How can I buy a condo for cheap in florida?

Old Mar 21st, 2013, 03:23 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How can I buy a condo for cheap in florida?

Sounds crazy but I can't seem to get this article out of my mind.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/us...anted=all&_r=0

My neighbor bought one in the same location and enjoyed it so much he couldn't stop talking about it. It was a 2 bedroom condo in a retirement community (for people over 55) for about $ 200,000 about nine years ago. He passed suddenly in 2009.

We do like where we are except for the endless winter. We don't have definite plans except we will be keeping our present apartment and spending the summer here.

How do I go about finding bargains like that?
mohan is offline  
Old Mar 21st, 2013, 04:54 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Find a good realtor in whatever area of Florida you prefer. There are great prices on condos in Florida.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 03:15 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Frankly, the best deals come about when an owner dies. The kids are "stuck" with the place and often are looking to get rid of it for a little bit of cash.

I can tell you how to make a mistake, IMHO: Buy based on price rather than being familiar with an area and knowing it's where you want to stay. Is it a bargain to get a cheap condo in an area you're going to hate?
downtownbrown is offline  
Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 03:18 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,601
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
And prices are now beginning to rise down here in southeast Florida. There are lots of investors, particularly from South America, who are trying to "protect" their money.

A lot depends on your price range. Some properties in the $200,000 range are receiving many bids their first days on the market. There are plenty of stories about people routinely being outbid by others.

You need to find yourself a reputable real estate agent as was recommended above.
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 04:04 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dukey brings up a good point. The market certainly has started to turn in Florida, so I would act relatively soon for the best deals. There are thousands of homes in foreclosure and thousands more holding on by a string. But smart buyers are starting to snap them up at good prices.

Incidentally, at least in Naples there is suddenly a huge demand for rental apartments (usually condos that people rent out -- perfect for an owner who hasn't yet retired)) and rental houses. It seems so many homwowners have lost their own homes and their credit who now need to rent, but many rentals have gone into foreclosure and just arent' available.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 09:58 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone.

Neo, I agree I need to act soon.

I also agree it's crazy to buy a place based on price if that is your permanent residence, in our case, we just want a place to escape old man winter.

Anywhere warm (as long as it is relatively close to NYC with an international airport) and safe with some nature would do it. If I can get a deal like the woman in the NY Times article, I see almost no downside to it(unless you tell me there is).

If it turns out Florida not my cup of tea, I don't worry recovering my investment. If we love it so much we can upgrade to a better property and a better neighborhood.

Like downtownbrown said ' the best deals come about when an owner dies'. For that reason, I probably have to be in Florida to get those kind of deals, right?

I still don't have a clue where to look. We can fly to Florida next week but where do we go? I am thinking of renting an apartment and use that as a base to look around, is there a website for rental apt?

Thank you in advance.
mohan is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 12:06 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 8,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've used vrbo, homeaway, flipkey, and airbnb for vacation apartment rentals.
abram is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 12:08 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

One huge downside, potentially, is unforeseen assessments. A lot of condo communities have seen so many foreclosures that their association finances are in complete disarray. Because you can't squeeze blood from a stone, many have postponed necessary maintenance. It's conceivable that such a community would see an influx of new owners as the opportunity to levy large assessments to get maintenance and repairs back on track. Make sure you understand Florida condo laws a bit, and check out the association's budget very carefully before you buy.
NewbE is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 12:56 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NewbE, and on the same note, it's not just letting maintenance go, but some associations have had to resort to actually doubling the amount required from each existing owner to make up for those units in foreclosure. If you are used to paying maybe $450 a month for maintenance and suddenly it is $900 -- well that can certainly be a downside.
Another is that the association is using up all their reserves for necessary maintenance. Then perhaps the first year you own it, it is time for painting the building or a new roof, and you will be hit with a huge assessment that normally would have been covered by the reserves.

