Estimated Monthly Cost of Living

[taylor111947]

A couple of questions:
On the TV Website there is an estimated monthly cost of living. Do you think it's pretty accurate? It doesn't mention the Bond - how does that fit in? How is the amount of the Bond determined and how is it paid off?
Are there other charges/costs that I should take into consideration?

[Bryan]

The costs in the web site are reasonably accurate - taking into account variations in individual lifestyles.

The bond is set when the house is built. Payments are usually in your annual property tax bill and remain level throughout your ownership of the house (unless you pay off the bond early, then it goes away).

[taylor111947]

Thanks for your response. Does that mean that the estimate for Average Taxes takes into account the amount of the bond? Will someone buying a resale continue with the same payments (for the bond) as the previous owner? What is the term for paying off the Bond on a monthly basis? Is there an advantage to paying off the bond all at once?
What is the Development District Assessment?
Maybe I should really ask if there is a website that explains all this? You all are so kind and patient with our questions - many of which I'm sure are asked repeatedly. It says a lot about the community.

[Kelsie52]

A couple of questions:
On the TV Website there is an estimated monthly cost of living. Do you think it's pretty accurate? It doesn't mention the Bond - how does that fit in? How is the amount of the Bond determined and how is it paid off?
Are there other charges/costs that I should take into consideration?

I am not a resident yet -I bought a lot in Buttonwood and am pending the sale of my home before ordering my new home. I think the numbers they list are as close as they can get from what I have found out.
Remember they are using a 250,000 home as the standard for the estimate.

The last entry I believe CDD is the bond ..Its paid off over 30years at a fixed interest rate. The Bond is determind by the type and number of homes in your development. For Ex. I am ordering a designer as I said in Buttonwood
My bond is $19.601 .

hope that helps a little ---I am not a expert on this but am trying to get things lined up for my move

If I am not correct I am sure others will let you know --lol:a040:

Good Luck

[Army Guy]

Yes, the Bond is one set price for the property, no can not pay off monthly. You get the annual payment on your tax bill in Nov.
The advantage to paying it off, is saving interest. BUT if you are planning on moving there is no advantage.
The annual assessment is for property maint of general areas.
Army Guy

[Pats2010]

Gosh....I remember reading their figures on the site but I can't find it now.

Does anybody have a link to those figures?

[Junebugs]

I am not a resident yet -I bought a lot in Buttonwood and am pending the sale of my home before ordering my new home. I think the numbers they list are as close as they can get from what I have found out.
Remember they are using a 250,000 home as the standard for the estimate.

The last entry I believe CDD is the bond ..Its paid off over 30years at a fixed interest rate. The Bond is determind by the type and number of homes in your development. For Ex. I am ordering a designer as I said in Buttonwood
My bond is $19.601 .

hope that helps a little ---I am not a expert on this but am trying to get things lined up for my move

If I am not correct I am sure others will let you know --lol:a040:

Good Luck

Not to take this off track but your post made me think of a question -- I did not know that you could buy your lot now and build later. How much time do they give you to build your home? How does that work? I assumed you bought the house and lot together and they started building as soon as they were ready to build.

[graciegirl]

The lots we liked for a Premier in Pennecamp all had a six month limit but they were view lots.(There are only TWO left of view lots for Premiers) I think that interior lots are a year for all house series. Russ Boston answered this once....

Russell?

[soldjudy]

We bought our lot in Pennecamp last April and do not have to start building our home until April of 2011. Gives us time to get ours sold - Hopefully.

[Kelsie52]

I bought my LOT in Buttonwood in June --I was given 6 months to start building ----some lots they will give you a year....after the allotted time you need to start building and I was told approx 72 days later is closing --

I have to pay 2500 every 60 days then 20% of the total cost when I order the home ---

[Pats2010]

I thought this thread was about monthly budgets???????:blahblahblah:

[Kelsie52]

Gosh....I remember reading their figures on the site but I can't find it now.

Does anybody have a link to those figures?



Its on the Villages home page bottom left !!! I cant link it sorry

[getdul981]

This has been our experience also. We put down payment in Pennecamp in May and have 1 year to start construction. We too have to make $2500 payments every 2 months. It was my understanding that those payments could be deducted from the 20%, so if after 1 year, we have made 6 payments plus our original $2000 down, we will have paid $17,000. That could be deducted from the 20%, which if we purchase a home for $250,000, would be $50,000. Subtract the $17,000 from $50,000 and we have to pay $33,000 more down to start construction.

Also, I called Citizens First Discount Mortgage and got pre-qualified. I asked the representative there if we could pay the bond in monthly installments that would go into an escrow account and he told us that they did do that.

[Pats2010]

:cus: I give up.

[taylor111947]

This is the link to the Villages Page:

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/index.asp

Click on 'Check out how affordable it is to live in the Villages' on the left bottom.

I think I'm still confused. It sounds like the Average Taxes amount must refer to the Tax Bill received in Nov. and according to someone (sorry I lost the threads) includes the Bond payment (broken into 12 months).

But I think someone else said that the Development Distric Assessment was the Bond payment.

I guess what I need is more clarification on those two figures and where/if the Bond payment is included. Does anyone know what the interest rate for the Bond is? It sounds as if it is like taking out a thirty year mortgage for that amount.

Whew!

[getdul981]

I think I read somewhere that the interest rate on the bond if you don't pay it off is 7%.

[Pats2010]

This is the link to the Villages Page:

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/index.asp

Click on 'Check out how affordable it is to live in the Villages' on the left bottom.

I think I'm still confused. It sounds like the Average Taxes amount must refer to the Tax Bill received in Nov. and according to someone (sorry I lost the threads) includes the Bond payment (broken into 12 months).

But I think someone else said that the Development Distric Assessment was the Bond payment.

