Hi Sue -

Poinciana is priced low because there are more homes than there are buyers. Simple economics. This has happened before, and it will happen again. The trick is to get the home you want while they are still affordable.

Best wishes,

Kemp Howland, REALTOR

Hi Celeb (and Sue),

I'm with you, Poinciana is a good solid working class community, that's gotten a bad rap because it grew to fast with little control over the master plan. (And as Bryant says by foolish investors or investors who were fooled.) I own property in Solivita and my tenants absolutely love the place. I've never felt uncomfortable in Poinciana.

Try CityRating.com for independent crime stats.

Regards,
Mark

I am not an agent ,but I have lived in Poinciana for the last 20 years and I can't believe the answers given to Sue by people who obviously don't know, or live in Poinciana. I have many friends and family who lives here and none of us have ever been robbed or felt in anyway threatened. I am neither related to or have ever known a gang member. I agree that Poinciana is in the middle of nowhere, which could be the reason that the prices are lower out here, but that's also why it's so peaceful here. Poinciana is a good family town, where most people are proud of there homes and has moved here for a better family atmosphere, whether the people speak English, Spanish or anything else, that should not be held against them. Poinciana is safe, and the rumours of gang life style and crime is something that some idle bitter person concocted for their own pleasure. By the way, I don't speak spanish!

well lot of people living in poinciana are puerto ricans ,they are americans but their first language is spanish ,racism is everywhere miami with cubans ,california and chicago with the mexicans ...etc is really sad that some people can't stand to live with them ,thank god this is a free country and poinciana is a nice town with affordable prices.

The first issue is that most of the people in Poinciana do not speak English. I believe many of these people got misled when applying for their loans plus the banks were so eager to "refy" and made it real easy. Now these poor folks are way in debt and have no choice but to loose their houses.
The second issue is that it's in the middle of nowhere. Many of the people in Poinciana work at the theme parks and we all know that the theme parks don't pay their typical "cast" members anything close to what it takes to support a family. Now they have to spend half their paychecks on gasoline for their vehicles. Of course there is ride sharing and the bus but most folks only resort to those as the last of the last option. As with every place that goes through a depression there is an increase in crime. Depressed people and neighborhoods can't help but show their true colors. After a trip through a few of the villages of Poinciana most people can't find the two roads out fast enough.
There are a few options but it does cost a bit more. If people are over 55 there is Solivita. Under 55 might be interested in Bellalago. If money's tight, the Isles of Bellalago might be right for some folks. Bellalago is beautiful and gated so that helps but there is the HOA of $250 / month.... YES PER MONTH! Add that to the $1500+ mortgage and the taxes... Bellalago really isn't all that cost effective to be out in the middle of nowhere. We live in Bellalago now but we hope to move in a few years. We don't speak Spanish so we feel it would be right for us to be closer to the 192 corridor or north of Orlando. Whenever we go down to Poinciana (Walmart especially) we can only understand about 10% of what is being said. A little bit strange since the US is suppose to be an English speaking society. Sorry if I stepped on some toes but you have to admit ... I'm telling the truth.
If you don't mind a long drive to any decent work, depressed people, empty run downed houses, and elevated crime rates then Poiciana is just the place for you if you speak Spanish. I must agree, the prices are pretty cheap though.

To Home Buyer Jay Russer:

You are right. Poinciana has crime issues, but please do not dispel that it might have a lot to do with the current housing crisis. For example, before the bust of 2006, Poinciana was a vibrant community on the cutting edge of suburban planning. In fact, Poinciana made history by having the largest homeowners' association in the U.S.

Poinciana attracted buyers from wealthier parts of the world and was originally populated by people from Europe and countries with populations that had people with money. Then between 2004 and 2006, came an influx from the Caribbean and South America, again, people with money. This time however, many of those people – due in part to their lack of understanding of English legal documents – signed on to mortgages that they could not afford. Then came the crime.

While that is a simplistic explanation, it covers the gist of what happened in Poinciana. I can guarantee to you that the current population in Poinciana is organizing to get its issues with crime resolved. I am sure Poinciana wants to be known once again as “the community with zero crime.” Unfortunately, it still has a housing crisis to resolve at this time that too many community leaders have yet to address.

For more information on Poinciana, please see:

Poinciana Home: http://www.poincianahome.net/
Housing Crisis: http://poincianahome.typepad.com/blog/housing_crisis/
Help for Poinciana Residents: http://poincianahome.typepad.com/blog/freebies/

I'm also looking to buy in that area and recently had a chance to visit. I went to that Poinncia town and I must say I could not get out of there fast enough. I drove through several streets and through what they called villiges. I could not find one neighborhood worth my time. There were cars on the side of streets with for sale written all over them, signs in many lawns in foreclosure must sell. I drove down a few streets and there was spaish calyspo music playing so loud I heard it on the next street. We then went to Solivita which is a wonderful place. When I asked several of the agents there they told us that many do not leave the gates. They also told us about the huge crime and gangland problem there is in that area. The gang problem is so big the police have a gang unit just down the street. We buyers need to stick together and talk more on these boards. Although many agents are quick to respond they just want our money and really do not tell us the truth about places like this. My wife and I will always ask a local how it is in the area. Just go to a shopping center or gas station and ask someone. Although in this case we asked about six people before we found one that spoke english. For us I think it is best to go north of Orlando.

I am a specialist in residential properties in the Poinciana area and warned every one my customers about the effects of the post-9/11 housing bubble long before any other real estate agent in this area. There are several symptoms that led to Poinciana’s bust but there is only one true reason.

Flippers vs. Homeowners - Contrary to popular opinion, flippers did not cause the problem in Poinciana. All they did was make a bad problem far worse. What caused the problem were homeowners who where not given adequate information on their adjustable rate loans and did not understand the ramifications of adjustables. The vast majority of foreclosures in Poinciana are by legit homeowners, not investors.

Unethical Mortgage Brokers - Florida is in the processing of eliminating licenses for over 10,000 felonious brokers.

Unethical Real Estate Brokers & Agents - This rock has yet to be lifted but that is coming down the pike.

A Developer & Local Leadership - Both the primary developer of Poinciana, Avatar, and locally elected officials failed to recognize the importance of ensuring adequate services, such as transportation, health care, and adequate high-paying jobs. They are now playing catch-up during an economic downturn, not too easy a project.

Excessive Inventory - Too many properties on the market. There have been in excess of over 1,1,00 homes on the market in Poinciana on any given day. It has been that way since the bust of 2006. If you would like to see that bust on a chart, check out my last market report at:

http://poincianahome.typepad.com/blog/market_reports

.

Broker Bryant knows Poinciana better than anyone I know. Like most real estate in the USA, prices have dropped considerably. The market was driven by investors during the past few years and obviously- things did not go as planned. Some area have been hit hard- Poinciana appears to be one of them.

http://www.orlandosentinel2.com/data/crime/
Hopefully this direct link will assist you with your question.

Hi Sue, Unfortunately, Poinciana was raped by "investors" during the boom. Most of these homes are flips that flopped and have now come back on the market as foreclosures. This has driven values down. Values have decreased almost 50% in the last 18 months.

Please feel free to visit my Poinciana market reports on my blog here. http://www.brokerbryant.com/real-estate/market-reports

This should help to further answer your questions. I hope this helps.

It's a depressed area right now. And a combination of everything, you can get crime stats on FDLE.com. The builder ruined the area by offering new construction at $100K. We have almost 100 foreclosures in just our office alone there and they range from $60K and up. I have a story that a local newspaper had that I could send send if you like. Just email me at Info@PaulAntonelli.net.
Thanks
PAUL ANTONELLI