Well, We're Doing It!!!

[TCLaD]

After 5 visits, we are closing on a pre-owned in Bonita on April 30. Now if I can only sell this Indiana business, all would be great. I am surprised at how difficult it is to get homeowners insurance. Only one company they (Village Insurance folks) say would insure the house. Need to find furniture, cable, golf cart, etc. when we get down for closing. We bought the book and reading Nuts-n-Bolts to get us ready. Thanks to the forum for all your information.

Tom & Cindy
Logansport, IN and now TV

[Army Guy]

Welcome! We live in Bonita too.
Wow, we didn't have any trouble getting Home Insurance. Matter of fact got even a better deal then our house in Alabama. Lowere prem & lower deductable. We had more of a problem finding insurance for the golf cart! But we used the Villages Insurance for that.

Army Guy

[JohnN]

TV insurance rates, we thought, were very competitive.
congrats on your move!

[TCLaD]

I am not saying the insurance rate was bad, there is no way to compare as The Villages Insurance office told us there is only one insurance company that will enure the home, so we have no way of comparing. Being retired Army officer, I have always used USAA for all my insurance needs and when I contacted them, they too said they would not insure a home in TV. Everthing else associated with the closing is going good, I just find the fact that you can only get one insurance company to insure the home a bit odd.

[nkrifats]

Had no trouble getting my Home Insurance in the villages. Bought mine with AAA over the phone before I actually got to the villages. Living in Ri I found the rates much better in FL, of course square footage is smaller.

[Pturner]

Congratulations TC and all best wishes! :a040:

[Pookirgirl]

We just bought in Duval..closing on April 8th via mail. We are leaving NJ on the 9th and heading down for good.
We went right to the Villages for all of our insurance needs. They were wonderful and prices were very good.
Took us 3 long years to finally DO IT! That long trying to sell our home in NJ! We came for a week last month and made our home purchase the first day. It was actually the first house our realtor took us to. We had been checking out the homes on the web site and my friends would go to look at them...narrowing it down for us. They knew exactly what we were looking for. Had a blast buying furniture and a new Yesteryear cart! Can't wait to start our 2nd childhood LOL!

[Army Guy]

TCLaD, Really????? I am also soon to be retired Officer and USAA is who I got our insurance through for our villa. We called last May when we bought, and was told no problem.

Army Guy

[bricknj]

Hi there, we too are from Brick(Burnt Tavern Rd) and have been to the Villages twice in the last 3 months looking at pre-owned and new. We saw a very nice one in Duvall on Little Mt. Road but we're just concerned about all the different costs associated with living there. We're thinking about renting there for the month of Sept. so we can get a feel for the summer heat and humidity. If we do make the move we'll have to sell our home just like you, who did you have for a realtor that finally sold your place?

[TCLaD]

Thanks to all who have replied. I have sent a couple of you a private email so as not to tie the messgae board up with my situation. Today I found out from USAA and it's Florida insurance office, that there is a so-called "geological rating" assigned to different areas of TV and based upon this "geo rating" they and other insurance carriers will only insure so many homes in that area. Once this saturation point is reached they will no longer insure future homes in that area. So for whatever reason, the Village of Bonita has reached this point with several insurance carriers. The Villages Insurance Office found us only one quote from a company called American Integrity Insurance Group. Thus the saga continues for now. Agaon, thanks for all the input, We close on April 29th. Can't wait.

Tom

[nkrifats]

TCLaD, Really????? I am also soon to be retired Officer and USAA is who I got our insurance through for our villa. We called last May when we bought, and was told no problem.

Army Guy

Army Guy, great to read that about USAA. I am retired chief (U.S. Navy) and finally USAA decided to let us retired enlisted join. I will be looking at them this summer for my home insurance. Thanks again

[Army Guy]

nkrifats, you will LOVE USAA. Have been with them since 1979. You will like getting that payback check every November!

Army Guy

[smsgtdaves]

TCLaD:
Is it safe to say some of the older areas would not be insurable due the geo rate? I wonder how we would be able to find out. We are looking to move in about a year and ths sounds like something we have to look into.

[salpal]

We are finally moving to TV in June. We purchased last September. Our home owner's insurance here in Delaware (Nationwide) refuses to insure any home in Florida. State Farm is our insurer at TV on our new home. I was pleased with their rates.

