Qualty vs price of house

[JoeBoroden]

Hello, Joe here from Shreveport, LA. My wife and I are exploring retirement locations in about 3 years. We have 8 kids between us and also 10 siblings. Thinking of central Florida so they will be enticed to visit us instead of mostly us traveling all over the country.

We are going to do a Lifestyle visit for the first time in May for 4 days. We are very interested in all the positives we have been reading about.

Our only concern so far is that the price per square foot and quality of homes via pictures are more expensive and lower quality than we are used to.

We have a $350k home near Bossier City, LA with 2700 sq fr, a huge kitchen with granite, 3 bedrooms, a large bonus room, 3.5 baths with granite in every one, a kitchen in backyard with granite, crown moldings everywhere. Seems like a similar home would be like $600-800K in The Villages.

For those already there, can you comment on quality and price of homes?

Thanks! Joe

[Toymeister]

Soon this thread will be filled with pro villages posters who only report the best of The Villages or those who compare TV to high prices in New Jersey or similar.

I agree on a per square foot price basis the prices are high, probably 35% premium for this market. This is the price of admission to this community. For those of us here it is worth it.

[jane032657]

This is what I would do to understand the difference in what you get. Go to Realtor.Com Put into the filters what you are looking for such as square footage, price range, pool or no pool, etc. Then compare what you get in The Villages vs Lady Lake which is just out the boundaries of The Villages. You will be astounded at the differences in what you get for a house. But of course you do not get the amenities of The Villages, you are paying for what The Villages has.

[dewilson58]

$150 to $225/sf.


I would say, 20% premium compared to other golf communities with 1/10th the amenities.


There are a couple other communities within an hour.......a quick discovery day-trip.



Come experience and you decide.


I watched The Villages for 15 years prior to purchasing (was still working), moved here six years ago (sub-55) and love it.


The premium was worth it.


:coolsmiley:

[JoeBoroden]

Thanks for the responses. Just gathering input. I understand it is supply and demand. All the amenities, activities, etc look great, that is why we are looking there. I agree with the comment others only have 10% of the amenities. It seems the premium is built into the price of homes, and the bond payment and the amenity fee, which is a bargain. The higher home prices and bond are substantial. Once understood it becomes a choice.

I can understand why the developer is a billionaire!

[thelegges]

Thanks for the responses. Just gathering input. I understand it is supply and demand. All the amenities, activities, etc look great, that is why we are looking there. I agree with the comment others only have 10% of the amenities. It seems the premium is built into the price of homes, and the bond payment and the amenity fee, which is a bargain.

We visited in 07, at the free for all buying stage, houses selling the minute they were done. Came again in 09, and bought first house in 2010, then in 12, again in 14.
Bigger garage, even bigger garage, that’s your basement. We sold house #1 in 3 days with only a email to say it was for sale, with a gain.
Even if you buy here and don’t love it, it’s easier to sell here than anywhere else we have lived.

[villagetinker]

The other thing to consider is NEW versus resale, you may get more bang for the buck on a resale as it may very well have significant upgrades. Occasionally you will find deals where you can buy a lot and build, we did this. The advantage is you get everything you want upfront, the only major upgrade we had to do was the addition of a birdcage, we were not sure what we wanted when we built.
You pay major premiums for a water or golf course view. We chose neither, but got great privacy (by accident). Look a Google Earth, and you will see the typical layout, with "kissing lanais". these work well if you and your neighbor get along, they do not work well if you do not. Corner lots, larger lots, etc., also get premiums.
IMHO, list what is important to you, and take a look a Zillow and other sites to see what might be available, keep checking, houses become availalbe all the time, there are 2 right near me, one for $519k and one for $720k, bot have pools and improvements.
While I have NO direct experience, there appears to be some differences in the Fenney area, versus the area North of 466A, and i have no opinion if this si good or bad. There is an active quarry and a federal prison south of 44, so ask questions when you are looking.
The villages has (and is currently) growing so much that 6 years ago when we built, we were is the southern end of the villages, we are now almost in the CENTER of the villages.
Search Lyle Grant on this site, he is a realtor has has a website with a lot of info, we did not use him, as we bought new through the villages.
NOTE: new homes can only be purchased directly from the villages through their agents, resales area available from both the villages and MLS, but as far as I know NOT listed by BOTH, so if you are looking for a resale, you need to check both sources.
Hope this helps.
Send me a PM with your contact info if yopu would like to discuss further.

[Tom C]

I am still watching...looking ... and doing a lot of comparisons. Just had a major life change moment this past week (my mother passed away at the age of 97).... making the move time frame more variable (sooner?).

Meeting with my financial planner next week to go thru about 4 hours of "What If's" and updating our (me and my beautiful bride of 25 years) future planning.

For a well outfitted home (2.5+ garage, ~2500 SF, Pool, Privacy/view), looking at the range of $240-260 /SF. That would include any bond remaining - ALWAYS ASK about that.

[Nucky]

I am still watching...looking ... and doing a lot of comparisons. Just had a major life change moment this past week (my mother passed away at the age of 97).... making the move time frame more variable (sooner?).

