Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig Vernon
As we search for our forever home in TV a glaring problem has developed in our price range 400-450k. If I like the house size the outdoor space, meaning the lanai and patio, is small or non-existent. If I like the outdoor space the home is smaller than we would like. Which is of higher value to full time residents? House square footage or Lanai and patio space? Question2. Can we get by with His/Her cars and a golf cart without a golf cart garage?
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We bought a 3/2 patio villa with a full 2-car garage and a golf cart garage (1 car and a golf cart), no lanai. We figured we could add a lanai after purchase. Not so fast!! Remember that 5-ft easement restriction?? Yep!! All around our house, every side. Runs right down the middle of the patio. Not even a bird cage is allowed. We could do an unscreened pergola, but that's it. We toyed with the idea of buying a courtyard villa with a screened lanai but with interest rates as high as they are and bonds out of control, we decided against it. Our house ticks all the boxes except for the lanai. Then we talked to others who say a simple screened lanai isn't enough. Furniture gets wet when it rains/blows, so they have to add windows. With that comes the need for AC because it's like a sauna with the windows closed. The only way we'd spend that much time out on a lanai would be if we had a TV out there.....and that wouldn't happen on a simple screened lanai. Soooo, after long consideration, we put in a remote-controlled awning for shade and called it good. We sit out on the patio occasionally and grill almost every night, but we really don't "need" the lanai. Would we still like to have one? Yes, but all things considered, we're good as is!! We're getting more out of the 2-car garage and separate golf cart garage at this point than a lanai.