thelandofnoland
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NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
We looked at Baker Ranch too -- in terms of the Peake, as much as we wanted to, we didn't really like the floor plans. Ironically, despite the bigger lots, the houses themselves felt like condos or apartments to us. The ceilings are low and the layouts cookie-cutter. Many of the homes back up to or are near Bake Parkway so you can hear the traffic. With the jail expansion now confirmed, I question whether that will be a resale issue in the future. Priority lists are tricky. Prices can be deceptive--you think you'll get a house for a certain price, but by the time you are called, the price has shot up, or you can't get the lot you wanted. The base price is already quite high--seems to be as high as similar construction in Irvine. Find out how much the upgrades are -- I wouldn't be surprised if they are expensive, to cover the cost of the no mello roos.
Anyway, it all depends on your priorities. One thing I've learned after looking around for a home for several years is that you have to really like your house for it to be worth the purchase. You don't want to buy something because everyone else is or because someone says you should. 3 years ago we really liked a new construction condo in Irvine (actually Taylor Morrison built, now that I think of it) but passed on it because it didn't seem to be selling well and I thought the price was too high. Then we thought about it again and almost bought the model, but a realtor told me it's not a good idea to buy a model because it would be the most expensive unit on the block. Now, 3 years later a resale in the community just went pending that was up about 50% from 2012, now too expensive for me to want to buy it. I'm still bitter about it
. Then recently we read advice on TI saying that some other Irvine condo units were horrible; we didn't realize the appeal of these units until too late, when people were scrambling to buy, and I couldn't get the unit we wanted (again, waiting list disaster). Anyway, who knows what will be good resale in the future. The best thing to do is to buy what you really like and will enjoy living in.
Are you talking about Las Ventanas in Portola Springs?
Thanks so much for sharing- great suggestion. housing price has increased a lot in the past three years, so no matter where you buy, price goes up everywhere..so no regrets...
No, I'm talking about Esplanade in Woodbury. I doubt it was or is on anyone's radar on this forum, since there seems to be a strong, undue bias against attached units on this forum. Just for fun I just looked up Esplanade on TI -- no one cared about it back then and the couple people who did comment were not very impressed by it. In 2012 the plan I liked was going for around $530K. The recent pending listing was listed around $770K and was pending within a week. It still hurts to think about it
No kidding. This forum is really good for learning about safety issues in the communities you're interested in--for ex, toxic plume, whatever. But I definitely wouldn't base your buying decisions on a few people's opinions, because from what I can see, there is absolutely no correlation between the comments on this forum and the popularity of the communities in the short or long term.
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socal78
Well-known member
Here is a link to a map with lot sizes marked. Please note that lot sizes INCLUDE alleys / motorcourts.
http://agenda2009.city-lakeforest.c...qhkxxw1gwwec4kscgo/1051070825201407091399.PDF
All of the info from my previous two posts plus more can be found on this link:
http://agenda2009.city-lakeforest.com/SIREPub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=15736
http://agenda2009.city-lakeforest.c...qhkxxw1gwwec4kscgo/1051070825201407091399.PDF
All of the info from my previous two posts plus more can be found on this link:
http://agenda2009.city-lakeforest.com/SIREPub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=15736
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Yep... rear alley motorcourt actually.
Me no likey.
Me no likey.
thelandofnoland
New member
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Went by for tour. Pleasantly surprised by 10 feet ceilings on the 1st floors. Nice open layouts and loft-like feel. We've looked all over OC for high ceilings in around 1800 sq ft new construction and haven't found any, so this is refreshing.
Brookfield's townhomes are across the street so we looked at those as well, though we are more interested in detached. Despite lackluster comments on the thread, looks like half their homes are sold already.
