Snowbird Condos in South Florida – Lauderdale Oaks in Lauderdale Lakes

Previously we wrote about our favorite collection of condominiums that are favored by Snowbirds throughout South Florida and today we are adding Lauderdale Oaks in Lauderdale Lakes to the selection because so many of our clients have discovered the community.

Lauderdale Oaks is located along Oakland Park Boulevard in central Broward between I-95 and the Turnpike, and once you enter the community the tranquility will amaze you compared to the busy congestion that surrounds the community.  Don’t let it deter you, however, as the community is located conveniently close to I-95 for easy access to the airports, and the central location means residents have access to both the beach (3.5 miles east) or to attractions further west in Weston and Sunrise.  Golf, shopping, movies, dining, and entertainment are plentiful in any direction.

Inside Lauderdale Oaks the community features 716 condominiums in 19 buildings.  Being a 55+ community means the homes are very affordable which is a surprising change from incredibly expensive new construction nearby.  A large club house features an auditorium with seating for 300 and many activities all year long.  Three pools, shuffleboard, bocce ball, and plentiful walking trails create a tranquil oasis where it’s easy to relax.

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Homes available in Lauderdale Oaks

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Can I use my condo in South Florida as a short-term rental or Vacation Rental By Owner?

Your Guru gets asked every now and again to help a buyer, who fancies himself/herself an investor, locate a condo that can make a little income (or perhaps a lot of income) on the side.  You should know that there are virtually NO condos in the area that allow AirBnB, VRBO or short term rentals.

Why can’t I rent my condo short term?

Here’s the reason:  The over-supply of condos in 2005 heralded the “beginning of the end’ of the condo building boom in South Florida.  We led the nation in the real estate “bust” and in turn, led the nation in the recovery.

Cash investors bought up the bargain-priced inventory and used those condos as rental properties – in any way they saw fit.  There were traditional long-term rentals, but those investors also treated their investments like short-term rentals and even as alternative to hotel rooms.

Lending on condominiums ground to a halt because so many condos had more tenants than owners.  Most lenders didn’t see condominiums as viable investment for their lending portfolios – they believed they’d lose money on every one of them.

Condominium boards also got an earful from angry residents as tranquil buildings turned into transient communities and party-pads.  Associations responded by enacting rules requiring anything from a year of ownership before an owner could rent their unit, to restrictions on lease length, and outright bans on short-term leases.  In most cases here in South Florida you’ll find a condominium association will have a minimum of a 6-month lease, or 12 month lease, or a restriction that a unit may only be leased once or twice per year.

Our marketplace and season has matured as well.  We don’t get as many snow-birds as in the past who drove the short-term rental demand.  The Fort Lauderdale and Miami metro areas are not as tranquil as they once were, contributing to the decline in demand for quiet short term housing.

Affordable Snowbird Friendly Condominiums around South Florida

Everyone loves a gorgeous new development.   The glamour of the shimmering high rise towering above the cosmopolitan skyline grabs attention, and the press loves to print gorgeous glossy advertisements in the cosmopolitan magazines.  Flying under the radar, however, are thousands of affordable condominium homes that make owning a second home or retirement condominium a possibility for the savvy south Florida shopper.

The exploration of these Snowbird communities began for Your Guru three years ago with the arrival of my mother-in law.   Her first visit was for two weeks when we bought our first home.  The following year, the visit stretched to six weeks.  Last year, mom made herself at home for a solid three months.  Sometime last summer, she announced that this visit, she’d be staying.  So there was some incentive to find a place – outside my house.

The following is my starting point for anyone that comes to south Florida with a desire to escape the frigid north and pursue the dream of a get-away in the sunshine state.  It should be noted that a search of Fort Lauderdale’s surrounding communities will return a myriad of condominium choices, the selection can range from the downright dismal to the merely adequate.  My guidance invariably reverts to one of four to eight communities of exceptional character, location, management and amenities.  Follow along as I take a drive through my Four Favorites in the following video and check out my recommendations below.

Robert’s Top Snowbird Friendly Condos in South Florida

I’ve not mentioned pricing on this page as I do not want the page to get “stale” – each page linked here is updated with the latest pricing and availability.

Cypress Bend Condominiums in Pompano Beach are my favorite alternative to the larger community of Palm Aire located nearby.  What draws folks to Cypress Bend are the amazing location just north of Fort Lauderdale, only 15 minutes to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the Isle Casino next door and the beach only two miles away.  From Cypress Bend you can get to great restaurants, movies, malls and attractions just outside the community entrance.  The community is extremely well managed, exceptionally well cared for, on sprawling grounds where every building is nestled along the banks of a central lake.  Here’s the page with what’s currently available in Cypress Bend.

Palm Aire Condominiums in Pompano Beach are on nearly everyone’s list of places to investigate – with good reason.  The community features thousands of homes that vary from standalone villas to condominium high-rises.  There are townhomes, garden-style walk-ups as well offering something for every taste.  Nestled around FOUR golf courses, the property has acres of green space and miles of recreation paths.  The golf courses are public and no membership is required.  Palm Aire is an all-ages community so there are no restrictions on who can purchase a home.  Throughout the community are tennis courts, multiple pools, clubhouses with fitness facilities, even small convenience stores!  Here’s the page with what’s currently available in Palm Aire.

