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Kepple
01-24-2012, 05:45 PM
Okay, we've found a pre-owned that we fell in love with on-line. We've been renting for two months in TV for the last six years, so we're pretty familiar with everything and really love visiting. However, when it came to signing the contract to purchase and realizing that we would be taking out a mortage. . . . I froze! The weird thing is, I can't figure out why!

the pros: We have good friend who live in TV and want us to move there.
We know about where we would like to live and we know what all
TV has to offer and really do love it.

the cons: We've decided to keep our home in OH so that would mean
taking out a mortgage, which we haven't had for a few years.
I must admit I love not having to watch my pennies as we had to
for many years with raising four kids.
We have six lovely grandchildren under the age of 8.

I can tell myself everything that I read here. . . how the kids will love to visit, etc., just can't seem to sign on the dotted line. My husband thinks there is something seriously wrong with me. I guess after I write this, it sounds like I'm not ready to make the move. . . and that makes me sad.

Did any of you have cold feet at any time in the process???

Feeling like a big chicken on Ohio.

graciegirl
01-24-2012, 06:14 PM
I most certainly did. Now is not the time. There will be another house. I don't blame you for not wanting a mortgage.

buggyone
01-24-2012, 06:23 PM
You have to make up your own mind as to what is best for you. Some people cannot bear to move away from grandchildren - others know the grandkids will be fine and will enjoy The Villages on visits.

If you have made friends here, I would say this is the place to be. You have to live life for yourself and not for others. One of my relatives was all set to sign on the dotted line but then talked to her step-daughter in Minnesota who said we will not see you anymore. Well, they don't see each other much now. The cousin sold her home in Iowa and moved to Minnesota - even though she cannot stand the cold. She is sorry now she did not move to The Villages.

Live life for yourself. Make up your mind as to what is most important to you but do ask yourself each day, "Am I happy?" Hopefully, the answer will always be YES.

swrinfla
01-24-2012, 06:26 PM
Kepple:

I'm sure that many will jump in to reassure you that TV is Right For You!

Maybe I'm biased: today, 01/24, is the 7th anniversary of my closing down here! Haven't regretted a single minute.

My younger daughter, still in the St. Louis area, told me when I announced that maybe I'd move, "What's taken you so long? And, you know that we'll visit soon!"

Everyone's situation is different, but . . . I have no granchildren, but I am convinced that if I did, they'd love it here. Even if they could visit crusty old grandpa only once or twice a year!

Do not, repeat not, be afraid that you won't have any friends! Almost everyone I know here was worried about that at one time, but once they arrived they learned that that was a non-viable worry!

Tales abound: you arrive before your moving van, and spend a couple of nights sleeping on the floor; by the time your van shows up, you have worked out the kinks from sleeping on the floor and have at least two new friends - your next-door neighbors; after the van leaves, your neighbors may well appear armed with wine, cheeses, and welcoming arms; within the week, the whole street has made you feel at home, and you will begin to worry about how to re-pay their kindness!

Welcome to both TV and TOTV!

SWR
:beer3:

Happinow
01-24-2012, 06:33 PM
I understand about the not wanting a mortgage thing. However, what you must realize is that mortgage rates are lower than ever and if you can sign on the dotted line and know that you will forever enjoy your purchase, I say go for it! The mortgage rates are 3% or less I believe. You may never get rates like this again. You'll make the right decision for you and your family.

Bill-n-Brillo
01-24-2012, 06:46 PM
Kepple, don't feel bad. Everyone has different circumstances and different mindsets. You did what you felt was best for you at this point.

And the cool thing is.........you can ALWAYS change your mind - when the time is right!