Meeting with my financial planner next week to go thru about 4 hours of "What If's" and updating our (me and my beautiful bride of 25 years) future planning.

For a well outfitted home (2.5+ garage, ~2500 SF, Pool, Privacy/view), looking at the range of $240-260 /SF. That would include any bond remaining - ALWAYS ASK about that.

Sorry for the loss of your Mom. We wish you Peace. :pray:

[JoeBoroden]

The other thing to consider is NEW versus resale, you may get more bang for the buck on a resale as it may very well have significant upgrades. Occasionally you will find deals where you can buy a lot and build, we did this. The advantage is you get everything you want upfront, the only major upgrade we had to do was the addition of a birdcage, we were not sure what we wanted when we built.
You pay major premiums for a water or golf course view. We chose neither, but got great privacy (by accident). Look a Google Earth, and you will see the typical layout, with "kissing lanais". these work well if you and your neighbor get along, they do not work well if you do not. Corner lots, larger lots, etc., also get premiums.
IMHO, list what is important to you, and take a look a Zillow and other sites to see what might be available, keep checking, houses become availalbe all the time, there are 2 right near me, one for $519k and one for $720k, bot have pools and improvements.
While I have NO direct experience, there appears to be some differences in the Fenney area, versus the area North of 466A, and i have no opinion if this si good or bad. There is an active quarry and a federal prison south of 44, so ask questions when you are looking.
The villages has (and is currently) growing so much that 6 years ago when we built, we were is the southern end of the villages, we are now almost in the CENTER of the villages.
Search Lyle Grant on this site, he is a realtor has has a website with a lot of info, we did not use him, as we bought new through the villages.
NOTE: new homes can only be purchased directly from the villages through their agents, resales area available from both the villages and MLS, but as far as I know NOT listed by BOTH, so if you are looking for a resale, you need to check both sources.
Hope this helps.
Send me a PM with your contact info if yopu would like to discuss further.

Thanks for the info!

The internet is a great source nowadays. I can sit in my recliner with my iPad and research anything! LOL.

I agree about resale. I have seen several with significant upgrades at better pricing than new. We need to experience the Lifestyle now and we will in May. Have about 3 years to go so no rush, but I like to plan ahead.

Not sure I can convince wifey to go there when for same price I can get a much nicer home with a screened in pool within an hour of Orlando. From the internet, the Lifestyle and amenities look great, plus everyone I have asked that has visitied someone there or knows someone says they love it.

PS - I lived in Allentown, PA in the early 80’s when I worked for the chemicals division of Air Products.

[Garywt]

So much does depend on where you are coming from. My house up north is a 4 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1800 sq feet and is worth $500,000. Just bought a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1450 sq feet Villa for 215,000. For us it was a great price and exactly what we wanted. Block construction and all looks good. Just sent a list of items for them to take care of but nothing major.

[thetruth]

Hello, Joe here from Shreveport, LA. My wife and I are exploring retirement locations in about 3 years. We have 8 kids between us and also 10 siblings. Thinking of central Florida so they will be enticed to visit us instead of mostly us traveling all over the country.

We are going to do a Lifestyle visit for the first time in May for 4 days. We are very interested in all the positives we have been reading about.

Our only concern so far is that the price per square foot and quality of homes via pictures are more expensive and lower quality than we are used to.

We have a $350k home near Bossier City, LA with 2700 sq fr, a huge kitchen with granite, 3 bedrooms, a large bonus room, 3.5 baths with granite in every one, a kitchen in backyard with granite, crown moldings everywhere. Seems like a similar home would be like $600-800K in The Villages.

For those already there, can you comment on quality and price of homes?

Thanks! Joe

We cannot possibly answer your question. You state you are retiring in three years. The world is your oyster. You need to make a choice. Actually assuming you can stay in your home in Bossier City

The lifestyle visit is a great idea-we did it three times before buying. Retiring, is a major step. You mention your wife. Might be productive for each of you to write down what you want.
I would, we did, write it down. That way neither of you are leading the other. Might be a surprise for both of you.

Price per square foot? There is what it costs in the area. If, you are not aware you would be shocked to compare cost per square foot in Bossier City, the Villages or most places to NYC or LA.

It is what it is. You have to decide is it worth it to you and what your budget is. Moving-you likely will not see old friends, favorite, restaurants, favorite fishing spots etc etc etc.

[JoeBoroden]

Gary, you are absolutely right. I was born and raised on Long Island where prices and taxes are high. My career in the chemical industry took me all over mostly the Gulf Coast where house prices and taxes were much lower.

So for you it is a bargain! For me, I cant get nearly the same house I am in without paying 30-40% more. We will downsize some.

[JoeBoroden]

Thanks TT!

There is no right or perfect answer. I was looking for dialogue and input. You make good points.

What I am finding out by everyone’s answers is that I am on the right track with the exploring process.

[graciegirl]

Thanks for the responses. Just gathering input. I understand it is supply and demand. All the amenities, activities, etc look great, that is why we are looking there. I agree with the comment others only have 10% of the amenities. It seems the premium is built into the price of homes, and the bond payment and the amenity fee, which is a bargain. The higher home prices and bond are substantial. Once understood it becomes a choice.

I can understand why the developer is a billionaire!