Century Village East in Deerfield Beach is where my search ended.  The condominium that we purchased for Mom was a one-bedroom, one-bath with screened in balcony in one of the mid-rise buildings for the crazy price of $36,000.   To give you an idea of pricing at Century Village East, prices vary depending on where you are in the community – more for condos close to the center, less for condos closer to the outside edge.  Prices vary by size (one bedrooms are available with a bath-and-a-half as well) and by how updated they are.  Finally there are a variety of walk-up (2-story) buildings or 5-story elevator buildings – of which the mid-rises are more expensive.   Mom’s condo was freshly painted, had modern tile throughout, and a dated kitchen and bath.  We gutted the kitchen with a clean modern kitchen and freshened the bath.   Maybe spent $2,500 updating the apartment with a good cleaning and new paint.  There are Century Village communities in three other locations as well depending on whether you prefer Pembroke Pines, Deerfield Beach, West Palm Beach or Boca Raton.  Here’s the page with what’s currently available in Century Village East.

Kings Point in Tamarac is the newest development, which makes sense since it’s the furthest west – near the Sawgrass Mills Mall and the BB&T Center.  Residents of Kings Point enjoy modern buildings that feature contemporary floor plans, hurricane impact windows in some buildings and in-home laundry in many buildings.  Sprawling over several square miles and with 9,000 homes, the community has endless jogging, walking and bicycle paths.  The landscaping is lush and most buildings feature some water view.  Of course there’s a community center with amazing facilities along with a theater for live shows and movies.  Every cluster of homes has its own pool as well so every resident can walk to a sundeck and a soak.   The benefit to the location at the western boundary in Broward is proximity to enormous parks, everglades nature preserves and of course world-class shopping, sports and entertainment at BB&T Center.  Here’s the page with what’s currently available in Kings Point.

These are my top four favorite spots for your ideal Snowbird Retreat.   I’d say there are another half a dozen that I like.  Although you may see dozens more, one of the benefits of having a pro working for you is the time and aggravation saved from seeking out this information on your own.  They don’t call me the Guru for no reason!

Are you seeking a sunny South Florida home for yourself?  Contact me today

Kings Point Condominiums in Tamarac

Kings Point Condominiums Tamarac Florida

Kings Point in Tamarac truly offers something for everyone with nearly 9,000 residences.  Modern elevator buildings afford contemporary floor plans with new kitchens and bathrooms, many with in-home laundry.  Garden style buildings feature more secluded living with private entryways and walk-up homes.  Miles of bicycle and walking paths wind through the various communities.  As you make your way throughout, residents enjoy pools, tennis courts and a myriad of other outdoor activities.

In the center of it all is a large community center and theater for both live performances and movie screenings.  A business center features computers and printers, and internet access throughout the center.  Class and recreation rooms accommodate the extensive class schedule and recreation rooms range from a pool hall to card rooms with the obligatory tournaments.  The location in Tamarac is tranquil and secluded, however only a short distance to major attractions such as the Sawgrass Mills Outlets and the BB&T Center.

See the comprehensive guide to Snowbird Friendly Condos for my complete list of favorite communities

What’s Available in Kings Point

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Development Update: Metropica in Sunrise

Metropica_Final-View-05_RThe folks from Metropica stopped at the office this week to present the plans for the enormous development located in Sunrise near the Sawgrass Mills Mall.   The community is planned on 65 acres and will feature condominiums, hotels, retail and apartments in an urban retreat where residents never need to leave the property.

Ultimately, the master plan calls for shopping, restaurants, wifi everywhere on property for residents, five-star health clubs, 650,000 square feet of office space, 2,250 residences, 3,600 parking spaces, two hotels, all encompassing 4-million square feet.

Tower 1 is on offer at this point featuring 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes ranging from 740 to 1,379 square feet.  Ground breaking is set for First Quarter 2015, and delivery 3rd quarter of 2016.    For a development with quite stylish finishes and amenities, prices are remarkably affordable.  One bedroom homes are currently priced from $280,000 to $350,000.   Two bedroom homes are priced from $365,000 to $588,500 and a three bedroom floor plan is offered from $523,000!

Deposit structure is 50% as development progresses.   10% at reservation and 10% at contract.   20% at ground-breaking and final 10% at top-off.

The first tower offers features such as pool and sun-deck, massage therapy and health club, tennis, concierge, outdoor summer kitchens for entertaining, indoor theater for residents, pet run, storage facilities, and a rental program that can be administered by Metropica Realty.

Fits and finishes inside the homes appears to be spectacular from renderings.   Interior design is by YOO Design Studio featuring porcelain tile in the living and bedroom areas, floor to ceiling glass windows, and amazing balconies.   Kitchens are spec’d out with porcelain flooring and back-splashes, contemporary kitchen cabinetry, quartz counter-tops, stainless steel appliances, and plumbing fixtures by Hansgrohe.

Would you like to be kept up-to-date on the development at Metropica in Sunrise?

For additional information contact Robert Darrow at Keller Williams Fort Lauderdale with the contact form below or call Robert today at 954-446-9001 with any questions.  Ready to make an appointment to view this incredible property?  For all your Fort Lauderdale real estate needs and an introduction to Metropica in Sunrise, we are always here to help as your buyers agents in the  Fort Lauderdale area.