What questions to ask Salesperson during Lifestyle Visit

[CharlieK]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

[manaboutown]

I asked about the bond on new houses. My first salesman hemmed and hawed about it. I never did get a straight answer. He also showed and steered me toward new homes only and evaded showing me any resales whatsoever after repeated requests. Needless to say I changed agents for my next trip to TV.

[LuvNH]

We asked about hidden costs. We wanted to know EXACTLY whatr TV charges, water, electricity, gas. etc. etc.

[villagetinker]

Make very sure you understand the lot access and the use of the gate, your neighbor gets to use the gate (your gate) to get access to the side of their house, so you cannot lock it unless you give them a key. I point this out since you have a dog. Once we understood the dual access situation, villas were out of consideration. The other item, if you dog happens to bark a lot, this may be a problem for your very close neighbors. The garages tend to be small, make sure your vehicle will fit, and a golf cart if you intend to get one. Very limited parking in villas. All of this was from 9 years ago, so there may be some differences in the newer sections.

You may need to get a MLS realtor (for resale homes) and a Villages agent (for new homes).

[Papa_lecki]

Don’t let your dog drive your house decision. We have a dog, no fence. It’s easy to walk him 2 or 3 times a day. It’s too hot, you wont leave him out much.
We have a birdcage, so he can go outside if he wants.

Don’t believe anything they tell you about what is being built and when (i.e. a new golf course, a Publix, a CVS, etc). Plans now, are just that, plans. Buy based on what’s there now.

[thelegges]

Buying south is less retail establishments, ( we love less traffic, and the trucks that supply them) but unless you are a person who has to shop everyday, driving 5-15 minutes every 5-10 days is not a big deal. Up north we drove 45 minutes just to get to a decent grocery.

People will tell you buy resale so you are close to physicians , if you see a physician once a week then by all means find your guys first then buy. But if you are a regular person who has check ups every 6 months to a year, then buy wherever.

Some think being near square or venue is the most important, for many that’s true for awhile, then you find multiple things, clubs to join, and new people to see. That town square becomes lower on your list,

View is important, If you have a Cow Pasture behind your house, next month it could become a big box store, apartments, or car wash. There are very few flood zone issues in TV, live Oaks are protected, and pets rule many lives.

In the south, There is a prison (with rumors of lights, loud speakers, sirens, and possibly an escape, no worries on any of this). The power lines which some are not a fan(me included), and the turnpike, which may or may not bother you, anymore than living by or blocks away from 44, 466, 466A, Morse, or BV.

It’s not a race TV will be building long after many have taken dirt nap, and there will always be a house for sale. That said we are on our fourth house in TV, just keep moving farther South, along with the progress of new things to come.

[Marathon Man]

Buying south is less retail establishments, ( we love less traffic, and the trucks that supply them) but unless you are a person who has to shop everyday, driving 5-15 minutes every 5-10 days is not a big deal. Up north we drove 45 minutes just to get to a decent grocery.

People will tell you buy resale so you are close to physicians , if you see a physician once a week then by all means find your guys first then buy. But if you are a regular person who has check ups every 6 months to a year, then buy wherever.

Some think being near square or venue is the most important, for many that’s true for awhile, then you find multiple things, clubs to join, and new people to see. That town square becomes lower on your list,

View is important, If you have a Cow Pasture behind your house, next month it could become a big box store, apartments, or car wash. There are very few flood zone issues in TV, live Oaks are protected, and pets rule many lives.

In the south, There is a prison (with rumors of lights, loud speakers, sirens, and possibly an escape, no worries on any of this). The power lines which some are not a fan(me included), and the turnpike, which may or may not bother you, anymore than living by or blocks away from 44, 466, 466A, Morse, or BV.

It’s not a race TV will be building long after many have taken dirt nap, and there will always be a house for sale. That said we are on our fourth house in TV, just keep moving farther South, along with the progress of new things to come.

And the award for excellence in posting goes to ...

Well said and right on point.

[Altavia]

Lots of info here:

The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community (https://www.thevillages.com/whatsnew/continuing-the-dream/archive)

[Papa_lecki]

Some think being near square or venue is the most important, for many that’s true for awhile, then you find multiple things, clubs to join, and new people to see. That town square becomes lower on your list,

His point on squares is spot on. UNLESS - you LOVE to dance.

We thought we HAD to live near LSL, that was our point of reference in our visits. We ended up closer to Brownwood. We will go down occasionally, for a walk, and com home - but we actually like Sawgrass better. It all changes when you get here.

[thelegges]

Questions to agent, wait for them to give you info about bond (most preowned have some bond left depending on age of home) very few pay bond off, all new homes have a bond.

If your agent does not tell you about the cost of living in TV including the bond, you can request a different agent.

If you want to see preowned, and you are only being shown new, walk away, It’s not hard to find a good agent here, we are on our third and last agent that we finally trust.

