Monthly Costs for Villas vs Designers

[maryanna630]

I was wondering about the monthly expenses/maintenance costs on a villa as opposed to a designer. Any ballpark would help since we were wondering about ongoing expenses such as taxes, homeowners, exterminators, electric, landscaping, water, bond etc. In many cases the cost of a courtyard or cottage can be almost the cost of a designer but the ongoing monthly cost would be a factor determining what we would purchase.
As always, thanks for all the information; it is a tremendous help.
Maryanna

[ijusluvit]

It's not about the style of the home, it's about the size. Many CYV's are larger than designer homes. In addition to interior square footage being a factor in monthly costs, the size of the lot is as well. If you want to irrigate your lot enough to grow plants and grass reasonably well, you will pay more for a larger or corner lot. Also, what you add to the home often adds more costs. A pool, gardens and fountains, electric appliances, etc. I suggest you go to the Nuts & Bolts threads at the bottom of the home page. They provide a very good summary of average costs.

[Ohiogirl]

Depends, of course, if you are comparing new to new, or new to old, etc.

The biggest difference is the amount of the bond. For instance, when we bought in 2006, our bond for a CYV was under $10,000 and a designer or ranch (now cottage) was in the $18-22,000 range (can't remember for sure). Don't know what the new bonds are, but think the CYV is in the $14,000 range and the designers maybe $24,000?

Ongoing differences would be lawn maintenance and irrigation costs. Of course, all depends on the size of the lot and if the villa has grass or not. You still have to water shrubs, though. But - a typical CYV lot has 3 zones for the irrigation system, vs. about 5 for a designer (someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that). Other utilities will depend on usage and square footage. Some of the CYVs have more sq. footage than the smaller designers.

And, when you are looking at improvements, landscape upgrade costs for most designers will be more than for most CYVs, just because the lots are bigger, but again, all depends on what you do.

[buggyone]

I would assume the designer homes would have a bit higher gas and electric bill just due to size. However, as it was stated earlier, some CYVs are just about as large.

Personally, I would go for a resale designer home with all of the features you want already in the house. Price is negotiable on a resale and is not on a new home. Bond will be lower perhaps even paid off. Landscaping will be mature. No construction going on for months or construction dirt around if in an established neighborhood. For a new construction home, you do not get to visualize what the area will look like when all built up. Sometimes there is an unpleasant surprise.

Whatever type of home you buy, it is the best idea to get both a Villages Properties agent AND a MLS agent since neither can show each others listings. You do not have to act secretive about it. Both agents know the smart buyer looks at both Villages listings and MLS listings.

[asianthree]

Patio villa about $11000.00 per year Cottage at 1600sq ft....about $16750.00 give or take a few dollars depending on the bond and taxes... cyv if all stone and no grass water will be less but weeding will cost more than mowing...

[Paperboy]

We have a 3 bdrm. cottage in St. James, closed 11/11. Our bond was almost $22 K,-0 - cost for the lot,1480 sq. We are snow flakes & out total cost for all is about $750.00 per mo. With the dehumidistat our summer electric bills are $25.00.

[Quixote]

I find the CYV much less costly to live in than the Designer. No mowing, no lawn bug killing, much less sprinkler water. Lot is invariably smaller in a CYV, but unlike the Designer, all of it is usable. Bonds are consistently lower on CYV than on Designer (comparing only those built the same year). Smaller lot also means lower taxes, all other things being equal. The only drawback I find with the CYV is the smallness of the garage; everything else is a joy!!!

[sueandskip]

Our patio villa is about 500 per month for expenses....everything from cable to trash

[jebartle]

NO bond in Lake County



Depends, of course, if you are comparing new to new, or new to old, etc.

The biggest difference is the amount of the bond. For instance, when we bought in 2006, our bond for a CYV was under $10,000 and a designer or ranch (now cottage) was in the $18-22,000 range (can't remember for sure). Don't know what the new bonds are, but think the CYV is in the $14,000 range and the designers maybe $24,000?

Ongoing differences would be lawn maintenance and irrigation costs. Of course, all depends on the size of the lot and if the villa has grass or not. You still have to water shrubs, though. But - a typical CYV lot has 3 zones for the irrigation system, vs. about 5 for a designer (someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that). Other utilities will depend on usage and square footage. Some of the CYVs have more sq. footage than the smaller designers.

And, when you are looking at improvements, landscape upgrade costs for most designers will be more than for most CYVs, just because the lots are bigger, but again, all depends on what you do.

[wendyquat]

We have a 3 bdrm. cottage in St. James, closed 11/11. Our bond was almost $22 K,-0 - cost for the lot,1480 sq. We are snow flakes & out total cost for all is about $750.00 per mo. With the dehumidistat our summer electric bills are $25.00.

SUMMER electric bills only $25 per month? Can you tell me how you do this? Do you use AC? Thanks

[golfski]

I was wondering about the monthly expenses/maintenance costs on a villa as opposed to a designer. Any ballpark would help since we were wondering about ongoing expenses such as taxes, homeowners, exterminators, electric, landscaping, water, bond etc. In many cases the cost of a courtyard or cottage can be almost the cost of a designer but the ongoing monthly cost would be a factor determining what we would purchase.
As always, thanks for all the information; it is a tremendous help.
Maryanna

Bought a new 3 bedroom 1600sq ft villa in Feb . We are not full time. We are still getting a read on the monthly cost but take out the mort. and bond debt and it looks like between 900 and 1000 a month.

[tommy steam]

SUMMER electric bills only $25 per month? Can you tell me how you do this? Do you use AC? Thanks

I have a designer around 2000 sq ft.. My last elect bill was 130.00.. Keeping ac between 72 and 75 . It was lower in the winter but I don't really remember what bill was .

[asianthree]

We have a 3 bdrm. cottage in St. James, closed 11/11. Our bond was almost $22 K,-0 - cost for the lot,1480 sq. We are snow flakes & out total cost for all is about $750.00 per mo. With the dehumidistat our summer electric bills are $25.00.

my lowest seco bill was $56 how do you get a $25. bill

[LynnDeb]

I would assume the designer homes would have a bit higher gas and electric bill just due to size. However, as it was stated earlier, some CYVs are just about as large.

Personally, I would go for a resale designer home with all of the features you want already in the house. Price is negotiable on a resale and is not on a new home. Bond will be lower perhaps even paid off. Landscaping will be mature. No construction going on for months or construction dirt around if in an established neighborhood. For a new construction home, you do not get to visualize what the area will look like when all built up. Sometimes there is an unpleasant surprise.

Whatever type of home you buy, it is the best idea to get both a Villages Properties agent AND a MLS agent since neither can show each others listings. You do not have to act secretive about it. Both agents know the smart buyer looks at both Villages listings and MLS listings.


I agree totally.....