Renting verse Buying

[Sam1961]

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.

[Two Bills]

No contest. Rent.

[Garywt]

Do whatever fits you best. We bought but only get down for 4-5 weeks a year. We love it, having everything setup in our house with no worries about who has been there etc. we have 5 bills which we pay each month.

[RICH1]

How old are you? How much disposable income do you have? I ask those questions because your birthday in Heaven may be coming soon !

[amexsbow]

Does anyone have any financial data on the costs associated with owning in TV and renting the home out for 6 months of the year? We love TV but my wife does not want to move away from the kids. I want to be in TV from Jan to April and two months in the Summer or Fall. I can afford a down payment and some monthly expense but not a full year of mortgage payments. Any ideas?

[Laker14]

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.

Better? In what way? Each comes with its own set of issues. Renting is almost certainly going to be cheaper than buying if you are only coming for a couple of months. However, you'll be living in someone else's house, set up for rental occupancy. We did it for 3 years. Were the beds, and living room furniture as comfortable as I would buy for myself? Not even close. But it was cheaper, and when I left to come north I didn't have to pay any of the carrying expenses, or particularly worry about the lawn, the shrubs, the bugs, or the weather.

We learned stuff about TV we'd have never known had we never rented. For example, I learned I didn't want to live in a house backing up a street like Canal, or Odell, due to traffic noise.
We learned a bit about what villages would suit us, and which would probably not.

We had friends who were very happy in their rentals, only to find out that the owners were retiring themselves and the unit would not be available, and they had to start the process all over, of finding a new rental. We learned that rental costs for the prime months were going up (surprise).

So we bought, but we had made the decision that we wanted to be in TV for 6+months/year, and that it made the decision to buy an easier one.

So when you ask what is better, you have to ask yourself what compromises you are willing to make, and how much hassle and expense you are willing to take.

[Stu from NYC]

Rent until you decide you want to live here multiple months a year.

[MrFlorida]

One or two months, Rent.

[Papa_lecki]

Does anyone have any financial data on the costs associated with owning in TV and renting the home out for 6 months of the year? We love TV but my wife does not want to move away from the kids. I want to be in TV from Jan to April and two months in the Summer or Fall. I can afford a down payment and some monthly expense but not a full year of mortgage payments. Any ideas?

There are way too many variables.
What’s your state income tax situation - will you re-establish residency in FLA (0% income tax)
What are the financial’s around the house you’ll buy (a $250,000 house vs a $450,000 house)
Will your kids come visit you in FLA (near disney, swimming all year, etc) - there’s an emotional benefit to that and a financial (2 BR vs 3BR)
You can make the monthly carrying costs low when youre not here (only landscaping, amenity fee, insurance, etc) - reduce internet costs to very little, get rid of cable.

[Olsenfiber]

No brainer, rent. You don’t know what you don’t know until you’ve lived here for a while. You can always look to buy a home while you’re down here renting. That’s what we did.

[Girlcopper]

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.
Why even consider buying a house and all the responsibilities that come with it if you are only staying for a couple of months?? Rent, and let the house owners be responsible for all the issues. Ok. So, the bed may not be as comfortable as yours. So? Consider it a long hotel stay since youre only there 2 months. Thats not even enough time to call it a second home. Its just a stop over

[dewilson58]

[QUOTE=Girlcopper;1963234]Why even consider buying a house and all the responsibilities that come with it if you are only staying for a couple of months?? Rent, and let the house owners be responsible for all the issues. /QUOTE]

Why??..............to get the house, a new house, in the neighborhood you want before it closes out.

We purchased our new construction house, knowing we would use it for only a few weeks per year for a few years. Did not rent it out. No regrets. Would do it again.

[snsaneholtz@gmail.com]

I have done the math. If you are here 3 months or less rent. If you are here 4 months buy.

[nick demis]

One simple question, How Much Money Do You Have?

[Viv&Steve]

Homes in TV generally only rent for the winter. It that is when you want to be here then you will get very little income from the home. I have rented ours out for 5 years. This has been my experience. We have ours listed thru RE/MAX

[Ski Bum]

Don't forget, those two months you want to be here are high season. Talking round numbers, you can get $4000 a month. If you are occupying the home, you give up that income. Summer rents are 1/3rd of that, if you are lucky enough to get a tenant.

Numbers are easy to check on ****, VH4R, or even Trulia. Pick the size home you want, in the area you want, and do the math.

