Can I ask about TV realtors?

[jarobar]

I'll be moving there mid November. In advance of that I want to identify a really great TV Agent ......not an MLS realtor. I'm looking for someone who is professional, hard working, customer-focused, honest, responsive and knowledgeable.

I am hoping to get referrals from locals based on their experience. Please folks.....no recommendations on someone who you are just trying to help or 'cos it's a buddy. This is really important to me.

I'm wondering if this Thread will be scrubbed. Am I not supposed to ask this? I've learned a lot about TV, but hard to know the "rules" on this forum.

Thanks in advance! :wave:

[manaboutown]

The agents who work for The Villages are not Realtors. If you want to use a Realtor you will need to find a member of MLS. Furthermore, The Villages company does not share its listings with (MLS) Realtors.

[jarobar]

I'm aware of the 2 separate markets. Thanks. I called them a "TV Realtor".......for lack of a better term......"agent?. I just edited my post. Feedback appreciated.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Contact Steve & Donna Lightbody... He or his wife will work hard for you.

[Jim9368]

I used Roy Robertson and he was the best. His wife Sue is his assistant at she is just a wonderful person. He can be called at 352-408-4480.

[jarobar]

Thanks!

[jarobar]

........

[asianthree]

We have had three TV reps. The first one was the best, but promoted. Second not a fan. The thrice was Mark Kennedy, and very much impressed

[graciegirl]

Used Jim McLaughlin both times we bought a new home.

[ALR5ALR]

Dona Rizzo 14 yrs. with the Villlage's,extremely professional,knowledgeable,caring,you will not be disappointed.

[Jim 9922]

I used Roy Robertson and he was the best. His wife Sue is his assistant at she is just a wonderful person. He can be called at 352-408-4480.
I'd double down on recommending Roy. He's worked wonders for 4 friends we have referred to him, and they now are all happy Villagers:wave:

[Barefoot]

Debra Park, Properties of The Villages
Cell 352-408-8800
Office 352-753- 2270

I was a Real Estate Broker myself for 20 years before retiring. I am very picky about who I use.
Debra is smart, honest, professional and experienced. She is respected by other agents in her office.

[Mleeja]

I used June Brine with TV. She "works" with a Remax Agent for those houses that are not listed with
TV real estate.

[redwitch]

I think you'll find that most of the TV agents are pretty motivated to work with you. The nice thing is that if you find an agent is not a good fit for you, you can always request someone else.

[Shadow8IA]

We used Zina Fenster-Beasley. She was awesome!!
(352) 430-5376 (her cell). Or 800-346-4556
Zina.beasley@thevillages.com

[NYGUY]

[QUOTE=jarobar;1020012]I'll be moving there mid November. In advance of that I want to identify a really great TV Agent ......not an MLS realtor..../QUOTE]

Just curious....if you haven't yet found an agent, and, I have to assume do not yet have a house under contract, how do you know you are moving in November, let alone mid November?

At any rate, the answer to your question is Tony Trussler....352-552-6027....one of the good guys!!

[dotti105]

We were really fortunate to have been assigned to Julia Powell when we did our "Lifestyle visit". She was fabulous. She helped introduce us to The Villages and answered all our questions. We were not ready to buy, and she didn't rush us at all.

We worked with her long distance and she always found the answer to our questions, no matter how tiresome we were. She is a pro!! You couldn't find a better agent!

[villagerjack]

Brian Dees is the leading realtor. They even named a street after him. Once you meet him you will be sold. He does not sell homes, you buy a home.

[OldManTime]

I'll be moving there mid November. In advance of that I want to identify a really great TV Agent ......not an MLS realtor. I'm looking for someone who is professional, hard working, customer-focused, honest, responsive and knowledgeable.

I am hoping to get referrals from locals based on their experience. Please folks.....no recommendations on someone who you are just trying to help or 'cos it's a buddy. This is really important to me.

I'm wondering if this Thread will be scrubbed. Am I not supposed to ask this? I've learned a lot about TV, but hard to know the "rules" on this forum.

Thanks in advance! :wave:


I find it difficult to comprehend you don't want a "MLS" realtor who subscribe to a strict code of ethics. So that being the case, you definitely
should go to the Villages Real Estate owned and operated by its developer to purchase your home.

