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Open House Review: 2 Tiempo

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 04:00 AM PST

Today, I came across an open house at 2 Tiempo in the Windstream neighborhood of Northwood and decided to check it out.  The home is not currently listed for sale on Redfin or Zillow and neither of the two listing agents have the property mentioned anywhere on their websites.  That said, the home is definitely on the market.  The current owners tried to sell in July 2011 at $879,000.  After three months and a $10,000 price drop, the listing was removed.  Here’s where it stands today:

Asking Price: $839,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Footage: 2,562
Lot Size: 6,969
$/Sq Ft: $327
Property Type: Single Family Home
Year Built: 1981
Community: Northwood - Windstream

HOA dues are $175 per month and there are no Mello Roos taxes.

The house sits on a corner lot of a small cul-de-sac within the gated community of Windstream.  Just one house separates it from the greenbelt and views of the Hicks Canyon Trail, though there isn’t direct access to the trail.  It’s also a very short walk to Santiago Hills Elementary School.  It does sit very close to one of the main gates into the community, so there may be some traffic going down the adjacent street, but overall it is still a pretty quiet location.

From the front gate, you can walk directly through to the backyard; there aren’t any fences or gates dividing the front from the back.  A swimming pool sits right in the corner of lot, visible from the front, and without a fence around it.  Owners with children will probably need to better protect the pool since it is so easily accessible from the street (there is a gate to enter the property but it doesn’t lock or automatically latch closed).  The fully hardscaped backyard also has a jacuzzi, a built in barbecue with bar seating, and plenty of additional space.

The living room is just off the main entryway and a couple of steps down.  It has vaulted ceilings, new wood floors, and a brick fireplace in the middle of own wall.  The white mantle doesn’t fit in with the dark wood floors but could be refinished to match.

The dining room is behind the living room, but not sunken down.  It also has vaulted ceilings and new wood floors, plus a large window facing the backyard.

The dining room flows into the kitchen, which mostly reflects the original 1981 design.  The floors and counters are both white tile and the counters are white too.  The black fridge and dishwasher are a bit newer, but the double ovens are original.  There is a built in stove with four regular and two grill burners.  The cupboards definitely show their age, with some of them not hanging perfectly straight and several with paint chipping.  They are in decent, but not perfect, condition.  When I opened the wide pantry doors, I was surprised to find very narrow shelves inside.  A large breakfast nook has sliding doors to the backyard and a set of built-ins with cupboards and shelving.

The family room has a large rock fireplace on one wall and a niche for the TV on another.  There are nice plantation shutters on the windows and the same wood floors as in the living and dining rooms. 

Beyond the family room are the laundry room, with a sink, and half bath that hasn’t been remodeled but appears to be in good condition.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms.  The two secondary rooms are pretty big and bright.  One has wood floors, two windows, and a large, mirrored closet.  Crown molding and a niche in one corner give it a nice touch.  The other room is carpeted and has smaller windows, but still has a large, mirrored closet.  It also has a niche in one corner, but much smaller than the one in the first bedroom.

Like its downstairs counterpart, the upstairs bathroom is in good condition but hasn’t been remodeled.  It has white tiled floors and counters, two sinks, and a shower/tub combo.

The master is a big room with vaulted ceilings and several windows.  Its layout offers space for numerous pieces of furniture without feeling crowded.  It has a nice sitting area at one end.  There is also a fancy chandelier hanging over the bed, similar to one normally seen in a dining room.

The master bath is very large, with two sinks, a big soaking tub, and a good-sized stall shower.  There are two mirrored closets.  The vaulted ceilings have a skylight which, along with other windows, makes the bathroom very bright.

The house has a new roof and a three-car garage.  The wood floors are all new and the carpet, though older, is in great shape.  It’s in a safe, quiet neighborhood and on a large lot.  Most 2,500 square foot homes have at least four bedrooms; with only three in this house, you know you’re getting rooms that are bigger than average.  Despite the original kitchen and bathrooms, the house has a lot going for it and it is priced to sell.  I’m not sure why the listing is so hard to find, but I think it’s worth tracking down.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3604.0.html

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