Bill :)

jebartle
01-24-2012, 06:51 PM
I can also tell you about many residents I've meet that had regrets AFTER they signed on the dotted line, missed the grand-children, didn't click after the move, missed friends or family, you just have to go with your gut feeling and I know it will be the right decision!

bonrich
01-24-2012, 06:53 PM
Cold Feet? Understatement! We had rented for a few years and really had a great time here. My wife said if she ever decided to buy a place, it had to be a Model home, with 3 BR and 2 Baths, inside laundry, and fully furnished. Or it could be a pre-owned but had to be turn-key. Nice parameters and pretty safe, right?

Well, it was in March 2010 on a Monday, cool, cloudy day, so we went around to look at the Open Houses to fill in the afternoon. Went into a CYV, it was a Model, fully furnished with all the parameters she wanted. The salesmen said it was going to be sold that day. So my wife put our name down as interested, but we were number 2 on the list and one other after us (#3)was listed as interested. We were told the first one had 3 hours to decide and we should call the salesman at 4:50PM to find out where we were. So, at 4:55 PM I told my wife it's up to you since this home has everything you wanted, price was right, so she called and was told the first couple decided they didn't want it. Now it was our turn and we had 3 hours to decide and we had to call the salesman back that night. Talk about pacing, hand wringing, stomach in knots, etc, etc. Well it's all history, best move we made. But fast forward to now. We sold our CYV in December2011 and are building a new home in Sanibel and will take over in February. Talk about hand wringing, pacing, stomach in knots!! We are now beyond that and are really excited!!

We are still part-timers, our family and friends has visited and stayed with us. We have made so many new friends in TV. We look forward to come down here as well as we look forward to our home in NYS. It's a wonderful feeling to know you have a great place to go to when it's cold with wind chills, with horizontal snow. Gray sky every day, and sunshine is a rarity.

Your alternative is to write a check for $9,000 for 3 months rent. October and November is beautiful here, if you want to come down, its another $5,000.

If you are in a financial position to be able to go ahead, and your family is behind you, then all we can say is to live your life.

Happinow
01-24-2012, 07:05 PM
Well said bonrich. I agree with you. Gotta live your life. I know I will miss my family terribly but I think my husband and I will make some life long friends in TV and it will help us adjust to not being around our family. We will make a new family in TV....hopefully! Most people in TV understand what everyone goes through to move away from families. That's what makes the bonds and friendships so strong.

LvmyPug2
01-24-2012, 07:10 PM
I can TOTALLY RELATE! After 5 years of planning and dreaming of living in TV, I was so excited when we could finally shop for our new home. We looked and looked and finally found the right house for us. We signed the papers and that night I freaked out. All I could think was "What have we done???" I had never had a moment of doubt from the first time we visted TV 5 yrs earlier and now I had developed a serious case of cold feet. It took both DH and I by complete surprise.

I too posted on TOTV, wondering if I was only the only one that had this type of reaction. Much to my relief I found many people had a similar experience. I am happy to report that the cold feet only lasted a few days. The night I had my "what have we done" meltdown, DH and I agreed that if we both didn't love it here after 1 yr, we would sell and move elsewhere. After we moved in, it took less than a week for me to know we made the right move. Now, we are two very happy frogs that thank our lucky stars everyday we get to live in such a wonderful place.

l2ridehd
01-24-2012, 07:17 PM
I will give you an alternate opinion. If your not sure, wait. Decide how much time you will spend in TV if you own. Remember you can rent forever. And by renting other then January to March, rent is reasonable. My favorite months are April and May and September and October. So spend the extra 6K it will cost you and rent two winter, two spring and two fall months. Maybe even for a couple years, but wait until your sure.

CarGuys
01-24-2012, 07:37 PM
I agree with I2RHD a good option.

We look at it this way the rates were low we got alot of home and a MTG to us is nothing more that deductible rent.

Whe we sold ( GAVE ) away our home we went into a nice rental home. It cost us as much as our home we own and we are getting no deductions.

Were just hoping it all works out. So far the Villages has not let us down.

Plus my son just took me out to dinner with the new grandbabies. Twins. And said Dad now I have a cool place to come visit you.

