The Poinciana Crane

Wooded Residential Land for Sale

Now just $13,000!  Wooded lot in established suburban area located in the heart of Florida's Chain-of-Lakes region. This 0.17-acre, corner lot is located in Lake Marion Village, a community within a picturesque area in southwest Kissimmee, Florida, named Poinciana.  Poinciana includes 18,000-acres of nature; outdoor activities; parks and pristine lakes; as well as competitive sports such as golf, tennis, handball, shuffle board, and swimming.   Disney Nature Preserve, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, Horse World Riding Stables, and Green Meadows Petting Farm are all located in the Greater Poinciana area.  You can enjoy all of these amenities as well as peace and serenity just minutes from shopping, fine dining, and the best schools in Polk county.  Adjacent neighbors already developed, so utilities are nearby. $13,000.  Virtual tour, photos, video, information available at PoincianaHome.net.  Interested in making an offer?  Contact us!  MLS ID# S4654777.

1-Acre Diamond in the Rough

SOLD!

Home Must be Sold ... Sunday, December 6, 2009, and it did!  A late 1980's diamond in the rough.  A whole acre in a community with no homeowners association and great neighbors.    A wide, stone fireplace welcomes everyone into a living room with a view of a gleaming clean swimming pool, and still gleaming today too from proper maintenance by Seller. 

Voice Your Opinion for the Holidays

Get your voice heard.  Two meetings are upcoming for citizen input:

• Osceola Delegation December 18th 1.30pm-4.30pm County Commission Chambers, Kissimmee.  (Link to Request to Speak form.)
• Polk Delegation December 21st 1.30pm-4.30pm County Commission Chambers, Bartow.

We know that many people have to work during these times and it's a shame they don't meet in the evening when more public can attend, but please try to attend.  This may your last chance to speak to your elected officials before the next legislative session.

Smart Change to Meet in November

The next meeting of Poinciana Residents for Smart Change (PRSC) will be held this coming Monday, November 16, from 9:30 a.m. until about noon.  This is a brainstorming session so bring your creative thinking caps.   PRSC will be focusing on groups goals, plans,  and objectives for next year.  This meeting will be held at the APV Community Center, at the intersection of Walnut & Marigold.

Tolls in Poinciana's Future

Responding to a FOIA request on Poinciana's future toll parkway, Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington provided the following information.

"....  in regards to funds collected on the proposed Poinciana Parkway. Originally this was to be a privately built and maintained toll road with all proceeds going back to the private company. Avatar has spent around $45 million dollars so far on permitting, design and right of way acquisition. However they are currently not able to obtain funds to complete the project as planned due to the downturn in financial sector. They have now approached Osceola County to partner in the project in hopes of obtaining Federal dollars in order to move forward. Once Osceola is able to obtain funding to build the road, we will begin construction and repayment of the funds Avatar has invested and Osceola County will be the sole operator and owner of the project. All funds will be collected by us to pay for the project and future additions to our roadway network."

Let's hope it stays that way.  If you have a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request about the Osceola side of Poinciana, write to your representative, Brandon Arrington at BArr@OSCEOLA.ORG.  Source: Email Wednesday, November 04, 2009 12:38 PM.

Polk Address Housing Concerns

BARTOW, Fla., (Nov. 5, 2009) - In an effort to assist low-to-moderate income residents in their quest to purchase homes, Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development is partnering with Polk Government Television (PGTV) to host a webinar on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

During the live online-exclusive interactive webinar, participants will learn about the federally-funded Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) for Polk County home buyers, sellers and vendors. Throughout the presentation, participants can post questions or comments for discussion by a panel of program representatives, including Greg Alpers, director of the Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Division; Bruce Lyon, president of Swan Development Advisors; and Jeff Bagwell, president and executive director of Keystone Challenge Fund, Inc.

Great Yarmouth's!

