Quote:
Originally Posted by mickey100
In most cases, the interests of the Developer and the residents coincide. From time to time, however, the Developer has acted in his own interests in a way that is detrimental to Villagers. To get a balanced view of the Villages, I'd suggest that one go to the POA website and look at past history. Property Owners, Association of Florida |
Of course the Developer has acted in his own interests. Yes, Mr. Swartz started this place, but I am sure he intended for his kids to someday take over the same way other business owners/developers do. They are business people who have taken chance after chance that what they were doing would work. What if they had bought all this land, built, and then no one came or everyone left? They would be called fools and not envied.
I, for one, am glad this is not run like HOA communities. My son just left one in Jacksonville where their HOA fees were just under $200 a month, one pool, one party room, no yard (just a strip of grass between their entry and around the garage with a few little bushes the fees maintained), lanai large enough for a small table and chairs, no grills permitted, trash/recycle pickup once a week, no golf courses or golf carts, no age restrictions, etc.
With some of the suggestions that I have seen on here, if everyone got what they think about how things should be, within a few years it would resemble some teenagers' rooms...shambles.
We 'chose' to live here because of what it offered and it is far and above Hot Springs, AR's idea of a retirement community. We owned there first and then found this. WE have been thankful ever since.