Baldwin Park (Winter Park, Celebration: mortgage, apartment, condo)

[kroeran]

Any opinions on Baldwin Park? Pros and Cons of various areas?

[GregTraub]

Baldwin Park itself is VERY nice and very upscale. All new construction with the neourbanism theme. Your close to downtown yet you get the feeling you are in your own little town, and don't need to leave the town for entertainment, shopping, work....if you work in an office that is in the towncenter.

Cons are that you have to pay for the location and community niceties. There is a CDD so your taxes are higher than normal, and homes/condo's/townhouses in the area are quite a bit more expensive than most other parts of orlando. But deals are still to be found, especially from builders that are still building in the area. There are some not so great area's to either side of baldwin park though.

If you are considering baldwin park, you may also want to consider avalon park, there are some differences, but same neourbanism concept.

[kinglouix]

Biggest ripoff in America. Cookie cutter mass produced community and they cleared every tree so there isn't a tree higher than 10 feet. AVOID

[EasyCheeze]

if you like your house to look the same as everyone elses, not have a yard or shade, look out your window and see your neighbor's wall than baldwin park is for you!

[Brasstec]

The biggest issue I have with Baldwin park is there are no yards. I mean literally NO back yards....and extremely small front yards if any at all. Where do the children play?

[the9thwonder]

Is Baldwin Park off of Semoran? If so, I am familiar with it. If Baldwin Park is what I think it is, it is nice for sure... the only thing I dont like is the general area it's in, and this is IF I know what I am talking about...LOL

[msaRick]

I love Baldwin Park, but then again I'm an apartment/townhouse/condo kind of guy. If I was looking for a house, I might look somewhere else. Avalon Park is better for thattype of lifestyle, although unless you work on the east side of town, the commute from Avalon is horrible. Come to think of it, with out more info on what you're really looking for and your lifestyle, your question is kind of hard to answer.

[kroeran]

Avalon is definitely cheaper...but more sparse re greenery. Maybe it will look better in a few years. The water features creeped us out a bit...being so desolate...no plans for plantings...which would not even be allowed.

The downtown core of celebration is pretty, tourist-wise, and we LOVE the celebration hotel...disappointing that you have to go out to that eyesore of a strip to get groceries (the horror....sorry for sounding like a spoiled yuppie)

Baldwin Park seems to be the best concept so far, with a strong urban core...amazing fleet peebles dog park. Celebration could not pull off a fenced dog park...collapsed in infighting.

just my impression so far.

[GregTraub]

Have you checked out Park Ave area in Winter Park?

[sunrico90]

For some folks that want a cookie cutter type lot with not yard to maintain, this might be the perfect place. For others like myself I like space.

But should we consider that larger lots with larger homes will cost more (mortgage, HOI, taxes, etc).

This should be a decision based on individuals needs and available financial backing.