Can someone give me answers I can't find?

[ziffel]

I am brand new to this site. My wife and I are beginning to plan our retirement and The Villages seems like a very interesting place to live. I have looked at home prices, activities, etc. But one thing I have not been able to find is what are Association Dues, Annual Membership, whatever it is called there. Can someone please direct me to another site where I can find information on what it costs to live at The Villages other than the cost of your home? Or can someone just answer me directly? Thank you in advance.

[Barefoot]

If you are new to TOTV, you may not know about the search button at the top of the screen in darker blue. It is a wonderful way to review previous posts.

If you are referring to the amenities fee, it is running around $138/month currently. Some people pay less and some more. It increases each year on the anniversary date of your home purchase.

[aln]

plus:

$ 50 - water
200 - elec
75 - cable/sat
50 - phone
50 - lawn cut
75 - exterminator (bugs)
200 - taxes
100 - hm ins
50 - trash

VERY VERY approximate but in some places some of this is included in "ASSOCIATION FEES"

[tom60]

ziffel heres some more figures that i pay approx so you can compare with the other posts. Mine are a little cheaper . But i understand it is more expensive in the new areas south of 466. Anyway heres what i pay living north of 466.
These are per month figures.
water and sewer 36$
electric all electric house 98
cable basic cable 13
phone and high speed internet combined 65
lawn mow free i do it myself
exterminator free i do it myself
taxes 148
house insurance 84
trash 17
ammenity fee 123
Hope this helps you.

[Cassie325]

WOW....ALN some of your bills seems a little higher than I have ever heard of in this area....guess it depends on your home size and usage.
My thoughts in red....I can't believe how much you pay. Sounds like too much.


plus:

$ 50 - water seems average for summer time depends on lot size/usage
200 - elec we pay about $125 on the high side
75 - cable/sat depends on services (
50 - phone use a cell phone or vonage or magic jack
50 - lawn cut depends on lot size $40 is what I hear
75 - exterminator (bugs) included w/ most lawn service
200 - taxes depends on lot and house
100 - hm ins
50 - trash $16.92 for everyone I know North and South of 466

VERY VERY approximate but in some places some of this is included in "ASSOCIATION FEES"


I am not saying you are wrong....just was surprised by the high prices you pay. May I ask where you live that it is so expensive?

[chuckinca]

Exterminator = Zilch

We have owned for 4 years, never killed a bug yet and no problems other than a spider every two weeks or so (which I catch and release - could be the same one coming back???). Not included with lawn cutting, neither is weed treatment for 60 a time two or three time a year, chich bug (that attack the lawn), 125 once a year, fertilizer 120 twice a year, pruning 120 twice a year (at lot of this is due to being snow birds - if we were here year around and the wife made me do it, it would be less labor).

Termite is another story - 600 or so for single service that last ten years plus annual inspection of 125.

Come to think of it, in Northern California you put in your lawn and plants, cut it every other week and never spend a dime other than some gas for the mower now and then and weed and feed three times a year. Could be that the higher price of homes is offset by the savings on landscape maintenance!!!

[JohnN]

Our bills are quite a bit lower in a patio villa,

no exterminator, hadn't needed one yet
electric about $50
I cut my grass seldom enough and it's fine, mostly landscaped

[aln]

We have an oversize pie shaped lot at end of cul de sac so lawn is a little more.
No gas and mom lives with us
Extra laundry and tv's are always on and sensitive to cold & heat
My neighbor's elec is $300 but he has a pool

[zcaveman]

Go to the Nuts and Bolts forum and read my three posts on Things to think about when moving to the Villages. Most of what you want is covered in there.

Z

[RipRohring]

I am also almost new (looking). Where is the full discussion of "bond" costs.
Thanks

[Golfingnut]

On the right is an estimate of what we pay. Keep in mind the size of home and lot. It makes a big difference.

