Lake Royale in Louisburg (Raleigh: weekend getaway, work, houses)

[Jane0218]

I paid $600/yr HOA in Arizona for only a pool. I paid $375. in NY for nothing except to live in the neighborhood.

For Lake Royale's HOA(POA) you get a gated community, acces to golf course, access to clubhouse use, a private police force, tennis courts, a pool, bingo nights, steak nights, events for children, events for teens, events for adults, casino nights, fitness classes, massage therapist that comes once or twice a month, daycare across the street, hair salon on site, gas station/convenience store, privacy, no crowds, only property owners on the beaches and boating/jet skiing/skiing, 2 grills (where you order what you want and they make it--i.e: egg salad sandwich, grilled cheese, etc), miniature golf, more, more more.....

From my experience you can't get a better HOA deal than here...

[JohnE1000]

We looked at Lake Royal few months ago when we moved here. We were looking for a water front property, and Lake Royal seemed to be a good choice. However we changed our mind quickly after the first visit for the following reasons:

It is really far out there. It took us about 45 minutes on a weekend from Raleigh to get there.

It is large community with about 50 miles of roads. The community has a one entrance, so if it happen that one buy a property on the other side, one has to drive 20 minutes just to get out of the community, which add another 20 minutes to the commute time.

Some parts of the community are not up to bar with the rest of it. Many trailers have unattractive looks and look abandoned

The community roads are in dire need to be serviced. It looks like the roads have never been serviced since it was built.

Last time I checked Louisburg has very high unemployment rate, with very low average income per capita. It has high property taxes (I think 1.25). I am not sure about schools, but you can figure it out..!

The only thing that we like about the community is the water front, other than that nothing really attractive about it.

The above opinion is my own, and I don't mean to offend or steer anyone away from that community.

[Jane0218]

Originally Posted by JohnE1000

...

It is really far out there. It took us about 45 minutes on a weekend from Raleigh to get there.

It is large community with about 50 miles of roads. The community has a one entrance, so if it happen that one buy a property on the other side, one has to drive 20 minutes just to get out of the community, which add another 20 minutes to the commute time.

Some parts of the community are not up to bar with the rest of it. Many trailers have unattractive looks and look abandoned

The community roads are in dire need to be serviced. It looks like the roads have never been serviced since it was built.

Last time I checked Louisburg has very high unemployment rate, with very low average income per capita. It has high property taxes (I think 1.25). I am not sure about schools, but you can figure it out..!

The only thing that we like about the community is the water front, other than that nothing really attractive about it.

The above opinion is my own, and I don't mean to offend or steer anyone away from that community.

Hi John,
Sorry to hear you did not like your trip to Lake Royale.

I don't know how you traveled to Lake Royale, but I commute to work to NCSU (which is west of downtown Raleigh) from here. By using the new 64/264 highway bypass (well, it's been open for about 2 years now) , I get to Raleigh in 30-35 minutes. Many real estate agents still give the old directions to get here, which are to take Capital Blvd to 401 and then take 98. Uggghhhh, that takes forever! That is not the route of choice by residents any longer. Using the bypass makes even trips to RTP and RDU airport quicker than the old alternative.

The longest it takes a resident who lives on the BACK side of the lake to reach the front gate is about 12-14 minutes, from what I've heard from residents. There are routes the residents know to take to make the trip quicker. Someone who has chosen to live at the back of the lake has chosen this for a reason and they don't mind the drive out. I have heard that in the future an entrance on the back side of the lake will be put in; it's supposed to be part of the community plan.
A resident who lives at the front of the lake can leave the community in 1, 2, 3 minutes--it depends upon where they live.

You are right about some of the areas not being in line with other areas. There are brand new $500,000 (and more) waterfront homes next to older homes. Homes on the interior lots are not as extravegant, they are more modest, but well built. What is nice is that every house is different, no cookie-cutter communities for me, thank you!
I haven't noticed any particular area of homes that is bad. In general, people are proud of their homes here. The POA has taken out many, many abandoned trailers this past year and have actively foreclosed on non-paying owners. They now allow "cottages" to be built upon the trailer lots.

Repair to the roads did start last year, until the contractor did not provide the services it promised it would. From what I have heard the POA is working on this issue.

Louisburg is a 20 minute ride from Lake Royale. If I go there once a month, it's a lot! I prefer to spend my time in Rolesville, Wake Forest, or Raleigh, all trips are 15-30 minutes. Bunn (the nearest town--3 miles from Lake Royale) has a good grocery store and a great gift store, as well as basic gas stations, etc. It's not much of a town, but I don't mind.

Taxes are .8325, I believe (we are not within the incorporated boundaries of the town, so we don't pay town/city taxes). I was used to paying 4 times that in NY, so for me the taxes are so low!
I love where I live. There is no crime, no robberies, no noise problems.
Again, sorry to hear you didn't like it.

[southward bound]

Be very careful. Read the covenants slowly and caretully and thoughtfully, and question what every sentence says, and its future implications, and what the impact would be on residents' pocketbooks. For example, the way I read it, there's an item about sewage treatment - if the community ever needs to build a treatment plant, the residents would have to pay for it.

