How do you buy a house in The Villages?

[MplsPete]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

[Topspinmo]

Well do like rest of did. Look for houses on real estate sits and villages site. Review the information, look over the location, select ones in you like and in your budget. IMO I would get here and rent first month to month basics while looking. Trying to buy 1500 miles away not good idea to me, but that’s me. I like see the listing in person, look area over and make decision.

Right now kind slow market so plenty to select from when you get here. Should be able to close within month or two depending on how picky you are. Or when you house goes on market and has closing date come down and select then. IMO in few months market going to sluggish well into next year if not beyond do to all expansion down south.

[Mrprez]

Bonds don’t just come with new houses. Some resales will have them as well.

[villagetinker]

I would not try to but a resale 'sight unseen', at a minimum you need an inspection report by YOUR inspector, you time to find a suitable house, plan where furniture will go, IF you will bring furniture with you etc. As noted, there are sites where you may be able to get a list of potential homes to look at and schedule a trip to see the houses. Closing will take some time unless you are paying cash. You will require time to pack and move, and you will need to find a suitable mover (I suggest one that does not use a transfer station). `
Also, you will probably need 2 realtors, one for MLS and maybe one for houses listed with the villages, with the recent changes in the way the realtors work I have no idea how this works now.

[CarlR33]

You can get a fully furnished rental for a year (or less) while you look while living here without a bond, pest control worries, tax bills, water bill, mortgage payment, etc? Renting is a really good option for those reasons alone as opposed to buying, IMO. If you rent in the summer it’s a no brainer but if you do this in the winter not so much (so do a year lease). Plenty of inventory year round so why buy before you get here? The “crap” you end up bringing down with you (we all do) will need packed anyway so just do a POD and you only need to touch it once and pay for the monthly storage fee. If you look on the VLS there are many homes just over 1 years old so same as new. Speaking from our experience.

[Dotneko]

You can get a fully furnished rental for a year (or less) while you look while living here without a bond, pest control worries, tax bills, water bill, mortgage payment, etc? Renting is a really good option for those reasons alone as opposed to buying, IMO. If you rent in the summer it’s a no brainer but if you do this in the winter not so much (so do a year lease). Plenty of inventory year round so why buy before you get here? The “crap” you end up bringing down with you (we all do) will need packed anyway so just do a POD and you only need to touch it once and pay for the monthly storage fee. If you look on the VLS there are many homes just over 1 years old so same as new. Speaking from our experience.

Except you are wasting $30,000+ renting a home with no equity.

[ltcdfancher]

Pete,

My wife and I bought our current home (not in The Villages) ne’er having stepped inside. Our realtor walked us through a few video chats where the on-line photos matched the video. I refused the inspection on the (then) seven year-old home simply because the inspector wouldn’t assess the irrigation system. Our current house is part of an HOA where reality does not dovetail with the written rules. We needn’t worry about that in The Villages; for the most part, perception is the reality. Good luck.

[MarshBendLover]

It can be a balancing act to pull it off with ease, but very stressful no matter what.
Buy too early.... you got two houses
Buy too slow... homeless and living out of your moving truck
Rent long term.....wasting money, plus furniture storage fees

Everybody has a different way
Few get the perfect house and area for them the first time
Most move again to the perfect house/area long after moving down

.

[rjm1cc]

You don't. You rent. Then you have plenty of time to look around.

[oldtimes]

You have to decide what you want. We wanted to be near Sumter Landing. We wanted a courtyard villa for our dogs. We wanted a two car garage. That narrowed our choices down considerably so when one became available we had a friend who lived here go and look at it for us and it was perfect.

[BrianL99]

You have to decide what you want. We wanted to be near Sumter Landing. We wanted a courtyard villa for our dogs. We wanted a two car garage. That narrowed our choices down considerably so when one became available we had a friend who lived here go and look at it for us and it was perfect.

That's a pretty narrow and tough order to fill. I'd like the same thing, but pretty much gave up looking for one. Not many out there, from what I've seen.

[melpetezrinski]

Except you are wasting $30,000+ renting a home with no equity.

But that $400k-$500k that you would have spent on a home is sitting in the stock market earning 9% or $36k-45k. Or, taking out a mortgage at 7% and paying that same $30k in interest expense. So, not really that cut and dry.

[oldtimes]

That's a pretty narrow and tough order to fill. I'd like the same thing, but pretty much gave up looking for one. Not many out there, from what I've seen.

We were lucky.

[CarlR33]

Except you are wasting $30,000+ renting a home with no equity.It depends on so many things for different people. If you cash out your home up north and put that in a high interest account it can help pay a large portion of the rent. Yes, $30K seems like a lot until you do the actual math for your situation. Your not making killer equity (at age 65) in a years time even in the villages?

[BrianL99]

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

It's much easier in The Villages, than it is anywhere else.

Their are limited models to choose from. Narrow down your preferred area and they'll be a zillion home that will meet your needs. Given the current inventory, you'll have to problem finding one that suits your needs. Given you're going to end up painting and doing a few other upgrades, one is about the same as the next.

You'll need 2 brokers, one MLS, one from The Villages. Because of the way the MLS system works in TV, that's the only way to see the entire inventory. The MLS inventory, you can view online at a number of sites.

When the time comes to actually buy, set up 8-10 homes to view ... one will be right.. A day or two is all you'll need.

Assuming you're paying cash and selling a home to generate funds, open an Equity Line on the home you're selling. The cost is usually under $500 and you'll have cash available when you're ready to make a move, independent of whether your home is sold. That said, you really need to price the home you're selling, on the money.

Eazy peezy, lemon squeezy.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

We took out a bridge loan (turns out we didn’t need it; our house before the first payment was due) and this made it possible to buy a home here. And it was cheaper than it was to rent.

[badkarma318]

That's a pretty narrow and tough order to fill. I'd like the same thing, but pretty much gave up looking for one. Not many out there, from what I've seen.

There are currently 44 CYVs with 2 car garages on The Villages site (although most are not right next to LSL). I'm sure there are many more on MLS sites.

