Vero Beach Neighborhoods

[beach43ofus]

I'll be watching you both closely because Vero is one of my 2 next alternatives after we leave SW Florida (Southern Sarasota County).

Suggetion on homeowners insurance...

Before spending to much time looking, meet with a broker who sells for lots of insurance companies, and has decades of experience in the Vero area. This can be done by phone. Ask them for the top top factors that drive homeowners costs in your target area. When I did it, my findings were in no particular order:

-credit rating
-past claims history
-age of structure
-FEMA flood zone designation
-roof design (hip versus gable), roof age, and roofing material (metal, tile, asphalt)
-home material (cinder block versus stick)

There's not much I could do about the first 2. Our credit rating is 800+, & we did have 2 prior claims for plumbing damage in our 30 year history.

So I focused on the next 4...hard. I did this research in Vero, but wound up buying in SW FLA 6 yrs ago...using the same findings.

I decided on new build, hip, flat cement tile, X flood zone designation, cinder block, and my HOI is $1,800/yr for 3,000 sq ft home now worth $1M ($550k new 5 yrs ago). That doesn't include flood...we had it, then cancelled flood coverage when it went up a lot & we learned the small payout. We are 8 miles inland...15-20 mins to beach. We excaped Ian w/o any flood or damage of any kind...CAT 3, or 4 as it passed us, depending upon who you listen to.

We let insurance factors determine the outcome, which may not be for everyone, but it worked out for us. Also, for car insurance, zip code is another factor, so if 2 areas are close on HOI, then use auto cost to decide.

fyi...the Panhandle was the cheapest overall in property taxes back then...Walton and Bay counties were our best choices. If you feel priced totally out of Vero, that could be a plan "B".

I hope this all helps you both. Our next stop will be Vero, or coastal South Carolina, but our move is not for at least 3 more years, but I'll be watching you here to see how your decisions, and others, unfold.

[DJJ8389]

Thanks for the great advice beach. That will surely be going into my notebook!

[DJJ8389]

Does anybody know about homes in the "Arbor Trace" subdivision? There is currently a very nice home for sale there at $599,000. 4 beds, 4 baths, 2500+ SF. Large lot, CBS construction, pool, town water and sewer, no flood zone, low HOA. It looks like a very nice home. A little more than I was looking to spend but I'd like to keep this area on my radar. Any input on this subdivision would be much appreciated!

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by DJJ8389

Does anybody know about homes in the "Arbor Trace" subdivision? There is currently a very nice home for sale there at $599,000. 4 beds, 4 baths, 2500+ SF. Large lot, CBS construction, pool, town water and sewer, no flood zone, low HOA. It looks like a very nice home. A little more than I was looking to spend but I'd like to keep this area on my radar. Any input on this subdivision would be much appreciated!

I looked in that area when it was just being built 8 yrs ago. Prices were dirt cheap back then, but the HOA's were too lax for my liking.

The lots were large, & the homes were ~2,800 sq ft w/ 3 car garages for ~$400k back then.

Something I was told that had me backing away from there was that Oslo Road may become an exit off of I-95 in the future, so that will change the quiet remote nature of that area. If you buy there, get as far from Oslo Road as possible because it will be widened, & the construction will be a nuissance for 2 years.

[JenaS62]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Something I was told that had me backing away from there was that Oslo Road may become an exit off of I-95 in the future, so that will change the quiet remote nature of that area. If you buy there, get as far from Oslo Road as possible because it will be widened, & the construction will be a nuissance for 2 years.

They have already started widening it - west of 58th ave on Oslo. Not sure that the finished exit will happen in my lifetime but it has at least started.

[DJJ8389]

Maybe the 95 exit to Oslo could be a good thing as long as you are far enough off the main drag? Easier access to the highway wouldn't be bad. I am really not that familiar with that are around Oslo. Still exploring.