Not yet Joe. You haven't been here yet. Prepare to be absolutely impressed.

[rjm1cc]

Remember there could be a bond that you have to pay off that goes with the house in some parts of the village.
I think you will find a big attraction of the Villages is the Villages and that is what you pay for.

[npwalters]

Already been covered in some detail but I add mine. My home in FL cost at least 75% more than same home here in Fayetteville, TN. The Villages sales pitch says it all; you are buying the lifestyle.

[tophcfa]

Price is concrete, quality is in the eyes of the home buyer. For some it is living space, for others it is privacy, for others it is the lifestyle surrounding the home, etc..... Quality is so subjective.

[B-flat]

Hello, Joe here from Shreveport, LA. My wife and I are exploring retirement locations in about 3 years. We have 8 kids between us and also 10 siblings. Thinking of central Florida so they will be enticed to visit us instead of mostly us traveling all over the country.

We are going to do a Lifestyle visit for the first time in May for 4 days. We are very interested in all the positives we have been reading about.

Our only concern so far is that the price per square foot and quality of homes via pictures are more expensive and lower quality than we are used to.

We have a $350k home near Bossier City, LA with 2700 sq fr, a huge kitchen with granite, 3 bedrooms, a large bonus room, 3.5 baths with granite in every one, a kitchen in backyard with granite, crown moldings everywhere. Seems like a similar home would be like $600-800K in The Villages.

For those already there, can you comment on quality and price of homes?

Thanks! Joe

Joe, Someone posted that there are other 55 Plus communities within a short drive On Top of the World is one worth checking out. We were there today visiting a friend. They are building some beautiful homes and you get more bang for your buck there. The gotcha is the lifestyle here is much better. We looked at some places in ON Top of The World and thought WOW, sure more house for the dollar but the activities just don’t match what’s here in TV.

By the way have you ever had dinner at Ernest’s ? Good friend of mine Don Mason is an entertainer there.

[HIgolfers]

JoeBoroden- you are not from Merrick are you?

[B-flat]

JoeBoroden- you are not from Merrick are you?


No I’m from Rhode Island but Mason and I are a group of musicians who originally became friends via a musicians forum.

[thetruth]

I recall a option to buy an island. I read about an island in North Carolina. The island was, if I recall ten acres, came with a herd of wild horses and a nice home.

Price was only a million. Waterfront view on all sides. We didn't even look. Hum, if you own the island do you pay taxes? Can you declare yourself king?

With the last hurricane, is it underwater? Is it now available at a sale price?

No shortage of choices.

I would never move to Florida yet, we are here and we are happy.

[JoeBoroden]

JoeBoroden- you are not from Merrick are you?
Yes, and you? Myself and my 3 brothers and 4 sisters.

[collie1228]

I own a twenty year old courtyard villa near Spanish Springs and always thought the quality of construction was acceptable. I recently decided to replace the builder grade fiberglass shower stall in the bathroom off the master bedroom with a new tile shower. What I found are serious problems with framing behind the shower, as well as drain location and quality problems. Not only was the framing not 16 inches on center, there was no framing at all on two walls. Apparently the fiberglass tabs were all that were holding two sides of the shower up. And the drains are improperly placed, plus not plumb (I'd say the main drain is 10 degrees off plumb). So I suggest you look carefully that the new construction. I love The Villages, but am highly disappointed in what I've found behind the walls.

[wfp113]

My house in the Villages was built 16 years ago and at that time I would rate quality average, price slightly above average. As of now because of the lifestyle the Villages has to offer the price of a house is much higher than any other retirement community within 10-15 miles or so.
wfp113.

[photo1902]

I own a twenty year old courtyard villa near Spanish Springs and always thought the quality of construction was acceptable. I recently decided to replace the builder grade fiberglass shower stall in the bathroom off the master bedroom with a new tile shower. What I found are serious problems with framing behind the shower, as well as drain location and quality problems. Not only was the framing not 16 inches on center, there was no framing at all on two walls. Apparently the fiberglass tabs were all that were holding two sides of the shower up. And the drains are improperly placed, plus not plumb (I'd say the main drain is 10 degrees off plumb). So I suggest you look carefully that the new construction. I love The Villages, but am highly disappointed in what I've found behind the walls.

So for 20 years you've had absolutely no problem with your shower, yet you found "serious problems with framing" and the drain location?

[B-flat]

So for 20 years you've had absolutely no problem with your shower, yet you found "serious problems with framing" and the drain location?

Interesting.

[sapickem]

My husband and I just moved to the Villages six months ago. We had a new home built east of Rt.441. It is on the original side of the villages. There is no bond on that side. We looked at used site built homes and decided we could build a brand new home for less money than buying used. We went new so we would not have to worry about replacing anything for hopefully quite a few years. As far as price per sq. foot I think it depends on where you are living. I'm from NH and I actually paid less here for more square footage, and the property taxes are a lot lower and they don't have snow LOL!! We are so happy we moved here. We love it!!!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

All the amenities, activities, etc look great, that is why we are looking there. I agree with the comment others only have 10% of the amenities. It seems the premium is built into the price of homes, and the bond payment and the amenity fee, which is a bargain.

