Irvine Housing Blog

Posted: 11 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT

Parkside Find in University Park

This home is a surprise on many levels. The minute you approach the home you know a gardener lives here. Thriving plants line the walkway, and accent the inside/outside garden spots throughout the home. This is topped off with the lush greenbelt that is just over the wall from the back patio. I am sure the owners chose this single family home with this location in mind. As you step out the back gate, the park is yours to enjoy.

New to the market, this home is now listed as “sale pending, with backup offers accepted.” When I attended the open house, there were a lot of lookers and I thought the property might move quickly.

As you enter the home, overhead a sparkling chandelier shines down on polished wood floors that lead you to the rest of the home. There soaring ceilings, a towering fireplace and clerestory windows move this house beyond the ordinary.

You can sense the owner’s pride and enjoyment of their home. In the living room, the wood is carefully stacked in a fireplace niche, ready for a winter evening. On the patio, all is ready for a relaxing barbeque.

This three bedroom, one and three quarter bath home makes the most of its 1,493 square feet, utilizing space to the best advantage. The inside/outside views, immaculate condition and natural light make it seem larger than it is.

I could see a family happily navigating through daily tasks and special weekend events using this home as their base. The home is well planned and ready to handle a family’s busy schedule.

Off of the main hall there is a special little garden room that can be reached from one of the bedrooms too. The remodeled kitchen is compact and efficient with granite counters and a greenhouse window. A nice sized, light filled dining room sits between the kitchen and the living room, off of the main hall. There are double vanities and skylights in the bathrooms and the living room fireplace is set up for gas or wood.

Specifics:
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 1.75
Square Ft.: 1493
$/Sq.Ft.: $352
Lot Size: 3200 sq.ft.
HOA Dues: $179/month
Property: Residential, Single Family
Year Built: 1968
Double Garage
One common wall attached
No Mello Roos Tax
Community: University Park
County: Orange

Considerations and Comparisons: Very new to the market, a sale pending is now listed for the property. The smart use of space, and desirable location on the greenbelt in a top flight community has made this a winner. The immaculate condition and landscaping add points too. The mural wallpapers in the bedrooms could be updated, and the atrium off of the bedroom could be filled with more low light plants and a fountain for an even more dramatic inside garden room.
Who will move into 21 Whitewood Way? With a sale pending we will soon see. It could be a young family who will love having a park right outside their gate and benefit from the community’s excellent schools might settle here. Professionals who work in or near Irvine, and appreciate the immaculate condition and appealing landscaping might see this as the perfect home retreat. A mature couple with older family members or visitors who need bedrooms on the first floor will appreciate the details of this home and the convenience.

Nearby homes recently sold and new listings: 27 Meadowsweet Way sold for $520,000; and 57 Alder sold for $525,000. 32 Mayapple Way is currently listed at $550,000 and 10 Senisa is listed at $599,000.

Discuss on Talk Irvine: http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3088.0.html