I am writing this because I read an article a scammed person wrote.  I live in Lakeland, Florida near Lake Wales and I don't think I have ever seen a property in Lake Wales on ebay that hasn't been a river ranch property.  Mostly the land I have seen for sale is in River Ranch and river ranch is property that was sold in the 70's and till today thats enviromentally sensitive wetlands and is mostly inacessable becasue no roads were ever developed for these lands.  People bought 1.25 acres on up in mostly swamp land being told that it would be developed in the future.  Just so you know almost all this land is considered environmentally sensitive and can't be developed.  The problem almost all people encounter is that each lot is connected and no one has access to their land and the county never intends to put roads though the swamp.

In the past 10 years people have started a home owners association.  It is only for property owners and their accompanied guests.  They have designated campsites and you can put an RV there and there are 44,000 acres that you are allowed to ride bikes, 4 wheelers, horses, hunt, fish and camp. 

The people are acquiring this property though the county for unpaid taxes because the original people who bought it for a retirement home have given up on it.  The sale price at the auction usually runs $500 to $1600 depending on the location and size of the parcel.  The people who purchase this land usally sell the land on e-bay or locally. Some people who sell on e-bay tell you that it is recreational land.  Some say it is beutiful undeveopled florida land near Disney and sea world.  BEWARE when you are bidding to make sure that the land you are buying is developable if that it what your intent for the land. 

As for the recreational user this is great land.  It is a place to go on the weekends and have a cheap "cabin", travel trailor. If you are looking to buy land out there, a guy I know and sells the land for only recreational use, is M&J lands.  He sells here on e-bay and has an informative web page if you google M&J lands in lake wales.   This property therefore is worthless, except for recreational uses if you live in the area and can use it for weekend fun. For the people who paid $2000 on up 30 or more years ago the property still isn't worth what they paid. 

Please protect yourself by asking how the property is zoned and if it can be used for homes or mobile homes.  Ask if the lot is build able, ask what the flood zone rating because after the hurricanes the insurance companies love using that as an excuse to charge $4000 and up a year for home insurance if this is legitimate build able property in this area.

I invest in real estate in Polk county, Florida and if are thinking about buying one of these lots or think you were scammed you can e-mail me and I will tell you , if I know, if those are inaccessible parcels of swamp land.  In Polk County the DOR use code for Inaccessible swamp land is 9910.

For more research if you can get the property appraiser ID number you can go to www polkpa.org which is the Official property appraiser web site and if the DOR use code is 9910, stay away, if you are looking for retirement property or property to build a home. 

Since I wrote this article I have gotten tons of e-mails and I have gotten to know some of these people at the courthouse that purchase at the tax deed auction for resale.  Usually if someone is interested in buying or selling river ranch property I have tried to get these people together.  Just remember if you have read this article after you were scammed there is still some value and all hope is not lost.

Following is an article in a local newsparer:     www .sptimes.com/2006/05/05/State/State_checking_eBay_l.shtml  

As an Update  . . .  I recieved this from another e-bay member, This is what I feel e-bay is all about memebers helping members.  Plesae keep the messages coming I love hearing these stories.  Just remember to do your due diligence. 

 

Dear Brett02,

Hey! just wanted to say thanks for writing that guide... i recently got into real estate and saw the lake co. land for sale.... thanks to your article that came up when i googled river ranch florida..it made me look a little more... and sure enough scammers called it "beautiful prime florida land" and the parcel # pullled back inaccessible swamp land per polkpa.org! Thanks for the guide

 

© 10/22/2006 Brett Upthagrove