And that's why the home prices are higher. You're not just buying a house, you're buying a lifestyle.

[eweissenbach]

As so many have stated the "lifestyle" is built into the price of the homes. But what is the "lifestyle"? That means different things to different people - to some it is going to the squares to enjoy live entertainment regularly - to others it is joining one or many groups or clubs, of which there are an endless supply - to others it is a huge variety of reasonable dining option or shopping. The big draw for me, and thousands of others, is golf. You have not indicated whether golf is important to you, so I don't know if you care, but this is pretty much the Vallhalla of golf. You can play every day here, far more reasonably, and with greater variety, than anywhere else I am aware of. Can you buy a cheaper home elsewhere? Yes, without a doubt, but not with these opportunities. Also, the beauty of the community is absolutely unrivaled in any other city anywhere. When you drive inside the confines of TV you will be constantly amazed by the landscaping, buildings and homes and all the infrastructure. What I fing rather amazing is that not only has the developer built and maintained an amazingly gorgeous environment, but somehow they have managed to attract residents who consistently outdo each other in beautifying their personal landscaping. The result is driving through a stunningly breathtaking community that is hard to explain to someone who has never seen it. I know people who have opted for other retirement communities after spending time in the Villages, and even owning a home here, and are happy with the decision. Their general reasoning is they didn't really take part in many activities, and weren't "into the lifestyle". One even has said there was too much traffic, which I find hilarious. So if golf and/or an active lifestyle in a gorgeous environment with mostly happy and content seniors is enticing - this might just be the place for you - it works for me.

[HIgolfers]

JoeBoroden- are you Carolyn's brother? I went to Cure of Ars with her. Moved to TV in May 2017. Love it here.

[JoeBoroden]

Again, thanks to everyone for your incites. I am a newbie checking out The Villages. In fact it took me awhile to figure out why everyone was talking about their TV’s! LOL

For the most part, I think we need to be more in the $400K region to get what we are used to and decide if we can pay that much or go more in the $250 to 300k range. Or move elsewhere. My wife is not as interested in the lifestyle but she hasnt tried it yet. I think I would enjoy it and I think she will too once she tries it. Either that or buy a house outside TV with a nice pool in the backyard.

Thanks for your input that you probably all have answered 1000 times from newbies like me.

[JoeBoroden]

JoeBoroden- are you Carolyn's brother? I went to Cure of Ars with her. Moved to TV in May 2017. Love it here.

Ahh yes, Cure of Ars! I am the oldest and one year older than Carolyn. Then there is John, Paul, Dorothy, Mary, Michael, Teresa.

You can check Carolyn’s website www.fibinacciqueen.com or something close to that. She is on Jim Cramer’s show on MSNBC regularly as a stock charting technician. She wrote a book, does seminars, has an online advisory service, etc. I simply run an oil refinery. LOL

[Fredman]

I am still watching...looking ... and doing a lot of comparisons. Just had a major life change moment this past week (my mother passed away at the age of 97).... making the move time frame more variable (sooner?).

Meeting with my financial planner next week to go thru about 4 hours of "What If's" and updating our (me and my beautiful bride of 25 years) future planning.

For a well outfitted home (2.5+ garage, ~2500 SF, Pool, Privacy/view), looking at the range of $240-260 /SF. That would include any bond remaining - ALWAYS ASK about that.


Good luck

[valuemkt]

It's a difficult thing to get used to. If you;re looking for something larger than 2100 sq ft, or more than a 3/2, the pickings are slim until you get in the premier category.. and that will cost you substantially more than the 400's. You may get lucky and find a "stretched" designer that has bigger rooms or a bigger lanai, but most homes in the 400s and early 500s will be designers with a "premium" lot. Frankly, with the exception of some "gingerbread", I haven't found the finishings of premier homes to be that much better than late model designers. You will probably have a much nicer lanai area, possibly a pool/ spa there (if you consider that a plus), and some crown molding. We would prefer something in the 2800-3500 sf size, but the price / sf in that platform is significantly more than the already pricey designers. And, if you;re truly looking for a gourmet kitchen with high end appliances .. best of luck. And remember, gas is limited to non existent in most of the Villages. These arent complaints, just facts. If it weren;t for the amenities, we would not have made the purchase. It's a pretty binary decision. We sampled the Villages and like the lifestyles and amenities. The home prices are at least $ 50-60 /ft more than Atlanta and many Southeast cities.. but cheaper than many in Northeast. The amenity costs are a bargain, whether you golf or not. My pool cost alone in Atlanta is more than twice the amenity fee. So you make the tradeoffs and decided whether its worthwhile.

[queasy27]

In all honesty, the majority of people who chose to live here downsized in order to do so, most of them happy to divest. If having a spacious, well appointed house is an important consideration, you will need to pay a premium price.

[charmed59]

If you go to Realtor.com and put in filters there are lots of homes for sale under $400K over 2100 square feet. Most stretched designers fall into that category. There are most likely even more choices if you look at homes sold by the villages, but I don’t know how to search by size there.

I admit you usually can’t find a premier in that price ranges, but then again the smallest unstretched premiers are around 2600 sq ft. The larger ones are 3800 sq ft before they start stretching and customizing them. I’ve been in a few well over 4000, but those are very pricey.

