|
|
patinsd
Posts:40
 |
| 05/11/2008 8:55 PM |
 Alert
|
| You aren't the crazy one, but I don't blame them for overpricing these things. If I had purchased there already, I'd hope they didn't drop the prices or start leasing the units out directly. I think a developer can decide how to sell its building. I'm no economist, but it seems like keeping the prices above the market prices would just lead to a long time to sell the units. While Aria might sell out their units in two years, Aperture might take 5-6 years. |
|
|
|
|
geist
Posts:2
|
| 06/03/2008 12:01 PM |
Alert
|
I just purchased at Aperture and yes, the building is more appropriately 2/3's sold. I wouldn't believe that from a sales person but on the floor I bought I noticed mine and one other were the only unsold units. For people saying that it is overpriced, I agree and I think City Mark agrees too. A word of advice, City Mark considered a very low ball offer and countered just barely higher. If someones willing to pay those top bucks for units then by all means, sell them at that. A serious buyer would offer much much less considering the market. I think that's City Mark's strategy.
All in all the reasons I bought were the location, the value of the particular unit I bought, the building itself is just great looking high quality building, WINDOWS galore, quality and design of common areas. Im yet to see a unit similar to mine on MLS for anywhere near the same price.
I'll be concise and include the weak points. $500 a month HOA for no amenities??? I won't defend this being a good value. I pay that now and have pool, club house, gym, tennis courts, and immaculate extensive landscaping. Location is nice but sort of on the fringes of that big transition zone behind the city core.
This is a HOME not stock equity in some company. I plan on residing there not turning around with the only concern of making money off of it. Real estate got turned into an investment/flipping market. I plan on living here long term, or at least keeping it long term. If you're going to make a place your home, pay whatever it's worth to you. |
|
|
|
|
patinsd
Posts:40
|
| 06/03/2008 12:28 PM |
Alert
|
| So Geist - if you don't mind telling, out of curiosity, what did you pay PPSF and when was your offer accepted? |
|
|
|
|
stella
Posts:361
|
| 06/03/2008 12:55 PM |
Alert
|
| Is the rooftop of the building a common area for residents? |
|
|
|
|
1sttime
Posts:10
|
| 06/03/2008 2:39 PM |
Alert
|
hi geist. thanks for your post. i'm considering buying in aperture as well. just curious...how long is "long term" to you?
|
|
|
|
|
geist
Posts:2
|
| 06/03/2008 3:44 PM |
Alert
|
Long term means indefinite to me. I chose something I can foresee spending the next ten-twenty years in. I don't have plans on selling it. I plan on making it my primary residence in San Diego and if I am interested in purchasing in some other location it would be as a second home or vacation home. I've looked almost everywhere downtown and to be completely sincere, this particular unit was my favorite. I liked it better than places at the Pinnacle, Legend, Mark, Alta, Aria. I did not even consider anything along the train tracks but I did like the layout much better than places in the Grande and Electra. Not to mention the exclusivity of only 82 units. Yeah you get a lot more outside of your residence in those other places but I have a pool and gym now and don't use them enough to pay $300-400/month extra for.
The accepted offer was around $425-430 psq cash. I won't disclose size, price or particular unit, but it was quite a bargain from other prices ive seen and units ive toured in the area.
Stella,
No rooftop deck. The penthouse units have skylights so I don't think there will ever be one though it would be nice. |
|
|
|
|
Brian
Posts:2649
|
| 06/03/2008 4:22 PM |
Alert
|
Posted By geist on 06/03/2008 3:44 PM
I liked it better than places at the Pinnacle, Legend, Mark, Alta, Aria. I did not even consider anything along the train tracks but I did like the layout much better than places in the Grande and Electra. Not to mention the exclusivity of only 82 units.
Since you speak so highly of Aperture, I'll be sure to check it out. I've not been there yet.
|
|
|
|
|
sd_down
Posts:10
|
| 10/14/2008 8:27 AM |
Alert
|
| Any new info from Sales at Aperture. Was anyone else able to buy at around 425 to 430 per square foot or make offers around that price? Thanks |
|
|
|
|
Carrie
Posts:1
|
| 12/08/2008 5:41 PM |
Alert
|
| I went into their sales office a week ago and they said they were over 90% sold out. Their price range is in the low $400's for a one bedroom which equates to about $480 per sq.ft. From what I hear (my agent looked at the recent sales in the building) they have been successfully selling for around that price and after taking a tour of the building I could see why! Their design is like nothing I have seen downtown and it's obvious why they have had such success. I have extensively been shopping downtown for a home and from what I have found your best bet for a home in Little Italy in the low $400's per sq.ft. would be Aqua Vista. The design is nothing like Aperture so you get what you pay for...but it's a great option for those who are on a limited budget. |
|
|
|
|
Aeneid
Posts:53
|
| 12/08/2008 6:21 PM |
Alert
|
Carrie,
would you mind elaborate about the design? I have seen pics of the lobby and thought that it is ugly. Thanks. |
|
|
|
|
Brian
Posts:2649
|
| 01/04/2009 11:44 AM |
Alert
|
Posted By geist on 06/03/2008 12:01 PM
I just purchased at Aperture and yes, the building is more appropriately 2/3's sold. I wouldn't believe that from a sales person but on the floor I bought I noticed mine and one other were the only unsold units. For people saying that it is overpriced, I agree and I think City Mark agrees too. A word of advice, City Mark considered a very low ball offer and countered just barely higher. If someones willing to pay those top bucks for units then by all means, sell them at that. A serious buyer would offer much much less considering the market. I think that's City Mark's strategy.
