Villages or MLS to Buy?

[MplsPete]

I already fully understand the New vs Pre-Owned aspect of this question . . .
I guess I've heard a hint that VLS homes are perhaps better vetted and superior to MLS listings.

[manaboutown]

Both

[Stu from NYC]

When we moved here we used both and glad we did. Better selection of pre owned homes to see

[vintageogauge]

When we bought we used both. After giving them a list of what we were looking for our Villages agent showed us two days worth of pre-owned homes, the MLS agent, who at the time was one of the biggies in TV showed us one home. The following day we purchased a new home as we got so much more for a lot less money and everything was under warranty which is a nice feeling being in a new community.

[scubawva]

I guess I've heard a hint that VLS homes are perhaps better vetted and superior to MLS listings.[/QUOTE]

Don’t believe everything you hear. What’s “better vetted”?

Bottom line, see homes with agents from both services. You can see the listings both offering online,

[MX rider]

When we started we used both because we wanted to see all the preowned homes for sale.
The one we bought was with MLS. Then when we wanted a bigger place we used MLS to sell, but used both again to buy the home we're in now.

It just so happened it was an MLS home for the second time.

[Stu from NYC]

We used an inspection company to do a full inspection so made sure our home was in good shape before funds changed hands

[npwalters]

Both, I can only relate our experience from several years ago. The Villages agent was reluctant to take an offer to the owner. She did because she had to but I can imagine how the offer was presented. Her statement was "we know the value of the homes and they are priced very near what it will bring".

The MLS agent said "make an offer and we will see what they say". I ended up buying through the MLS agent and the owner took an offer about 6% less than the asking price.

I understand that was just one agent among many but we were glad we explored both routes.

[starflyte1]

Either one. Shop both online and find the house you want and contact that lister

[sdeikenberry]

We started with a VLS agent and told her we were only interested in homes north of 466. She proceeded to show us three new homes south of 44 "so we could see what the difference was." Finally we said we really want north of 466. She then showed us 4 homes that were total dumps. Smelled bad, had dirty insides, stuff like clothes left in closets, trash in garages, landscape not kept up. It didn't take long before we figured out what was happening. She was picking the worst of the worst north of 466 to show us like we just got off the turnip truck. We ditched her and started looking on our own. We immediately saw lots of really nice homes, and made an offer on one that we're still in that was being sold by an MLS agent. That was 13 years ago.

[USOTR]

While we looked at homes with VLS and MLS, we liked the homes our VLS agent showed us more, and purchased one of those. Further the prices asked for homes with the VLS seems more inline with what I thought the value was. Verses MLS homes would have need more negotiations.

We used Robbie Andrette for our VLS agent.. 352 360 5535

[westernrider75]

I already fully understand the New vs Pre-Owned aspect of this question . . .
I guess I've heard a hint that VLS homes are perhaps better vetted and superior to MLS listings.

We used both. We asked our VLS agent to show us preowned which she did, we asked to see new, she showed us those. Then we spent a day with MLS agent who showed us preowned.

We felt like the VLS agent had more knowledge about The Villages, monthly and yearly costs, etc.

During this process we used a spreadsheet to compare everything we saw.

We ended up buying new because we felt we were getting more for our money. That was 6 years ago and we have no regrets.

[vintageogauge]

We used an inspection company to do a full inspection so made sure our home was in good shape before funds changed hands

So which agent did you use?

[sirweazle]

I already fully understand the New vs Pre-Owned aspect of this question . . .
I guess I've heard a hint that VLS homes are perhaps better vetted and superior to MLS listings.

Just remember, they are “Salespeople”, not Realtors, big difference.

[bfoxy]

MLS is best for resales. I highly recommend the team of Sunny Parsons 352-239-0980 and Tim Davis 352-446-1688 from Realty Executives. They work well together and compliment each other’s abilities. They were so supportive and encouraging during a stressful time and got the job done.

[Kyjam]

We used MLS and VLS when looking for a pre owned home .
Our MLS agent, David Monty, was very good to work with . We submitted an offer through him but we couldn’t come to terms with the seller .
We submitted another offer on another home with our VLS agent Robbie Audette . We were outbid by a competing offer .
We submitted another offer on a different VLS listing (sight unseen)and it was accepted .
Robbie did a wonderful job making a video walkthrough for us .
I highly recommend both of the agents we used and was very glad to have used the MLS and VLS to see all that were available .

[Kyjam]

Just remember, they are “Salespeople”, not Realtors, big difference.

The VLS agents are more than “Salespeople “ . They are licensed real estate agents.
They do not belong to the Board of Realtors and therefore should not be called realtors , but they do have to abide by all the Florida laws concerning real estate agents .

[jeepnjt]

We ended up backing out of a VLS deal and went MLS. Our VLS agent assured us all will be fixed, you wont have any issues. The inspector said don't buy this house without a new roof saying it only has one or two years left. I made that an issue in the transaction. The VLS agent said I have to hire a roof inspector to prove the roof is in urgent need of repair. My reply was, the buyer needs to convince me it's good. The VLS agent said, if the roofing company says it will make it a year a more they do not force a replacement. I said ok, I'm backing out unless the owner wants to contribute to a new roof. The agent would not even go back and ask, he just said we are done. I bought the same house in a nearby neighborhood from MLS for a better price and brand new roof.

I think you have to look at both VLS and MLS, but don't assume VLS is working for you, both sides of that transaction are working for The Villages. Just know that and find a deal you can live with. I also think the agent could have taken the time to work on updating the offer, he just didn't want to,

[RON S]

You have to use both to see everything

[Bahrym]

This is definitely not true. You are much better with a Realtor and MLS much better coverage bigger group of buyers. The MLS makes your home available to all buyers working with any company but the Villagges

[Runway48]

Just returned from house hunting in TV. We focused on open pre-owned houses offered by VLS and MLS. Both MLS and VLS agents suggested making offers of at least 5% below asking and bargaining hard for concessions and give backs. VLS agents may be more knowledgeable of some of the inner workings of living in TV. MLS agents are better at giving a perspective of living in the villages relative to surrounding communities. We found both to be equally good-bad. Hard to catch a falling knife. Prices are continuing to drop, and sellers who are sitting on huge paper appreciations or who bought at the COVID peak are always the last to accept the trend. We return in Oct.

[scubawva]

“ Both MLS and VLS agents suggested making offers of at least 5% below asking and bargaining hard for concessions and give backs”

Are these agents who you were paying? Or are they not upholding

[CoachKandSportsguy]

If you have a list of needs and wants, and if not searching for a new build, there is no choice to filter on all available homes to purchase, you need both. . should not even be a question. . .

[Guinness835]

We closed on a house in TV in April and had started looking last December. We had both a VLS and MLS agent. We knew we wanted to be “between the 6’s” and our VLS agent kept trying to show us new houses near Eastport, even though we told them we did not want that. Another negative to VLS is you have no idea how long a house has been on the market and if it is overpriced. One of the houses we looked at in December is still currently for sale on VLS at the same price. We ended up buying pre-owned with MLS. It all depends on what you want, but to make sure you see everything having both VLS and MLS is necessary. There are good and bad agents on both sides, so just make sure you find the right ones. For new builds, you definitely need VLS.