Beaches, good school, no HOAs, help!! (Hollywood, Jupiter: apartment complex, foreclosure, renter)

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Zayetz

Oh, man, YOU ARE AWESOME! I really like the Grandview Heights one, and the Sunset one looks nice too. I'll have to do a little research on schools. Is Grandview Heights part of Flamingo Park or is it a whole separate neighborhood?

I consider myself a pro house hunter LOL my kid was here 10 years then me and we needed alot of rentals then I bought. I know alot about just a few areas.

See the trick with the dog is getting in first,,,then the yard can get really messed up quickly here like I posted. I like blocks with curb grass and they don't all have that so you have to drag the poor dog for blocks to go to the bathroom. Not worth it IMO. So location means also grass available.

They are seperate neighborhoods but by normal criteria you can consider them sort of one big neighborhood with just a sign separating them however I think Flamingo is more of a community since they have a loose association for activities and small stuff not like an HOA. BUT waling to downtown is closer from Grandview. Probably Flamingo is better for community feel and kids.

You have to decide on where the job is versus where the schools are that are ok, then your budget then your personality. Like expecially with the dog. It's WAY different having to clean up the yard two times a day if you're not used to that....and then not being able to have the kid go out there to play anyway....

But for a rental that you are in a rush to find if the property is ok and the landlord not a nut you can't really go wrong in most of Grandview and Flamingo area IMO.

Now if you're not the type to take advantage of being so close to downtown (short walk like15-20 minutes) then you may want to trade it off to be nearer work even if the neighborhood isn't all historic and cute. Newer and bigger bigger yard etc....there are some adjustments in these small houses...like your furniture fitting lol. Also some have entire window walls my kid's house only had very limited wall space in fact only three feet next to the fire place....all windows and at first it's awesome till you feel the heat at 3 pm ha ha...

google 619 O st west palm that was his house. It looks smaller on google than it really is the entry is the LR and it's about 18 by 18 I'd say then behind it the DR then behind it the Kitchen, to the right where you see the other part of the house is the bath and two br...

That's an old photo the pavement isn't messed up like it is on google and the street is repaved.

...the beige one to the right is the newer one also for rent last month...if you look across the street there's a whole block without houses with curb grass to use. Then cleanup. There's a fenc across the street now so you can't walk the dog in there.

From the house you go down the street past the yellow house to get to Howard Park.

See on the photos the dead looking grass? That's how the yard gets in winter till the rainy season so you need to water it and pay or just leave it alone. It's sand not clay so the dog will drag it in on his paws into the kitchen unless you put a really good mat outside with those grassy fibers and/or rinse his feet. IMO....LOL It's not a big deal just a warning but compared to Alaska probably no different in terms of having a method.

You can see the neighborhood isn't as "cute" as Flamingo. But to get downtown you cant see it on google but you cut through some townhousees to get across Okeechobee Blvd.

OHHH 619 O st has no hurricane shutters you nail board up they have in the garage, next door has hurricane shutters as you can see in the photo. 619 is more private next door doesnt have any landscaping still as in the photo.

Keep an eye on craigs list plenty of legit rentals and some with agents...but never do anything from long distance I lost 2400 to craigs list and my son was actually at the house but the owner was a thief.

619 o st is similar to the Sunset house but Sunset is nicer. Bigger I think with a better yard from the photos. And the slider and looks like a patio with a slab out there. Same price probably.

[AD98]

Jupiter has some of the best schools in the area, and there is at least one neighborhood not far from the beach that is very nice, great for kids, convenient to everything with no HOA. I used to live in Flamingo Park and it was nice, but I just don't like that area anymore. Flamingo Park itself is still great with those nice historic homes, but the surrounding areas not so much. I live in Jupiter, but we are relocating to the Panhandle. My house happens to be for sale, but there are also lots of others in my neighborhood that are and we've loved it here. One other thing about Flamingo Park and Grandview Heights....there are restrictions even if there are no HOA's because they are historic districts. Just something to consider. The historic registry restrictions can sometimes be even worse than an HOA in my experience.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Zayetz

The Sunset house is in the 700 block and there is a house on Claremore in the 800 block that also looks nice... Ideally we would be able to find a place to rent with an option to buy- just to make sure we like the neighborhood too.

Our price range is up to $400,000. Someone from the area told me that the house prices are probably going to drop for another 9 or so months, another argument for renting.

How do you find out about rentals? IS the best way to just drive around and look for signs?

Thanks for all the help!!

I live on Claremore. Good street, as the whole street is good (though I am unaware of any house currently for rent on the 800 block ... no sign at least.)

You will definitely be able to find an updated, well appointed home you like in Flamingo Park for 400k (if you decide you like the area and would like to buy).

Runswithscissors has the right formula.... craigslist is invaluable, as is realtor.com in the "rent" section.

[Zayetz]

I used to spend a lot of time in Jupiter (there was a great antique mall on Indiantown, I wonder if it's still there?) and I like that area. We could consider that but the problem is my husband will be working at Columbia Hospital in WPB and would need to get there within 20 minutes if he gets called at night. So traffic shouldn't be bad but looking at the map it seems far away....?

AD98 - What is the name of the Jupiter neighborhood that you mentioned? Or the ZIP so I can check on Reator.com?

