Orchard Hills - Strada by Irvine Pacific

[Paris167]

The conservatory option further shrinks the backyard, but that doesn't hurt its popularity. The slabs were poured for Phase 14 last week, and of the eight homes, four include conservatories (the other four lots include two CA rooms and two trellises). Adding the conservatory with a 10' setback places the wall right outside the conservatory - like in the Plan 3 model.

So do you think most people go for the conservatory to increase total square footage of the homes even if that means then you are creating only a 10ft set back yard? I guess financially it makes sense, you want a larger square footage home that will increase home value when you sell.
BTW why are the 3Xs so popular? Is it because they are the largest of the Strada homes or mainly because it has a good layout?

 

[Perspective]

The conservatory option further shrinks the backyard, but that doesn't hurt its popularity. The slabs were poured for Phase 14 last week, and of the eight homes, four include conservatories (the other four lots include two CA rooms and two trellises). Adding the conservatory with a 10' setback places the wall right outside the conservatory - like in the Plan 3 model.

So do you think most people go for the conservatory to increase total square footage of the homes even if that means then you are creating only a 10ft set back yard? I guess financially it makes sense, you want a larger square footage home that will increase home value when you sell.
BTW why are the 3Xs so popular? Is it because they are the largest of the Strada homes or mainly because it has a good layout?

I think most people do it to increase the square footage and resale value. Paying $17K for the conservatory adds 139 sq ft to a Plan 3. That's a very low price per sq ft. These prices are high for sub-3,000 sq ft homes, so every square foot helps. But it's also a cool flex space too.

The setback is measured from the house. So in some of these homes with 10' setbacks, the conservatory wall is ~3' out from the house, creating a 7' setback in that section of the backyard.

People like how grand the exterior looks on the 3X and you get a little cool additional space off of the laundry. You'll also have a little more space off of your front door, landscaped. The Xs are all on corners though, so you won't get one near the end of a cul-de-sac.

 

[Paris167]

The conservatory option further shrinks the backyard, but that doesn't hurt its popularity. The slabs were poured for Phase 14 last week, and of the eight homes, four include conservatories (the other four lots include two CA rooms and two trellises). Adding the conservatory with a 10' setback places the wall right outside the conservatory - like in the Plan 3 model.

So do you think most people go for the conservatory to increase total square footage of the homes even if that means then you are creating only a 10ft set back yard? I guess financially it makes sense, you want a larger square footage home that will increase home value when you sell.
BTW why are the 3Xs so popular? Is it because they are the largest of the Strada homes or mainly because it has a good layout?

I think most people do it to increase the square footage and resale value. Paying $17K for the conservatory adds 139 sq ft to a Plan 3. That's a very low price per sq ft. These prices are high for sub-3,000 sq ft homes, so every square foot helps. But it's also a cool flex space too.

The setback is measured from the house. So in some of these homes with 10' setbacks, the conservatory wall is ~3' out from the house, creating a 7' setback in that section of the backyard.

People like how grand the exterior looks on the 3X and you get a little cool additional space off of the laundry. You'll also have a little more space off of your front door, landscaped. The Xs are all on corners though, so you won't get one near the end of a cul-de-sac.

Thanks, nice to get that "perspective" from a buyer. I'll pass on the info to my friend interested in Strada (although he should just join TI and ask himself). I didn't realize when people talk about setback they are talking about from the house and not from the end of conservatory or California room. That does make more sense now. The 3X if on a corner means you will only have one neighbor to the side of you right, that's also usually appealing to buyers.

 

[Perspective]

Here's an example of a slab with a 10' setback. The conservatory pushes the slab out ~2.5' making the block wall ~7.5' from the conservatory's windows. The CA room footing is the same, but it's outdoor space. So it feels like it's part of the backyard, and the windows in the great room are further from the block wall (than the windows in the conservatory would be).

 

[eyephone]

#2close4comfort

 

[Legit949]

I personally prefer the California Room with the limited backyard space.

 

[Jonah]

10ft is too small to contemplate a conservatory!  However, most yards don't have a 10ft setback; I'd say 14-18ft is probably average.  The 2X and 3X look nicer than the regular 2s and 3s from the outside, plus there's the benefit of extra storage space off the laundry and potential storage/garden shed outside on the non-gated side of the house.  Small things which make a big impact.

 

[notTHEoc]

Here's an example of a slab with a 10' setback. The conservatory pushes the slab out ~2.5' making the block wall ~7.5' from the conservatory's windows. The CA room footing is the same, but it's outdoor space. So it feels like it's part of the backyard, and the windows in the great room are further from the block wall (than the windows in the conservatory would be).

$1m+ homes on 4k sqf lots in suburbia is just wrong.

 

[Perspective]

10ft is too small to contemplate a conservatory!  However, most yards don't have a 10ft setback; I'd say 14-18ft is probably average.  The 2X and 3X look nicer than the regular 2s and 3s from the outside, plus there's the benefit of extra storage space off the laundry and potential storage/garden shed outside on the non-gated side of the house.  Small things which make a big impact.

Here's a pic of a more typical 16.5' setback. This slab includes the CA room rather than the conservatory. You can see how much more backyard space there is, and how much further the living room windows will be from the block wall.

 

[readytobuy]

does anyone know how much is plan one for the next release? i heard they are releasing them this Saturday but she wouldn't tell me how much since i am not on the priority list.

 

[Perspective]

does anyone know how much is plan one for the next release? i heard they are releasing them this Saturday but she wouldn't tell me how much since i am not on the priority list.

