Moving to The Villages!

[RedFoxRick]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly? We are happy to be buying a home in Dunedin - It puts us in the center of things, but also keeps us North of the high tax, high bond Rt 44 "border" :)

[PugMom]

welcome!! you will love it here! electricity is aprox $90 a month, give or take, but i fall asleep with the tv on,, so i imagine it would be lower if i didn't. gas is under $50 most times. amenities fall in around $160ish, then whatever you pay for homeowners or car insurance, if needed. i LOVE publix, but you will find better deals @ wynn-dixie, esp the 2 for 1 sales. it's a good time to stock up or grab xtra items for the food pantry. :ho:

[PugMom]

don;t forget to apply for homestead status when filing prop taxes. we live in the south of 44 area--it;s a quarter of the cost we paid in Ct. i love it here:a040:

[John41]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly? We are happy to be buying a home in Dunedin - It puts us in the center of things, but also keeps us North of the high tax, high bond Rt 44 "border" :)

Welcome to The Villages
For us in Sabal Chase CYV 2/2
North Sumter Utilities
Water base $10.07
Water use $5.38
Irrigation base. $ 6.75
Irrigation use. $ 0. irrigation turned off (no grass)
Sewer base $14.34
Sewer use $12.85
Sanitation $22.24.
Amenity fee. $157.39
Total. $229.79

[PugMom]

after looking over statements, i'd say previous poster has more accurate numbers, but we are south of 44, prob more costly, or so they say

[John_W]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly?...

Water, Irrigation, sewer and thrash all comes on one bill along with the amenity fee. Mine bill averages $240 to $250 a month in Sumter County for a CYV.

One piece of advice, get to know the "Search" button at the top of this website. I spent six months searching for every subject you could imagine and I had 20 page pad filled with names and numbers when I moved in. I had a painter lined up and painting the inside the day after closing before the furniture arrived. I had a handyman double shelving my master closet, adding shelves above the W&D, adding hand pulls to all the cabinets and drawers, putting a peep hole in the front door, putting safety pins in all the sliding doors. I had the Hangman as soon as my furniture arrived hanging curtains, pictures, and anything that went on the wall. I had a shutter company in right away measuring for plantation shutters. It's good to know in advance names and numbers when you have time on your hands, then to try and think when your life is in disarray.

Although not as quickly, I knew who to call for landscaping estimates and who not to call. I knew who to call for a kitchen backsplash. Since I brought my Directv boxes and remotes with me, I knew who to call, do you know who to call for internet, TV, telephones. Now's the time.

[La lamy]

Water, Irrigation, sewer and thrash all comes on one bill along with the amenity fee. Mine bill averages $240 to $250 a month in Sumter County for a CYV.

One piece of advice, get to know the "Search" button at the top of this website. I spent six months searching for every subject you could imagine and I had 20 page pad filled with names and numbers when I moved in. I had a painter lined up and painting the inside the day after closing before the furniture arrived. I had a handyman double shelving my master closet, adding shelves above the W&D, adding hand pulls to all the cabinets and drawers, putting a peep hole in the front door, putting safety pins in all the sliding doors. I had the Hangman as soon as my furniture arrived hanging curtains, pictures, and anything that went on the wall. I had a shutter company in right away measuring for plantation shutters. It's good to know in advance names and numbers when you have time on your hands, then to try and think when your life is in disarray.

Although not as quickly, I knew who to call for landscaping estimates and who not to call. I knew who to call for a kitchen backsplash. Since I brought my Directv boxes and remotes with me, I knew who to call, do you know who to call for internet, TV, telephones. Now's the time.

:bigbow: :clap2: :clap2:

[Rwirish]

Living in TV should cost much less then living up north. Living south of 44, however, is more expensive then the rest of TV.

[J1ceasar]

Internet $100-250 with cable. Don't forget!

