Sebastian / Vero Beach ? Relocation (South Beach, Wabasso: foreclosed, rentals, HOA)

[runswithscissors]

" I personally wouldn't worry too much about the sex offenders -- its kind of funny that a new transplant would of course run into several, but I've lived on the Treasure Coast pretty much my whole life and not once had that kind of experience!"

I don't know what you mean by "would of course run into several. I said I ran into two and it's funny you'd "suggest" I made it up?

Go put any address off Schumann Drive in Sebastian and you can see the 325 lb rapist and his registered neighbor a few doors down. Maybe you wouldn't mind living next to them but no thanks for me. Isn't that the point of the registry?

I thought it odd too, and I attributed it to existing people not really looking because they are already settled in their home.

My son's been here over 10 years and when I told him he was laughing and reminded me that in his old neighborhood there were three.

I've never had any dealings with peeping Toms either till my third night here and the idiot guy across the street was standing behind my cement porch pillar at 12 midnight staring in my open patio doors where I was sitting watching TV. I only saw his shadow. This is a gated, guarded community and you better believe I was ticked off and glad I didn't buy this house but only rented. The neighbors all said, oh he's harmless he's brain damaged and lives with his parents here.

Perhaps people just aren't paying attention to their surroundings.

[floridasandy]

sebastian is a great town with virtually no crime. if sebastian can be faulted for anything it is that it is very laid back and there is not that much to do here. it is more of a boating / beach recreational town. anyone can look up crime statistics and see the low crime rate in sebastian. i would not recommend living on schumann as that is the lower priced housing and has a lot of rental units (which would give you more transients also) but the rest of sebastian is very nice. vero is also nice and quiet. if you want more nightlife i would think viera would have more to do (north of melbourne).

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by floridasandy

sebastian is a great town with virtually no crime. if sebastian can be faulted for anything it is that it is very laid back and there is not that much to do here. it is more of a boating / beach recreational town. anyone can look up crime statistics and see the low crime rate in sebastian. i would not recommend living on schumann as that is the lower priced housing and has a lot of rental units (which would give you more transients also) but the rest of sebastian is very nice. vero is also nice and quiet. if you want more nightlife i would think viera would have more to do (north of melbourne).

This is true, there is no crime. But relative to house hunting from another state you have no idea what's going on because agents are showing you all of the houses and the area at first seems "off" but you're not sure why.

You fly all the way down and get there and you're like wth? THIS is what I came here to see? LOL

I'm not sure what you mean by lower priced houses, the town is tiny and they're all low priced except for maybe gated communities but I really didn't see any except for the barrier island. (and that section Pelican Point and the condos over there) Everything is in the range of 100,000 to 250,000 over on that side. And who's going to buy a house for 250,000 a couple of blocks from the dumpy Schumann? I don't think it's "lower priced houses" I think it's "lower quality residents".

I really don't claim to understand it, just what I saw. Perhaps it was my specific requirements because I was not interested in any big 4 bedrooms and several of them are. I've spend several days just driving in and out of neighborhoods so I'm not sure what I'm missing. I didn't go west of Fellsmere because I wanted to be near the river.

As far as I'm concerned that whole "highlands" (?) area is very iffy in terms of neighborhoods retaining quality residents and property value unless it's always been that way, I don't know. From Schumann all the way up to the "end" past 512 up to Main St. That's pretty much the whole town LOL. Unless I'm missing something.

Sebastian is missing the boat in maximizing that River and residents who would move to be near there but wont live in that whole west of Rt 1 past the railroad tracks areas, IMO.

And yes, obviously no crime but nothing to do is correct. And maybe the term laid back is subjective but junk in the yard and deferred maintenance is not the type of laid back that I'd be happy with. ...and the thing is, that area is a large percentage so you are living among those undesirables you mentioned. It's not like they just stay in the house (or out on the lawn in the case of the southern portion) all day long.