Your agent is a life line, will help navigate TV, finding the correct house, go to your walk through, and be there for your closing. Then keeps in touch with you, answers your texts, if something goes wrong.

Above all take your time, as I stated we are on our 4th home, not because we made mistakes but life changes, and TV for us is the easiest to buy, sell, and move out of any place we have lived.

[kingofbeer]

We asked about hidden costs. We wanted to know EXACTLY whatr TV charges, water, electricity, gas. etc. etc.
Gas, electric, and water is very expensive here. I am in Richmond. TECO the gas company charges $1 per day for service plus you pay for the gas usage. The same for SECO, they charge $1 per day, plus you pay for the electric usage. My last house had FPL Florida Power and Light, our monthly bill was lower. FPL does not have a daily charge.

[Altavia]

I asked about the bond on new houses. My first salesman hemmed and hawed about it. I never did get a straight answer. He also showed and steered me toward new homes only and evaded showing me any resales whatsoever after repeated requests. Needless to say I changed agents for my next trip to TV.

People need to do their homework, the Rep's do not represrnt the buyet.

Bond info available here:
So

Bond Amortization Schedules (https://www.districtgov.org/departments/Finance/amortization.aspx)

[badkarma318]

The other item, if you dog happens to bark a lot, this may be a problem for your very close neighbors.

I've wondered about this. Many people like to spend time in their lanai/birdcage area - if your neighbor has a dog that barks day and night, that could really put a damper on those sunrise coffees and sunset wines. Is there anything that could be done in that situation, or is it the tired "If you don't like it . . . move!" answer? Does anyone know of situations like that occurring in the past, and if so, how they were resolved?

[tophcfa]

When are they going to build some real friggin golf courses south of 44 that aren’t running along the turnpike?

[Altavia]

When are they going to build some real friggin golf courses south of 44 that aren’t running along the turnpike?

You mean like: Red Fox, Grey Fox, Lowlands, Loblolly, Longleaf???

And the following (and more...) in work?

[Garywt]

First off, here you get a lot of the complainers. We bought a CYV 4 years ago and love it. We bought new because we wanted a new house plus the older once did not have the shower we wanted in the master bath. We wanted a tiled shower with no lip to enter so I could be rolled in if I end up in a wheelchair. The older homes we looked at had shower enclosures with a 4 inch lip and sliding glass doors which was not what we wanted.

The fenced in yard is nice and very private. The only reason a neighbor would need to enter through your gate would be to maintain the side of their house that faces you, other than that you have full control ad to what happens in that area of the yard. I have never been through my neighbors gate in the 4 years. My neighbors on both sides are great.

We did look at many designer homes over a 5 year period before we decided a CYV would be best. Our thinking was why go big as we get older. Our villa is very manageable both the house and yard. We still have a 3 bedroom with over 1400 sq feet which is more than enough for 2 people. We leave our car in the driveway and park our 2 golf carts in the garage. We have a garage and a half with a curved driveway but the ones being built today are mostly 2 car garages with a straight driveway which is plenty of space for a car and a cart or 2.

Expenses are expenses and water, electric and gas are different for every resident. I feel the important question today is how to go about winning a bid. Houses seem to get released and within an hour or less they are all under contract. You need to ask the agent how they would handle that on your behalf.

I wish you luck.

[MrChip72]

Some obvious and not so obvious things to think about:

Direction lanai is facing - afternoon direct sun is the least ideal to some

Natural gas available - not all homes have this available, and we personally love our gas stove and dryer

Distance to closest community pool/postal station

Distance to nearest Regional Rec Center

How far to nearest grocery store by car and golf cart

Distance to nearest golf cart accessible gas station

[thelegges]

I've wondered about this. Many people like to spend time in their lanai/birdcage area - if your neighbor has a dog that barks day and night, that could really put a damper on those sunrise coffees and sunset wines. Is there anything that could be done in that situation, or is it the tired "If you don't like it . . . move!" answer? Does anyone know of situations like that occurring in the past, and if so, how they were resolved?

In 07 we thought CYV was for us, so our next lifestyle for 7 days at creakside landing. First thing that we really noticed was how noise bounced around. We could hear phone conversations of people sitting on their lanai, while we were trying to enjoy our lanai. Mind you we spend 70% of our time out in the lanai, or birdcage. Not sure if hearing was the problem, but one conversation I could clearly listen while a person gave their CC number. Music and TV noise also bothered us, but neither of us have hearing issues.

The barking dog maybe 2-3 houses over was the deciding factor. Not all pet owners are responsible, or consider others when their pet is involved. And NO there is really nothing one can do to stop the barking, since the owner has no issues with it. Yes the easiest thing to do is move.

When our agent stopped by, on day 3 we told him stop looking for CYV. He smiled and said I kind of had a feeling that would be the case, so that’s why I put you here.