[Larchap49]

Living in TV should cost much less then living up north. Living south of 44, however, is more expensive then the rest of TV.

You are probably right but I wanted to start over in a brand new home and not have to spend time and money replacing, repairing and upgrading someone elses stuff. That pretty much limits you to south of 44. Anotner advantage is insurance is less on a new home with all codes up to date.

[OhioBuckeye]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly? We are happy to be buying a home in Dunedin - It puts us in the center of things, but also keeps us North of the high tax, high bond Rt 44 "border" :)

You forgot the HOA. The things you mentioned & HOA will be $200. plus. You’ll love TV!

[Bilyclub]

You forgot the HOA. The things you mentioned & HOA will be $200. plus. You’ll love TV!

Since there is no HOA I'm thinking the Amenity Fee?

[CTKID]

Property Taxes - Home
Property Taxes - Auto / Other
Insurance - Home
Insurance - Sink Hole
Insurance - Auto / Other

What other categories do you folks have in your monthly budget?

Thanks

[brfree1411@aol.com]

Bring less than you think you will want or need. Once you get here you will want to buy "Florida" colors & furniture. It's a pain to get rid of heavy dark furniture you paid to have moved. Yard work is cheap here don't bring a lot of yard tools, mower, weed eater, etc.
We moved 3 months ago & gave away most of our furniture and we still had too much stuff.
Welcome!! You will enjoy it except Covid has slowed down the "fun stuff".

[retiredguy123]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly? We are happy to be buying a home in Dunedin - It puts us in the center of things, but also keeps us North of the high tax, high bond Rt 44 "border" :)
The utility bill information you listed is public information. Go to "districtgov.org" and click on Utility Bill Information. You can search by address and see the actual utility bills for any house in your neighborhood, or anywhere else in The Villages. That should give you a very good estimate of what you can expect to pay.

[Cheryl Barrios]

The utility bill information you listed is public information. Go to "districtgov.org" and click on Utility Bill Information. You can search by address and see the actual utility bills for any house in your neighborhood, or anywhere else in The Villages. That should give you a very good estimate of what you can expect to pay.

I just went there and checked the home I am moving into next month. What all does the bill cover - I couldn't quite figure that out. Is it electricity, water, and gas?Thank you in advance for the information and help.

[Bilyclub]

There will be a one time mail box fee on your first amenity fee bill. It was $190, but may have gone up.

[retiredguy123]

I just went there and checked the home I am moving into next month. What all does the bill cover - I couldn't quite figure that out. Is it electricity, water, and gas?Thank you in advance for the information and help.
You get a bill from the District that includes your amenity fee, potable water, irrigation water, sewer, and trash pickup. If you do the search correctly (you need to click on view current bill), you should be able to access and view the entire bill showing the cost breakdowns and water usage. Typically, the total bill will run about $225 to $250 per month. The electric bill will come from a separate company. I don't think you can access electric bills without an account number.

[Bilyclub]

####

[Coley]

Property Taxes - Home
Property Taxes - Auto / Other
Insurance - Home
Insurance - Sink Hole
Insurance - Auto / Other

What other categories do you folks have in your monthly budget?

Thanks

Don't forget the maintenance yearly charge (about $600.00). It is on your yearly tax bill along with the bond fee(unless the bond has been paid off. The maintenance fee is charged yearly. It has nothing to do with the amenity fee.

[Coley]

Yearly maintenance fee---$600.00 (which is separate from the amenity fee)

[dkaufnelson]

The Master gardeners clinics are offered free by University of Florida cooperative extension and they have one on setting your irrigation sprinklers correctly. I strongly recommend you either attend one live or go online and read as it can make a huge difference in the health of your lawn and your water bill. Too many people water their lawn too often resulting in shallow roots that won't withstand extreme temperatures very well. Best to water only twice weekly to a depth of one half to three quarters inch. Rotary sprinklers that are usually on your lawns require almost twice as much time as pop-up sprinklers to achieve 1/2-in of water. You can set out tuna cans or pet food cans by sprinklers to measure how long it takes to accumulate one half inch then set your sprinkler timers for each zone accordingly. Also want to make sure that your water sensor is working so your sprinklers won't go on unnecessarily if your lawn has already been wet by rainfall. Water bills can be high here if you don't set your sprinklers correctly. Also recommend going to as many of the Master Gardener clinics that are offered free. They will help you with all your landscaping flower bush and lawn questions or problems. Good luck. You will love the villages if you enjoy an active lifestyle.

