View Full Version : Is Clubhouse used?
We're currently looking to buy a villa for renting out, but eventually spending longer holidays there with the kids. We were looking at communities with a clubhouse and pool but is the clubhouse the centre point for meeting other villa owners? Do many children use these facilities?
We're interested in a villa at The Sanctuary which doesn't appear to have a clubhouse so do the villa owners there have anywhere to meet up?
ianandsue
22-01-2004, 03:27
I cannot say anything about sanctuary as am not aware of this area, but yes the clubhouse on our community is very well used by families. Our kids met lots of friends this way when we first stayed in our home in November, and this is where we met some other guests who we socialised with on a couple of occasions.
sue
hi , i was in emerald islands a few months ago and can say it was busy, mostly but the guest staying in townhouse. great atmosphere, and tiki bar was fantastic .
dino
Whilst I won't make any comment about community facilities for guests, if you're wanting to meet other home owners then you're unlikely to meet more than a few who happen to be staying at the same community at the same time as yourself in a clubhouse.
If you want to meet home owners in a wider context, then there's nothing like joining in with a home owners' general meet where you can put faces to forum names and meet people with homes in other communities at the same time.
Newhomebuyer
17-02-2004, 16:59
I was in Emerald Island for 6 weeks last summer and in my experience the clubhouse was fairly quiet. I found that the cyber cafe (3 machines)was full of young people who were playing (quite right too it was their holidays, and I couldn't get on to send quick messages etc. The pool was hardly ever used.
I don't think in that community it is a place to meet up with others.
I think networking in this way is better.
Not that much. In the Summer communal pools do get used and are a meeting point for people but not in the winter unless heatedn Most people are out at the parks all day, come home and slump in front of the TV or even into bed. I dont think meetig up with other families and kids making friends and hanging out with them is part of a Florida holiday like it is say in Spain in a hotel or condo complex. If you want to meet other homeowners, there are regular meetings arranged through this and other forums as said alrady and this is a better bet. I would not buy a home just for the clubhouse ( or not buy because it doesnt have one).
orlandobabe
19-02-2004, 02:18
I think you're right Julie. Florida is such a unique holiday. I can't think of anywhere that has so much to do-that families are just on the go the whole time-that really there isn't much time for just hanging around.
People have flown such a long distance-that again they want to squeeze every ounce out of the holiday-Spain and places that are only a short hop-are great for lazing around while on holiday-but in Florida by the time people have at least 10 parks to visit at least once -and shopping-it doesn't leave much time for hanging around club houses!
For eg My daughter and son in law both bought roller blades 3 years ago and in all of that time-they have used them twice. There's just too many other things to do-or they are so shattered when we get back-it's pool and beddy byes!
This type of community is much more popular and will feature a mix of Villa, Townhomes and Condominiums. If you plan to use your villa a couple of times a year there are only so many times the Disney magic will work with the kids. Hence the clubhouse area is a good place to meet other families as long as the facilities are attractive.
As an example Windsor Hills by Pulte Homes willhave a very large clubhouse, cinema, shop, fitness double olympic sized pool etc etc. However there is a premium for this in that you have to pay a Homeowners Association Fee for the upkeep which in the case of Windsor Hills will run at around $350 per month.
Of course rentals for a villa on a gated comunity with 5 start facilities will enable you to charge higher rents. For example you can rent a 4 bed at say Mission park for $120 per night whereas you will pay $200 per night at Windsor Palms (already built sister property to windsor hills)
If you are just going to have the Villa as an pure investment then maybe you don't need the facilities in which case there are many developments to choose from. However if you are buying with your own holidays in mind then you might appreciate the extra money for the facilities spent as well as the improved rentals and higher capital growth.
Good luck
Not with you AJ - what makes you think they're 'more' popular? More popular with whom and for what? If you're purchasing a townhome or condo without its own private pool, then I guess it'd be essential to have community facilities as private ones aren't available.
As you've noted, these type of developments have very hefty HOA fees which means you have to charge higher for rentals just to cover your costs (also as you have noted).
If these are the sort of facilities that you want to use for yourself then fine but otherwise they could be one expense you could perhaps do without if you're struggling to get bookings for a non-peak period.
huckleberry house
25-02-2004, 20:18
I would disagree with your comments AJ,they are not more popular than many other sub-divisions without communal facilities.Many guests especially those returning and not on their first trip have realised that the communal facilities are very little used,in 90 degrees of heat that game of tennis stops looking quite so attractive compared to lounging around your own pool in privacy,given that the rentals are usually dearer a lot of renters can see there is little point paying for something that they wont ever use.
Of all the resort type sub divisions I toured around the communal facilities were like a ghost town,the atmosphere on them is also very different,some will prefer it,others wont.