[Waverunner]

We highly recommend Chris Day. He has been with TV for 10 years and is very professional, hard working and responsive. Also very patient. We saw both pre-owned and new homes. We started with what we thought was our target budget and spent a day looking in that range. When we didn't find anything we liked, he took us to some other properties, beyond the budget, to give us a feel for what was available. (We liked some of those better.) We spent that evening reworking our own budget numbers upwards. The next day we saw properties we increasingly liked and found our home. He expertly knows the models, knows which one is similar to another or a variant of the same and was able to ask us the right questions each time to narrow the focus and hone in on our wants/needs/wishes. I mention this because looking at houses in TV can be a little overwhelming and it helps speed the process along if your salesperson knows their product and helps you narrow the choices, as the great lots and certain models go fast.

Chris' number is 352-988-7777. Best of luck with your search!

[mulligan]

Another vote for Julia Powell. She is professional and will work with you here or online. Quick with responses on the phone too!! No frustrating waiting for return calls.

[PaPaLarry]

Now, with all those wonderful recommendations, how do you choose????? LOL

[SouthOfTheBorder]

I used Roy Robertson and he was the best. His wife Sue is his assistant at she is just a wonderful person. He can be called at 352-408-4480.

:agree::agree::agree:

Don

[raynan]

Tony Trussler is your guy. He is extremely informative and thorough in giving you all your options but he truly listens to what you want. Very laid back and not pushy. We've referred him several times and no one has ever been disappointed. He and his assistant, Geralynn, will help you and make it a pleasant experience.

[jarobar]

[QUOTE=jarobar;1020012]I'll be moving there mid November. In advance of that I want to identify a really great TV Agent ......not an MLS realtor..../QUOTE]

Just curious....if you haven't yet found an agent, and, I have to assume do not yet have a house under contract, how do you know you are moving in November, let alone mid November?

At any rate, the answer to your question is Tony Trussler....352-552-6027....one of the good guys!!
I plan to house hunt a few months in advance of the mid November time frame and when I make an offer I will target that time frame to close. I'm in a rental home currently in the Fla. panhandle, so must time things carefully. Could be a bit challenging on the timing.....and that's another reason I want a great TV agent.

[jarobar]

I find it difficult to comprehend you don't want a "MLS" realtor who subscribe to a strict code of ethics. So that being the case, you definitely
should go to the Villages Real Estate owned and operated by its developer to purchase your home.
Communication glitch, my friend. I'm just looking for a TV agent in this thread. I already have a ReMax MLS agent. Some months ago when I did my reconnaissance visit I quickly found out that there are 2 markets there. So it only makes sense to explore houses in both. I didn't want to just call TV and get assigned "someone". Too much left to chance on that. Thus my quest in this thread........which is working out great!!!

[jarobar]

Now, with all those wonderful recommendations, how do you choose????? LOL

Agree PaPa!......HOW?!?!?! But as I see it, there are worse problems. Before this thread, I had zero names......now I am brimming over. If this thread is any evidence (and it is), what they say about this being a community where folks pitch in and help each other is so very true.

THANK YOU ALL.......YOU ARE SIMPLY AWESOME!! YOU HAVE REALLY HELPED ME.

:a040:

[RVRoadie]

Remember, you're buying a house, not a realtor. Each day, there are 18 open houses, that is 18 different agents you can talk to. Do that until you find one that you are comfortable with. There are no 'bad' agents. They never got hired.

[TrudyM]

[QUOTE=NYGUY;1020117]
I plan to house hunt a few months in advance of the mid November time frame and when I make an offer I will target that time frame to close. I'm in a rental home currently in the Fla. panhandle, so must time things carefully. Could be a bit challenging on the timing.....and that's another reason I want a great TV agent.