Mindful that many love their CYV and their neighbors, it just not something we would have lived in for more than a year

[skippy05]

Ask why on the South and new side the sales people don't point out the following: Loud turn pike noise, no shops and no stores and no land reserved to build any. You'd best buy on the North side.

[lpkruege1]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

How far by golf cart are the town squares. How far to a gas station. How far to a grocery store. How far to sewage treatment plant. How far to the dump. Smells travel for the last two. How far to a dog park. How far to shopping like home improvement/clothes. How far to restaurants in and out of the Villages. How far is freeway access. How Close is the Freeway. How far is medical treatment. After that, How Much? Car insurance, Sink Hole insurance, car registration, golf cart insurance. If buying used How Old. Roofs are only good for 15 years if you want to have house insurance. HVAC lasts about as long. I think that's a good starting point.

[bowlingal]

the question to ask is........What are you NOT telling me

[banjobob]

We chose a CYV over other models , privacy , lanai was not within earshot or site of backyard neighbor , everyone within the villa watches out for everyone , no through traffic , unknown cars scrutinized , ours has an open back view of golf course and on a dead end street .mature landscaping close shopping and within 1 mile of 2 swimming pools and 4 exec golf courses, a rec center within 2 miles.

[westernrider75]

Make very sure you understand the lot access and the use of the gate, your neighbor gets to use the gate (your gate) to get access to the side of their house, so you cannot lock it unless you give them a key. I point this out since you have a dog. Once we understood the dual access situation, villas were out of consideration. The other item, if you dog happens to bark a lot, this may be a problem for your very close neighbors. The garages tend to be small, make sure your vehicle will fit, and a golf cart if you intend to get one. Very limited parking in villas. All of this was from 9 years ago, so there may be some differences in the newer sections.

You may need to get a MLS realtor (for resale homes) and a Villages agent (for new homes).

We have a CYV and we lock our gate as do most of our neighbors with dogs. Our neighbors are aware of it and if they need to get back there they just ask, it’s never been a problem. Just pointing it out because it really is not a problem as there is very little reason to ever go on that side of our house. Most of the houses in our neighborhood are full 2 car garages, some also have golf cart garages. We are south of 44, mostly because we could not find a villa with a larger garage north of 44.

[westernrider75]

Buying south is less retail establishments, ( we love less traffic, and the trucks that supply them) but unless you are a person who has to shop everyday, driving 5-15 minutes every 5-10 days is not a big deal. Up north we drove 45 minutes just to get to a decent grocery.

People will tell you buy resale so you are close to physicians , if you see a physician once a week then by all means find your guys first then buy. But if you are a regular person who has check ups every 6 months to a year, then buy wherever.

Some think being near square or venue is the most important, for many that’s true for awhile, then you find multiple things, clubs to join, and new people to see. That town square becomes lower on your list,

View is important, If you have a Cow Pasture behind your house, next month it could become a big box store, apartments, or car wash. There are very few flood zone issues in TV, live Oaks are protected, and pets rule many lives.

In the south, There is a prison (with rumors of lights, loud speakers, sirens, and possibly an escape, no worries on any of this). The power lines which some are not a fan(me included), and the turnpike, which may or may not bother you, anymore than living by or blocks away from 44, 466, 466A, Morse, or BV.

It’s not a race TV will be building long after many have taken dirt nap, and there will always be a house for sale. That said we are on our fourth house in TV, just keep moving farther South, along with the progress of new things to come.

Well said!

[thelegges]

Ask why on the South and new side the sales people don't point out the following: Loud turn pike noise, no shops and no stores and no land reserved to build any. You'd best buy on the North side.

Seriously do you think everyone is blind when they look at TV? One can see shopping areas, and vacant land that has signs up for construction. Agent will tell you here is where ————— is being built, problem is it takes twice the time as predicted. There are 3 large properties south of Brownwood that is zoned commercial, I hope it take years to build, to keep traffic north. I can drive 10 minutes to shop.

As for the turnpike pike, if you are blind, and deaf my guess is you would not notice it, and your agent won’t have to point them out. But many lots you can see the turnpike, those with walls you can hear the turnpike, just like you can hear traffic on 44, 466, 466a, Morse, or BV. One doesn’t need an agent to point out what is right in front of you. I can faintly hear the train in Duval, isn’t that North of here?

You really need to bone up the Northern advice, you forgot “Coleman Prison, Power Lines, no flowers, and no new Town Square”.

New buyers seem to be very young South of Brownwood, my guess is they have great vision, hearing, and the ability to invest in their future. 13 houses on our new street in Richmond came from the Northern section of TV, we say we moved from what used to be “The Middle of TV”:1rotfl:

[dschneider]

When are they going to build some real friggin golf courses south of 44 that aren’t running along the turnpike?
Why is that a problem?

