Realtors in Florida

Tharber said:
CDD bonds are 20 to 30 yrs in duration.

TH
Click to expand...
Yes, you can save some money by paying it off ahead of time because that eliminates the interest on the bond and the bond itself.
You are then just left with community maintenance portion + any HOA fee. It's why you see some resale homes listed as CDD Bond paid to let new buyers know their costs will be lower.

I got to say this is the biggest scandal in Florida because the new (and used) homes are advertised without the CDD fee and only the HOA fee is listed. The big production builders are very good at letting you know once you meet with them but the CDD fees is something unique to Florida that much of the public doesnt know to look for.

People should know to look and this is one area a good agent can help. I love Florida or should I say "loved" but the costs there were so misleading and wow, we were close to buying. 19 months ago. So close the contracts I think are still in my inbox. Forget that, home prices insane, taxes are getting close to insane, insurance costs off the wall, traffic is getting insane and that is all good but its not as cheap as northerners think anymore, though still much cheaper I guess you can say.
I would never live there, wow, what a mistake it would have been compared to where we ended up buying in NC.
 
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zzyzzx said:
Of course! But if you somehow happened to be in a weird situation where there was a CDD but no HOA wouldn't you just consider the cost of paying off the CDD into the price of the house? If that even happens!
Click to expand...
I like everything up front. The CDD fees can be staggering.
Yes, I suppose if I had to have it.
And I would be a cash buyer only
 
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Homeowners insurance is still cheap in Central Florida like Ocala etc.
$350K house around $1000-$1200 a year
Rarely any HOA or CCD
House taxes pretty much equal ours in MD. which is average .
 
zzyzzx said:
If you are paying cash, why would homeowners insurance matter?
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When you get as old as some folks here you rethink things. (not me of course ;))
I could build the best house out of the best materials.
But if my neighbor's house burns down or gets destroyed and wipes out mine, they are not liable.
Still risky business not even figuring in property liability.
I never used insurance for anything but with my luck this time I might have too.
 
zzyzzx said:
Then don't buy a house where you can lean out your window and high-five your neighbors!
Click to expand...
Hey, you mean a flying roof can't
travel more than a 100 yards...
I saw a barn roof behind my house travel a few hundred yards.
 
Saw a young lady on YT showing a house that looks exactly like a girl I know around
here. She was an agent showing a house. I showed a buddy the video and he agreed that she
looked like a twin. He then said, he wouldn't deal with an agent that young. I guess she was around 20.

He isn't that kind to say that either. She appears younger I suppose. To her credit she knows what she is talking about.
More research showed she was the builder's daughter.
Wow that's a great start to send you on your way.

When I flipped houses in the 80s with my father, I quickly learned the key to success was. (at least for me)

* Have enough money to invest to avoid using a bank or getting a loan
* Be an agent yourself or a parent or spouse etc. Keep the $$ in the family.
* Have a trade under your belt and much construction experience

Of course, the usual work ethic and so on.
 
Watching another house tour.
Builder is asking $499k
To me it's $425k all day. But that's his business.
The realtor says it has $50k in upgrades. It's easy to go $50k these days.

Has a well but nobody ever covers them or protects them. The yard is fenced but if you have a dog or kids etc I'd want it with a pump house or a fence around it.

The house is missing some goodies and the realtor says no washer, no dryer but you can get a great deal locally....well...so could the builder.
I'd rather buy my own but hey...

Master shower wouldn't let a 275 pound man turn around in it..lol

Oh but we have crown molding in the bathrooms and shower and even the closets... I love to impress my guests with crown molding closets or as my Cuban realtor friend says " close its " 😆

Decorator bathroom sink..
One of those $50k upgrades. It's the size of a cereal bowl...yeah I know.

I guess @zzyzzx wants a video... just ask..👍 👌

I do like the pavers and porcelain floors..
 
HOA and CDD fee's have to be disclosed to a buyer, in writing, prior to writing of a contract or that contract can be voided without issue.

TH
 
Pocket doors have made a comeback. I have fixed many in the old days. They have a purpose no doubt but I need to see how they work these days. Big in Florida new construction currently.
 
The pantry gets a ton of comments on YouTube.
If you think about it a builder can really save costs with a big pantry .
It's far cheaper to build in a closet and more functional than a bunch of expensive cabinets. I'm watching a video now where the builder obviously figured this out plus that's what the people want , a walk in pantry.
 
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