Canyon’s Edge Executive Retreat        56 Shade Tree $974,900                 

Scooting along Shady Canyon Drive, the view is all open wilderness, just minutes  from Orange County’s urban nest of beaches and freeways.  I was headed to Canyon’s Edge in Turtle Ridge, a gated community that sits next to the wilderness, and I was remembering visiting Quail Hill awhile ago. Both areas offer premium locations,  delivering a big helping of the outdoors with easy access to all of the urban connections.

It’s a lifestyle worth considering.  Spend the afternoon hiking, practically in your own backyard, and then head off for the next trip, or an evening out with the 73 Freeway and Orange County Airport nearby. 

Turning into Canyon’s Edge,  I found a  community  that may be a match for its surroundings.  If it is to your taste, then you will recognize it instantly.  At the back of the property there’s no urban neighbor on the other side of the fence, just a sweep of open wilderness.

New to the market , this Canyon’s Edge single family home compares well with Quail Hill, offering similar options with a bit more space.

Capturing some of the feel of a Tuscan farmhouse, this stone and stucco 2 bedroom, 3 bath single family home opens into a serene interior that promises more.  Italian Tagina tile is used throughout the home and the 2,330 square foot open floor plan includes  an extra downstairs room that could become a third bedroom.   A formal dining room, casual dining area, and cozy family room with stone fireplace,  overlook  the backyard  and wilderness beyond. 

The gourmet kitchen with food prep island, large walk in pantry, granite counters, and breakfast bar is opposite the family room.  Outfitted with recessed lighting, a 36” glass cooktop with five burners, under cabinet fluorescent lighting, and special deep roll out drawers for pots and pans, this kitchen looks equal to any task, whether it be an elaborate meal or a quick barbecue prep.

Outside is equally serene.  Skillfully landscaped to blend into the surroundings, there is a patio and grassy area with fire pit, fountain, barbecue, heaters for chilly evenings, and dining area.

Throughout the home there is the feeling that each room is intended to be just right,  functional, appealing and unobtrusive.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a media niche off to one side, a walk in closet,  and a master bath that has a separate shower and oversized tub. The other good sized bedroom has an adjacent private bath.  There is a convenient upstairs laundry.

Some of the home’s  many details include  oil rubbed bronze hardware, raised panel doors, recessed lighting throughout, energy advanced dual glazed windows, prewired sound system, an interior sprinkler system, and retardant glazed tile roof.  There is a double garage and wrought iron and masonry fencing.

Specifics for this two level Mediterranean:

Beds: 2
Baths: 3
Square Footage: 2,330
$/Sq.Ft.: $418
HOA Dues: $271/month
Forced air, central air
Property: Residential
Type: Single Family
View: Canyon
Year Built: 2003
Community: Turtle Ridge, Canyon Edge
County: Orange
On the Market: 22 days

Considerations and Comparisons:  Canyon’s Edge compares well with Quail Hill and may offer a bit more space for the dollar. But this community is a selective choice.  The dollars spent here are for space coupled with those other key ingredients  of location, privacy, convenience, and distinctiveness.  New to the market, this home will attract a certain buyer with some definite ideas of what the home should be.

Who will make this stone and stucco farmhouse theirs?  A professional couple, a busy executive, or a small family who love  the outdoors, might gravitate to this home. Quality schools, exceptional hiking and recreational areas, a remote, retreat lifestyle,  and easy access to nearby beach communities could all be factors in the sale.

Nearby properties and recent sales:  19642 Sierra Santo Rd. sold for $835,000 in June and 19367 Sierra Bello Rd. sold for $940,000 in March.  Current properties listed:  17 Shade Tree is listed for $869,000 and 5 Starlight is listed for $895,000.

Discuss below or on Talk Irvine.

Today we’ll take a look at Irvine’s Northwood neighborhood. First, the numbers:

Northwood—July 2012:

The following graphs show the change in the number of Northwood homes on the market, the price per square foot of Northwood houses, and the price per square foot of Northwood condos, respectively.