If you are buying a Florida condo, just as important as looking at the unit itself is getting a good view of the current finances and the recent minutes of the condo association. They can tell you a lot!
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 02:50 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The article was primarily about Century Village properties. I had looked at properties in two of the villages for a relative several years ago. Two bedroom unities were selling for a lot less than $200,000. But you must like the Century Village concept and location. They are not on the ocean. Must have a car to get to the ocean. The villages are so well established and so many people have lived there so long that the foreclosure problem may not be as much there.
There are lots of apartment ads for sales if you google Centure Village Delray, West Palm, etc.
Elainee is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 05:00 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When buying any jointly owned property (condo or co-op) it is vital to understand the underlying financing and overall status:

1) What repairs are up coming/scheduled?
2) Have necessary repaiss and upkeep been done on schedule?
3) How much of a reserve fund is there at the moment and what is a safe amount?

(I live in a co=op with 48 apartments and out reserve fund is never allowed to go under $500K - since if we suddenly need a new elevator or heating system - this can be a major expense.

when we put a new roof on recently we did it via a 12-month assessment. Our was about $500 per month (smaller apartments paid less) - and we preferred to do this - so we could leave the base maintenance as is - to make sure apartments are as salable as possible.

I have heard stories of co-ops that have totally depleted their reserve fund - so they could not only not afford necessary repairs - but the units become unsalable (banks look very carefully at reserve funds and don;t want to give mortgages on properties when the underlying funding is unsound.)
nytraveler is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 04:19 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm a little confused by your post, nytraveler. So you're saying your 48 unit co-op has a half million dollars in reserves, presumably for regularly scheduled repairs and maintenance above the normal things, yet when you needed a new roof you didn't use those funds, you all had to pay for it separately? Tell me again what the half million dollars is for? How long ago was it the last time the roof was redone -- shouldn't the reserves have been planned to allow for normal replacement? Or did it blow off in Sandy or something and your insurance didn't pay for it? Normally roof replacement is one of the basic things that the reserves are specifically earmarked for.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 05:03 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
By the way, my main point was that you were referring to leaving the reserves intact because it would "look better" or make units "more salable" if the reserves were left intact, but honestly -- wouldn't buyers be even more turned off by the idea that they just did a $6000 assessment per unit for a roof replacement that should have been adequately planned for in the reserves? It would sure make ME hesitant if I were considering buying -- I'd be asking "why weren't there reserves for normal roof replacement?"
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 07:06 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mohan: I am currently renting for the winter in Palm Beach County. I agree that there are very good deals, really all over the place in this area.

If you are interested in flying here, or even if not, I can recommend two real estate agents that I have worked with.

My rental unit, 2-bed room, 2 bathroom with den and outdoor porch on a fake lake but with surprisingly good bird watching, has just sold for about $170,000; monthly costs are $500 or so. That includes all sorts of facilities, classes, gym, pools, theatre, etc etc.


It is a big step up from places like Century Village. But again, there are good deals all over the place here including at the places talked about in the Times article. We actually have friends who live in Century Village in Deerfield....really, really cheap to buy there but not all that appealing, perhaps, to everyone.

Do you want an over-55 community with all sorts of activities, or do you want to be on the ocean with the great views???..

For me that was the big divide and both have their pros and cons.


http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ral-advice.cfm

(Related recommendation: See the film now on HBO on Demand: KingsPoint, about a budget condo community in Delray Beach
https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/ki...int/index.html
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 07:08 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ps. There are at least 3 nature reserves within a 10 minute drive of my rental condo.....surprisingly excellent. This is one, to give you an idea:


http://www.pbcgov.com/parks/nature/g.../#.UVBoao58vww
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 08:39 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Neo -

If we had paid for the roof out of the reserve we would then have had to increase our maintenance to bring the reserve fund back up to the $500K.

And increasing maintenance not only decreases the value of the apartment it makes it more difficult to sell.

By making this a separate short-term asesment we have held the maintenance at the same rate, making the apartments more valuable and salable. And because this was a specific asessment we were able to arrange low cost loans for those owners who didn't want to or couldn't pay the assessment as a lump sum or from their monthly income. If we had raised the maintenance - they would have just had to come up with the money - or found a higher interest rate on their own.