Brookfield's townhomes are across the street so we looked at those as well, though we are more interested in detached. Despite lackluster comments on the thread, looks like half their homes are sold already.
lastforever999
New member
anyone interested in buying in camden square. i am struggling between baker ranch and camden square. as the jail in expansion and it still sells really hot for the Peake, while Camden square is safer, but sales in trouble.
baker ranch, smaller house size(for the peak) while bigger lot size. Camden square has much bigger house size, but only a small backyard...really small, believe me.
my husby prefer the 4 bedroom ( plan 2) in camden squre as it has 2147 square feet. while it has higher HOA, 4 years melrooose...which makes the price goes up even more. also, i am concerned about the resell value...people tend to dislike it....so struggling....
any insights or any experience to share? thanks so much!!!
baker ranch, smaller house size(for the peak) while bigger lot size. Camden square has much bigger house size, but only a small backyard...really small, believe me.
my husby prefer the 4 bedroom ( plan 2) in camden squre as it has 2147 square feet. while it has higher HOA, 4 years melrooose...which makes the price goes up even more. also, i am concerned about the resell value...people tend to dislike it....so struggling....
any insights or any experience to share? thanks so much!!!
Baker Ranch is a better community. Camden Square felt like condos to us... Yes, it's more Sq Ft but too close together... Baker Ranch has a better layout... There's 74 more homes left at Baker Ranch the Peake, so there's still a chance to get one... In addition, Shea Homes owns another piece of land across the way, so there will be an Encore... Like the Peake is an encore for the Knolls...
lastforever999 said:
We looked at Baker Ranch too -- in terms of the Peake, as much as we wanted to, we didn't really like the floor plans. Ironically, despite the bigger lots, the houses themselves felt like condos or apartments to us. The ceilings are low and the layouts cookie-cutter. Many of the homes back up to or are near Bake Parkway so you can hear the traffic. With the jail expansion now confirmed, I question whether that will be a resale issue in the future. Priority lists are tricky. Prices can be deceptive--you think you'll get a house for a certain price, but by the time you are called, the price has shot up, or you can't get the lot you wanted. The base price is already quite high--seems to be as high as similar construction in Irvine. Find out how much the upgrades are -- I wouldn't be surprised if they are expensive, to cover the cost of the no mello roos.
Anyway, it all depends on your priorities. One thing I've learned after looking around for a home for several years is that you have to really like your house for it to be worth the purchase. You don't want to buy something because everyone else is or because someone says you should. 3 years ago we really liked a new construction condo in Irvine (actually Taylor Morrison built, now that I think of it) but passed on it because it didn't seem to be selling well and I thought the price was too high. Then we thought about it again and almost bought the model, but a realtor told me it's not a good idea to buy a model because it would be the most expensive unit on the block. Now, 3 years later a resale in the community just went pending that was up about 50% from 2012, now too expensive for me to want to buy it. I'm still bitter about it
. Then recently we read advice on TI saying that some other Irvine condo units were horrible; we didn't realize the appeal of these units until too late, when people were scrambling to buy, and I couldn't get the unit we wanted (again, waiting list disaster). Anyway, who knows what will be good resale in the future. The best thing to do is to buy what you really like and will enjoy living in.
usctrojancpa
Well-known member
seachange said:lastforever999 said:
We looked at Baker Ranch too -- in terms of the Peake, as much as we wanted to, we didn't really like the floor plans. Ironically, despite the bigger lots, the houses themselves felt like condos or apartments to us. The ceilings are low and the layouts cookie-cutter. Many of the homes back up to or are near Bake Parkway so you can hear the traffic. With the jail expansion now confirmed, I question whether that will be a resale issue in the future. Priority lists are tricky. Prices can be deceptive--you think you'll get a house for a certain price, but by the time you are called, the price has shot up, or you can't get the lot you wanted. The base price is already quite high--seems to be as high as similar construction in Irvine. Find out how much the upgrades are -- I wouldn't be surprised if they are expensive, to cover the cost of the no mello roos.
Anyway, it all depends on your priorities. One thing I've learned after looking around for a home for several years is that you have to really like your house for it to be worth the purchase. You don't want to buy something because everyone else is or because someone says you should. 3 years ago we really liked a new construction condo in Irvine (actually Taylor Morrison built, now that I think of it) but passed on it because it didn't seem to be selling well and I thought the price was too high. Then we thought about it again and almost bought the model, but a realtor told me it's not a good idea to buy a model because it would be the most expensive unit on the block. Now, 3 years later a resale in the community just went pending that was up about 50% from 2012, now too expensive for me to want to buy it. I'm still bitter about it
Are you talking about Las Ventanas in Portola Springs?
