Villas vs Homes

[Reefer]

We are planning to stop down in November for a Welcome Tour.
Just would like to get some feedback on say a Courtyard Villa vs a Designer Home. Online we have been searching the homes but now are starting to lean toward a Villa. I guess we would like less work to do and some privacy (with the walls the Villas offer). So:
Advantages and disadvantages to both?
Has anyone sold and moved from a Villa to a Home or visversa?
Thanks...looking forward to our stop down.
Joe

[starflyte1]

I had wanted a villa, but since only 2 bdrm were available at the time, bought a designer home. After two years in the home, I looked at the villa again, but decided that I really like my home better.

The villa was on a golf course lot, had a two car garage and was close to SS. You could see the street from the kitcken window and guest bdrm window.

At my house that is on the golf course, my favorite room is the kitchen. The street is a cut thru for golf carts, so has cart traffic, but no automobile thru traffic. I love to see activity. It is also close to SS.

[ilovetv]

Seeing them and standing inside them and taking in the views out the back is the best way to see what you like.

During our lifestyle preview stay, we loved the designers (and still do) but the shared back yards were a big drawback to us. We'd had enough of seeing other people's weird creature habits on their decks in adjoining lots up north.

The wall around the CYV is great for privacy and for dogs to roam around loose in their own yard all day. Or you can get a CYV with a golf course view (more $$). And then some designers have the single wall of a CYV behind them--that's nice too.

[jane032657]

There are 7 view villas left right now at the Haciendas at Mission Hills. They will be building more, in a few months I heard. The villas available now all have yards with gorgeous views of the preserve and water, and sunsets. There are smaller and larger size villas there-1500-1850 or so sq ft some with big yards and some smaller, but all with views. I would grab one of these if you want a view. There are also new villas in there without a view that are beautiful with very nice yards as well.

We looked at designer and premier homes and liked all types of homes, so much to choose from. My our dog children made the decision for us and teh view is unbeatable. You have to go look at sunset.

[Uptown Girl]

I guess it all boils down to personal preference Joe..... and you will get a good feel for what you like when you can actually walk through the various homes available. Lot sizes can differ quite a bit, no matter what kind of house you choose. Meantime, ask yourself:

1)How much 'stuff' do you want to keep inside your home? My friends have lots of antiques and collectibles.... they need lots of space to showcase them. One friend has 3 big screen TV's (sports nut) and won't part with them. Another has a Steinway piano.

2) How much 'elbow room' do you require per person? I need some space that I can call my own.... not much, but a sanctuary of some kind. Hubby is over 6' tall and a solid guy.... he likes BIG chairs to sit in.

3) How much garage space will you need? The majority of Villas have only a 1 1/2 car garage, with a short, curved driveway.... and some models have washer and dryer out there as well.

We left an almost 4000 sq. ft. home up North and bought a Villa here because we really wanted to downsize. My Darling Hubby had STUFF. (Motorcycles, tons of camping gear, scuba gear, books, memorabilia, tools, electronics, etc.)
My vice is art, so I had lots of art studio stuff.

Long story short, we gleaned it WAY down and are comfortable and happy with under 1800 sq. ft. of living space. To us, it has been very liberating.
We have customized lots of nook and cranny space in our villa.... something lots of people do after they take occupancy.
But again, it's personal preference. Many more good points will come from everyone here who responds to your post, but you'll soon have the opportunity to see for yourself, and you'll know which one will feel perfect to you. Happy Hunting!

[Ohiogirl]

We are planning to stop down in November for a Welcome Tour.
Just would like to get some feedback on say a Courtyard Villa vs a Designer Home. Online we have been searching the homes but now are starting to lean toward a Villa. I guess we would like less work to do and some privacy (with the walls the Villas offer). So:
Advantages and disadvantages to both?
Has anyone sold and moved from a Villa to a Home or visversa?
Thanks...looking forward to our stop down.
Joe

Would be worth your while to try to do a search here for lots of threads on this, but sometimes the searches are harder than you would think.

I am assuming you are comparing lower cost (under $230,000 perhaps) designers with 3 BR CYVs ($170s to $230,000 or so).

Anyway, here's my take, for what it's worth. This is a very individual decision.

