Who is waiting for Orchard Hills?

[bones]

[quote..

 

[homer_simpson]

#justanothermommyanecdote

In a couple of years, the stroller era you're in now will seem quaint.

#dontgettestyonme

I obviously aspire to be at your stage in life.  No kids in diapers!!  I also have a lot to learn from you on the art of the "overshare".  Not everyone can master letting everyone on TI know how much they paid for their house, their address, pics of the interior, where they work, the cars they drive? all so eloquently!  ;D >

#bowdown

I shared how much we paid for our house and our address? Where I work? Donde?

doesn't take a genius to figure it out when you told us when you closed escrow, where you closed escrow and specs of your house.  thought you didn't care to share?  maybe should go back and TD those posts!

Ahh, I see... so you stalked me. #gotit

Yup.  Pretty sure I was the only one.  So you're probably safe.

/thread

 

[Irvinecommuter]

@IC:

What you don't get is that you keep agreeing with me and then arguing with me.

When you buy at the higher end of the spectrum, you have to compromise less. 

That's what I said. If you have to pay $1m+, you should not have to compromise on lot size. But then you're the one who started co-mingling the cheaper product to prove your point that Stonegate "demonstrates" that lot size is not as important as I think it is.

Your mixing your opinion with a different product than what I'm talking about. Like bones pointed out, the $1m+ larger SFRs in Stonegate are NOT selling as well as PP's despite the better location/proximty. Yet you didn't respond to that.

And you keep asking me why I think you think that lot size isn't important. Wasn't it you in some other thread who kept saying you don't want a big yard? That you don't need to use a yard since you can use a pocket part? What does that indicate to us?

I don't quite get your point or comparison.  The "all other things equal" discussion makes no sense because all things aren't equal.  There are portions of Saratoga has have more space and driveways but are going to cost you $50K more.  If I could afford it, I probably would buy those but since I can't afford them, I just have to settle for the house I have. 

I'll speak more slowly.

If. You. Are. Spending. $1m+. On. An. SFR. You. Should. Have. A. Bigger. Lot.

Let's go back to bones and your whole "Stonegate is the Bible on what is important" theory.

What is your explanation for why Stonegate's larger SFRs are selling slower than PP's? More sun in PP's park?

I don't want a larger yard but that doesn't mean I don't understand that a larger yard is considered to be a benefit.  You are linking up things that don't go together.

You can say that you shouldn't compromise for a $1+ million house but that statement does not ring as true in Irvine as it does for other parts of the country.  In Irvine, location is probably one of the most important factors.

My statement on SG is for buyers between $600-$800K, it represents a very good balance of price and benefits.  One of the drawbacks for SG is that is has a smaller lot size but people seem to be willing to give that up for location, set up, and the school. 

I have discussed in other threads as to why Sausalito is not selling well (I'm not sure how Arcadia is doing).  Amongst the factors are:

1) competition from PP

2) it wasn't really meant to be priced as high as it was...it was on the back end of the price hikes so it was stuck with the pricing that other models were at the time it opened.  For example, Saratoga opened at mid-$600Ks and are pretty much start at $800K.  Mendencio went up in a similar fashion (mid $700Ks to $900K) which pushed Arcadia past $1 million...Since Sausalito was the biggest, they were forced to price their homes at $1.2-1.3 million (which is bad mistake).  Notice that most the higher end PP homes started about $1 to 1.2 million.

3)  The design of homes was pretty uninspiring.

Take by comparison La Cresta...it is basically done.  Lot size is a little bigger but the interior layout is much better IMO.  It also benefitted from an earlier opening and not locked into a price level due to other model building out. 

Mulberry is also near $1 million and I think it's doing fine. 

Finally, if "all other factors are equal"...I rather have more square footage for my house than a bigger yard.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[Irvinecommuter]

What is your explanation for why Stonegate's larger SFRs are selling slower than PP's? More sun in PP's park?

My counter question to you is why are Stonegate's mid-level homes selling well even though PP exists.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[qwerty]

We digressed from OH to SG.. let's go back to OH.  Who is going there first day of grand opening?  My wife wants to check it out.. but I still have bad memories of PP first day.  I might wait a week or so.

Should we bike there together?

Dont do it jmoney - called dibs on bones already. if you go with her this will happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH0wDJGO6Ss

 

[jmoney74]

oh yeah?

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjorLIoEt14" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[qwerty]

i thought opensky sharing pic's of his reno and costs were helpful, im always curious to know what things costs so i know what to expect or what is a good deal.