lastforever999
New member
seachange said:lastforever999 said:
We looked at Baker Ranch too -- in terms of the Peake, as much as we wanted to, we didn't really like the floor plans. Ironically, despite the bigger lots, the houses themselves felt like condos or apartments to us. The ceilings are low and the layouts cookie-cutter. Many of the homes back up to or are near Bake Parkway so you can hear the traffic. With the jail expansion now confirmed, I question whether that will be a resale issue in the future. Priority lists are tricky. Prices can be deceptive--you think you'll get a house for a certain price, but by the time you are called, the price has shot up, or you can't get the lot you wanted. The base price is already quite high--seems to be as high as similar construction in Irvine. Find out how much the upgrades are -- I wouldn't be surprised if they are expensive, to cover the cost of the no mello roos.
Anyway, it all depends on your priorities. One thing I've learned after looking around for a home for several years is that you have to really like your house for it to be worth the purchase. You don't want to buy something because everyone else is or because someone says you should. 3 years ago we really liked a new construction condo in Irvine (actually Taylor Morrison built, now that I think of it) but passed on it because it didn't seem to be selling well and I thought the price was too high. Then we thought about it again and almost bought the model, but a realtor told me it's not a good idea to buy a model because it would be the most expensive unit on the block. Now, 3 years later a resale in the community just went pending that was up about 50% from 2012, now too expensive for me to want to buy it. I'm still bitter about it
Thanks so much for sharing- great suggestion. housing price has increased a lot in the past three years, so no matter where you buy, price goes up everywhere..so no regrets...
USCTrojanCPA said:seachange said:lastforever999 said:
We looked at Baker Ranch too -- in terms of the Peake, as much as we wanted to, we didn't really like the floor plans. Ironically, despite the bigger lots, the houses themselves felt like condos or apartments to us. The ceilings are low and the layouts cookie-cutter. Many of the homes back up to or are near Bake Parkway so you can hear the traffic. With the jail expansion now confirmed, I question whether that will be a resale issue in the future. Priority lists are tricky. Prices can be deceptive--you think you'll get a house for a certain price, but by the time you are called, the price has shot up, or you can't get the lot you wanted. The base price is already quite high--seems to be as high as similar construction in Irvine. Find out how much the upgrades are -- I wouldn't be surprised if they are expensive, to cover the cost of the no mello roos.
Anyway, it all depends on your priorities. One thing I've learned after looking around for a home for several years is that you have to really like your house for it to be worth the purchase. You don't want to buy something because everyone else is or because someone says you should. 3 years ago we really liked a new construction condo in Irvine (actually Taylor Morrison built, now that I think of it) but passed on it because it didn't seem to be selling well and I thought the price was too high. Then we thought about it again and almost bought the model, but a realtor told me it's not a good idea to buy a model because it would be the most expensive unit on the block. Now, 3 years later a resale in the community just went pending that was up about 50% from 2012, now too expensive for me to want to buy it. I'm still bitter about it
Are you talking about Las Ventanas in Portola Springs?
No, I'm talking about Esplanade in Woodbury. I doubt it was or is on anyone's radar on this forum, since there seems to be a strong, undue bias against attached units on this forum. Just for fun I just looked up Esplanade on TI -- no one cared about it back then and the couple people who did comment were not very impressed by it. In 2012 the plan I liked was going for around $530K. The recent pending listing was listed around $770K and was pending within a week. It still hurts to think about it
Happiness said:
No kidding. This forum is really good for learning about safety issues in the communities you're interested in--for ex, toxic plume, whatever. But I definitely wouldn't base your buying decisions on a few people's opinions, because from what I can see, there is absolutely no correlation between the comments on this forum and the popularity of the communities in the short or long term.
I typically don't like the idea of buying model homes either since its been built the first and last to sell, with all the foot traffic in between. Like buying a floor model "new" car.
And usually the highest priced. It has all the upgrades, bells and whistles, and usually the better location, but some of the premium is a lot, like that brea model, going for double?
That's just me tho, some would want the house to look exactly as the model, location, and not wait months for a new house, not care about the premium, then the model home is for them
And usually the highest priced. It has all the upgrades, bells and whistles, and usually the better location, but some of the premium is a lot, like that brea model, going for double?
That's just me tho, some would want the house to look exactly as the model, location, and not wait months for a new house, not care about the premium, then the model home is for them
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