We have a 3 BR CYV south of 466.
Biggest disadvantages I see are:
- 1.5 car garage (although our model is deeper than some designers). People who are garage/basement putterers probably should not be CYV bound. We can get 1 small car and 2 golf carts plus lots of wall stuff in ours comfortably.
- Cannot customize until after you purchase (unless this has changed recently). You take what you get and then refine and add. But people also do this with designers that are spec homes or just to add stuff gradually or when you think of it.
- Cookie cutter looking from the front.

Biggest advantages (in my mind):
- Privacy, privacy, privacy. It is great to socialize with your neighbors, but also nice not to sometimes. Look also for high villa walls if you value privacy. Still easy, at least in our neighborhood, to socialize with neighbors as you wish. We're having a Super Bowl party today in our neighborhood.
- Dog lovers don't always have to walk their dogs or go to dog parks, although electric fences are an option in designers.
- I am not sure they are less work, maybe a little less expensive to maintain (yard is usually smaller, and some are grassless). I personally am a gardener and have probably 175 feet of borders, starting at the side gate and going almost completely around the back yard. I love that I can see all the fruits of my labors from the lanai or the kitchen window. You don't have to do this, and with a completely paved or rocked courtyard there probably is less work. But, if you are going to be here year-round, think about how hot this will look/feel in the warm months.

Look at some resale CYVs that have had additional back yard landscaping done, so you can see what they will look like in back without bare walls.

[aljetmet]

Designers are larger and more expensive. (for the house itself)
Much larger garages in designers for those who need more storage.
Master bathrooms are much larger in designers as well as kitchens.
Much more options in designers that cost $$$
No question if privacy is a high priority need to get a CYV or probably spend lots of dollars for a property that has privacy...

[batman911]

I believe the one car garage on most villas is the thing that pushes most people int other larger homes.

[Barefoot]

Designers are larger and more expensive. (for the house itself)
Much larger garages in designers for those who need more storage.
Master bathrooms are much larger in designers as well as kitchens.
Much more options in designers that cost $$$
No question if privacy is a high priority need to get a CYV or probably spend lots of dollars for a property that has privacy...


Some of the larger Courtyard Villas have more square footage (over 1600) and are more expensive than the smaller Designer homes (e.g., Ranch Designer at 1392 SF). Some CYVs have two-car garages.

Some people find CYVs claustrophic. Others paint murals on the walls or landscape and love it. If privacy is your number one issue, I recommend a view lot. South of CR 466 you'll probably find a view lot on a pre-owned home will cost you $20,000 up (if you want a water view, much more). There are some bargains with view lots in the North/West corner of TV.

[MSNPA]

We bought the Gardenia model and love it. This said, now that we have a dog we wish we had a courtyard villa. I think the villas are charming and would love the privacy they offer as well as a yard our dog would enjoy.

[buggyone]

I have a wonderful Lantana designer home located on a golf course. It is perfectly situated so golf balls do not come into my yard or hit the house - carefully checked out before I bought. 2800 square feet, double garage plus golf cart garage and large Florida room overlooking the golf course. Would not trade it for anything.

We did look at a few CYVs but the 1600-1800 square feet was too small for us. Personal choice, of course. Dog owners love the courtyards. I don't have a pet.

Our privacy is great, our view is great. Hey, The Villages are great!!

[aljetmet]

Some of the larger Courtyard Villas have more square footage (over 1600) and are more expensive than the smaller Designer homes (e.g., Ranch Designer at 1392 SF). Some CYVs have two-car garages.

Some people find CYVs claustrophic. Others paint murals on the walls or landscape and love it. If privacy is your number one issue, I recommend a view lot. South of CR 466 you'll probably find a view lot on a pre-owned home will cost you $20,000 up (if you want a water view, much more). There are some bargains with view lots in the North/West corner of TV.

Agreed there are always a few exceptions. Fortunately the plans for all the houses are available at TVs website. We don't know the OPs budget (do we?) and that's a critical issue.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I believe the one car garage on most villas is the thing that pushes most people int other larger homes.

Aren't they really considered to be "1 car + a golf cart" or "car and a half" garages?

Bill :)

[Number 6]

I read where folks with a dog prefer a CYV. I asked our dog and she told me she prefers our large corner lot. We have very limited auto traffic and she doesnt mind a long line for frisbee, etc. She is a larger dog so the CYV lot would be much too small for her needs.