I really think this whole deal about having a couple streets that are really nice then several that are "bad" is a phenomenon of the real estate boom and bust in Florida from what I've seen in Sebastian, Vero (very little though) and Broward and maybe other counties. We don't have that in PA the "bad" or "deferred maintenance" and or "crime" sporadic neighborhoods are all completely the same, clearly defined and you never have to go anywhere near them. It's different here.

[runswithscissors]

So yesterday I drove south from Vero along the beach. Neighborhood shopping. After Hutchinson Island A1A stops and you have to go over the causeway to pick it up again and you're in Ft Pierce beaches on the barrier island.

So I'm driving around thinking ok, this isn't as bad as everyone says but definitely old school small houses with some condos and some hotels and alot of construction along Ocean Drive so maybe the barrier island isn't bad. Feels a bit "off" but let's see what's here...

I park at one of the city beach lots and walk up to see the beach and in the nice pergola are a couple, normal looking 20 somethings who strike up a conversation when they see me looking at the beach. Both the guy and girl are giving me directions and telling me about the beach.

Then the guy says "you want to stay over on the North beach (Hutchinson) you don't look like you'd fit in here, there's alot of ghetto here and drugs, crime and people renting rooms even though you can't tell ... alot of trash here.

He gives the girl next to him the eyeball and laughs and I look and she's nodding off and in her hands is a fist full of money that she can't even stay conscious long enough to count!

So one might say "gee I can't believe you find druggies on your one and only time to Fort Pierce especially on the beach".

I say people just aren't paying attention to their surroundings is more like it.

I was laughing with the guy and got in my car and headed back to Hutchinson LOL. It's a shame though, that small island could also be very nice it has beach access all the way down versus being all shrub.... I guess the police are stretched too thin and the town politicians are busy doing other things over caring about quality of life.

[hurricane]

run with scissors, this makes this area sound like Cape Fear... druggies, rapists, molesters etc. Here in Mass. sounds like same as in PA you know what a good neighborhood, town, part of city is and there is usually 99% chance that it follows that rule. you only find trouble when you look for it. My friend was a golf pro at orchid island in vero beach maybe about 8 yrs ago. and he said it was dead he would have to drive to wpb for any type of fun. that is not our case though as we are looking to settle in and start a family. From what it sounds like from all posters here is that Vero is probably the best spot in this area of the coast. If I am reading and understading correctly Sebastian sounds great but has some underlying issues like trashy yards and 300 lb wackos running around. you really had a peeping tom? that's so 1950's. I can tell you my fiancee freaked out by this Registry. Peace of mind is priceless along with great beaches, pubs, and golfing, fishing etc. The way it sounds now I will not be able to leave the house to play 9 holes. or she will not be able to take a walk.

Thanks for all responses. we cant thank you enough because this is really a big decision for us.... But in all reality Florida here we come!

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by hurricane

run with scissors, this makes this area sound like Cape Fear... druggies, rapists, molesters etc. Here in Mass. sounds like same as in PA you know what a good neighborhood, town, part of city is and there is usually 99% chance that it follows that rule. you only find trouble when you look for it. My friend was a golf pro at orchid island in vero beach maybe about 8 yrs ago. and he said it was dead he would have to drive to wpb for any type of fun. that is not our case though as we are looking to settle in and start a family. From what it sounds like from all posters here is that Vero is probably the best spot in this area of the coast. If I am reading and understading correctly Sebastian sounds great but has some underlying issues like trashy yards and 300 lb wackos running around. you really had a peeping tom? that's so 1950's. I can tell you my fiancee freaked out by this Registry. Peace of mind is priceless along with great beaches, pubs, and golfing, fishing etc. The way it sounds now I will not be able to leave the house to play 9 holes. or she will not be able to take a walk.

Thanks for all responses. we cant thank you enough because this is really a big decision for us.... But in all reality Florida here we come!