So you would be looking for a delayed close. Depending on the situation with the seller that can be tough. We have not listed let alone sold our house in WA yet so were looking for a closing on Sept 1. We instead ended up with a closing in mid March for less money. A delayed close even if it isn't contingent on selling another property makes people nervous. It might be cheaper to break your current lease. You need to find out what that would cost so you are prepared in the negotiation faze.
We used Nanette Tolleson Nanette.Tolleson@TheVillages.com, she was a broker and a manager with the villages real estate but missed working with clients and stepped back into sales. She has an assistant so you can always get in touch with someone when handling the paperwork and little stuff no problem. We liked that she was very honest and upfront with her opinion and didn't argue with my number crunching only pointed out a couple of estimate errors. When we wanted to offer less than the list on a resale she did not give us the properties in the villages are moving fast grab it song and dance which most do. Very Professional and personable.

[jarobar]

Remember, you're buying a house, not a realtor. Each day, there are 18 open houses, that is 18 different agents you can talk to. Do that until you find one that you are comfortable with. There are no 'bad' agents. They never got hired.
Thanks. But I'm not just going to visit open houses. Well in advance of my visit, I will identify a number of homes that fit my preferences using the online sites......both TV and MLS sites. Prices and "value" vary dramatically in this market. That is already obvious to me, so homework is important. In addition to my homework and advance planning, I expect MLS and TV realtors to arrange showings on additional homes (that I couldn't find online) that fit my preferences and are "value" priced. That's why I want quality agents......to do great work on the hunt in a team effort with me. As you may have guessed......I'm a real planner. But this approach to "big events" in life (like house hunting) has generally paid off for me. OK......OCD.....go ahead and say it.....LOL

[jarobar]

[quote=jarobar;1020230]

So you would be looking for a delayed close. Depending on the situation with the seller that can be tough. We have not listed let alone sold our house in WA yet so were looking for a closing on Sept 1. We instead ended up with a closing in mid March for less money. A delayed close even if it isn't contingent on selling another property makes people nervous. It might be cheaper to break your current lease. You need to find out what that would cost so you are prepared in the negotiation faze.
We used Nanette Tolleson Nanette.Tolleson@TheVillages.com, she was a broker and a manager with the villages real estate but missed working with clients and stepped back into sales. She has an assistant so you can always get in touch with someone when handling the paperwork and little stuff no problem. We liked that she was very honest and upfront with her opinion and didn't argue with my number crunching only pointed out a couple of estimate errors. When we wanted to offer less than the list on a resale she did not give us the properties in the villages are moving fast grab it song and dance which most do. Very Professional and personable.
Wise counsel, Trudy. That's one of my questions for a realtor or agent. How far in advance of the time I want to close should I do the house-hunting? There has to be a "sweet spot" on the timing......which may end up channeling my choice in purchase. And I could close there while still paying some rent here......or break the lease with a penalty. I will arrange for my lease to end at the time I want to move to TV. Will there be another renter waiting to move in right at that time? Who knows. Might I end up paying a bit on rent even after purchasing a home in TV? Also a question mark. I'm a cash buyer for the home in TV and have some flexibility. But it only makes sense to try and time things the best I can. What else can I do?

[graciegirl]

Thanks. But I'm not just going to visit open houses. Well in advance of my visit, I will identify a number of homes that fit my preferences using the online sites......both TV and MLS sites. Prices and "value" vary dramatically in this market. That is already obvious to me, so homework is important. In addition to my homework and advance planning, I expect MLS and TV realtors to arrange showings on additional homes (that I couldn't find online) that fit my preferences and are "value" priced. That's why I want quality agents......to do great work on the hunt in a team effort with me. As you may have guessed......I'm a real planner. But this approach to "big events" in life (like house hunting) has generally paid off for me. OK......OCD.....go ahead and say it.....LOL


This was our approach too for the many homes we built and bought before. And we pored over The Villages homes online and I had a notebook and copious notes. We knew exactly what we wanted and where we wanted it. And twice bought a different model in a different village.

Somehow impulse and timing and serendipity come into the equation of The Villages when the right buyer and the right house meet. We are extremely happy with our choice.

[outahere]

[QUOTE=NYGUY;1020117]
I plan to house hunt a few months in advance of the mid November time frame and when I make an offer I will target that time frame to close. I'm in a rental home currently in the Fla. panhandle, so must time things carefully. Could be a bit challenging on the timing.....and that's another reason I want a great TV agent.

