It's a difficult thing to get used to. If you;re looking for something larger than 2100 sq ft, or more than a 3/2, the pickings are slim until you get in the premier category.. and that will cost you substantially more than the 400's. You may get lucky and find a "stretched" designer that has bigger rooms or a bigger lanai, but most homes in the 400s and early 500s will be designers with a "premium" lot. Frankly, with the exception of some "gingerbread", I haven't found the finishings of premier homes to be that much better than late model designers. You will probably have a much nicer lanai area, possibly a pool/ spa there (if you consider that a plus), and some crown molding. We would prefer something in the 2800-3500 sf size, but the price / sf in that platform is significantly more than the already pricey designers. And, if you;re truly looking for a gourmet kitchen with high end appliances .. best of luck. And remember, gas is limited to non existent in most of the Villages. These arent complaints, just facts. If it weren;t for the amenities, we would not have made the purchase. It's a pretty binary decision. We sampled the Villages and like the lifestyles and amenities. The home prices are at least $ 50-60 /ft more than Atlanta and many Southeast cities.. but cheaper than many in Northeast. The amenity costs are a bargain, whether you golf or not. My pool cost alone in Atlanta is more than twice the amenity fee. So you make the tradeoffs and decided whether its worthwhile.
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