I know, right? LOL well I may be dramatizing it a bit for humor but it's all true every word. I could NOT believe the idiot neighbor though!! I see this shadow creeping in the streetlights and then motionless on my patio wall. WTH?! Come to think of it it was exactly like Cape Fear since my back faces the estuary and all night long you can hear the frogs and other animals singing and honking with a couple of dogs barking in the distance ha ha. Humidity and stuff just like the movie.

Isn't that my luck. THEN the other neighbors said "oh don't worry about him, he has brain damage". LOLOL You can't make that up! (that was here in Vero my rental)

Funny about Cape Fear, I love that movie (of course lol)....DiNiro was awesome in his version, too. Max ha ha.

Seriously, it's ok, they are all over in every state on registries go check your own neighborhood/town, so it's nothing to freak out about actually....but FL everyone freaks out when they see the tremendous amount of dots in the radius. In Bucks County Pa we didn't have any in the neighborhoods I lived in and I worked in a very blue collar area and there was only one guy in like, 7 miles...so I don't' know...someone said its dependent on the laws in the community or the cops if they are strict I assume they would try and avoid it. It might be that the density is higher because maybe we have fewer schools or something, and they can't live near schools.

You won't have a problem... half of them are really old LOL.

My real concern was I love to walk and if I walk 4 miles that pretty much takes me all over the area and I avoid the mid day sun so I"m out early am and pm, and just didn't wanna be creeped out (for no reason really). BUT with KIDS? Oh yeah, I'd be a maniac to the extent I'd move somewhere carefully. I don't think many came up on the island either. Maybe none I forget.

Don't focus on it but check before moving somewhere permanently is all.

IMO you want to avoid living in the area behind where the baseball stadium is (it's boring anyway) and where Piper aircraft is (not that great anyway) and down by route 1 by Oslo Rd very commercial and some dots on the map there ha ha...

I can laugh if I'm renting but if I'm buying I'm going to try and prevent whatever wierdness I can. The wierd thing about the guy in the Home Depot parking lot was he had a freaking HANDYMAN business! Big surprise there...

Yes it's very quiet though, really, and my son 28 yrs old lives in WPB too because of boredom in Broward for his interests.

Vero is beautiful in fact I drove around all afternoon and enjoyed it and didn't meet any known offenders ha ha. It would be my first choice if I were relocating here (but I dont know about the schools, but I heard the Sebastian mayor say some schools jumped from c to a and thats good in Florida. The barrier island (beach strip) is Orchid Island yes and that's where I was looking alot today, it's really really nice. The homes all have nice property not zero lot lines, beautiful MATURE landscaping, all close to the beach and the beautiful park and Intracoastal Waterway. The architecture is different in each house and street, like in the old days. No shady looking people or wierdness lol. The prices are very good I was shocked today they've fallen more. There are single homes starting at about ....175,000 I'd say. Beachfront is down to about low 200,000 but condos. Nice, though.

Sebastian to me was just not my cup of tea but you can drive around and see everything it's two small towns. Captn Hirams you'll enjoy with reggae and boats pulling up to dock right on the beach. Has a hotel in there too.

But you will rent, right? So it's not a biggie at first. The beach has tons of beautiful homes and you only relo once from MA to FL so I'd go for the gusto and rent on the beach (after Nov, hurricane season) and take your time.

Even on the mainland it's lovely and there are several good deal type homes on the mls, you can go on Trulia and click on the little balloons on the maps and see the prices. Then click "see all comps" in the middle of the page, then you can click on see "sold" properties....you can compare the asking prices to the real sales prices.

I have an excellent professional realtor who will be happy to help you. She's friendly but no nonsense lol but lived here 20 years. I asked her to show me a couple places I found randomly and she said "oh no you dont want to live there tisk tisk" ha ha. She's French

Feel free to direct message me if I can help you or show you around or anything. I think you'll love it , really.

[tbayle]

quote-The wierd thing about the guy in the Home Depot parking lot was he had a freaking HANDYMAN business! Big surprise there...


Runs with scissors, how did you know the handyman was a sex offender? Exactly what business card did he hand to you????

