Cypress Village Homes

[villiagepeople]

Yes but that's also important considerations.  I went to both LV and LR and didn't care for either one. 

Let me get this right, you did not care for LV or LR, but you loved Saratoga?  Right.

Clarification:  LR looked great but seriously seriously overpriced.

I went to see LV a while back and didn't care for it all that much.  Also, being in Portola Spring was not great for me.

I don't love Saratoga and wouldn't buy it if I couldn't get the conservatory.  But again, you prioritize.

How the hell is LR overpriced?  It's about the same per SF cost as a similar TIC home but without Mello Roos.  You just said earlier that your main interest in the home is the interior and not the location.  Those Las Ventanas homes are about 1/2 mile from your Saratoga home and both of them are in Irvine...so what's the issue?

1)  There is a level of affordability when you get into $1 million.  Overpriced in that I don't need a 2700 square feet house for $1 million....I am fine with a 2400 square house for $800K.

2)  I don't think I have ever said that location is not important.  I am paying a premium to live in Irvine and in Stonegate...the location cost premiums are are factored in.  Portola Spring is about 1.5 miles away from Stonegate and not close to any shopping areas.  It is also set in a hilly/valley area and a lot warmer to me than Woodbury/Stonegate.  It's a personal preference, I just don't care for Portola Spring.

If it's a larger home but more expensive, that's not "overpriced". It's appropriately priced. It may be a larger home than you need, but don't say that it's overpriced simply because you can't afford it.

Also, while I haven't done the calculations, I can't imagine that there's a significant price difference between Stonegate+MR and Lambert Ranch without MR spread over a 30 year mortgage.

The distance between LR and Stonegate is minor at best. You may perceive a different climate, but there isn't.

I looked to buy a new home in Irvine for 3+ years. The locations I looked at ranged from Laguna Altura to Portola Springs (and even outside Irvine, as far north as Brea and as far south as Ladera Ranch). For my needs, Lambert Ranch was the best (the main factor being that TIC floorplans didn't meet my needs and I subjectively found them as boring as could be). For your needs, Stonegate was obviously best. But to say that LR is overpriced is just not true ("overpriced" isn't the same as "I can't afford"), nor is it to say that there is a different climate in LR compared with Stonegate.

Agreed.  Overprice was not the right terminology.  Affordability.

As to the climate, it's just my personal opinion.  Everytime I have visited PS, I feel it to be warmer.  It's not scientific.

I actually did numerous tests on the temperature difference between Portola Springs, Stonegate, and Woodbury. This test included both daytime and nightime tests during different seasons of the year (over the past year and a half). Results of my test was that there was rarely ever a temperature difference between these communities. I also included the Irvine Spectrum as part of my test and only saw a 1 degree difference on some days. This wasn't enough to notice.

I have a cousin in woodbury and another who lives in ps, i live in sg... and i visit them often.  i have to agree with commuter.  On the hottest days in the summer, Portola Springs "feels hotter".  Also, again nothing scientific just anecdotal, but it's also windier, which makes up for the extra heat, in my opinion.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

Portola Springs could feel hotter because it is not as dense as SG or WB.
for some reason PS does not benefit too much from the landfill shadow, given it is right at the foothill of the landfill.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I actually did numerous tests on the temperature difference between Portola Springs, Stonegate, and Woodbury. This test included both daytime and nightime tests during different seasons of the year (over the past year and a half). Results of my test was that there was rarely ever a temperature difference between these communities. I also included the Irvine Spectrum as part of my test and only saw a 1 degree difference on some days. This wasn't enough to notice.

You should have included Laguna Woktura in your tests. Since it's "close" to the ocean, it has to be about 10 degrees cooler right?

 

[socal78]

Laguna Woktura

Funny, Iho! 

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Portola Springs could feel hotter because it is not as dense as SG or WB.
for some reason PS does not benefit too much from the landfill shadow, given it is right at the foothill of the landfill.

I wonder if it has to do with vegetation.  Woodbury has a lot of mature trees and vegetation.  Stonegate is still in its infancy development wise so it still feels warmer than Woodbury.  For some reason I just see a bunch of houses (and advertising) everytime  I go to PS.

Columbus Square was like this for a while...I remember going there for an opening and feeling like I was in the desert.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

Good point. almost bought in QH in 2004 but felt it was too barren (i.e. no mature vegetation). Now fast forward 9 years later....

Portola Springs could feel hotter because it is not as dense as SG or WB.
for some reason PS does not benefit too much from the landfill shadow, given it is right at the foothill of the landfill.

I wonder if it has to do with vegetation.  Woodbury has a lot of mature trees and vegetation.  Stonegate is still in its infancy development wise so it still feels warmer than Woodbury.  For some reason I just see a bunch of houses (and advertising) everytime  I go to PS.

Columbus Square was like this for a while...I remember going there for an opening and feeling like I was in the desert.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

@TMMC: You need to change your name to "The California Court Company".