[badkarma318]

I would highly suggest that you contact Ira Miller at IM Realty. He has more than 20 years experience selling homes in The Villages (9 of those years working for the developer), as well as his own YouTube channel. He has helped many people in your exact situation. He will input your preferences into his system, then you will receive timely email alerts if a home that meets your criteria becomes available (you can obviously continue to look at listings yourself as well, and just let him know if you find something you're interested in). He can also do live video walkthroughs of homes, including drone footage. He has numerous videos on his channel related to people buying homes from out-of-state. To my knowledge, they were all very happy with the entire process, working with Ira, and their new homes.

[BrianL99]

There are currently 44 CYVs with 2 car garages on The Villages site (although most are not right next to LSL). I'm sure there are many more on MLS sites.

The only thing that differentiates one home from another in TV, is location.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

The way we have seen houses being bought by people who have been renters at our house,

1) They rent a house for 3-4 months anywhere in TV, furnished, off season, May through November. Advantage, they are living the life style, experiencing a typical TV house, and they spend their time actively looking for a house to buy. They use a TV sales rep, and are firm with what they want, and if the rep keeps steering them to a new build, they change reps, and they use a local RE agent

Once they find a house to buy, they figure out the financials and the logistics, and when they will move.

OR

2) they sell their current house first, its a big job, i am undertaking selling two houses, within the next year, and its daunting. That way they have made the decision, they have the money to close in 30 days and make a cash offer. They ship their items and keep them in storage until they find a house.

They rent a house for 3-4 months anywhere in TV, furnished, off season, May through November. Advantage, they are living the life style, experiencing a typical TV house, and they spend their time actively looking for a house to buy. They use a TV sales rep, and are firm with what they want, and if the rep keeps steering them to a new build, they change reps, and they use a local RE agent

They can move quickly on a house they want, and begin living the lifestyle within 30 days or so.


The real work is knowing what you want first, and then the hunt / quest continues.

Or you can do it like we did. . never heard of the place when we came down.
never intended to buy a house, didn't have finances ready to make a down payment.
you find something that looks unique and amazing even before the amenities and bridges were built, and you fumble around to buy it. . . and then go now what?

good luck. . .

[JimLtravels]

I would highly suggest that you contact Ira Miller at IM Realty. He has more than 20 years experience selling homes in The Villages (9 of those years working for the developer), as well as his own YouTube channel. He has helped many people in your exact situation. He will input your preferences into his system, then you will receive timely email alerts if a home that meets your criteria becomes available (you can obviously continue to look at listings yourself as well, and just let him know if you find something you're interested in). He can also do live video walkthroughs of homes, including drone footage. He has numerous videos on his channel related to people buying homes from out-of-state. To my knowledge, they were all very happy with the entire process, working with Ira, and their new homes.

Don’t do what I did. I came down and looked at 14 homes in one day. I thought I wanted a courtyard villa. I looked at 12 of them. Luckily my real estate agent was Ira Miller and between him figuring out what would be best suited for me and dumb luck, I have been a resident for just over a year. I don’t intend to move 3 times, which allegedly is the average. He helped me pick a great home for me. One very important factor, is your neighbors. You may not have much control there. My neighborhood has been wonderful and made a huge difference in your my situation. For instance, whether there is an Airbnb near you or renters etc. As mentioned in previous posts there are many factors to consider. But I would recommend looking around a little as opposed to doing what I did.

[villageuser]

I’m a REALTOR® who loves helping people from out of state make their move to The Villages. I’ve lived in the area for 23 years and know it well. For my customers who can’t be here in person, I do live video showings and personally search through listings every day to find homes that match what they’re looking for. When I share listings, I include why I think they’ll like the home and some details about the neighborhood to help them get a feel for the area.

When the time is right, they come down to meet me, and we tour the homes they’re most excited about. By then, I’ve usually connected them with a few great lenders who can help with things like bridge loans or other financing options.

I know moving from so far away can feel overwhelming, so whether it is me, or somebody else, find someone who is dedicated to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. It should be about you, finding the right fit and making the transition easier for you. Best of luck to you, and the next chapter of your life!

[dsattazahn]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

We bought a home in Feb of 24. We rented a home in TV for the month of February. I would suggest if you wanna look, rent for 2-3 months. Find a licensed realtor and also a Villages realtor. Then with looking at your own list from Zillow and the villages app you should be able to see pretty much everything that’s available. It is very overwhelming as there are a lot of homes available. It comes down to what style home and layout that you like. After we bought in February, we spent the next 2 months of painting and decorating as we wanted. Let me know if you want help. I also know a very good realtor. Good luck!!!

[Kelevision]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

Though this post is a bit confusing. I’m not sure about the LONG drive to Eastport from Newell but all the new homes coming out are very close to Eastport. Buying a pre-owned home in the northern section, I doubt you’ll ever go down to Eastport since you’d have Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing much closer. I assume you stayed longer than 3-4 days on your second visit since that’s not nearly long enough to know what’s here and the areas. I live in the southern section and it would take me 1 hour 20 minutes by golf cart to get up north. I never go there. Having said that. If you are insistent on pre-owned, you need to get both a Villages Sales person, and an MLS realtor, as they have different homes available. Most Sales agents here work with MLS realtors for this very reason. If you’re asking how to buy a house because you won’t be able to come look at them? Would you buy a house anywhere else sight unseen? If the answer is yes, go for it. There are bonds on pre-owned houses too so let the realtor know you want something without a bond, which most likely will be in the northern section. If you liked it way up there, again, go for it. The north and south villages are very very different. You need to pick the area you like best.

[BobGraves]

If you look at it as just adding the bond price to the sale price I found that the comparable prices between pre-owned and new build are very close and then you're getting a warranty, brand new roof, brand new appliances, etc.. Unless you have a specific area you're in love with I wouldn't rule out a new build JUST because of the bond. I realize some pre-owned homes have upgrades but you're probably paying to them in the resale price.

[Laker14]

Job 1 is to narrow your search area as much as possible. Frankly, I don't see how you do that without having rented for a while. I wouldn't worry one bit about what someone has suggested about "wasting 30K in equity". First of all, it's not 30K after you do the math and figure what you are NOT paying for, i.e. Taxes, insurance, maintenance fees, amenity fees, mortgage interest (or if not paying a mortgage, you would have the dollars in some sort of interest bearing vehicle) and whatever the math might suggest, IT IS NOT WASTED IF IT HELPS YOU FIND THE HOME YOU WANT IN THE AREA YOU WANT..