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by tbayle

quote-The wierd thing about the guy in the Home Depot parking lot was he had a freaking HANDYMAN business! Big surprise there...


Runs with scissors, how did you know the handyman was a sex offender? Exactly what business card did he hand to you????

I was putting mulch in my car and there was this white pickup (old) next to me at 7 am in the lot. So the guy jumps out and offers to help me and I'm like, well thanks but I'm ok, but he keeps helping. So he's all chatty and I"m like Seinfeld with close talkers I dont enjoy them LOL.

SO he sees my out of state tag and makes small talk about coming from NY during the hurricane to help his sister and starts banging on his wooden leg telling me he was some spy guy during 911 and got it stuck in a fork lift ..I SWEAR

So I'm slamming my hatchback shut and backing off saying ok, thanks bye blah blah, because I"m thinking of Ted Bundy with the FAKE ARM CAST and how he pushed the victims in their car! (in Florida lol) ....so then he hands me a business card home made for handyman work in people's houses. I'm not going to say the name of it because I don't want the guy to get his face bashed in I just don't wanna find him in my driveway HA HA.

SO, because I'm house hunting I go on the site and look first. and there is a small development a few streets from me and I think to look there...and UP POPS this guy's photo. And there's no way I got it wrong because he's got a distinctive look with these really blue creepy staring at your eyes not blinking like he wants your full attention ha ha (kinda like flim flam men stare at you when they wanna rip off your register making change) and I remember thinking in the HD lot, my mother would think this guy's great because of his creepy eyes LOL. His truck was on there too, because they're supposed to register their vehicles. And it was like a 70's something like a little Japanese type truck. Filled with handyman equipment.

He lives in that development and there is a second one two doors down. I swear they must meet up in offender school or something you see groups all the time in certain areas.

The second one I met was innocently taking his trash out and I thought the neighborhood was nice and didn't look it up till afterwards and there he was.

There's a ton of them. I live near the IR Mall and right in the neighboring condos behind it are two OLD guys lol. Like 70 years old....they only had to register since around 1994 what the heck??

[tbayle]

I have no idea...I've lived in VB all my life and never knew or heard that we had a problem with this. My kids have run all over this town-never had a single bad incident. I keep close tabs on them.. but still. I wonder if this is normal for every town in America-just becuase of the times we are living in-and people just dont' really know about it becuase it hasnt' affected most of us.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by tbayle

I have no idea...I've lived in VB all my life and never knew or heard that we had a problem with this. My kids have run all over this town-never had a single bad incident. I keep close tabs on them.. but still. I wonder if this is normal for every town in America-just becuase of the times we are living in-and people just dont' really know about it becuase it hasnt' affected most of us.

I didn't say it was a "Vero Beach problem" but yes it's everywhere and if you look at the statistics on citydata you will see a high ratio of 1 for every 148 citizens in Vero Beach opposed to in the 200's and 300's in towns you 'd expect the opposite of, like WPB.

I'm quite sure you're right about this. I'm just giving a perspective from a person moving here who casually pays attention to where to buy.

If you put your address in the registry you can see if there is any risk on your kid's territory where they go. I would suggest so because almost every single one of these guys are convicted of crimes against children. Dateline MSNBC had a marathon over July 4th of child predators who even walked in the house alone and got naked without even seeing the child they were there to abuse....right in the kitchens LOL after being invited over for a date on the internet by a 12 year old. RABBIS, POLITICIANS, looking for boys AND girls etc.

I realize that some people don't want to know this type of stuff and others do, some overreact and others dont react at all. Just like society. But the information is out there, so... whatever people want to think.

But I can promise you if my NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR of a home I just bought was one of these guys because I FORGOT to look at the registry, I'd be a dope imo. Not to mention areas where there are several. I dont think there's any way to explain it gracefully. I also want to add that when I had a bunch of kids around all the time I wouldnt have noticed a wierdo in the HD parking lot anyway lol.