Quote:
Originally Posted by ijusluvit
Sorry you're upset, but let's be realistic here. Harold did have a desire to do well financially, and he knew he'd have to do well to pay for the original infrastructure, which included the golf cart bridge, Spanish Springs and the first three Villages. I don't know how he convinced himself he could stay afloat until he could really start selling houses. I don't know how he convinced contractors like Rainey to do serious work with deferred pay. I don't know how he convinced his son Gary to leave successful business dealings in Michigan and join him, bringing the rest of the family along as well. My wild guess was that everyone thought there was a good chance they would make a good profit. Yes, most of the original Villages have more modest "middle class" homes, but very soon the buying customers came wanting more. I'm convinced that Harold Swartz would have been the last person to deny people the bigger, fancier homes they said they wanted.
To this day, The Villages is still affordable to most of the retired middle class. It is more pricey than many other middle class retirement communities, but the lifestyle is superior as well. I'll bet that's why you moved here.
You're right, it's about $5 more to play primetime golf here compared to similar quality courses in the area. We benefit from that situation because the outside courses have to undersell TV courses. But I don't know ANY place in the country where you can play a Villages quality course during primetime for less than the prices in our area. Prices here have crept up regularly, but costs have as well. The bottom line is that those changes are in line with what has happened throughout the country in the last ten years. None of us like to pay a little more for the things we buy, but look what we've been able to buy!
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Needing to Undersell the Villages isn't valid unless you only use examples near the Villages. My research was mainly within a 25 mile radius, but you will find courses all the way to Sebring that cost less than the Villages and these courses certainly do not compete with the Villages courses. Also by using the CDD regulations, the Developer was able to build most of the infastructure without using his funds. This is where the seling of bonds came into play. I also remember Harold Schwartz saying that the Villages would be like a big family. I wish some of my family members would treat me a little better.
ijustluvit, you write a well thought thru post and and I appreciate and respect those thoughts. I am going to guess that you are a very nice person.