Last week, I reviewed 7 Aldea, a three bedroom home in Northwood’s Windstream community.  Today, I will review 31 Entrada West, another three bedroom home in Northwood.  This one is in the Park Paseo neighborhood, about half a mile away from 7 Aldea, and zoned for all the same schools.

The basics:
Asking Price: $649,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Footage: 1910
Lot Size: 3,645
$/Sq Ft: $340
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 1979
Community: Northwood, Park Paseo

HOA dues are $83 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

Both homes have a lot in common.  They were both built in 1979 and neither has remodeled the kitchen or bathrooms.  They have similar prices per square foot and both have associations with pools and tennis courts.  7 Aldea is a bigger house on a bigger lot, and is in a gated community.  31 Entrada West offers a much lower HOA ($83/month vs. $174/month) and the lower asking price makes it more affordable for many families.  While 7 Aldea is located on a corner, 31 Entrada West is near the end of a quiet Cul de Sac.

When I entered this home, the living room was immediately to my right, down one step, and the dining room was to my left.  Both rooms have hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings.

The family room has a small wet bar at one end and a brick fireplace in the middle.  It’s somewhat dark, since it only has windows on one side and it only has one small set of old track lighting.  It is long and narrow and doesn’t really flow into any other rooms, so it feels very closed in.

The kitchen is also long and narrow.  One half has several pantry-height cupboards, a large window and breakfast nook.  The rest of the kitchen is pretty small, with one long tile counter and one smaller one.  There are newer stainless steel appliances but original counters, cabinets, and fluorescent panel lighting.  While it is in good condition, overall it feels outdated and small.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and two baths.  The two secondary bedrooms are on the smaller side, both with windows facing the front of the house and standard closets.  Their shared bathroom only has one sink, despite having a counter long enough to fit two.

The master bedroom’s nicest feature is vaulted ceilings.  Otherwise, there is nothing remarkable about the room.  The bathroom has a stall shower and double sinks with newer fixtures, but everything else is original.

Overall, 31 Entrada has a lot of room for improvement.  However, it is smaller than most homes in the neighborhood, resulting in a lower asking price (though its price per square foot is comparable to others).  For a family with a lower budget, this may be their chance to get a more affordable house in a great neighborhood.  Upgrades can come later, if desired.