The best way to relieve the stress of the situation is to remove the urgency. Renting allows you to do that.

[asianthree]

OP you are Not stating that you need to sell prior to buying…that is your first Q&A
Do you have funds to buy and maintain two houses or plan on keeping two houses.
You have not stated what model you are looking for, Need first, want second.
So far the only concern you have posted is you don’t want a bond on new house. Does that mean you are in need of no bond, because of yearly $$$? Then one needs to look at historical sections and north area where bond is almost paid.

We have enough seasoned years that we could buy a home site unseen. Why because we know pretty much every village, from the far north to the most recent village builds.

We require Zero medical facilities within TV, I don’t waste time buying Groceries at B&M in TV. If I need something it arrives at my door at any given day or time. I don’t shop retail, because what does one need later in life that isn’t already in your home. I do find older gens require retail, more than younger, for my observation it’s about interaction for some. Restaurants in most of TV are mediocre at best. If I can make it at home better, (except for fried chicken or fish,) we eat in.

We have owned 3 new homes, one preowned and never paid off the bond. What one needs to be prepared for is instant money when buying preowned. Within 2 years of a 6yo home we needed a new HVAC,($6’000) irrigation ($950) gutters, ($4,000) driveway maintenance ($1200) exterior paint ($4,000) bathrooms/kitchen parts replaced due to leaking. Yes bond was only $1,300 a year, ($1,865 new build) but maintenance was more than we expected for such a young house.

Our first 2 “new” builds had HVAC issues, within 1-3 years, but all was covered by warranty. Our last build the AC blew a hole larger than a softball at 11 months, ( obviously a defect) Covered by warranty. HO insurance on new home $600. Preowned with 1,000sf less was $1,409 for preowned.

Newer builds are very close to Southern Oaks bridge, roughly 15-20 minutes to Brownwood and 30 to LSL. But 10 minutes to the new Middleton and Eastport, with more variety, close to hop on to 75 or turnpike, far better medical facilities and parks are 50 minutes away.
Unsure why the hurry to buy but you will find a furnished rental quickly for a month or two, because of the amount of new closing everyday.

Then again one can just buy a new house live for a year taking time to figure out where and when, sell make a profit and find a dream home.

[La lamy]

I’ll echo others and recommend coming to rent for a few months. I would sell your existing home first, if you plan on doing that. Good luck!!

[Ellwoodrick]

My wife an I rented for one winter season prior to purchasing. If you look at pre owned homes some things to consider:

1) how old is the roof? if over 15 years you may have a hard time with Insurance.
2) How old is the Furnace & AC system. Same problem. If to old it could become insurance issue.
3) If in an older neighborhood (we bought a 23 year old home and the Bond was paid off) is there a Bond payment?
4) Will you be bringing furniture or looking to furnish after you purchase. It makes a difference if the home you purchase is preowned sold with furnishings.
5) Taxes - If you purchase a preowned home your taxes will change on the home. If you are permanent residents you will be intitled to the homestead exemption, however the Real Estate taxes will change based upon the new sale price. Factor that into your budget.
6) I would highly recommend getting a Home Inspection. Many agents will recommend their favorite company for Home inspections. Interview your own inspectors. Not all are as thorough as others. Get the wind mitigation report. Most newer home would be built to the new building codes. Some older homes may not have been updated to the newer Roofing standards with strapping in the attic for wind mitigation. Once again your insurance company will want that inspection report.

The list by no means is all inclusive but offered as some major points to look at.

My wife and I liked the older neighborhoods with mature trees in it. Not everyone's cup of tea. Also we chose one that was a size we liked but has not been updated (Kitchen & Baths) so we can customize the way we want. Yes, there are many shopping experiences within the Villages. Up north we can jump outside the bubble to shop in 10 minutes. Having been in the Real Estate business for over 30 years in Pennsylvania my best advice - Walk before you run.

I wish you the best of luck in your search. Everybody has a "Guy" for this and that. I would recommend you talk to:

Dan McNulty, not the agent we used but a friend and neighbor who we have gotten to know since our purchase.

(941) 888-4583

[RoseyRed]

Except you are wasting $30,000+ renting a home with no equity.
YES we struggled with that decision as well! Paying rent seems like throwing money out the window! Decided a year's rent is better than making an impulsive decision to buy and end up selling. The cost of living and selling a house is very expensive compared to our home state. So, from our perspective, it is better to lose a year's rent than to later lose even MORE money on selling a house that was lived in for a short time.

[villager7591]

Sorry if someone has stated this already...an MLS realtor can show you pre-owned homes listed on the MLS. A Villages realtor will only show you homes NOT on the MLS but on the Villages realtor/sales system. So get two realtors, one MLS and one VLS.

[Ptmcbriz]

Have your realtor understand what you are looking for. Realtor will do walk throughs of homes live via video. You find what you like. They put it on hold, and you wire earnest money, along with signing docs online via docu-sign. Easy peasy. It was flawless for us.

[Papa_lecki]

It’s a 6 figure investment. Here is what I would do

1) find the great realtor, come down for a few days, see lots of houses in various locations, to hone in on what you want, vs what you think you want now. Realtor will help you. It’s worth the few thousand dollars for this vacation
2) have the realtor search new listings, until you find 1/2/3 places you think you like
3) come back down, visit those last few houses
4) close the deal

You’re spending $5000 for a few trips, to save a huge head ache on a $400,000 purchase.

[Priebehouse]

Our 1100 mile long distance experience took over 2 years to complete. Rented for a month in 2018 (from Rent from a Villager). Looked at about 40 properties from both LS and put in an offer on one but we were overbid. The following year we rented for another month. We looked at likely another 40 properties and the last week, we found one we were interested in. We kept an eye on it while back in Michigan. Three more short trips back to TV to look at others and BOOM. Offer made and accepted.

Use the VLS and MLS DAILY to find your prize. Take your time and make it happen.

