Mendocino and Saragota in Stonegate

[usctrojancpa]

count me in. I don't think Jamboreedude and his entourage of Asians will show up though

We are looking forward to viewing the models for Saratoga....got the email about the 22nd.  How hard is it to get a lock on the model homes that come with the furniture? I like the idea of a "quick move-in" home after reading some of the nightmarish stories on here about upgrades, etc......

The model homes are the last homes that are sold and come with a steep premium to the rest of the homes.  Not sure I'd want to buy a model home that has had buyer traffic for over a year.

Tell me if you ever heard this line, "the model homes are built the best because those are the homes that people visit so the builder spends extra time doing a quality job."  That's from my co-worker giving me advice on home buying.

Today's newspaper says Grand Opening is 9/22.  I will be there only to look but that is depends on what kind of free food they are giving out.

I understand that rationale but the builder could rush the models so they may also "overlook" certain things and the buyer doesn't have a chance to get an inspector to check on things during various stages of construction.

 

[ducky]

I stopped by today.  Was the only non Asian and only person they didn't ask if cash or new loan.  Half of first release (6 lots) were reserved before I was there at 11am.

plan 1 were 665k or 675k depending on lot.  Plan 2 was 705k and plan 2x (on the corners) were 720k or 730k. These are not motor court homes.  They have small streets that everyone has garage and front door access to. I prefer this layout to the motor courts. assume same HOA and tax/mello roos as San Marcos (~1.6%)

All in all down about checking out.  My wife and I like the area and have decent down payment and will qualify for loan, but after mello roos and HOA its more than what we are comfortable spending.  I think we might have to expand search outside of Irvine.  Any suggestions for neighbor hoods in Aliso/Laguna Hills/niguel that have a shopping center within walking distance?  We are looking at house between 625k and 675k.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

These are not motor court homes.  They have small streets that everyone has garage and front door access to. I prefer this layout to the motor courts. assume same HOA and tax/mello roos as San Marcos (~1.6%)

I assume you're talking about Saratoga.

2 questions:

1. Do they have driveways?

2. Is there a sidewalk in front of the home/garage?

If either of those are 'No'... I think it's still a motorcourt.

 

[blitzjs]

These are not motor court homes.  They have small streets that everyone has garage and front door access to. I prefer this layout to the motor courts. assume same HOA and tax/mello roos as San Marcos (~1.6%)

I assume you're talking about Saratoga.

2 questions:

1. Do they have driveways?

2. Is there a sidewalk in front of the home/garage?

If either of those are 'No'... I think it's still a motorcourt.

They definitely don't have driveways, not sure if they will have sidewalks in front of all the homes.  I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

 

[ducky]

no drive way or sidewalk in front. so technically a motorcourt, however they are not 3 deep per short motor court.  it's set more like real road.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

Actually, Montecitos started at mid $700ks... so Saratogas are cheaper.

 

[blitzjs]

I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

Actually, Montecitos started at mid $700ks... so Saratogas are cheaper.

Yea, but its nearly the same price.  When we went to look at Montecito 1, there were around 755k-ish.  According to the price sheet we got from Saratoga today, 2x is 730k.  I'm comparing Saratoga 2X with Montecito 1, not the two tracts overall since the other models of Montecito went well into the 800s+.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

That is the pretty much the discount going from Northwood HS to Irvine High. Name me an expensive neighborhood that is zoned to Irvine High. Northwood HS has Northwood Pointe. Several of Irvine's most affordable neighborhoods are zoned to Irvine High.

I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

Actually, Montecitos started at mid $700ks... so Saratogas are cheaper.

Yea, but its nearly the same price.  When we went to look at Montecito 1, there were around 755k-ish.  According to the price sheet we got from Saratoga today, 2x is 730k.  I'm comparing Saratoga 2X with Montecito 1, not the two tracts overall since the other models of Montecito went well into the 800s+.

 

[irvinehusky]

I may be mistaken but isn't Woodbury zoned to Irvine High?

I know there's different price ranges in Woodbury but it's definitely not a
cheap neighborhood...at least for me. 

That is the pretty much the discount going from Northwood HS to Irvine High. Name me an expensive neighborhood that is zoned to Irvine High. Northwood HS has Northwood Pointe. Several of Irvine's most affordable neighborhoods are zoned to Irvine High.

I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

Actually, Montecitos started at mid $700ks... so Saratogas are cheaper.

Yea, but its nearly the same price.  When we went to look at Montecito 1, there were around 755k-ish.  According to the price sheet we got from Saratoga today, 2x is 730k.  I'm comparing Saratoga 2X with Montecito 1, not the two tracts overall since the other models of Montecito went well into the 800s+.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

I may be mistaken but isn't Woodbury zoned to Irvine High?

I know there's different price ranges in Woodbury but it's definitely not a
cheap neighborhood...at least for me. 

That's my understanding..Stonegate is zoned into Northwood

 

[The Motor Court Company]

That's my point. For 4 BR homes > 2200 sqft, you cannot compare them without looking at High schools.  Montecito zoned to Irvine HS, Saragota zoned to Northwood, and the difference in HS is made up by the drive way. I am sure most of Asian buyers will trade away drive way in order to upgrade from Irvine to Northwood.

I may be mistaken but isn't Woodbury zoned to Irvine High?

I know there's different price ranges in Woodbury but it's definitely not a
cheap neighborhood...at least for me. 

That is the pretty much the discount going from Northwood HS to Irvine High. Name me an expensive neighborhood that is zoned to Irvine High. Northwood HS has Northwood Pointe. Several of Irvine's most affordable neighborhoods are zoned to Irvine High.

