How about Cory Lake?

[annaegel]

If you are into developments, LOL has Wilderness Lake Preserve. I don't know if you have kids, that is nice place to raise kids. Odessa, I consider the country. Not much there, but pretty. I don't know Palm Harbor. Lutz can be a mixed bag, from very low income, to fancy. Lutz has some nice developments.

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by Lives 4 The Water

Thanks for everyone's input on this! I'm going to stay far away from that development. I am concentrating on Palm Harbor, Lutz, Odessa and Land O Lakes. If anyone has any input on these towns I'd appreciate that too!

Why didn't you mention Wesley Chapel? It has nice communities and the shopping area is getting bigger. Recently a new mall opened so we don't have to travel to Hillsborough County for shopping, only if we want to and Pasco County has lower property taxes

[Lives 4 The Water]

Thanks - I'll add Wesley Chapel to my list.

[annaegel]

Originally Posted by journalismstudent

Where have you heard that? I'm curious to know.

Today's St. Pete Times has an article in the "North of Tampa" section. "Builder absent except in lawsuits"

[Spooky08]

Most these posts are from many years ago--not sure what Cory Lake was like during the real estate bust, but things have changed. I don't know of hardly any foreclosures in the neighborhood, and majority of neighbors are meticulous in maintaining their homes and yard. It is a beautiful, old-Florida style neighborhood with pavers not only on the main roads in and out of the neighborhood, but in each drive way. It is the only neighborhood in New Tampa that I am aware of that has pavers throughout the neighborhood. In addition, the man who developed the neighborhood went all out with the landscaping with palm trees literally every couple feet in front of homes, waterfalls in the lake, and a beautiful entrance. I love it. It feels good coming home to the gorgeous landscaping and perfect paved street, something that is missing from a lot of surrounding neighborhoods. The only other neighborhood that has a similar old Florida charm is Grand Hampton minus the pavers.
The other thing I like about Cory Lake is they added a swimming pool with waterslide, but the pool is not just a pool, it looks like an upscale resort. The clubhouse hosts all kinds of kids' activities from gingerbread decorating to Easter egg hunts to outdoor movie nights. They also host adult activities like wine and chocolate tasting to book clubs, it is a very active community with lots to do in a beautiful setting. I didn't move here until after the real estate disaster, but it is obvious that those days of foreclosures and unkept homes is now a great place to call home. Oh, someone said something about lots being small, that is true for some houses, but I have a very large lot in comparison to most houses in New Tampa. No it isn't an acre, but we live in a busy suburb with every convenience imaginable and I have this serene, peaceful, large lots steps away from a walking trail. It really depends on what people are looking for in a neighborhood, and of course each house/lot is very different. Many of the smaller lots are on the lake, so their backyard is the water. One thing that makes this neighborhood different too is we have a huge beach behind the pool, and it is a fantastic place to watch the sunset and drink wine, or let your kids build sandcastles. Some people swim in the lake, I would not advise that because alligators can be in any fresh body of water here in Florida. My lot is huge compared to my neighbor's lot (we have preservation lot not water lot), so it is a matter of finding the perfect fit for you. For us, we found a dream lot in a gorgeous neighborhood that is convenient to both New Tampa in the Cross Creek exit and then to Temple Terrace/USF and Moffit from the back exit on Morris Bridge. I feel lucky as I drive home every day that I get to pull into this amazing neighborhood.

[EngGirl]

What are the current HOA and CDD fees at Cory Lakes now?

[Spooky08]

It depends on lot. Mine, I believe is $125.00 a year HOA and $350.00 a month for CDD but I would have to verify with my husband. The HOA is low because you pay the CDD. However, the CDD provides not only beautiful resort style living with palm trees and pavers everywhere; maintains lake and common spaces; provides a 24 hour gate with an employee on staff; and they provide monthly activities for adults and kids like movies in the park, wine tasting, foam parties for kids, Easter Egg Hunts, Gingerbread decorating, Casino Nights for adults, cooking classes, Zumba, yoga, fireworks, etc. So while you pay for the CDD you get a lot for it. It feels like you are living in a resort instead of a neighborhood with all the activities and luxury pool and slide. You definitely can find a cheaper neighborhood like Pebble Creek (which I also lived in with no CDD's) but it really depends on what you want. I felt that paying the CDD's that gets me a security staff at the gate (and a patrol that drives around) and provides recreational activities, and a lake/beach, skate board ramp, tennis courts, resort-style pool, and a nature preserve walkway was worth the trade off of having CDD's. I had CDD's in Orlando as well, and I got a lot less for the money. I have lived in non-CDD neighborhoods as well, but you get what you pay for. For instance, I lived in Pebble Creek where there is no gate, it wasn't a problem until people would knock on my door frequently: grass guys, Realtors, pool guys, people who want to cut my palms, people selling anything and everything! It was so annoying, and felt a little unsafe at times. I feel like our gate people know me personally, and if I need anything they will be off in that patrol car in seconds, or call the police. I feel safe here, and I am in situation where my husband travels a lot, and having this security staff makes me feel much safer. We've had the same security people for a long time.

