Opinions about Country Walk? Considering home purchase... (Miami, Tampa: real estate market, renting)

[yoliramirez1]

Can anyone out there offer opinions about Country Walk in West Kendall (Miami)?

We're looking for a home and like the look of Country Walk, but have some concerns...

--Hurricanes (were homes built "to code" after Hurricane Andrew? meaning can they survive a big storm?)

---Home Owner's Association: is it a nightmare like I've heard? (unreasonable and often threatening legal action over small stuff?)

--Flooding: is it true that the flooding problem has been fixed?

--Traffic: how bad is the traffic coming in and out of there?

Any other tips, whether "pro" or "con" about Country Walk would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[doggiebus]

Country Walk is really pretty, but far out there. OMG Traffic coming from there is horrible during rush hour traffic. I do know that there are still ALL wood built homes in Country Walk. So that scares me a little. I don't know if I would buy a house that was rebuilt with CBS, but was next to a home that was rebuilt with wood again, just because of the potential risk of flying debris from their house... A friend lives there and she said they fixed the flooding, but I guess will will see come June won't we.

[305guy]

Depending where you work and where you usually commute to traffic can be a nightmare. If you're going east in the morning and back out west it will be hard on you. Crime is low and it is a pretty safe area - as far as violent crimes and similar activity. I'd say the only drawback is traffic congestion - but that depends on where you work.

[tallrick]

Google "hurricane Andrew" and see what Country Walk is really famous for!

[305guy]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Google "hurricane Andrew" and see what Country Walk is really famous for!

That's messed up but true...

[spealex]

Country Walk is a relatively nice area, getting better through time. It will probably never shed its post Hurricane Andrew image, but county building codes and tougher enforcement should help out with the big one. A note of caution though, few homes are actually going to be built to withstand the BIG ONE. Things are better and homes should do fine with most storms. Andrew was a Cat. 5 with over 100 tornados. Not much exists other than concrete structure to combat that storm. The neighborhood is getting better. It is near an executive airport and a new strip mall was built about a mile north of country walk. London Square. THE major drawback is the traffic. Word is an extension of a highway will alleviate the traffic one day, but with the budget woes we are facing, one day maybe several years off. In the mean time the trek to the turnpike is about 3 miles on 152 st, a trip that can be 30 minutes in the dense morning rush hour traffic. With that said, thousands still live in this area and choose to deal with the traffic so there must be something that has people not leaving the area (and its not just the bad real estate market)

[feelquiet]

The "Country Walk" area includes several developments built to the post-Andrew code. Most developments built after 1994 should be OK, such as Lennar's Victoria Park/San Jose Estates, which are directly adjacent to countrywalk.

There are two very good elementary schools that serve the area, which is part of its appeal. One is on countrywalk drive, and there's a newer one further west. The high school that serves the area is mediocre, but Coral Reef High School (a nearby magnet school that is NOT the default high school for the area even though it's the closest) is superb.

I would avoid "Country Walk" itself if i were buying, but i think it's fine if you're renting. Although beautifully designed with literal white picket fences, the homes are all wood-frame. Even with hurricane straps and shutters, I wouldn't want purchase a wood frame home. Since 1994, almost 100% of new homes in this county are concrete block (which is not mandated by the building code but is required defacto because no-one here would buy a wood frame house if they lived through hurricane andrew). On the other hand, there are plenty of wood frame homes in Tampa, and the people there don't seem to care ....

Even with the new sewage system recently installed on 152nd St, there is still a flooding problem during very heavy rains by the main entrance. The main flooding problems are on 152nd St by the bridge over the canal, 148 Ave and Countrywalk Drive, but only during very heavy rains.

Also, you don't want to commute far north or east, so hopefully your job is close by. Recent improvements to the Turnpike entrance help, but it's still a ***** if you must use the Turnpike, 878, 874 or US-1.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by feelquiet

On the other hand, there are plenty of wood frame homes in Tampa, and the people there don't seem to care ....

Because they haven't been through a hurricane in years, and many have no clue. I have friends that have homes in Tampa and don't have any hurricane shutters and plan to stay in their homes if a hurricane comes, which is just suicide to me. They just don't know any better..

[ausep]

To clarify not all the homes i Country Walk are wood construction. The ones destroyed by Andrew are CBC and were built with the new contruction codes in place.

As far as flooding, the new drainage they have intsalled has helped but as in anywhere else in Miami there will be some flooding under heavy rain.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by ausep

To clarify not all the homes i Country Walk are wood construction. The ones destroyed by Andrew are CBC and were built with the new contruction codes in place.

But there are still wood homes in the development.