I guess what I need is more clarification on those two figures and where/if the Bond payment is included. Does anyone know what the interest rate for the Bond is? It sounds as if it is like taking out a thirty year mortgage for that amount.

Whew!
Went to the link but did not see that button to click. Sorry.

[ajbrown]

Went to the link but did not see that button to click. Sorry.

The link is right, but clicking on the link takes me to the top level page of www.thevillages.com.

If that happens click on the HOMES "tab".

Once you are on the HOMES page of the site, you will see where to click on the left....

Hope that helps

[memason]

Here's the link directly to the PDF for the expenses. It will open a PDF file on your computer.....

http://thevillages.com/images/CostofLiving.pdf

[Pats2010]

The link is right, but clicking on the link takes me to the top level page of www.thevillages.com.

If that happens click on the HOMES "tab".

Once you are on the HOMES page of the site, you will see where to click on the left....

Hope that helps

That helps alot. I found it. Thanx.

[Pats2010]

I am not a resident yet -I bought a lot in Buttonwood and am pending the sale of my home before ordering my new home. I think the numbers they list are as close as they can get from what I have found out.
Remember they are using a 250,000 home as the standard for the estimate.

The last entry I believe CDD is the bond ..Its paid off over 30years at a fixed interest rate. The Bond is determind by the type and number of homes in your development. For Ex. I am ordering a designer as I said in Buttonwood
My bond is $19.601 .

hope that helps a little ---I am not a expert on this but am trying to get things lined up for my move

If I am not correct I am sure others will let you know --lol:a040:

Good Luck

Is the last entry there the bond?

[Pats2010]

Here's the link directly to the PDF for the expenses. It will open a PDF file on your computer.....

http://thevillages.com/images/CostofLiving.pdf

Great....I saved it to my Documents.

[macro]

This is the link to the Villages Page:

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/index.asp

Click on 'Check out how affordable it is to live in the Villages' on the left bottom.

I think I'm still confused. It sounds like the Average Taxes amount must refer to the Tax Bill received in Nov. and according to someone (sorry I lost the threads) includes the Bond payment (broken into 12 months).

But I think someone else said that the Development Distric Assessment was the Bond payment.

I guess what I need is more clarification on those two figures and where/if the Bond payment is included. Does anyone know what the interest rate for the Bond is? It sounds as if it is like taking out a thirty year mortgage for that amount.

Whew!

We closed in Apr on the 'historic' side. My bills so far indicate $135/mo...amenities, about $25/mo.....sewer, $25-40/water(gotta cut down my irrigation), HD cable (1 dvr) & internet... $80/mo (for 12 mo), Trash...about $15/mo (billed quarterly), electric (no gas) Budget @$102/mo. My insurance is escrowed (about 98/mo). Your Tax bill will be figured at the full assessment until you can apply for the Homestead credit in January. They also do not figure in any Mortgage payments. (not everyone has one) A lot of people just use cell phones instead of a land line or get the triple play (cable, phone, internet) bundles. The CDD assessment would be the Bond and is in addition to county tax bill and varies by district. Not all homes have them. Also have to take into consideration Vehicle registration, insurance, possible separate golf cart policy (keeps any claims off your homeowners policy). If a part-timer or unwilling or unable to maintain landscaping, Lawn and pest services which may range from $50-100/mo, or more, depending. Hope your eyes haven't glazed over yet. Grocery and entertainment costs, I think are fairly reasonable , in and around TV, depending on where coming from and your personal preferences. Overall, Do-able for the most part and worth it for the lifestyle and the people you'll meet. C'mon Down! :pepper2: :crap2:

[bkcunningham1]

Did you get a shock when you registered your vehicle?

[macro]

Did you get a shock when you registered your vehicle?

That shock is yet to come. Didn't get around to it when we were down in June, so, gonna take that hit in Aug. Roughly figure $500, plates, reg, fees, Etc. Plus increased insurance cost with one less vehicle. :22yikes: Then there's the Harley to factor in. Not as bad but still not good. Oh Yeah, Driver's licenses for both of us, about another $100. :censored: Need to get a job at a cart shop so I can build me a cart. chilout

[Russ_Boston]

I bought my LOT in Buttonwood in June --I was given 6 months to start building ----some lots they will give you a year....after the allotted time you need to start building and I was told approx 72 days later is closing --

I have to pay 2500 every 60 days then 20% of the total cost when I order the home ---

Ditto.

some are 3 months (golf), some are 6 months (less than golf but more than interior), some are 12 months (most interior). But as with all things TV - things can change:)

[Kelsie52]

Ditto.

some are 3 months (golf), some are 6 months (less than golf but more than interior), some are 12 months (most interior). But as with all things TV - things can change:)

Actually I bought a golf course lot --got 6 months ----I think I could push it to 9 if I really had to --think its more how business is at the time you are ready -----

[chuckinca]

That shock is yet to come. Didn't get around to it when we were down in June, so, gonna take that hit in Aug. Roughly figure $500, plates, reg, fees, Etc. Plus increased insurance cost with one less vehicle. :22yikes: Then there's the Harley to factor in. Not as bad but still not good. Oh Yeah, Driver's licenses for both of us, about another $100. :censored: Need to get a job at a cart shop so I can build me a cart. chilout


To get Fla vehicle registration you have to have vehicle insurance issued in Fla, to get Fla insurance you have to have a Fla driver's license (the insurance co will issue the insurance with the proviso that you furnish a copy of the Fla license within 90 days). You can get issued a "Fla Only" license and keep your out of state license if you want. Insurance cost was about the same as CA.

Costs have gone out of sight in the last few years. We registered a car in January 2008 - registration fee was $100 and Fla driver's licenses were $25.25 (like the song) each. My wife has our CA address on hers and I have the Fla address on mine!

.