Montecito / Sonoma / Carmel Pricing
- Thread starter irvinehomeowner
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You are responsible for maintaining the appearance of the wall on the zero lot line?
Wow, 80%!
I suppose that is good and bad. Great that you sound responsible and are not overspending. Better than all the other posers from a few years ago which caused the US economy to melt.
Bad, in that I suspect and many experts agree, that housing will continue to see declines and we have more pain ahead of us. I would hate to see you lose part of your 80% down.
Then again, investing in the stock market this week would have been equally painful ;-)
I think I figured it out after looking at the Architect plans of Sonoma. Most of the zero lot line homes get 8 or 9 foot side yard on one side and no side yard on the other side. That's a savings of 1 or 2 foot on each home since most of new homes have 5 feet of side yard on both sides. The deepest streets barely fits in 11 homes. The total savings lie somewhere between 10 and 20 feet and a typical Sonoma home is 45 feet wide. Since these lots were divided up per CalPac home spec and it was not wide enough for Sonoma homes . It seems like they had a choice of giving some people extra yard space and put in one less home or go with zero lot line. The phase 1 homes do have zero lot lines. And of course, they made the latter choice to add one more house. I only hope that they lowered the price accordingly. Judging from Carmel price, maybe they have.
Irvine2Irvine
New member
It is still SFR with zero lot line.
Being a current home owner with zero lot line, I can say that it can get very annoying. My neighbor keeps over watering her side yard so the ground is damp on the zero lot line side. I keep wondering if any of the excess water is getting into my wall so I have to be extra vigilant on patching stucco and making sure there are no cracks that may let water in. On top of that, her sprinklers are set too high making water hit my wall and the stucco paint is peeling off. The paint on rest of the house is fine, so now I have to paint just that wall.
On my next home, I would definitely avoid a zero lot line.
Being a current home owner with zero lot line, I can say that it can get very annoying. My neighbor keeps over watering her side yard so the ground is damp on the zero lot line side. I keep wondering if any of the excess water is getting into my wall so I have to be extra vigilant on patching stucco and making sure there are no cracks that may let water in. On top of that, her sprinklers are set too high making water hit my wall and the stucco paint is peeling off. The paint on rest of the house is fine, so now I have to paint just that wall.
On my next home, I would definitely avoid a zero lot line.
nytransplant
New member
Irvine2Irvine said:It is still SFR with zero lot line.
Being a current home owner with zero lot line, I can say that it can get very annoying. My neighbor keeps over watering her side yard so the ground is damp on the zero lot line side. I keep wondering if any of the excess water is getting into my wall so I have to be extra vigilant on patching stucco and making sure there are no cracks that may let water in. On top of that, her sprinklers are set too high making water hit my wall and the stucco paint is peeling off. The paint on rest of the house is fine, so now I have to paint just that wall.
On my next home, I would definitely avoid a zero lot line.
You are responsible for maintaining the appearance of the wall on the zero lot line?
Irvine2Irvine
New member
Yes, definitely.
It IS my property after all and painted to match rest of the house.
On the other side of the coin, if my neighbor neglects his zero lot line wall, then I have to look at the ugly wall. However, I am not allow to paint it since it's not my property.
I can't believe Sonoma is charging almost 900K (plan 3) for a zero lot line house. Wonder how many extra houses they are squeezing in with zero lot line.
It IS my property after all and painted to match rest of the house.
On the other side of the coin, if my neighbor neglects his zero lot line wall, then I have to look at the ugly wall. However, I am not allow to paint it since it's not my property.
I can't believe Sonoma is charging almost 900K (plan 3) for a zero lot line house. Wonder how many extra houses they are squeezing in with zero lot line.
waitin4ever
New member
Yesterday when driving on Sand Canyon I looked at the Sonoma homes on the edge of Trabuco.
Those homes look closer to each other than even the attached Monterey home on the other side
of Sand Canyon. Also I'm not sure why they put the homes closer to Trabuco and yard on the other side.
I would have preferred the yard on trabuco edge and home a little bit more inside. Or even have the yard
equally spread around the house.
Those homes look closer to each other than even the attached Monterey home on the other side
of Sand Canyon. Also I'm not sure why they put the homes closer to Trabuco and yard on the other side.
I would have preferred the yard on trabuco edge and home a little bit more inside. Or even have the yard
equally spread around the house.
Irvine2Irvine said:
Irvine2Irvine
New member
Agree. 900K is a base price and $1M is not a stretch if you count options and landscaping.
For example, unless you buy a built-in-refrigerator from the builder for $9K, they would reduce the refrigerator opening to a "standard" freestanding size. Once they do that, you can't buy a built-in-refrigerator later and make it fit unless you rip out cabinets around the opening and put in smaller ones to enlarge the opening. Making the new cabinets match existing ones will be almost impossible due to age and wear. This is true for both Sonoma and Carmel.
Now imagine the horror of your neighbors who see your fugly cheap freestanding refrigerator in your kitchen. They will look down on you and your kids from that moment until you move out or remodel the whole kitchen with a built-in-refrigerator!!!