[Dond1959]

We moved in a little under 2 months ago in DeSoto. We looked at numerous retirement places all over the state and kept coming back to The Villages. There is truly nothing like it in the places we explored. We decided to build because we fell in love with the lot which has a great view from the front. Otherwise we probably would have waited and bought a spec home when the prices reduced or a preowned. 4 days will not be enough to get a true feel for the place and you may come back several times over the next few years. Come back at different times of the year to get a feel for the community. One thing that always amazed us is how much the place grew in the time we were gone. Good luck on your journey.

[Velvet]

“You are not buying a house, you are buying a Lifestyle.”

[birdiebill]

Before we decided to move to The Villages from up north, we rented for an entire month in The Villages in the month of May. We picked May because rentals were much less than in the winter months and were much easier to find; we also knew if the heat of May was too much, summer would be worse. We had lived in Georgia and Alabama during military assignments, so we had experienced southern summers. We rented for a month rather than do the "Lifestyle Visit" because we wanted time to explore, time to go to open houses and observe various floorpans, time to acquire all the information we needed to make a well informed decision, time to learn about the requirements of the financial aspects of buying such as time to closing, amount of down payment, mortgages, etc. We wanted to learn everything positive and anything that might be a negative deal breaker. We planned to downsize from our northern home, but still wanted the square footage of a designer (1900 to 2000 sq ft) with two bedrooms and a den or three bedrooms, two baths, a golf cart garage, a Roman shower, an extended lanai, and a slightly extended garage. Our planned budget did not allow a premium lot nor did we want one.

We are very satisfied with our choice of location, lot size, home design, and the multitude of activities we "could" choose to participate in. We do not run ourselves ragged with activities and actually have more time to ourselves than time obligated to "doing something". I now need to go get ready to go to a concert. Good luck on experiencing The Villages and hope you gather the right information to make a decision that will make you both happy.

[Tom C]

I am still looking... but I feel I must chime in here again: “quality” is a very subjective term. I won’t go into all the ins and outs of that, but I think we can agree that what some think is quality, others may not agree. I think what we are really talking about in that respect is finishes that one may expect to have (counter top materials, appliance appearance, flooring type, updated fixtures, etc.) in the home we intend to buy. This looking (like us) should put a value on these. That value should be based on the cost to install our “quality” ( i.e. the cost to install the counter top materials we want should the home not have it, the cost to install the flooring we want if the house does not have it, etc.).

The things that one can not change include: the location, a panaramic view, house orientation, etc.. These things are not changeable and should be show stoppers if they dont meet our (the buyer) needs /desires.

I know this is all very logical and a home purchase should be logical and not emotional, however I bet that far more than 50% of home purchases are emotional.... use my guess.

Ok, I am done... please feel free to comment on my opinion... that is why this forum is here.

Cheers, Tom

[Velvet]

...

[eyc234]

Came from TX 9 yrs ago and could not believe what we paid for less house not on 10 acres. Also lived in our area for 2 years after retirement. You find out very quick that there are not many people around during the daytime to do a whole lot with. We new from others that had moved to FL, CO and other places that we lived in a housing fairytale land. All that said we would not trade a day we have been here for anything else. Houses to us are not an investment any longer but a place to stay and live our life. Find out what you want to do in retirement and work it from there.

[Topspinmo]

So for 20 years you've had absolutely no problem with your shower, yet you found "serious problems with framing" and the drain location?

So, some have no clue how things are constructed IAW standards. Just cause he didn’t have problem don’t mean there wasn’t one.

[manaboutown]

The houses in TV are mostly basic tract homes. TV's houses are not Palm Beach or even toll Brothers quality. To me choosing to buy in TV is analogous to a family buying a house located in a quality school district versus one in an area having low quality schools. People with school age children will pay more for a basic house in an excellent school district than they will for an expensively constructed house in a district having low quality schools. Similarly, seniors are willing to pay more, even far more, for a house in TV than the same house would cost in an area lacking the amenities and lifestyle TV has to offer for seniors.

So much in real estate boils down to the desirability of a particular location. The Villages is a highly desirable community for active seniors for many, many reasons which is why it continues to grow so rapidly.

[graciegirl]

Both homes we have had here were well built, one a designer, and one a premier, and both had excellent follow up from warranty. We are not novice home owners or home builders. Only one out of the 12 we lived in we did not see built.

You hear very, very, few complaints from people who live in The Villages about their homes.

[CFrance]

I am still looking... but I feel I must chime in here again: “quality” is a very subjective term. I won’t go into all the ins and outs of that, but I think we can agree that what some think is quality, others may not agree. I think what we are really talking about in that respect is finishes that one may expect to have (counter top materials, appliance appearance, flooring type, updated fixtures, etc.) in the home we intend to buy. This looking (like us) should put a value on these. That value should be based on the cost to install our “quality” ( i.e. the cost to install the counter top materials we want should the home not have it, the cost to install the flooring we want if the house does not have it, etc.).

The things that one can not change include: the location, a panaramic view, house orientation, etc.. These things are not changeable and should be show stoppers if they dont meet our (the buyer) needs /desires.