[Tdolecki]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

You need a realtor and I have a good one if you need. She helped us for many years and was very patient .

[coleprice]

Prior responses provide good information regarding the purchase of pre-owned homes in The Villages. Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby. Also, the Bond is usually paid off on homes in the North and Middle areas, plus you are MUCH CLOSER to Shopping & Restaurants. The Bond is real debt that a home owner is responsible to pay off, so you are wise to recognize that.

[BOWRUNNER]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences. Call Patrick Shores, he will meet all your needs

[nn0wheremann]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.
Rented for a year, about middle way between the new construction, then around 466A, and the established part of town. Brownwood was too underwhelming then, so confined our search to areas accessible to Spanish Sprigs and to Lake Sumter Landing. We found the Marion County villages better constructed and landscaped, and while a bit further from LSL than ideal, when a deal presented we took it. Only mistake was in not getting a bigger garage, but that really has not been much of an issue.

[coconutmama]

Location is everything to us. Just as important as the home model we now have.

Our 1st home here did not have a golf cart garage and was in excess of 5 miles to a gas station to fill our cart, which we use a lot here. Not just for golf but for errands & yes, taking our dog for a ride every day.

Our second home here has a golf cart garage & is a 1/2 mile to a plaza which is a big deal to us.

Also be sure you ask your realtor about water treatment & landfills near you. There are several inside The Villages & they do emit odors especially in summer.

Just a stone’s throw outside of The Villages in the southern area is a federal prison. That may or may not be an issue to you.

And of course highway noise in some locations is something to consider

Good luck in your search. You will find the right home

[BostonTom]

The lifestyle homes in Atwood are for sale fully furnished great location directly across the street from Brownwood Square and grocery store. They have been selling quickly that would be a pretty safe purchase remotely LOCATION LOCATION

[opinionist]

I did buy a house in Florida from a long distance. I visited the community to get a sense of what houses are like. I had family in the community, including a realtor, to search for the right home. I wanted a stick-built house (not manufactured or block construction), a golf course frontage, no carpet, and an open living space. The realtor sent pictures of what could meet my needs, and I was surprised at how many options were available. I had family look over the house and give feedback on the location (e.g., road noise) and settled on a house to buy. It turned out to be perfect for my needs.

[mraines]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.
I lived in CA when I bought my first house here. You can go online (The Villages.com and search houses). I would try to have someone you know be here as my realtor had a house inspection without my knowledge. I was not happy. I had it redone. I bought a second house here on the Historic side and I love it. No bond, individuality and close to everything. Good luck.

[jimmy o]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.
Here’s what we did: on our very first visit to TV we knew that someday we would move here, so we started looking at open houses. We visited yearly for 3 years, each time also looking at many open houses mixed in with our fun time. After our third visit here during our 1100 mile drive home we decided “what the hell are we waiting for”! We got home, straightened ourselves out a bit, talking to bank, utilities, realtor, and family. Then within two weeks drove back to TV with sole purpose of buying our new home. Since we have spent every trip looking at open houses we had a good idea what type of house we wanted and which location.

We contracted a used home, with no bond, then we ordered our golf cart. We then drove ourselves back to Chicago burbs to sell our house. While we were getting our home ready for sale up North we closed on our TV home remotely using bridge loan. We closed on sale of our Chicago home about 6 weeks after purchase of our TV home. We hired a mover that would move us alone and not a shared van. We sold one car on Carvana before moving as we knew we would only need one car and our golf cart as transportation to suit our needs. We said good riddance to Illinois and drove ourselves back to TV while the movers hauled our stuff. Then we also bought some new stuff.

If we had it to do again we would bring less stuff and buy more new stuff for TV. Some stuff brand new and some from resale. There is some very nice resale here. That’s what we did, hope some of this info helps you out.

[DONNIEBRONX]

Best to be between 466 and 466a

[SeaCros]

You will have to do some research d try not to buy sight unseen. The bond could still be there on a pre owned home if the previous owners did not pay it off.
Get a good realtor to be your boots on the ground until you are closer to making the decision to move. Others also have mentioned to rent here until you can find what you want.
Good luck in your endeavors.

[SHIBUMI]

Why do Villagers sell their homes an average of 2 1/2 times........because they got the wrong location and didn't realize it until they lived there.

Figure out what you like to do, golf, swim,shop,pickle ball, etc etc, Find a location that is nearby all you love to do and Bingo. Thats where you look.

Get a Villages Real Estate person and keep them on the hunt for what you want. A great house in a bad location means you will be selling eventually.

You have time to wait , and hunt. BUT, once that property comes up you better pay the asking price and buy immediately.

Your realtor can be your eyes but they need to know what you want to see.

I have bought several houses site unseen......... My R.E. Agent was informed my eyes and ears.

Sounds like you have time, like the OP said, it's all about location. Get some informed eyes and ears on the ground and be ready to jump all in when the property comes up.

Mine was about to hit the market the next day, I did not let that happen, it worked great, I am close to everything I like and secluded enough from highways and outside noise, Town Squares.

Get some eyes and ears on the ground, Villages Realtors don't cost money and they will be the most informed. BINGO



The only thing that differentiates one home from another in TV, is location.

[Justputt]

I would never buy sight unseen. Before the Lifestyle visit, we were sure we had narrowed our design decisions (model) down to just a couple options but once seen, quickly realized that what looked good on paper would not work for use. We went an entirely different direction, and buying sight unseen based off floor plans and pictures would have been a disaster and we'd have been looking for a second home in TV before the 1st year was up! Looking at the model homes it wasn't apparent how narrow the garages are because the narrowness of the garage doors (which we did not appreciate at the time) made it look "normal". With my truck in the garage just close enough to not bang the left wall, my wife has to park her jeep at angle towards the golf cart garage area so we're not banging vehicle doors, etc. When building, stretch the garage to max in every direction and pick a roofline that will give you max storage above, although you'll need to insulate and maybe put a minisplit A/C to keep it just it cool enough (80s?) to not melt plastics, etc. stored there. We looked at prebuilt/used homes, but the prices were the same or more than new homes. Yes, they had more mature landscaping, more of the bond was paid off, closer to golf courses, some nice trails at the rec centers, but it seemed the walking/cart/bike pathing system was more extensive in the South, the home designs weren't as dated as far North in TV, we're <45 mins to MCO and Disney, <1.5 hrs to Busch Gardens, ~40 mins to Universal Studios, ~5 miles to Eastport, ~5 miles to Sawgrass Grove, ~2.5 miles to Winn Dixie & Publix, We built in Dabney when it first opened on a preserve lot. Yes, we have a $42k bond, but our new home is up to the most current building codes (wind/electrical surge/etc.), we don't have to replace an older roof, HVAC system, etc., which can be an issue up north when getting insurance. Add the costs of things like a new roof, HVAC, upgrades to current codes, and whatever bond may be left, as well as any remodeling (rug replacement, painting, appliances, countertops, etc.) you would want, and that takes a pretty big bite out of our new home bond amount.

