Please Help me choose our first Irvine home

[valueoc]

Excellent evaluation by Bones, I think the following is particularly advisable given your range of interests:
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2. Rosemist - the plan 2 probably fits exactly what you are talking about.  Lennar does the "EI" program which means there are some things you can't customize in the house through the builder.  This may or may not matter to you depending on the level of customization you are looking for.

3. Sagewood - All the plans fit your criteria.  The plan 3 is probably >$1.1M at this point though (and that's pre-upgrades).  Biggest lots of all the options you listed.  Shea is a better builder than Lennar.

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[bones]

At whistler some lots are btw 5000-6000 sq ft so we will have room for additions.

If they let you do them.

New Irvine builds are a bit particular about add-ons after the fact.

I read the guidelines. They let u do additions. Obviously will need to jump through all the hoops: permits, neighbor approval, hoa design approval, etc.

 

[Move2Irvine]

.

 

[lnc]

CV has smallest lots.we went to mulberry.It feels more like detached condominiums than SFR

You should take a look at Laurel in CV.

When you mention that you want a lot size of 4000 sq.ft. or larger, you pretty much eliminated all Irvine Pacific's homes.

However if you feel CV's location and school zoning are considerable, you should definitely check out Laurel.  Laurel is like a next generation or improvement of  Mendocino.  I really like their plan 3 but the price is still unknown.  Laurel is going to be release pretty soon and if you get pre-qualified with OnQ already, you might just be the first inline on their priority list.
http://www.villagesofirvine.com/Villages-and-Neighborhoods/Cypress-Village/Residence/Laurel

 

[irvinehomeowner]

If I had to choose from Whistler, I like the Plan 3 with the optional Bonus Room over the garage.

Still seems wide and short to me but at least the Plan 3 has lots of living space.

 

[jmoney74]

Move2Irvine... just move to PP.. Bones and I will say hi to you.

 

[bones]

If I had to choose from Whistler, I like the Plan 3 with the optional Bonus Room over the garage.

Still seems wide and short to me but at least the Plan 3 has lots of living space.

What do u have against wide and short?  :'(

 

[irvinehomeowner]

What do u have against wide and short?  :'(

That's what qwerter said.

(teehee)

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

An escapee would likely go west through the landscape ground where police patrol can't see them. Heading due west is the backside of PS. I hope the episode of Chino Prison 1983 does not repeat. PP an BR are literally adjacent neighbors but unlikely for a criminal to hide because that will be the first place the police will search. For the Chinese buyers that adjacency to the prison becomes the constant gossips spread among the relatives.

That means SG is close to the jail as well.

 

[jmoney74]

adjacent neighbors?  Have you driven between them?  The community that will be adjacent to BR will be BR part 2.. which they will build later.

 

[zubs]

Getting killed by a prisoner from the honor farm is like getting struck by lightning.  Probability is extremely low.  However, housing prices floats on perception, so if you cheer lead people that they will die because they live close to the prison, then perhaps you can harm the sales price and buying enthusiasm of Baker Ranch.  But since no one can do a data pt study on this, it's just all theory.

But that's what we do here...speculate and gossip because it's Friday and we ain't got shit to do.

 

[zubs]

adjacent neighbors?  Have you driven between them?  The community that will be adjacent to BR will be BR part 2.. which they will build later.

According to the girl on the bus limo during the Baker Ranch tour last weekend, Baker ranch will have 3 villages. 
The first village is the current model homes
The second village is the hill in the middle
The third village will be across Alton Parkway

 

[bones]

adjacent neighbors?  Have you driven between them?  The community that will be adjacent to BR will be BR part 2.. which they will build later.

Yea. Adjacent is used VERY loosely here. I would argue parts of Portola Springs are closer. Quick someone pull up google maps and measure!!  Eyeroll.

 

[qwerty]

If I had to choose from Whistler, I like the Plan 3 with the optional Bonus Room over the garage.

Still seems wide and short to me but at least the Plan 3 has lots of living space.

What do u have against wide and short?  :'(

IHO has been fully converted

 

[notTHEoc]

If I had to choose from Whistler, I like the Plan 3 with the optional Bonus Room over the garage.

Still seems wide and short to me but at least the Plan 3 has lots of living space.

Short and wide isn't really an issue as long as you don't feel like you're in the middle of your kitchen/great room right when you enter the house (or staring right into it). I don't think that's the case at Whistler.

But my problem with plan 3 is, assuming you want to have your own dining table, where do you put it? It's going to look a little odd in the kitchen/GR area with the island being so massive. And if you use your flex room for a dining table, then you've given up extra downstairs living space. I think you almost have to have the island be your primary eating area. I still like plan 3 best because of the upstairs bonus room but I like plan 2's downstairs better than 3.

 

[notTHEoc]

At whistler some lots are btw 5000-6000 sq ft so we will have room for additions.

If they are really that size without big slopes or odd shapes, that is good. but they were evasive on the real lot sizes when I've asked in the past. Usable area might be more similar to the model homes or a couple feet more.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

@notTHEoc:

Unlike how they have it modeled, the Great Room in Whistler 3 is big enough to put a small dining area (think kitchen nook table).

I would actually make the dining room in 3 dual purpose, put the table against the interior wall and that gives you space for a couch against the exterior windows.

For us, the extra dining table is more important than a 2nd space for a den or living room... but that's the problem with new builds, either you have to make choice... or you can't even have that choice... whereas in the older resales, you have both.

 

[notTHEoc]

@notTHEoc:

Unlike how they have it modeled, the Great Room in Whistler 3 is big enough to put a small dining area (think kitchen nook table).

I would actually make the dining room in 3 dual purpose, put the table against the interior wall and that gives you space for a couch against the exterior windows.

For us, the extra dining table is more important than a 2nd space for a den or living room... but that's the problem with new builds, either you have to make choice... or you can't even have that choice... whereas in the older resales, you have both.

I'll have to revisit there. Having island as the largest dining surface is ok for adult daily use, but not my ideal for guests or kids

 

[notTHEoc]

We really hope we get Rosemist Plan 2 but there are just too many ppl in line.2nd best would be Sagewood and if not that Whistler will do just fine I guess

Thank you all again

btw, all builders are masters at making u think there is a huge line. you can usually get what you're looking if they think you're a reliable/serious buyer. and stuff often falls out. when that happens, they don't use the list. that said, I think all 3 of these are selling well (50%+ sold).

 

[bones]

We really hope we get Rosemist Plan 2 but there are just too many ppl in line.2nd best would be Sagewood and if not that Whistler will do just fine I guess

Thank you all again

btw, all builders are masters at making u think there is a huge line. you can usually get what you're looking if they think you're a reliable/serious buyer. and stuff often falls out. when that happens, they don't use the list. that said, I think all 3 of these are selling well (50%+ sold).

Unfortunately, I do think the list for Rosemist Plan 2 & 3 are very real.  But notTHEoc is right, I know someone that just picked up one of the Rosemists that are closing in the next month or so because something happened to the buyer.  From what I gather, they just happened to be at the sales office at the right time when the home was available and snatched it up.