Today's College Living

Students attending the universities in Tallahassee are changing the way most of us view college living. Many are no longer cramped in small rooms with cinder block walls where it’s nearly impossible to hang pictures, and let’s not forget the dormitory fire drill at three in the morning during final exam week.


Nowadays, students are driving through palm tree lined streets, enjoying a sparkling pool outside a clubhouse with Wi-Fi, and decorating their private, spacious rooms in condominiums they own.


Turner Heritage Homes is making this possible with affordable, new condominiums in its SummerChase, Mission Overlook and Bradford Overlook communities near Tallahassee’s universities. Students, with some help from their parents, are giving up the “dorm life” and taking advantage of the sound investment of owning a Turner condo.


For nearly 50 years Turner Heritage Homes has been building and selling homes in the Tallahassee area. Bolstered by a promise to offer “a home buying experience like no other,” Turner’s condo communities are ending the revolving door of rent by helping young people make an investment that will yield great returns both financially and socially.


Erin Grace and her parents are a testament to the transition from renting to owning. An FSU student, Erin was renting a place to live. After learning about SummerChase, Erin talked to her parents and weighed the benefits of owning a condominium. “Instead of paying other people’s mortgages we decided that it was better to buy and then make a profit in the end,” says Erin. “It was a pretty logical choice.”


With interest rates down to their lowest in years and real estate becoming more affordable, buying a maintenance-free condo with inclusive amenities such as a pool, clubhouse and fitness center makes sense. Add the Turner Guarantee to the mix — a full year guarantee on workmanship, materials, electrical systems, mechanical systems and plumbing — and students get the bonus of having peace of mind that they made the right choice to own, not rent.

“At Turner Heritage Homes we are always working to remind people about the value of owning a quality home,” says Doug Turner, president of Turner Heritage Homes. “Real estate is still a solid long-term investment, and this is the right time to buy a condo.”


Troy Thurston and his parents are familiar with the Turner Guarantee. While Troy was completing his orientation at FSU, his father bought in SummerChase. “Owning my own condo has been much easier than renting,” says Troy. “I have a dog and I don’t have to deal with management and the extra costs that come with owning a pet in a place you are renting. The experience has been really great.”


The freedom of living in a home that you own beats the barriers that come with renting in a student-filled complex. Apartments and other rental companies often bog residents down with rules, extra costs and pricey security deposits. “I’ve known a lot of people who haven’t received their security deposits back or have had to pay huge late fees because their rent was late,” says Troy. “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that.”


Another bonus: When it comes time to sell, the Tallahassee market is working in your favor. Historically, Tallahassee’s housing market has been among the most stable in the state, and among the first to recover from market fluctuations.


SummerChase offers students and young professionals amenities that rival some luxury hotels. Located near FSU and TCC these condo s offer a short drive to school, but a quiet retreat when classes are over. The pool, hot tub, Wi-Fi clubhouse and state-of-the-art fitness center are favorite resident hang outs. Two or three bedroom models are priced in the $150s and offer plenty of space, totally decked out kitchens and lawn and exterior maintenance. FHA financing up to 100-percent makes these condos easy to own.


Bradford Overlook offers residents a prime location near the new FSU west campus. Two or three bedroom floor plans in the $180s offer nine foot ceilings, screened porches and garages (not easy to find in this price range).


Mission Overlook condominiums were just rated the “Best Condos of 2008!” These new condos are offered in one, two or three bedroom models from the $160s-$190s at the corner of Mission and Hartsfield roads.

This article is posted with explicit permission from Steve Liner, Business Editor, The Tallahassee Democrat