I didn't write much up over the weekend, but had 3 visits with 3 builders (and then snuck into some other builders projects). We were focused on Rosemont, Oakmont, and also looked at the Taylor Morrison product. My favorite home out of the 3 was by far the Ryland Plan 3. Beautiful home, however, first phase lots aren't that great. On paper I thought I was going to like the K Hovanian homes more then I actually did and the Tay Mo homes (some of which are on big lots seem like they will be good values...only looked at it because if I went with one of those, it would allow me to keep my current property as a rental), however, the only one I would have considered would have been the plan 3 Tay Mo, which I wasn't a fan of at all. Ryland plan 3 is one I'd be willing to buy, but at 1.3, too steep for 3000 sq ft in Irvine (couldn't justify over say KB Palo Alto at 1.2M or Tri Pointe @ 1.2 with half the mella roos).
Architecture and neighborhood feel is really nice (variety of designs, etc) looks very nice but the mella, but the prices (for phase 1 of the project) already seem high in comparison to other parts of Irvine. Given that I'm in the "patient" phase of I want to find something we really like and really I don't have to move until our kids are in school age (would at that point like them to be in the same area), I think we are going to pass on early phases and wait to see if sales stall a bit in the winter. Just seems like too much of a "premium" for flat land / non gated (albeit lot sizes are nice).