room and kitchen stretch across the back of the house. The great room is to the left, shown with the Western Multi-Slide Door to the backyard. The alternative is a standard sliding door and a fixed window. The room is a good size and having it open to the flex room makes it feel even bigger. It is shown with the optional built-in cabinets along one wall. None of the Whistler great rooms have fireplaces, not even as an option.

There is space for a dining area between the great room and the kitchen. The model doesn’t show one, so it was kind of hard to tell how well a large table would fit. The wall between the flex room and the opening to the foyer would be a fine spot for a china hutch.

The kitchen shows the standard appliance package (refrigerator not included) and the basic Thermofoil cabinetry with chrome knobs (glass cabinets flanking hood not included). The island, which houses the sink and dishwasher, is shown with upgraded cabinetry plus a wine chiller. The countertops and backsplash are upgraded throughout the kitchen. The island can comfortably seat three and probably has room for four stools. The warming drawer below the oven is also an upgrade. There are plenty of cabinets and drawers, plus a large pantry-height cupboard on one side. The garage entry is next to the pantry doors. I don’t really like having the garage right off the kitchen, though the model does show a small built-in drop zone in the garage.

The backyard is long and somewhat narrow, but not as small as in some of the other collections. This one is divided into three sections and is full hardscaped. The center houses a table and chairs. The left side is raised up and has a large fireplace with space for seating around it. To the right, there is a big outdoor kitchen beneath the optional shade structure. If you like to entertain, this would be a great set up, as it has additional seating at the bar area and inside the u-shaped counters. All of these features are listed as “decorator’s items.”

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms plus the laundry room. The laundry is right at the top of the stairs and is shown with the optional sink and optional upper cabinets. The linen base cabinet in the upstairs hall is included in the house.

The secondary bedrooms are similar in size and all have plenty of space for furniture. Some of them show upgraded features including can lights, ceiling fans, crown molding, and/or speakers. Bedroom 2 has a single window overlooking the backyard. It has a very large, sliding closet that takes up a full wall (mirrored doors are an upgrade). Bedroom 3 is slightly larger than the others and has a small entryway. It has a window overlooking the backyard and two looking to the side of the house. The closet is much smaller than in Bedroom 2 and has the standard doors. Bedroom 4 faces the street, with additional windows on the side wall. The closet is larger than in Bedroom 3 but smaller than Bedroom 2 and is shown with upgraded organizers.

The three bedrooms share a bathroom in the hallway. There are two sinks and, through a separate door, a shower/tub combo. It shows mostly standard features, with only the tile backsplash and tub surround as upgrades. The tub is deeper than most standard bathtubs.

The master bedroom is on the right side of the house. It has a small vestibule, shown with an optional curio (linen/display cabinets). The bedroom is big but not huge, and has space for a comfy chair in addition to standard bedroom furniture. Large windows overlook the backyard. As in the other bedrooms, the lighting, ceiling fan, speakers and crown molding are all upgrades.

The master bath has a stall shower with a seat that is part of the adjacent tub surround. As is the case in many new homes, I think the shower should be a little bigger, as it probably gets a lot more use than the tub. The counter is long, with linen storage on the left and two sinks on the right. The quartz countertop and tub surround are upgrades, as are the tile backsplash and shower tiles. The big walk-in closet has an upgraded

deluxe closet organizer.

Overall, I liked the house. There wasn’t anything particularly special about it, but I thought the rooms were all a good size and the layout works well. My only real complaint is having the garage directly off the kitchen.