New or pre-owned?

[iandwk]

My wife and I hope to be able to move to The Villages this year. We are open to advice on whether to buy a new home or a pre-owned. Are older homes about as easy to sell as newer ones? What model seems to sell the best?

I'm asking these questions because of my experience in real estate sales. One never knows what may happen that could cause one to move and have to sell a house. When we bought the house we now live in we both said that it would be our final home, but it goes on the market next month (I blame The Villages for that).

[CTgolfer]

My husband and I are spending the winter in TV and have been here for about 3 weeks. We've been looking at both pre-owned and new homes. The way we made our determination was to select approximately where we wanted to live. New homes are only available in the southern most Villages (Bonita, Hemmingway, Hadley, etc)... many beautiful new homes to see. Pre-owned homes are throughout TV. Many of the pre-owned already have upgrades, so that may also be an advantage. Good luck in your search!

[SUNNYMARYANN]

Another consideration would be the Bond. In a pre-owned home the bond is either partially paid or could even be already paid by the previous owner.

[iandwk]

That's a good point, about the bond. I sell real estate in Georgia and have never heard of that before. Is that everywhere in Florida or just in retirement communities?

[F16 1UB]

You definitely need to do your homework here. Pre-owned has many distinct advantages such as upgrades, landscaping, reduced or no bonds. We had a list of pre-owned homes that we looked at. Had 1 particularly in mind but felt they were asking too much so we looked at new homes and went with a new home. However the 1 particular pre-owned home we liked dropped it's price 2 weeks later by 10% and sold immediately. We didn't even think of making an offer that low. You don't know, especially in todays economics, until you try. There was NO bond either and only needed cosmetic (paint) work inside. But we love our new home and have great neighbors. I don't believe anywhere in TV you'll have bad neighbors. However before we become full time we need to sell our northern home. Maybe this spring. NO we WILL sell this spring.

Good Luck on Your Search

F16

[novelchick]

wow what an exciting time for you!! it's so much fun picking out a house but there is alot to consider!! With the market right now you can get a new home cheaper than a resale. However there are the pros and cons of course. New is really nice. No one lived there obviously. Pre-owned can be upgraded as others stated and the bond may be paid off or lower. You can get good deals now on pre-owns because there are so many for sale. You may not want to remodel a resale though. you may want a move in home. some even come with furniture. If you don't mind moving again, i guess you could just buy. But if you want this to be your Last Move really take your time. Look around you. Check how close you are to neighbors!! do you want your lanai to face others or do you want to face a street? Check location to sumter square. Bonita, St charles, st james are getting away now from it. How close do you want to be to square? will you go to square in golf cart alot? so many things to take into consideration. Take your time is the best advice i can give you and enjoy the process!! What type of house are you looking for? Study floor plan. do you want large home? if so Gardania and Lantana most popular but a bit more pricey. Ranch homes Amarillo seems to be popular. Narrow down first your location, your priorities in home, and price range. Start there and Good luck.

[nancy thereader]

I was wondering the sme thing ~~~ new or pre-owned? I also wanted to ask about the rules there at The Villages. Are there special rules for paint colors of front doors and shutters? Are you allowed to plant anything you like or are there lots of restrictions?
Do any homes have wood floors? Fireplaces?

What are BONDS? :undecided:

Thanks for any help.

[starflyte1]

I agree with novelchick, pick a location first. We chose an area where we wanted to live. Because of that choice, we had to buy a resale, but we are very happy with our choice and would not change a thing if we had it to do over.

[djl8412]

For me, it's a no-brainer..........You can have a new home and all warranties that come with it for less than a pre-owned home with some upgrades with no warranty. There's a lot of new-home inventory in The Villages and prices are dropping. I also believe further home construction will be halted until they can sell more of the existing inventory.

[Donna]

For me, it's a no-brainer..........You can have a new home and all warranties that come with it for less than a pre-owned home with some upgrades with no warranty. There's a lot of new-home inventory in The Villages and prices are dropping. I also believe further home construction will be halted until they can sell more of the existing inventory.

I beg to differ with you djl8412, it all depends on the sellers...We have a home for sale and are including warranties..We did have to pay for them, but from a buyers standpoint, they have some guarantees!

[rshoffer]

For me, it's a no-brainer..........You can have a new home and all warranties that come with it for less than a pre-owned home with some upgrades with no warranty. There's a lot of new-home inventory in The Villages and prices are dropping. I also believe further home construction will be halted until they can sell more of the existing inventory.There is a HUGE new area of home construction about to launch on lower Odell in Hemmingway....