Whether buying old or new, do it in person with eyes wide open.

[sallyg]

We bought our first house sight unseen. We had visited, looked at numerous houses, had two realtors (Villages and MLS)
had done our homework. Big mistake. Do NOT buy sight unseen. If at all possible, rent first and take your time. There are loads of pre-owned homes to look at and the place is huge you might find you prefer one area over another. Best of luck.

[BrianL99]

Others also have mentioned to rent here until you can find what you want.



In my entire life, I don't know a single person who found it necessary to "rent in a neighborhood", before buying a home.

... except in The Villages.

Which leads me to believe, 1 of 2 things must be true.

Folk who buy in The Villages are overly picky.

Or specific locations become more important when you get older.

[mkjelenbaas]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.
Google CHRIS DAY - he is excellent/honest and will do a great job for you.

[Ski Bum]

It's much easier in The Villages, than it is anywhere else.

Their are limited models to choose from. Narrow down your preferred area and they'll be a zillion home that will meet your needs. Given the current inventory, you'll have to problem finding one that suits your needs. Given you're going to end up painting and doing a few other upgrades, one is about the same as the next.

You'll need 2 brokers, one MLS, one from The Villages. Because of the way the MLS system works in TV, that's the only way to see the entire inventory. The MLS inventory, you can view online at a number of sites.

When the time comes to actually buy, set up 8-10 homes to view ... one will be right.. A day or two is all you'll need.

Assuming you're paying cash and selling a home to generate funds, open an Equity Line on the home you're selling. The cost is usually under $500 and you'll have cash available when you're ready to make a move, independent of whether your home is sold. That said, you really need to price the home you're selling, on the money.

Eazy peezy, lemon squeezy.

Good advice. I bought two homes during COVID. Did everything remotely. The agent walked through the house using Facetime. Toured the neighborhood via Google Earth. I never saw the homes in person until after closing. A good agent has a sharper eye than me anyway. They pointed out the good and the bad (roof, drainage/water intrusion, condition of flooring, cabinets, and counters, age of appliances, etc.) But you could easily fly down beforehand after doing most of the searching online.

[Dabatts]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

I rented for 6 months furnished, this allowed me to move from one house to another before I found the house I wanted. Being here you can jump on a house, it will be spring/summer so furnished rentals should be easy. Started in Polo Ridge, hated it, then Largo, better but still not “IT”. Settled south of 44, looked at my house and bought it same day.

[Gettingoutofdodge]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

I moved to The Villages 3 years ago. I leased an apt in The Lofts. It was the best choice for me. The Lofts will release you from your lease after 6 months if you buy a home through The Villages. Living in the Lofts gave me the opportunity to meet new people, look at the different neighborhoods and really experience life in The Villages. 1 month in an air B&B is not enough time to learn the ins and outs, like the maintenance fee on the bond and the administrative charges. The electric, ambulance, water and sewer charges just went up and you can expect the amenities fees to go up yearly because they do! I learned all that by living here. So factor that into your budget.

After a few months, I was ready to buy. I didn’t want the hefty bonds, higher taxes and felt that south of 44 was too far for me. I knew what area I wanted and there were quite a few resales in that area. I found a beautiful Courtyard Villa in the Village of Charlotte and bought it. It was perfect for me.
Take your time and don’t settle. Good luck, this is a wonderful place to live.

[Villager24]

Did two Lifestyle visits, rented two one week airbnbs in different locations. Bought on fourth visit, preowned from VLS agent. Easy to buy remotely. Everything is electronic. Flew in one weekend to sign papers, but just because we wanted to. Taking 18 months to makes changes and furnish before we move there full time. Biggest hassle is finding service people to do maintenance. Just do it.

[Villager24]

Exactly. As a longtime corporate employee who’s moved several times for the job, I had a one week house hunting trip to find a house.

[Karmanng]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

I have one I can sell you and you will be 10 minutes from eastport, 8 minutes from sawgrass and roughly about 20 from Brownwood I am selling it mostly furnished and turnkey......My bond is tons less than what you pay for the new! House is only 5 years old and only lived in for a total of 3 years on and off.............its exactly what is shown in the pictures I can email them to you or text you the pictures........its a Courtyard Villa with a larger backyard room for a pool just under 1700 feet...........you would need to connect with a realtor but I will try to do it by owner as all we need is the title company from what I hear

[roadrnnr]

If you look at it as just adding the bond price to the sale price I found that the comparable prices between pre-owned and new build are very close and then you're getting a warranty, brand new roof, brand new appliances, etc.. Unless you have a specific area you're in love with I wouldn't rule out a new build JUST because of the bond. I realize some pre-owned homes have upgrades but you're probably paying to them in the resale price.

No or little Bond was my Criteria also when I came looking This Summer.

Quickly found out that preowned a few years old were way more than new and also still had a bond.

I did not want to be above 44. To much traffic and everything just seems to old.

Got a new build near Eastport and even with the Bond is comparable in price to pre owned. Plus everything is new and has warranty's.

Also Taxes are based on Purchase price so in my mind Lower Sale amount and higher bond helps with the property taxes every year.

The Bond can always be paid off in full if you so chose and be done with it.

We are in a great area next to Eastport and in a year or two it will be the place to be!

