Gentle breezes and warm sunshine fill Tom and Rhoda Fister’s Timber Ridge condominium. Sliding glass doors open onto the patio from two bedrooms and the sitting room, giving residents and visitors alike all the more room to move about and mingle.
The Fisters have listed their 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,368-square-foot home at 742 Timber Ridge Trail SW “for sale – not forced sale,” Tom insists. The not-quite-retired couple plans to move to their son’s investment home elsewhere in Vero Beach, but they’re in no hurry to do so.
When looking for a Florida home 16 years ago, they first went to the barrier island and toured The Spires, where Tom’s brother and sister and their families lived. In the end, though, Tom and Rhoda decided island life wasn’t for them. Too much upkeep due to salty air and higher insurance costs were factors in the decision.
“There were a lot of reasons that went into it,” Tom Fister said of looking to the mainland for a home. In their search, they came across Timber Ridge, where community fees cover all the exterior maintenance of their unit – and they survived the 2004 hurricanes with no damage.
“It was like a little fortress here,” Tom Fister said, explaining that his siblings and their families evacuated from the island to Timber Ridge.
“That’s the beauty of why we bought in here,” he said. They can enjoy the Florida “winter” and go back to Dayton, Ohio, whenever they want.
“We never worried” about leaving the place unattended, Rhoda said.
The Fisters have a Humidistat in the unit, which keeps the humidity in check while the condo is locked up tightly. And the quiet community is known for friendly neighbors.
The property is “lock-and-leave ready,” said Berkshire Hathaway listing agent Peggy Hewett.
Their condo was one of the original units within Timber Ridge, built in 1985. Developer Andrew Mustapick modified what would have been a three-bedroom unit by taking down the wall separating the bedroom from the breakfast nook to make the social part of the home more spacious.
“We like it open like this,” Fister said. “It’s very comfortable.”
The now-open “bedroom” became the den and gives those sitting in the breakfast nook more room to spread out around the table.
The condo is being sold fully furnished, which adds to the turn-key convenience for some lucky buyer.
Even though it is not at the beach, the home has a beach-like vibe with its neutral tones and laid-back furniture.
Both bedrooms feature deep walk-in closets with plenty of shelving and hanging space. The guest bedroom is just a couple steps away from the hall bath, which has a single vanity and walk-in shower. The en suite master bath has a shower-garden tub combo and separate water closet.
The Fisters replaced the whole-house carpeting with white ceramic tile in public areas of the home and the bedrooms and den have new carpet. All the rooms are appointed with ceiling fans, which add to the breezy island feel.
The galley-style kitchen has granite countertops, and the 10-year-old stove and refrigerator have been meticulously maintained.
“It’s been very tenderly cared for,” said Peggy Hewett.
So much so that the Fisters, though committed to selling, still have mixed emotions about their upcoming move.
The Couple split their time between Timber Ridge, located off Oslo Road in South Vero, and Ohio, where Tom continues to work on special projects for the Dayton Montgomery County Port Authority and Citywide Development. He set up an office space near the front sitting room so he can telecommute while soaking up the Florida sun as Ohio freezes.
The Fisters knew the moment they entered the condo that Timber Ridge would be their Florida home. They got “that feeling” and that was that.
“It just felt right,” Rhoda said. “You have to have that feeling.”
The Timber Ridge community is adjacent to the Vero Beach Tennis and Fitness Club. Membership in the club is not required, though recommended. Not only does the club provide tennis and fitness activities, but also a social component that includes the use of the clubhouse for cards and games and social events.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 742 Timber Ridge Trail SW, Unit C
- Neighborhood: Timber Ridge
- Construction: Frame
- Year built: 1985, recent upgrades
- Size: 1,368 square feet
- Bedrooms: 2 • Bathrooms: 2
- Additional features: Lock and leave ready, 1-car garage and 1 assigned parking spot, sold fully furnished, large, screened patio, ceramic tile floors, new carpet in bedrooms, granite kitchen countertops, updated privacy fencing, Humidistat and climate controlled, wood-burning fireplace, recently repainted interior
- Listing agency: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
- Listing agent: Peggy Hewett, 772-321-4282
- Listing price: $164,900
