Kristen, her husband Spencer and their toddler son are happily settled at FivePoint Valencia, after moving from their rental home in Highland Park. Their late May move-in marks their first new home purchase and first ownership.
"Like many shoppers, we started our search for home ownership where we lived, and we liked Highland Park and the surrounding area," said Kristen. "We initially considered making an offer on an established home, but quickly concluded that this option was a non-starter for us.
"One bidding war was all it took to show us we did not want to invest any more time or stress in this kind of hunt," she explained. "Spencer likes suburban life and made a good case for its lifestyle advantages, so we extended our search area. Then some friends drew us up this way, where we found Valencia."
After reviewing Valencia's community ads, the young couple decided to tour thoroughly. "We wanted to see what there was to see, and we looked at everything that could help us get into home ownership," said Spencer. "Since we both grew up in townhomes, we were happy to consider both attached and detached designs."
Lennar's Jasmine was the winner. This collection of two-story townhomes features three designs that offer approximately 2,036 to 2,148 square feet of living space, with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.
Easy Living—Jasmine Plan 3 was the couple's top choice. Jasmine's largest home, it provides 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths, plus a powder room.
A covered porch enhances guest arrival, opening to an open concept design with great room, dining and island kitchen. Sliders off dining provide space-expanding natural light and views to the entire hospitality zone. The kitchen features a large walk-in pantry, and an island that easily accommodates casual meals or staging. At rear, a two-bay garage opens directly to these interior spaces.
Upstairs, the luxurious primary suite features spa bath design, a large walk-in wardrobe and a covered deck off the bedchamber. An upgraded second bath serves three additional bedrooms. A large laundry room with shelving and a handy linen closet complete the home's retreat spaces. "These three bedrooms allow for guests and room for children, as well as a home office or upstairs lounge," said Kristen.
Brand New—As pleasing as Plan 3's design was its pristine condition. "In addition to inflated pricing, the pre-owned homes we looked at needed a lot of work, which equals more time, more money, more hassles," said Spencer. "Here, everything is new and modern and works—the move-in ready choice made a lot more sense to us both!"
Lively Place—Valencia also offers the inviting ambience of neighborhood vitality. "When we toured new homes, we saw people out and about with their kids and dogs," said Kristen. "That's a happy sign for our son, our dog and any future children we add to the family."
Places to play include Confluence Park, with open lawn areas for free form enjoyment, an adventure playground, trails, an array of pools, and the clubhouse, with indoor/outdoor seating and dining spaces. "The swimming pools were a big draw for us," said Kristen. "Especially these, which are beautiful, with good choices for all ages—and not our responsibility to maintain!"
Good connections—both Kristen and Spencer are busy with careers, Spencer as a union electrician with Universal Studios and Kristen as a producer with Netflix Animation. "I can work at home and take care of our son," said Kristen. "Our offices are in North Burbank, and Spencer's commute is also very doable, so we are both totally OK with Valencia's location."
The schools that serve Valencia were also a plus, as are plans for more retail, dining and entertainment in the community's planned additions. "We see the potential in Valencia today and for our future, and we sure are glad we made the decision to become homeowners here," said Kristen and Spencer.
