Stonegate’s newest neighborhood, Cambria, opened a few weeks ago.  The three townhomes by Irvine Pacific Homes feature two to three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.  There aren’t many differences between the first two models, and all three have a lot of similarities.  Buildings will be configured with two, three or four residences.  Each townhome has a two-car garage at the front of the house and a patio in the back.  None of the homes have a bedroom downstairs.  Cambria runs alongside Irvine Blvd and is closer to the Jeffrey side of Stonegate.

A few of the standard amenities in each home are Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, white Thermofoil cabinets with adjustable shelves, granite slab counters with a 6-inch backsplash (full backsplash at range), and dual undermount sinks with marble counters in the master bath.  The flooring consists of tile in the entryway; vinyl in the kitchen, dining, bath and laundry; and carpet throughout all living areas.  Pricing ranges from a base of $548,600 for Residence One up to $627,200 for Residence Three.  Homes range from 1503 to 1690 square feet. 

Pricing and Maps

Brochure

Plans

Basic Neighborhood Financial Information
Base Property Tax: 1.05% of sales price
AD Tax: $1,885 per year
CFD: $1,700 per year
Other Taxes: $160 per year
Homeowners Dues: $290 per month (includes $178 for Cambria Assn & $112.50 for Stonegate Assn) – rates are approximate
If you split all of these expenses evenly over 12 months, it amounts to nearly $1,100 in fees, even basing the property tax on the base price for Residence One.

Residence One
1,503 Sq Ft
2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Loft, Optional Enclosed Loft
Base Price $548,600

Residence One can be found in the middle of either a three or four unit building, so you will always have neighbors on both sides of this model.  A few of the upgrades shown in the model include brushed chrome pulls, Caesarstone counters and a single basin sink in the kitchen; upgraded flooring, window treatments and baseboards throughout; recessed can lights in the master bedroom; and, in the master bath, decorative mirrors, an upgraded shower enclosure, and upgraded counters and tiles.

I entered the home and immediately saw the stairs to my right and a long hallway leading to the great room and kitchen at the back.  Along the hall, I passed a small powder room on my right and garage access on my left. 

The hall opens up to the great room and kitchen at the back of the house.  Windows line the whole back wall, bringing in light and giving the rooms an open feel.  The kitchen features a big (but not huge) island that houses the sink and dishwasher and also has room for several bar stools.  Cabinets and drawers line the wall to the right, broken up by the range and the microwave.  Ample counter space and storage nooks in the dining area provide plenty of room for prep and storage.  It lacks a true pantry.  The dining area is at the far end of the room, with space for a good-sized table.

The great room has a big built-in unit on one wall that houses the TV and bookshelves.  The room is pretty big and offers space to arrange it in a variety of ways.  It does not have a fireplace.

The door to the backyard is off the dining area.  It has a wider patio space behind the great room and a narrower spot behind the dining area.

There could be a small coat closet at the bottom of the stairs; however, the model shows a built-in shelving unit instead.  As this is the only downstairs closet, most buyers probably wouldn’t swap it for shelves.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and an open loft.  The loft is directly at the top of the stairs.  While there is an option to enclose the room, it would still lack a closet and couldn’t be considered an actual bedroom.  It has a window facing the front and makes a good office space.  Even with it open, noise shouldn’t be a problem, as it only overlooks the stairs and is above the entryway, so it isn’t open to any true living space.

The secondary bedroom also faces the street.  It is a pretty big room with wall space that allows for easy arrangement of furniture.  It has a standard, two-door closet with an option for storage above (as seen in one of the other models).  The en-suite bathroom has a single sink and a shower/tub combo with an option for just a shower. 

The small laundry room has a stacked washer and dryer and a linen cupboard.  An optional sink could replace the storage.

The master suite spans the back of the house.  Large windows on one wall let in a lot of light and make the room feel even bigger.

The master bath has dual sinks set in a long counter with cabinets and drawers for each side.  A small window brings in some natural light.  This model eliminated the tub and shows the optional upgraded shower.  The walk-in closet is at the back of the bathroom and, though it’s a good size, it certainly isn’t as big as the closets in many other new homes.

Overall, I like the floor plan.  It is basic, but the space is used well and the rooms are pretty big.  I think the laundry room is too small, but that is my only real complaint.  The back patio is even a good size for a townhome.  At approximately $365/square foot (without upgrades), it is on the lower end of the spectrum for townhomes currently on the market in Irvine.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,4178.0.html