We decided to buy in March 2020 and bought another home March of this year. We will rent them in high season. 4-5 months rent pays for all expenses. We will simply vacation in Mexico in the winter and when we are ready to retire and move to TV full-time, the homes will be there for us.

Sounds like renting is right for you.

[virtue51]

If you are only here one or two months, it makes no sense to buy.

[KRMACK55]

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.
Stay away from any service that has the villages in it as it’s very expensive and lousy management. I used the villages rental company the plumbing exploded and they tried to steal my $500- deposit.

Don’t buy if you’re looking to sein and do things for a few months. Rent north of 44 and remember that if you think of buying keep in mind the weather from April to October is insufferable the hest humidity the bugs and the mediocre food. Also look at other places that are cheaper around the area it is very expensive to rent here the costs and fees. I bought and regret it everyday.

[Spalumbos62]

Does anyone have any financial data on the costs associated with owning in TV and renting the home out for 6 months of the year? We love TV but my wife does not want to move away from the kids. I want to be in TV from Jan to April and two months in the Summer or Fall. I can afford a down payment and some monthly expense but not a full year of mortgage payments. Any ideas?


We do a few winter months and then rent out the balance...with an occasional short visit between renters...this year has been great, no sooner does one leave, another goes in...which covers expenses. Tough part is you and the renter wants winter, but that's your high rent months, like triple, and sometimes that is hard to give up.

[JMintzer]

We rented for two months over the past Winter. SWMBO pent most of the time in the rental, while I shuttled back and forth to work.

While we were here, we found a place to buy. Settled in February.

We plan to come down 2-3 weeks every quarter, with the boss spending more time here over the Winter...

Eventually, we'll come full time. We have no plans to rent our home...

[slpierce21@gmail.com]

We rented for 3 years and it was not a great financial decision...we finally bought. I suggest you buy a small place and rent it out when you are not there, which will pretty much pay for itself...and now you will have a nest egg

[La lamy]

Renting seems to be the best financial way to go for you, but if you can afford it, it's nice to have your own place and not have to worry about finding/keeping the rental you like.

[Carolynp4]

I don’t think you would have access to the lap pools.

[boothechihuahua]

I would not rent because the prices are just going to go up with no signs of letting up for the foreseeable future. You can rent then buy in a year or two but you're just going to pay more. You can always rent the house to someone else when you're not there to cover the carrying costs for the year.

[coralway]

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.




Definitely rent - you may, or may not, decide you want to live here full time. Contrary to what a RE agent may tell you to push you to buy, this place is hardly very friendly.

I started to rent here in 2004. Soon after decided I did not wish to live here full time, so I rent out my home and visit 2 months a year, which is quite enough.

As others have observed, without knowing your finances, it is really not possible to give a clear answer, only what works for each of us individually.

[Papa_lecki]

If you can afford to buy - its a good investment - prices will rise.

[SIRE1]

We have been in The Villages for 10 years now and I have kept track of ALL the expenses related to our home. That includes insurance, taxes, yard work, maintenance issues, cable, etc, etc, etc. And my average annual cost has been around $13,000. So based on that fixed annual cost (whether I'm here or not) I've compared the home ownership cost to the number of months I could rent @ $3000 per month. Based on that, I would have to rent 4 months or more to come close to my annual ownership cost. So if I were here only 3 months or less, it is far more economical to rent. Plus, renting avoids those really big ticket cost like a new roof or a new furnace & AC. Even a new house will eventually need those costs. Now I know that when I sell, there will hopefully be a profit from appreciation, but that is a potential future gain and will probably go to my kids anyway.

[ronda]

Lots of good comments from many people. Something I haven't heard people discuss is state income tax. Not sure if your home state has a state income tax? If you buy a house, and can declare domicile in FL, and live there for 6 Mo + 1 day you can avoid State Income Tax. We are from NJ that has 6% Income tax. The tax savings are significant.

[ronda]

We have been in The Villages for 10 years now and I have kept track of ALL the expenses related to our home. That includes insurance, taxes, yard work, maintenance issues, cable, etc, etc, etc. And my average annual cost has been around $13,000. So based on that fixed annual cost (whether I'm here or not) I've compared the home ownership cost to the number of months I could rent @ $3000 per month. Based on that, I would have to rent 4 months or more to come close to my annual ownership cost. So if I were here only 3 months or less, it is far more economical to rent. Plus, renting avoids those really big ticket cost like a new roof or a new furnace & AC. Even a new house will eventually need those costs. Now I know that when I sell, there will hopefully be a profit from appreciation, but that is a potential future gain and will probably go to my kids anyway.


Great post. Most people underestimate the cost of owning a house. We are also programed that renting is bad and buying is good. Not necessarily the case. Yes, the house is likely to appreciate, but so will investing the money in a good stock. The stock costs nothing to own and can be liquidated for almost nothing at any time. 6% to sell a house. My advise, take the money you would spend on the house, put it in a good dividend paying stock and use the dividend to rent a house in TV. You will come out way ahead.

[JMintzer]

Great post. Most people underestimate the cost of owning a house. We are also programed that renting is bad and buying is good. Not necessarily the case. Yes, the house is likely to appreciate, but so will investing the money in a good stock. The stock costs nothing to own and can be liquidated for almost nothing at any time. 6% to sell a house. My advise, take the money you would spend on the house, put it in a good dividend paying stock and use the dividend to rent a house in TV. You will come out way ahead.

All true, but you there's something to be said about returning to your own place, whenever you want...

We rented last Winter (while shopping for a home) and I always felt like I was staying in a slightly larger hotel room, without the maid service or a coffee shop...

We bought, knowing that for the next few years, we would only be using our place sporadically. And that's fine with us... It already feels like home...

[Villages Kahuna]

The bigger question might be WHERE in The Villages might you want to buy or rent? Most people don’t realize that The Villages is already several miles longer from north to where they’re currently building than the City of Chicago! And like any big city, people tend to shop, eat out, entertain themselves, in the neighborhood near where they live. You wouldn’t even think about living in Marsh Bend or Chitty Chatty and zipping down to Spanish Springs for an ice cream cone at Kilwins or playing golf at one of the excellent ‘north end’ courses. Make certain you like the shopping, restaurants and infrastructure near where you choose to live in The Villages.

[Laker14]

Stay away from any service that has the villages in it as it’s very expensive and lousy management. I used the villages rental company the plumbing exploded and they tried to steal my $500- deposit.

Don’t buy if you’re looking to sein and do things for a few months. Rent north of 44 and remember that if you think of buying keep in mind the weather from April to October is insufferable the hest humidity the bugs and the mediocre food. Also look at other places that are cheaper around the area it is very expensive to rent here the costs and fees. I bought and regret it everyday.

If you regret your decision to buy, it seems like a perfect opportunity to undo that mistake, and make a nice bundle of cash and find a location more to your liking, no?

[cj1040]

Rent but peak times of Jan Feb and March are expensive and most owners won't break up the 3 months. If you decide to buy you can have the property managed for a fee when you rent it out. Prices are very high right now.

[ronda]

All true, but you there's something to be said about returning to your own place, whenever you want...

We rented last Winter (while shopping for a home) and I always felt like I was staying in a slightly larger hotel room, without the maid service or a coffee shop...

We bought, knowing that for the next few years, we would only be using our place sporadically. And that's fine with us... It already feels like home...

Yes, that something when you return is called maintenance work :)

Another thing about renting is, you can change your mind from year to year. If you want to go to some other place, you can do that. You can stay 1 year in TV, the next along the coast, the 3rd in the mountains, etc. And if your circumstances make it difficult to travel that year, you can just stay home. If something breaks, or needs maintenance it's the landlords problem, not yours.

Having said all of this, my wife bought a house in TV in 2019 :bigbow: :icon_wink:
We are very happy with our purchase, so no regrets. We love TV. So yeah, she said there is something about having your own place ............but it's not choice, less maintenance, convenience, or saving money.

[JMintzer]

Yes, that something when you return is called maintenance work :)

Another thing about renting is, you can change your mind from year to year. If you want to go to some other place, you can do that. You can stay 1 year in TV, the next along the coast, the 3rd in the mountains, etc. And if your circumstances make it difficult to travel that year, you can just stay home. If something breaks, or needs maintenance it's the landlords problem, not yours.

Having said all of this, my wife bought a house in TV in 2019 :bigbow: :icon_wink:
We are very happy with our purchase, so no regrets. We love TV. So yeah, she said there is something about having your own place ............but it's not choice, less maintenance, convenience, or saving money.

I never said there was no maintenance...

In fact, IIRC, I agreed with the poster who mentioned underestimating the additional costs in owning a house...

[ronda]

I know J., I meant no offense, just trying to be "entertaining/clever".
All the best.

[JMintzer]

I know J., I meant no offense, just trying to be "entertaining/clever".
All the best.

Absolutely none taken!


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