 

[The Motor Court Company]

OK

@TMMC: You need to change your name to "The California Court Company".

 

[irvinehomeowner]

OK

@TMMC: You need to change your name to "The California Court Company".

Hehe.

 

[BunkMoreland]

TIC is launching three new neighborhoods in CV on May 4th. Any idea what they are?

 

[iacrenter]

TIC is launching three new neighborhoods in CV on May 4th. Any idea what they are?

TIC's website has been up for a while now:http://www.villagesofirvine.com/Villages-and-Neighborhoods/Cypress-Village

 

[cubiczirconia]

Any new homes without great rooms? I hate great rooms!

 

[homer_simpson]

Any new homes without great rooms? I hate great rooms!

I love great rooms!!

 

[cubiczirconia]

Any new homes without great rooms? I hate great rooms!

I love great rooms!!

Good for you! better yet, buy a house with a staircase opening into great room

 

[ps99472]

I hate Family Rooms labeled as Great Rooms

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I hate Kitchen/Dining/Family Rooms labeled as Great Rooms

Fixed that for you before everyone forgets.

Years from now, people won't remember what a motorcourt was... they'll just remember "California Court".

And yes... "covered patio" is something else now too.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

I hate Kitchen/Dining/Family Rooms labeled as Great Rooms

Fixed that for you before everyone forgets.

Years from now, people won't remember what a motorcourt was... they'll just remember "California Court".

And yes... "covered patio" is something else now too.

I like the Great Room...I have no use for a dining room.  the Family room/kitchen combo allows you to entertain without being left out.  Living Room is a thing of the past like the parlor.

 

[socal78]

the Family room/kitchen combo allows you to entertain without being left out. Living Room is a thing of the past like the parlor.

Money Magazine disagrees.

"5 Dumbest Fads": #1 The Great Room Craze

"The great Great-Room Craze of the 1980s was all about openness: Why should the kitchen be so removed from the other living spaces? Indeed, why should there be any distinction between one public room living, dining, den and so on) and another? Everyone should happily congregate in one free-flowing space.

Sadly, the result is usually a great big mess. Think about it:

The Echo Chamber You know what you get when cooking, video-game playing, conversation and television viewing occur in the same space? Noise. Lots of noise.

Combining the kitchen, dining room, living room and den may seem like a good idea, but doing so overloads your public space with too many different activities."

 

[Irvinecommuter]

the Family room/kitchen combo allows you to entertain without being left out. Living Room is a thing of the past like the parlor.

Money Magazine disagrees.

"5 Dumbest Fads": #1 The Great Room Craze

"The great Great-Room Craze of the 1980s was all about openness: Why should the kitchen be so removed from the other living spaces? Indeed, why should there be any distinction between one public room living, dining, den and so on) and another? Everyone should happily congregate in one free-flowing space.

Sadly, the result is usually a great big mess. Think about it:

The Echo Chamber You know what you get when cooking, video-game playing, conversation and television viewing occur in the same space? Noise. Lots of noise.

Combining the kitchen, dining room, living room and den may seem like a good idea, but doing so overloads your public space with too many different activities."

Really...the big objection is sound?  Obviously, family members should be separated at all time to avoid sound issues. 

Also, the great room is really the combination of the family, living and dining room.  Actually, all they did was to take out the walls between each of the rooms, that unnecessarily separated the rooms IMO.  People don't eat in formal dining rooms anymore and most parties are free flowing events between the kitchen and the living/family area. 

I also seriously disagree with 3 of the 5 items listed...smaller closed off kitchen as opposed to an open and large kitchen and recessed lighting is bad? 

 

[cubiczirconia]

I did put the big objection in my reply to Homer. Took it off later.
Big objection is privacy. There should be places in the house other than bedroom that can be semi private. Not just for things I don't mention, but for simple things like taking a call without everyone hearing the conversation.

TMI. Sometimes I come home to a sink full of dishes. I don't want to see that first thing when I enter we lived in an apt where the door opened into the kitchen. Hated it!

the Family room/kitchen combo allows you to entertain without being left out. Living Room is a thing of the past like the parlor.

Money Magazine disagrees.

"5 Dumbest Fads": #1 The Great Room Craze

"The great Great-Room Craze of the 1980s was all about openness: Why should the kitchen be so removed from the other living spaces? Indeed, why should there be any distinction between one public room living, dining, den and so on) and another? Everyone should happily congregate in one free-flowing space.

Sadly, the result is usually a great big mess. Think about it:

The Echo Chamber You know what you get when cooking, video-game playing, conversation and television viewing occur in the same space? Noise. Lots of noise.

Combining the kitchen, dining room, living room and den may seem like a good idea, but doing so overloads your public space with too many different activities."

Really...the big objection is sound?  Obviously, family members should be separated at all time to avoid sound issues.