Communities in Wellington (Miami, Palm Beach, Black Diamond: for sale, apartment, to rent)

[scvvoyager]

We are looking to relocate to Wellington early next year. We have two small children (5 & 1). We would like to find a house with at least 4 bdrms in a nice family oriented community with good elementary school - perferrably within walking distance. We would like a newer home with a good size yard, or/and on a lake if possible. We looked at the Olympia community, it seemed very nice. But the houses are very close together. Can anyone give me some ideas on what other communities I should be looking into? Thanks!

[22blue]

Binks Forest Communities. Binks Forest is an A rated School, my children attended there.

[SKB]

[quote=lvmy3grls;[COLOR="Red"]Orphaned post[/color]
Don't bite on that price, by next fall that price will look a lot better to you. You are far better off to rent while the market crashes and make a purchase when it makes sense to do so. It will make sense when the cost of renting the same house is more expensive than paying mortgage, taxes and insurance.

It will also make sense to pay 120-150 times that rent price for the home.

NEVER PURCHASE A HOME IN A DECLINING MARKET.

With the numbers of REO out there now and more on the way, the prices in Wellington have no place to go but DOWN.

Check this out:
PBC mortgage loan defaults (http://tinyurl.com/3xszq6 - broken link)

[lvmy3grls]

The thing is, you never know when it's finished declining, and if you don't want to move twice, you buy a home you love, then wait a long time to sell it. Wellington has many wonderful communities, look to Greenview Shores, Wiltshire village, Chatsworth village, Emerald Forest and others in that area. People are very nice, close to schools and shopping, and very reasonable homes.

[SKB]

Originally Posted by lvmy3grls

The thing is, you never know when it's finished declining, and if you don't want to move twice, you buy a home you love, then wait a long time to sell it. Wellington has many wonderful communities, look to Greenview Shores, Wiltshire village, Chatsworth village, Emerald Forest and others in that area. People are very nice, close to schools and shopping, and very reasonable homes.

I guess one has to look at their own budget and income to be able to say what very reasonable homes look like in Wellington.
If you consider these facts:


Estimated median household income in 2005: $75,000 (it was $70,271 in 2000)
Wellington $75,000
Florida: $42,433

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $328,900 (it was $164,800 in 2000)
Wellington $328,900
Florida: $189,500

Homes went up double in Wellington and salaries went up 6%.

I do not see how anyone could say with a clear head that this is reasonable.

[Adamesq]

Originally Posted by scvvoyager

We are looking to relocate to Wellington early next year. We have two small children (5 & 1). We would like to find a house with at least 4 bdrms in a nice family oriented community with good elementary school - perferrably within walking distance. We would like a newer home with a good size yard, or/and on a lake if possible. We looked at the Olympia community, it seemed very nice. But the houses are very close together. Can anyone give me some ideas on what other communities I should be looking into? Thanks!

Olympia is mostly a 0-lot line community. WAY too many people bought on spec there during the boom. So many people are now trying to get out. I have a friend that finally gave up after trying to sell for about 7 months. Since the market is in flux, I'd suggest renting for a year or so. It took me months to sell my place. Take your time - it's incredible how many houses are for sale in the area - you'll have your pick. There are several good apartment communities. As for homes...I grew up in Wellington. The charm is not in the new communities like Olympia, it's in the older pine-tree sections of Wellington. You can find some great deals and good communities. The people who have been moving in over the past few years just don't seem to get that...they all want Olympia, Emerald Dunes, Black Diamond, etc. They're pretty, but a bit too cookie-cutter for me.

[SKB]

Originally Posted by Adamesq

Olympia is mostly a 0-lot line community. WAY too many people bought on spec there during the boom. So many people are now trying to get out. I have a friend that finally gave up after trying to sell for about 7 months. Since the market is in flux, I'd suggest renting for a year or so. It took me months to sell my place. Take your time - it's incredible how many houses are for sale in the area - you'll have your pick. There are several good apartment communities. As for homes...I grew up in Wellington. The charm is not in the new communities like Olympia, it's in the older pine-tree sections of Wellington. You can find some great deals and good communities. The people who have been moving in over the past few years just don't seem to get that...they all want Olympia, Emerald Dunes, Black Diamond, etc. They're pretty, but a bit too cookie-cutter for me.

I completely agree 100%, we are currently living in Little Ranches and it is so lovely and loaded with pine trees and 3 acreage lots, horses everywhere and every house is different.
I also love the Acreage and Loxahatchee.

[Adamesq]

Note that the Acreage and Loxahatchee have lots of canals and dirt roads. If you're into rustic areas, it's definitely an area to check out. You can get really good deals on good size lots. If I were buying now, I'd definitely look there. Just be very aware of how your neighbors maintain their property. It's not fun having a perfectly landscaped yard and living next to a marsh or a junkyard! A good friend of mine grew up in Loxahatchee. I remember a few years ago, he was driving through the area and grazed an Emu that ran into the road with his car mirror (that doesn't happen just anywhere).

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by SKB

I guess one has to look at their own budget and income to be able to say what very reasonable homes look like in Wellington.
If you consider these facts:


Estimated median household income in 2005: $75,000 (it was $70,271 in 2000)
Wellington $75,000
Florida: $42,433

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $328,900 (it was $164,800 in 2000)
Wellington $328,900
Florida: $189,500

Homes went up double in Wellington and salaries went up 6%.

I do not see how anyone could say with a clear head that this is reasonable.

Median single income in Palm Beach County is approx $35-40K tops

[Adamesq]

I don't know if the figures are accurate, but they are outdated. The market today couldn't be much more different than in 2005. It also doesn't take into account the size of Florida or the demographic (and changes in the demographic). I think you have to center in more on the county and community. Tallahasee, WPB, and Miami are all extremes - very different from each other. They look like different States.