The Villages are tearing down the older and less cared for manufactured homes as fast as they can get there hands on them making the area even more beautiful. Some of the manufactured homes look(ed) terrible but there are some amazingly beautiful manufactured homes there and it is easy to find one relatively inexpensive. We spent a month renting there before moving to a different area here in TV but we really loved it. The people "seemed" on average older and also "seemed" a lot more friendlier (both personal opinions). There are no bonds there even on new construction which is a good thing. We did find after speaking to a number of insurance agents that getting hurricane insurance and even homeowners insurance on the manufactured homes is more expensive and that many companies won't even write it due to how they are constructed (mainly the roof) and because they are considered mobile homes. After the hurricane the area was without power for (IIRC) around 2 weeks probably because the main power trunk lines serving the area were above ground. There was some wind damage but not nearly as extensive as we thought it would be.
We actually were a signature away from buying a newly built 2/2 home there except the woman who owned it (for 2 months) wanted almost 15% more than she paid for it which we thought was not permitted for the first year but it is under certain conditions. Since we were under a time constraint we looked elsewhere and ended up buying in another Village. If you are ready to buy there you won't be sorry just look all around where you want to buy for condition of homes around you and look into insurance costs. See how many homes around you are rentals and empty for 1/2 the year. We were also concerned about the "gray pipe issue" but were told most every home had it taken care of. You won't be sorry for buying there and if you do your "due diligence" and ignore some of the BS the Villages Sales Agents tell you. If you do find a place BEFORE buying check with local insurance agents and see what kind of coverage you can get and how expensive it is.
All that being said, one of our friends just (1 1/2 yrs ago) had a brand new manufactured home rolled onto their property and since it was "built" under all the new Florida specs they had some better luck with insurance. It replaced a home their mother owned that was totally infested by mold and couldn't be saved and is REALLY nice and quite large.
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