New Home Advice..Just Starting

[ylisa7]

I'm looking at houses in the Villages.

What are the most desirable sections to live in?

Would you buy a corner lot?


Any other advice would be appreciated.

[retiredguy123]

No corner lot. Too much mowing and traffic.
If you want a new house, I would look at Chitty Chatty and Bradford.
If you want a preowned house north of Rt 44, I think that all areas have about the same access to shopping and amenities. Taxes are higher in Lake County. Always check the sales price history of a preowned house on the county website, including houses on the same street.
I would look for a house that is less than 10 years old.
If you can afford it, get a house with a water or golf view. If you can't, get a house on a cul de sac.
If you are buying a designer house, get a 2 car plus golf cart garage. You will be sorry if you don't.
Check for noise - traffic, pool equipment next door, golf cart path close by, pickleball courts nearby, etc.
Verify if the bond has been paid off.
Check the age of the HVAC system.
Contact two real estate agents, one who works for The Villages and another who can sell MLS houses. One agent cannot sell you any house in The Villages.
Remember that all agents work for the seller.
Check the orientation of the lanai. Many people do not like a west facing lanai.
I think the best houses have light colored tile flooring throughout, except maybe carpet in the bedrooms.
A lanai enclosed with double paned glass is much more desirable than a sceened lanai.
After you sign a sales contract, hire Frank D'Angelo to do the inspection.

Those are the only things I can think of now.

[VApeople]

No corner lot, unless you like to pick up dog crap and pay taxes on land you can't use.

[Medtrans]

No corner lot, unless you like to pick up dog crap and pay taxes on land you can't use.

And pay more to have it cut.

[davem4616]

we just drove thru Chitty Chatty today for fun....nice area, nice homes

I suspect that they'll be a tight village, as they seem to be somewhat 'cut off' from all the other villages in Southern Oaks
...and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Once the golf cart bridge over 44 is complete you'll have easy access by cart to a Publix and at least 3 banks and a Walgreens... Brownwood isn't that far by car down 44. some of the lots look to be more generous than some of the other villages.

[VApeople]

we just drove thru Chitty Chatty today for fun....nice area, nice homes.

On your way out, did you enjoy turning left on route 468?

Once the golf cart bridge over 44 is complete you'll have easy access by cart to a Publix and at least 3 banks and a Walgreens...

That is true, and every golf cart in Bradford, St. Catherines, and the other new areas will be whizzing thru Chitty Chatty.

[charmed59]

I disagree with retiredguy123 on the glasses in lanai. I like to sit outside and feel the fresh air. But he absolutely nailed everything else.

[jacksonbrown]

Remember that all agents work for the seller.

Unless you hire a "buyer's broker".

Although not in The Villages, this Sarasota broker offers good information.

Why Buyer’s Broker (https://buyersbrokerswflorida.com/why-buyer-brokers/)

We used a local MLS realtor as our buyer's agent. She did all the leg work. We drove up periodically to view the houses she picked or we suggested. She walked us through the entire process, including attending the home inspection. After signing, she gave us a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

[JohnN]

We have a 3 BR villa on a corner lot and love it. Privacy, which is hard to come by around here. Low maintenance. I'd prefer the Lake Sumter area because of proximity to services, but if you can put up with the construction and drive, the far south Fenney, Chitty Chatty, etc. is fine for a new home. Best wishes.

[Mendy]

I'm looking at houses in the Villages.

What are the most desirable sections to live in?

Would you buy a corner lot?


Any other advice would be appreciated.

If you buy a villa, a corner lot is fantastic! Much larger yard, room for a pool, complete privacy, etc. We just bought one and love it. If you want to be near LOTS of amenities......golf, pools, rec centers, shopping, etc, I'd recommend living between 44 and 466. Just my 2 cents from a new Villager!

Good luck!

[Toymeister]

Lot's of hate for corner lots.

Here is the truth: mowing is 5.00 to 10.00 more a month. I can't believe anyone would even mention it.

Likewise additional taxes are insignificant.

In four years I have never picked up or seen dog crap on my corner lot.

The corner excels at privacy. It offers the option of more birdcage or outdoor living space.

My advise on location is consider how you will live your life. If you enjoy line dancing closer to the square is preferable, if you want to be near a VA clinic, having close by non-village shopping alternatives, all impact the best location for you.

[karostay]

Between the 6's

[Timothyimitchell]

We look avidly and daily at homes in The Villages as we will be moving there next spring. More and more we are seeing that the majority of pre owned homes under say 210K are very unattractive and need help. Why would a buyer not just go with a new home even if it is in the southern area in TV? Bond and amenities aside. Looks like amenities will come and many new homes seem reasonably priced. Am I missing something?

[VApeople]

Bond and amenities aside.

I have heard the bond on the new designer homes in C-C is $42K. That is what you are missing.

That is a little more than just walking-around money.

