Frame stucco vs Concrete Stucco >2000 yr (Fort Lauderdale, University: for sale, HOA)

[alsidw]

We are frustrated finding a house perhaps because we are excluding frame stucco housing and houses built before 2000. Am I going wrong? I have asked realtors to give me houses up to 150k and no HOA and not getting anything much. I need a house soon. Ideas. Tired of commuting from Fort Lauderdale to look at houses.

[newred5]

Sid
Before buying any Frame /stucco home or one built before a certain year , call a insurance company and get a quote as to what the insurance would be ......

[pslhomie]

Sid, you would be an idiot to buy one of these houses. Termites are the biggest reason not to buy one. Mold, rot and the cost of upkeep are all before Hurricanes and other storms.

There is a fixer upper on Salvataria (not spelled correctly) for 89k. It's only 1600 square ft but it is a good neighborhood. www.trulia.com and then type in 34987 and it will appear.

We are more than likely going to put up our house on the market in about a year 2350 square ft no pool but just like new. Just to break even we need to get about 215k so we have to wait. Good houses are hard to find. We are the second owners but the only ones to live in the house. It was built in 2006 and we have kept it just like new. Not living in it full time yet. We had plans to retire and move north but the economy has sidelined us a bit from that.

[CrowGirl]

Like previous posters I agree with your decision not to look at frame houses. When I first moved to Florida I bought one - I wish my realtor had educated me a bit. I'll never do it again. When I moved to the Treasure Coast it would have been challenging to find a CBS home in a decent area for $150K but I would guess that would not be impossible now. One thing you may want to consider is being open to "HOA lite". I too have always avoided HOA neighborhoods whenever possible. But I ended up in in Jensen Park Estates in Jensen Beach. It does have an HOA but when I was there it was very inexpensive (I seem to recall $85 annually) and the association was not the overactive HOA of my nightmares. For most purposes it was like not having one. I'm sure there are others like that too. Just something to consider. But definitely hold out for block.

[alsidw]

Good advice. We have always lived in a single family house. We lived in our last house in New Orleans for 55 years so it is all new to us. We are a couple fo retired seniors looking to settle down and enjoy the remainder of our lives that God has given to us for however long we are here. I feel kind of foolish now telling our Realtor to send us HOA properties after I was so sure not wanting them. HOA Lite - that is a good term. Now I just need to find such a place I can afford. Being on a fixed income makes you very cautious.

[lindarby]

I live in Oleander Pines and our HOA is only $110.00 per year. The development here is beautiful. We have some frame homes but most are concrete block. Several houses are for sale.

[pslhomie]

Sid what part of New Orleans did you live in? I lived in Harvey and then in lower Algiers for 4 years back in the 80's.

[alsidw]

Where Carrollton Avenue and St Charles Avenue come together, it is called Riverbend, but generally called Uptown. Spent my 67 years there.

[pslhomie]

That was a very nice part of town. It was just south of City Park right?

[alsidw]

City park is at one end of Carrollton Avenue, we were in the 900 block, or the beginning of Carrollton near Camelia Grill. Near Tulane University. We sold our house in one day.