To give more meaning to these numbers and graphs, I am listing some homes that are near the bottom, top, and middle of the price range for homes in the Northwood real estate market.

123 Streamwood 
Note: This home is one of the least expensive homes in Northwood that is not “sale pending” or a manufactured home.

Condo built in 1977
• Beds/Baths: 1/1
• HOA Dues: $250/month
• Mello Roos Tax: No
• Price: $210,000/$289 per square foot

37 New Dawn 
Note: This home is located near Hicks Canyon Trail.

• Single-family built in 1999
• Beds/Baths: 5/5.5
• HOA Dues: $40/month and $110/month
• Mello Roos Tax: Yes
• Price: $2,499,999/$521 per square foot

19 Colonial
Note: This home is “sale pending, back up offers accepted”.

• Single-family built in 1977
• Beds/Baths: 3/2
• HOA Dues: Yes, but amount is not listed.
• Mello Roos Tax: No
• Price: $664,800/$353 per square foot

Source: Redfin

Discuss below or on Talk Irvine.

If you are in the market for a large home, check out 11 Ravendale.  This home was just listed and boasts five bedrooms (one downstairs) plus a huge third floor bonus room.

The basics:
Asking Price: $999,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
Square Footage: 3,537
Lot Size: 3,842
$/Sq Ft: $282
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 2002
Community: Northpark Square

HOA dues are $98 per month and Mello Roos are $1,104.66 per year.

When I entered 11 Ravendale, I saw the living room to my right and the dining room to my left.  The living room has windows on three sides, crown molding, and wall to wall carpet.  The dining room, like the entry, has tile floors, and is tucked in between the entryway and the staircase.  Its location is a bit awkward, since it doesn’t connect to the kitchen, but that seems to be the case in many newer homes.

Across from the staircase, a short hallway leads to a small full bathroom and a bedroom. 

On the other side of the stairs are the kitchen and family room.  The kitchen has tile floors, an island, dark granite counter tops and maple cupboards.  It has black appliances, including a double oven, and brushed nickel fixtures.  It also has a huge pantry with tons of shelving and a large space in the back with low ceilings for storing infrequently used items.

The super family room is big, but not as big as other super family rooms I’ve seen.  It has a fireplace at one end, windows along one wall, and is carpeted.  The carpet here, as well as in the living room and the entire upstairs, needs to be replaced.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms on the second floor.  The master is at the top of the stairs.  While it doesn’t have a designated retreat, it is a very big room and has a fireplace in one corner, so you could create a cozy seating area.  There are two large walk in closets with built-ins, a separate tub and shower, and two sinks with tile countertops.  I liked that the bathroom wasn’t as huge as those in many other newer model masters.  It had adequate space without taking up too much square footage.

The other three bedrooms were surprisingly big.  I am so used to seeing tiny secondary bedrooms in new homes that I was very pleasantly surprised by the rooms here.  Each one also has a walk in closet with some built-ins.  They share a bathroom with two sinks and a shower/tub combo.  A large linen closet and a laundry room with sink complete the second floor.

A huge third story bonus room completes the house.  It has sloped ceilings, two ceiling fans and a full bathroom.  While it is one large space, it can easily be divided into different areas and used for multiple purposes.  There is also an unfinished storage area that could probably be fixed up and turned into a usable attic.

The downfall to the house is the lot size, resulting in a small backyard.  The owners did invest a lot in landscaping, including stone work throughout and a built in bbq.  While they did well with what they had, the space is small and feels pretty closed in.

This home is big without feeling ostentatious.  Each room is well-sized and, aside from the well-worn carpet, everything is in great condition.

The owners have already purchased a new home and are looking to sell quickly.  While the price of $282 per square foot is on the low end of homes in the area, it should be noted that a nearly identical home (28 Thorn Hill) a block away sold two weeks ago for $935,000 ($266/sq ft).

Discuss below or on Talk Irvine.