[mikemalloy]

Property Taxes - Home
Property Taxes - Auto / Other
Insurance - Home
Insurance - Sink Hole
Insurance - Auto / Other

What other categories do you folks have in your monthly budget?

ThanksMost Villagers have a golf cart or two. We have ours insured on a separate policy.

[yankygrl]

There is no gas south of LSL to 44, your amenity will be $160 or more and comes with water bill.

[John_W]

Yearly maintenance fee---$600.00 (which is separate from the amenity fee)

Yearly maintenance is on your tax statement along with property taxes, bond, and school. That amount varies by district, mine was $450 for a CYV in district 8, and has been all ten years.

[John_W]

There is no gas south of LSL to 44, your amenity will be $160 or more and comes with water bill.

I believe TECO quit installing gas lines in 2007, from I've read over the years, gas extends south to the Villages of Bonita, Largo and Duval which was new in 2007.

[Bilyclub]

Yearly maintenance fee---$600.00 (which is separate from the amenity fee)


Which is on the property tax bill and is location dependent on how much.

[Dilligas]

Any sage advice? My wife and I are moving to TV in the next few months. I think I understand most all of the taxes and fees (it certainly is complicated). The only thing I did not budget for is Water, Irrigation and Sewer and Trash - Can someone ballpark what I should expect monthly? We are happy to be buying a home in Dunedin - It puts us in the center of things, but also keeps us North of the high tax, high bond Rt 44 "border" :)
#1...you will find the most expensive thing in TV is dental care. Very few quality dentists take insurance, so have most of your expensive dental work done before your leave (especially if you have dental insurance) like crowns, bridges, root canals, implants, and even fillings.

If you are moving into Dunedin, you are probably buying a resale, so check with the owner for those expenses.

#2 Water for irrigation is the most expensive item depending on your yard size and type of grass (and how green you want things in the summer). The other things are covered in the other responses.

[Almanurse1]

Great post, thanks!

[retiredguy123]

#1...you will find the most expensive thing in TV is dental care. Very few quality dentists take insurance, so have most of your expensive dental work done before your leave (especially if you have dental insurance) like crowns, bridges, root canals, implants, and even fillings.

If you are moving into Dunedin, you are probably buying a resale, so check with the owner for those expenses.

#2 Water for irrigation is the most expensive item depending on your yard size and type of grass (and how green you want things in the summer). The other things are covered in the other responses.
#1 - Find a dentist outside of The Villages. You will save thousands on dental care.
#2 - Many people use way too much irrigation water. Most people can probably cut the amount they use in half and not notice any difference in their lawn.

[Catalina36]

Don’t forget golf cart insurance.
You don’t have to have it, but being a newbie in TV I chose to purchase it.
Good Luck

[Cheryl Barrios]

Thank you!!!

[OhioBuckeye]

Welcome to The Villages
For us in Sabal Chase CYV 2/2
North Sumter Utilities
Water base $10.07
Water use $5.38
Irrigation base. $ 6.75
Irrigation use. $ 0. irrigation turned off (no grass)
Sewer base $14.34
Sewer use $12.85
Sanitation $22.24.
Amenity fee. $157.39
Total. $229.79
RedFoxRick, your summary is right on the nose. When we lived here about 2 yrs. ago this was almost exactly what we were paying. You did a pretty good job listing everything, & the water bill is right. Good job!