Hottest deal sold in October was a 3/2 bank-owned property with almost 1,300 square feet of living space and on nice size that needed a lot of work. This one was on Great Yarmouth Court was a perfect blank slate. Schools, shopping.  Seller was offering financing with no minimum credit score requirement and a down payment requirement of 10% but with the benefit of no prepayment penalty.  Listed for $49,900.  Sold for $45,000.

Poinciana Home Joins Forces with NAHREP

We recently joined the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals or NAHREP, because we believe that everyone has the right to own a home.  We support NAHREP's goal of equal access to homeownership for all Americans.  NAHREP has helped Hispanic families achieve the American dream by delivering knowledgeable, culturally sensitive, bilingual services to the community.

Over $1 Million for Osceola Homeless

Ready or not? Apparently, Osceola County's human services department has received $1,041,569 federal assistance for housing, and they don't even have an application ready.  That's why they're only accepting "voice applications" for those who would like to be placed on their mailing list to receive an application ... later.  (Where have I heard that before?)  To get your name on the mailing list, contact Lania Crouch at (407) 742-8411 or by email at Lcro2@osceola.org.

The grant is targeted to individuals and families who are homeless, living in a hotel/motel, nearly homeless, or about to lose their housing because of eviction or foreclosure.  The program is being administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Poinciana's Own Real Florida

Now through May is absolutely the best time to visit Poinciana's largest guarded nature preserve.  Without even leaving the area, you can take-in the wild with your family and enjoy the relaxation of Disney's Nature Preserve's new a buggy tours.  Click on the image to see a close-up of the two paths Disney offers around Russell Lake, a Poinciana exclusive.  For more information, call (407) 935-0002.  If you are into weekend trips, take a look at University of Central Florida's comprehensive list of parks in Osceola called Solutions for Your Life.  There are enough parks to keep you and your little Poincianans active any day of the week.  Disney's Nature Preserve is located at 2700 Scrub Jay Trail, Poinciana, FL  34759.  Click here to find their hours of operation.

Crescent Lakes' CFD to Meet in October

The public is welcome to the next meeting of Crescent Lakes common facilities district (CFD) will be held on October 13 at 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4727 (4th Floor), Kissimmee, FL  34741.  For more information, contact:

• Irene Overton-Morgan, President

• April White, Secretary & Treasurer

• George MacArthur, Supervisor

Sold in Solivita

Florida living at its best with this popular Bolero Model with a 1 bed 1 bath detached guest house.  Adjoining courtyard features privacy and entry gates. Rear screened lanai with brick pavers over looks a living pond.  Main house features two bedroom, two baths, and private office.  List Price: $259,000.  Sold Price: $226,000.

$70,000 Study Presented to Poinciana Residents

The University of Central Florida will present a community Town Hall Meeting to discuss the results of their Poinciana Incorporation Study.  The presentation is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at 11 a.m. and a second presentation at 6:30 p.m. at Palmetto Elementary School.  The school is located at Palmetto School 315 Palmetto St, Poinciana - (863) 427-6012.

Homes as Extreme Sport

Buying and selling single family homes in the U.S. market is starting to sound a lot more like a sports event than it does the purchase and sales of shelters for families.  Now that Henrieta Homeowner is finally familiar with the phrase "short sales," the financial industry has a new one that apparently supports the theory, "The more we change, the more we stay the same."  The new system is called an extreme short payoff or ESP, a new trend emerging in some of the hardest hit foreclosure areas in the country, and one that may be coming to a property near you. 

They say this is not short sales but an "extreme" yada ... yada ... yada.  It's in essence a short sale back to the original owners, thus helping to keep families in their own homes.  This new approach hasn't quite made it down to Poinciana or, maybe, sales prices in this area are so low that banks consider their values here already X-TREME! 

Anyway, according to National Public Radio, an ESP is essentially a business that "writes off" a loan in exchange for payment.  Some have seen their payments go down as low as "ten cents on the dollar."  Come to think of it, Poinciana's sales prices haven't quite gotten that low.  Hmm, maybe there is room for X-TREME financial sports here!

Blogger See. Blogger Do.

