Orchard Hills - Strada by Irvine Pacific

[Legit949]

I live in Terrazza, but the community is great! Couldn't have realistically asked for more (Except for Orchard Hills K-8 expanding to all grade levels). I also love the Strada Plan 3/3X. You won't regret the decision!

 

[abosch00]

I've been looking at strada, belvedere and palo alto....my question is for homeowners living in these homes with an 8ft back, what does it feel like day to day?  Currently my older home has a backyard that's maybe 20ft back and its a nice comfortable distance between me and the neighboring house behind me.  But im curious what does 8ft feel like when you're outside hanging in your california room or in your dining room/living room looking out into your backyard. 

It's hard for me tell how this feels in model homes (since theres usually not a house behind it).  just trying to get a sense if the trade off for buying new and having a much reduced sized backyard is worth it. 

 

[Bullsback]

I've been looking at strada, belvedere and palo alto....my question is for homeowners living in these homes with an 8ft back, what does it feel like day to day?  Currently my older home has a backyard that's maybe 20ft back and its a nice comfortable distance between me and the neighboring house behind me.  But im curious what does 8ft feel like when you're outside hanging in your california room or in your dining room/living room looking out into your backyard. 

It's hard for me tell how this feels in model homes (since theres usually not a house behind it).  just trying to get a sense if the trade off for buying new and having a much reduced sized backyard is worth it.

Expect a darker house or in the case you have actual homes build on the real streets, just walk down and look at them (usually there are some that are still under construction and you can at least get a rough idea).  I was debating pulling the trigger on one of the Capella "discounts" and I visited the home at various times of the day to check on it and wow, all I can say is, what a dark house and every time I walked in, the walls stuck out to me. Clearly some landscaping can ultimately help with that, but at these price points, I honestly just can't see busting my ass to pay the bills just to stare at a freaking wall. 

Kind of like those Greenwood homes right on Jamboree. You'd have to discount them by 250K for me to even consider something like that. Just awful (and this is coming from someone who in general wouldn't be opposed having a house that backed to a street, but shit, that is having a 20 foot block wall behind you and than right behind that a flipping freeway. 

 

[Perspective]

I've been looking at strada, belvedere and palo alto....my question is for homeowners living in these homes with an 8ft back, what does it feel like day to day?  Currently my older home has a backyard that's maybe 20ft back and its a nice comfortable distance between me and the neighboring house behind me.  But im curious what does 8ft feel like when you're outside hanging in your california room or in your dining room/living room looking out into your backyard. 

It's hard for me tell how this feels in model homes (since theres usually not a house behind it).  just trying to get a sense if the trade off for buying new and having a much reduced sized backyard is worth it.

Drive up Horseshoe and park next to the mailboxes on Copper Mine. Then look at the two houses behind the mailboxes. These two appear to both have ~10' setbacks. They're close to each other. I think you can get a good idea whether or not this is something with which you'd be comfortable.

 

[aquabliss]

Don't do it, stick with your 20 ft setback.  It's not just daylight but (as you mention) privacy as well.  It's hard to put a price on it. 

I used to think the prices charged for lot premiums were ridiculous but after paying for one, I literally see the value every day. 

 

[sealionbeast]

I also was tempted by the Capella discounts, but the backyard on the view homes were literally 4 or 5 feet deep.  For me it came down to Palo Alto and Strada.  I love Palo Alto plan 1.  It was perfect in every way and I had the opportunity for a large lot.  The big negative was Stonegate which is just a flat congested grid like Cypress Village where I am now and I did not like the proximity and view of the landfill.  I'm not scared of the landfill just don't prefer the sight of it.  The exterior of the Strada homes are some of the best I've seen. The Strada plan 3 is smaller than the Palo Alto 1, but the neighborhood won me over.  I like the curved streets, the cut de sacs, and the hills and trees around the neighborhood.  I love the fact that everyone has the front landscaping included.  It makes the neighborhood look more uniform and higher end.  Driving through Capella and some other neighborhoods you get everything from fake grass and plants, to some really bad stone walls and other nasty stuff.  The 10 foot setback is a negative in Strada but I was able to get a slightly larger lot with a 13.5 setback from the California room the same as my neighbor behind me.  It's 16.5 feet from my back door to the wall.  I can live with that.  Belvedere was a consideration, but I didn't feel like dealing with years of construction all around me and again it seems really congested there.

 

[Irvine or Bust]

I also was tempted by the Capella discounts, but the backyard on the view homes were literally 4 or 5 feet deep.  For me it came down to Palo Alto and Strada.  I love Palo Alto plan 1.  It was perfect in every way and I had the opportunity for a large lot.  The big negative was Stonegate which is just a flat congested grid like Cypress Village where I am now and I did not like the proximity and view of the landfill.  I'm not scared of the landfill just don't prefer the sight of it.  The exterior of the Strada homes are some of the best I've seen. The Strada plan 3 is smaller than the Palo Alto 1, but the neighborhood won me over.  I like the curved streets, the cut de sacs, and the hills and trees around the neighborhood.  I love the fact that everyone has the front landscaping included.  It makes the neighborhood look more uniform and higher end.  Driving through Capella and some other neighborhoods you get everything from fake grass and plants, to some really bad stone walls and other nasty stuff.  The 10 foot setback is a negative in Strada but I was able to get a slightly larger lot with a 13.5 setback from the California room the same as my neighbor behind me.  It's 16.5 feet from my back door to the wall.  I can live with that.  Belvedere was a consideration, but I didn't feel like dealing with years of construction all around me and again it seems really congested there.

You gave up a view home for a home with a neighbor right behind?

