KINGS POINT HOMES

kppond.jpg (86344 bytes)When you think about a condo in Florida, you probably imagine a high-rise building in a busy city. That's not what you will find at Kings Point. Most of the condo units here are duplexes like the one pictured to the right. There are over 100 condo associations in Kings Point covering 5,277 units. To purchase a home in Kings Point or Sun City Center, at least one member of the household must be 55 or older. No one under the age of 18 may reside here permanently, but children (and grandchildren) are welcome to visit.

The growth in Kings Point has been from north to south. The first condos that Dell Webb built here were multiple-dwelling buildings with a flat roof. There are many re-sales in these units now because the original buyers are moving on to their next stop in life. Down here, that means assisted living, a nursing home or the grave. It sounds morbid, but that's a fact of life in Sun City Center. Realtors joke when they hear the sound of an ambulance, "there's another house for sale." You should be aware that this creates a buyer's market since many children who inherit homes in Kings Point don't want them for one reason or another. They are looking to unload, and you can name your price within reason. In 2011, many older 2 bedroom, 2 bath condos were selling for under $40,000, some for as low as $35,000. New units ranged from $180k to $700k.

fwsign.jpg (44623 bytes)Many homes in Kings Point have a lake or golf course view. Another website warns potential buyers about the noise associated with living near a golf course. At the Sandpiper club in Sun City Center, groups are announced over a loud speaker system. Its different at Kings Point. There is a large clock that shows the time and temperature at both the Falcon Watch and Scepter clubs. You leave the clock at your assigned tee time. There are no loud announcements. It works well and you are rarely held up for slow play. If you don't keep up with the group in front of you, and there are people playing behind you, be prepared to let them play through or you will get a visit from a ranger.  If you are looking for a relaxing round where you can practice your game and not feel rushed, just book a tee time in the afternoon.

There is another consideration when buying a house near a golf course, incoming balls from bad golfers! Homeowners on the 10th fairway of the Renaissance course in Sun City Center complained soo much about incoming golf balls, that they forced the club to move the tee boxes. That's not a big problem at Kings Point. Most homes are set back far enough from the golf courses that ball strikes rarely happen.

All homes in Kings Point have covered parking. Older units have a carport, like the one pictured here,  while newer ones have at least a one car garage. The main benefit of covered parking is not keeping your car dry, but protecting it from the sun. Before you purchase a home in Kings Point, you should have a professional inspection done, even on a new home. Homeowners in Kings Point are eligible for the Kings Point warranty that will cover all of the appliances in your home for a reasonable annual fee. If your air conditioning unit can not be repaired, they will replace it at no charge. 

WCI Properties stopped building new homes in Kings Point and Sun City Center because of the slow real estate market. They were bought out by Minto Properties, who has resumed building in Kings Point. The majority of the homes in Kings Point are duplexes, while Sun City Center features single family homes on their own lots. Since 2005, there has been  a homeowners insurance crisis in Florida. In the wake of four major hurricanes in 2004, many insurers moved out of the state. Those that remained have raised their rates substantially. You should check out the availability of insurance before purchasing a single family home. Larger condo complexes, like Kings Point, have been able to purchase insurance.

All homeowners in Kings Point pay a monthly maintenance fee that includes security, landscaping, road maintenance, roof replacement, pest control, water, garbage pickup, 80 channel cable tv, and the use of two club houses. You can upgrade your cable service to include premium channels and/or high-speed internet and still receive credit for the basic service. The community is gated and staffed with security guards 24/7. It is one of the safest places to live in Florida. There are over 37 miles of roads in Kings Point. Golf fees are additional.

When you are ready to buy, I would suggest finding a realtor who is a golfer who will show you both the homes and the golf courses. 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Sun City Center is an unincorporated area of Hillsborough County, Florida. In the 2010 census, it was a census designated place, or CDP. Some of that data is below:

Elevation: 50 feet

Land area: 12.5 square miles

Population (year 2010): 19,258
Males: 8,176(42.6%), Females: 11,082 (57.4%)

Median resident age: 74.1 years
Median household income: $38,101 (year 2000)
Median house value: $93,100 (year 2000)