Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Are 'kissing lanais' a problem?
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Old 12-22-2015, 02:10 PM
Bonsai Golfer Bonsai Golfer is offline
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Default Kissing lanais

It does depend on what you think you can live with and who your neighbors are, and their habits. Someone pointed out that neighbors can change. I'd go a step farther and say they DO change. Remember, it is not uncommon for villagers to change homes at least once during their life in TV and many change twice. We've lived in our current (second) home only 5 years but two neighbors across the street, one next door and one behind us have all changed in the last year!

I'm going to disagree with some respondents and say that you CANNOT avoid hearing your neighbors (and they you) when you have kissing lanais that are not enclosed regardless of how much landscaping you do. But, you almost have to landscape if you don't want to look in to your neighbor's home or have them looking in to yours. This may be as much of a problem as noise or even more. If you heavily landscape then you're looking at a wall of shrubs which may only be 5' from your lanai. Remember, lot set-backs are only about 10' in much of TV so you are only 20' from your neighbors, that's not a lot.

A couple of people mentioned the desirability of corner lots and ones that back up to other homes on irregular lots. That is a good suggestion. Our lot fits that description so our lanai is some distance from those behind. Keep in mind that even if you find such a home, you still may have a next door neighbor who has a lanai fairly close to you, but better to have one close than three kissing. I don't think you necessarily need to expect to pay a lot more for these kinds of lots. I know we didn't but it all depends on the market at the time you are looking.

One caution, corner lots are often moderately to much bigger than interior lots so they take a lot more irrigation, hence more cost. Water is expensive in TV. We love our lot but we didn't take than in to account when we bought. Expect to pay $200 - $400 more per year on your water bill.

In the end, it all does depend on what's important to you. Hope this helps and good luck with your search.