That made us feel good.

rhredd1654
01-25-2012, 08:30 AM
I want you to know I was in the same boat. I put my home in Ohio up for sale last February, and did my Lifestyle visit in April. While here, I went through the process of picking out a lot and designing a home. When I got back to Ohio I started the mortgage process for the home in The Villages. Not my idea to have a mortgage, but decided I needed to do it then or never. Home in Ohio hasn't sold yet, but I've been a Villager since June. You have to make that decision. I decided to just "go for it!"

graciegirl
01-25-2012, 08:44 AM
I will give you an alternate opinion. If your not sure, wait. Decide how much time you will spend in TV if you own. Remember you can rent forever. And by renting other then January to March, rent is reasonable. My favorite months are April and May and September and October. So spend the extra 6K it will cost you and rent two winter, two spring and two fall months. Maybe even for a couple years, but wait until your sure.

Chris,

I absolutely agree with you. Your common sense is always so helpful to all of us.

There are, and always will be plenty of homes to buy here in Lower Paradise.

2BNTV
01-25-2012, 09:07 AM
Kepple, don't feel bad. Everyone has different circumstances and different mindsets. You did what you felt was best for you at this point.

And the cool thing is.........you can ALWAYS change your mind - when the time is right!

Bill :)

I will give you an alternate opinion. If your not sure, wait. Decide how much time you will spend in TV if you own. Remember you can rent forever. And by renting other then January to March, rent is reasonable. My favorite months are April and May and September and October. So spend the extra 6K it will cost you and rent two winter, two spring and two fall months. Maybe even for a couple years, but wait until your sure.

:agree: Great advice.

Kepple
01-25-2012, 12:11 PM
Well, it looks like it really is possible for a chicken to turn into a frog!

Thanks so much for all your kind responses. I don't feel like quite a freak now.

I've never posted very much on this site but love reading all your posts. As it's been said before, you all are a wealth of information and now I can attest to your compassion as well.

buggyone
01-25-2012, 12:23 PM
Maybe I shouldn't say anything but I find it amazing so many Villagers have taken out mortgages to live here.

I would think that selling your previous home would have given enough cash to buy without a mortgage. Even with a depressed sellers market up North, with the prices we paid many years ago, there was no trouble making more than enough to pay off a primary mortgage on the house we sold and having more than enough to buy without a mortgage in The Villages.

Single Track
01-25-2012, 12:40 PM
Kepple, you are not alone in your feelings.

I plan to retire and rent this May & June. I've visited TV twice and absolutely loved it; BUT they have only been of short duration (week here & there). If I have the nerve, I want to purchase a home this summer; BUT will there be too many moments of missing my children & grandchildren. What if I buy and furnish it to my liking and then decide that it was the wrong move for me, then where do I go. I know I can never afford the lifestyle of TV in the Philadelphia region; BUT why do I lie awake so many nights worrying.

I hope whatever decision you make turns out to be the best one for you. I truly wish you good luck.

Single Track

aljetmet
01-25-2012, 01:11 PM
Maybe I shouldn't say anything but I find it amazing so many Villagers have taken out mortgages to live here.

I would think that selling your previous home would have given enough cash to buy without a mortgage. Even with a depressed sellers market up North, with the prices we paid many years ago, there was no trouble making more than enough to pay off a primary mortgage on the house we sold and having more than enough to buy without a mortgage in The Villages.

This is abosolutely the best time since after WW II to take out a mortgage!

About 4%, real cheap. We haven't had a mortgage in a few years but want to take advantage of the low rates.

We Skype a lot to keep up with the grand kids. Also Florida is such a great place to visit. Good Luck!

Bill-n-Brillo
01-25-2012, 01:29 PM
Maybe I shouldn't say anything but I find it amazing so many Villagers have taken out mortgages to live here.