 

[sealionbeast]

I also was tempted by the Capella discounts, but the backyard on the view homes were literally 4 or 5 feet deep.  For me it came down to Palo Alto and Strada.  I love Palo Alto plan 1.  It was perfect in every way and I had the opportunity for a large lot.  The big negative was Stonegate which is just a flat congested grid like Cypress Village where I am now and I did not like the proximity and view of the landfill.  I'm not scared of the landfill just don't prefer the sight of it.  The exterior of the Strada homes are some of the best I've seen. The Strada plan 3 is smaller than the Palo Alto 1, but the neighborhood won me over.  I like the curved streets, the cut de sacs, and the hills and trees around the neighborhood.  I love the fact that everyone has the front landscaping included.  It makes the neighborhood look more uniform and higher end.  Driving through Capella and some other neighborhoods you get everything from fake grass and plants, to some really bad stone walls and other nasty stuff.  The 10 foot setback is a negative in Strada but I was able to get a slightly larger lot with a 13.5 setback from the California room the same as my neighbor behind me.  It's 16.5 feet from my back door to the wall.  I can live with that.  Belvedere was a consideration, but I didn't feel like dealing with years of construction all around me and again it seems really congested there.

You gave up a view home for a home with a neighbor right behind?

Not a view home, a home with a larger lot.

 

[Jonah]

About the pull the trigger on a Plan 3.  To all the Strada owners out there, how do you like the neighborhood?  Happy with your decision?

Yes, I like the neighborhood.  The cul-de-sac design sets it apart from other communities and makes it feel less cluttered - they're appealing aesthetically as well as being better from a road safety point of view for those with small kids.  Once the neighborhood is built out, you'll be able to go around the entirety of it with just one road crossing, that's great for kid cyclists.  There's always people out exercising so you get to meet your neighbors.

 

[abosch00]

Don't do it, stick with your 20 ft setback.  It's not just daylight but (as you mention) privacy as well.  It's hard to put a price on it. 

I used to think the prices charged for lot premiums were ridiculous but after paying for one, I literally see the value every day.

How much do lots premiums usually cost?  Like for having no neighbor behind you, we talking like 30k?

 

[Irvine or Bust]

Don't do it, stick with your 20 ft setback.  It's not just daylight but (as you mention) privacy as well.  It's hard to put a price on it. 

I used to think the prices charged for lot premiums were ridiculous but after paying for one, I literally see the value every day.

How much do lots premiums usually cost?  Like for having no neighbor behind you, we talking like 30k?

Most of the Strada homes are back to back. Very few have no homes behind, I would think the premium has to be at least $30K for that kind of privacy.

 

[Perspective]

Don't do it, stick with your 20 ft setback.  It's not just daylight but (as you mention) privacy as well.  It's hard to put a price on it. 

I used to think the prices charged for lot premiums were ridiculous but after paying for one, I literally see the value every day.

How much do lots premiums usually cost?  Like for having no neighbor behind you, we talking like 30k?

Most of the Strada homes are back to back. Very few have no homes behind, I would think the premium has to be at least $30K for that kind of privacy.

Right, but due to all of the cul-de-sacs, there are dozens of homes with no house on one side, which also eliminates the rear "caddy-corner" house. I think these lots have gone for $20K-$30K premiums at Strada.

 

[Jonah]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

 

[aquabliss]

I thought HOA maintained the front?  Or did they just plant the plants but not maintain them?

 

[OC troll]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

Gotta love those fcb. Maybe they think the weeds are part of the lush landscape.

 

[lnc]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

Which HOA company Strada has?  In CV, we has PCM and these issue are rigorously enforced.  A lot of my neighbors have received notice letter regarding to various but very minor front landscaping maintenance issues. 

Maybe those letters need to be in bilingual.

 

[Paris167]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

Which HOA company Strada has?  In CV, we has PCM and these issue are rigorously enforced.  A lot of my neighbors have received notice letter regarding to various but very minor front landscaping maintenance issues. 

Maybe those letters need to be in bilingual.

We have keystone pacific. You guys should complain about these homes to our HOA so they can do a drive by and start giving them a notice to correct. I think they give a one time warning and if you don't comply the fine is steep. My neighbor was fined $500 just because they did not "adequately" remove the front yard weeds (even though it did not even look that bad).

 

[Perspective]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

Agreed. Half the homes on our street have very large weeds, and they're all occupied. The front yards are so tiny, it takes just a few minutes per month to pull some weeds. I've considered pulling some of the large weeds and placing them at their front doors.

 

[Paris167]

I hope the HOA is doing something about those homeowners who aren't watering or gardening  the front of their homes.  Some streets are particularly bad with weeds spilling onto the pavement.  It's more economical to maintain the frontscape than to have to replace all the plants later on.

Agreed. Half the homes on our street have very large weeds, and they're all occupied. The front yards are so tiny, it takes just a few minutes per month to pull some weeds. I've considered pulling some of the large weeds and placing them at their front doors.

That's funny, you should do that. And also report to HOA. One of my pet peeves is people that don't maintain their home esp external appearance in a high-end neighborhood. Don't people realize they live in Irvine - probably one of the most ADD cities around.

 

[Jonah]

Agreed. Half the homes on our street have very large weeds, and they're all occupied. The front yards are so tiny, it takes just a few minutes per month to pull some weeds. I've considered pulling some of the large weeds and placing them at their front doors.

Driving down Horseshoe today, I noticed one house had some of its weeds removed and put near the door - was that you Perspective?!  (Kidding).  That house is the one that annoys me though because it's on Horseshoe so is very prominent.  The other houses are all down side streets so less visible.  Most streets look excellent, nicely maintained.  I hope those few homeowners get good fines.  I find it hard to understand where some homeowners have spent $30K plus on their backyard landscaping, yet don't maintain their front.  One house has trash in amongst their plants and weeds, which I'm sure is left over from the landscaper who left weeks ago.  Gross.