Originally Posted by EngGirl

What are the current HOA and CDD fees at Cory Lakes now?

[bentlebee]

I was positively surprised when I first visited Cory Lake isle but the negative is the law suit the home owners are involved in and the assessments that may arise from that and will applied to every owner. Maybe that got resolved and is no longer an issue which would be great and should be advertised as many people still read about it on websites.

Another thing is the water bills that seem to have been an issue as they were not paid or applied and were or will be assessed as it was reported in articles an I'm not sure what happened to that as the article was never followed with an update.

Recently some homes came on the market and they REO's which huge issues. One has a sink hole and banks are not disclosing anything and the house was visited by lots of interested buyers and we were present as well and saw the faces of buyers who all seem to like what they saw as the bank already painted some walls making it look nicer and water view and streets look very nice so it is easy to get caught up in the curb appeal and beauty of the community to later after closing finding out their dream home is an unrepaired sink hole home.

The other one looked nice on the MLS but on arrival it looked like it had a fire but at closer look it was black mold all over the front balcony.

At least that is visible unless the bank decided to paint over the mold and not disclosing it as banks have a habit of doing since the people behind the phone and desk don't go on site and claim not to be informed and only will write on paper that buyer's have to inspect it themselves and they are not liable and make sure that the 30 or more pages for the banks liability to be waived by buyer, are signed.

Another home we went in had water issues behind the new painted ceiling as we carry a water measurement tool with us to REO's and some other homes when we feel there might be a hidden defect.

We have seen the same in Grand Hampton and other places but I can only hope that the beautiful community that Cory lake Isle is will recover soon from the negative issues of the past as it is really a special designed community with all the nice water views and indeed the Palm trees and the streets are wider then else where which is beautiful but when we were there a few weeks back a young man was driving there like it was Formula 1 driving and we saw him later in tears on the top of his car in a ditch on Morris Bridge road....I guess he missed the curve and he will most likely have learned his lesson but we were stunned when he speeded by and we guessed he was doing close to 60 mph.

[EngGirl]

Originally Posted by Spooky08

It depends on lot. Mine, I believe is $125.00 a year HOA and $350.00 a month for CDD but I would have to verify with my husband. The HOA is low because you pay the CDD. However, the CDD provides not only beautiful resort style living with palm trees and pavers everywhere; maintains lake and common spaces; provides a 24 hour gate with an employee on staff; and they provide monthly activities for adults and kids like movies in the park, wine tasting, foam parties for kids, Easter Egg Hunts, Gingerbread decorating, Casino Nights for adults, cooking classes, Zumba, yoga, fireworks, etc. So while you pay for the CDD you get a lot for it. It feels like you are living in a resort instead of a neighborhood with all the activities and luxury pool and slide. You definitely can find a cheaper neighborhood like Pebble Creek (which I also lived in with no CDD's) but it really depends on what you want. I felt that paying the CDD's that gets me a security staff at the gate (and a patrol that drives around) and provides recreational activities, and a lake/beach, skate board ramp, tennis courts, resort-style pool, and a nature preserve walkway was worth the trade off of having CDD's. I had CDD's in Orlando as well, and I got a lot less for the money. I have lived in non-CDD neighborhoods as well, but you get what you pay for. For instance, I lived in Pebble Creek where there is no gate, it wasn't a problem until people would knock on my door frequently: grass guys, Realtors, pool guys, people who want to cut my palms, people selling anything and everything! It was so annoying, and felt a little unsafe at times. I feel like our gate people know me personally, and if I need anything they will be off in that patrol car in seconds, or call the police. I feel safe here, and I am in situation where my husband travels a lot, and having this security staff makes me feel much safer. We've had the same security people for a long time.

So, basically you have to pay $4200 a year in CDD on top of your taxes.
And I saw other homes in that community with $5k+ in CDD fees.
This is the most expensive CDD I've see here.

I know Coty Lakes owners were involved in the lawsuit with developer regarding high water elevation within designed ponds inside the community to the point people had water on their backyards and to the buildings. Was it ever fixed?