And if you want to track down opensky all you have to do is go wait by the entrance to NP and wait for the only person to walk out or look for the EV with the northpark plates

 

[qwerty]

i still remember that big asian dudes name in Kickboxer, Tong Po!!!!!

and i also bounce my chest like that every morning in the bathroom mirror when i wake up.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[eyephone]

i thought opensky sharing pic's of his reno and costs were helpful, im always curious to know what things costs so i know what to expect or what is a good deal.

And if you want to track down opensky all you have to do is go wait by the entrance to NP and wait for the only person to walk out or look for the EV with the northpark plates

Heh, that's not my plate; here's another one spotted:

I just think it's curious that NP imparts such an identity that folks are willing to customize their license plates and attach it accordingly. Hell, NP has its own logo and customized deck loungers with "NORTHPARK" on them.

Note to NP (and Dove Canyon, for that matter): It ain't Stanford, it's a f*cking subdivision.

Re the license plate. Maybe that person's last name is Park.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

What is your explanation for why Stonegate's larger SFRs are selling slower than PP's? More sun in PP's park?

My counter question to you is why are Stonegate's mid-level homes selling well even though PP exists.

This has been discussed. Location and proximity to Elem school... younger families buy mid-level homes.

But the slower larger SFRs sales should *demonstrate* to you that at that price point, lot size becomes as important as those things which was MY point that you say you don't see but keep repeating yourself.

I don't want a larger yard but that doesn't mean I don't understand that a larger yard is considered to be a benefit.  You are linking up things that don't go together.

You're actually the one who didn't provide that link. If I recall correctly, in your older posts you kept arguing the merits of a smaller lot without really admitting that it's a benefit.

You can say that you shouldn't compromise for a $1+ million house but that statement does not ring as true in Irvine as it does for other parts of the country.  In Irvine, location is probably one of the most important factors.

Why not? If the buyers don't show TIC what they want, they won't do it.

Finally, if "all other factors are equal"...I rather have more square footage for my house than a bigger yard.

But with a larger lot/yard, you can do that in the future if you want. After you buy your home with a small yard, if you decide that you like a larger yard, what can you do? If you want to expand your house, what can you do?

I would rather have a 2000sft house on 4000sft lot than a 2500sft house on a 3000sft lot. It gives me options.

 

[qwerty]

my personalized plates say: HUNG 2 LO

if you see that on a car just waive and say hi. you just met qwerty

 

[OpenSky]

 

[eyephone]

Ok cool

 

[Irvinecommuter]

@IHO

But that's the thing!  I have never argued that bigger lots are bad or undesirable.  I personally don't care for a yard because I have to pay to landscape it!  But if the house I want came with a bigger yard, I don't consider it a negative.  Again, you are linking things that don't go together.  I personally don't care for a big yard but that doesn't mean I don't understand them to be considered a benefit for home selling/buying.

This is the quote that started this conversation:

Seems like IC would rather pay a premium for not having crap they don't like even though others value the idea of it.

My argument all along has been that I am not paying a premium on what I don't have, I am paying a premium on the things that I want, location, community set-up (including schools), good floor plan, and size of home.  To get those things at the price range I could afford, I gave up some things like a driveway and a bigger lot size.  A lot of people are making that decision as to SG. 

Now, if I could afford a more expensive house, I would have many more options at my disposal.  I would not have bought at Sausalito because of the floor plan but I definitely would have considered La Cresta, Arcadia, and model 3 of Marigold.  I also like Rosemist at PP but the yard was like no. 50 on my list.

I don't understand what you think my argument was/is but that is my argument.

Why not? If the buyers don't show TIC what they want, they won't do it.

I don't understand this quote at all:

If a motorcourt home in SG costs $800+ K and there are buyers, it is reflective of the market.  If buyers believe that they are getting back benefits sufficient to justify the purchase price, they will buy.  I mean it's essentially supply and demand.  Are you saying that people should boycott buying in Irvine until the prices go down? 

Again, it's a matter of taste.  I don't want to deal with upgrading in the future.  I like to have a house that is ready to go and in the floorplan that I care for.  I don't have much use for a yard and have to pay to landscape it so it's not major priority for me.  If you like a bigger yard, good for you but just don't make it sound like people are crazy if they don't feel the same way.

 

[jmoney74]

ORCHARD HILLS!

 

[zovall]

who has covered playgrounds?

Another one that comes to mind is Acorn Park in Aliso Viejo:

Source: http://www.funorangecountyparks.com/2011/11/acorn-park-in-aliso-viejo.html

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I won't continue.

It is my opinion that IC is either purposely or unknowingly acting obtuse so that he can continue on infinitely without admitting guilt.

It's okay, I should know that by now but I was bored.