Building setbacks in new villages

[skyking]

We are interested in buying a new house in one of the Southern Oaks neighborhoods. We like the abundant trees, separate walking paths, etc. When we drove through the new neighborhoods it appeared that houses are at least 15 feet closer to the street and 5 feet or more closer together. It really detracts from the attractiveness of the homes.

Does anyone know if the required setbacks have been changed?

[Bogie Shooter]

Based on what you saw, what do you think?
I’ll take a WAG...they have changed.

[justjim]

We are interested in buying a new house in one of the Southern Oaks neighborhoods. We like the abundant trees, separate walking paths, etc. When we drove through the new neighborhoods it appeared that houses are at least 15 feet closer to the street and 5 feet or more closer together. It really detracts from the attractiveness of the homes.

Does anyone know if the required setbacks have been changed?

You are spot on from what I have observed of the so called Southern Oaks area of TV. Less land is better?

[MrExcite721]

Lot depth size was reduced from prior minimum of 100ft. to presently 90ft. Multiply that into the number of units in the Southern Oaks sections, and the conclusion becomes more homes sold per square mile, ie; developer increases profit margin, which they are certainly entitled to. I would also be willing to bet the roadway dimension has been reduced as well, just do not have the data to back it up.

The good news is I can cut my own lawn in 8 minutes !!!!

[Chatbrat]

Less grass to maintain, as long as people are buying them--no problem with resale--if it matters

[npwalters]

Like the OP I think it does detract from the overall attractiveness of the area and is immediately noticeable by those of us that live in older parts of TV. However, they are selling like hotcakes and I don't live there so my opinion is just that.

[Velvet]

How do you find out the lot size when you are looking at resales on the Villages web site?

[VApeople]

When we drove through the new neighborhoods it appeared that houses are at least 15 feet closer to the street and 5 feet or more closer together.

We have observed exactly the opposite. Many of the houses in the Southern Area are farther apart than they are in our area of Osceola Hills.

We love to walk through the new areas because, unlike the rest of TV, they have beautiful walking trails that do not allow golf carts.

We have taken long (by our standards) walks through Linden, Monarch Grove, and Marsh Bend and many of the lots look very good. If you do not like a small lot, then buy a large lot. That is what we did.

[retiredguy123]

How do you find out the lot size when you are looking at resales on the Villages web site?
Just go to the county property appraiser web site (Sumter, Lake, or Marion) and seach the address. You will find all kinds of information, including the lot size in square feet, improvements, taxes, and all prior sale dates and sale prices.

[Velvet]

Works perfectly! I just tried my own property. Thank you.

[graciegirl]

You are spot on from what I have observed of the so called Southern Oaks area of TV. Less land is better?

Here is what I think. Worth a nickel with change back.

As The Villages expands and negotiates for new land they may be finding it more expensive and they have a target amount probably that they think it is what people expect to pay. They work on margins like any other business so they can charge more and lose potential customers or make the lots smaller and try to keep the amount less.

My guess is as good as the next person.

[Serenoa]

Homes in Southern Oaks may be closer to the streets, but there definitely are fewer kissing lanais. Much, much more room in back between homes. I like it.

[vintageogauge]

Homes in Southern Oaks may be closer to the streets, but there definitely are fewer kissing lanais. Much, much more room in back between homes. I like it.

Correct, there is much more open or green space down here and a ton of man made ponds which give you the feeling of living in the country. In our case, ours and our neighbors golf cart garages are across from each other and that gives the appearance of being close when looking from the front but behind the golf car garages it is pretty wide, I would guess 30 feet between the walls and as far as the driveway I would also guess at least 30 feet, probably more as we have a 25 ft. motorhome and when I bring it in to load up there is still a lot of room in front and behind it. Also, I'm talking about Fenney which is not part of Southern Oaks and they may have different dimensions over there.