[Karmanng]

I am from AZ all my stuff has been in garages there which BTW are lots hotter than the ones here,,,,,,,,,,,,NOTHING here in FL has been damaged from the heat mini split in garage is a waste of $$$$$$$$$$

[betsyboo]

Some houses are on MLS and others are with the Villages (VLS). If the house you want is listed on MLS, the MLS agent may ask you to sign an exclusive with them per new laws from August. But if the house is on The Villages website (not MLS), that realtor will not make you sign an agreement. So I would start with the inventory that is on the Villages website thereby avoiding an agreement.

Then, if you don't find what you want with the Villages inventory and you want to see the MLS inventory, ask the MLS agent to modify their agreement to either have it expire in 48 hours or make it so that they only get a commission on properties that they have shown you.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

Here's how we did it - some background first:

Our northern home was on the market, had gotten an offer, and that fell through 20 days before closing. So we had to put it back on the market, and it sat there for several months. we were running out of money to pay the mortgage while still being able to afford to move, but could get a loan from a relative to cover some of the cost of a new house here in The Villages. Finally, we did have a buyer, and we were down to the wire. If it didn't close, we'd be homeless and unable to afford a new home.

So while still living up north, we got in touch with the Villages Sales rep who had shown us around during our Lifestyle visit. We directed him to just a couple of properties we saw on the Villages website, because we were running out of time. I told the rep why I liked one of them - location, surroundings, proximity to "stuff to do and retail and medical", some features of the house itself. He went to it and called me up and said "I'm standing in your new home."

I flew down a few days later to see it first-hand, carrying a blank check "just in case." I put a deposit on it right away, called hubby, told him we have a home, pending inspection. The inspection part was built into the contract.

The rep handled everything for us. Turns out the home had just BEEN inspected because the homeowners were in a similar situation as us - they had a buyer, and the buyer backed out shortly before closing. So it'd been inspected around 3 weeks prior to me showing up with a downpayment. We accepted that inspection but would still need our own "just in case."

The rep kindly gave us his address for us to send a package (for ourselves) down there, so it'd be there for our new house that day. He was at the closing, even though he wasn't going to make any commission since he wasn't the listing agent. He gave us a gift of a super-sturdy thermal grocery bag too, with towels and Tervis tumblers and free hanging house sign gift certificate from one of the sign companies that serves the area.

Hubby and I each drove back down here separately, with furniture and suitcases and some boxes of dishes and utensils and a laptop. Stayed at a hotel for a day before the closing, stayed at the house the next night. The rep helped make sure we had electricity and water switched to our name so there was no interruption of service. I was able to get internet hooked up the day of closing.

Hubby returned to the northern house and I stayed in The Villages, so he could deal with the closing up there and gather the rest of the stuff to bring down. Some people buy sight unseen. I recommend not doing that. You'll end up disappointed almost every time.

The rep was amazing. He's retired now, otherwise I'd give you his name.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I am from AZ all my stuff has been in garages there which BTW are lots hotter than the ones here,,,,,,,,,,,,NOTHING here in FL has been damaged from the heat mini split in garage is a waste of $$$$$$$$$$

Mini split in the garage is only a waste of money if you plan on using it only for storage. If your laundry area is in the garage, the last thing you need is to have to deal with laundry while sweating bullets. Also if you use it as a workshop, or have part of it sectioned off as a "man cave" you'll definitely want the mini-split.

[Special Ed]

We checked Open Houses on line. Just getting ideas. Sure enough we found a house we liked. Had a friend check out the house. We contacted a Village Realtor, bought it on line. No regrets.

[BrianL99]

[QUOTE=roadrnnr;2390127
We are in a great area next to Eastport and in a year or two it will be the place to be![/QUOTE]

There's only about 140,000 Villagers who would disagree with you.

[wolfie]

We use the Internet if we seen a home. We asked a friend to go check it out then once we came down, we stayed in Hampton Inn hotel, we contacted two real persons one village and one MLS. I would review the homes on the Internet then I would ask the real estate to show them to us, I refused any new home with Bond. We looked at 115 homes after three months and we found one for half the price of a new one with a Waterview , golfview and on a call Desac

[Topspinmo]

But that $400k-$500k that you would have spent on a home is sitting in the stock market earning 9% or $36k-45k. Or, taking out a mortgage at 7% and paying that same $30k in interest expense. So, not really that cut and dry.

Or stock market could crash and now have nothing. And it will crash again.

[Topspinmo]

There's only about 140,000 Villagers who would disagree with you.

Hey as long as they think so all matters to them. :highfive:

[Topspinmo]

Mini split in the garage is only a waste of money if you plan on using it only for storage. If your laundry area is in the garage, the last thing you need is to have to deal with laundry while sweating bullets. Also if you use it as a workshop, or have part of it sectioned off as a "man cave" you'll definitely want the mini-split.

How long does it take put cloths I washer and dryer, not going to be folding them in garage.

[Laker14]

In my entire life, I don't know a single person who found it necessary to "rent in a neighborhood", before buying a home.

... except in The Villages.

Which leads me to believe, 1 of 2 things must be true.

Folk who buy in The Villages are overly picky.

Or specific locations become more important when you get older.

Nobody is saying it's necessary, but some are saying it's a good idea. Before I rented I had the mistaken notion that all of the neighborhoods and locations would be pretty much the same. By renting I learned that if lived bordering a street like Canal St., I would not be able to hear my television with the windows open. I learned that a villa was not for me. I learned that I wanted to be between the 6s, and not too far from the Odell loop.

Not "necessary" but good information to have.

[budfor]

If you liked the Village of Alhambra, like my wife and I do, it is a great location to be near Spanish Springs Square and Lake Sumter Landing, the two most popular Squares.
Start looking here as there are homes for sale in our Village.

[asianthree]

Why do Villagers sell their homes an average of 2 1/2 times........because they got the wrong location and didn't realize it until they lived there.

Figure out what you like to do, golf, swim,shop,pickle ball, etc etc, Find a location that is nearby all you love to do and Bingo. Thats where you look.

Get a Villages Real Estate person and keep them on the hunt for what you want. A great house in a bad location means you will be selling eventually.

