West Palm Beach or Sarasota - Place for my Family (North Port: real estate, foreclosure)

[SergioMastro]

Hi there,

I'm planning to purchase a Condo or Townhouse (Gated Community) in Florida, not sure which area I should use for my search and 3 day onsite visit.

Here are my requirements:
. 100 to 150k
. Taxes aprx 3000$ per year
. HOA fees aprx 300$ per month
. Safe area
. 15-20 minute drive to closest beach
. 2 bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Kithchen + Living room are a min
. Recent development (2000 or newer)
. Quiet Area
. Shopping nearby
. Restaurants nearby
. Pool access
. Pool table / recreational room access
. I would use place 2 months out of 12
. My mother'n'law would use place 4 months out of 12, therefore 6 months would be vacant

Family:
My kids are 12, 10, 5
Myself + wife, early 40's

I found some nice places at Cityside, West Palm Beach, but not sure if this area meets my needs.

My mother'n'law (65+), thinks I should invest on the Gulf coast instead and not on the Est coast.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks...
Sergio

[TriMT7]

Cityside in West Palm Beach is not a very good place for a family. Lots of lower renters and young people, and you may not like the surrounding area.

At your price point, I cannot think of any other good developments in West Palm, however. Maybe one of the new dowtown West Palm Beach high rises or developments around Cityplace through a foreclosure or bankowned deal?

[SergioMastro]

TriMT7,

Thanks for reply.

Wow, I was looking at price history of of what properties in CitySide sold for in last 3 years, and I saw numbers like 300k to 400k.

I will start y search for properties around Cityplace, would you know the zip code I can use?

Take care...
Sergio

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by SergioMastro

TriMT7,

Thanks for reply.

Wow, I was looking at price history of of what properties in CitySide sold for in last 3 years, and I saw numbers like 300k to 400k.

I will start y search for properties around Cityplace, would you know the zip code I can use?

Take care...
Sergio

It is 33401. The listing will usually talk about being downtown/close to Cityplace. Make sure on Realtor.com you put in an age restriction of built within the past 10 years. There are units available in your price range in downtown.

[TriMT7]

I just noticed on the Sarasota thread that you're open to areas outside of your area of inquiry, and are considering North Port. If that's the case, you should check out the Treasure Coast (Hutchinson Island, Vero Beach) for safe family areas with lower real estate prices. I thought you needed or wanted to be IN West Palm Beach.