We bought it!!!

[kidzmom3]

We just signed the agreement to build a house at Wyndham (windsor)palms. It will back into the conservation area so we think our street will be awesome. The say it will be ready in 120 days so our ext thanksgiving vacation should be at our new home away from home. Thanks to everyone who gave their opionion on this development. I hope that it will all work out great!

 

[EBONYPRINCESS2000]

Hey Way to go! Enjoy your trip too!

 

[Robinrs]

Wonderful news!

Which style are you having built? I still have the sales brochure from my trip in April.

 

[neilybealy]

congrats

i really am green with envy

 

[FLeisure]

Congratulations !
I hope everything works out well for you

 

[kidzmom3]

thanks everyone, we are very excited. We picked the Barrington III style with the round window over the front door. We also picked the lagoon pool or was it pineapple, not the crazy angled one. Our street is made but there aren't any houses on it yet. They say it only takes 120 days to complete so lets hope. We already had to pick out tiles/grout etc. Once the house is complete we will look at the furnishings. The management company is very definite about what they like to see in the home. Doing a happy dance today, and my kids are just psyched. We made it to the Animal Kingdom lodge in just 8 minutes (we timed it). So maybe we will be able to park at AK and take busses to the other parks. They said we may be able to get florida resident rates on tickets if we show an electric bill. Does anyone know if this is true. Thanks again everyone, you can tell That we are very excited.

 

[FLeisure]

Kidzmom3,
Yes, it is absolutely true that you now qualify for Florida Resident rate ! Take your first electric bill or even your deed to the park gates and get your residents annual pass ...and enjoy.

One thing I was concerned about in your post......this is your house. No MC should dictate exactly what you have in your home. Obviously you'll need certain things but always remember this is YOUR house.

 

[izzy]

This is something I've been thinking seriously about doing - i.e. buying a house or condo in the WDW area. Not just for now but for my retirement years - only 16 years to go!

Is there a website where I could go look at the houses for sale in that neighborhood? I'd be real interested in what they're offering and how much they cost.

Thanks, and enjoy your new home!

 

[kidzmom3]

Thanks again for the info everyone. I still can hardly believe it. Izzy the name of the community we are buying in is Windsor Palms, and they are in the second stage and I believe there will be a third. It is a great place!! Just about 10 minutes from Animal Kingdom and probably 15 or so from the MK gates. They have condos and homes here. They also offer a conveinance store/club house with large pool/exercise room and theatre. A friend stayed here about a year ago and decided to buy so my f-i-l decided to look into the cost. We decided to get a lot that borders the conservation land, so the plot was about 20,000 more than the lots with neighbors right behind them. We live in MA so the price for the house was very reasonable. I don't know why but I do sortof feel like I shouldn't really say exactly how much it costs so does the 200,000 ball park sound good? We got the 6 bedroom because my f-i-l and my DH bought it together and they have another brother and sister (who are young and unmarried but will someday need extra space too) We did sign with a management company to take care of the property and arrange for rentals. We just have to let them know when we will be using it. This company also offers an online calender that we can check on the spur of the moment to see if its taken, so we could go down for an unexpected holiday.
We have already picked out tiles/bathroom lay out/outside design etc. They say it may be done by October which would be great. The builder is Pulte (?i think this is right) and they are a large national firm with a decent reputation. for some reason I can't think of the website for choosing your home etc. if I can remember it soon I will post it here. http://www.windsor-palms-resort.com this is their web address. I will miss staying onsite, but the thought of many more vacations keeps me thrilled. We have never owned our own pool, so YIPEE! and maybe every once and a while i can convince DH that we need one or two extra special nights and stay onsite.

 

[kidzmom3]

http://www.pulte.com/community.asp?srchid=31|106&pro=0&ck=31|106&key=670|106 this is the specific page on Pulte.com for the windsor palms houses. They have other areas they are building in now

 

[izzy]

Kidzmom3,

Thanks for the info! These look beautiful and I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. I may have to look into it the next time I'm in Orlando, which I'm hoping will be in October.