[westernrider75]

Gas, electric, and water is very expensive here. I am in Richmond. TECO the gas company charges $1 per day for service plus you pay for the gas usage. The same for SECO, they charge $1 per day, plus you pay for the electric usage. My last house had FPL Florida Power and Light, our monthly bill was lower. FPL does not have a daily charge.

Not sure about the others but TECO doesn’t charge $1 a day plus usage. My bill is about $25 per month and we use it for hot water, clothes dryer and cooking.

[thelegges]

Not sure about the others but TECO doesn’t charge $1 a day plus usage. My bill is about $25 per month and we use it for hot water, clothes dryer and cooking.

They might be confusing the deposit, ($80) and set up fee ($25) on first bill with usage

[Travelhunter123]

Some obvious and not so obvious things to think about:

Direction lanai is facing - afternoon direct sun is the least ideal to some

Natural gas available - not all homes have this available, and we personally love our gas stove and dryer

Distance to closest community pool/postal station

Distance to nearest Regional Rec Center

How far to nearest grocery store by car and golf cart

Distance to nearest golf cart accessible gas station

I use Kroger delivery so the distance to the grocery store is not that much of an issue

[Travelhunter123]

Ask why on the South and new side the sales people don't point out the following: Loud turn pike noise, no shops and no stores and no land reserved to build any. You'd best buy on the North side.
I enjoy frequent ambulance sirens, short term rental signs and beautiful views of assisting living facilities thats why I bought on the North Side

[RICH1]

Park on the shoulder of the Turnpike and surmise the housing situation….

[MandoMan]

Gas, electric, and water is very expensive here. I am in Richmond. TECO the gas company charges $1 per day for service plus you pay for the gas usage. The same for SECO, they charge $1 per day, plus you pay for the electric usage. My last house had FPL Florida Power and Light, our monthly bill was lower. FPL does not have a daily charge.

“Expensive” is relative. My recollection is that SECO is charging about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. There aren’t many places in the nation charging less than that, and there are some states charging as much as three times that much. Last month my water bill was $13 and my sewage bill was $26. There are places charging that much per day for water! Most of us don’t have natural gas. My electricity runs around $110 to $230 per month depending on the temp, with either the AC or the heat turned on 24/7. That’s about, what, $4 to $7 a day?

[seecapecod]

Make very sure you understand the lot access and the use of the gate, your neighbor gets to use the gate (your gate) to get access to the side of their house, so you cannot lock it unless you give them a key. I point this out since you have a dog. Once we understood the dual access situation, villas were out of consideration. The other item, if you dog happens to bark a lot, this may be a problem for your very close neighbors. The garages tend to be small, make sure your vehicle will fit, and a golf cart if you intend to get one. Very limited parking in villas. All of this was from 9 years ago, so there may be some differences in the newer sections.

You may need to get a MLS realtor (for resale homes) and a Villages agent (for new homes).

MLS Realtor for Pre-owned and a Villages Sales Agent for new and Pre-owned, that covers all available homes for sale.

[aldeana]

Ask about the bond, the full amount and the monthly payments, which are in addition to any mortgage. All new houses have a bond which buyers have to amortize in addition to amenity fees etc. Or you can pay it in full up front or at a convenient time. Most houses north of 466 have the bond already paid. Also, there's more greenery in this area. South of 466A the area lacks established landscaping. Fences are not allowed, so consider courtyard villas, which have their own walled-in area.

[coconutmama]

“Expensive” is relative. My recollection is that SECO is charging about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. There aren’t many places in the nation charging less than that, and there are some states charging as much as three times that much. Last month my water bill was $13 and my sewage bill was $26. There are places charging that much per day for water! Most of us don’t have natural gas. My electricity runs around $110 to $230 per month depending on the temp, with either the AC or the heat turned on 24/7. That’s about, what, $4 to $7 a day?

SECO is a co-op and we find their electric rates much better than Duke energy, which is not. Unless the house is gas, which we do not care for, find out which electric company supplies your prospective home.

If you decide to buy a CYV, I suggest you buy a 2 car garage one, or a 2 plus golf cart, with both having a straight driveway.

Don’t know how large your dog is, but there is quite a bit of wildlife here. A CYV is not a safety zone from bobcats or birds of prey

[toeser]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

We were told during our visit eight years ago that The Villages was nearing completion. You could always get an update on that.

[Altavia]

Ask why on the South and new side the sales people don't point out the following: Loud turn pike noise, no shops and no stores and no land reserved to build any. You'd best buy on the North side.

You must have missed Magnolia Plaza, Sawgrass and the two new "Squares"/commercial areas currently under construction at Eastport and Middleton.

Last time I checked here, only 4 people admitted moving from the Southen Villages to the northern sections.


Plus within 15-30 mins of shopping in Leesburg and Claremont. Or 45 min to Tampa/Orlando.

