Baker Ranch in Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch
- Thread starter aquabliss
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NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
usctrojancpa
Well-known member
I believe the one closest to the sales office was Plan 2. Plan 1 was the middle one and the Plan 3 was the furthest away.Coleman said:
28, 39, 40 sold
http://www.sheahomes.com/community/ridge-wood/siteplan/
http://www.sheahomes.com/community/ridge-wood/siteplan/
TollBrothers ParkView available homes price list.
Online Site map can view at...http://www.tollbrothers.com/CA/Parkview_at_Baker_Ranch#siteplan
Online Site map can view at...http://www.tollbrothers.com/CA/Parkview_at_Baker_Ranch#siteplan
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Hello All,
I want to say thank you for all your information it was critical in our final purchase at Baker Ranch/Highlands.
Background:
My wife and I have been everywhere from HB to SD looking for a new home and there is really a lot of crap out there that is either really poorly built, has Mello Roos, lacks a true community or is far too expensive. We have lived in Irvine for over 18 years in a Woodbridge, Irvine and have loved it but I have to say much has changed here and it is time to move, Donald B. has completely ruined Irvine's small town feel and he continues to do so; there is no real night life anymore and no small restaurant brands that you often see in small local great towns, you only see big chains and the traffic is so bad that I don't understand how anyone can avoid it and if you look at Irvine's longterm goal of making it the next big city in Ca, it is time to leave.
Baker Ranch:
We have watched and studied all the issues that one could and should be concerned if it is an issue about Baker Ranch including the jail expansion, the 320ft building being built near Spectrum, and the lack of school nearby.
Baker ranch is very beautiful from the hills, to the city view to seeing partial views of ocean ( we actually like the commercial areas around because on the weekday there is no traffic going to home BR and Weekends no one is on road.
The parks are great, and trails for hiking and biking are amazing, and the 3 pools planned are resort class that no other place in SoCal comes even close to. We are mid-age Empty Nesters so we get it for those with small family that may need to travel to take their kids to school but this should be a small price to pay but I heard from a major developer that big changes are coming in terms of both a new middle and high school nearby that may help you. However even with that said no one wants to admit it that these schools will not come for another 5 years.
So after watching Baker Ranch being built even on the 1st day of opening, we went on their priority list at Heights and we were picked in the TOP 10 to make a purchase.
So down to the experience:
At 1st we were really excited but soon the buying experience really turned us off and I mean bad (the Heights people are not fun to work with...so much so we backed out of phase 1 and decided to wait to see next phases went and then we backed out of phase 3 from another bad experience with lot over pricing. We were about to give up but then decided to take a better look at the Highlands and were amazed that we could get a view lot for just a bit more then the house we had planned on with no view in the Heights. So after a long wait we are back in, now with all the facts and a great sales team and big money down we are now going through the next stage "building experience."
Highlands:
I have to say so far, Pat and Melissa have been amazing. There is a good reason why Pat has been picked as the Top Agent in Toll Brothers. She is really good and appears to all care and is never pushy (so far!!).
OUR HOME:
We purchased on of the 1st view homes and I will keep everyone posted on any details as we find them out. The signing process was super tedious. For those that are interested I did find out some interesting facts. First, they do a promo every Qtr, so this is the time to try and get a incentive like we did as they need to make a sale to help their Qtr and reporting to wall street. The lot prices are negotiable so don't get suckered into paying full price for a lot. If you see excess of the model you want at end of month that is time to negotiate (popularity seems to shift a lot between designs).
They say an agent helps but we got good discounts without one and I think since they get commission if we had used one we would not have gotten as much off.
That is it for now but as the house is built I will send pictures and take you through our experience. I think it will be a really good neighborhood as long as we don't end up with too many people that don't live in the country (they say that is not happening but I don't believe it, I have track with several of these home owners and they say they are out of the country now but plan to move..... RIGHT!).
The next post I do will only be about the building of our home and I will keep the editorial to a minimum.
Thanks
I want to say thank you for all your information it was critical in our final purchase at Baker Ranch/Highlands.
Background:
My wife and I have been everywhere from HB to SD looking for a new home and there is really a lot of crap out there that is either really poorly built, has Mello Roos, lacks a true community or is far too expensive. We have lived in Irvine for over 18 years in a Woodbridge, Irvine and have loved it but I have to say much has changed here and it is time to move, Donald B. has completely ruined Irvine's small town feel and he continues to do so; there is no real night life anymore and no small restaurant brands that you often see in small local great towns, you only see big chains and the traffic is so bad that I don't understand how anyone can avoid it and if you look at Irvine's longterm goal of making it the next big city in Ca, it is time to leave.