Incorporation Study Spawns New Blogs

The UCF incorporation study has apparently activated a number of Poinciana residents here in Central Florida to voice their opinions on the www. One of the many local examples includes the new blog, LetUsDecide.com  blog, by WHO KNOWS? (Seriously, who does know?)  Not to worry, LetUsDecide appears legitimate and extremely new; it was kicked off in early August 2009. The site promoter apparently supports incorporation and has been leaving flyers throughout the Greater Poinciana area including Crescent Lakes, Blackstone Landing, Doral Woods, Countryside Manor. Another such blog by Poinciana Residents for Smart Changerepresents a more even-handed presentation of the incorporation study.  To read the LetUsDecide flyer, click on the image. 

Hot Deal Sold in July

This home, with the Solivita-styled exterior, was sold in 10 days.  1,008 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.  Listed By: Darhlene Zeanwick, All Star Properties of Central Florida.  Sold By: Mary Jean Lantz, RE/MAX Paramount Properties.  List Price: $44,900.  Sold For: $50,150.  How did we do it?

We consider the Internet a home's curb appeal.  We start with upwards 100+ photos and text descriptions that's second to none.  For example, to sell this home, we entered the following description:

"Become a year-round eco-tourist in this beautiful starter home. Located on a third-acre with a rear, covered patio just across the street from from a wildlife preserve. Tiled throughout inside. Clean and ready to move-in

Recently Sold

Awesome home in POINCIANA; excellent location, very close to everything. This 3 bedroom & 2 bathroom became the perfect home for one lucky buyer. In move-in condition.  List price $49,900.  Sold for $53,000.

Vacant land/lot in developed Village 7.  Adjacent neighbors already developed so utilities nearby. List and sold for $14,900.  253 Grouper Court.  Looking for something like this?  Check-out our recently listed land/lot at 326 Dogfish Court.

Crist Runs Out on Homeless

According to Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, Governor Charlie Crist allowed the state's Office on Homelessness to run out of funding.  And that's not even the bad news. 

The bad news, according to Tom Pierce of the Office on Homelessness, is that they have received over 5,600 applications but can only assist about 4,000.  Pierce even went on to say "that applications received after Friday, August 7, are not likely to be assisted." 

That was yesterday!

Click here to read the full DCF memo regarding this funding.

Poinciana Walmart Tornadoed?

With hurricane season now kicking up a bit a steam in our direction, remember: be prepared.  Below's a video taken in the parking lot of the Poinciana Wal-mart just last year.

Hispanic Clout Covered by NPR

Puerto Ricans in Central Florida was the focus of a story by National Public Radio earlier this summer.  According to their report, nearly 750,000 Puerto Ricans now live in Florida and that number is expected to grow exponentially over the immediate future as residents of the island are given $2,500 government incentive to move to the mainland. 

Apparently, because of public sector layoffs in the 10's of thousands, the island's governor has been including in each worker's severance package $2,500 to pay for relocation costs.  Because of the migration to expected to Florida, many are already predicting that "Florida will move past New York as the country's third most populous state" when the 2010 federal census is complete.  According to Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, that will eventually make Central Florida "a big political force."  Now all we need is for Hispanics in greater numbers to start running for political offices and say, "Muévase, Charlie!"

Free Medical Care

Considering the devastating impact of the housing crisis on fellow Poincianans, everyone much pitch in in whatever way possible to help each other.  For that reason, we're compiling information to help Poinciana's children and families in our times of need.  If you're in need of medical care, consider the following source:

On the last Wednesday of each month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., you may find free medical care,just south of downtown Kissimmee on Harrelson Lane.  (See map .)  The only requirement is that you meet the definition of homelessness, which according to the federal McKinney Act is loosely defined as:

A person who lacks an adequate residence. It includes people sharing other people's homes because of loss of their own, those living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to a lack of adequate housing, and people living in cars or parks, or one of Poinciana's increasing number of abandoned homes.

Just look for the Medic Van at the end of the street on Harrelson.  It's hard to miss. To find out more or to donate your help, go HCCH Mobile.