Sunrise Lakes - opinions? (Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines: apartment, foreclosures, condos)

[sweepea]

I've been browsing through listings of available condos in Sunrise Lakes, and many of them are in the $20 - $30K range. I'm wondering why the prices are so much lower than other areas surrounding Fort Lauderdale. I mean, way lower. Some of the units seem to be foreclosures, but certainly not all. They look very nice. Anyone have any ideas on this?

I'd also like to hear the thoughts of anyone living in Sunrise Lakes as far as how you like it, management, and maintenance. Thanks!

[loribell38]

We have also been looking to move back to the area. Can not ourselves decide if back to Weston or elsewhere in area. Even looking at Wellington area.

Recently asked on here about Winding Lakes in Sunrise but got no responses.
My memory of Sunrise Lakes is from what I heard from a few people after Hurricane Wilma. There were way too many problems from that hurricane a alot of damage, especially water. Personally from that I would be cautious buying an apt. there. That is likely why they are so cheap of a purchase price. Remember to balance all the other costs of a condo like monthly maintenance or common charges.

We are very hesitant about even the thought of buying in Winding Lakes. Just that I like many people say..if it sounds too good to be true..it probably is.

[Nolefan34]

Sunrise Lakes is cheap because its mostly fixed-income, government subsidized elderly retirement communities. Many residents there are living off of Social Security and welfare checks. There is also a large elderly Jewish population there. Not all the neighborhoods fit this description from what I know, but most do.

[sweepea]

Thanks for your replies. Loribell, I didn't know that about all the water damage from the hurricane. That would be an important thing to investigate if I ever decided to look at the units there.

I just got back from Aventura yesterday, and while I was there I drove up to Sunrise Lakes and visited my Long Island neighbors who have a condo there. They gave me a tour, and my overall impression was quite positive. They have a beautiful 2-bedroom 2-bath apartment in Phase 4, very close to the clubhouse. The grounds around their building and others looked to be very neat and well-maintained. Outside their terrace was a tall pine tree, and they told me that an eagle comes and perches there every day. There were blue herons outside, near the water, and ducks and turtles. Also lots of stuff blooming. After being in Aventura, it was a breath of fresh air.

I was also impressed with the size of the clubhouse and all the activities going on there. They had a large auditorium for shows, a bowling alley, swimming pool, library, and movie theater, plus a large outdoor pool. My friends have had their condo for two or three years and told me that maintenance was not at all a problem. They have a maintenance contract with a company and have had very swift response when calling about any issues.

So, without knowing the all-important extent of the hurricane damage, on the outside the place looks very nice.

[K00CH]

Hey Sweepea, could you please ask your friends what the common charges and taxes are like? Many thanks!

[Momma_bear]

Anything that is cheap enough becomes attractive. Sunrise Lakes is not as nice as other large senior communities in the area. I like Kings Point in Tamarac much better. However, for the price it just might be worth it. The neighborhood is ok. It is very conveniently located. The quality of the construction may be much worse than average as the units were severely damaged during the Hurricane Wilma.

If would suggest taking a look at Kings Point in Tamarac, Century Village in Pembroke Pines, Hollybrook in Pembroke Pines and Wynmoor in Coconut Creek and then make a decision.

[Angel Calzadilla]

Sunrise Lakes is a 55+ community in the municipality of Sunrise, FL. There is Sunrise Lakes phases I, II, III and IV.
According to management association in Sunrise Lakes, all purchasers except cash buyers, have to bring a minimun of 20% of the purchase price upfront plus 3 months of maintenance fees.

[AKSteveB]

Originally Posted by Angel Calzadilla

Sunrise Lakes is a 55+ community in the municipality of Sunrise, FL. There is Sunrise Lakes phases I, II, III and IV.
According to management association in Sunrise Lakes, all purchasers except cash buyers, have to bring a minimun of 20% of the purchase price upfront plus 3 months of maintenance fees.

My mom was one of the originals in Phase Four back in 1985 or so. She passed away last year and we sold the place for less than she paid in 85, and she had one of the nicer condos/floor plans. I think the reason things are so cheap there are the changes in the economy and demographics and just flat out overcapacity.

The place was built to attract mostly lower Middle Class Northeastern retirees, predominantly though not exclusively Jewish. That culture is rearlly dying off. The children of most of those folks ended up being more affluent, and since South FL has become more overcrowded/diverse etc. a lot are now ending up in the Carolinas, Virginia etc.

It's actually quite nice, and while there was extensive damage from the hurricanes, they did a *lot* of fixing up and replacement after it. I suspect things are in better shape than they were pre hurricane. It isn't my cup of tea, because to me it is a real cookie cutter place, but if ones main goal was to have a comfortable place with minimum maintenance and I had extremely limited funds, they could do worse. I suspect at some point they will need to drop the age requirement. At that point I could see it becoming more attractive to some of the immigrant communities, with the good and bad that would bring.

[sweepea]

Originally Posted by K00CH

Hey Sweepea, could you please ask your friends what the common charges and taxes are like? Many thanks!

Yes, I will. They'll be home May 1, so I'll have a chance to talk to them after that.

[sweepea]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

Anything that is cheap enough becomes attractive. Sunrise Lakes is not as nice as other large senior communities in the area. I like Kings Point in Tamarac much better. However, for the price it just might be worth it. The neighborhood is ok. It is very conveniently located. The quality of the construction may be much worse than average as the units were severely damaged during the Hurricane Wilma.

If would suggest taking a look at Kings Point in Tamarac, Century Village in Pembroke Pines, Hollybrook in Pembroke Pines and Wynmoor in Coconut Creek and then make a decision.

Thanks for the info, M'bear. A good hurricane will certainly reveal the quality of construction. I've added your suggestions to my list.