I know this is all very logical and a home purchase should be logical and not emotional, however I bet that far more than 50% of home purchases are emotional.... use my guess.

Ok, I am done... please feel free to comment on my opinion... that is why this forum is here.

Cheers, Tom
I think you make very good points. I also think it depends on the personality of the home buyer. Ours (well, mine, to be exact) have always come down to emotional attachment. We have built, bought old and renovated, bought used, and designed total interiors from a blank three-story space with four walls. In the end, it all came down to Did it catch our eye when we walked in.


Neither one of us is an engineer nor a mathematician. We never made a spreadsheet. One of us is more practical than the other (guess which one). But we both either loved a place on sight or didn't, and that was the deciding factor.


Our two best purchases (current one here, one to be renovated in the '80s) had nothing in common. We knew the area we wanted, and they just spoke to us. One needed a ton of work; the other needed almost nothing.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We based our purchase on practicality. Our criteria:
1. We had to be able to pay in full, no mortgage. So affordability, and our budget was limited.
2. Older area, fewer restrictions. We are happy having SOME restrictions, but I can't stand nitpicky restrictions. I will absolutely maintain my lawn, regardless of my opinion of lawns in general. Not gonna measure the size of my ceramic flower pot, to make sure it complies, or ensure that it's the "right" color. That just ain't gonna happen. So - older area is perfect.
3. No single-wide. We needed room to breathe because our budget is limited. We need to be able to enjoy spending a lot of time IN the house, because we can't afford to do all that much outside of it.
4. A covered or enclosed lanai.
5. Secure storage for the golf cart, regardless of whether or not the house came with a normal car garage, or just a car port. So - either a normal garage, or a golf cart garage plus a covered car port. Both is optimal but either is acceptable.
6. Must be in move-in condition. "Needs repairs" or "as is" not an option, because budget.

Our needs were few, honestly. We wanted a lot more than this, but the above was the minimum. We got the minimum, plus a little more. Nice sized manufactured home with great neighbors, extra wide driveway with covered carport and golf cart garage in addition to the laundry shed, quiet street, landscaping not so extravagant that it'd cost a fortune to maintain. Home was kept in great shape by previous owners, and unlike the last place we'd looked at, the sink for the master bathroom was actually IN the bathroom, and not running along the wall of the bedroom (That was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen in my life, heh).

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Hi Joe! I lived both in Bossier City and Shreveport for a number of years, also. The quality of construction here is only basic and average. Compared to what you are used to there is not a good comparison for here but I am sure you will be comfortable.

If it is the clubs and other amenities that are attracting you, then here is where you probably want to be. You definitely get more bang for your buck, however, within one mile or so outside of The Villages and you should investigate what is offered in the other communities close by.

A word of caution for visiting family and friends. For them to use some of the amenities is a pain in the butt. You must register these people if you want them to be able to participate in some of the things which are offered. Yes -- you read correctly; they need to be registered. When you are here you might stop by one of the clubhouses and ask them about this.

There's a lot to take in when you get here. Do your homework and you will be enlightened. Ask questions (there are no dumb questions) and continue to ask things on this forum, too. The responses will give you food for thought!

Good luck and have fun when you come. Oh -- and one of the plusses is that you are less than an hour from Orlando!

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Price is concrete, quality is in the eyes of the home buyer. For some it is living space, for others it is privacy, for others it is the lifestyle surrounding the home, etc..... Quality is so subjective.

I very much disagree . . . Quality is NOT subjective. If the R factor in a roof is R-11 compared to R-19, there is nothing subjective as to which one is built by the quality builder.

If your air conditioning unit has a SEER rating of 11 which is only a fair rating, a rating of R-16 is far superior and will save you a lot of money on your electric bill for many years.

I would say that quality is based upon facts, not what you think.

[Barefoot]

I agree on a per square foot price basis the prices are high, probably 35% premium for this market. This is the price of admission to this community. For those of us here it is worth it.:agree:

[Spikearoni]

My husband and I just moved to the Villages six months ago. We had a new home built east of Rt.441. It is on the original side of the villages. There is no bond on that side. We looked at used site built homes and decided we could build a brand new home for less money than buying used. We went new so we would not have to worry about replacing anything for hopefully quite a few years. As far as price per sq. foot I think it depends on where you are living. I'm from NH and I actually paid less here for more square footage, and the property taxes are a lot lower and they don't have snow LOL!! We are so happy we moved here. We love it!!!
That's interesting because we are from NH too and have found that the square footage cost is far higher here than in Manchester, NH.

[big guy]

It's not about the "brick and mortar". It's about the lifestyle. We could have had a nicer home in Ohio but we would have been all alone and lonely.

[graciegirl]

When you get here, the place speaks for itself. We have never looked back.

Allow me to be the first to Welcome you home. You and your wife will love it.

[carpej]

By the way the airport in Orlando is on the south side (far side from the Villages), but it takes us about an hour to get there (even at rush hour). Therefore you can get to Orlando Venues in an hour or less, most of the time.

