The Balsams are an older building but certainly not the oldest. It is convenient to everything as it is in the village. I would suggest calling the resort and asking if they can take a picture of the specific unit you are buying. They are very accommodating and helpful.
Try using LT transfers for the closing. Or- ask the resort (owners services) about an atty in Jeffersonville that I believe they deal with.
I own a fixed week and floater. The only drawback with a floater is you have to either be able to use the off-season week or you will need to trade it, through RCI or another exchange company). You have to pay the maintenance fees on it no matter what. We have owned since 1999 and have gone all over the country with our floater and now that we are older we actually enjoy going to Smuggs on most of the off-season weeks- especially the early Fall ones. We never trade our fixed summer week- we always go to Smuggs that week.
The only other drawback I could see with Balsams is it does not have it's own pool, so you have to have purchased the benefits to use the resort pools. Most likely, if you have kids, you will be purchasing the benefits/passes which include the other activities as well.
But once the kids are older- maybe don't want to or can't go to Smuggs anymore- and maybe you don't want to pay to renew benefits for the activities- you will only have the condo usage and no pool usage. Whereas, if you are in one of the newer buildings- you always have use of the pool and clubhouse (which includes a small gym and recreation/game) room, etc., even if you do not renew the benefits package.
We are at that point now, but are in Sycamores so we have a pool and clubhouse.
We haven't used our benefits in years (but our 29 year old son still visits with us there!). Our benefits actually expire in 3 years and we do not intend to renew them as we do not have grandchildren, etc.
We mainly do fee based activities now and sightseeing around Vermont.
Good luck with your purchase. I assume this is a fixed week ownership and not a RCI points ownership? What fixed week is it? I assume you have enjoyed Smuggs in the past.