Baker Ranch:
We have watched and studied all the issues that one could and should be concerned if it is an issue about Baker Ranch including the jail expansion, the 320ft building being built near Spectrum, and the lack of school nearby.
Baker ranch is very beautiful from the hills, to the city view to seeing partial views of ocean ( we actually like the commercial areas around because on the weekday there is no traffic going to home BR and Weekends no one is on road.
The parks are great, and trails for hiking and biking are amazing, and the 3 pools planned are resort class that no other place in SoCal comes even close to. We are mid-age Empty Nesters so we get it for those with small family that may need to travel to take their kids to school but this should be a small price to pay but I heard from a major developer that big changes are coming in terms of both a new middle and high school nearby that may help you. However even with that said no one wants to admit it that these schools will not come for another 5 years.
So after watching Baker Ranch being built even on the 1st day of opening, we went on their priority list at Heights and we were picked in the TOP 10 to make a purchase.
So down to the experience:
At 1st we were really excited but soon the buying experience really turned us off and I mean bad (the Heights people are not fun to work with...so much so we backed out of phase 1 and decided to wait to see next phases went and then we backed out of phase 3 from another bad experience with lot over pricing. We were about to give up but then decided to take a better look at the Highlands and were amazed that we could get a view lot for just a bit more then the house we had planned on with no view in the Heights. So after a long wait we are back in, now with all the facts and a great sales team and big money down we are now going through the next stage "building experience."
Highlands:
I have to say so far, Pat and Melissa have been amazing. There is a good reason why Pat has been picked as the Top Agent in Toll Brothers. She is really good and appears to all care and is never pushy (so far!!).
OUR HOME:
We purchased on of the 1st view homes and I will keep everyone posted on any details as we find them out. The signing process was super tedious. For those that are interested I did find out some interesting facts. First, they do a promo every Qtr, so this is the time to try and get a incentive like we did as they need to make a sale to help their Qtr and reporting to wall street. The lot prices are negotiable so don't get suckered into paying full price for a lot. If you see excess of the model you want at end of month that is time to negotiate (popularity seems to shift a lot between designs).
They say an agent helps but we got good discounts without one and I think since they get commission if we had used one we would not have gotten as much off.
That is it for now but as the house is built I will send pictures and take you through our experience. I think it will be a really good neighborhood as long as we don't end up with too many people that don't live in the country (they say that is not happening but I don't believe it, I have track with several of these home owners and they say they are out of the country now but plan to move..... RIGHT!).
The next post I do will only be about the building of our home and I will keep the editorial to a minimum.
Thanks
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
With the Heights and Highlands both by Toll Bros, I find it interesting your buying experience was different.
irvinehusky
New member
Congratulations on your purchase.
fasteddy said:
qwerty
Well-known member
fast teddy - what i find helpful, which many buyers never seem to want to share, is what was the discount you managed to get negotiate on the list price of the house? while telling everyone that the price is negotiable is helpful, it would be even more helpful to know what someone was able to negotiate so the next person can try and get the same deal.
aquabliss
Well-known member
I got fed up with Heights and Highlands sales agents. I went to the office with a blank check in my wallet ready to sign a contract and put down my deposit. I made my intentions very clear to them and basically told them if they include the California room at the Heights, I would select from the available lots and give my deposit that day.
The sales lady turned her nose up at me and said they are not interested in offering any incentives or upgrades, and that people were waiting in line to buy these and only the pre-qual process was lagging and keeping them from being sold out (I pre-qual'd early and was approved).
I was not rude or short with her at all, but she acted like she didn't want my deposit and didn't need my business. After all that, I went back a week later and the same lady welcomed me with a big smile and said that corporate is now throwing in California rooms so I could put my deposit down. Now that they were giving that to everyone, I told her I would also need some design center incentives as well and she soured again very quickly - didn't attempt to negotiate.
Not worth the time or frustration for me... If BR opens a gated community on the other side of Alton with awesome views in 2 years, I might cash out my Irvine home and move there, but time will tell.
The sales lady turned her nose up at me and said they are not interested in offering any incentives or upgrades, and that people were waiting in line to buy these and only the pre-qual process was lagging and keeping them from being sold out (I pre-qual'd early and was approved).
I was not rude or short with her at all, but she acted like she didn't want my deposit and didn't need my business. After all that, I went back a week later and the same lady welcomed me with a big smile and said that corporate is now throwing in California rooms so I could put my deposit down. Now that they were giving that to everyone, I told her I would also need some design center incentives as well and she soured again very quickly - didn't attempt to negotiate.
Not worth the time or frustration for me... If BR opens a gated community on the other side of Alton with awesome views in 2 years, I might cash out my Irvine home and move there, but time will tell.