For example, unless you buy a built-in-refrigerator from the builder for $9K, they would reduce the refrigerator opening to a "standard" freestanding size. Once they do that, you can't buy a built-in-refrigerator later and make it fit unless you rip out cabinets around the opening and put in smaller ones to enlarge the opening. Making the new cabinets match existing ones will be almost impossible due to age and wear. This is true for both Sonoma and Carmel.
Now imagine the horror of your neighbors who see your fugly cheap freestanding refrigerator in your kitchen. They will look down on you and your kids from that moment until you move out or remodel the whole kitchen with a built-in-refrigerator!!!
roundcorners
New member
they are currently building this one Sonoma right on the corner Sand Canyon & Trabuco... I can't believe how close the house is to heavy traffic.. it almost looks like you could touch the Sand Canyon retaining wall from inside your living room window...
Irvine2Irvine
New member
Sadly enough for some homeowners, their side yard fence IS the Sand Canyon retaining wall since the house sits sideways parallel to the Sand Canyon.
Wonder how many houses you have to be in to block out the noise from Sand Canyon?
Wonder how many houses you have to be in to block out the noise from Sand Canyon?
mikeirvine
New member
There are always problems with a home no matter how you see it, Montecito/ Sonoma/ carmel or ...... I talk to many owners that bought the new home in person in WB, WBE, PS and crystal cove about what people in the forum are talking about.
Not trying to be sarcastic, Most of them laugh and agreed, it's better than no house and can't afford one. I think a lot of people that bought recently are more responsible than those people that bought a few years ago ..... and most put down more than 50% and have high incomes.
For my case, I put down about 80%, I can easily go for a 1.5milion home but I didn't, because I want to be responsible or maybe I'm an idiot to go for the new home. I agreed the new home are not perfect but if I want what I like, I will have to look at a 2 million dollar home.... which I can't afford.
Nevertheless, I'm very happy and looking forward to move into my first home and I can foresee all the problems of owning a home but getting my family a home that I can afford is priceless :'(
"beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder"? :-* I hope others will fulfill their dream of owning their dream house.
House will get old and start having problems just like human body ..... Enjoy when it still new and you still young and can ......
Don't worry be happy .... why worries if you are not the new home owners just don't buy and wait.
Mike
Not trying to be sarcastic, Most of them laugh and agreed, it's better than no house and can't afford one. I think a lot of people that bought recently are more responsible than those people that bought a few years ago ..... and most put down more than 50% and have high incomes.
For my case, I put down about 80%, I can easily go for a 1.5milion home but I didn't, because I want to be responsible or maybe I'm an idiot to go for the new home. I agreed the new home are not perfect but if I want what I like, I will have to look at a 2 million dollar home.... which I can't afford.
Nevertheless, I'm very happy and looking forward to move into my first home and I can foresee all the problems of owning a home but getting my family a home that I can afford is priceless :'(
"beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder"? :-* I hope others will fulfill their dream of owning their dream house.
House will get old and start having problems just like human body ..... Enjoy when it still new and you still young and can ......
Don't worry be happy .... why worries if you are not the new home owners just don't buy and wait.
Mike
mikeirvine
New member
I think you have to be at least 6 to 10 homes away from Sand canyon and trabulco intersection from my experience to block out most of the noise.
Irvine2Irvine said:
Irvine2Irvine
New member
Although I am panting about the imperfectness of the 2010 collection, I do agree with mikeirvine that no home is perfect. Even if you buy a $5M home on the coast, someone can complain about the salt fog and lack of privacy from people on the beach. It's always about what you want and what you are willing to put up with.
If you want a larger lot and non zero lot line home without motorcourt and under $1M in Irvine, you have to buy an older home. Then, you have to live in an older home. It's like saying that you can buy a mansion in Houston for $500K, but then you have to live there.
I think this forum is more for educating people so we don't get hit by surprises. As long as we make an informed and we know what we are getting into, then we should not have to regret our decision. I just wanted to make it clear that buying a zero lot line home has its unique problems/challenges and wanted to share it with the forum so the participants can make the "informed" decision.
As for putting 80% down, mikeirvine, YOUR ARE THE MAN!!!. We can only envy you.
If you want a larger lot and non zero lot line home without motorcourt and under $1M in Irvine, you have to buy an older home. Then, you have to live in an older home. It's like saying that you can buy a mansion in Houston for $500K, but then you have to live there.
I think this forum is more for educating people so we don't get hit by surprises. As long as we make an informed and we know what we are getting into, then we should not have to regret our decision. I just wanted to make it clear that buying a zero lot line home has its unique problems/challenges and wanted to share it with the forum so the participants can make the "informed" decision.
As for putting 80% down, mikeirvine, YOUR ARE THE MAN!!!. We can only envy you.
mikeirvine
New member
Hi Irvine2Irvine
Thanks for sharing and I like the way you put it "I think this forum is more for educating people so we don't get hit by surprises. As long as we make an informed and we know what we are getting into, then we should not have to regret our decision". It used to be a insulting and attacking forums, but I did miss the BK way of coloring things ......
