Friday I signed the contract to sell my house. Saturday I drove to Lakeland, Florida, to meet a real estate agent and visit 4 condos. Today I am reviewing online my offer for one of the condominiums. (For my UK friends, a condominum or condo is an apartment you own.) The reason I am moving to an apartment/condo? I am tired of maintaining a home. There for a monthly fee the buildings are maintained including landscaping, maintaining & painting the outside of the building, & paying water bill, trash, internet, and cable. In effect I only pay for my electric bill. I am closing on my home on January 10th in the morning. In the afternoon I am closing on my new condo (if offer is accepted). It is exciting to think I am starting a new leg of my life in a new home in a new small town. Life is full of changes.
Above is a lake next to the condos. The pier belongs to the condo association. Lakeland is just to the east of Tampa and west of Orlando. It was first settled in 1875 and was incorporated as a city in 1885. It has a population under 200,000. The amazing thing about the area is it is above sea level. Although surrounded by lakes, Lakeland and Winter Haven to the east do not flood. Most hurricanes downsize to tropical storms by the time they reach this area too.
Today I want to share a few photos of the condo I choose. It is in an older, established condominium association. There are multiple buildings with an alphabetical designation: Building A, Building B, Building C, and Building D. It is not a huge development which I would not like. I saw condos in A, B, and C. The condo I selected is in Building B on the second floor. Below the unit balcony is outlined in red.
The unit’s current owners are the 3 sons of the previous owner. They installed luxury vinyl plank flooring in the whole condo of 1120 sq. feet. (It’s larger than my house!). The photos do not show how nice the floors look. In a closet are almost 2 whole boxes of the flooring which can be useful if some gets damaged. Below is the living room which is the room you enter from the front door. I like the white shutters on the window facing the outside walkway. They’re attractive and can be opened or closed.
The living room continues to the dining area by the kitchen. I like that the whole living area is open. At the end of the dining area is sliding doors to the balcony. I’ll be pitching those curtains and verticals for a white set of curtains that let in light but are not sheer. The light over the table will be replaced.
The kitchen is updated with newer cabinets (soft close cabinets), granite counter, and backsplash. I would have preferred a lighter backsplash but it’s attractive.
I always wanted white cabinets and these are lovely.
The laundry room with storage cabinets is off the kitchen.
The master bedroom has sliding doors to the balcony. I’ll be replacing the drapes. I think I’ll add a new ceiling fan with a light.
The balcony has a view of the entrance courtyard.
The 2 bathrooms are original. They need a good cleaning. In the future, I will redo them. The main action after closing is to have a good cleaner come in and clean, and have a painter do the whole apartment including closets. I like low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint in a light neutral shade similar to what I had in my current home. I love white trim and doors. Then I can move in and slowly do changes to make it my home.
Below is the interior courtyard that the apartments wrap around. I visited the first time in the morning in the process of seeing 4 condos.
In the afternoon on Saturday after I decided on the condo, we returned for a 2nd viewing. They had decorated the courtyard for Christmas. I like the vignettes and know they must be beautiful at night when lighted.
It’s pretty even from the walkways above.
This resident on the first floor has a wonderful front door for Christmas. It really goes with the vignettes in the inner courtyard.
I’m wishing you all a blessed holiday season. Now I must pack what I am moving and get rid of things I won’t move. Wish me luck!
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That’s great news Carol, congratulations!!! So happy for you! Your new place looks lovely and I enjoyed the tour, thank you! Wishing you many, many years of happiness in your new home. I will be thinking of you while moving, lots of ggod-luck wishes heading your way.
Thanks Denise – I’ll take all the good wishes I can. I really hate packing but gave myself plenty of time with my closing on the house on Jan. 10th – then I drive to Lakeland and close on the condo in the afternoon. Somewhere later in January I’ll rest!
Merry Christmas!
Congratulations, Carol! It’s absolutely beautiful! And I know how you’ve wanted to move so I’m just thrilled that you both sold and were accepted! It couldn’t be better. Three cheers for you, my friend! I look forward to seeing it with your touches!
It’ll be a while before I decorate – I must do that horrible thing called packing – purging of stuff – ugh. I find myself hesitant to put all decor away yet but know eventually it will happend.
Thanks for your support!