[F16 1UB]

I beg to differ with you djl8412, it all depends on the sellers...We have a home for sale and are including warrantees..We did have to pay for them, but from a buyers standpoint, they have some guarantees!


:agree: We too have a home for sale and are including a warranty for the buyer. And yes we purchased it.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious :ohdear: :shrug:

[Russ_Boston]

Just because they have a large inventory doesn't mean that they are not selling any of them. Sales are down but not dead.

[Bogie Shooter]

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious :ohdear: :shrug:

Maybe we have to define large inventory. To you is one thing, to the developer it is another. With the number of folks here looking.....I bet the developer has a good handle on the percent of potential buyers. Any way they are not finishing out 300-400 a month as in the recent past.

[NJblue]

They are also probably concerned that if they stopped completely that they would lose their contractors/crews for when they needed to restart.

[jojo]

When our home sold more quickly than expected,, we made a quick trip down prepared to buy new, pre-owned, or build. In that week we found the perfect home pre-owned and did not have to go through the double move. My advice is to be open to all possibilities and allow some time to find what you want before you rent. We were fairly familiar with TV and TOTV was a big help in confirming the areas that we would consider.

[graciegirl]

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious :ohdear: :shrug:


Coney.

You have got to come down here and see for yourself about this place. It is unbelievable how many people are at open houses. Now they may be like us, looking for the next home here when and if (probably when) we move full time here. We have played golf twice in the past week with people who had just bought a new home here within the week. Our friends came down in late November and the homes that they looked at are mostly gone from the listing list.

Coney. WHAT is keeping you from making that first visit? The lifestyle visit is wonderful and I think the rental and the freebies are...one hundred dollars a day? Come on down girlfriend and stick your toe in the water. I know you know Florida, but there is NOTHING like this place in Florida or anywhere for that matter.

Kind wishes,

GG

[Karen83]

To respond to the building going on. I left for work at 5:30 AM last Sunday and a crew was putting up trusses with the help of a spotlight! We just moved to TV in Oct., so I didn't see the construction at it's peak, but the number of homes that have gone up since then is amazing.

Karen

[iandwk]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. We have decided to rent a house for two months this summer to acclimate ourselves so we can make the most informed decision possible. We look forward to it!

[mitchbr47]

When we were looking to buy a home last winter we looked at pre-owned and in our opinion found that a new home had more pluses-a new neighborhood, definitely no hidden problems that might surface in a few years such as replacing the roof. I didn't want a home occupied by a smoker either. As far as the south end, eventually there will be a new town center called Browntown.

[Taj44]

Just remember, location, location, location. In the future Brownwood town center will be in existence, as will golf courses, etc., north of 466A. But that all may take years, given the economy. In the meantime, if you live in those far reaches of The Villages such as Hemingway, you're a ways from everything. If you buy pre-owned in central Villages such as Caroline, Mallory, etc., you have easy access to everything now and in the future. I look at people who bought up by Lopez, for example. Resale homes in that area do not command the same price they do in more central portions of The Villages. I would think that central locations will better maintain their property value.

[iandwk]

We are renting a villa in Bonita for July and August and are really looking forward to it. We should know by the end of two months where we would most like to live. From up here in NW Georgia we keep waffling between used and new.

We have read an article about a woman who bought a new house in TV that apparently had several defects in its construction. 5he was told by TV that she would have to live in the house while repairs were made (I am assuming that meant TV would not pay for her to stay elsewhere). She refused and eventually TV bought her house back and banned her from buying another house in TV for life.

Does anyone have the straight scoop on this? With my experience in real estate I can imagine a scenario or two, but would like to hear from someone who has heard or knows both sides of the story. This story has made us lean a bit towards pre-owned to avoid any similar problems.

[villages07]

iandwk...

Whether the story you cited is true or not, I don't know. I seem to recall hearing something like that....but, I believe the other side was that the woman was so difficult to deal with that TV finally gave up and bought her out.

Regardless, this incident is extremely isolated. TV sells thousands of new houses every year (yep, probably even more than 2,000 in the 2008 slow year) and they have the building and warranty process down to a science. Sure, there are problems....I've heard builders say before there is no such thing as a perfect house. But, they are extremely responsive and efficient in making repairs. In my opinion, the warranty process is a plus rather than a minus when deciding whether to buy new or pre-owned.

Good luck...come see and explore; in 2 months rental time you will have plenty of opportunities to see all that is offered and make a decision that is right for you.