Mike
Thanks for sharing and I like the way you put it "I think this forum is more for educating people so we don't get hit by surprises. As long as we make an informed and we know what we are getting into, then we should not have to regret our decision". It used to be a insulting and attacking forums, but I did miss the BK way of coloring things ......
Mike
Irvine2Irvine said:
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I don't think the forums as a whole were ever insulting/attacking... just particular posters. Like every member here, each is entitled to their opinion... although I think some remarks went a bit too far and were more personal than most are comfortable with.
We've lost more than a few members in heated discussions which is sad because everyones brings something to the table.
80% down... quite a chunk of change... I think I would rather invest that than put it into any home in any city... but to each their own.
Good luck to everyone with their new homes.
We've lost more than a few members in heated discussions which is sad because everyones brings something to the table.
80% down... quite a chunk of change... I think I would rather invest that than put it into any home in any city... but to each their own.
Good luck to everyone with their new homes.
iacrenter
Well-known member
mikeirvine said:
Wow, 80%!
I suppose that is good and bad. Great that you sound responsible and are not overspending. Better than all the other posers from a few years ago which caused the US economy to melt.
Bad, in that I suspect and many experts agree, that housing will continue to see declines and we have more pain ahead of us. I would hate to see you lose part of your 80% down.
Then again, investing in the stock market this week would have been equally painful ;-)
Irvine2Irvine
New member
As long as you are buying the house to live in for 10+ years, you shouldn't have to worry about losing the down payment.
I agree that in short term, the housing price is likely to go down but probably not much in Irvine. If you are buying a house as an investment, then now is probably not the best time and Irvine is definitely not the best place. Irvine is still near peak, maybe 10% off from the peak. There's not much room to go up when the market does come back. If I were buying a house as an investment, I would go to places like Corona where the price is down 40-50%. When the market does come back, the houses in Corona may lag the house in OC, but it will appreciate more than Irvine, percentage wise. Of course, just like stocks, you gotta sell it while the gain is there. If you do miss the window, then the depriciation will be much higher percentage than Irvine. I look at Irvine houses like blue chip stock. It's safer in a sense that it will not tank in price, but the potential gain will not be huge like small company stock, a la Corona house.
I agree that in short term, the housing price is likely to go down but probably not much in Irvine. If you are buying a house as an investment, then now is probably not the best time and Irvine is definitely not the best place. Irvine is still near peak, maybe 10% off from the peak. There's not much room to go up when the market does come back. If I were buying a house as an investment, I would go to places like Corona where the price is down 40-50%. When the market does come back, the houses in Corona may lag the house in OC, but it will appreciate more than Irvine, percentage wise. Of course, just like stocks, you gotta sell it while the gain is there. If you do miss the window, then the depriciation will be much higher percentage than Irvine. I look at Irvine houses like blue chip stock. It's safer in a sense that it will not tank in price, but the potential gain will not be huge like small company stock, a la Corona house.
panda
Well-known member
That is a good observation Irvine2Irvine,
If it were me and If I had $800k to put down like Big Mike and must stay in Irvine, i would probably buy a San Carlos Court in Irvine ($100,000 down for the over priced blue chip that will not fall much) and invest ($700,000) in distressed income properties and a acre of raw land in Las Vegas where prices have retraced to August 2000 levels and have much higher upside potential... but that is just what i would do.
If it were me and If I had $800k to put down like Big Mike and must stay in Irvine, i would probably buy a San Carlos Court in Irvine ($100,000 down for the over priced blue chip that will not fall much) and invest ($700,000) in distressed income properties and a acre of raw land in Las Vegas where prices have retraced to August 2000 levels and have much higher upside potential... but that is just what i would do.
mikeirvine
New member
Good advices mates, I will think about it ...... I hate stock but I receives free stocks every year, just never bother with them..... My wife loves stocks, she get them for birthday gifts.
I still prefer to burn my money in Irvine, don't have to worry for me .... I promise to be strong if my home prices fall 40%
.... I will be okay even it drop to 100% .... I have very fine whiskey :-*
Mike
I still prefer to burn my money in Irvine, don't have to worry for me .... I promise to be strong if my home prices fall 40%
.... I will be okay even it drop to 100% .... I have very fine whiskey :-* Mike
Irvine2Irvine
New member
qwerty said:
I think I figured it out after looking at the Architect plans of Sonoma. Most of the zero lot line homes get 8 or 9 foot side yard on one side and no side yard on the other side. That's a savings of 1 or 2 foot on each home since most of new homes have 5 feet of side yard on both sides. The deepest streets barely fits in 11 homes. The total savings lie somewhere between 10 and 20 feet and a typical Sonoma home is 45 feet wide. Since these lots were divided up per CalPac home spec and it was not wide enough for Sonoma homes . It seems like they had a choice of giving some people extra yard space and put in one less home or go with zero lot line. The phase 1 homes do have zero lot lines. And of course, they made the latter choice to add one more house. I only hope that they lowered the price accordingly. Judging from Carmel price, maybe they have.