South of Kissimmee... is this a good area? (Lake Mary, Bell: HOA, condo)

[Wilshire81182]

Curiosity led me to look and it really overall just improved my opinion of what Kissimmee has to offer. It looks very nice.

[barber4life]

Looking to move to orlando, kissimmee area and need to know some nice areas to live. Looking for a family freindly community with nice schools and not to far from shopping. Price range of 1000-1200 a month. Any advice would be very helpful, thanks!

[djclasico]

but the HOA fees in Bellalago is ridiculous

[BrokerHarry]

Originally Posted by djclasico

but the HOA fees in Bellalago is ridiculous

I don't think so.

The Bellalago HOA fees are broken down into 2 parts, the actual HOA & the Bellalago Club.

The HOA is $115 a month. For that, we get 24 hour manned security at the gate house, as well as private patrol cars. It includes your exterior landscape water bill, & it includes basic BrightHouse cable TV. For $60 more per month (to BrightHouse) I get high speed internet, & a land line, & expanded cable channels. The entire community is meticulously landscaped & maintained. There's a great system of bike paths that I utilize every day. It reminds me of a tropical Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where I used to hang out when I was younger.

The Bellalago Club fee is $138 a month. That buys you into the 3 spectacular pools, 2 spas, & 2 amenity centers with excellent gym facilities. There are extensive fitness, aerobics, zumba, dance, yoga classes with excellent paid instructors. My wife goes to them every day. It's all included in the fee. There's tennis & basketball courts & soccer fields. There's fishing & boat ramps & a lift to get into Lake Toho, & a great dock that extends way out into the lake.

The pools alone are worth $100 a month to me. That's $1,200 a year, $12,000 in ten years, $24,000 in 20 years. You couldn't build anything that would compare for more than double that price. I know. I built residential pools in Los Angeles for 2 decades. I swim laps in the 75' main pool every day. It's heated year around, as are the spas...always ready to go. You can't beat it.

If you're the type who doesn't like to swim or exercise or ride bikes or hang out by the water...then Bellalago might not be for you.

But if you're eager to utilize all the facilities...it's a great deal that my wife & I recommend highly.

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2f&oe=55EAEB2C

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b9&oe=55E7F294

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6f&oe=55FCE4A0

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1c&oe=55FD4A41

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by BrokerHarry

I don't think so.

The Bellalago HOA fees are broken down into 2 parts, the actual HOA & the Bellalago Club.

The HOA is $115 a month. For that, we get 24 hour manned security at the gate house, as well as private patrol cars. It includes your exterior landscape water bill, & it includes basic BrightHouse cable TV. For $60 more per month (to BrightHouse) I get high speed internet, & a land line, & expanded cable channels. The entire community is meticulously landscaped & maintained. There's a great system of bike paths that I utilize every day. It reminds me of a tropical Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where I used to hang out when I was younger.

The Bellalago Club fee is $138 a month. That buys you into the 3 spectacular pools, 2 spas, & 2 amenity centers with excellent gym facilities. There are extensive fitness, aerobics, zumba, dance, yoga classes with excellent paid instructors. My wife goes to them every day. It's all included in the fee. There's tennis & basketball courts & soccer fields. There's fishing & boat ramps & a lift to get into Lake Toho, & a great dock that extends way out into the lake.

The pools alone are worth $100 a month to me. That's $1,200 a year, $12,000 in ten years, $24,000 in 20 years. You couldn't build anything that would compare for more than double that price. I know. I built residential pools in Los Angeles for 2 decades. I swim laps in the 75' main pool every day. It's heated year around, as are the spas...always ready to go. You can't beat it.

If you're the type who doesn't like to swim or exercise or ride bikes or hang out by the water...then Bellalago might not be for you.

But if you're eager to utilize all the facilities...it's a great deal that my wife & I recommend highly.

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2f&oe=55EAEB2C

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b9&oe=55E7F294

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6f&oe=55FCE4A0

https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1c&oe=55FD4A41

Is the Bellalago Club fee mandatory for residence?

If so, then breaking into two is a bit misleading. It's common for HOA fees to cover community pools, gyms, meeting rooms in addition to some utilities, public space maintenance, security etc.

[BrokerHarry]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Is the Bellalago Club fee mandatory for residence?

If so, then breaking into two is a bit misleading. It's common for HOA fees to cover community pools, gyms, meeting rooms in addition to some utilities, public space maintenance, security etc.

That's how they do it in Bellalago, Mr BMW.

Two mandatory monthly fees, paid into 2 separate accounts. $115 + $138 = $253 a month total.

We consider that a very reasonable price, in response to poster djclasico's earlier opinion, saying it's "ridiculous".

[Soup Not See]

Originally Posted by BrokerHarry

That's how they do it in Bellalago, Mr BMW.

Two mandatory monthly fees, paid into 2 separate accounts. $115 + $138 = $253 a month total.

We consider that a very reasonable price, in response to poster djclasico's earlier opinion, saying it's "ridiculous".

What you save in HOA fees, you spend in gas ...

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by BrokerHarry

That's how they do it in Bellalago, Mr BMW.

Two mandatory monthly fees, paid into 2 separate accounts. $115 + $138 = $253 a month total.

We consider that a very reasonable price, in response to poster djclasico's earlier opinion, saying it's "ridiculous".

Well if it's mandatory, than just say the HOA is $253/month, which is high for Central Florida standards.

The problem with resort-style HOA communities is they always get more expensive, which makes long-term living a pain in the butt. $138/month for some pools and a gym sounds pretty steep. You could get annual passes to multiple water parks and sign-up with a top tier gym for less per month. It just seems like a lot considering the far out location of Bellalago.

[BrokerHarry]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Well if it's mandatory, than just say the HOA is $253/month, which is high for Central Florida standards.

The problem with resort-style HOA communities is they always get more expensive, which makes long-term living a pain in the butt. $138/month for some pools and a gym sounds pretty steep. You could get annual passes to multiple water parks and sign-up with a top tier gym for less per month. It just seems like a lot considering the far out location of Bellalago.

For you, it might be too much, & too far out.

But to me...Bellalago is an excellent value.

I started working for Winn Dixie at $1.25 an hour, back in Jax Beach, when I was 16.

Almost 5 decades later, I have a pretty good feel for the value of my money.

PS.

The Bellalago HOA went down by $25, effective 2 months ago, in April. It was $278. Now its $253.

[volk2k]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Well if it's mandatory, than just say the HOA is $253/month, which is high for Central Florida standards.

The problem with resort-style HOA communities is they always get more expensive, which makes long-term living a pain in the butt. $138/month for some pools and a gym sounds pretty steep. You could get annual passes to multiple water parks and sign-up with a top tier gym for less per month. It just seems like a lot considering the far out location of Bellalago.

Where are you going to get a gym, cable, lawn care, three pools, AND a manned gate for less than $253? The cable and lawn care alone have a value of over $150 that virtually everyone is going to use...

That actually sounds like a tremendous value that I would gladly pay.