Long time home builder Ryder Homes appears to have hit a home run with its latest development in Scotts Valley called “The Cove,” off Scotts Valley Drive. The actual street is Cove Lane which is right off of Dunslee Way.

In fact, I almost never write reviews on new home developments as it takes a few years for the development to “settle in” to the community and get the full view of the project once it has been completed and lived in by its residents. But this one is indeed an exception and I’m jumping right in on this much anticipated project.

View from above – pic courtesy of Ryder Homes

Outdoor Entertainment Options

With a bocci ball court, fire pits, BBQ areas, trails and also a community garden that will be built, the exterior is well designed and very well thought out. It is also a walk to Scotts Valley Drive where you can turn either way and walk to award winning Scotts Valley schools and boutique shopping and dining along the drive.

The bocci court is strategically located in the middle portion of the development which makes for a community vibe and feel for those that want to play or just enjoy a glass of wine by the fire pits with friends and neighbors.

Bocci ball court, fire pit areas and lounging areas still under construction

The garden area plans have not yet been solidified as the builder awaits input from upcoming new homeowners and homeowners association which will determine collectively what type of garden suits the majority.

Build Quality

As a licensed REALTOR® of over 34 years, I recognize well built homes and quality and with this builder of over 60 years that has a solid reputation of building fine homes, the quality and workmanship shows. The fixtures throughout have been well thought out as doors have the black wrought-iron design that is popular today and timeless for decades to come.

Bathrooms with tile floors, quartz counters and walk-in showers

The bathrooms feature beautiful lighting and plumbing fixtures along with plenty of counter and storage space and topped off with beautiful quartz stone countertops. The flooring is a popular tile floor with wood grain look. The showers are spacious with frameless glass doors and matching tile throughout, along with matching plumbing fixtures throughout.

The bedrooms are all spacious with plenty of closet space and lots of natural lighting.

Also, as someone who stands 6’2, I appreciate high ceilings, and high ceilings in general tend to give a feel of spaciousness that go beyond square footage.

Spacious kitchens with large islands, custom lighting and stainless steel appliances

But my favorite feature of these homes are the kitchens and the materials that are used. From stunning quartz stone countertops to stainless steel and chrome handles and lighting fixtures, to beautiful stainless steel appliances. All colors and finishes work well and tie in perfectly. The designer lighting fixtures and large kitchen islands are jaw-droppingly (new word) beautiful.

Floorplans and Pricing

There are three separate floorpans with the affordable housing Plan A which is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit with a 2 car garage and 1,328 square feet being the lowest price ones. These are units that are specific to lower income families and are limited and the city of Scotts Valley determines the buyers of these homes as buyers have to qualify with an income limit. These units are all spoken for and may no longer be available as there were only 3 available to begin with.

My favorite floorplan? Plan C which is the 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2,013 square feet as they have a full bedroom and bath on the first floor which is perfect for guests, an office or a bedroom where a teen needs their space. Hey, I know these things as a father of 3 daughters!

Plan B is also a great floorplan with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2,013 square feet.

Click on the following links for floorpans and 3D virtual tours of plans B and C:

• Plan B – 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2,013 square feet
• Plan C – 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2,013 square feet

Prices for plan B and C start at approximately $929,950 and up depending on the floorplan and location of the unit.

Parking

Parking looks to be average to above average as the garages are indeed spacious and capable of housing 2 cars. Imagine that! And one big bonus will be the allowance of The Cove residents to park in the upcoming new Canepa building overnight with certain time restrictions.

Speaking the Canepa building, the building could be housing and showcasing an exclusive $2.5 million car called the T-50 as Canepa was given the exclusive North America rights to sell that super car. This has not been confirmed, but more on that to come in a future article as that continues to take form.

If I was to look for what I don’t particularly like, the answers would be minimal.

The first issue would be the 3 stories (levels), but with the grading of the property itself, the 3 story actually works for most especially for Plan C which has a bedroom with full bath downstairs.

The second issue is the stairway going up from the garage seems a little narrow and with no windows, but I was unable to confirm if there is a window for the end units on that stairway.

The third issue is the lack of yard or balcony. But the fact is that when people consider buying a townhouse, most do not buy one with hopes of a spacious yard. And the way the exterior amenities have been laid out throughout the development, there are plenty of places to roam and enjoy the outdoors in this development.

All in all, this is a beautiful development and if not my favorite townhouse development in Scotts Valley, in my top 3. And in over 3 decades of viewing and selling townhouses, this is one of my all-time favorites in any area. The look and feel of these homes along with the workmanship and choice of building materials including the kitchens is consistent with single family homes costing close to $1.5 million. The location is excellent and the beautiful backdrop of trees and mountains that are used in their marketing pieces are actually on point with the way they really look and feel.

How To View These Homes and More Information

You can contact the sales department directly for more information. Or if desired, I am licensed by the California Department of Real Estate and Ryder Homes is in fact cooperating with real estate agents and brokers that represent their buyers. If you need someone to go through the paperwork, contracts and association docs with you at no cost to you, I am happy and honored to do so and the builder pays a brokerage fee, not the buyer. The builder requests that any buyers that I or any agent is representing notify Ryder Homes upon visiting the development for the first time, which is standard procedure with new home developments. But I am happy to gather information and walk you through the process if needed.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not in any way employed or contracted with Ryder Homes. Nor have I been paid to write this review.

As always, happy selling and happy buying!

Robert Aldana
REALTOR® since 1986

DRE # 00921165
Keller Williams Realty
831-252-3959 Direct Line

[email protected]
www.robertaldana.com

ABOUT ROB: Robert Aldana is a 34+ year licensed real estate veteran with Keller Williams Realty, and also a long-term resident and homeowner in Scotts Valley.

In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Robert was the agent chosen by more Scotts Valley area home sellers and buyers than any agent or team, and Robert was awarded the Santa Cruz Sentinel Readers Choice Award as the Best REALTOR® in Scotts Valley for four straight years 2016, 2017, 2018 and again in 2019. Robert is also the ALL-TIME leading real estate agent in Scotts Valley sales.