I would think that selling your previous home would have given enough cash to buy without a mortgage. Even with a depressed sellers market up North, with the prices we paid many years ago, there was no trouble making more than enough to pay off a primary mortgage on the house we sold and having more than enough to buy without a mortgage in The Villages.

This is abosolutely the best time since after WW II to take out a mortgage!

About 4%, real cheap. We haven't had a mortgage in a few years but want to take advantage of the low rates. .......

Two sides of the coin! :D

A couple of other sides:

- Not everyone is in the same financial boat to have a paid-off mortgage and/or the equity on their non-TV home to be able to pay cash for a home in TV. No way to know what everybody's personal situation has been.

- Corollary to that point: If somebody needs a mortgage to buy in TV and has the means to support it, is it wrong for the person to go that route?

- To me, the mortgage/no mortgage struggle has always had a good bit of "Whatever makes you sleep well at night" rolled into it as well!!!!

There's no 'one size fits all' answer or conclusion to it......just like the 'to buy or not to buy' discussion that's the initial topic of this thread.

JMHO - for what it's worth.

Bill :)

Kepple
01-25-2012, 02:02 PM
Buggyone I agree with you, but we were trying to keep our home in OH and be snowbirds for a couple of years. After that time, we would sell. TV offers a wide variety of options for those who decide to sell and then move. Thanks for your input.

SALYBOW
01-25-2012, 02:21 PM
We rushed into the move to TV because hubby wanted the golfing lifestyle. I was homesick for at least one year. We do have a mortgage but we always have. At first TV was a lot of fun, but since I had to get a job... not so much. It is hard to be driving to work and seeing walkers, runners, golfers and chatters all the way.
Around Thanksgiving I got very homesick again. I desperately miss my grand kids. We just had a new little bit and I do not see her much. We went North for Thanksgiving and at first it was great. Then the normal Cincinnati November kicked in and I began to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. I really got blue. On the plane on the way home, as soon as we got above the clouds and saw sunshine, I felt happy again.

Things I have come to figure out since the move.
1. I cannot stand the weather up north anymore
2. Seeing the naked trees and vegetation of winter is really a downer
3. My new little bit lives in Minnesota so we/or they have to travel to see each other anyway. We would not have seen my son on Christmas because he is a doctor and had to work Christmas. They came down here right after Christmas.
4. Not having Christmas with family on the 25th doesn't matter as long as you do get to see them ( we spent the day with old friends.) The 25th is just an arbitrary day. We celebrated with the other two children and families the week after Christmas.
5. This past Sunday my next door neighbor was taken away by life squad to the hospital. To make a long story short, I realized that we have a very loving friendship with many people down here and the neighbors rallied around with out asking to help out.
What I am trying to say is that even though life is not perfect down here right now. It has nothing to do with TV rather than with the circumstances right now. All the grandkids will come down to see you. That is not just an empty promise.
Somehow, when you are on the phone talking to the people back home and hearing their weather woes, the 80 degree weather fits just fine.
I do feel a tiny bit sad when I have to get off the phone with them to go play golf. But I get over it in 20 seconds or so.
If you do decide to come down, call me whenever you are feeling homesick. I will listen! :highfive:

Happinow
01-25-2012, 03:21 PM
Thanks for sharing your experience Salybow. I'm sure I'll have those feelings as well and may indeed need your ear or shoulder. So glad you've settled in and loving your life in TV. Yippie the kids and grandkids come to visit. I'll bet it makes you feel good to share your wonderful life. I'm happy for you!

LvmyPug2
01-25-2012, 03:37 PM
Carrying a mortgage or not is a very personal decision that often has less to do with available cash on hand and more to do with one's personal investment portfolio. We had cash to buy our house free and clear but our tax advisor, investment advisor and lawyer all strongly recommended we get a low interest mortgage, maximize the tax advantages and utilize our liquid assets in other ways right now. The key, I believe is living within your means and comfort zone.

aljetmet
01-25-2012, 03:54 PM
Carrying a mortgage or not is a very personal decision that often has less to do with available cash on hand and more to do with one's personal investment portfolio. We had cash to buy our house free and clear but our tax advisor, investment advisor and lawyer all strongly recommended we get a low interest mortgage, maximize the tax advantages and utilize our liquid assets in other ways right now. The key, I believe is living within your means and comfort zone.