[Garywt]

The trash is $19 a month and my water bill runs $45-55 a month but we are not here much. There is a minimum on water and sewer. We are in Marion County so things are billed differently here. We have a mortgage so taxes, insurance and the bond are included in the monthly mortgage payment which makes thing easier.

[rschwan9]

Water, Irrigation, sewer and thrash all comes on one bill along with the amenity fee. Mine bill averages $240 to $250 a month in Sumter County for a CYV.

One piece of advice, get to know the "Search" button at the top of this website. I spent six months searching for every subject you could imagine and I had 20 page pad filled with names and numbers when I moved in. I had a painter lined up and painting the inside the day after closing before the furniture arrived. I had a handyman double shelving my master closet, adding shelves above the W&D, adding hand pulls to all the cabinets and drawers, putting a peep hole in the front door, putting safety pins in all the sliding doors. I had the Hangman as soon as my furniture arrived hanging curtains, pictures, and anything that went on the wall. I had a shutter company in right away measuring for plantation shutters. It's good to know in advance names and numbers when you have time on your hands, then to try and think when your life is in disarray.

Although not as quickly, I knew who to call for landscaping estimates and who not to call. I knew who to call for a kitchen backsplash. Since I brought my Directv boxes and remotes with me, I knew who to call, do you know who to call for internet, TV, telephones. Now's the time.
Could you please post contact info for both the closet person and the backsplash person? We move in first week of April.

[John_W]

Could you please post contact info for both the closet person and the backsplash person? We move in first week of April.

I moved in 2011, I used Great Lakes who are on 441 by the Summerfield Walmart and at 301 and 44 in Wildwood. I bought the tile from them, and they provided the tile installer.

More recently in September I had the bathroom floor done in tile and used a tile installer from Wildwood, he did a real good job, even provided new baseboards. His name is Bruce Bowen of A+ Flooring & Remodeling, phone 352-551-9174.

[rschwan9]

I moved in 2011, I used Great Lakes who are on 441 by the Summerfield Walmart and at 301 and 44 in Wildwood. I bought the tile from them, and they provided the tile installer.

More recently in September I had the bathroom floor done in tile and used a tile installer from Wildwood, he did a real good job, even provided new baseboards. His name is Bruce Bowen of A+ Flooring & Remodeling, phone 352-551-9174.
We will be adding this information to our own list we have created. You don't happen to recall the shelving handyman you mentioned? I am sure most can do it. I have done it all myself in the past but now I am retired and have other plans. Thank-you for all of your great suggestions in this thread.

[Pricey]

Bring less than you think you will want or need. Once you get here you will want to buy "Florida" colors & furniture. It's a pain to get rid of heavy dark furniture you paid to have moved. Yard work is cheap here don't bring a lot of yard tools, mower, weed eater, etc.
We moved 3 months ago & gave away most of our furniture and we still had too much stuff.
Welcome!! You will enjoy it except Covid has slowed down the "fun stuff".

Yes, welcome!!
We moved from Southern California (brought OUR politics but NOT California politics with us), and brought very little of our possessions. Thank goodness as we missed virtually none of it and didn't have to pay to have it all hauled across the country.

We brought only minimal LR furniture and got rid of it, as planned, for light and breezy Florida colors and a "modern tropical" feel. We LOVE our life in TV, and hope all our friends and loved ones will find their way down here as well. In the meantime, we are making new friends and carefully making our way around while still being cautious of Covid, for everyone's sake.

Welcome, G-d bless you, and stay unencumbered & nimble so you can move quickly on outfitting your new place!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

did you budget for Florida furniture purchases? That is the biggest mistakes people make when moving from the north. We bought all new in FL and will not bring much down, no beds, no couches, no TV consoles, no desks, no chairs, no dining room sets. . .

Again, we read here and visited furniture stores in FL to buy the furniture, and with tile and outside lanai, we purchased lots of plastic dinner and drink wares to minimize the breakage from accidents. . . . tile and cement and glass do not go well together.

