Quote:
Originally Posted by MplsPete
Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)
Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.
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I moved to The Villages 3 years ago. I leased an apt in The Lofts. It was the best choice for me. The Lofts will release you from your lease after 6 months if you buy a home through The Villages. Living in the Lofts gave me the opportunity to meet new people, look at the different neighborhoods and really experience life in The Villages. 1 month in an air B&B is not enough time to learn the ins and outs, like the maintenance fee on the bond and the administrative charges. The electric, ambulance, water and sewer charges just went up and you can expect the amenities fees to go up yearly because they do! I learned all that by living here. So factor that into your budget.
After a few months, I was ready to buy. I didn’t want the hefty bonds, higher taxes and felt that south of 44 was too far for me. I knew what area I wanted and there were quite a few resales in that area. I found a beautiful Courtyard Villa in the Village of Charlotte and bought it. It was perfect for me.
Take your time and don’t settle. Good luck, this is a wonderful place to live.