[retiredguy123]

We look avidly and daily at homes in The Villages as we will be moving there next spring. More and more we are seeing that the majority of pre owned homes under say 210K are very unattractive and need help. Why would a buyer not just go with a new home even if it is in the southern area in TV? Bond and amenities aside. Looks like amenities will come and many new homes seem reasonably priced. Am I missing something?
I don't think you are missing anything. The new houses are a better deal, in my opinion.

[John_W]

On your way out, did you enjoy turning left on route 468?

That is true, and every golf cart in Bradford, St. Catherines, and the other new areas will be whizzing thru Chitty Chatty.

I understand making a left turn exiting Chitty Chatty is like coming out of Tamarind Grove or Buttonwood on St. Charles. We have the same problems.

From what I see, when in your car you'll mostly be turning right, which shouldn't be as difficult. Turning left is the problem, but you're also staying local. So why not just take your golf cart anytime you plan to turn left? I haven't been down there in a year, so this is all new to me. I live in what I consider the southern area of TV, near Seabreeze Rec Center, and yet we are 14 miles from Fenney when I visited last year.

[Toymeister]

We look avidly and daily at homes in The Villages as we will be moving there next spring. More and more we are seeing that the majority of pre owned homes under say 210K are very unattractive and need help. Why would a buyer not just go with a new home even if it is in the southern area in TV? Bond and amenities aside. Looks like amenities will come and many new homes seem reasonably priced. Am I missing something?
You are missing the home improvements which are being sold to you at a steep discount. Granite countertops, plantation shutters, enclosed climate controlled lanai. Boom 25k. Epoxy garage, tiled lanai, better ceiling fans, murphy bed maybe 9,000. You might get all of this for 5-10k more.

If you wanted those items anyways that can be a deal, if you wouldn't of done those improvements then this wouldn't apply.

[VApeople]

I understand making a left turn exiting Chitty Chatty is like coming out of Tamarind Grove or Buttonwood on St. Charles.

I doubt the traffic along St. James is as fast as the traffic along Route 468, especially during rush hour when he people who live in Coleman, Sumterville, or Bushnell are heading home.


From what I see, when in your car you'll mostly be turning right

Unless you want to enjoy the amazing amenities in the Southern area. We go down there several times a week.

[John_W]

I doubt the traffic along St. James is as fast as the traffic along Route 468, especially during rush hour when he people who live in Coleman, Sumterville, or Bushnell are heading home.

Unless you want to enjoy the amazing amenities in the Southern area. We go down there several times a week.

Just last week someone asked why couldn't they make a golf cart lane on the bridge over the turnpike, they said the speed limit is 35. So what that means is you have many vehicles far exceeding the posted speed limit. That's not a good situation, and I would not want to be in a golf cart right next to traffic like that. On St. Charles our speed limit is 30, but the average car is moving at 35 to 40, and there also golf cart lanes in both directions. It's not so much the speed, although 40 is not slow, you have 4 lanes of traffic to get out of Tamarind Grove, Buttonwood, or Pennecamp and the cars on St. Charles are sometimes bumper to bumper. We manage by waiting, sometimes a couple of minutes or more.

I can understand you want to go south and enjoy the amenities, however the biggest complaint is not having golf cart connectivity, so why not use the cart when enjoying the areas south and avoid that left turn, that was my point.

[VApeople]

why not use the cart when enjoying the areas south and avoid that left turn, that was my point.

Even after everything is built, it will a long golf cart drive from C-C to Everglades, Ednas, Marshview, and Hogeye. It will be much easier to get to those places with a car.

But if you live in C-C, you gotta first turn left on 468. Not for the faint of heart.

[Boilerman]

Lot's of hate for corner lots.

Here is the truth: mowing is 5.00 to 10.00 more a month. I can't believe anyone would even mention it.

Likewise additional taxes are insignificant.

In four years I have never picked up or seen dog crap on my corner lot.

The corner excels at privacy. It offers the option of more birdcage or outdoor living space.


Agree 100%
Corner lots provide additional privacy and we have a wrap around lanai which could never be done on a smaller lot.

[Boilerman]

We look avidly and daily at homes in The Villages as we will be moving there next spring. More and more we are seeing that the majority of pre owned homes under say 210K are very unattractive and need help. Why would a buyer not just go with a new home even if it is in the southern area in TV? Bond and amenities aside. Looks like amenities will come and many new homes seem reasonably priced. Am I missing something?

What are you missing?

1) Location (location, location) - New homes south of 44 are far from where all the action is. Even after the bridges are connected, consider how far you’ll be from so many shopping areas, entertainment venues, and amenities.

2) Upgrades - homes that are preowned can have many tens of thousands of upgrades already done. Find a house less than 10 years old and you get the best of both worlds - a home with the upgrades but still a ways off from needing expensive
maintenance like a new roof, etc.

3) Lower bond balance - might even find a home with bond paid off, saving thousands of dollars in annual bond interest.