I'm in the process of buying a deeded lot in a 55+ gated RV community of 700+ in Lake Wales FL area. I believe that these lots are a hidden value and only sold by word of mouth by the older residents no reality salesmen involved. High activity park with something going on daily on a 288 acre lake, great fihing. I paid $17K and $2K to have the old mobile taken off. I will have to pour a new pad at about a cost of $5K asso.& tax fees about $2K yearly The more RV'ers and the removal of the old unit the better the park will look, right now about 20% RV'ERs and growing. The only drawback is your waving arm will get sore. I'm not posting the name here but will be willing to give the info to anyone interested in a buying lot. I'm not selling lots just giving info to fellow RV'ERs Just PM me

Do you mean you have to pay association dues of $2,000 a year?

The asso fees are about $300 a quarter which includes water and sewer, trash pickup and round the clock security officers plus use of pool outdoor games club house and much more. You own the land you have to pay the propriety taxes this makes up the rest of the cost this is a 55+ park so there is no school taxes. I have looked at several places to buy in Florida and the asso fees are about the same but the cost of the lots which are smaller then mine at this park (122'X44")are 2 to 5 times the cost of this park, plus there are extra perks like $5 monthly storage area for a 10X10 shed, most parks sell these for $10K or $7.50 monthly boat storage area and 16 pound "BASS" caught in this lake

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You own the land you have to pay the propriety taxes this makes up the rest of the cost this is a 55+ park so there is no school taxes.

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We recently sold our home in Lake Cty Fla. We were in a 55+ gated golf community. That status does not provide relief from school property taxes. It does however, give the advantange of not paying impact fees. Surveys must be done every couple of years within a 55
+ to prove that 80% of the residents are over 55. If that is not done, the state of Florida can & will recend the 55 status and impact fees will then be assessed on the property for back school taxes.

You are dealing with real estate in Florida, be certain you have your facts correct, do not take the word of a sales person. Do your own due diligence to verify what you have been told is correct.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobcatkitty,

On 2nd edit: If Florida is your legal residence, you can file for a Homestead exemption on deeded lot property. You must own the property on Jan. 1 of any given year, and file for it during January, Feb & March. The Homestead exemption is $25K. If you are a disabled vet, add $5K to that for a total of $30K.

The only way to buy or own propriety in this park is to summit proof of age which has has to be 55+ or you can't purchase the propriety. This park is 38 years old.

Please advise approximately how many lots are available at this time in the price range you obtained your lot for.

When I was there in Jan 07 there were about 5 or 6 empty lots for sale but several more with units on them. Price runs from $17K to $32K on the lake, most being about $19K. Best buy is for a storm damaged house and lot, that has to be torn down at a cost of $1500 to $2000 labor or do it yourself. This is what I purchased for $17K, I'm having the house taken down for $1500

WATERBOY YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION. VERY INTERESTED IN LOT ON THE LAKE. HOW DO I GET MORE INFO, PHOTOS, ETC. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CALIFORNIA. SELLING HOME AN BUYING A LOT IN MAINE NEAR OUR DAUGHTER. NEED A PLACE TO GO IN THE WINTER.

waterboy, could you email the info to me at KWAHQ@aol.com.........thanks

Many of you know I am NOT a salesperson or R.E. agent, nor do I get any kickback from any sales here. We have purchased a lot in Novemeber and it has already gone up $8,000. Still not a bod value for the many lots left.
http://www.wildernessrvparkestates.com/

Waterboy, can you please let me know where this place in fl. is? I live here in Fl. and have been looking for a place for 3 years. Apparently I'm not looking in the right place. Everywhere I look its for the snowbirds and costs a fortune to stay 6 months. I'l looking for a get away maybe on the week-ends or a few days here and there during the week. Let me know where please!
Thanks!sassy.shar@yahoo.com

grubster

As was mentioned above you must use due diligence in purchasing land in Fla. These prices are dirt cheap so there MAY be a reason. Several parks in the Lake Wales/Winter Haven area (particularly along Hwy. 27) were flooded out in the '04 and '05 hurricanes. I am NOT saying this one was but why would people be selling for 1/3 the going rate?
Forget about property taxes. You already know they are going to be higher in Fla. than most places but one trip to the grocery store in January dressed in tee shirt and shorts and you won't care about property taxes!!
But know the difference between a Cypress tree and a Pine tree. Cypress trees grow in standing water so any Cypress tree near a park should be an automatic deal killer. Period. Standing water kills pine trees. (So does lightning so one dead Pine tree doeth not a flood make.)
Since most developers are savy enough to know this they push out all the Cypress trees first thing so you must find out from your prospective insurance company if the lot is in a flood plain.
On the other hand, if you research this park and it passes muster then buy every lot you can afford!!!

I have no reason for telling about the lots in Lake Wales other then they are really a good value. I'm in the process of buying my 2nd lot as I write this. True this park had some flood damage in the 2005 after being hit by 3 hurricanes in a row with over 25" of rain in 2 days, but this was the first flooding in 38 years and is being corrected by putting in spillways to allow the water to get out of the lake and should cure any problems if the area gets hit by that many hurricanes again. My feeling if all fails and the water evers agains raises my home will move and when the water leaves my pad will still be there but I feel that the fix will work and if it waits another 38 years I will not have to worry anyhow.

WATERBOY, Thanks for the info you gave me about a month ago. We are flying to Tampa on 5/2/07 and staying in Haines City. We will stay a week in the area a look around. We will go to the park and see what we can find. Any Suggestions.
Larry and Sula Moore