Paris167 said:
I currently live in NP and we want to upgrade to a bigger home. Looking at homes in NP in the range of 3000 to 3500sqft right in our neighborhood it's low 400s per sqft ( around $415-425/sqft range). Now HOA is $100 cheaper per month and Mello roos is cheaper but not significantly compared to Capella OH. BUT to buy the NP home I also have to factor in about $150k minimum of RENO cost to update the house - because they are 14 years old. So when you factor in the reno cost the price per sqft is comparable to Capella OH, sometimes (dep on the home) even a bit higher than Capella OH.
At Capella OH with purchase price + design center upgrades + landscaping - that price/sqft is $439/sqft. The downfalls though is HOA and Melloroos will be more expensive and of course the smaller yard than what you get at NP.
So when you add all the upgrades you want to do on both sides, the homes are at relative parity, but the monthlies are higher in OH...
Paris167 said:
I think you can only compare NP to Capella. Once you start getting into the $1.6mil and above range OH is more like $500+/sqft
Huntington and Cambria span 3400-4400 square feet.
That's squarely in the size of La Vita, Messina, Vicenza and Saviero and knocking on Amelia's doorstep.
Paris167 said:
OH The groves is definitely overall pricier than NP. And NP YES has more amenities pools and parks but we only use the pool and park closest to us and there are more residents in NP when you count all the condos, motorcourts, Terra Bella folks that use the amenities. At least The groves amenities are ONLY reserved for those in the groves that don't have to share with OH folks across the street. But regardless there are an ABUNDANCE of ammenities close by to this area with all the parks and pools in the surrounding area. I think we can use ammenities across the street and if that's crowded I will just walk over to my old stompin' grounds in NP and use their amenities >
You know their side gate is always open and anyone can just stroll into use the amenities. The pools need a key but during the summers so many people are in and out - you can just walk in (plus I'll just cut a master access key before I leave NP) ;D
Wow. Where to begin here?
First, all gated communities in Irvine are open to pedestrians and cyclists, so the idea to continue accessing NP's facilities works both ways.
Second, your plan to replicate then use a copy of the Medeco master key before turning it in - assuming you're able to do it - is de facto stealing, so while you may not get caught, I guess you're comfortable with that. Karma's a bitch.
Third, even with the higher monthly HOA fee in OH, you're still gaming through how you can enjoy NP's amenities. That's hardly the premium sanctuary TIC is marketing.
And I guess that's what I'm missing with the OH apologists. I have yet to hear someone simply say "wow, it is nice up here. I really feel like I'm going to be living in a top notch community." Instead there's this aw-shucks-It's-the-new-version-of-NP Baker Ranchness to it and lots of explaining. And I think that stems from the let down few are willing to admit: OH lacks the je ne sais quoi design and premium feel we were all expecting, particularly in their common areas. So much so that a future resident is already gaming through how she will access her old hood.