Revisiting TV and other Questions

[Bella]

Hello Everyone!!!
Can't get enough of this forum...My husband discovered it about a month ago and I finally decided to register...
Everyone is so helpfull...Have learned a lot...

We were at TV in April '07 on the "Lifestyle" plan and looked at a few new and resales and decided to go to the Citizens First Mortgage Company to get some estimates on fees...I found the closing fees to be a bit excessive.
It might be because we bought our current home in 1983 and I could be totally out of the loop...
Did most of you go through them or get your own financing? Thoughts???

Also, because we were with another couple when we came down in April, we did not have the time we would have liked to look around, so we were thinking about going back down in December and would like to do the "Lifestyle" plan again. Has anyone been back more than once?

Don't know what we will do if we find something though...My husband has another 18 months to go before he wants to retire....

Decisions...Decisions...

[nanci2539]

We'll be down in Nov. for the 3rd time, twice on the Life Preview.

We had the same plan, retirement in two years. Well, within the past month, my job was eliminated so after 40 years or working with 11 years with the company I just left, I am officially retired. Same day that happened to me, my husband's company went through a down size and restructure and he had a job change that came with a pay cut so needless to say, we are selling our home after the first of the year and heading down to TV much earlier than we planned. But I find, when planning life, life gets in the way.

[JohnZ]

It's interesting how often we hear about job eliminations, pay-cuts and other forms of restructioning affecting grey-haired workers....ah....predominantly. Could there be a connection....ya think? This abhorrent corporate behavior has gone on way to long. There's going to be a back-lash.....I don't know what form it will take.....but there's going to be a back-lash. I wonder if it has occurred to the elected powers that be that seniors still IN the work force pay into the social security system........and that removal of these people exacerbates and accelerates the well known funding problem not to far off in the future. I'm not an economist....but even I can figure that one out. Gawd help us.

[bamafan]

Bella, We just finished closing a mortgage with Citizens First. I had them give me a good faith estimate of closing costs based on a mortgage. I then checked with several other banks ie: Regions I found that Citizens was less. I am sure that if you shop you can probably beat their rates, but by how much. Everything went so smooth. We closed by mail and I did not get any surprises. The costs were $139. more than quoted and that was because of some cdd fees. Would I go with Citizens First again Yes as long as the mortgage rate is competitive. Call them get preapproved for x amount and they will give you a good faith estimate.

[REDCART]

Bella, If you're moving to the State of Florida, your closing costs includes a one-time "Florida Impact" fee of several thousand dollars. Of couurse if you're already a Fl resident, this wouldn't be an issue.

[jjdees]

What is a FI impact fee? Is this on new construction or new and used?

[Bella]

gryoung, so sorry to hear about the downsizing of both you and your spouse, everything happens for a reason, and moving to the villages earlier than expected is a great reason...

It probably is this "Florida Impact" fee that has made the closing a little higher than I thought...I also would like to know what this is....

I did call TV yesterday and we will be going back down for 6 days in December on the "Lifestyle" plan...Can't wait!

Also took the advice and rented our golf cart from Jim...It is $3.00 cheaper per day....Rented from the village store last time we were there and it was $18 and change plus we could have walked faster than it drove....

Out of curiosity to everyone...do you thing that a lot of people still work at least part time after they move to the TV?

[DickY]

If you Google "Florida Impact Fee" I think you will find that this is on new construction.

[Peggy D]

Bella

Who is Jim? coming to TV in the spring. Last time when we were there, rented a golf cart too. Know EXACTLY what you mean--what a junk. Turned it back in after 1st day!!

[jjdees]

I agree. The rental cart was a junker. If I was trying to sell Yamaha carts, I sure wouldn't want to turn of my prospects by having them try out a junker.

[Bella]

Jim - Got his name off this site - don't know his last name - called him yesterday to reserve a cart - apparently he rents as well as sells - I will call him the day before we come in to arrange a spot for pick up...

Phone number:
352-259-7525
317-258-1241 (cell)

[REDCART]

Bella, you may have confused me with another. We were not downsizing... On a separate issue, we've always rented a golf cart from the Village Golf Carts in LSL and although they're known to be a little slower than the others, I wouldn't describe them as "junkers". Jim has excellent prices but you've got to pick you cart in the older secttion of TV, maybe Orange Blossom, across the bridge over 27\441. That's what discouraged us.

[KathieI]

I've never done this before, so I'm very nervous.

But, I love the Villages so much. Coming down Nov. 1 for my second time. I had a great time the first time I visited. I've since retired (8/10/07) YEAH!!!! Worked for 48 years straight, no kids, built a mid-exec career in the cosmetics business. Had a great time and loved it a lot. But with corporate business being what it is today, I couldn't take it any longer. I currently live in Los Angeles, moved from Bronx/Manhattan New York over 30 years ago. I'd pick up and move to TV TODAY, but I need to convince my husband that its the place where we should be retired. Thanks for the tips on renting a golf cart. I'll need one Nov. 1 and will look up your suggestions. Thanks for letting me ramble. Hope to see you in Nov.

[Pete]

Please explain the "Lifetime Preview" and how many times can you use it??

[nanci2539]

We've been on it a few times(and going again in Nov.) You need to stay a minimum of three nights - no longer than four nights if you want to stay in the cottages (adorable) off Sumter Landing square.

They give you two free dinners; a free lunch; free movie passes. They will also arrange tee time and tennis. You'll get passes to everything the Villages has to offer.

It's well worth the visit just what you get back in food.

I suggest you call the 800# (from their website) and speak to a rep who can go into detail. But if you want to know if it's worth it, I would say definably. They will also assign a TV rep to show you the homes that are for sale.

[Frangyomory]

Kathie, the lifestyle preview is an EXCELLENT way to see the Villages. We just had friends from New Jersey who came down on the plan and they were overwhelmed by the package they received. Joe and I did not take the lifestyle preview. We had sold our home, moved into our 30 ft RV and drove down from Virginia on our way out to the West Coast. Never left here once we saw the Villages. Had been looking into it for 7 years before we retired but nothing like being here in person. It was LOVE at first sight and we put our downpayment down half way through our first day of viewing homes.

Once your husband sees what there is to offer here and how friendly the people are he will also love it. Florida is a great place to retire. I am originally from the Bronx, New York and moved here via Fredericksburg, VA. Worked for 41 years before retiring and the last 28 were for the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA.

I wouldn't even consider living anywhere else but right here!!!! :bigthumbsup:

[Barefoot]

Be careful of the Lifestyle Preview ... it makes you fall in LOVE. They put something in the water which makes you addicted to TV. You never want to leave. It's just like the Hotel California. :verymad:

[chuckinca]

When we first started visiting my mother and step father in Orange Blossom about ten or twelve years ago my wife used to mock mom and her friends always saying "here in the villages we do this and here in the villages we have that and in the villages everything is wonderful" and she would say there must be something in the orange juice to make everyone into Stepford grandmas!

Only 15 months until we move into our place permanent she gets a steady diet of the OJ.

[Barefoot]

The first time we visited TV for a few hours, at first I thought it was really robotic and Stepfordish with golf carts zooming around and everyone smiling for no reason. Then we went to Happy Hour and danced and had dinner in a restaurant overlooking the water. Soon we were also smiling for no reason. ;D

The next time we visited TV for another few hours and I was even more impressed. More Happy Hour, more dancing, more smiling. ;D

The third time we stayed three days (our Lifestyle Preview) and put an offer in on a house. Yup, there is definitely something addictive, now I'm just one big smile. :bigthumbsup:

[chuckinca]

Bump