[K9-Lovers]

Salpal:

State Farm told us that they are no longer offering homeowner's insurance in the state of Florida. They will continue with vehicle and other insurance, however.

[RonCecile]

This is very interesting as we will become fulltime residents in Virginia Trace in August. We are renting so I know that is diffeent but USAA never mentioned any chance that they would not insure when we buy. We have had our homeowners insurance with them since 1987

[Ohiogirl]

USAA told me (I've also been a member since around 1970) that if you have your current renter's or homeowner's policy with them outside of Florida they will consider insuring in Florida. Wouldn't write a new policy, even though I am a USAA member. That was a couple of years ago. When I first asked for a quote on my new villa almost 4 years ago, they just told me they weren't writing new policies in Florida. I did not have my Ohio condo policy with them at the time (too expensive).

I have always found their auto insurance to be about the best around (considering price, coverage and claims) but have often found significantly lower premium policies with same coverage for homeowners' insurance. It's hard to calculate the real cost though, as the dividend payment, or whatever it is called, back to members in November is unknown until they send the check.

Might try them again for both our Ohio house coverage and our Florida villa; however they are picky about what they insure and we have an older house in Ohio, so don't know. They are a great company customer-service wise, and are also financially solvent, partly because they ARE picky about what they insure - IMO anyway.

[TCLaD]

I too have had USAA insurance for both auto and homeowners since 1978. Naturally when we knew we were buying our Village home, we assumed they would be our carrier. Just as everyone has mentioned, they have been nothing but the best in all these years. However, anyone planning to use USAA insurance, call them as they have made some big time changes in their insurance coverage in Florida, regardless of if you have been insured with them before or not. They still do provide some coverage but only in those areas of the The Villages where they have not yet met their "insured saturation" point. That is they will only write so many policies in a given area and when they do, they will write no more. I still have my Indiana home, my business, my autos and several investment portfolios with them and always will, but they will not write us a homeonwers insurance policy in Bontia. Those of you who are planning to buy in TV, you will be handed off to the USAA Florida office and talk to some very nice people. They will get your new address in TV then let you know if they are writing policies in that area or not. I hope you are all as fortunate to get them to write the insurance but don't assume anything. We did get insurance, but only through The Villages Insurance Office. Good luck to all of you hoping to purchase your insurance with USAA, I hope you each are the lucky ones to keep them as your insurance company for your new Village home.

[salpal]

K-9
Geez, I wonder why State Farm hasn't cancelled us if they will no longer do FL homes. I guess when policy is up, they will probably not review. In the meantime, will investigate others.

I am a Red Cross disaster volunteer, having done duty at hurricane sites, I can understand why FL is no man's land for insurers.

[jaspal]

What is the book (nut's & bolts)?

Pat

[bkcunningham1]

jaspal, Nuts and Bolts is actually one of the topics here on Talk of the Villages (TOV).
It can be found on this website's main page. If you scroll down through the list of topics, it is next to the last under Talk of the Villages Information and News.

Hope this helps. B.K.

[Zass38]

I am also a retired officer (Go Navy!) and a long time member of USAA. I contacted USAA and received my insurance from a correspondent company, ASI.... got a really good rate ... I have a SCY, Grantham model

[jaspal]

jaspal, Nuts and Bolts is actually one of the topics here on Talk of the Villages (TOV).
It can be found on this website's main page. If you scroll down through the list of topics, it is next to the last under Talk of the Villages Information and News.

Hope this helps. B.K.
Thank you.........

[TCLaD]

Hi Again, been a while since I last posted and finally got the 100 lbs of paperwork faxed, refaxed, airmailed, and UPS'd for the closing on April 28. I myself have to stay and work but my lovely wife is coming down to seal the deal on our Bonita home. All the inspections are completed and according to the bank, everything is set. Just a few more questions for you all before she comes.

Besides the utilities and cable, what other tasks should she plan on accomplishing after closing? I know she can't get my ID until I come down in June. She will have her hands full with furniture being delivered, etc. so I want to be sure she has all her bases covered.

Do the fine folks of Bonita have their own organization or get togethers? I have read where some of the villages have golf league, pickleball leagues, street parties, etc. Is there a contact for any of these type activites for Bonita?

We will need a golf cart at some point. Since we will not be full time residents for a while, I assume gas is the way to go? I think right now a used cart should do us until we get there fulltime in about a year or so. Your input is appreciated.