[VillageIdiots]

Not just Southern Oaks area, but I was told that, at some point, in the newer areas, many of the spec homes are expanded by the developer to make more maximum use of the lot space. My inference from that was that they did not used to do that, rather you'd only get expanded homes if you included that in a custom build or were able to add on after purchasing. It makes the homes appear closer together, well, because they are closer together as a result of maximizing the use of available space. My lot was a bit deeper than standard but my home was a spec home - but it was built with a 4 foot expansion forward in the garage and an expansion out the back in the lanai. I see others that were spec built but same basic floor plan as mine, but they were clearly expanded to the sides because the lot would accommodate it.

[Arubagirl33]

We are interested in buying a new house in one of the Southern Oaks neighborhoods. We like the abundant trees, separate walking paths, etc. When we drove through the new neighborhoods it appeared that houses are at least 15 feet closer to the street and 5 feet or more closer together. It really detracts from the attractiveness of the homes.

Does anyone know if the required setbacks have been changed?

We noticed the exact same thing in Marsh Bend. After the area was completed we didn’t care for it at all! The driveways are shorter and you definitely can’t appreciate the prettiness of the homes. They appear to be jumping right out at you!! The streets are narrower, too. Glad we saved that $250,000 on the Marsh Bend lot 🤪 All of the new areas/villages will supposedly follow the same
pattern.

[coffeebean]

These smaller set backs and shorter driveways remind me of the patio villa neighborhood we owned when we were seasonal residents. We sold the villa and purchased a designer home in Mallory. The designer home neighborhood has a completely different feel because of the speciousness of the front yards and longer driveways.

[skyking]

I drove down and measured the front yard of one of the spec homes. It was 18 feet less than my front yard. Does anyone know what the official required setbacks are in the newer areas?]

[Bogie Shooter]

I drove down and measured the front yard of one of the spec homes. It was 18 feet less than my front yard. Does anyone know what the official required setbacks are in the newer areas?]

Give these folks a call, I bet they have the "official" information.

Building Services | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/77/Building-Services)

[vintageogauge]

I don't understand what the problem is, people are buying these homes as fast as they build them with few exceptions.

[Arubagirl33]

I don't understand what the problem is, people are buying these homes as fast as they build them with few exceptions.

Lots of Newbies!! 1st time Villagers. They don’t know any different.

[Bogie Shooter]

Lots of Newbies!! 1st time Villagers. They don’t know any different.

Weren't we all Newbies once?
BTW what real difference does it make, to you?

[vintageogauge]

Lots of Newbies!! 1st time Villagers. They don’t know any different.

You would be surprised how many of the residents down here came from northern villages. Our street has 7 homes and 3 of them came down to buy their second or third Villages home in Fenney and this was early in 2017 when everyone was bashing it. There are literally hundreds of home owners down here if not thousands that are not newbies or first time buyers and the setbacks don't seem to bother them. Not living down here doesn't allow you to realize how much you gain by giving up a little lawn.

[coffeebean]

Not living down here doesn't allow you to realize how much you gain by giving up a little lawn.

I wouldn't mind giving up a little lawn. The less lawn the better for me. It is the driveway that I don't want to give up. We need the longer driveway to be able to park a car (sometimes) and still get the golf cart out of the garage. We can do this with ease with our long driveway. And......I have neighbors with longer driveways than mine.

[vintageogauge]

I wouldn't mind giving up a little lawn. The less lawn the better for me. It is the driveway that I don't want to give up. We need the longer driveway to be able to park a car (sometimes) and still get the golf cart out of the garage. We can do this with ease with our long driveway. And......I have neighbors with longer driveways than mine.

My driveway is about 30 ft long, I didn't measure it but my 25 foot motorhome fits when I bring it home with room to spare. There are no driveways down here that would not allow for a car to be parked while taking out a golf car unless it's a villa.