$ 50 - water 200
200 - elec 300
75 - cable/sat 140
50 - phone 125
50 - lawn cut Myself
75 - exterminator (bugs) 50
200 - taxes 300
100 - hm ins 100
50 - trash 17
Amenities 145
Maintenance Depart 200

[Bryan]

Your monthly Amenities Fee covers almost everything you need - use of recreation center, pools and facilities, golf cart trails, "free" golf for life with some cravats, etc. What you could pay extra for "entertainment" type stuff is individual club membership fees (if you join), the "free" golf is for Executive courses only and ONLY if you walk. If you want to use a golf cart on the golf course (your own) there is a trail fee, if you want to play on the Championship golf courses, there are extra charges, and if you want to use any of the many country club swimming pools, spas, exercise area, etc., other than the restaurant and bar area, that is extra. All country club restaurants and bars are open to the public. We do have 30 swimming pools or so at recreation centers, the use of which is included in your amenity fee. You really need to schedule a lifestyle visit (or so), spend some time here, and get the feel of the place.

[graciegirl]

I am also almost new (looking). Where is the full discussion of "bond" costs.
Thanks

Just type in Bond in search above.

The bond is the cost of the infrasturcture and not part of the home sale price.

Here are some ball park figures.

Designer. aprox. 23K
Ranch. aprox. 12k? not sure and not sure of villa..Someone help me.
Premier aprox. 50k

On new homes. If you buy a resale some bonds have been paid down and some have been paid off.

[redwitch]

First and foremost, welcome, ziffel! You probably got more information than you wanted. Bryan actually answered your question very precisely. The amenities fee covers your garbage, water (water bill will vary on usage -- others are set fees), sewage and "association" fees. Feel free to ask any and all questions. We're a helpful group.

[quirky3]

Just to clarify "Bug treatment" - in my case, there are twice a year treatments inside and outside the house, a separate program for termite control, and then lawn service which covers treating the lawn for fire ants etc. That may be why the costs are higher in Florida.

p.s. If you buy an older home, the bond may be paid off. The amount varies with the age and cost of the home.

[l2ridehd]

As you can see costs vary depending on what you hire, what you do, weather home is all electric or gas and electric, bond balance, and what size home.

The actual amenities fee is about $140 a month. For planning purposes if you decide what type home and size mortgage you will have and add $1000 a month to the mortgage amount you will be very safe. That should cover everything that is associated with home cost. All utilities, amenities fee, taxes, cable, water, garbage, phone, gas, electric, lawn care, shrub care, termite, pest control, and any other monthly expense. Some of the costs are controllable and some are not. Some people like the AC at 65 degrees and others at 78 degrees. However if you plan on mortgage plus a $1000 a month for home expense, you should be fine. Only other costs are food, entertainment and transportation.

[Cedwards38]

If you are interested in The Villages, I strongly suggest you contact the sales office and schedule a Life Style Visit. You'll find out everything you need to know, and have a good time while you're doing it. Just call the number on TV website and take it from there.

[jerseyvillager]

I agree with most of the info with the exception that there is an extra annual fee for golf called a "trail fee" in order to use your cart on the courses. About $120 a year.

[2BNTV]

There used to be an icon on www.thevillages.net that would give an estimate on what it would cost to live in TV on a $250,000 home. Since I can't find it at the moment, I would call the sales office and ask for the packet that covers all that information. I would also schedule a LSV as there aren't enough words that can express how beautiful TV is and it's people.

I personally use the "nuts and bolts' figures for a patio villa as posted by zcaveman. I have found that by reading a lot of posts that cover costs of various items that I put on a spreadsheet.

[Bogie Shooter]

First and foremost, welcome, ziffel! You probably got more information than you wanted. Bryan actually answered your question very precisely. The amenities fee covers your garbage, water (water bill will vary on usage -- others are set fees), sewage and "association" fees. Feel free to ask any and all questions. We're a helpful group.

Wonder if ziffel is still a villager, since the post was made in March 2009???
:doh:

[2BNTV]

Wonder if ziffel is still a villager, since the post was made in March 2009???
:doh:

Good pick-up, I didnt notice.

[drdodge]

I have a 2 bedroom couttyard villa and here is what I pay. these are actuaal bills. Ifg u want I can show you the bills
Electric 89.00
Gas........69.57
Taxes 2171.35
termite 178.00 renewal fee ..orignal cost 499.99
bugs 45.00 every2 months
ammenity fee 143.62 monthly
water 21,00 month
sewer 34.00
rubbish 18.00
included with taxes is non ad valorem assessments 995.00
cable and internet 90.00 per month
telephone 17.00 per year... majic jack Homeowners 1400.00 per tear

[Bogie Shooter]

People, people wake up, this post requesting info was from March 2009!

