What size villa should we buy ?

[livan]

We're considering buying a courtyard villa in Mission Hills area ... but can't decide if we should go with two or three bedrooms ... we'll be snow birds - and in/out during the fall ... we have 4 children in MI who MIGHT visit - although we were in Ft Myers many years with only one daughter & family visiting us ... anyway - there's quite a price increase when you go from 2 to 3 bedrooms ... anyone have a suggestion - or maybe experience with this ? ... also what about the quality of construction in Mission Hills - it looks to be good ... we talked to one couple who didn't like the quality of their appliances ... anyway - we're looking for answers ... Judy

[jane032657]

We bought in Mission Hills a 3 bedroom with a view to the lake and the park. The third bedroom is small, it will mostly be an office. It is a personal choice depending on how much stuff you need, if one of you wants an office or hobby room, what size garage you want, and what your plan is on how you will use your home. There is $100,000 difference between the highest and less costly villas at the Haciendas so there is a lot of choice. The people there are wonderful, it is close to Lake Sumter Landing (four minutes by golf cart) and I think it is lovely.

[Snewland]

I also had trouble deciding between a 2 or 3 bedroom villa 8 years ago. I settled for the two bedroom but as soon as I became a full time resident I realized I had made a mistake. I now have a 3 bedroom Villa in Edgewater Bungelows and LOVE having the extra room for my crafts which also serves as a guest bedroom. Susie.We're considering buying a courtyard villa in Mission Hills area ... but can't decide if we should go with two or three bedrooms ... we'll be snow birds - and in/out during the fall ... we have 4 children in MI who MIGHT visit - although we were in Ft Myers many years with only one daughter & family visiting us ... anyway - there's quite a price increase when you go from 2 to 3 bedrooms ... anyone have a suggestion - or maybe experience with this ? ... also what about the quality of construction in Mission Hills - it looks to be good ... we talked to one couple who didn't like the quality of their appliances ... anyway - we're looking for answers ... Judy

[George Bieniaszek]

I agree with some of the previous posts. We have a 2BR villa and we are also part-timers. If we were fulltime, I think a 3BR would be a better choice to have a den with a convertable couch for the occasional guests that the second bedroom could not handle.

Actually, my 2 complaints are not that it is a 2 BR but I wish we has a full 2 car garage instead of the 1.5. It is real snug in there when we park my wife's Ford Escape along side our golf cart.

The second thing is that I wish we had a larger lanai. Yes, we could expand it with a birdcage and that may be something we address in the future. You will tend to spend lots of time out on the lanai, so the larger, the better in my opinion. We have a north facing lanai and enjoy the fact that the sun is not blasting down on us and enjoy the cooler temps.

Quality of construction in my opinion was top-notch. After the closing, there were a couple of minor things that needed to be addressed and The Villages took care of them immediately. Within one hour of my initial call, the electrician was at my door ready to correct the issues.

Good luck and I know you will enjoy The Villages and all it has to offer!!!

[rubicon]

I personally believe a three bedroom would be more atractive because you have room or guest and it is likely you can do a faster resell with a three bedroom vis a via a two

[jane032657]

I agree about the birdcage, we put in a very large one and I expect we will spend a majority of time in it. Also bought a ten foot outside ipei dining room table and chairs that can tolerate rain to be out there, no sense eating in when you can eat out!

[John_W]

They are also building new CYV's in St. James, which is off St. Charles but very near Buena Vista Blvd. Being close to Buena Vista means you can get on the cart trail easily and be at LSL in 15 minutes and probably the new Brownsville Square in about 20 minutes or less when finished. A 3 BR Charlotte is for sale in St. James right now for $175K but in Mission Hills they start at $215K, and you're buying the same floorplan.

We have a 2 BR masonry CYV in Tamarind Grove, just north of St. James. I can tell you that the 3 BR sell much quicker. Ours is a one year old Woodlawn which is now called a Durham. When our villa section got down to the last ten units, six of them were 2 BR Woodlawns. We got a great deal because they wanted to close out section, but if you wanted a 3 BR Foxglove there were none. The Floxglove is now the Charlotte, a very desirable model.

The Charlotte has a ten foot breakfast bar, we also have a 10' bar in our home and we eat all of our meals there. The Charlotte has an indoor laundry, ours is in the garage and even one of the most expensive models, use to be called the Stoney Brook, I don't know the new name but it doesn't have an indoor laundry. Also in the Charlotte indoor laundry there is room to put a second refrigerator, that's a lot better than sticking a refrig in the hot garage. I could go on, but take a look at a Charlotte in St. James or even south of CR466A.

[dkrhardy]

We just bought a Monticello in St. James, corner lot. I agree that the 3 br is a better deal, overall. Some of them have the 2 sink master bath, as well as a larger guest bath. The lanai is a bit bigger also, I THINK. 3 weeks from today, we will be in it!
Don & Kaz

[asianthree]

have a 2/2 now want a three and that 1.5 garage is why we want a 2 car and a golf cart

[Carla B]

Just my opinion, but I predict you'll be much happier with a 3-bedroom! We lived in a condo for 6 years with 2 bedrooms. Our sailboat docked in our harbor was actually more comfortable but it was against the rules to stay on it overnight. Our condo's second bedroom was a tiny office/guest room. It never worked well with guests because it always felt cramped when they were there.

Our Villages house has 3 bedrooms, one of which is a guest room. It's much more comfortable and it's a luxurious feeling to have a place that is reserved for guests plus whatever we want to store in there.

[tainsley]

We have a three bedroom Arlington (Grantham) in Tamarind Grove. Plenty of room. The 1.5 garage is tight but we got rid of a lot of "stuff". Although we love our home we bought it because of the corner lot. We love being outside and it is private. Just added a pool and birdcage...we never leave now!

[JohnN]

when we became full time, we moved from 2 BR to 3BR.
I'd go 3 BR..just my thought, unless you can really live *tight*