[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by dillywho

I don't understand all the animosity toward the Developer(s). My son lived in a condo in Jacksonville for several years (just finished building a new house) and his HOA fee was right at $200 a month with no rec centers and all they offer, one outdoor pool, no golf courses at all, and one "party room". They were saddled with many more restrictions than we have here, as well....no grills, no pets, etc. Seems like we have it pretty good here. By the way, don't know if his community is controlled by an HOA or not now. I will have to ask about that.

As for the bond, when we came here in 2004, the bond structure WAS explained thoroughly to us. No problem.

The reason for the title? Given their own troubles and shenanigans, WHY would you trust the IRS more than the Developer(s)? Or Ritchie, for that matter? She seems to have her own agenda and it is definitely anything but favorable to us. Seems Orlando has enough problems of its own without worrying about us. Why is she not writing about the truly "gated" communities there with all their crime occurring? What are they getting for their monies?

There are many expensive and probable expenses which you didn't recognize and/or mention, for which your son's condo may be responsible, according to their documents, which you have not read. Things which may be covered by his association could be the roofs, all landscaping and grass cutting, painting of all the buildings, maintaining the roads, insurances, a reserve and more. All of these expenses are covered in an owner's monthly fee and although some is put into a reserve, these amounts are still charged on a monthly basis. I can almost guarantee that there are more restrictions here than your son had in his condo.

Unless you subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, you don't know what other topics Lauren Ritchie writes about. There are only a few examples, in total, of her writing about The Villages. Judging from some of the items of hers which I have read, she really has no agenda, does her homework and simply tells it like it is.