Quote:
Originally Posted by jgbama
During our 7-years of visiting a week a year, we stayed in different villages to get a feel for the convenience of each. Many people focus on North or South of 466 or 466a. We looked, however, on a East or West approach, Buena Vista or Morse Blvds. As a golfer, I like (and play) the courses along the Morse corridor. That was the only request I made to DW (darling wife). We looked at new and pre-owned. We aren't bringing furniture, so a furnished pre-owned would have been nice. We ended up purchasing a pre-owned (not furnished) with a small pool and a birdcage. The price was right. The bond was paid and the annual maintenance is much lower than other villages, because Rio Grande doesn't have a rec center.
Golf wasn't our only prerequisite. We are equal distances from SS and LSL, which was a plus. Being somewhat central was something we both wanted. Not knowing which activities we will get involved in made rec centers and regional rec centers a secondary consideration.
We saved a lot by going pre-owned with the bond paid. Educate yourselves on the bond and annual maintenance fee for the areas you are strongly considering. They can certainly "upset the financial apple cart", if you don't include those in your budget.
You'll get tons of opinions, which is what you are asking here, but it will come down to what your desires are and which home and village meets those.
Our journey has been a long one and is now stressful as we pack and deal with the "gazillion" of decisions and issues of being within a month of moving. Selecting a moving company is our current dilemma as we have 4 quotes and trying to decide which one. But, knowing that "paradise" awaits us makes it all worth it!!!
Best of luck and hope this has helped some with your journey!  |
I could not agree more!!! The bottom line (or should I say "both bottom lines") is that (1st figurative bottom line) you find a home and a neighborhood that you're comfortable with, and (2nd literal bottom line) you find one that works for you financially, keeping that bond in mind (that have really gotten quite big in newer homes) that some buyers, in their minds, add onto the price of the house, as well as the recognition that there is no price flexibility in new homes, whereas negotiations, often very significant negotiations, can take place on a resale home.
For those who suggest renting, I personally am not comfortable doing so. We ended up buying a lovely home in the first few weeks we were looking, a home that worked well for us for 3-1/2 years. In that time we figured out
exactly what our vision was, found the perfect home that fit this vision, and sold the first home. In the end I don't think it cost us more to have done it this way than to have rented, but to me (and again this is personal) I just feel better living in and improving mine rather than someone else's. Not buying a home for forever is common.