Lots of research and incredible customer service helped Robert Nicolas confidently purchase his very first home at the Santa Cruz neighborhood by Van Daele Homes in the Irvine Village of Woodbury East.

“Making the leap from renter to homeowner can be a little daunting,” said Nicolas.  “However, the sales staff at Santa Cruz was incredible throughout the entire process.  I had braced myself for a confusing, even nerve-wracking experience.  Yet, the sales staff kept us up-to-date, answered all of our questions, and carefully walked us through every step of the way to homeownership. I am so impressed at how they truly look out for the best interests of their buyers.”

That kind of customer service is the perfect complement to village life at Woodbury East, where Nicolas and his fiancé recently settled into their new single-family detached home.

“We fell in love with our home because of its beautiful Spanish-styled architectural exterior. The interiors are pretty incredible, too,” said Nicolas. “The floorplan is very spacious and open. It’s everything we could have hoped for in a first home.”

Priced from the high $600,000s, Santa Cruz by Van Daele Homes offers homebuyers three spacious floorplans from which to choose. The two-story detached homes feature Great Rooms, large kitchens and spacious California rooms. In addition, Santa Cruz homes include elegant crown molding, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and in select floorplans, master retreats.

Santa Cruz is one of five different neighborhoods currently being offered at Woodbury East where homes are priced from the low $300,000s.  Among those neighborhoods now selling are the following: 

-          Santa Rosa by Van Daele Homes – offers townhomes priced from the low $300,000s, with one to two bedrooms and one- and one-half to two- and one-half baths, and 1,060 to 1,430 square feet of living space.

-          Ivy by William Lyon Homes - features three different two-story townhome floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,180 to 1,500 square feet, with two to three bedrooms and two- and one-half baths. Priced from the high $300,00s.

-          Monterey by Brookfield Homes – features townhomes of up to 1,875 square feet, with two to three bedrooms and two- and one-half baths, plus two-car direct access garages, priced from the high $400,000s.

-          Coronado by KB Home – showcases three two-story, single-family detached home floorplans with three to four bedrooms and two- and one-half to three baths.  Priced from the high $500,000s, Coronado spans 1,715 to 1,950 square feet.

In addition to falling in love with the Santa Cruz floorplan they elected, Nicolas and his fiancé also love the long list of amenities that they get to enjoy as residents of Woodbury East, including The Palm Club. The Palm Club acts as the recreational gathering spot of village life at Woodbury East and features a 4-lane Junior Olympic pool, wading pool, spa, fitness center, multi-purpose room with kitchen, picnic areas, barbecues, tot lots, full basketball court, shaded structures and a great lawn area.

But the amenities don’t stop there. In addition to The Palm Club, residents of Woodbury East enjoy access to several lush parks, including Iris Garden, Rose Petal Garden, and Jasmine Park. Iris Garden and Rose Petal Garden parks both boast basketball half-courts, tot lots, barbecue and picnic areas, and lawn areas. Jasmine Park includes a lap pool, wading pool, tot lot, and picnic tables with a BBQ area.

Woodbury East is located within easy access of a wide range of shopping and dining opportunities, with the popular Woodbury Town Center just steps away; now open at Woodbury Town Center is a Home Depot, Staples, Ralphs, Trader Joe’s and L.A. Fitness, as well as several restaurants, boutiques and specialty services. A quick bike ride away is the Trabuco Grove Shopping Center that is anchored by Kohl’s department store, Albertson’s and nearly 20 additional stores, restaurants and services. Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, and The Market Place are close by for those wishing to indulge in a little retail-therapy or some fun.

And, Woodbury East is in the impressive Irvine Unified School District, which once again was awarded for academic excellence and included in the California Distinguished Schools for 2010. Schools include Woodbury Elementary School, Sierra Vista Middle School, and Irvine High School. Also nearby is the prestigious University of California, Irvine.