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Need a local opinion about Winterhaven FL
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2010 Jan 28, 9:26pm 2,817 views 7 comments
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I was in winter haven for a few days in the middle of the boom back in '06 for Indians spring training. I thought is was a dump then in the middle of the boom, and it was in the middle of nowhere. Now that the Indians are no longer there for ST, I don't see myself going back, ever. FWIW.
There are some excellent bargains on the coast. Why not buy in a place that offers the beach and an easy (45 minute) trip to the attractions around Orlando and your MIL? You'll use a beach house long after you've seen all the attractions.
I grew up in Orlando and still visit frequently. When I moved away in 2000, Winter Haven was still a wasteland of rural-suburbian '60s tract housing with no culture and little community. It was depressing the few times we ever wandered down there, and the property values will drop more there than they will in Orlando.
There was nothing more depressing to me back then than these kinds of bedroom towns connected by State Roads, I-4, and The Florida Turnpike (now known as Ronald Reagan Turnpike, ewww >shiver
Ewww, indeed. Don't forget about the *Amway* Arena.
The Bad: churlish residents, ugly urban sprawl, largely service driven economy, overpriced homes (still rated # 1 in the country), high violent crime rate
The Good: some pretty old houses from the 20's housing boom, nice coastline not quite an hour a way, flora fauna, far enough inland to avoid the worst of any hurricane, Publix supermarkets, evergreen winters, cheap European flights, no state tax
Orlando probably *could* be a good city, but it's just got too much bullshit. That said, Winterhaven is an even more desolate outpost. I do seem to recall that they have one of the biggest book stores in the country. Probably a good place to sit and drink yourself to death while reading all those heavy novels you skipped over in your youth. I drove through downtown Lakeland once several years ago. It seemed pretty tidy.
I grew up in Orlando and still visit frequently. When I moved away in 2000, Winter Haven was still a wasteland of rural-suburbian ’60s tract housing with no culture and little community. It was depressing the few times we ever wandered down there, and the property values will drop more there than they will in Orlando.
After 4-5 trips I've come to the same conclusion. The Red Sox used to have Spring training there, which is what I guess drew my wife's parents. That and a ton of little lakes and Disney realtively close. I keep asking my wife "why did your parents pick Winter Haven?" I think it was the cheap housing.
So, what's a good place 1/2hr from Orlando with 3-4br and 2 baths cost?
I know this is pretty close to ground zero. This would be a long-term second home purchase for other members of my family. I've got some in-laws who've lived in the Area for the past 20 years. Mom-in-Law bought a home in a new development about 2004. Nice 4br/2ba. She was the very first buyer at around 200k, and she watched asking price go to 300k, then 400k, then 450k... You get the drift. More than 1/2 her neighborhood is in foreclosure. She's not going anywhere, and has no mortage, close job and an elderly mother (91 and still a brassy bitch). A recent short sale was listed around 99k (don't believe it), which got everyone thinking about picking up one.
Both sides of my family have things going on/around in Orlando. We've got about 20 grandkids in the pool, multiple trips to Disney and to see the grandparents scheduled for the next 10 years. A purchase in Winterhaven FL would knit some of these things together, but having done some driving around the town looks pretty beat, a lot of shacks and new Home Depots, mostly consumer-wasteland.
Does anyone know the area?
#housing