Lot 11 in the prior phase (17) was a Plan 1 that was priced and sold at $1,063,000. There are two Plan 1s in Phase 18 and I'd guess they won't be priced much more than this, considering how the Plan 1s haven't sold as quickly as the Plan 2s and 3s over the last few months.

 

[OHills]

Does anyone know how much the plan 3s and 3xs sold for in the last phase (base price)?

 

[Perspective]

phase 18 is out. Bonnie is calling the priority list.  Prices on the residence 3s are around 1.25m

Plan 3s are at ~$1.25M. It's difficult to know the exact prices because Plan 3s and 2s haven't been hitting the price sheets. They're selling too quickly.

 

[OHills]

wow...that is a considerable jump for the Plan 3s in just a 6 month period. They were going for around 1,120,000 just 6 months ago....I wonder if the drastic price increase is due to the fact that the Plan 3s in Phase 18 have bigger lots...although some of the lots for the Plan 3s in phase 18 looked like standard size lots based on the plot map.

 

[Perspective]

wow...that is a considerable jump for the Plan 3s in just a 6 month period. They were going for around 1,120,000 just 6 months ago....I wonder if the drastic price increase is due to the fact that the Plan 3s in Phase 18 have bigger lots...although some of the lots for the Plan 3s in phase 18 looked like standard size lots based on the plot map.

There's a discussion on the prior page (71) regarding Phase 18. The Plan 3s and 2s have been selling quickly and increasing $5K-$10K each phase. Phase 18 doesn't appear to include any tiny (10') setbacks, so the lots may carry size premiums. Half of the lots won't have rear neighbors, which should carry a premium.

 

[timandjess]

One note to all plan 2 buyers (just realized this today)

Make sure to include internet access port in the first floor bedroom for plan 2.
This port does not come standard and is an add-on option.

I thought I wouldn't need it because of wifi access, but for some reason this first floor bedroom simply cannot get signal.

The coax comes in at the master closet, so I have the router setup in there.
I have a pretty new 802.11ac router with excellent range.  The smart TV and ipad access in the kitchen and great room (even backyard) are all excellent for streaming up to 4K.  I have 100mb from cox and the wifi speed test in the great room gets about 35mb download (107mb wired).

But I think the downstairs bedroom, which I'm now setting up as a home office just has too many bends.  I get 2mb at best.  And that's after I setup an access point downstairs at the great room.  $100 range extenders don't do much at all.

The only solution I have is to actually run a wire down to the room and setup the access point there.

So make sure you opt for that extra internet port.

 

[aquabliss]

Just buy a wifi extender and put it downstairs.  I got this one and it works *very* well.  The extender connection seems better than the original.

http://www.costco.com/Amped-Wireless?-High-Power-Wireless-N300-Range-Extender.product.11731650.html

 

[Id9510]

Another plan 2 owner here. The problem is that the main access point is at the back of the house in a metal box in the master closet. So if you set up an extender downstairs, the bedrooms at the front of the  house (both up and downstairs) will still have weak signal.

We are running an apple airport in the master closet and then set up an airport express (wifi extender) at the front of the loft under the windows facing out to the driveway. This express access point is located directly above the downstairs bedroom and gives super signal strength below and to the front half of the house (both upstairs and downstairs). 

 

[Perspective]

One note to all plan 2 buyers (just realized this today)

Make sure to include internet access port in the first floor bedroom for plan 2.
This port does not come standard and is an add-on option.

I thought I wouldn't need it because of wifi access, but for some reason this first floor bedroom simply cannot get signal.

The coax comes in at the master closet, so I have the router setup in there.
I have a pretty new 802.11ac router with excellent range.  The smart TV and ipad access in the kitchen and great room (even backyard) are all excellent for streaming up to 4K.  I have 100mb from cox and the wifi speed test in the great room gets about 35mb download (107mb wired).

But I think the downstairs bedroom, which I'm now setting up as a home office just has too many bends.  I get 2mb at best.  And that's after I setup an access point downstairs at the great room.  $100 range extenders don't do much at all.

The only solution I have is to actually run a wire down to the room and setup the access point there.

So make sure you opt for that extra internet port.

Is this a Plan 2 issue, or has Irvine Pacific changed this since your phase? I just checked our standard electric diagram for a Plan 3 to confirm my initial thought, and Cat 5 data ports are included in all four bedrooms, the loft, and great room.

 

[8porkchop]

One note to all plan 2 buyers (just realized this today)

Make sure to include internet access port in the first floor bedroom for plan 2.
This port does not come standard and is an add-on option.

I thought I wouldn't need it because of wifi access, but for some reason this first floor bedroom simply cannot get signal.

The coax comes in at the master closet, so I have the router setup in there.
I have a pretty new 802.11ac router with excellent range.  The smart TV and ipad access in the kitchen and great room (even backyard) are all excellent for streaming up to 4K.  I have 100mb from cox and the wifi speed test in the great room gets about 35mb download (107mb wired).

But I think the downstairs bedroom, which I'm now setting up as a home office just has too many bends.  I get 2mb at best.  And that's after I setup an access point downstairs at the great room.  $100 range extenders don't do much at all.

The only solution I have is to actually run a wire down to the room and setup the access point there.

So make sure you opt for that extra internet port.

Is this a Plan 2 issue, or has Irvine Pacific changed this since your phase? I just checked our standard electric diagram for a Plan 3 to confirm my initial thought, and Cat 5 data ports are included in all four bedrooms, the loft, and great room.

Thanks for the heads up Aquabliss. I too have a plan 2 and I get no signal in the 1st floor bedroom. I thought about extenders but I have heard that they don't work too well.  So you're telling me this extender from Costco works well by leaving it in the loft? I was just thinking about doing a hard wire but can't seem to find the proper cable upstairs.