[MandoMan]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

I’ve just moved into a nicely landscaped 11 year old courtyard villa just north of 466A in a very quiet neighborhood from a fancier house here with a pool. The “lawn” in the courtyard is about 3x8’, which is just dandy for a little dog and easy to mow with a string trimmer. The dog has about a 60’ run on concrete with no need for a leash and can come and go as it likes. There are three sliding doors, and it’s easy to put in a dog door to the courtyard in one of them (if you put one on a door to the lanai, of course, you will also need one in the screen to the courtyard). Tinker says the gate has to remain unlocked. He’s seldom wrong, so I don’t dispute that, but that’s news to me. But the latch is high and hard to open, and I’m sure my neighbor would ask before entering. I appreciate the privacy and quiet of a courtyard villa. There is a lot of concrete at mine, so there is a lot less yard work and fewer animals and bugs.

A few questions to which you might not get answers.
Q. Are there more mosquitos and other flying bugs south of 44?
A. Definitely. The neighborhoods down there are surrounded by unsprayed swamps. You will get lots of them. I haven’t yet seen a mosquito north of 466A.

Q. What percentage of Villagers drive around in political parades on golf carts with placards, shouting at people, as shown on television?
A. The Villages is said to be 70% Red and 30% Blue, but probably fewer than 1% ride in golf cart rallies, and few have political flags. We vote, but most of us keep our mouths shut because we have good manners. Some don’t have good manners. A date once threw a martini in my face at the Arnold Palmer bar for questioning comments by her favorite president. I still paid the bar tab.

Q. How many people in The Villages contract STDs.
A. Virtually none. Most of us watch television at night. The STD rate per 100,000 is FAR lower in The Villages than in the surrounding areas, much less in cities like Ocala or Orlando. You have zero need to worry.

Q. How many people in The Villages are swingers?
A. Probably fewer than a hundred, and many of those mostly in their fond memories, not active. They don’t have colored scrunchies on their golf carts, and you are unlikely to ever meet one.

Q. What percentage of Villagers have been vaccinated?
A. We were told that at one time it was 90%, but who knows what percentage has kept up with their boosters? I have. We do tend to get vaccinations for flu, shingles, pneumonia, etc., more than younger people do because we know these things can make us very sick, cause us a lot of pain, or even kill us.

Q. What is it like to live in a city where nearly everyone you see is old and wrinkled and maybe sick, and one rarely sees young people?
A. It’s weird. I’m not used to it yet. Discussing our medical concerns is one of the most common topics of conversation. We may be playing golf or pickle ball every day, but death is still omnipresent, always there behind the pleasure. Every round could be our last. Two of my friends have died this year—one out of the blue at 67, and one around 85–and another barely survived. Another died last year at 78. And I don’t have all that many friends. On the plus side, it can be very hard to get your kids to discuss your upcoming death with you, but here, many of us are willing to discuss that.

[Marathon Man]

As is typical on this forum, there are many good suggestions, and some misinformation. While you are here, take a look at the open houses and spend some time driving to them. That will give you an opportunity to see all the areas of TV, as well as the types of houses available.

Since you are interested in a CYV, drive through a few of the CYV communities north, center and south. We have lived in two CYV's. A redesign occurred at some point during construction of the southern area. CYV's now have two car garages and straight driveways. It is one of the reasons that we relocated to the south.

Good luck. It is a large place with lots to see and lots to learn. You may be overwhelmed at first, but remember, it is hard to go wrong. All areas have their particular advantages, and none of them are bad. We made four trips before deciding where to buy.

[meachemjs]

Ask about any additional taxes in Villages like Pine Ridge and Pine Hills in Lake County. I’ve heard there is some type of tax there that is not in Sumter and Marion but never confirmed.

The Coleman prison is the largest maximum security prison in the country.

Be aware of buying near the turnpike. Traffic on it is constant and many that bought close to it now complain of the noise.

Living close to a pickle ball court is a definite no-no for some. They start playing at dawn and go to dusk.

There is a train track that runs by a big part of The Villages and blows their horn at crossings and can be heard in lots of Villages.

Totally agree with another statement on here about buying a house with open land behind it. You are never guaranteed what will be built behind you. Actually you are never guaranteed things that do exist won’t go away either. Just as anyone near the old Hacienda pool, pool bar, restaurant, golf pro shop, and tennis courts about that.

Visit the house or villa you are considering at different times of the day to check it out.

Most of these things would not bother me but might bother you or your wife. Good luck!

[Luggage]

just remember you can ask who you want, but if it's not in writing it's not 100% true.



We asked about hidden costs. We wanted to know EXACTLY whatr TV charges, water, electricity, gas. etc. etc.

[sallyg]

If you see a previously owned home you like, find out if any changes, including landscaping have been made. If so, ask to see the Architectural Review Approval and permits. And as about the bond. Good luck.

[JohnnyT]

One thing people overlook is, how many cable providers can I get in this area. Some areas north of 466A only get Xfinity.
Nothing wrong with competition.


Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

[Rodneysblue]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.
I recommend Gerry Andrews. He was our assigned agent on our lifestyle visit. We told him what we were looking for and the area and budget. Never tried to push anything else and was very forthcoming with information when questioned.

[PaPaLarry]

Who is responsible for replacing fences? The Villages have fences installed everywhere, but didn't know homeowner responsible?

[Michael 61]

I did two lifestyle visits this past summer, and closed on a new build in Richmond in December. I was very fortunate with the sales rep assigned to me on the first visit. We bonded, and I trusted him completely. He was honest, and told me the “bad” and the “good” of the various properties, locations, and housing styles available. I did however, have to give him some direction to help him narrow-down my search. I initially was torn between new and existing homes, he showed me both. I told him I wanted to be south of 466A, wanted white or neutral-colored kitchen cabinets, wanted to be a least several blocks away from any pickle ball courts, and if a corner lot, needed some degree of privacy (landscaping). This helped narrow our search - in Aug/Sept DeLuna was still selling, but I had my eyes on Richmond -which was a gamble, since there was no guarantee that would come through for me (it did after 6 lottery tries). Location I believe is #1 factor. I wanted to be close to Brownwood. Many posters call our lack of shopping in the South. I don’t understand people’s need to be 5 minutes from big box stores. I am within 10 minutes to two Publix stores, where I also use their excellent pharmacy. For most household goods, I use Amazon and Costco deliveries. If looking south for a new build, check out proximity to noise from Turnpike. May or may not be an issue for you. Make sure to inspect those neighborhoods both day and night and see if the noise is an issue or not - also interview people who live nearby and get their opinions. Lastly, what was so invaluable to me during my lifestyle visits, was talking to existing Villagers and informally interviewing them, about likes and dislikes. Enjoy your lifestyle visit - for me the visits far exceeded my already high opinion of The Villages - I love it here!

[MrFlorida]

Deed restrictions, make sure you understand what you can and cannot do.

[Lisanp@aol.com]

The “new” areas during you visit will be Newell, etc. in Lake County. These areas do have higher taxes and higher bonds then the last newly built areas in Sumter County. If this is important, and you decide you want new, you may want to wait a bit to buy until new construction is back in Sumter County - but this will be on the other side of the turnpike so you need to consider that in your decision as well.

There are also a lot of 1-year old resales hitting the market so you may want to pay close attention the those areas. You will get a newish house, in Sumter County, and know for certain the exact tax and bond amounts. With new construction your taxes are on vacant land year one and a bit of a guess year two forward.

Village salespeople make a higher commission on the sale of new construction (they get the buy and sell sides of the transaction) then on a resale where they will only get the buy side (unless it is their listing that they sell). You need to understand the incentive here from their perspective. I would just open the paper early every morning (front 3 pages of the classified section) or look online the night before to see what resales have an open house that day and go to any that are of interest to you on your own without your sales agent.

I owned a CYV because of my dog too and sold it for a designer. We were adjacent to a beautiful preserve and I couldn’t let the dog out alone because of the hawks constantly circling around (and a few coyotes living in there too). If you dog is small, a CYV may still not provide what you are looking for.

I know your question was related to taxes and bonds, but below is the list that we used during our lifestyle visit in case you find it helpful. Please don’t listed to the north vs south contrarians. There are plenty of grocery stores and doctors and restaurants in the south. I just get my Walmart order delivered and I don’t eat at Red Lobster or Olive Garden - no biggie. The other point not mentioned is that everyone in a new area is new, and they all want to meet people. In an established area, the friend groups already exist and you will need to put more effort into that area of your acclamation into Village life.

Our list when we came down to see the villages was as follows:
All 3 town squares and Ednas/Sawgrass both during the day and in the evening.
A few village recreation centers
A few regional recreation centers (open the doors and peek into the classes going on if the signage on the doors allows)
A few golf courses of differing types
A few country clubs (lunch or dinner)
Where the prison, cement plant and quarry were in relation to where we were looking
Listening for the turnpike in the areas we were looking at various times during the day and night
Checking out amenities that were important to us (running/biking trails, gym, dog parks, theaters, etc.)
Sitting at the neighborhood pool and chatting it up with the locals in the neighborhoods we were were considering
How far squares/stores were by golf cart in the areas we were looking and what impact future bridge will have on that distance

In addition to seeing homes, we went to the following places:
A few golf cart stores to get pricing/check out models
A few local insurance brokers (our insurance won’t write new Florida policies so ask yours now)
A representative from our bank at their local branch
Stopped into the villages health to check it out/inquire about doctors accepting new patients
The local grocery store, proximity of our preferred pharmacy, etc.