There's also the door left open to commercial development - possible restaurant/hotel -- which will bring in the public - so, there goes the value of the 'gated community' and all the security that conveys to some people.

[Gator2010]

Hey y'all,

We just moved to the Cleveland Area of Garner (South Of Raleigh) 2 months ago and I went to Lake Royale for the first time this week. Now, I don't know how fast (or I should say slow) y'all drive, but I got there within 20 minutes.

I'm a Real Estate Investor and have checked into every possibility in this community and all are very promising. Besides the fact that I was impressed when I got there, the gate security Guard was extremely friendly, the lake was beautiful and the area has life to it with some great homes.

Some may complain about the camping lots, but they're camping lots, not a 5 star hotel. Some may also complain about some of the facilities being rund down and I did pass a playground that looked run down. When I passed it on my way back there was a crew demolishing and re-building it. This really impressed me.

Moderator cut: removed

Originally Posted by Jane0218

Hi John,
Sorry to hear you did not like your trip to Lake Royale.

I don't know how you traveled to Lake Royale, but I commute to work to NCSU (which is west of downtown Raleigh) from here. By using the new 64/264 highway bypass (well, it's been open for about 2 years now) , I get to Raleigh in 30-35 minutes. Many real estate agents still give the old directions to get here, which are to take Capital Blvd to 401 and then take 98. Uggghhhh, that takes forever! That is not the route of choice by residents any longer. Using the bypass makes even trips to RTP and RDU airport quicker than the old alternative.

The longest it takes a resident who lives on the BACK side of the lake to reach the front gate is about 12-14 minutes, from what I've heard from residents. There are routes the residents know to take to make the trip quicker. Someone who has chosen to live at the back of the lake has chosen this for a reason and they don't mind the drive out. I have heard that in the future an entrance on the back side of the lake will be put in; it's supposed to be part of the community plan.
A resident who lives at the front of the lake can leave the community in 1, 2, 3 minutes--it depends upon where they live.

You are right about some of the areas not being in line with other areas. There are brand new $500,000 (and more) waterfront homes next to older homes. Homes on the interior lots are not as extravegant, they are more modest, but well built. What is nice is that every house is different, no cookie-cutter communities for me, thank you!
I haven't noticed any particular area of homes that is bad. In general, people are proud of their homes here. The POA has taken out many, many abandoned trailers this past year and have actively foreclosed on non-paying owners. They now allow "cottages" to be built upon the trailer lots.

Repair to the roads did start last year, until the contractor did not provide the services it promised it would. From what I have heard the POA is working on this issue.

Louisburg is a 20 minute ride from Lake Royale. If I go there once a month, it's a lot! I prefer to spend my time in Rolesville, Wake Forest, or Raleigh, all trips are 15-30 minutes. Bunn (the nearest town--3 miles from Lake Royale) has a good grocery store and a great gift store, as well as basic gas stations, etc. It's not much of a town, but I don't mind.

Taxes are .8325, I believe (we are not within the incorporated boundaries of the town, so we don't pay town/city taxes). I was used to paying 4 times that in NY, so for me the taxes are so low!
I love where I live. There is no crime, no robberies, no noise problems.
Again, sorry to hear you didn't like it.

[gabelle]

I will be visiting the Raleigh area after Christmas. Lake Royale looks like an enjoyable friendly place to live. Is it mainly couples? Are certain lots unbuildable-the prices seem low? Are utilities, phone, gas service available on all lots? Are there hidden problems with constuction to be aware of? Moderator cut: removed

[KristinS]

I visited Lake Royale and loved it. The area was pretty, the beaches looked nice and I really did not see any bad area. I toured at first with Royale Realty and then went back on my own the next day to drive on my own and to make sure the agent was not just showing me the nicer areas.
My only concerns were cell phone, I did not get service. I have heard that Verizon works OK. I also did not see sidewalks. not a big deal I just have a 7 year old and want him to be safe. I plan on building hopefully after I take care of some loose ends in CT.
I am probably going to use Pineridge Realy in Bunn.
If I can help further let me know, I am not an expert ( or even close) just might be able to help.

[Parradox]

Hey...where is the nearest shopping (ie Krogers, WalMart, Target, ect), and what about resturaunts any good ones?

[bluedevilsLT]

I live in Lake Royale and the closest walmart and Target are in Wake Forest or Rocky Mount(I think the Wake Forest ones are better). Both are about a 30 minute drive. There are not many resturaunts close by other than small mom and pop places. In Bunn we have a small diner which is pretty good if you're looking for a regular meal, ie: burgers, grilled cheese, they do have specials though every night. In Louisburg there are some nice places to eat along with fast food and Louisburg is about 15-20 minutes away. Otherwise you'll have to drive to Wake Forest, Raleigh, or Rocky Mount.
I will say the one nice thing about being located in Lake Royale is that we are about 30 minutes away from most places, Wake Forest, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, and Wilson is about 35 minutes away. So, in that respect you have a lot of options on where you want to go.

[KristinS]

I think there is a grocery store in Bunn (maybe a Food Lion???) and there is a small older Walmart in Louisburg. Louisburg also had the typical fast food places.
Kristin