:agree: Very well put. I rather pay off the bond with a 4% mortgage than pay 7% without a tax deduction just for starters....

keithwand
01-25-2012, 10:47 PM
Cold feet- we moved to FL seven years ago and have 2 kids in TX and 1 in MI.
Yes we miss our 6 grandkids and children but they have their own lives and so do we. Even in the summer when back in MI we only see my son and family a few times.
We thought of moving to TX or back to MI but are now going to be moving to The Villages.

Mortgages-rates have never been lower so even though we have owned 2 homes outright for many years we will be mortgaging the one in TV. You can mortgage up to $417K at 4% (> $417K is 5%) and invest it and then get a tax writeoff for the interest paid. Our broker still gets us around 5% for A rated bonds or better. Its a win win.

wendyquat
01-25-2012, 11:09 PM
Maybe I shouldn't say anything but I find it amazing so many Villagers have taken out mortgages to live here.

I would think that selling your previous home would have given enough cash to buy without a mortgage. Even with a depressed sellers market up North, with the prices we paid many years ago, there was no trouble making more than enough to pay off a primary mortgage on the house we sold and having more than enough to buy without a mortgage in The Villages.

Congratulations on your "prosperiousness"! Believe it or not, it isn't that way for everyone! Sometimes having a mortgage makes more sense than not having one! There's also a tool called a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase that works for some. Everyone's situation may be different and even though it would be wonderful to own everything with no debt that is not a prerequisite to living in The Villages!

Schaumburger
01-25-2012, 11:22 PM
Kepple, you are not alone in your feelings.

I plan to retire and rent this May & June. I've visited TV twice and absolutely loved it; BUT they have only been of short duration (week here & there). If I have the nerve, I want to purchase a home this summer; BUT will there be too many moments of missing my children & grandchildren. What if I buy and furnish it to my liking and then decide that it was the wrong move for me, then where do I go. I know I can never afford the lifestyle of TV in the Philadelphia region; BUT why do I lie awake so many nights worrying.

I hope whatever decision you make turns out to be the best one for you. I truly wish you good luck.

Single Track

Kepple and Single Track, Moving away from family and friends a long distance is a big decision. Take your time and don't feel rushed. TV should be around for a long time -- at least I hope so because it will be a few years before I can buy in TV. Good luck in whatever your decisions are :wave:

buggyone
01-26-2012, 11:16 AM
Aljetmet wrote, "Very well put. I rather pay off the bond with a 4% mortgage than pay 7% without a tax deduction just for starters.... "

That is very good reasoning and makes a lot of sense.

What I did was to buy a Villages home that was a resale and there was only a $1500 bond remaining. Best of everything. No bond, no mortgage.

LittleDog
01-26-2012, 11:45 AM
[QUOTE=LvmyPug2;444802]I can TOTALLY RELATE! After 5 years of planning and dreaming of living in TV, I was so excited when we could finally shop for our new home. We looked and looked and finally found the right house for us. We signed the papers and that night I freaked out. All I could think was "What have we done???" I had never had a moment of doubt from the first time we visted TV 5 yrs earlier and now I had developed a serious case of cold feet. It took both DH and I by complete surprise.
=================================

We bought in 3 days without really much thought other than we fell in love with the place. My wife said the same thing, "what have we done?"
However when we returned to NJ there was 16" of snow on the ground so that must have been an omen that we made the right choice. :clap2: We had friends in NJ but no family so the move was a little less traumatic for us. However, as others have mentioned on this thread you have to be happy for yourselves. If I did have family in NJ I still would have moved here. However, I'm a guy and women usually feel a little bit differently.