I remember thinking Montecitos were overpriced, now several years later, nearly the same price gets you a smaller house with a smaller yard and no driveway at all. 

Actually, Montecitos started at mid $700ks... so Saratogas are cheaper.

Yea, but its nearly the same price.  When we went to look at Montecito 1, there were around 755k-ish.  According to the price sheet we got from Saratoga today, 2x is 730k.  I'm comparing Saratoga 2X with Montecito 1, not the two tracts overall since the other models of Montecito went well into the 800s+.

 

[bella]

I also prefer Northwood high and like the proximity of the elementary school and the pool.  All of those matter more to me than a driveway so Saratoga is still high up on my interest list. 

Also, the size of the back yard is not as important to me as the floorplan and feng shui of the house. I am looking forward to seeing the models but am concerned about them being all sold out or reserved. For this particular spot I'd only be interested in a lot on a corner, towards the center of the block, not on the perimeter due to road noise.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

the size of the back yard means more privacy from your rear end neighbor unless you are backed to a street or park. It also means more natural light for the house.

I also prefer Northwood high and like the proximity of the elementary school and the pool.  All of those matter more to me than a driveway so Saratoga is still high up on my interest list. 

Also, the size of the back yard is not as important to me as the floorplan and feng shui of the house. I am looking forward to seeing the models but am concerned about them being all sold out or reserved. For this particular spot I'd only be interested in a lot on a corner, towards the center of the block, not on the perimeter due to road noise.

 

[bella]

That's true....I guess I would be happy with SOME backyard but not too much that we're going to have to buy a mower and prune it ourselves (allergic to gardening). Some of the models we've seen have what feels like huge backyard areas and all I see is how much work it's going to take to keep it maintained. All we need is just enough for the dog to play, a bbq grill & tables, etc.  I do want privacy, however.

 

[qwerty]

All we need is just enough for the dog to play, a bbq grill & tables, etc.  I do want privacy, however.

i dont know if you can fit all that in a 10 foot deep backyard.

 

[bella]

I think you can get all that into a 10' yard  but privacy would be challenging. CC&R does not limit what you can do with lighting in your yard. So here is my suggestion to insure you have at least privacy at nighttime when you decide to entertain in your yard at night. You can buy the portable stake uplight for about $5 from Home Depot. Install a bunch of 200watts PAR  on an entension chord and aim them at your neighbors' windows. The blinding glare should prevent them from seeing you in your yard.

Ha! Love it. Put me down for three so I can line the perimeter of my house.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

unfortunately the Stonegate CC&Rs ban this with the exception of Maricopa.

I think you can get all that into a 10' yard  but privacy would be challenging. CC&R does not limit what you can do with lighting in your yard. So here is my suggestion to insure you have at least privacy at nighttime when you decide to entertain in your yard at night. You can buy the portable stake uplight for about $5 from Home Depot. Install a bunch of 200watts PAR  on an entension chord and aim them at your neighbors' windows. The blinding glare should prevent them from seeing you in your yard.

 

[akim997]

My brother might be my stonegate neighbor as we went to check out the sales office (registered with USCT CPA).  He prequaled and got a sneak peek and liked it.  They aren't motorcourts the way we think of them (alleys with 3-4 homes on each side).  Think of it as a very long motorcourt (loop) with homes on both sides.  No driveways, and couldnt tell if there were sidewalks.  If I had to think of a comparison it, it'd be the density of Arden Square without driveways.  Not ideal, but in my opinion, better than San Mateo type motorcourts. 

If it were me, I'd take Saratoga 1 @ $665 over San Mateo 3 at $615. 

Also note, looks like several buyers in the queue are ALL CASH...  I've realized that you can complain about the disjointed market and you can believe we have a localized bubble, but I think it may be some time before such a scenario plays out (20% or greater downside).  Seems to be high demand and low inventory around here.  I thought and was really afraid I was going to be the last person to buy at Maricopa, where friends would say "oh my gosh, and can't believe you bought before the crash"...  It still may be true, but I have a lot of neighbors to eat canned tuna and water with... 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

If Mendocino were better priced... we would be taking a harder look at it.

We liked Maricopa and would have bought the Plan 1 because it was below $800k but did not like the downstairs laundry. We were thinking that Mendocino would start off lower since each plan is smaller so maybe the Plan 2 would be just above $800k since it is smaller than the Maricopa Plan 2 but it doesn't look like the case.

Did anyone get price sheets at the Sales Gallery opening last weekend?

 

[The Motor Court Company]

The setup is similar to Capistrano and Los Altos in the nearby Stonegate East.
My complaints about Saratoga is the narrow lot with reduced curb appeal. Maricopa has a unusual wide lot configuration for brand new constructions.

My brother might be my stonegate neighbor as we went to check out the sales office (registered with USCT CPA).  He prequaled and got a sneak peek and liked it.  They aren't motorcourts the way we think of them (alleys with 3-4 homes on each side).  Think of it as a very long motorcourt (loop) with homes on both sides.  No driveways, and couldnt tell if there were sidewalks.  If I had to think of a comparison it, it'd be the density of Arden Square without driveways.  Not ideal, but in my opinion, better than San Mateo type motorcourts. 

If it were me, I'd take Saratoga 1 @ $665 over San Mateo 3 at $615. 

Also note, looks like several buyers in the queue are ALL CASH...  I've realized that you can complain about the disjointed market and you can believe we have a localized bubble, but I think it may be some time before such a scenario plays out (20% or greater downside).  Seems to be high demand and low inventory around here.  I thought and was really afraid I was going to be the last person to buy at Maricopa, where friends would say "oh my gosh, and can't believe you bought before the crash"...  It still may be true, but I have a lot of neighbors to eat canned tuna and water with...