All in all the reasons I bought were the location, the value of the particular unit I bought, the building itself is just great looking high quality building, WINDOWS galore, quality and design of common areas. Im yet to see a unit similar to mine on MLS for anywhere near the same price.
I'll be concise and include the weak points. $500 a month HOA for no amenities??? I won't defend this being a good value. I pay that now and have pool, club house, gym, tennis courts, and immaculate extensive landscaping. Location is nice but sort of on the fringes of that big transition zone behind the city core.
This is a HOME not stock equity in some company. I plan on residing there not turning around with the only concern of making money off of it. Real estate got turned into an investment/flipping market. I plan on living here long term, or at least keeping it long term. If you're going to make a place your home, pay whatever it's worth to you.
Did you say that Aperture is quality.
It appears to me like the kitchens don't have backsplashes. Plain paint will look worn out very quickly. Or is that some kind of green fake stone?
No exhaust over the stove.
I have not visited Aperture so I can only judge the quality from the pictures.
MLS-090000415-1494_Union_St_1003_San_Diego_Ca_92101
|
|
|
|
|
NCgirl
Posts:263
|
| 01/04/2009 12:00 PM |
Alert
|
| It's a glass back splash. My desk is the same material. |
|
|
|
|
NotABullMoron
Posts:48
|
| 01/04/2009 12:02 PM |
Alert
|
Brian
I am going to think that is some kind of stone or glass as the backsplash hence the line stays very straight once the upper cabinet ends. Citymark builds very good products, of course the problem is good problem or not it is still outrageously priced compared to rent. |
|
|
|
|
NCgirl
Posts:263
|
| 01/04/2009 12:04 PM |
Alert
|
Oh...and the exhaust for the stove is probably under the microwave. The cabinet above holds the exhaust stuff...not really a real cabinet.
Carry on. |
|
|
|
|
Brian
Posts:2649
|
| 01/04/2009 12:09 PM |
Alert
|
Thanks for the clarification on the glass backsplash.
NCgirl, do you think that there is a vent conduit above the microwave to evacuate the smell outside?
I hate those microwave above the stove setups. They get dirty and smelly from the cooking.
|
|
|
|
|
jakob
Posts:550
|
| 01/04/2009 12:22 PM |
Alert
|
| Brian, I believe it is in the California building code that a gas range MUST be vented to the outside. |
|
|
|
|
anon66
Posts:37
|
| 01/04/2009 1:58 PM |
Alert
|
| I live in a Citymark building, almost identical kitchen with gas stove and no vent to outside. Just an exhaust fan, which is useless when you need ventilation. |
|
|
|
|
Brian
Posts:2649
|
| 01/04/2009 7:42 PM |
Alert
|
Posted By anon66 on 01/04/2009 1:58 PM
I live in a Citymark building, almost identical kitchen with gas stove and no vent to outside. Just an exhaust fan, which is useless when you need ventilation.
anon66, thanks for the feedback.
It seems the exhaust fan does not exhaust anything but is actually a recirculation fan that draws the cooking fumes through a filter (cheesy and ineffective filter that few owners ever wash) and back into the room.
I would prefer a real exhaust fan that evacuates the cooking smell to the outside.
|
|
|
|
|
wilson
Posts:674
|
| 01/04/2009 8:53 PM |
Alert
|
Yes, kitchen hoods are manufactured so they can either exhaust air to a section of vent pipe or recirculate the air back through a metal filter that can be washed or replaced. I've never come across amy local code that mandated the exhaust version.
Kitcen vents can be a difficult thing to vent outside. The vents on the exterior are often unappealing and the vented air can stain the building exterior with grease.The walls between multi-family units must be fire-rated walls, so it is difficult to group kitchen exhaust vents together. Same problem with dryer vents, though staining the building exterior is not a concern. I think many would be surprised at the number of kitchen hoods not vented to the exterior. People just assume they are because they are usually exhausted in single-family homes. |
|
|
|
|
jakob
Posts:550
|
| 01/05/2009 4:14 AM |
Alert
|
| Okay, I guess the repairman was in error when he told me venting outside was in the building code... Mine doesn't vent outside either, and i'm in a SFH. Wouldn't set off the smoke alarm so much if it did. And breathing less CO is a good thing. |
|
|
|
|