Good grief! Another Slantinel Slap at one of the few things that actually work without "government" help.
Ms. Richie. We are not a bunch of doddling old fools who need protection from the big bad developer. We're well seasoned on how people make money from other people, and don't really mind as long as we get something of value for our funds.
Yes, there is a "bond" that is tacked on, and while the marketing and presentation of it sounds strange to some, it's no different than when "shipping and handling," "tax," and a host of other add-ons appear.
Yes, if one decides to finance a $10-50K bond for 20-30 years, it will indeed result in interest equivalent to the size of the loan - just like any other 20-30 year loan. Duh!
And yes, there is an annual common-area fee similar to what a homeowner's association (Orlando is full of them!) levies on all within a development for maintenance and upkeep of the common areas. Why is that such a surprise?
The CDD concept is not all that bad, in that when it works, it works very well.
I wonder if The Villages advertised in The Sentinel if there would be a slanted piece trying to make this place sound like a rip-off? There was a time when Disney didn't advertise in The Sentinel, and negative articles about Reedy Creek Development Corp. appeared with some regularity. Or is it because The Villages has its own newspaper and The Sentinel sees such articles as a possible way to break into the market here?
With all of Orlando's problems - examples: South Orange Blossom Trail is still an "interesting" place, Avalon Park's developers are still being chased, Metro West has its share of "history," and the Winter Park / Orlando Naval Base property acquisition saga is still a gem - one would think there was plenty of things within a ten-mile radius of Lake Eola for commentary before venturing into the far reaches of Sumter, Lake and Marion counties.
But then again, us old fools need protecting.....
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