Purchasing Perception vs Reality

[2BNTV]

Has anyone thought they knew what they wanted after visiting the first or second time and left buying something different?

Buying new, pre-owned, designer, building you own, and location.

What was your experience in buying your home?

[Bob45]

We thought we wanted a Lantana or a Gardenia. After house sitting in a gardenia for 3 weeks we ended up buying a 3 BR CYV on a corner lot. The Gardenia we stayed in had "kissing lanais". I wanted more privacy. And my wife thought the kitchen was too big for her. She would rather get her exercise in the pool. I would like a bigger garage, but hey, it's time to down-size. We closed in April and have only spent a total of 4 weeks in the new house, and are happy with our decision. We are coming down in Sept. for 2 weeks, then again in Nov. for the winter.

Bob

[starflyte1]

I wanted a pool and close to SS on a golf course. The first house we bought had room for a pool, was on the golf course and wasn't too far from SS, BUT a house came up for sale almost as close to the square as you can get, on the golf course and had a small pool. Since we had not moved into the other house, we bought the house with pool and close to the square. We gave up our block and stucco home with a nice dining area and no pool for a vinyl sided home with a tiny dining area, big eat in kitchen, pool and close to the square.

Being close to SS is no big deal for many, but I hope to live here for many years, and being able to go to the square by golf cart in the evening for even a few minutes is nice and hopefully always will be. We are 4 minutes from Publix, close to several eating places, and the hospital, cardiologist, gp, vet and groomer are all a 10 minute golf cart ride away. If you are younger and this probably won't be your last home, being close to everything might not be as important to you, but at our age, we wouldn't trade our location for anything.

Good luck, and as they say, there is no bad location in The Villages!!!

[Debfrommaine]

Funny you should ask........we moved from the "North" not long ago and had great ideas on what we wanted in our home here. After a few days we bought exactly what we thought we would not buy and couldn't be happier! Best spur of the moment decision we've ever made and we love our home! You will too, good luck!

[Tom Hannon]

We wanted new from the beginning. Wanted a corner piece property. Although we wanted a Gardenia, we bought an Iris instead on a culd-da-sac. Our good friends live 1.8 miles away.

[rjn5656]

We went down in April to buy a Lily, but ended up with a Lantana.

[Kelsie52]

We started out wantig a Gardinia changed to a Lantana -- Then back to the Gardinia ---finally bought a Begonia ---- :shrug::shrug::shrug::pepper2:

[njbchbum]

we knew we wanted pre-owned on the historic side and we house hunted for a week in each of two years before we found one we liked. now, when it came to furnishing it - that's another tale. i checked out a lot of furniture and decorating styles on line, found what i wanted, and then bought something totally different for every room but the master!

hope you enjoy the house hunt and that it is more fun than challenging!

[zcaveman]

Back in 2001 there was not much publicity. I got the VHS tape and the package and went through it and picked the three or four houses that I liked and could afford. We did not take the three day lifestyle visit because we had other places to check out also. The sales person took us around and we fell in love with the Amarillo. We bought that same weekend and the rest is history.

[wdwduo]

We came here over 2 years ago planning to buy a ranch, with gas heat/appliances. In NJ, heating a house with electric is VERY expensive. Well, nothing was thrilling us and as a last resort our realtor showed us a 3/2 cyv, all electric, and we loved it! Love all the cabinets in the kitchen and the maintenence-free yard with total privacy. And I am always amazed at how low our Seco bill is.

Only thing I wish I could change is the garage, it's just too small for all our "stuff", now that we're full timers, so there may be another move sometime in the future.

[teach232]

We decided that we wanted a pre-owned, turn-key house in the northern part of the Villages.

We ended up with a brand new, unfurnished house in the southern part of the Villages!

Love it in Hemingway!

[Lou Card]

We bought a lot to build an Iris. Went to an open house of a Wisteria II with 1800 sq ft, golf cart garage, lots of upgrades inside, corner lot and 600 sq ft of bird cage that was just completed. Bought it that day and traded in the Lot. We are very happy with it.

