Holopaw

[D33411]

Hi, all.  I am looking for information on how to belong to Holopaw.  Is there a real estate agent who handles it?  Do they allow you to go out for a sample ride to see if you want to buy out there?  What are the costs?  How are the trails?  Just any information you could give me would be great.  Thanks for your help!

[digginfool]

Suburban Estates (Holopaw) is a great place to ride.  Unlike River Ranch, you can take your motorcycle out there and there is not as many rules, which is only somewhat of a good thing.  You must own a lot to gain access.  Most lots are sold person-to-person with the cost being dependent upon proximity to the front as well as whether the lot is wet or dry.  You can pay as little as $2,500.00 for a wet 1.25 acre to well over $10,000.00 for a dry lot near the front of the same size.  I personally own a 5 acre parcel that I plan to split into 4 seperate lots, 1.25 acres each.  I plan to sell 3 of them for $8,000.00 apiece.  These are dry lots just off the main grade, about 2 miles out.  I don't go out to SE as much as I used to so unless you were very serious about buying one of the lots, I wouldn't be able to meet you out there and even if I did, I wouldn't allow you to bring an ATV.  I would take you around on my Rhino or in my truck.  As far as other sources of lots, drive out to Holopaw Groves Road and drive to the gate.  A lot of people post along the road and definitely at the gate.  You can also try Craigs List.

[D33411]

I saw a lot on e-bay, but wasn't sure if it was for real and if they can really sell them that way.  Thanks for the info.  It sounds a lot like the River Ranch set up where you buy a lot but can't build anything, etc.  I wasn't thinking of paying that much.  We live down in Palm Beach County and would probably only get up there a few times of year.  Are there hotels near by?  I gave up camping 100 years ago for lent.  haha.  Most of the time we ride in Ocala, but we were thinking maybe if it was reasonable we would just pick up a cheap lot to just ride on a weekend here and there.  A friend of mine went with someone who has a key and they just parked in the parking lot and never went to a lot.  Are you allowed to do that too?  Or do you have to park on your lot?  Do they have anything where you can just buy the key and just leave the truck and trailer in the parking lot and just leave on the quads from the parking lot?  We do have a 2500 truck, but it isn't 4 wheel drive and I wouldn't want to get stuck dragging a trailer trying to get to some wet lot.  Is there a website that shows how many acres it is or shows the trails and has all the information?  Sorry this is so long.  I am a court reporter and type real fast so sometimes it turns into a book.  haha  Thanks for any help you can give me.

[B. Graves]

there is no way to just get a key. you can just get on a deed with someone (4 people can be on a deed). in a 2wd truck, you will probably wanna stay in the parkin lot. you can build whatever you want on youre lot. there are no "rules" except that you have to own land or be with someone that owns land to be there. thats it. why dont like you like RR? oh, and no hotels very close at all (that i know of). budget a camper or a tent if you buy. 

[digginfool]

Unlike River Ranch, you do build on your own lot and there is no specified camping area.  If your lot is wet, you don't build a camp.  I never built a camp on my property.  I always rode out of the parking lot in the front.  That's what the vast majority of riders do anyways.  Also, the closest hotels would be in Melbourne (about 25 miles) or Saint Cloud (about 25 miles the other direction).  Either way, your best bet would be find 3 friends, buy a dry lot and a pop-up camper or a tent.  At least with the pop-up, you could install an air conditioner and bring a generator with you.  In time, you could decide whether or not to build a camp, which might be nothing more than an older camping trailer you could pick up for a couple grand. 