[Reefer]

Wow...thanks for all the quick replies! Very helpful.
It has been a big help just looking at the resale CYV's and Designer homes online. Agree that it will help us when we tour them both.
One thing I have noticed, $ for $ in the resales, is how close some of the lanais can be in the back yard of Designer Homes where the CYV walls do seem to add some privacy.
Simply looks like pros and cons to each and will take all your replies to heart as we search.
How do taxes and bonds compare for both ~ may be another factor.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

We looked at many models before we bought but, because of our dogs, knew in the end it had to be a CYV even though we fell in love with the Lantana designer model. I am sorry that there are no CYV with true dining rooms and am mourning the loss of my formal dining room furniture which I feel too formal for the space in my CYV. I do love the enormous kitchen in my new home, but after we bought we had to go home to our northern house and upon looking around reality hit that we were going to have to pare down to HALF the square footage of our current home. It is very hard to say goodbye to half of your belongings. We are having trouble deciding which family antiques to take and where to put them. There is no longer room for furniture that looks good but doesn't have any daily purpose. We wonder if we made a correct choice and hope that we did. As always, the dogs come first so we had ultimately no choice. If you don't have dogs, or you can use an underground fence, you may have choices. Look around your home, see what you will miss and what you need to bring with you and decide how much room you will be comfortable living with and without. Then decide. It is a personal choice and you may value privacy over size but with a CYV you won't get anywhere near the sq ft that you get in a designer home. It's a selection that will be expensive to change.

[jane032657]

We have lots of antiques and big furniture in our farmhouse in Seattle, so much. We bought a 1500 sq ft new CYV and before we get there the lanai is being changed to a fully useful Florida room including raising the floor so you walk right in flush from the kitchen. I am loving selling everything and moving into Florida mode, lighter, airier, away from the dark antiques and into a whole new feeling. It is freeing getting rid of stuff. Stuff is stuff, pepole make memories. Let others enjoy what you have and start anew. It is cleansing and puts life in a new perspective when you can give up the old and start anew! We looked at huge houses but settled on a huge back yard with a view that is amazing in the CYV. To me it is about the sun, the sunsets, the fresh air, the Happy Hours under the birdcage or in the Florida room looking at all the beauty outside.
But the houses availabe in TV, so many gorgeous. Hard to choose. but when dogs rule your life, well, it focuses you on what you need, not necessarily what you want. But when I saw the view and the huge yard, I was sold. Now I am downsizing and I love it.

[Reefer]

...because of our dogs, knew in the end it had to be a CYV... reality hit that we were going to have to pare down to HALF the square footage of our current home. It is very hard to say goodbye to half of your belongings. We are having trouble deciding which family antiques to take and where to put them. There is no longer room for furniture that looks good but doesn't have any daily purpose. We wonder if we made a correct choice and hope that we did. As always, the dogs come first so we had ultimately no choice. .

All this because of the dogs....Hmmmm

[jane032657]

Oh Reefer, you have no idea. Yes, all this and more because of the dogs. But we love them and each other so it is all good! And really, if you saw the view, you would be sold on the CYV too. Dogs or no dogs. It is breath taking.

[Barefoot]

We looked at many models before we bought but, because of our dogs, knew in the end it had to be a CYV even though we fell in love with the Lantana designer model. As always, the dogs come first so we had ultimately no choice. If you don't have dogs, or you can use an underground fence, you may have choices.

All this because of the dogs....Hmmmm

Sheepishly, I have to admit, our dogs RULE our life. And we wouldn't want it any other way!

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

We went from a small designer to a cyv.

My husband has breathing problems and we needed to cut down his exposure to grass.

We no longer have a "kissing lanai" which we are extremely happy about.

Our annual expenses have decreased;
no lawn service
no lawn maintenance service (bugs, fertilizer, replacement of lawn, etc._
bond is lower on cyv
more usable garden area
freedom to leave lanai and kitchen doors and windows open
and not have to close them and reopen them everytime we left our home
Privacy and then some more privacy
QUIETER - in our designer home we heard the lawn mowers going at 8 am, here in the cyv I haven't heard any commercial lawn mowers - gardeners use hand mowers
our electric bill went down
irrigation water bill went down due to less lawn
have a beautiful vista - in the process of having an 87 foot mural painted
and I guess I can list more things.