[jebartle]

We really wanted maintenance free condo (TV calls them villas near square), drove our TV realtor crazy I'm sure, 3rd trip was the charm, looked on line b4 our visit, found pre-own in LaZamora and we are soooo happy...Final decision changed because condo price almost doubled and pre-owned had everything and then some, without bond....Gosh, I love TV....I know I'm going to wake up and find out that this was just a lovely dream

[cmfjr]

We had the opportunity to visit friends twice who owned a Jasmine and really liked it. We went to several open houses each day we where in TV and thought we where going to get a "designer home on a larger lot/corner as we have 2+ acres in WI. We liked the block/stucco construction and wanted to stay with a design that was built that way. Talked to the sales reps and took a tour of the furnished models at the design center on each visit. On the last day of the second visit, we saw a Stoneybrook Villa, part of the Savannah Series in the paper and thought why not? Well we decided then that we really do not need the additional land (that is one of the major reasons to leave WI as the landscaping upkeep is just too much work) and the privacy was very nice. Not that we are anti-social but with the land here we have privacy that you do not get with lanai's so close to one another. We told the sales rep to let us know when this design became available. We worked with the sales rep that sent us a detailed plot of the Altamonte Villas and she sent us pictures so we knew what was happening during the construction phase of that development. Needless to say we bought, closed via the mail and moved a truck load of furniture and things in a couple of months ago. I am retiring at the end of the year and then will be able to enjoy the villa, the amenities of TV's and the friendly folks we have met and looking forward to meeting so many more!

So we bought something far different from our original plans!

[babynurse]

My brother owns a patio villa in the southern part of TV. After a couple of visits, we had decided "when it was time" we would look for a CYV nearby. We rented a CYV last January for a month, and since the weather was not great, we spent ALOT of time at open houses! We ended up buying a beautiful ranch in the north, and could not be happier. We found the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood (for us)! Now we just have to hang on a little longer till hubby retires. I do hope the weather is better this January!

[duffysmom]

We lived in south Florida and rented for two months in the Summer to get a feel for TV. We rented a designer Mandavilla which is sometimes called an Oleander and loved all the windows and light so we looked at preowned homes and found one on a corner lot. I love my home but do not like the large corner lot and all the work involved in keeping it looking bright and beautiful. Since we have a beautiful :doggie:, I would love to down size to a CYV but Mr. duffysmom says no way (I do the yard work). Once in a while I get him to check out some models but so far no go.:boxing2: I'll let you know when I have a moving date.:faint:

[JimTony]

We came down on Sept 2009, drank gallons of Kool-aid, ( very delicious ), and bought a lot (Saint Charles, Foggy Brook Loop) and speced out a Lily. Came back in August 2010 (drank several more gallons of Kool-aid, still very delicious) and fell madly in love with a Holly. Made the 20% downpayment and our Holly in under construction as we speak. The pad has been poured and the block work will probably be done this week. What we love the most about The Villages are the people who live there, such as our thoughtful neighbors, three doors down, Walt and Janet, who are feeding us pictures of the house construction as it becomes our new home.

Can you take more good news? Are you sure? Well here it comes. Our house has been on the market 210 days here in Kentucky after 15 showings, and we have our first offer. The lady loves our house and it looks very hopeful. Stay tuned. Hopefully we have this beautiful home in Kentucky sold.

I only have a downpayment in paradise, so I guess we are only tadpoles, but we hope to be official frogs on Oct. 8th when we close.

God bless to all TVers. Age wrinkles the skin. Inactivity wrinkles the soul. STAY ACTIVE.

[pooh]

When we looked at homes in Oct of 2005, we thought a Gardenia. After hubby and I really discussed it, we decided on a Lantana. While looking around with our agent, we passed the entrance to our Village. Gatehouse construction was going on and I looked at the colors...decided I didn't like them and didn't want to live in that area. Of course I didn't have a clue where I was anyhow, it was only my second time visiting the community. Well, it took 4 months for our agent to find us a house with the type of yard and land we desired. Guess where it was? In that Village I didn't want to live in because of those gate colors... ;) The location was perfect, the lot was just what we wanted and the house was the right model with nice upgrades. Only thing missing was the golf cart garage, but luckily the garage is pretty large and there is enough room for all of our stuff.....and I now love that gatehouse because when I pass it, I know I'm close to my lovely home.... :)

[Pturner]

As part-timers, we bought what we were looking for-- 2 bedroom, furnished, pre-owned, northside. Thought we'd look for something bigger when we move to TV full-time in 2012. Now we like what we have and might not. We have plenty of time to decide though.

I see several new peeps on this thread. :welcome: We're glad you're here. Please keep posting!

JimTony, my fingers and toes are crossed for you for selling your home in Ky. In your new home in TV, I wish you all the kool aid you can drink!

[mak44070]

We purchased a pre-owned Amarillo in Duval in Jul 09, but the deal fell thru because the sellers went into foreclosure. My husband sent me down to The Villages in early Dec to search, because I was scheduled to start work in January. I went out with a Village realtor, an MLS realtor, and on my own. Fell in love with an At Ease with the open kitchen, but would have had to wait 70 days to have one built. So I found a Bougainvillea in the Village of Bonita that could be ready by the middle of January. We moved in, and I started work 2 days later!
Everything happens for a reason - since we didn't close on our new home until January, we qualified for the $6,500 Homebuyers Credit.:MOJE_whot:

mary ann