[Barefoot]

People, people wake up, this post requesting info was from March 2009!

:thumbup:

[justjim]

Remember the game of "follow the leader"? You got to wonder if OP even made it to TV!

[CFrance]

ziffel heres some more figures that i pay approx so you can compare with the other posts. Mine are a little cheaper . But i understand it is more expensive in the new areas south of 466. Anyway heres what i pay living north of 466.
These are per month figures.
water and sewer 36$
electric all electric house 98
cable basic cable 13
phone and high speed internet combined 65
lawn mow free i do it myself
exterminator free i do it myself
taxes 148
house insurance 84
trash 17
ammenity fee 123
Hope this helps you.

We live south of 466, in fact, just north of 466a, in a designer home. We pay less in elec, more in water. The bill that comes once a month that includes your water--ours averages $223, but I think that has the amenities (or something) in there too. Our electric has never exceeded $100, but we are not here in the summer, and the thermostat is set at 82 and no one going in or out of the house.

Our DirectTV is $78 (two tvs) We pay $60 for Comcast internet--no bundling since we don't use their cable tv or phone.

Total, whole-yard maintenance (mowing, edging, weeding, trimming of all landscape, fertiizing of yard and landscape, pest control inside and out, irrigation check whenever you feel you're too stupid to figure it out yourself, spraying around soffits, and, and... whenever you need your hand held, we use Stellar. It's $2k a year, or you can just sign up for parts of it.

When we were house hunting, our salesman gave us a sheet that listed all the expenses you could expect to incur in home ownership in TV. They were very up front about it.

Good luck! Hope you find a place here that will make you happy.

[pepfalcon]

Amenities fees are $140 for me. I assume they are about the same. Most realtors can tell you everything you have asked. Donna Fenster is one of the best in The Villages. Give her a call.

[JoeC1947]

People, people wake up, this post requesting info was from March 2009!

You let the cat out of the bag but that didn't stop the freight train!

[jflynn1]

I am brand new to this site. My wife and I are beginning to plan our retirement and The Villages seems like a very interesting place to live. I have looked at home prices, activities, etc. But one thing I have not been able to find is what are Association Dues, Annual Membership, whatever it is called there. Can someone please direct me to another site where I can find information on what it costs to live at The Villages other than the cost of your home? Or can someone just answer me directly? Thank you in advance.
We have a 2100 sq foot home.
Monthly expenses:

potableWater, drinking, cooking etc.; 86.00
Irrigation/Sprinkler/ 85.00
Garbage& Trash Pick up : 18.00..
TV,PHONE, Internet package; 145.00 per month
Amenity fees: 148.00 per month.
Electric: 12 month average $125.00 per month
Gas $35.00/ month
Pest Control, lawn fertilize etc, 80.00/month on average
Termite control: $100.00 annually / $450.00 every three years.
Lawn Cutting: $50.00
Taxes Annual: $2200.00
Bond $900.00 annual (you are provided the option of paying
the bond in full once per year in July otherwise you cannot..
prepay the Bond)
District assesments: $500.00 annual estimate
additonal assesments $450.00 annually
House insurance: annual 1200-1400 per year
Car Insurance 1 car: 980.00 annually
If you have no problem drinking or cooking with the unfiltered water then you do not need a water softner or water filter system. ( we would recomend at least a water softner) You could expect to spend $1,000.00 for the water softner)
Hope this helps you. What you do not want to do is trust the figures provided in the sales brochures or by the sales people. Best of Luck , Joe flynn

[llaran]

Bonds range from 0 on the old side going up as you go south to the 50, 000's as someone else said use the search box.

[LindaandRich]

The Villages governing body has a website that is loaded with information. In addition if you are in the area or planning a trip here you can attend an orientation meeting any Thursday at 10am. If I type a website this message will be blocked so look for districtgov in The Villages and you'll find what I'm talking about.

[graciegirl]

The Villages governing body has a website that is loaded with information. In addition if you are in the area or planning a trip here you can attend an orientation meeting any Thursday at 10am. If I type a website this message will be blocked so look for districtgov in The Villages and you'll find what I'm talking about.

I don't think the current owner of this forum blocks links to anything from the "official" Villages sites.

I am so glad of that.

Thank you Admin. You rock.

http://www.districtgov.org/