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Originally Posted by SusanTom

What I am wondering is does it matter in any way...such as property taxes, restrictions of any sort, benefits... which county you live in, Marion, Lake, Sumter?
Thanks

Taxes in Lake and Marion counties tend to creep up each year. Lake county taxes depend on if you live inside the Lady Lake town limits or not. Since 2003, taxes in Sumter county (for homesteaded owners) have been going DOWN about 5-8% per year. Sounds hard to believe but because all of the new construction is in Sumter county (a less populous and poor county by Florida standards) the tax base is growing fast. Plus homesteaded owners get a ("Save Our Homes") cap of 3% increase on the assessed valuation creep. Also no new homes in TV have school age kids, so the new residents won't add to the number or size of schools needed in Sumter. Thus the "mill rate" has been going down. The decline in taxes will probably stop when TV is built out.

On a $200,000 residence in TV, not including "non-ad-valorem" assessments (bond, bond maintenance & fire district charges),
Lake Cty. taxes with Lady Lake would be $2628* or $3052^ per year...
Marion Cty. taxes would be $2585* or $2955^ per year...
but Sumter Cty. would be only $1970* or $2309^ per year.
* means with $25K homestead exemption and
^ means without homestead.

Here's the millage rates:
Lake: $16.9546
Marion: $14.7728
Sumter: $13.5843
So taxes are NOT the same across county lines!


When you buy a new home in TV, be sure to add the full BOND to the selling price when comparing it to the "negatiated" sale price of the resale plus the REMAINING bond (which might be zero!). That's why new homes look cheaper - buyers forget to add the high full bond to the cost.

TV sales agents always quote "about 2% of the selling price" for taxes and bond for BOTH new and resale properties. But figure it out for yourself for an accurate number. It's MUCH LESS than 2% for resales.

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