John

graciegirl
01-26-2012, 11:49 AM
Carrying a mortgage or not is a very personal decision that often has less to do with available cash on hand and more to do with one's personal investment portfolio. We had cash to buy our house free and clear but our tax advisor, investment advisor and lawyer all strongly recommended we get a low interest mortgage, maximize the tax advantages and utilize our liquid assets in other ways right now. The key, I believe is living within your means and comfort zone.

Another time that someone's input has shown me a different view. Particularly about the issue of mortgages. I had always thought that no mortgage was the best when you retire. You read and you think and you learn here.

Salybow, it was kind to share your feelings. I ache to hear of any unhappiness you are having. Sometimes I feel homesick too. But then I get busy again and know that I am where I am having the most varied and enjoyable times and not penned inside because of the weather.

ladydoc
01-26-2012, 04:42 PM
Carrying a mortgage or not is a very personal decision that often has less to do with available cash on hand and more to do with one's personal investment portfolio. We had cash to buy our house free and clear but our tax advisor, investment advisor and lawyer all strongly recommended we get a low interest mortgage, maximize the tax advantages and utilize our liquid assets in other ways right now. The key, I believe is living within your means and comfort zone.

This is exactly the same thing our advisor told us.

honeybaby
01-26-2012, 05:46 PM
I wish that I had experienced cold feet when buying here. Or at least had someone tell me all of the reasons why I should not purchase in TV. Like many all I got was the hype, the nice things and the deceptions. If you want to know the real story then keep asking and you will find out that it is not all that glorious.

graciegirl
01-26-2012, 06:03 PM
I wish that I had experienced cold feet when buying here. Or at least had someone tell me all of the reasons why I should not purchase in TV. Like many all I got was the hype, the nice things and the deceptions. If you want to know the real story then keep asking and you will find out that it is not all that glorious.

Please tell us what disappointments have you found and what deceptions. From whom did you hear the hype and the deceptions? And what were they?

Happinow
01-26-2012, 06:11 PM
I think the hype is just people loving where they live. I've gotten so many opinions on this forum and everyone seems to be very truthful in point of view. I'll bet that TV isn't for everyone and not everyone thinks its all that and a bag of chips. But for the most part, those who have chosen to live here, want to be here and it exceeds their expectations. So sorry you're not where you want to be and that TV hasn't lived up to your expectations. It's a personal choice. Best of luck finding what's right for you. It's a big task.

janmcn
01-26-2012, 08:34 PM
TV real estate has listings almost everyday of homes for sale, barely lived in, fully furnished, golf cart included; everything from patio villas to premier homes. Makes you wonder.

ssmith
01-26-2012, 10:48 PM
I LOVE your story....I am a wannabe....it seems like forever but back to my point. I am sure I would have the same feelingsthat you have. You see, we have moved before and it is easy to have a "Romantic" view of what life would be like somewhere else. TV is not perfect and not for everyone and it has it's hicups too. I learned a long time ago to "bloom where you are planted". Thanks for your story and hope it is helful to the OP.

John_W
01-26-2012, 11:05 PM
xxx

graciegirl
01-27-2012, 05:39 AM
There is a house just like ours for sale in Pennecamp. The Seabrook is a new model and there are only four built so far. I asked the salesperson why it had been put up for sale so quickly after closing and he said that the original owner, a single woman, had built it and closed this past summer and then found out that she "could not retire" and put it up for sale. The Villages require that you cannot make a profit on your home in the first year. That is a stipulation to keep flippers from taking over. This house is a real bargain at less than she paid for it and I wonder why exactly she had to change plans. She never moved in.

In the four years posting on this forum, I have heard of people buying a home here and then experiencing a death, or the diagnosis of a serious illness. Sadly, a lot of bad things can happen.

We must enjoy each day given to us. That goes for wannabees and gonnabees and frogs.

Have a good day today and feel this hug.