Most Villages reps will show you the latest neighborhood property releases (new construction) first. Stop them from doing so, and ask to see the model homes first - Review the floor plans online now so you have a better idea of what series/models you might be interested in. There are a few different areas where you can see model homes, and each has a few different series/models available to see. The only way to get into these model homes is on appointment with a Villages Sales agent. This will help you to narrow down exactly what it is you think you want (home series and model), then you can go see what is actually available. Then, most importantly, don’t get discouraged when you don’t find what you want in what is actually available for sale!!! Just open your eyes and see all of the potential future inventory being built. Houses are released almost every day. Patience is the name of the game when buying new in the villages today. On the flip side, if you decide that you would rather be in an established area and want to buy a resale, you must be ready to act immediately. Houses go within hours of being listed and having a good MLS agent is key. In this case, you need all of your documents immediately ready to go (Mortgage pre-approval letter and/or proof of funds, and your local attorney’s contact information if you will be using one)

The most important aspect of your visit is just driving around and looking at everything going on around you. Get lost in the golf cart, hop in the car and head all the way north on Morse to the historic section, and then south by another route. Try to see as much as your energy will allow each day, and talk to everyone you come in contact with. Carry a small notebook (or use the notes feature on your phone) to jot things down or questions to ask because a ton of information is going to come at you. Get the newspaper every morning and look at the real estate listings and open houses for the day. There is much more available then any agent can possibly show you, so you need to direct the visit the way you want it to go as much as you can. Have fun and good luck!

[ahrens fox]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

Where is the turnpike and where is the prison.

[Olyrain]

We rented a Villa for 4 months because we had 2 small dogs. We realized that it would be a bad design for us to buy because:
#1 People left their patio door slightly open while they left for the day or evening giving their dogs yard access. The problem was the dogs would start barking and bring others into their "conversation's." This could go on for hours. (Many different homes and dogs)
#2 In the summer the enclosed concrete patio became so hot our dogs refused to make the run from the villa to backyard strip of grass.
#3 You are missing out on the BEST socializing and information gathering tool in the T.V. "The Dog Walk." Hubbie comes back everyday with the best information on the neighbors, T.V. World Views, invites etc. Your dog will soon have favorites, both human and canine on your route. FYI In the Villages dogs rule, we are here simple to serve.

[Papa_lecki]

#1 People left their patio door slightly open while they left for the day or evening giving their dogs yard access. The problem was the dogs would start barking and bring others into their "conversation's." This could go on for hours. (Many different homes and dogs)

With all the wildlife, i wouldn’t do this unless my dog was at least 75 lbs.

[kingofbeer]

“Expensive” is relative. My recollection is that SECO is charging about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. There aren’t many places in the nation charging less than that, and there are some states charging as much as three times that much. Last month my water bill was $13 and my sewage bill was $26. There are places charging that much per day for water! Most of us don’t have natural gas. My electricity runs around $110 to $230 per month depending on the temp, with either the AC or the heat turned on 24/7. That’s about, what, $4 to $7 a day?
FPL rate is lower. Plus the Base charge is 8.99. SECO base charge is 30.00. Min charge for FPL is $25 per month.

[KathyandBob]

We rented for 3 months. Each month in a different ‘area’ and in Designer, Patio Villas, and CYV.
We made our decision based upon that.
You can rent from The Villages or Air BnB type sites.
Highly recommend renting and actually living somewhere first.

[Babubhat]

Do not rely on any salesperson representation as it’s not legally binding. Verify information with a second source. Read deed restrictions , they are not the same in each cdd. Talk to neighbors and get feel of neighborhood. Don’t want to live near one who appeared in that v news site

[Ktots]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.


Bonds/ taxes: There are areas of Sumter County (and Marion County I think) in TV that are unincorporated, so tax wise, you will not have municipal taxes in those areas and would only pay taxes to the county. Some areas of Sumter and Lake counties are in municipalities (Wildwood, Fruitland Park or Leesburg)and pay additional taxes to whatever municipality they are in.
I think someone else already covered that you will have a bond on a new home, but can find homes in the mid and northern areas with no, or partially paid bonds.

Age of roof on preowned homes is a factor for insurance purposes.

You will have annual maintenance fees, which often are not mentioned by agents. Not a large fee, but some people are surprised by it after they buy.

CYVs are not your only option for fenced yards. There are designer homes called Verandas that have fenced yards. Also, there are a small number of homes in the village of Bradford that have, or allow, 3ft rail fences that are not shared with the abutting property as the CYV and Veranda homes do. Many people (even some agents, I suspect)are not aware those properties even exist.

If you like to walk you dog, the areas south of 44 have miles of recreational paths that you can walk without dodging golf carts. Yep, there’s a turnpike. Sometimes you hear it, sometimes not so much, depending on the wind, season (more foliage in summer), amount of traffic and proximity. We live south of 44 and haven’t met anyone yet who is bothered by it, although some are. We aren’t. My mom lives way up near Lopez and it’s very quiet but lovely up there, too. It all depends on what suits you best.

There are so many options! Enjoy your visit and have fun exploring.