The new condo looks really nice and I like that pier…probably would spend lots of time there…reading and relaxing.
Yes I like the lake and pier. My condo doesn’t really have a view of it but that’s ok. I can just walk on the paved walkwy to it. It just sets a nice mood having water near.
That is fantastic news and it has all happened so quickly. It sounds sensible you moving to a condo where all of those things are included. It looks fantastic, it does look really big and I love that they have decorated for Christmas. Good luck with the move.
The Christmas decorations really clinched the deal in my mind. I think I can be happy there. It’s a big change leaving a house with a yard and going to a condo or apartment. I appreciate your good wishes. Merry Christmas!
Well done Carol. After I moved from a very large home to a smaller one, I feel so good. I even have forgotten the larger place, Merry Christmas to you in your new condo.
Cruisin Paul
I’m looking forward to a more relaxed life after I move in January. Stay tuned for my updates.
This condo looks awesome Carol and I love the way that the yard is decorated for Christmas, it shows real community spirit. It’s a bonus being so close to the water and above sea level too!
Happy packing and good luck with your move next year 🙂
#MMBC
thanks for your good wishes – I hope you have a great holiday season.
We have friends who lived in that area for quite a while and I always thought it would be a great place to live. Congratulations on your new home!
thanks Donna – hope you have a great holiday season
Congrats on this new chapter in your life! My spouse and I own a house, but both of us regret not having gone for a condo since I don’t live in our house anyway and it’s a ton of maintenance for my spouse. I’m confused though, you said you’re closing on your home first before closing on the condo? Doesn’t that mean you won’t have any time to move while you own both properties? #MMBC
No I will only own one place. I close the sale of the house in the morning. I don’t own anything. In the afternoon I close on my buying the condo. Now I own a condo but not a house. I will have my things moved out of the house the night before closing. I can move in the condo after closing on it.
That’s wonderful! Congratulations! The new place looks great and will look even greater with your wonderful decorative touch.
-Soma
Congratulations! The new place looks wonderful. I am so happy for you that everything is falling into place (and so quickly too!).
It looks lovely!
I just sold our house and moved into a retirement community. It’s so welcoming and it’s delightful to have decreased responsibilities for lawn care, weeding, and a large house to maintain. I think it was a good decision for me and it gives me the added advantage of being close to family.
Good luck and enjoy your new home!
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-few-sights-from-brussels.html
My new condo is also in a retirement community of 55 and over. I also don’t want to maintain a house any longer.
Congratulations on your new place! It looks absolutely stunning, and I’m so excited for you. The surrounding of condo atmosphere is impressive.
Wishing you a smooth and joyful transition. Can’t wait to see how you make it your own with beautiful interior arrangements.
#MMBC
thanks Amila
Condo living is the best Carol! Congratulations on your new beginning!
thanks Leslie
Fantastic news, Carol!
Congrats! I’m thrilled for you! Your new place is beautiful, and I enjoyed the tour of your condo.
Wishing you many, many years of happiness in your new home ????
Wishing you luck with the packing and every happiness in your new home.
thank you Lisa
Wow! I’m sure that this was a huge decision. The grounds look lovely and so does the condo. Best of luck with your move!
thanks Judee – it’s an adventure
Congratulations! It looks great!
Soooooooo happy for you Carol. Wishing you all the very best in your new home. It looks beautiful and very spacious too! Can’t wait to share the journey with you.
One door closes. Another door opens. May 2024 bring you much happiness in your Condo. Just one bill. Sounds like a wonderful plan to me. Gorgeous Condo plus the lake right there and a washer and dryer in the unit. Are you doing the happy dance?
I’m too surrounded by boxes to dance right now but plan to when I’m in my new home.
Your new condo looks beautiful Carol! Enjoy it and making new friend’s in your community.
Carol,
Congrats to you!!! I too am tired of owning a house but my husband will not move…If he passes away first, I am out of here and into a nice apartment…If I pass away first, he will keep this house and he will let it fall down around him because he does not know how to do anything….I have always done everything….
I am so happy for you!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
It’s really nice not to worry about lawns, trees, etc. I’m still getting things the way I want as I’m having both bathroom vanities replaced.It will take time but I do love living here with so much freedom from maintenance.