[John_W]

We will be adding this information to our own list we have created. You don't happen to recall the shelving handyman you mentioned? I am sure most can do it. I have done it all myself in the past but now I am retired and have other plans. Thank-you for all of your great suggestions in this thread.

The handyman was fantastic, that was Tim "The Toolman" Miller, however he has switched gears and is the #1 garage floor refinisher in TV. I don't believe he does handyman work anymore because his floor business has taken off. I have read that he still does attic steps in the garage. He did mine also, great job with aluminum steps and 100 sf of plywood in the attic, it was $290 but that was almost ten years ago.

To give you an idea of price on the closet. Tim took the original wire shelves in our walk-in closet and moved them up 18" and installed an identical amount of shelving just below where the original shelves had been, then patched the old holes and repainted. Total cost with materials and labor was $150. Just to give an idea, I have two neighbors who went the deluxe closet redo with drawers, fancy cabinets and the rest and they each spent $1200.

If you want a top notch reliable company, Doc's Restorations is the #1 rated remodeler and handyman work, however they are one of the most expensive. There are other handyman, just do a search above with the button at the top of the site, you'll find probably at least five recommended.

I did a handyman search for you. Here are some replies.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/handyman-service-recommendations-307779/?highlight=handyman

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/handyman-398/handyman-needed-312928/?highlight=handyman

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/contractors-services-91/handyman-308808/?highlight=handyman

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/handyman-398/all-one-ventures-home-improvement-handyman-165019/?highlight=handyman

My neighbor had his whole 2 BR CYV redone inside by Doc's last year, and I saw the work and it was great. So I called them for a master bath remodel last summer, their estimate was $12,000. I called Bella Stone of Wildwood and had them do the work, total price $9,500.

Miller's Home Services 352- 217-0561 for garage and lanai floors, attic steps (he has no website)

Doc's for handyman and remodeling website

Doc's Restorations: Home Improvement & Handyman serving The Villages and Surrounding Cities (https://docsrestorations.com/)

[elevatorman]

I just went there and checked the home I am moving into next month. What all does the bill cover - I couldn't quite figure that out. Is it electricity, water, and gas?Thank you in advance for the information and help.

If you see the "PRINT" button next to the bill click it and a bill will come up. On the right side it is broken down.

[Kidsmith77]

Reading your reply regarding services in TV and had to laugh at your comment on bringing politics from Southern California. We are moving to TV shortly also from So Cal, by the end of next month or so. Thank you for all the information!

[FG111]

Thank God, liquor is plenty and the cost is lowered if you buy in bulk...:bigbow:

[Dgizzi]

Well I don’t know why everyone has to knock down our side. I have met sooo many people that have moved over here to all the “new” stuff. We have nicer landscaping and getting all the new stuff. I have met soooo many people that have moved here from the “old” area. I live in Monarch Grove and love it over here. We people on the “other” side of the Turnpike are loving it. Love my new home instead of buying used and have tons of upgrades. So guess maybe “your” utility bills might be cheaper then mine...just saying

[Bilyclub]

Living in TV should cost much less then living up north. Living south of 44, however, is more expensive then the rest of TV.

Dgizzi : "Well I don’t know why everyone has to knock down our side. I have met sooo many people that have moved over here to all the “new” stuff. We have nicer landscaping and getting all the new stuff. I have met soooo many people that have moved here from the “old” area. I live in Monarch Grove and love it over here. We people on the “other” side of the Turnpike are loving it. Love my new home instead of buying used and have tons of upgrades. So guess maybe “your” utility bills might be cheaper then mine...just saying "

There is only one post in this thread that is anything close to a "knock". With the higher bonds and Wildwood City tax it is probably more expensive to live down there. A factual statement isn't a knock. If they raise the impact fees it will get even more expensive buying new.