[Aces4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

You can actually look things up. There are sales and tax records for every property that's ever been sold in The Villages.

With just a couple of exceptions (a couple of actual gated neighborhoods like Hickory Hammock), there is no HOA, but there is an amenity fee. That amenity fee is still under $200/month for everyone, no matter how fancy or plain their home or property.

Taxes in Central Florida are higher than they used to be, but they're still cheaper than in many states and remain some of the lowest property taxes in the country.

There is no state income tax at all so if you're still working, that's totally a plus. Remember, this isn't a retirement community. It's a 55+ community. And there are many homes where at least one person living in it is under 55, and many are still working even into their 70's.

The cost of gas is cheaper in Florida than in many other states. The cost of gas in our area is around 40 cents /per gallon/ cheaper than in West Palm Beach, on average. I know this, I travel there often.

Dining out seems to be more expensive here than in other areas, although many chains have nationwide specials, and the restaurants here have the exact same price on those specials as the same restaurant in the chain in any other state. So the increased cost of dining out isn't specific to the Villages, with regards to those chains, at least.

Other restaurants that aren't part of a national chain appear fairly expensive. However, the reason my whole belly clams are going to be more expensive here in Central Florida than they are in Old Saybrook Connecticut, is because the ones in CT come from - CT. No one has to pay to ship them to Florida. You can't get "Florida-caught" whole belly clams in Florida, it's just not a thing. Same with Maine lobster. If you want Maine lobster cheaper than what you have to pay here in Florida, then go up to Maine and get them off the docks.

Central Florida is somewhat isolated from - pretty much everything. And so the costs of getting things here is going to be higher, than if you went to the source. Conversely - if you're in the market for a horse, you can get one cheaper here than in New Orleans, LA. This is horse country afterall. And if you want great citrus fruit, you need look no further than your own (or your neighbor's) back yard. No charge.

Butter is higher everywhere, so are eggs, though the prices are starting to drop again.

Insurance is high, but it's high all over Florida, because the Florida government chose to keep regulations on construction and insurance claims as loose as possible to "save the taxpayers" the almighty dollar. The citizens took great advantage of that in getting brand new roofs, courtesy of the insurance companies - and it has come around to bite us all in the butt. Again, that's not a Villages thing, it's a Florida thing.

You can still get a house in The Villages for less than $200,000. Your insurance and taxes on it will vary depending on the individual circumstances of your house and property. Your amenity fee will still be under $200/month. Your daily/weekly/monthly expenses for just living here can easily still be under $1300/month if you dine home more than you dine out, and partake in the thousands of activities available to you at no "extra" cost beyond your amenity fee charge.

It's still less expensive for me to live here, than the same sized home in Connecticut with no amenity fee at all.

Affordable is subjective, and relative to whoever is being required to pay the bills. A millionaire will not be able to afford a billion-dollar estate. But they'll be able to afford a $500,000 estate and have plenty left over to put their kids through Harvard.

A couple in their late 50's living only on a pension, not old enough for social security, who saved up only a couple months worth of income when they were working and can pay in full for their $200,000 double-wide, will be able to do so here.

We must live in different worlds, OB. If one has a million dollar retirement, spends $500,000 on a home, puts kids through college and lives in retirement on the remaining $500,000, one had better hope for a very early death.