Runswithscissors - That neighborhood also looks interesting. Good point about dirt-tracking! I will look at the lawn and definitely stay away from light berber carpets... We hardly ever get rain up here in Fairbanks so we aren't used to dealing with mud. He will probably jump over a grass mat so I'll have to figure out a good way to deal with that.

Thanks everyone!! I can use all the help I can get

[AD98]

Last I knew the antique mall was still there, but I haven't been there in awhile. I'll drive over there this weekend and check. The zip code is 33458, but we live in Jupiter River Estates. You'll want to stay away from Pine Gardens and a couple of other areas--they aren't very safe. All the streets in this neighborhood have Indian names and there are two separate sections to the neighborhood (on either side of Indiantown Rd.)--the houses on the other side are newer and somewhat bigger.

Is Columbia the hospital on 45th street? It's changed names and I never go down there, but I think that's the one. The wonderful thing about Jupiter is that it's very close to both the turnpike and I-95. At night, the drive to 45th st. wouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Even during the day with traffic it usually doesn't take me that long to get that far, so I think you would still be okay. If not, Palm Beach Gardens is closer and there are some very nice neighborhoods there. I lived there for years.

Also, there a couple of foreclosures or preforeclosures in my neighborhood that are great deals right now. The one I know of that's close to my house is in decent shape, but I haven't been inside. My neighbor said it's nice inside and the price is fantastic. I'm up against a deadline at work right now, but I'd be glad to give you some links on Monday if you're interested.

[Just-Sayin]

Most of SOSO (south of Southern) 1, 2, and 300 blocks are 400.00 and lower with NO restrictions or HOAs. The public elementary school is in the neighborhood is A rated. They also have in the neighborhood a great Catholic school, St. Juliana's.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Zayetz

I used to spend a lot of time in Jupiter (there was a great antique mall on Indiantown, I wonder if it's still there?) and I like that area. We could consider that but the problem is my husband will be working at Columbia Hospital in WPB and would need to get there within 20 minutes if he gets called at night. So traffic shouldn't be bad but looking at the map it seems far away....?

AD98 - What is the name of the Jupiter neighborhood that you mentioned? Or the ZIP so I can check on Reator.com?

Runswithscissors - That neighborhood also looks interesting. Good point about dirt-tracking! I will look at the lawn and definitely stay away from light berber carpets... We hardly ever get rain up here in Fairbanks so we aren't used to dealing with mud. He will probably jump over a grass mat so I'll have to figure out a good way to deal with that.

Thanks everyone!! I can use all the help I can get

Yes Jupiter is too far imo, it's about 12 miles minimum I think. You can make it from downtown WPB it's about 7 miles. You can make it from Palm Beach Gardens, which is nice, too. My dermatologist lives there and was telling me to move there too lol. That's about 10 miles. Either neighborhood might meet traffic that delays you if you use i95 and there's construction going on there. It's hit or miss. There are probably back ways.

Someone more local than me needs to give you safe areas with schools closer to the hospital , the hospital is in a tricky area. Also if he knows people there ask them where they all live. Also I'd ask the HR adminstration of the hospital what usually happens with relocations if they have any ideas.

I'm thinkin Palm Beach Gardens might be better for you than downtown. but I think it's cutting the time too close.

[Zayetz]

Someone more local than me needs to give you safe areas with schools closer to the hospital , the hospital is in a tricky area. Also if he knows people there ask them where they all live. Also I'd ask the HR adminstration of the hospital what usually happens with relocations if they have any ideas.

I'm thinkin Palm Beach Gardens might be better for you than downtown. but I think it's cutting the time too close.

The people at the hospital (and yes, it is the one on 45th) suggested an area around Gun Club Road, Wellington, and PBG. I did look at PBG but I couldn't find anything that was exciting (but there are a lot of listings and I don't know where to focus). Getting a lot of HOAs. I don't know if the area around Gun Club Road has a name. Also, I am wondering if the school issue is locking us in too much - are the private schools really popular down there?

Thanks all!

[TriMT7]

Have you visited any of the places physically yet? That is the only way you're going to be able to decide what fits best for you.

Personally, the area near Gun Club Road is not my favorite place to be in the city at all, but who knows, you may like it.

Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach do have some non-HOA neighborhoods, but you have to search. I know there is a neighborhood very near the mall that has older (not to be mistaken with historic) homes that are non-HOA, currently on Craigslist and Realtor.com with street names like "Bermuda," "Atlantic," etc.

[isis0519]

Columbia in WPB? Is that near Good Samaritan? My husband will be working there in July and they told us to look in the Abacoa area of Jupiter. The schools look good from what I have dug up. I have four children (3-10) and a dog (20lbs). Finding a rental there is difficult. The craigslist statement concerning money loss scares me. I feel like going through a realtor is safer but I feel that they are diffult to work with sometimes. Also, the people at Good Sam told me that Wellington is not a good area only because of the train that runs through. They said if you hit it at the right time you can be sitting there for 8 minutes. They suggested Abacoa because it is all highway. My husband also has to be there within 20 min so they had concern over the time, traffic, and train and said that most of the physicians that relocate to that area move to the Abacoa area. Well see....I am still searching, myself.