[justjim]

Location, location, location. Many of us from the north wanted a warmer climate where we could enjoy outside activities year around. When we retire most of us want to do some traveling, we wanted to stay active for health reasons, and most of us have a “bucket list” of things we put off in our “ other life” because we were working and saving for our retirement. Retirement is a huge change in lifestyle. Most of us don’t mow and trim anymore (for $50 a month why) and we have no need for an acre or half acre lot. You will meet many interesting persons from all walks of life who have made The Villages their place to call home. Technology has made the transition easier. For example, keeping up with family you leave behind is much easier with FaceTime and social media. Most of us are only a two or three hour plane ride for any need for those quick visits to our families. The Villages is close to all the “attractions” that appeals to our children and grandchildren. And I can guarantee your children and grandchildren will enjoy The Villages. Finally, we have bought and sold several homes during our lifetime and we found the homes here to be as good as any custom built homes we had built and the guarantees and follow up much better.

[sjsco]

We live in CO, in the last 7 years our property value has doubled. We are currently down here spending time, and trying to make up our minds on what, where, and if this is the lifestyle we really want. Homes are going up in value with demand, location, and availability. The home we left in IN 7 years ago is about the same value as what we sold it for. Just different in all locations. I would move here in a heartbeat, and hope to!

[CFrance]

I agree that these are medium-quality homes (we have home building and buying experience--10 homes, three built, two renovated). I also agree that the lifestyle is very important, these homes appreciate in value, and they seem to be sturdy. I'm very happy with activities on offer here and the housing choices we have. If we wanted a better-quality house with the same lifestyle, we would probably pay a lot more somewhere else.

[Barefoot]

I'm very happy with activities on offer here and the housing choices we have.
If we wanted a better-quality house with the same lifestyle, we would probably pay a lot more somewhere else.We are also very happy with the activities on offer and the housing choices we have in The Villages.
And you're right, you would probably pay a lot more somewhere else for this lifestyle.
IMHO, it's a top-notch community. :ho:

[BobnBev]

In the lifestyle visit, the Villages sales agent will push you towards the "new" areas, Fenney, McClure, etc. Be firm and tell him/her that you want to see pre-owned in the 3 distinct areas, Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter and Brownwood. We much prefer Lake Sumter Landing, but to each his own.:ho:

[mschrief]

I would like to purchase near one of the town squares. Can you tell me which you prefer and why you prefer it. Husband and I like to be near stores. We are not golfers so being near a course is not important.

Thanks

[eweissenbach]

I would like to purchase near one of the town squares. Can you tell me which you prefer and why you prefer it. Husband and I like to be near stores. We are not golfers so being near a course is not important.

Thanks

Our favorite is Sumter Landing although we often go to Spanish Springs and Brownwood. Sumter has the stores and restaurants we like and the square is the best in our opinion. If you want walkability to Sumter there is Creekside Landing and Village of Bridgeport, Edgewater are right there. Caroline, Virginia Trace, Sable Chase, Mallory are very close. Good luck

[ColdNoMore]

Our favorite is Sumter Landing although we often go to Spanish Springs and Brownwood. Sumter has the stores and restaurants we like and the square is the best in our opinion. If you want walkability to Sumter there is Creekside Landing and Village of Bridgeport, Edgewater are right there. Caroline, Virginia Trace, Sable Chase, Mallory are very close. Good luck

I will second that. :thumbup:

While we don't visit Brownwood much, Spanish Springs Square is fairly close from Lake Sumpter Landing area Villages.

Other Villages to think about in the LSL area, are Tall Trees, Winifred and a few others.

These Villages, plus the ones eweissenbach mentioned, are also convenient to Southern Trace shopping center that has a nice Publix, as well as restaurants, an ACE hardware and a CVS plus a Walgreens close by. In addition, a number of banks are in this area too.

And then there's Wallyworld, which is just a little further down the road from Southern Trace.

The best thing to do, if possible, is to rent for at least a couple of weeks (if not longer) and cruise around...to see what you think will fit your needs best.

Good luck. :ho:

[CFrance]

I would like to purchase near one of the town squares. Can you tell me which you prefer and why you prefer it. Husband and I like to be near stores. We are not golfers so being near a course is not important.

Thanks
If you like to shop for clothing, Spanish Springs has Chicos, Talbots, and Soft Surroundings. I've gone to Talbots so much since it opened they gave me a change-of-address card.

[rjm1cc]

Hello, Joe here from Shreveport, LA. My wife and I are exploring retirement locations in about 3 years. We have 8 kids between us and also 10 siblings. Thinking of central Florida so they will be enticed to visit us instead of mostly us traveling all over the country.

We are going to do a Lifestyle visit for the first time in May for 4 days. We are very interested in all the positives we have been reading about.

Our only concern so far is that the price per square foot and quality of homes via pictures are more expensive and lower quality than we are used to.

We have a $350k home near Bossier City, LA with 2700 sq fr, a huge kitchen with granite, 3 bedrooms, a large bonus room, 3.5 baths with granite in every one, a kitchen in backyard with granite, crown moldings everywhere. Seems like a similar home would be like $600-800K in The Villages.

For those already there, can you comment on quality and price of homes?

