frank69m_IHB
New member
Wanted to get peoples opinion on the El Dorado vs. Columbia areas of Tustin Ranch and how they compare to NorthPark, etc.
El Dorado vs. Columbia in Tustin Ranch
- Thread starter frank69m_IHB
- Start date
NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
ipoplaya_IHB
New member
[quote author="frank69m" date=1216797040]Wanted to get peoples opinion on the El Dorado vs. Columbia areas of Tustin Ranch and how they compare to NorthPark, etc.</blockquote>
Frank, we have been at times in a similar boat as you. We looked very hard at places in El Dorado and also Columbia. Here's my take:
El Dorado - Have heard the construction quality is poor. I think I have been in every sized model in that tract. For the most part, the kitchens and family room areas are poorly done... Upstairs layouts are better in those houses. Yards are rather smallish, unless you can get real lucky, and driveways tend to be short. El Dorado does have a good "community" type rep and feel. Its anchored by a small neighborhood park with a halfway decent pool. There historically hasn't been a ton of turnover there although there have been a number of units on the market recently. A number of the homes in El Dorado back to Pioneer (bad) or Peters Canyon (not so bad except in the morning during the week because of the school) and the premium lots back to the park and greenbelt at the core of the tract. The proximinity to Peters Canyon Elem and Pioneer Middle is a big plus in my book.
Columbia - Architecture seems nicer than El Dorado but location is tough. Many homes there back to major streets (TRanch Road, Portola or Jamboree) and no house is very far from a busy street. The tract has no park or pool, but does have many houses with large nice lot sizes. Definitely less of a community feel than El Dorado. A good barometer for me of neighborhood/community feel is the number of basketball hoops out in driveways and sometimes on the street. Not nearly as many in Columbia. I have been in a couple of Columbia plans and have like them all, much better than El Dorado. There is a great 2400-2500sf plan that has two of the secondary bedrooms connected by a study / office. There is an open area (vault) above the living/foyer area that many people built out as a large loft area.
Actually, if the houses of Columbia were in the location of El Dorado, it'd be perfect for us...
That being said, I'd still take Northpark, Northwood Pointe, or Woodbury over those Tustin areas.
Frank, we have been at times in a similar boat as you. We looked very hard at places in El Dorado and also Columbia. Here's my take:
El Dorado - Have heard the construction quality is poor. I think I have been in every sized model in that tract. For the most part, the kitchens and family room areas are poorly done... Upstairs layouts are better in those houses. Yards are rather smallish, unless you can get real lucky, and driveways tend to be short. El Dorado does have a good "community" type rep and feel. Its anchored by a small neighborhood park with a halfway decent pool. There historically hasn't been a ton of turnover there although there have been a number of units on the market recently. A number of the homes in El Dorado back to Pioneer (bad) or Peters Canyon (not so bad except in the morning during the week because of the school) and the premium lots back to the park and greenbelt at the core of the tract. The proximinity to Peters Canyon Elem and Pioneer Middle is a big plus in my book.
Columbia - Architecture seems nicer than El Dorado but location is tough. Many homes there back to major streets (TRanch Road, Portola or Jamboree) and no house is very far from a busy street. The tract has no park or pool, but does have many houses with large nice lot sizes. Definitely less of a community feel than El Dorado. A good barometer for me of neighborhood/community feel is the number of basketball hoops out in driveways and sometimes on the street. Not nearly as many in Columbia. I have been in a couple of Columbia plans and have like them all, much better than El Dorado. There is a great 2400-2500sf plan that has two of the secondary bedrooms connected by a study / office. There is an open area (vault) above the living/foyer area that many people built out as a large loft area.
Actually, if the houses of Columbia were in the location of El Dorado, it'd be perfect for us...
That being said, I'd still take Northpark, Northwood Pointe, or Woodbury over those Tustin areas.
IACRenter_IHB
New member
frank--
I agree with IPOP and like the neighborhood feel at El Dorado better than Columbia. I also didn't like some of the Columbia homes backing to high volume streets, though they tend to have some larger lot sizes. I also liked El Dorado for being closer to the Peters Canyon trail as well.
As far as comparison to Northpark--very different feel. It is a much bigger gated community with multiple parks and pools, similar to Woodbury except with guards and gates. It has a larger mix of home types and densities versus the traditional SFR in El Dorado and Columbia. I personally like the proximity to Peters Canyon and reduced density and larger lots of El Dorado versus NP. Not having community amenities at Columbia is a big negative to me. Just my opinion.
To get something similar to El Dorado/Columbia in Northwood Pointe would cost you an extra $100-200K+ for that Irvine premium.
I agree with IPOP and like the neighborhood feel at El Dorado better than Columbia. I also didn't like some of the Columbia homes backing to high volume streets, though they tend to have some larger lot sizes. I also liked El Dorado for being closer to the Peters Canyon trail as well.
As far as comparison to Northpark--very different feel. It is a much bigger gated community with multiple parks and pools, similar to Woodbury except with guards and gates. It has a larger mix of home types and densities versus the traditional SFR in El Dorado and Columbia. I personally like the proximity to Peters Canyon and reduced density and larger lots of El Dorado versus NP. Not having community amenities at Columbia is a big negative to me. Just my opinion.
To get something similar to El Dorado/Columbia in Northwood Pointe would cost you an extra $100-200K+ for that Irvine premium.
frank69m_IHB
New member
Thanks for your feedback guys!
Looks like there are only a few Columbia and ElDorodo homes now on sale. I guess I'll wait :-0. I do like the recently lowered one in Columbia for 899,000, but it might be slightly small for me.
Looks like there are only a few Columbia and ElDorodo homes now on sale. I guess I'll wait :-0. I do like the recently lowered one in Columbia for 899,000, but it might be slightly small for me.