We could not have moved into a cyv when we first came down here. We were used to wide open spaces - neighbors were acres away.

What ever you buy I wish you lots of luck.

[Reefer]

Thank you for the imput Vicar

[tainsley]

We live in a CYV. Love it! 3 br/2 bath just under 1700 sf. Wide open. But the best part is it is on a corner lot at the end of the street. Plenty of space! Plenty of privacy. We know all our neighbors. Knowing we had only a 1.5 garage we got rid of a lot of stuff before we moved down in December. Couldn't be happier!

[Uptown Girl]

[QUOTE=VICAR OF DIBLEY;449366]We went from a small designer to a cyv....have a beautiful vista - in the process of having an 87 foot mural painted


Wow.... didn't know we could paint the walls. You mean the courtyard walls, right? Any chance we could see a photo?

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

The mural is approximately 90% completed.

It is an English country side setting with some items from our vista in the Mid-Hudson Valley of NY.

[salpal]

During our lifestyle visit, we looked at designers and CYV's. We were staying in a 3 bedroom CYV and felt it was large enough for us. After talking to lots of folks during that visit, many said to us that they planned to downsize to a CYV down the road. Hubby and I decided we would not want to move twice, so we went with a 3 bedroom CYV the first time. The final kicker was our furry child who had a nice, safe yard to roam around. We're very happy with our choice.

[Posh 08]

We have lots of antiques and big furniture in our farmhouse in Seattle, so much. We bought a 1500 sq ft new CYV and before we get there the lanai is being changed to a fully useful Florida room including raising the floor so you walk right in flush from the kitchen. I am loving selling everything and moving into Florida mode, lighter, airier, away from the dark antiques and into a whole new feeling. It is freeing getting rid of stuff. Stuff is stuff, pepole make memories. Let others enjoy what you have and start anew. It is cleansing and puts life in a new perspective when you can give up the old and start anew! We looked at huge houses but settled on a huge back yard with a view that is amazing in the CYV. To me it is about the sun, the sunsets, the fresh air, the Happy Hours under the birdcage or in the Florida room looking at all the beauty outside.
But the houses availabe in TV, so many gorgeous. Hard to choose. but when dogs rule your life, well, it focuses you on what you need, not necessarily what you want. But when I saw the view and the huge yard, I was sold. Now I am downsizing and I love it.

We are giving all the antiques to the kids before we move to Florida. Don't want them to end up down there. Might be a burden for the kids to retrieve them.

[jane032657]

I cannot even GIVE them away to my kids, they do not want stained glass, chine, crystal, antiques, etc....I am going to have an upscale garage sale!

[Posh 08]

I cannot even GIVE them away to my kids, they do not want stained glass, chine, crystal, antiques, etc....I am going to have an upscale garage sale!

LOL I know about that too. We do have one Grandson, at 14, is an old soul and wants what the parents don't.

[lovsthosebigdogs]

All this because of the dogs....Hmmmm

Reefer, we bought a 36 foot MOTORHOME with slides so we could take our dogs with us when we travel and not have to leave them. Yup, all for the dogs. And the vehicle we bought was because of them. The northern house was designed for ease of use because of them and the acreage we live on was for them also. If it makes THEIR life easier that in turn makes OUR lives easier. If you aren't a dog owner, or even THAT kind of dog owner you can't even get it I suppose, but if ya are, ya just know it's so.

[swimdawg]

My own experience....

Originally I thought I wanted a Designer home. Then I read TOTV and changed my mind because...I have the DAWG, Lexi, and I am a snowflake now...going back and forth from WNY to TV.....and it seemed to make sense that I should get a CYV....as was recommended by many of the posters on TOTV.

The BEST thing that happened was The Lifestlye Preview Visit last January. We were put up in a lovely Court Yard Villa. I knew almost immediately it wasn't meant for me. I felt so enclosed...and instantly changed my mind back to my original thought....a Designer home.

The bottom line: Different strokes for different folks.

Lexi is happy going outside on a leash....and we have a lovely Iris Designer home with a beautiful view.

I would highly recommend doing the Lifestyle Preview and see for yourself whether a Courtyard Villa is for you.