[Arubagirl33]

Absolutely, We were all newbies at one time. I think it’s a lovely area & we almost purchased a lot in Marsh Bend.
All I was referring to was the difference in the size/length of the driveways. When you’re new to an area you wouldn’t realize certain changes that the builders have made. Also, as mentioned, there are many repeat village purchasers who’ve moved out there and love the differences. Homes are selling quickly & everyone’s happy with their personal choices.

[Rwirish]

Lot’s sizes have definitely been reduced per a realtor we spoke to. No thanks, we’ll stay where we are.

[Bay Kid]

Where do the Mexicans eat? That should be the best around.

[sparky4840]

My guess is that the land cost more than they wanted to pay so they jammed in more homes to recoup their initial investment.

[Dlbonivich]

Tax records

[merrymini]

Definitely appears closer to the road and more density. Lots and lots of villas. Some of these changes appear to satisfy a need on the part of buyers, i,e. Fenced in yards, which is great if you have a dog.

[elvanmetre44]

Base lot size in past was 60 feet x 90 feet. Setbacks are 20 feet from street, 10 feet from back line and 5 feet from side line not on a street.

[justjim]

We have observed exactly the opposite. Many of the houses in the Southern Area are farther apart than they are in our area of Osceola Hills.

We love to walk through the new areas because, unlike the rest of TV, they have beautiful walking trails that do not allow golf carts.

We have taken long (by our standards) walks through Linden, Monarch Grove, and Marsh Bend and many of the lots look very good. If you do not like a small lot, then buy a large lot. That is what we did.

OP, was primarily concerned about the smaller driveways (distance from garage to street). And the setback from the street is shorter than those homes north of State Rt. 44. others have noted this also.

[Villagesgal]

The lots there are much smaller than north of 466. 10 to 15 feet less width and up to 25 feet shorter. Much closer to the street, st less of a front yard. My friends bought a designer home for $389,000 and their lot is 20 feet narrower and 25 feet shorter than mine here north of 466. They also have a $42,000 bond. I don't care for the shorter front yard look.

[Velvet]

What is the average lot size in the new area? We were thinking of moving there in a couple of years after we have enjoyed Mallory, because it is such an inviting area.

[Ronnie61]

I noticed the driveways are shorter but also noticed there seems to be more space between lanais when houses back up to each other. We bought a lot down there and are building. I asked the designer we worked with about my impression that driveways were shorter to give more room in the back, and was told that yes, that is one of the reasons they made the driveways shorter. Lots are not necessarily smaller overall. Everyone assumes smaller because driveway is shorter.

[vintageogauge]

What is the average lot size in the new area? We were thinking of moving there in a couple of years after we have enjoyed Mallory, because it is such an inviting area.

In a couple years they will most likely not be the same, the will be building also in Lake County which may or may not have an affect on the setbacks, etc.

[vintageogauge]

This has been bugging me so I just went out and measured our driveway, we are in Fenney. We have a designer Ivy and had pavers installed so I measured only the pavers not the little concrete strip by the street and ours is 31 feet 5 inches long then looking up and down our street, all of the neighbors are about the same, no significant difference on either side of the street. Now, what they are doing over in Southern Oaks might be different than the lots here in Fenney. I didn't measure between the houses, too hot out there, but it's at least 30 feet once beyond the golf car garage.

[Jersey Joe]

I been living in The Villages since 2007 and I like what the villages done in the Southern Oaks Section.
They are building a better house with many upgrades since 2007. The Village of Linden and Monarch grove has a lot of space between homes. The are has a lot of open space, trees and water view. I can't see what your issue is!

[vintageogauge]

I just came back from walking Spanish Moss in Fenney which is a very long street and all of these homes have 30' driveways, I really don't know what the OP is talking about, maybe he was looking at cottage homes or future villas.

[skyking]

I just came back from walking Spanish Moss in Fenney which is a very long street and all of these homes have 30' driveways, I really don't know what the OP is talking about, maybe he was looking at cottage homes or future villas.

Designer homes. Walk through McClure and Marsh Bend and the newer Villages.