[jeffy]

We are renting a villa in Bonita for July and August and are really looking forward to it. We should know by the end of two months where we would most like to live. From up here in NW Georgia we keep waffling between used and new.

We have read an article about a woman who bought a new house in TV that apparently had several defects in its construction. 5he was told by TV that she would have to live in the house while repairs were made (I am assuming that meant TV would not pay for her to stay elsewhere). She refused and eventually TV bought her house back and banned her from buying another house in TV for life.

Does anyone have the straight scoop on this? With my experience in real estate I can imagine a scenario or two, but would like to hear from someone who has heard or knows both sides of the story. This story has made us lean a bit towards pre-owned to avoid any similar problems.
.................................................. .................................................. ....

We settled on a new home 2 months ago. The warranty response from the builder has been tremendous. He met us at the home the morning of settlement. We had a list of about 8 very small items that needed to be addressed from when we "sneeked" into the house a week earlier. Most of those items had already been found and taken care of by workers prior to us even bringing them up. The other items were a microscopic (less than a sixteenth of an inch) scratch on a bath mirror, and a kitchen cabinet door that was a little off color. These were both very cheerfully taken care of. :coolsmiley: We are extremely happy in the quality of the two new homes we have purchased from the villages.

We are having a slight difficulty with an oak tree. This is not the responsibility of the builder but of the landscaper.

[graciegirl]

Just remember, location, location, location. In the future Brownwood town center will be in existence, as will golf courses, etc., north of 466A. But that all may take years, given the economy. In the meantime, if you live in those far reaches of The Villages such as Hemingway, you're a ways from everything. If you buy pre-owned in central Villages such as Caroline, Mallory, etc., you have easy access to everything now and in the future. I look at people who bought up by Lopez, for example. Resale homes in that area do not command the same price they do in more central portions of The Villages. I would think that central locations will better maintain their property value.

You know, I don't think we are a ways from everything in Hadley or Hemingway. We are closer to the Colony Recreation Center where we take water aerobics and play bingo and cards, I take Art lessons at the Colony too. We are close to Kilimanjaro, Truman, Roosevelt, Bogie and Bacall Golf Courses and we are right next to Odell Recreation center where we have potlucks, Bingo and exercise class every morning! Those who play tennis, pickleball, bocce and shuffleboard are close to those activities and then not to mention the social activities that occur in your neighborhood. We are close to the restaurants and Publix at Colony Plaza too. We aren't as close to the square and the dancing as folks in Caroline.(The square is about ten minutes away) And we have to drive to Sams, Lowes, Walmart, Kohls, and Home Depot, etc. But none of those places take longer than ten to fifteen minutes. I think it is all relative.

I believe, (correct me if I am wrong) that the homes around Lopez were sold originally when the market everywhere was higher.

I don't think there is a bad area in the villages. I like new because it is a blank slate for decorating.

[Russ_Boston]

My current thought is to buy new (CYV) with a golf front. Obviously by the time I purchase (2010?) the new home will be in northern Brownwood territory. But let's think about it...

Northern Brownwood will be between two squares, Brownwood to the south and LSL to the north. 466A will be even more developed so those restaurants and shops will be convenient. Plus quicker access to the turnpike! The rec centers, pools, golf courses will be newer than those that will, at that time, be 10 years old or more. It will be similar to a northern LSL village when they were built.

So my answer is that whether the home is new in 2010-2014 etc. or a preowned there will be no bad areas in TV.

[rshoffer]

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious :ohdear: :shrug:Because the keep selling them.

[rshoffer]

You know, I don't think we are a ways from everything in Hadley or Hemingway. We are closer to the Colony Recreation Center where we take water aerobics and play bingo and cards, I take Art lessons at the Colony too. We are close to Kilimanjaro, Truman, Roosevelt, Bogie and Bacall Golf Courses and we are right next to Odell Recreation center where we have potlucks, Bingo and exercise class every morning! Those who play tennis, pickleball, bocce and shuffleboard are close to those activities and then not to mention the social activities that occur in your neighborhood. We are close to the restaurants and Publix at Colony Plaza too. We aren't as close to the square and the dancing as folks in Caroline.(The square is about ten minutes away) And we have to drive to Sams, Lowes, Walmart, Kohls, and Home Depot, etc. But none of those places take longer than ten to fifteen minutes. I think it is all relative.

I believe, (correct me if I am wrong) that the homes around Lopez were sold originally when the market everywhere was higher.

I don't think there is a bad area in the villages. I like new because it is a blank slate for decorating.I can get to LSL from Hadley or Hemmingway in 15 minutes on my bicycle. That, to me, is very convenient.