Lesley
carlandjo
07-03-2004, 17:49
I agree with AJ. We looked to purchase for 2 years. We've talked to many people from home (Pa.). A lot of families go to Disney once a year or once every two years. They are not interested in the parks year after year. I agree that it is nice to have your own pool. That is why we bought a townhouse with a spa/pool. But being at a gated community with a beautiful clubhouse with a cinema, games room, huge pool, tennis, and all the extras is very appealing to return visitors.
zhou1234
12-04-2004, 23:52
I agree with AJ. When I go a vacation, I want to be a in community vs a single house which we all stayed for the other 50 weeks. We all want something different. Like a luxuray resort, sure you will pay higher, but you do that once a year or two.
I am just through the idea, I am still debating to buy a townhouse in a nice resort or a standard 4bed villa.
chrizzy100
13-04-2004, 00:06
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by zhou1234
I agree with AJ. When I go a vacation, I want to be a in community vs a single house which we all stayed for the other 50 weeks. We all want something different. Like a luxuray resort, sure you will pay higher, but you do that once a year or two.
I am just through the idea, I am still debating to buy a townhouse in a nice resort or a standard 4bed villa.
[/quote]
I like resorts..but then I was a Butlins baby.....Hi di hi.....[:o)][:o)]
chrizzy100
13-04-2004, 00:38
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by huckleberry house
I would disagree with your comments AJ,they are not more popular than many other sub-divisions without communal facilities.Many guests especially those returning and not on their first trip have realised that the communal facilities are very little used,in 90 degrees of heat that game of tennis stops looking quite so attractive compared to lounging around your own pool in privacy,given that the rentals are usually dearer a lot of renters can see there is little point paying for something that they wont ever use.
Of all the resort type sub divisions I toured around the communal facilities were like a ghost town,the atmosphere on them is also very different,some will prefer it,others wont.
Lesley
[/quote]
When we first looked down in FL for a full time home......I was not to happy about living in a STR area...but I fell in love with the house......and I could see all the things I could do with it in the future.......I was worried about it being a ghost town...but a lot of local people live there....and that really adds to the place....
I love resorts....so finding a place that was STR to buy... which is always handy to have...without large HOA fees now gives me the chance to rent on a resort for a few days per year.....giving me the best of both world.......no matter what...I still love my resort hotels...or condo.....there are enough different people with enough different ideas on whats a good holiday to make most things work......[msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]
Calamity Jane
13-04-2004, 22:46
I think what you all have to realise here is that there are many different developments and resort complexes, I dont know how anyone can say that one is better than the other, it horses for courses
There are guests out there that will love the complexes and of course you will always have the guests that love the private villa with its own pool ( I guess that's why we as private villa owners are coming over as a little bit biased)
I personally prefer a private villa ( and yes I have stayed on complexes before albeit not in Florida) it was great when the kids were young and they could mix, but as they got older I found it much more relaxing to do my own thing.
Whichever kind of holiday/vacation the guest chooses then that's fine by them, each type of vacation has lots to offer in its own capacity.
As far as charging higher rates, there will always be guests who will pay for this as it is what they require.
Personally I like to have good community facilities. I agree that on your first visit to Orlando you are out so much at parks and attractions all you want to do is sit down a relax when you get back. However, after returning for future visits you get a bit more choosey about where you go and for how long and we have found it quite nice to have a clubhouse to. Our kids are now teenagers and want to meet other teenagers. The cyber cafe, communial pool and games/pool room is a good place for them to do so. Also I like the secure atmosphere of a gated community with a man at the entrance checking out incomers.
We ended up paying a bit more to buy a villa in the Terra Verde Resort for this reason.
Sue
chrizzy100
19-05-2004, 18:32
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by tuzanne
Personally I like to have good community facilities. I agree that on your first visit to Orlando you are out so much at parks and attractions all you want to do is sit down a relax when you get back. However, after returning for future visits you get a bit more choosey about where you go and for how long and we have found it quite nice to have a clubhouse to. Our kids are now teenagers and want to meet other teenagers. The cyber cafe, communial pool and games/pool room is a good place for them to do so. Also I like the secure atmosphere of a gated community with a man at the entrance checking out incomers.
We ended up paying a bit more to buy a villa in the Terra Verde Resort for this reason.
Sue
[/quote]
The only things with gated that I noticed.....was one.....a few had high front walls and a gate....but were open to the views around the sides and back....so not really gated as such......and two the wait to get inside.......I can't remember the name of the place its on the 192 I think..but everytime we passed there were about 6 cars waiting to get in.....some blocking the road so much....that I could see a crash in the making.......
I just think we watch to many Cop shows......gated is fine in a resort setting.....but if you want the real feel of living in the USA....a place with locals....is safe and friendly.......with or without a gate.....