[Fourpar]

Duffysmom,

Indeed the market has changed...a bunch! We bought in May 2007 (CSB Designer, New) and walked away from closing feeling we'd been raped. Not that we were not told about the closing costs, bond, etc. Just the preponderance of charges on our side of the ledger vs selling side. Charges like Electric meter & service fee, Utility hook up fee, City/County Permit/Impact Fees, Mail Box Fee, Water Usage Fee, Water Assessment Fee, Fire Assessment fee...you get the picture. Oh, and the Bond(s). Yes, there is a Special Assessment Bond, and a Special Assessment Maintenance Fee too.

I have a friend who is now looking at new homes there, and the tune is totally different. His sales person is telling him that the Seller will pay all of those charges. That however is just hearsay at this point. I am of the "show me" ilk. It'll be interesting to see what really happens at his closing.

My advice (and I have 18+ years as RE Broker in FL) is to ask questions about all, and request they put answers in writing, before you commit to anything with TV. Resales are a total different animal. They are pretty much as anywhere else, save the Bond thing. Again, all should be in the contract to purchase.

Good Luck,