[D33411]

Thanks for the replys!  We only did a brief, brief tour of River Ranch because none of the real estate people could meet us out there and a guy was nice enough to let us take a quick look.  The night before we went there the swat team had gone in RR and arrested a murderer from GA who was living there.  haha  But it sounded like a lot of rules.  One guest per owner and a fee per quad.  Our friend sometimes will bring his son in laws and his wife so the one guest wouldn't work for him if we split the lot.  We haven't written River Ranch off totally, but our friend had the opportunity to go to Holopaw and he really liked it so that is why we are looking there.  I think distancewise they are the same for us.  We were supposed to go up and ride Holopaw this weekend, but we had to work.  We are hoping to go the following Saturday, but I hear that is Easter and not sure if the guy with the key can go.  Doesn't sound like you can get a visitors' pass for a day to see if you want to buy, right? 

Okay, now I am going to ask a totally girl question and notice this question takes priority...don't laugh...if we buy a wet lot for cheap and because we couldn't get to it with our truck because it isn't 4-wheel drive and would never be able to build on it, are there bathrooms in the parking lots like up in Ocala?  I don't mind the 25 mile drive to a hotel at night.  I am willing to "sacrifice" that for bathrooms and showers!  haha  When we ride Ocala, we drive back to either Palatka or Silver Springs.

Is there only one gate?  How do the sales get handled?  How long does it take before you get your key?  If there was a reasonable lot or someone who wanted to split a lot, could we buy it sight unseen and just end up buying it before we even come up?  When we go up and decide we want to buy a lot, can we handle it that day or are we dealing with just individual owners and have to meet up with them?  If you don't use a real estate agent, how do you know you aren't just buying a piece of paper some guy prints up on the internet and made 20 copies of his key or even worse he gets the money and you don't get a key?  Sorry.  That is the court reporter in me.  I deal with criminals all day.  haha  Other than driving up and getting names off the fence, is there another way to find out what lots are available for sale up there?

Again, sorry for the book-sized response.  I can't seem to help it.  haha  If you would rather email me a response, my email address is DLreportin@aol.com.  Thanks again for your time.  I really, really appreciate the help!  Dawn

[digginfool]

As far as restrooms, there's lots of trees all around.      Actually, they have a porta-pot at the parking area next to the snack shack (if it's still there - I heard a tornado blew it down).  As far as the key goes, it's nearly impossible to duplicate.  The lock is a Medeco and you must have the security code of the individual lock to even know which blank to start with.  To be safe, don't ever accept a quit claim deed.  All that says is the person is giving you all rights to a piece of property that they have.  Even if they don't have any rights, they can still give you a quit claim deed since all it represents is a transfer of rights.  Your best bet is a warranty deed but that will cost a couple hundred dollars for the title company to do the research but at least you know without a doubt the property's yours.  When you buy, you will have to provide the Suburban Estates Property-Owners Association (SEPA) proof of ownership before they issue you a key.  I would just make sure that the person you buy the lot from provides you with ALL the keys attached to the lot.  It will save you the hassle of dealing with the lady who hands out keys; she takes her job very seriously (which is a good thing).  Generally speaking, if you buy land in SE, you are dealing with individual owners.  You might find a good deal by checking land listings on realtor.com.  I was fortunate enough to buy my lot from owners in Pennsylvania through a realtor and none of them knew the going rate for land out there.  It's worth checking from time to time.

[D33411]

Thanks so much for that info.  I am concerned about the deed thing.  That was VERY helpful!  Maybe the lady who does the keys will let me rent part of her office and share her bathroom if I promised to keep it clean.  haha  Dawn

[D33411]

Does anyone have the Key Lady's phone number?  Thanks, Dawn

[howard]

I sent you a PM a couple of days ago.

[D33411]

Hey, Howard.  I know you sent me one.  I am searching for your message to see if it has the Key Lady's number in it.  I am not having luck with that.  Would you be kind enough to resend it?  I have been up for 2 days working on a murder case and have had little sleep so I am a bit dim-witted today.  Thanks for your help.  Dawn

[D33411]

Let's try this again....does anyone have the Key Lady's number?  I'd really appreciate it.  Dawn

[D33411]

I have found the Key Lady.  Thanks anyway.  Dawn