Thanks! Joe
I think you will have to review the homes and make up your mind. The quality will change as sub contractors change. Remember some homes have bonds so add this into the cost of the home. I would try and rent for a few weeks or months in the area you think you want to buy in. I think you are correct in your observations.

[capecoralbill]

""I can understand why the developer is a billionaire!"" Not yet Joe. You haven't been here yet. Prepare to be absolutely impressed.

All I ever heard from the Village Sales Deptment was how the developer was so organized and would take care of major problems quickly. Example was when the tornado hit Mallory and supposedly his contractors were out the next day helping to clean up.
When the hurricane Irma hit a two years ago, it took forever to get things cleaned up. Damaged trees and related were left at mail facilities for weeks. There are now two homes that have sat for over a year due to damage apparently resulting from sinkholes that occurred due to improper storm drain lines (that are taking forever to repair). I realize these issues are the responsibility of the respective districts however we all know the developer could step in and get things resolved quickly.
It is clear to me, that the developer has abandoned the Northern areas of the Villages. Specificaly the condemned sinkhole homes in District 4, and the DRY LAKES in Districts 2 and 4. All this suggests to me the new/current generation of the developer family is nothing like the former. It is all about the next 1,000 acres to develop. I suppose there is no guarantee against SINKHOLES OR DRY LAKES in the newer Villages either!

[JoMar]

All I ever heard from the Village Sales Deptment was how the developer was so organized and would take care of major problems quickly. Example was when the tornado hit Mallory and supposedly his contractors were out the next day helping to clean up.
When the hurricane Irma hit a two years ago, it took forever to get things cleaned up. Damaged trees and related were left at mail facilities for weeks. There are now two homes that have sat for over a year due to damage apparently resulting from sinkholes that occurred due to improper storm drain lines (that are taking forever to repair). I realize these issues are the responsibility of the respective districts however we all know the developer could step in and get things resolved quickly.
It is clear to me, that the developer has abandoned the Northern areas of the Villages. Specificaly the condemned sinkhole homes in District 4, and the DRY LAKES in Districts 2 and 4. All this suggests to me the new/current generation of the developer family is nothing like the former. It is all about the next 1,000 acres to develop. I suppose there is no guarantee against SINKHOLES OR DRY LAKES in the newer Villages either!

Is it safe to assume that is what happens with the Developers that built where you live?

[graciegirl]

All I ever heard from the Village Sales Deptment was how the developer was so organized and would take care of major problems quickly. Example was when the tornado hit Mallory and supposedly his contractors were out the next day helping to clean up.
When the hurricane Irma hit a two years ago, it took forever to get things cleaned up. Damaged trees and related were left at mail facilities for weeks. There are now two homes that have sat for over a year due to damage apparently resulting from sinkholes that occurred due to improper storm drain lines (that are taking forever to repair). I realize these issues are the responsibility of the respective districts however we all know the developer could step in and get things resolved quickly.
It is clear to me, that the developer has abandoned the Northern areas of the Villages. Specificaly the condemned sinkhole homes in District 4, and the DRY LAKES in Districts 2 and 4. All this suggests to me the new/current generation of the developer family is nothing like the former. It is all about the next 1,000 acres to develop. I suppose there is no guarantee against SINKHOLES OR DRY LAKES in the newer Villages either!

Much of your post in my opinion is based on your assessment of what you think happened and what you think should happen. Sinkholes happen in this sinkhole area from here to the Gulf because of the layer of porous limestone beneath us.

I have read that both of the homeowners with the catastrophic sinkhole signed an agreement with a salvage company and tied up the ability for anyone to fix the drains. The developer is very wealthy but he is not our mother.

We each own our own property and should have it insured against unexpected bad happenings, just as we have always done in other areas we have lived. In Hurricane Irma, we like every other area of Florida hurt by the damage were waiting for Fema to help. I don't know why we would expect our builder to pay the expense when every other municipality was waiting for Fema's Federal compensation. How long did it take to get the debris out of here? Three weeks?

[Velvet]

Just to understand, if the drain under our property collapses, or other subterranean structures fail, is it our insurance company that is responsible for paying for it?

[capecoralbill]

One cannot purchase meaningful Sinkhole Insurance, I have tried, they have more loopholes in them than the Developers promises.

[Velvet]

So then when you buy a house do you need to have about $100,000 (the cost of just analyzing what happened underground) in your bank account to cover any future possible failures that your insurance might not cover?

[capecoralbill]

So then when you buy a house do you need to have about $100,000 (the cost of just analyzing what happened underground) in your bank account to cover any future possible failures that your insurance might not cover?

That isn't enough: Here's what i found online for one of the SINKHOLE HOUSES.

17092 SE 79th Mclawren Ter
The Villages, FL 32162

3 beds 2 baths 2,048 sqft
Zestimate®: $399,564

It was oringinally sold in 12-2003 from the Developer for $315,500

Then it was sold again in 10/2005 $435,000

And now it sold for only in 10-22-2019 $85,000

I guess they should have put aside $350,000

[MSGirl]

Joe, by now you should have made your lifestyle visit. What did you think? I come from Mississippi...very similar housing market as Shreveport. The cost of our home is more expensive , but you can’t beat the active lifestyle here! No regrets!