We do take regular repairs out of the reserve fund if the cost is such that we can replenish it via the regular maintenance - less than $50 K or so.

Doing it this way makes our building more attractive to lenders and so easier to buy and sell apartments - and get the best prices.

And our philosophy is to keep the bulk of the reserve fund for things that can't be predicted - or smaller items like painting common areas or repointing the brick facade.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 09:00 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK, I guess New York buyers aren't as "clever" or as "demanding" as Florida buyers. There, most buyers would figure out that having to pay $6000 in one year for a special assessment is just as bad as raising the maintenance -- in fact most would consider it worse and would be wondering why on earth there isn't a good reserve plan in force that has estimated major repair costs(that can clearly be planned for) and has reserves allotted for that specific purpose. But if the buyers think paying $6000 extra in one year rather than raising the maintenance is better, well, that's really good for people wanting to sell!

The condos I own and have owned in Florida all have specific reserve plans, in fact they are required by Florida Condominium law (not sure they'd apply to co-ops, however, which have pretty much become extinct in Florida). Major expenditures like building painting, paving, roofing, and similar items are carefully estimated with a life expectancy and appropriate amounts going into the reserves specifically so there will normally be enough when those things are due. It doesn't take rocket science to do a pretty close estimate of when roof replacement or major painting should be necessary. Any savvy Florida buyer will demand to see that reserve expenditure plan. Clearly New York does things differently. Kind of interesting that NY buyers must be aware that standard major repairs and replacements (the kinds that can be predicted) will be handled by special assessments. I'm curious if prospective buyers are given any indication of how much those might be -- which should be easy since they are "predicted" expenses. Or if they just buy and then the next year they are told "surprise! It's time for our roof to be replaced so everybody needs to chip in $6000 extra this year".

I'm not arguing that your association may do things that way, but for the life of me, I can't imagine why it's "MORE ATTRACTIVE" to lenders and buyers NOT to have reserves specifically set aside and being funded to handle such major expected things as roof replacements, but to just expect non-specific huge assessment amounts at random times.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 11:07 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It could be more attractive to potential buyers who come along after that special assessment and note that they would only have to pay it for several months and then their cost drops back to the regular assessment. And payment of the special assessment (or a portion of it) could be negotiated between seller and buyer. If the association had a history of "non-specific huge assessment amounts at random times" I'd look elsewhere, but having one in place would not sent me running if the property was otherwise suitable.
kayd is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 11:22 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, quoting from Florida laws:

"The Condominium and Cooperative Acts require reserves for roof replacement, building painting, and pavement resurfacing, regardless of the amount of deferred maintenance expense or replacement cost, and for any other item for which the deferred maintenance expense or replacement cost exceeds $10,000. The statutes state that the amount to be reserved shall be computed via a formula which is based upon the estimated remaining useful life and estimated replacement cost or deferred maintenance expense of each reserve item. A condominium or cooperative association may adjust replacement reserve assessments annually to take into account any changes in estimates or extension of the useful life of a reserve item caused by deferred maintenance."

So if I were buying a condo in FLORIDA (which this post was originally about) and I found the condo did NOT comply with this law, then yes, that WOULD send ME running even if the property was otherwise suitable. I personally would not be interested in buying a condo that did not follow Florida Condo laws. But others are welcome to. I think this is how many people end up with bad investments in Florida -- not even insisting that the condo they buy follows the law!
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 11:41 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,601
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
You really need to request at least 6-months of association meeting minutes at a minimum. You should also look at the association statements regarding current reserves, etc.

One PROBLEM with those association minutes can be how the meetings are structured. Sometimes there are so-called "open sessions" which happen after the official meeting is closed. These open sessions are supposedly when owners can bring up problems, etc., for discussion. If these problems are not being recorded in association meeting minutes then you will nto know about them.

Minutes should be read so recurring patterns can be discerned; amounts of time to resolve issues, etc.

Also you should request a copy of the association/building rules which can be very revealing.
Dukey1 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -