A big thank you and any final wisdom

[rugbyjohn]

In exactly one week from today we will be leaving Tax Jersey and heading to TV to buy a home. We are not leaving till the deed is done. For the past month or so I have posed any number of questions to you all and have had great comments. As an aside my post where I mistakenly called route 466, route 440 seems to be the winner with 7 pages and counting. Regardless, my point is that I have learned some excellent things from you guys. Things I never would have thought of, that now will make my home purchase a much more informed one. In fact I have created a list of your "look out for or beware of" and ranked them from 1 to 10 where 1 is "no house with this". If I find a house that excludes the top 5 I can live with the remainning 5. SO A BIG THANKS..... AND IF THERE ARE ANY FINAL PEARLS OF WISDOM...I HAVE A WEEK LEFT.
CHEERS
John DeCoste
Cherry Hill, Tax Jersey

[champion6]

Congratulations and good luck... and enjoy!

[Pturner]

Only thing I have to add is that you are making a fabulous decision. You will not go wrong in TV. All best wishes!

Pturner

[Bettiboop]

Good luck to you in finding just the right house for you to call your new home!

For those of us who hope to follow in your footsteps someday, I'd be interested to know what you found the top 10 things to be -- if you don't mind sharing. I am constantly making notes of things I want to remember when the time comes...and while I know not everyone has the same likes and/or dislikes, I am always interested to hear what others found important to them when considering a home in TV.

Again, good luck! Keep us posted so we can celebrate with you!

[2BNTV]

RugbyJohn:

Sounds like your thinking vey methodically.

Best Wishes on your future purchase and I hope you get all ten things on your list.

[springfield]

We are newbies and found the"Nuts and Bolts" section of TOTV to be very helpful. It is the next to the last section at the very bottom. We printed it out and used it all the time when we got down here.

We found it was helpful to ask for recommendations for just about everything. Whether it was drs.,realtors, handy persons, painters, whatever, we asked. Since there seem to be lots of people willing to take your money, we didn't want to buy a "pig in a poke."

Every day we tell each other how much we love it here and our neighbors. This is a special place. It sounds like you have done your homework. Come on down and enjoy yourself.:welcome:

[Ajack]

Well, I have been studying this forum and all the literature I could get my hands on and I had a great idea of where and what kind of home I wanted.

Well, at the last minute we threw it all out and bought a new Courtyard Villa. We sign in 13 days and I couldn't be happier. :a040:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

rugbyjack/Ajack - Happy for you both. Wishing we were in your shoes!! Enjoy the pleasures of your great decisions -

Bill

[LuvItHere]

Well, I have been studying this forum and all the literature I could get my hands on and I had a great idea of where and what kind of home I wanted.

Well, at the last minute we threw it all out and bought a new Courtyard Villa. We sign in 13 days and I couldn't be happier. :a040:

Yaaaaaaayyyyy!!!! Avoid "Analysis Paralysis" and take the plunge!

You can't go wrong in The Villages.

[swrinfla]

I've spent much of the last couple of weeks pitching, pitching and pitching.

And, this was stuff I brought with me 5 1/2 years ago! :clap2:

My message to rugbyjohn is clearly: study your stuff a minimum of three times before deciding that you "must" bring it to TV with you! The more you can shed now, the less you'll have to shed later. Or, as my daughters like to remind me, the less they'll have to pitch when I'm gone!

Hope to see you here soon!

SWR
:beer3:

[decodiana]

This is my first post. I would also be interested in your "top 10" things to look for when buying in TV. I also live in Tax Jersey, right down the road from you in Winslow Township. My sister and I are coming on the Lifestyle Visit in January and are eagerly awaiting our first visit. Although we probably won't be able to retire for another 2-3 years, we are doing a lot of planning now. Please share your "list" with us.

Thanks.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Welcome to TOTV decodiana!

Bill

[kentucky blue]

Some words of wisdom from somebody who spent his first 18 years in New Jersey and now a proud home owner in TV.If everything seems to be going well,you have obviously overlooked something." "Always borrow money from a pessimist.They won't expect it back." Finally, death is hereditary, soooooooooooo live on the edge, take risk,enjoy the moments, and party in TV like there is no tomorrow. Hope to meet you someday, i'm back in Lexington,Ky, off to the Kentucky /Georgia football game ............Goooooooooooooooooooooo CATS !!!!!!

[Pturner]

Some words of wisdom from somebody who spent his first 18 years in New Jersey and now a proud home owner in TV.If everything seems to be going well,you have obviously overlooked something." "Always borrow money from a pessimist.They won't expect it back." Finally, death is hereditary, soooooooooooo live on the edge, take risk,enjoy the moments, and party in TV like there is no tomorrow. Hope to meet you someday, i'm back in Lexington,Ky, off to the Kentucky /Georgia football game ............Goooooooooooooooooooooo CATS !!!!!!

um.......... Goooooooooooooooooo DOGS !!!!!!

[ceegeo]

Rugbyjohn,

This is so exciting and keep us updated on your visit and the purchase process, etc. My husband and I are coming down in January to do the same thing, buy in TV (finally). And like you we have been searching all information and TOTV has been such a great informational tool and a fun site too.

Enjoy the process and keep us updated. Best of luck.

[pklein9747]

RugbyJohn,

We're from North Jersey and have just sold our home of 31 years. We will be closing in mid-December. Hubby and I are headed down to TV in mid-November to pick out our new forever home. :pepper2:

I would also appreciate knowing your top 10 for buying down there. Do you know what type of home or what area you are thinking of buying in?

Congrats...Hopefully we'll meet in TV!!

Pat and Bill

[Pturner]

Ceegeo and Pklein,

First, :welcome: and congratulations! You have every reason to be excited, and I'm excited for you.

I'll list a few things to consider in TV when choosing a home.



Villa vs. house. The villas have a privacy wall, which a lot of people love. Fences aren't allowed at the houses, so if you need one for pets or privacy, villas are a good choice. Yards are smaller and less maintenance. Some are available with rock/ very low maintenance. On the other hand, most of the villas just have a 1 1/2 garage.
Garage. Will you have one car and one cart? two cars? do you need a lot of space for toys or storage? With no basements, space is at a premium, so bigger is better, all else considered.
Number of bedrooms. Will you be frogs, snowbirds or snowflakes? If you'll be renting your house out part of the year, fewer bedrooms will mean fewer people staying in your home. If you'll be frogs, do you need a guest room plus an office? More than one guest room? Extra room or closet space? On the other hand, are you looking to downsize and simplify. Want fewer rooms to clean? Consider your lifestyle as well as your budget when deciding.
Lanai. If you plan to spend a lot of time there, you might want a floor plan with a larger sized lanai. Some homes have "kissing lanais" where yours and your neighbor's face each other. Some lanais face the street. You might prefer a more private lanai, so consider it's orientation and relative privacy. Will you be able to screen it with shrubbery? Also consider then time of day you are likely to use it. Some people prefer not having the lanai facing west when it gets the hot afternoon sun.
Location. What amenities do you think you will use the most? Would you rather be near shopping or a town square? Do you want to be near a clubhouse or rec. center? If outdoor music at a clubhouse or pickleball noise or from a rec center would annoy you, you might not want to live too close. You might also want to avoid being too near power lines or sewer facilities. The homes tend to be further apart and there is more mature landscaping on the north side, but the homes and floor plans are newer on the south side. If you prefer new to pre-owned, your choices will be more limited (south side and one of the newer Villages.)
New or pre-owned. With new, you can customize to your liking. Many people like moving into a neighborhood around the same time as all their neighbors, feeling that it's easier to meet and bond with neighbors. With pre-owned, many upgrades might already be done, the bond might be less and of course, there are more to choose from. If you prefer the mature landscaping or golf courses on the north side, new is not an option.
Stucco vs. Stick. More home for money with stick; stucco prettier.
Upgrades. These are a matter of personal preference, but a couple that are particularly useful are attic stairs (for storage space) and solar panels for extra light.
Homesite. Do you need room to expand a room, add a pool or birdcage, add on to the house? Do you want a larger corner lot or do you prefer a smaller lot/ lower maintenance? Do you care about having a private back yard and/or lanai? Do you want to live on water (advantage-- beauty/ disadvantage-- alligators, premium price, no guarantee water will always be there, possible smell at times)? Do you want to live on a golf course (advantage-- space, beauty/ cautions-- golf balls breaking your window depending on where on the golf course.)
Size. Do you want a large, spacious home or would you rather downsize, spending more time out and about and less cleaning? Do you love to entertain at home and bigger is better?
Price. No list would be complete without consideration of budget. TV has homes ranging in price from under $100,000 to more than $1 million.

Oops. I guess that was a baker's 10. :laugh:

Please keep us posted on your selection and schedule for moving to Lower Paradise. All best wishes!

PTurner

[K9-Lovers]

Excellent list, PTurner! You've given everyone who's considering a move food for thought!

[champion6]

Below is the list we shared with our TV realtor. Of course, there was a price ceiling that we set. The list helped him zero in on the homes and lots which we were most interested in seeing.

Top Priority
Two car garage (extended or golf cart garage would be nice)
Lanai faces North, South or East
Ranch/Designer houses - two or three bedrooms
No further north than Polo Grounds
No older than 10 years

Would Be Nice
Gas range (almost a top priority)
White cabinets
Lot has some privacy/space
Roman shower

Absolutely NO
Lanai faces West
Near power lines
Personal pool (hot tub not desired, but would be OK)

[RichieLion]

I guess everybody has their preferences, but I have a west facing lanai and I don't mind it at all. It's in the shade all day except late afternoon, so I have plenty of good time out there. It's especially ideal in the mornings when it's cooler anyway, and in the shade besides, to have my breakfast and read my paper out there, which wouldn't be as much fun with the sun bearing down on me. I have a large lot and my lanai faces the street, and not a main street, and I get to wave and greet and chat with neighbors who are walking by exercising themselves or their dogs.
I guess north or south is ideal because it's half in, half out of the sun all day.

[Ajack]

Our lanai faces west, too. We haven't moved in yet, but we have been over there many times during different times of the day, and I think it will be great. Like already said, the hottest part of the day is shaded, and we will get a great view of the sunset.

[gardenia]

Rugbyjohn: Here is my list of required/desired I gave to my agent in August. I ended up with new construction, and all but one thing on my desired list within my price range. I moved down from NJ (Morris county) few months ago and absolutely love it here, bet you will too.

REQUIRED

Designer Home
Stucco
3rd BR
Walk in shower
No interior pillars
Lanai: no entrance to any Bedroom
Non-white kitchen cabinets
Walk in MBR closet
Indoor laundry room
2 car garage minimum
Ceramic tile
Sink in laundry room

Homesite: Not bottom of hill (water / runoff issues)
Not on a main street
No corner lot
Not backing up to main street
Not next to golf cart path
Not near any lake or water
Not near pickle ball court
No view of power line towers
Not near sewage treatment plant
No steps off lanai or patio down to yard

DESIRED

House: Lanai off kitchen or DR

HomeSite: Cul de Sac or side street
Lanai facing North or East
No “kissing” lanai
Neighborhood (adult only) pool close by
No view of water tower
Backs up to rounded top of cul de sac (more privacy in rear)

[taylor111947]

Gardenia: Just curious - why did you not want an entrance from the lanai to a bedroom?

[getdul981]

I was wondering which one of the items on the list she did not get.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I was wondering which one of the items on the list she did not get. I'll guess "Not near sewage treatment plant".............. :yuck:

Maybe not. :)

Bill

[ceegeo]

Best of luck to you. Keep us in the loop on your process and what you buy and why.

This will be very interesting to us, we are coming in January to purchase and like you very excited about our future in TV. Can't wait.

Posted back to you yesterday but put it on the wrong thread or whatever it is called....it was my first reply but I am learning.

Take care

[bkcunningham1]

ceegeo, welcome to Talk of the Villages (TOTV)! I didn't mean to hi-jack this discussion, but I noticed you were new and just wanted to say hello and welcome. B.K. Cunningham

[NormaJean]

Congratulations decodiana on your first post! We started planning in 2005 with our first Lifestyle visit in 2006, our second in 2008, and a one month rental in 2009 which led to us purchasing a courtyard villa on our 38th wedding anniversary. We had planned on building a Bridgeport or Lily just two blocks from our CYV that we have now. We just fell into a great buy on this CYV. We rented our CYV for a year until we could move down here this past August. The only thing we regret is that we didn't get here sooner. TV is like no other. When you come down in January you will find a lot more TV friends then you will in the summer months. Although a busy time, it is great fun and I know you won't want to go home. (we didn't) Everyone here gave great ideas for you to remember, but it is totally up to your wants and needs. The months before we moved were filled with questions on whether we were making the right decision and packing/moving stress. Our motivation was reading all the great things people said on this site. We knew then that we were making the right decision and we haven't looked back. Enjoy your visit in January...hope to see you at the Square! Just hurry and get down here.:crap2:

[decodiana]

Thanks for your comments, NormaJean. We are so excited about our first visit and have been waiting for the January dates to be released so we could book it. My parents visited there in the mid '90's and my dad loved it but couldn't talk my mom into leaving NJ where the rest of the family is to move "so far away". Both parents are still with us, 85 and 84 respectively. Dad's STILL raving about TV! :thumbup: