rent before buying?

[conn8757]

I am curious, how many people rented in the Villages at least a month before buying?
Were you able to pin down exactly what village you wanted or just the general area?

[another Linda]

We were in TV for a 1 week lifestyle 2 yrs ago, rented for 1 month last year. We were not planning to buy but ...

I think all we really knew was that we wanted to be close to the squares. We really did fall in love with our place, and if that deal had fallen through, we would not have bought last spring. We bought a CYV and luckily didn't need to sell our up-north house before we bought.

[redwitch]

I rented with the plan of buying once I found the right "fit." Unfortunately, this surgery may have taken care of that plan, but I haven't given up hope yet.

[REDCART]

Every book and every article I've ever read about relocating after retirement suggests that you rent for at least 90 days, preferably a year, before buying. All we could think about were the 78 million baby boomers standing in line waiting to buy in TV. So we were unusually hasty in our decision to buy. However, in hindsight, we're not sorry and we would have only wasted money by renting. Of course, the market corrected itself so that we would not have spent all that much more by waiting two years. Prices are close to what they were two years ago and in the case of patio villas, they're significantly cheaper now than in 2005. But who knew. It's been said many times here, you're buying a lifestyle. There are bigger, cheaper (and maybe nicer homes) all over FL. If you're not friendly and you don't like socializing, then maybe you should definitely rent to be sure that the closeness doesn't bother you.

[kar guy]

After we sold our home and sent some of our stuff down to TV we came down to 'rent till we buy'. The thought was great, the plan was made, and here we came. In on Sunday night in a rental and we bought on Monday at 10 in the morning. Who would have thought? TAKE CARE... KAR GUY

[conn8757]

Thanks for all your answers. I just can't decide what village and what model. I suppose I will be one of those people that move 3 times after we get there.

[Barefoot]

If you're young, you have the time to rent for a year or two before buying. If you are older (like most of us); just giterdone. ;D Don't assume you're going to live forever, you're not! Get started now on your life in Paradise. 040