You have time to wait , and hunt. BUT, once that property comes up you better pay the asking price and buy immediately.

Your realtor can be your eyes but they need to know what you want to see.

I have bought several houses site unseen......... My R.E. Agent was informed my eyes and ears.

Sounds like you have time, like the OP said, it's all about location. Get some informed eyes and ears on the ground and be ready to jump all in when the property comes up.

Mine was about to hit the market the next day, I did not let that happen, it worked great, I am close to everything I like and secluded enough from highways and outside noise, Town Squares.

Get some eyes and ears on the ground, Villages Realtors don't cost money and they will be the most informed. BINGO

Sorry you are implying people don’t have a clue on where and what not to buy.

Average person that buys more than one home is usually a death of a spouse, or need to accommodate an aging parent, or spouse that needs adaptive access.

Other reason is anywhere from 2.5 to more homes than you have finger or toes…Profit..buy/sell buy/sell and so one.

We are on our fourth and assure you no move had anything to do with we chose poorly on location.

[nhkim]

Renting for 3-6 months (I don't think you need a year) is money well spent. You can't possibly know where you want to live before you've actually lived here. We are snowbirds, so we rented the first year near Lake Sumter Landing because I thought that's where I wanted to be. I envisioned myself riding my bike into LSL in the mornings; my husband envisioned himself playing championship golf a few times a week. Then we got here and found we were so busy with all our activities that we never rode our bikes, and my husband didn't want to commit to 5 hours a day of golf with everything else we do, so he switched to executive golf, which he can do 3-4 times a week without sacrificing other activities.

Our second year we rented in Charlotte, which is between 466 and 466A because we found a lot of our activities were in that area, plus some south of 44. That year we decided to buy because we knew we'd be here at least six months a year. I wanted to go south of 44 and my husband initially didn't, but eventually saw my point. We ended up buying a year-old, turnkey house near Everglades Rec Center, and we feel like we're in the "center of the universe." We're equidistance between Brownwood, Sawgrass, and Eastport. Everything is newer and more vibrant, including the residents. Lake Sumter Landing looks dated to me now, and Spanish Springs - well, we don't even go there anymore. Now, having said that, everyone will explain why their area is the best. A lot of folks have never traveled south of 44 and never will. The fact is, you won't know how you feel until you get here and experience the lifestyle for more than four days.

I haven't even mentioned the actual house yet. If you rent, you'll get a feel for the size of house you need. There's no basements here, which is an adjustment for us northerners. Can you get by with a 2-car garage or not? Do you want a privacy wall or are you okay with kissing lanais? Are you willing to buy a fixer-upper, or do you want your home to be mostly maintenance-free?

You also are going to want to interview realtors/sales associates. The easiest way to do that is to go the many open houses that are offered each day and "interview" the host realtors/sales associates. You'll want one who works for The Villages (sales associate) and one outside realtor. Villages sales associates sell only Villages listed properties. Outside realtors sell only MLS properties. If you want to see everything that's available, you need both. And now there's the new national law of buyers needing to have a written agreement with their agent on how much they will pay. The seller's agent won't work with you.

You're making a big investment in the next stage of your life. Don't cheap out or rush it by trying to purchase a home 1500 miles away sight unseen.

[jimhoward]

We just came for a lifestyle visit, looked at many houses on both mls and villages and then made a purchase. The process was pretty straightforward.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Renting for 3-6 months (I don't think you need a year) is money well spent. You can't possibly know where you want to live before you've actually lived here. We are snowbirds, so we rented the first year near Lake Sumter Landing because I thought that's where I wanted to be. I envisioned myself riding my bike into LSL in the mornings; my husband envisioned himself playing championship golf a few times a week. Then we got here and found we were so busy with all our activities that we never rode our bikes, and my husband didn't want to commit to 5 hours a day of golf with everything else we do, so he switched to executive golf, which he can do 3-4 times a week without sacrificing other activities.

Our second year we rented in Charlotte, which is between 466 and 466A because we found a lot of our activities were in that area, plus some south of 44. That year we decided to buy because we knew we'd be here at least six months a year. I wanted to go south of 44 and my husband initially didn't, but eventually saw my point. We ended up buying a year-old, turnkey house near Everglades Rec Center, and we feel like we're in the "center of the universe." We're equidistance between Brownwood, Sawgrass, and Eastport. Everything is newer and more vibrant, including the residents. Lake Sumter Landing looks dated to me now, and Spanish Springs - well, we don't even go there anymore. Now, having said that, everyone will explain why their area is the best. A lot of folks have never traveled south of 44 and never will. The fact is, you won't know how you feel until you get here and experience the lifestyle for more than four days.

I haven't even mentioned the actual house yet. If you rent, you'll get a feel for the size of house you need. There's no basements here, which is an adjustment for us northerners. Can you get by with a 2-car garage or not? Do you want a privacy wall or are you okay with kissing lanais? Are you willing to buy a fixer-upper, or do you want your home to be mostly maintenance-free?

You also are going to want to interview realtors/sales associates. The easiest way to do that is to go the many open houses that are offered each day and "interview" the host realtors/sales associates. You'll want one who works for The Villages (sales associate) and one outside realtor. Villages sales associates sell only Villages listed properties. Outside realtors sell only MLS properties. If you want to see everything that's available, you need both. And now there's the new national law of buyers needing to have a written agreement with their agent on how much they will pay. The seller's agent won't work with you.

You're making a big investment in the next stage of your life. Don't cheap out or rush it by trying to purchase a home 1500 miles away sight unseen.

I don't understand this notion, honestly. The idea that you should do more than a couple weeks of rent first, buy later. I used to rent, when I was in college and several years after college. It wasn't to check out the neighborhood to see if it'd be a good place to buy. It's because that's what young folks on a budget DID. We didn't yet have enough money saved up for a downpayment on property, plus we were still working on what path our lives would take.

All three homes we've owned up north, plus the one we bought here in The Villages , we didn't rent in the neighborhood first. When my parents retired to Florida, they didn't rent in their gated community first. When my grandparents bought in Century Village, they didn't rent for awhile first.