[splashes]

If you want all the correct info have Beth Pope as your realator 352-552-1511

[Geeg524]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.
We are very new to TV world. We had a 1 week visit in Jan and are working on renting for a month next winter.
Testing the waters to see if we would want to buy.
Where do we find information on a lifestyle visit?

[chrisinva]

Re: dog & fence - don't let your decision be influenced by that. It all depends on dog size, age, walking frequency, exercise preferences and if they are an escape artist. If there's a dog park near by (walking distance) you might use that for daily needs & maybe dog exercise. During the summer (maybe May - Sept) the black asphalt & even concrete can be too hot for dog paws & you'll need to drive to dog park. There are also some walking trails, Sugar Cane postal area & Spanish Moss rec area come to mind & are popular with dog walkers. It's also very easy to a neighborhood walk with your. Ask your agent to point out dog parks. PLEASE BE SURE TO PICK UP WHATEVER YOUR DOG DEPOSITS, anywhere in the Villages. We have a 15 lb maltipoo, 11 years old, who is an escape artist. We live near a pond & it's a common area that neighborhood dogs recognize as the poop/ pee place. That's where we walk to in morning, then the dog park at noon & then walk the pond area again after dinner. I leash her mid morning & mid day for a backyard pee break, we have no fence. She sleeps a lot & isn't interested in more walking unless it's 40 degrees outside.

Re: villas & fences - besides villas, cottage homes have fences, so do designer homes but they are called verandas if they have a fence. Good luck & welcome to your new life.

[roadrnnr]

If you want all the correct info have Beth Pope as your realator 352-552-1511

Any one had Dan Collins?

[roadrnnr]

We rented a Villa for 4 months because we had 2 small dogs. We realized that it would be a bad design for us to buy because:
#1 People left their patio door slightly open while they left for the day or evening giving their dogs yard access. The problem was the dogs would start barking and bring others into their "conversation's." This could go on for hours. (Many different homes and dogs)
#2 In the summer the enclosed concrete patio became so hot our dogs refused to make the run from the villa to backyard strip of grass.
#3 You are missing out on the BEST socializing and information gathering tool in the T.V. "The Dog Walk." Hubbie comes back everyday with the best information on the neighbors, T.V. World Views, invites etc. Your dog will soon have favorites, both human and canine on your route. FYI In the Villages dogs rule, we are here simple to serve.

How Hard was it to find a rental with Dogs?

I have a 8 YO Lab

[joelfmi]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.
You would be amassed on what you will find. Which and will bring transparency that might and can change your mind.

[MrChip72]

I use Kroger delivery so the distance to the grocery store is not that much of an issue

I've thought about trying them, but then I totally dislike when I have to be home during a set time window to receive a delivery when there's other things that I could be doing. How much of a time window do they give you?

[MidWestIA]

Get a cart and drive from where you think would like to be acting like you are going to stores and activities you would want to. The houses are the same the cart commute made me stay above 44 when I moved back. AND ask about the prison, quarry and turnpike noise

[cycler]

If you want all the correct info have Beth Pope as your realator 352-552-1511

Is she a VLS or MLS salesperson?

[badkarma318]

is she a vls or mls salesperson?

Villages.

[snbrafford]

Long time lurker to the forum but first post. I just booked a lifestyle visit for June. My wife & I want to look at some houses of course - we're leaning towards CYV because we have a dog and would like a fenced in yard. I'm leaning towards a new house while my wife is leaning towards a more established house / village. We have been to TV twice but only for a day at a time - this will be our first extended visit.

I'm aware of the North v South debates and also understand there really is no bad place to live in TV. I'm curious as to if there are better locations in terms of bonds / taxes.

I have read comments on other threads that the salespeople don't necessarily volunteer information. I'm wondering what questions / information do you wish you had asked for while you looking for your house.

We have lived here full time since 2018. We bought a used house that was built about 2010 - we are the 4th owner. Each of the other owners made upgrades so the home was well appointed when we got it - trey ceilings, solar tubes, decorative driveway, etc. The bond was the hardest for us to understand so you have to get comfortable with that. We elected to keep it as it will be paid for in another couple years AND if we would move, we may be picking up another bond.
Also - on a used home - make sure you understand the whole roof situation in regard to homeowners insurance. We had trouble getting insurance at the 14 year mark.
I wish the inspection report included the sprinkler system. We spent several hundred dollars after we moved in getting the system working properly - mostly replacing heads.
We have friends living in the souther regions. Our problem with that area is you are limited to restaurants that you can easily get to by golf cart and golf courses (if important). We are glad we live in one of the older sections.

[SusanStCatherine]

Newell, Lake Denham, and Dabney are all in Lake County where the taxes are higher. This is where most of the new construction is.

Ask if in Wildwood as that adds to taxes and utilities.

If buying a new build, do not believe the statement, "Warranty is wonderful and will fix everything."