Also, something that I forgot to mention is that probably a few years ago I would have said prices were too high in Santaluz and I wouldn’t have probably bought a few years ago. But from peak prices, you can see some houses down 35% to 40% in Santaluz from 2007 prices. I feel now is a great time to buy here. The cost to rebuild a house is going to be more than the asking price on many properties here now.
Also, the only negative thing I feel compelled to mention if you are considering Santaluz is having to buy into the country Club (Santaluz Club) to have access to use the pool, gym, tennis courts. Or even access the Cafe/restaurant.
My wife and I aren’t golfers but we do enjoy tennis and the pool. You can’t use these things unless you buy into the Country Club here which was $12,500 and then you have monthly fees of $205 a month. So you have to consider those additional fees if you want to use the pool and the tennis court and gym. (And the Golf package was a $45,000 buy in with $1,000 monthly membership dues).
They have a French Roast Cafe Restaurant here that is open daily and the food there is actually pretty good but it’s a non-cash facility so you only can charge it to your account with your Member #.
The gym is nothing to write home about and rather small. Although we are members, my wife still pays for a membership at 24 Hour Fitness. The reason is she takes spinning classes and some other classes where Santaluz charges you a fee for each class. That is something that I think is a negative. To spend $12,500 up front and $205 each month $2,460 per year) and then having to still use an outside gym seems like a waste.
We do enjoy the tennis courts and the pool we go to often with the kids and they really love it. We eat lunch at the Cafe there or when we go to the pool but keep in mind if you don’t you still must spend $450 a year on food at the cafe. If you don’t spend at least $450 a year, they will bill you for it. We have no problem spending that but you should still consider all of these things before buying here.
That is the only slightly negative thing I see. I don’t regret joining the Country Club here (it’s called the Hacienda Club) as we use the pool quite often. But honestly I would have much preferred if they included this free.
But that is the only thing I can find to complain about here at Santaluz.