We rented for a week here and there because it was our vacation time, and The Villages was a great place to vacation when you're "near" retirement age and considering a move out of state.

Many people who are thinking about buying in The Villages are still paying mortgage on their current home, and can't afford a mortgage AND a new property. That also means they probably can't afford to take a few months off of work just so they can rent in another state to check out the community.

Many people come here when they retire. Not before they retire. Unless you can afford to take a few months - like if you own the business, or you're already retired, or you're very wealthy and don't have to work for a living in the first place...you -can't- rent for a few months.

[LianneMigiano]

How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Probably just like thousands of others of us did...Fell in love with what we saw when we visited (the cleanliness, the friendliness, the access to an incredible number of active adult activities/ clubs/ groups, the lack of an state income tax, what also turned out being considerably reduced living expenses, etc. etc.) Today you can also visit/view almost every home for sale online. There are no "bad neighborhoods" ANYWHERE here in The Villages, so that's never going to be an issue.
Welcome (in advance) and enjoy! We moved here from CT (yay, no more snow & ice) just over 14 years ago and love it here just as much today as when we first moved - even though we are now almost 84 & 89!

[spubear2]

We bought a house in 2022, sight unseen except for friends coming by to look at it for us and a video our real estate person did for us. We got a Village real estate person, Michael Veri, and he found one we liked just a couple days before it was listed, so we made an offer before the interest rates started to rise too much. But I think that concern isn't too bad at this time. Interest rates may go up or down this year. But you can do it if you know the area you want to be in. Otherwise, I would rent at first.

[MarshBendLover]

What we did before we sold: We bought a new home down in Eastpt section sight unseen and also bought a preowned one up near Lake Miona at the same time, and my wife purchased a third on a whim on acreage with horses up near the polo fields. Then we moved down and took turns. We lived in each house for 4-6 months deciding which area and home was best. Then we sold the other small ones at double the purchase price, then I woke up back in my sad little world covered in several feet of snow.

[KendallW]

I would never buy without seeing, so many factors including it could be your last home purchase and making a mistake could be a life long disaster. Spending a month in the villages before buying was the best decision we made..Put the horse in front of the cart..if you have to sell home first, maybe rent a bit in villages till you find your forever home

[Tennisismygame]

I am about to sell my house in Santo Domingo by owner. I could do a FaceTime video with you

[bogmonster]

Fellow Minnesotian here.

Are you from hell or outside the x94 loop? You won’t find Minnesota nice drivers south of 466a. If you are from inside the loop, they drive a lot like 394 during rush hour.

If you from inside the loop, the property taxes south of 44 will be closer to the 2% you are used to else north of 44 is closer to the 1% most of Minnesota has.

Furniture from Minnesota is different. Tendency for a lot of people is to bring their furniture down and then they end up getting rid of it for Floridian decor.

Do you have animals?

How many cars do you have? We just moved from Alhambra because of the one car garage. We loved the neighborhood and our pond, but hated shuffling cars all the time.

What activities do you like? South has more walking/biking trails and softball is migrating that way. Nothing funner than having to wake up an hour early to get to the ballfields on the other end of the villages. The Eastport complex is opening soon and will be added to the rotation next year.

Are you planning on being full time or a snow bird?

DM me if you have more questions.

[jimhoward]

People move all the time in the Villages. The houses are small and moving is not that hard so the purchase of a Villages home need not be viewed as a lifelong commitment. That realization takes a lot of pressure off the initial purchase decision. At least it did for us.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Did two Lifestyle visits, rented two one week airbnbs in different locations. Bought on fourth visit, preowned from VLS agent. Easy to buy remotely. Everything is electronic. Flew in one weekend to sign papers, but just because we wanted to. Taking 18 months to makes changes and furnish before we move there full time. Biggest hassle is finding service people to do maintenance. Just do it.

Can you also buy brand-new remotely, or do you HAVE to come sign papers in person at the Sales Office? Will an out-of-state notary suffice for signing the fed-ex'ed escrow and closing docs?

[Lharp]

My husband and I are realtors and help people in this situation often. The great part of your story is that you have been here for a visit and know the lay of the land. I assume that you have a general idea of the location you would like to shop. We typically take the following steps with buyers shopping from a distance:
Establish their budget
Learn what type of home they would like. (villa, designer, premier...)
Do you care of the exterior of the home is vinyl or stucco?
Are you hoping to stay in a certain square footage?
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms?
Are you willing or wanting to tackle updates of any kind, if so, to what extent?
Is an interior lot or a view preferred?

Following those questions we can get more specific with your wish list. If you like, we set you up to receive email listings of properties that meet your general wishes. We then video tour people through the home. Sometimes couples make the decision to come down for a visit to see the top couple homes in person and other times, they purchase without taking the trip.

Find a Realtor that you feel comfortable with. I understand that can be a challenge from a distance as well. Have phone conversations and interview the realtors. If you Facetime, hold interviews in that manner so that you can actually see the Realtor. This is a job interview for a Realtor. See who clicks with you and you feel you can trust.

Hope that this gives you some ideas.
Lee Harper





Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

[ScottPull]

I have also been looking at buying a house. Went to Eastport and the VLS 'realtors' that I talked to said VLS realtors can now show houses that are on the MLS. Also, to see any house on the MLS the MLS realtors will require you to sign an agreement. This is a must these days. The VLS realtors will tell you never to sign that agreement and to use them. Very confusing.

[ElDiabloJoe]

I have also been looking at buying a house. Went to Eastport and the VLS 'realtors' that I talked to said VLS realtors can now show houses that are on the MLS. Also, to see any house on the MLS the MLS realtors will require you to sign an agreement. This is a must these days. The VLS realtors will tell you never to sign that agreement and to use them. Very confusing.
Huh. I'm under the impression that many (most? All?) VLS Agents are just that. Sales Agents. Not real estate agents or realtors. That would preclude them from showing ANY thing on the MLS.

[ScottPull]

Huh. I'm under the impression that many (most? All?) VLS Agents are just that. Sales Agents. Not real estate agents or realtors. That would preclude them from showing ANY thing on the MLS.
That's what I had heard up until one week ago when I heard otherwise from 2 VLS agents.