I am an avid racquetball player up north here, so I am hoping to transition to pickleball. I am thinking Pickleball 101 and 102 to start. If there is any Bonita guys that care to instruct me when I get there, that would be wonderful as well. I really want to learn this game.

How about bug maintenance? Is this a do it yourself option with commercial over the counter spary bug killer or is it best to hire it out or a combination of both?

How about snow removal...of yea, don't need that one anymore!!

Thanks again to all the folks on the forum, Cindy and I look forward to meeting all our neighbors near Goliath Place, and that's funny to since we are both only 5'4"...lol.

So on May 28th and a few days after when you see that very pretty gal with the shiny black hair, yes it's real, no chemicals, just yell to her "Hi Cindy" and make her feel welcome. She is about to bust at the seams waiting to get down there. She's been my bride for 42 years and Bonita will be our get a way paradise. I hope to meet you all real soon..

Tom & Cindy
Logansport, IN and now Bonita

[NormaJean]

Congratulations Tom and Cindy. We bought in Hemingway and signed papers on our 38th anniversary June 12, 2009. We hopefully can sell our house by the end of April so we too can move down from the frigid north. Best wishes to you and just enjoy!

[Pturner]

Hi Again, been a while since I last posted and finally got the 100 lbs of paperwork faxed, refaxed, airmailed, and UPS'd for the closing on April 28. I myself have to stay and work but my lovely wife is coming down to seal the deal on our Bonita home. All the inspections are completed and according to the bank, everything is set. Just a few more questions for you all before she comes.

Besides the utilities and cable, what other tasks should she plan on accomplishing after closing? I know she can't get my ID until I come down in June. She will have her hands full with furniture being delivered, etc. so I want to be sure she has all her bases covered.

Do the fine folks of Bonita have their own organization or get togethers? I have read where some of the villages have golf league, pickleball leagues, street parties, etc. Is there a contact for any of these type activites for Bonita?

We will need a golf cart at some point. Since we will not be full time residents for a while, I assume gas is the way to go? I think right now a used cart should do us until we get there fulltime in about a year or so. Your input is appreciated.

I am an avid racquetball player up north here, so I am hoping to transition to pickleball. I am thinking Pickleball 101 and 102 to start. If there is any Bonita guys that care to instruct me when I get there, that would be wonderful as well. I really want to learn this game.

How about bug maintenance? Is this a do it yourself option with commercial over the counter spary bug killer or is it best to hire it out or a combination of both?

How about snow removal...of yea, don't need that one anymore!!

Thanks again to all the folks on the forum, Cindy and I look forward to meeting all our neighbors near Goliath Place, and that's funny to since we are both only 5'4"...lol.

So on May 28th and a few days after when you see that very pretty gal with the shiny black hair, yes it's real, no chemicals, just yell to her "Hi Cindy" and make her feel welcome. She is about to bust at the seams waiting to get down there. She's been my bride for 42 years and Bonita will be our get a way paradise. I hope to meet you all real soon..

Tom & Cindy
Logansport, IN and now Bonita

Hi Tom & Cindy

:welcome: I am so excited for you! I can tell from your post how thrilled you are and should be!

One thing that was new to me is that the lawn services does the weeding, plant maintenance and pest control (indoor and out)-- but does not cut the grass. You will need someone to cut the grass since you will not be there full time. (I made the mistake when we first bought of thinking our lawn service did this. Go figure.) Ask your neighbors for recommendations as there is probably someone who is regularly in the neighborhood to cut the grass.

We also are not full time residents and have a house watcher, Dee Parsons (Redwitch) who is terrific. We are very happy with our used Yamaha gas cart. Dee takes it out once a month for a drive if we are not going to be there for a month, which is recommended. While having a golf cart is not a nessity, it sure is a pleasure to have in TV.

Y'all sound like wonderful people and I can't wait to meet you one of these days.

All the very best to you!

Pturner

[Pturner]

Congratulations Tom and Cindy. We bought in Hemingway and signed papers on our 38th anniversary June 12, 2009. We hopefully can sell our house by the end of April so we too can move down from the frigid north. Best wishes to you and just enjoy!

Hello NormaJean,
While I don't know you at all,
You had the grace to buy in TV
and hope to be here by the fall...
:sing:

Apologies to Elton. Welcome and all the best to you.