[rshoffer]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. We have decided to rent a house for two months this summer to acclimate ourselves so we can make the most informed decision possible. We look forward to it!You did EXACTLY the right thing!

[champion6]

Hi everyone... first-time poster. I've been lurking for a while and getting familiar with TV. I have a couple questions that relate to new vs. pre-owned.

1. Is there a significant difference in the property tax rates among the three counties that TV is spread across?

2. Is there a significant difference in the annual fees related to the various CDDs?

3. How much more restrictive are the covenants (if that is the correct term) in the new areas compared to the pre-owned that are further north, but west of 27/441?

Mike

[angel222]

Hi Everyone...I would like to add some thoughts -- I am presently renting for three months (beginning 1/1/09) in El Cortez a CYV and this is my third visit to TV in the last 7 months. What a wonderful place to live no matter what village you're in. I thought it would take me all three months rental to decide if this was the place to live for me but I bought a new home two days ago in Hadley. I can't believe how lucky I am!! The distance from Hadley to LSL is not far and it seems to me all the shopping, churches, squares, etc. are no more that 15 minutes away...That to me is great! In NY it takes me 20 minutes to get to the mall.
I researched many resales and new homes each time I visited TV and since I am a widow I thought a new home would be the best choice for me since I am about as unmechanical as they come. The resales do have many improvements but the prices they are asking in this market are just too high for me. I think new or resale doesn't really matter - happiness is the key - whatever works for you!!
I'm happy to say I am now a true Villager!! :pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

[iandwk]

Here's a link to the article about the lady who bought the house and TV bought it back on the condition that she could not buy another house in TV. Of course, it's a bit one-sided.

http://www.ccfj.net/CDDPOAexile.html

[rshoffer]

Here's a link to the article about the lady who bought the house and TV bought it back on the condition that she could not buy another house in TV. Of course, it's a bit one-sided.

http://www.ccfj.net/CDDPOAexile.htmlSounds like she could still buy a "used" home in TV if she wanted to live here. I'm pretty cynical and critical but I gotta admit, of the many homes I've owned over the years, my Camillia built by West Construction is the best quality built home I have ever owned or lived in. My end of the first year inspection by Precision revealed only the most minor cosmetic defects.

[Taj44]

You know, I don't think we are a ways from everything in Hadley or Hemingway. We are closer to the Colony Recreation Center where we take water aerobics and play bingo and cards, I take Art lessons at the Colony too. We are close to Kilimanjaro, Truman, Roosevelt, Bogie and Bacall Golf Courses and we are right next to Odell Recreation center where we have potlucks, Bingo and exercise class every morning! Those who play tennis, pickleball, bocce and shuffleboard are close to those activities and then not to mention the social activities that occur in your neighborhood. We are close to the restaurants and Publix at Colony Plaza too. We aren't as close to the square and the dancing as folks in Caroline.(The square is about ten minutes away) And we have to drive to Sams, Lowes, Walmart, Kohls, and Home Depot, etc. But none of those places take longer than ten to fifteen minutes. I think it is all relative.

I believe, (correct me if I am wrong) that the homes around Lopez were sold originally when the market everywhere was higher.

I don't think there is a bad area in the villages. I like new because it is a blank slate for decorating.

Actually, the area around Lopez was sold years ago when everything was priced lower.

Desired location will vary depending on one's lifestyle. Many couples only have one car and a golf cart, so it is desireable, particularly when it comes to resale value, to have easy golf cart access to popular activities.

If you like to go to shows at the Savannah Center, for example, I'm guessing a trip by golf cart from Hemingway would take you an extra 15 minutes more than the same trip from Caroline. If you wanted to play golf at Orange Blossom, the same applies - an extra 15 minutes already added to a ?25 -30 minute golf cart ride. A more central location allows you to go to all the places you could access from Hemingway by cart, whereas the Hemingway location takes some extra time to some of those places. If you like to play softball, you'd want to have faster access to the ball fields. Maybe you like to go to the movies at Spanish Springs - easy to go by golf cart from Caroline, but sure takes longer from Hemingway.

You seem to find your location ideal for the activites you participate in Gracie, which is great, but my post is a suggestion to buyers who may have interests different than yours. Fifteen minutes extra doesn't seem a lot at first, but if one is making mulitiple round trips per week it starts to add up, and can end up being inconvenient. It can also make the difference between being able to go by golf cart, vs. having to go by car. And it may impact resale value as well.