We came here a little over a year ago to visit friends who had just moved here and were (well, I, anyway...) was struck by that lightning bolt that goes off in my head from time to time. We immediately started looking and in the process ended avoiding not so much what would have been a mistake as not in our best interest financially AND we have a bigger home.
As potential snowbirds we assumed that we'd buy a Patio Villa, and these were the homes we looked at initially. Specifically we wanted an end unit with a side rather than a front lanai and maybe a slightly larger lot. However, we knew without doubt that we wanted a resale, not new construction, for many reasons, only one of which was the negotiating factor. My wife did a ton of research online--and there is a wealth of information available--so when we returned a few weeks later we were much more knowledgeable.
Bottom line: We ended up buying a Designer home, yes a resale, and yes privately, and spent barely more than what we would have spent on the Patio Villas we had been looking at. Not suggesting that there's anything wrong with a Patio Villa, but rather--as we were also advised by financial consultants in terms of buying more with consequent more potential monetary value over the long haul--that we are living in a home that came with bond fully paid by the original owners, a $4K water treatment system, upgraded landscaping (and grown in--important to someone who doesn't buy green bananas...) including large fruit trees out back, many construction upgrades, and lots of other extras including a garage full of tools, furniture on both screened porch and lanai plus more interior furniture, you name it.
We do check the prices of new construction and resales periodically and to this day have yet to find anything that matches what we found price-wise. I guess I'm making two suggestions: First, don't assume that new construction is necessarily cheaper because the basic house price is lower; you have to look at what everything else costs. I might add that closing costs are minimal for the buyer of a resale. And second, assess your personal finances carefully while you shop around for a house and buy the most house you can that is within your budget. So many people in TV 'move up' within TV; this second suggestion will lessen the chance of your wanting to do so once you're here full-time, or will delay your doing so.
Whatever you decide, good luck! TV is really a quality product, and IMHO you cannot go wrong coming here!!!
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