A Florida Condo that I wish I still had

[Pauline Jones]

BUYING MY OCEAN FRONT DREAM  this cold weather is getting me restless

I started surveying the internet  searching all the cities near the ocean in south Florida didn't want to be too far from south beach which was way beyond my budget.

I went to several brokers but what they showed me were small garden apts, two story buildings with no views, and facing parking lots. drab and not at all the paradise I hopes to find. In one of the real estate offices though I saw a huge map of south Florida on the wall and noticed a series of little islands, it looked so serene, little islands all by themselves cut off from the busy crowded main highways. I had not driven in 40 years, so the prospect of now driving, having just got my license was terrifying. I thought if I had to back out onto a throbbing busy highway that I would never leave the house.

I asked the broker where these islands were located and he said Hallandale. Not too far from Hollywood, I had looked at some places there but they were all on the main highway, in very old buildings and small tiny rooms. So armed with the location I started checking out places in Hallandale. It was indeed little islands and I found several, I called a broker and asked to see some. Sadly, these were places that were very old and in much disrepair, the broker said there were some other places across the main highway, on 3 island blvd, even the address got me excited. We went over there and I saw a gorgeous white building, surrounded by acres and acres of tropical laden grounds with pools, tennis courts, and recreation areas. it was from a movie, all sparkling with an expansive curbed driveway leading up to the elaborate entrance way.

I was amazed, the price was the same as the dreary little places facing parking lots, and thrilled.

The broker took me to several units, but I really wanted one with a view, some of them did face north which wasn't that inspiring but the one I saw that was also the cheapest, 110,000 was 1,000 sf, with
an enormous terrace and panoramic views. The price was half of what others I had seen, but the apt itself was a carryover from the 70's when it was built, garrish wallpaper in many patterns graced the walls, and faded peach carpeting..having lived in contemporary interiors, my own designs I couldn't bear to look at this mess, there were other people coming in and running out once they had seen it as well.

But I thought now with some wall paper removal and white paint the space could be opened up. I asked one of the supers how much he would charge and he said $1200. This was a very big place compared to my 400 sf place in NY. and I agreed, I called the bank and got a mortgage for 50% of the amount with just a phone call. It was so easy to get a mortgage in those days.

A week or so after I closed the apt had been stripped, and painted it was a spanking brand new place.

I had sold the Florida condo for 300K and moved back to my little condo on 46thst.. Since I've always done well in real estate in the past I thought I should go back into it. .