Keep in mind that if you purchase a new home, they only give you 30 days to close. That is in their contract and they will not modify it. I believe that if you purchase a lot they will give you 90 days to start construction, and they build houses VERY quickly.

[manaboutown]

You are clearly a planner and doing your homework, OP. That should pay off!

[JoMar]

Jim McLaughlin......(800) 346-4556 Jim is a no pressure, accommodating, fact based sales person that did a wonderful job helping my wife find the property and guide us through the process. I'm sure everyone that bought here loves their guy (or lady) so not sure you can go wrong, but Jim is our guy.

[janeg]

Jason Kranz he is the best.

[bettymg1866]

I'll be moving there mid November. In advance of that I want to identify a really great TV Agent ......not an MLS realtor. I'm looking for someone who is professional, hard working, customer-focused, honest, responsive and knowledgeable.

I am hoping to get referrals from locals based on their experience. Please folks.....no recommendations on someone who you are just trying to help or 'cos it's a buddy. This is really important to me.

I'm wondering if this Thread will be scrubbed. Am I not supposed to ask this? I've learned a lot about TV, but hard to know the "rules" on this forum.

Thanks in advance! :wave:
Justin Wilson - Honest - fair and knowledgeable!!!!

[ricthemic]

I used Roy Robertson and he was the best. His wife Sue is his assistant at she is just a wonderful person. He can be called at 352-408-4480.

They are the best in TV.

[MMMark]

Have dealt with many an agent in my time, and our experience with Tony Trussler was tops, for all the reasons cited by others here. If/when we ever move within TV, he'll be our first contact. Wife/teammate Geralynn only adds to the value.

Best of success!

[beachx4me]

You may also want to look at villagesfsbo. Now or when you are ready. Also lots of nice homes listed there.

[John_W]

Tony Trussler is your guy. He is extremely informative and thorough in giving you all your options but he truly listens to what you want. Very laid back and not pushy. We've referred him several times and no one has ever been disappointed. He and his assistant, Geralynn, will help you and make it a pleasant experience.

Have dealt with many an agent in my time, and our experience with Tony Trussler was tops, for all the reasons cited by others here. If/when we ever move within TV, he'll be our first contact. Wife/teammate Geralynn only adds to the value.

We also had Tony Trussler in 2011 when we visited on our lifestyle trip. I said I wanted to see new patio villas, masonry CYV and cottages. He took us out for over two days to see models both furnished and unfurnished of every floorplan I asked.

When we sold our home three weeks later, I called from Maryland and said I'm interested in buying a new CYV that I saw online. It was so new it didn't have photos posted yet. The home had been discounted $7,000 and while talking with Tony on the phone, it dropped another $5,000. We couldn't resist buying the home sight-unseen. However, Tony and his wife drove over to the home that night took photos and he emailed them to us 9pm that night. We bought the home and Tony handled all the transactions over the phone and fax so when we arrived, all we had to do was perform closing.

Just this past December when I told him I was interested in buying a new designer home but hadn't yet sold our villa. He immediately recommended a 'bridge mortgage' and made an appointment for me the next day at Citizens Bank with the specialist of those loans.

We have been invited four years in a row to Tony & Geralynn's Christmas Party held at one of the rec centers. He's a great guy and even speaks with a British accent having moved from there to New York in the late 70's.

[twoplanekid]

Another vote for Tony Trussler as he was a great help to us with our purchase of a home in the Villages last year.

As brothers sometimes do, my brother used another village salesperson he met at a showing this year to purchase his new house down the street from me. So, there are many good people to work with on the Villages sales staff.

[nancymenn]

Another vote for Jim McLaughlin. Low key and knowledgeable. Also a Villager. Phone: 352-753-2270. If he was good enough for Gracie, he was good enough for me. (Did not care for the 1st agent we were "assigned" to.)

[rosygail]

Sara Godleski was our agent and she knew what we wanted before we did!

[karen.austin.100]

John Cramer and his wife are the best realtors I have ever met. I highly recommend them. Nice, hard working, go above and beyond.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Nitin Kirbhat of Properties of The Villages did an outstanding job for me. I highly recommend him.