I wish I could talk some members of my family into going in on it with me, but they're a bunch of fuddy duddies. Although I have to say that if I get a place, I'm sure they're get out of their rut long enough to ask if they can use it - LOL!

 

[redpants]

kidzmom--

Unfortunately, you won't be able to park at AKL. In order to do so, you must be staying there. If you tell the guards at the gate that you are going in for a meal, then you get a temporary parking pass whcih is only good for about 2 hours.

Sorry to burst your bubble!

 

[FLeisure]

I've never had any trouble parking at AKL ....there certainly has never been any mention of time limits whether dining or not.

However, using the buses to get around will only cost you more time ! Have you ever tried waiting for one of these creatures ?

 

[MouseGirl]

Oh, how wonderful for you Kidzmom3, isn't it just the nicest property? You're going to have some wonderful vacations there, I know. Wish we were there right now - can't wait until our next trip to the Orlando area - I wouldn't stay anywhere else but Windsor Palms after our fantastic experience there in March of this year.

 

[kidzmom3]

thanks for the good thoughts everyone. I think you are right about parking at the AKL. Still happy as a clam, its going to be a long4 1/2 months.

 

[izzy]

Kidzmom3,

I was wondering if you looked at any other properties before deciding on Windsor Palms. I'm really interested buying something down there, but Windsor Palms is a little out of my price range at this time. (I can tell you'll enjoy it, though - they're gorgeous!) Did you go through a real estate agent or do this on your own? Sorry for all of the questions - I don't know what all is involved with buying something like this. I just love these boards that you can get so much knowledge from other people experiences!

Izzy

 

[kidzmom3]

No problems with the questions. It was a big decision for us also. To answer your question, we did not deal with a real estate agent. What happened was 2 years ago we rented a house from floridalesiure.com, because we were a large family group 8 adults and 3 kids. We greatly enjoyed the house we rented (at Sunset Lakes) and began talking about maybe someday getting our own. THe next year (this past September), my DH and I stayed onsite with our 3 children and loved it!!! We thought, maybe a house just wasn't for us because we loved staying onsite soooo much. We took the DVC tour and when we came home we discussed it all with my f-i-l. Due to many financial reasons, my f-i-l decided that he did not think the DVC was the best choice for us (my DH and I +kids) and them (m-i-l/f-i-l). We then began to seriously think about looking into a house. His boss then rented a house at Windsor Palms and while on vacation there decided to buy one. He brought home all the materials, and we began to look at them. We then decided that because we were repeating the original big family trip this coming November that we would all check out the property in person, then. We would rent a house from the then. And then decide. Well, when I called to make the reservation, they stated that a lot of lots were selling and that to get our first choice location, buying sooner than later was advised. Wether or not this was a sale tactic, a lot of lots sold the 2 days we were there. So I did some internet research on relative prices of homes in Florida, locations etc and decided that it seemed to be good for us. We then flew down last Monday spent the night signed on Tuesday and came home. Monday was the first time we had seen it live and in person. My f-i-l decided that we should sign with the management company that helped us look around, along with a builder and rep of Windsor Palms. This is the only place were we were in disagreement. I think we should have looked around a little more, because this company is very demanding in what furnishings,amenitites that they want you to offer. Also, they are not responsible if tenants break anything. I don't think that any money will be made off rentals. I really don't. I hope that rentals will offset some of the costs, because it is pricey. But less so than our home state. My f-i-l has a vacation house on a lake in NH that cost 4 times the one in FL. Just the costs of different locations I guess. We were lucky because we didn't have to go it alone. We would never have been able to do so. If you have any more questions I would be happy to answere them. Good luck on your research.

 

[FLeisure]

Kidzmom3,

I'm really glad that staying with us gave you the insight into buying a home. It's really nice to see that happen and we wish you the very best of luck with your new home in the future.

I pm'd you a few days ago in regard to an owners information forum you might find interesting. You will be on a steep learning curve and hopefully this will help a little !