True, but SS was never intended to be the sole means of income in retirement. It was started in the 1930's as a social safety net during the great depression so seniors would not be out in the streets homeless or in "Hoovervilles". The Villages is not the cheapest place to live, so good planning would have allowed for a "cushion" to hedge against such inevitable price increases. Let's hope we never face runaway inflation, which no one will be able to hedge against.

Totally agree BUT, facts never satisfy those in TV whose sole goal is to complain about reality and forget why they moved here. So many did not do their research and drank the Kool Aid and now wonder "what happened".

Yeah, forgot about that, the part of my retirement that decreased by almost 20% last year.

Personally, I'm not close to needing to worry about that $25/month but I recognize that the my position could change if the planning I did a few years ago doesn't match the reality of ten years from now. Others may have hit that point already.

it's still waaaay cheaper than a monthy $500.00 HOA fee

Amen brother!

AMEN
People reading this think The Evil Developer is raising amenity fees to make more profit - it’s actually representatives WE elected setting the budget, to pay for the “things” we use.

Far as price increases, it is everywhere and everything.

Wrong
 

You can’t be a very good MLS agent in the Villages if you don’t know the deed restrictions say the amenity fee resets at the anniversary of the closing date not January 1.

I have lived here for over 12 years and have moved 3 times. Each time I moved my amenities have increased to the “current” rate. I think they are over $175/month now. I really do not appreciate the increases especially when I only use limited amount of what is offered but understood from the beginning about the process

Not trying to be purposely contrarian, but just a couple points. Is it honestly a shock to most people that prices of everything has gone UP ? From asphalt on cart paths, to the price of chlorine, to the cost of plants, flowers, and tress, and right down to the cost of liquid SOAP in every restroom in every rec center and pool and golf course in the V's. Again, NOT trying to be contrary, but seems everything to keep our community up, event he cost of PAINT to keep our buildings from looking shabby, has risen ! And again, I am not one of "those people", who, if anyone makes any complaint, immediately tells them to "get out if you don't like it", not at all. But right now especially, with home prices so high, and demand so great that those who want a new house built must get on a list to enter a "lottery".... well, I fully understand someone who came here with an expectation they would be able to afford to live here, but life surprises us with INFLATION, but right now no one is "stuck" for sure ! Your home it worth more than ever, and sales are brisk, so people who want out should be able to do that in record time. ONE LAST TIME.... I am not saying to anyone, "get out", simply saying if you would like to move on, there has never been a better time. In fact, our relatives did exactly that ! They decided that paying out nearly $200 a month in retirement, when they had no interest in playing golf, or tennis, was not sustainable for them. And the activities they enjoyed, cards, ballroom dance groups, and various classes are free in any community at the senior centers, the YWCA and YMCA's, churches, college campuses, libraries, and park districts, so the moved to a lovely community in central Florida with no fees or charges for these things. We'd probably follow their example, but we play golf often, so it would be a "wash" for us even if we played only at public courses ! I would also add, that some of the burden in times such as these SHOULD be on The Villages. Things MUST be kept up, pools need to be cleaned, painting needs to be kept up, furniture needs to be replaced from time to time.... BUT... could we reduce the number of vehicles constantly driving and burning gasoline, could we reduce the need for paid employees in "gate houses" which, are actually "guarding" completely public roads (and at this time of the year cause mind bending traffic back ups while people sit in autos and burn more gasoline. There is a counter to every suggestion or idea, but surely, just like state and federal governments, there are ways to REDUCE the costs here for the residents...IF the will exists to do so. ?

That's probably correct, BUT... as in the case of our relatives, they definitely planned AND saved all their lives, taking in-state vacations with the family at places like state parks, in order to better take of their needs in the retirement years. They DID plan on inflation, but 5-6%, not even the "experts" told them to expect more. So, while $25 is a pittance to many, The Villages was always sold as the "poor mans dream", a place where "ordinary people" can belong to a country club and live like Kings and Queens (to quote Chi Chi Rodriguez back in the day). So our relatives were actually "put out of their house" (translate, no longer affordable), not by $25 alone, but by $3-$4 gasoline, $150 and more "co-pays" after our government made our monthly insurance premiums so much more "affordable", $5 a pound hamburger, 40% increase in utilities, and the list goes on as you too probably know. Unfortunately, their public school pensions (they get NO social security even though they did pay theirs, but their state forbids "double dipping" so you pay into both and then must choose which ONE you wish to take benefits from at the the time of your retirement. The annual COLA for their pension amounts to $78 a month more for 2023... it just was not sustainable in The Villages. We have recently been concerned about the number of people we know here who have lost a spouse and found their income reduced by 50%. Now that would be the same in any community, but in the Villages it is especially difficult... even a McDonald's burger here costs more than the community our relatives moved to less than 40 miles away ! So, don't be too harsh or just assume people who find themselves in a tight budget are just silly people who knew nothing about planning or saving. Not always the case.

Flowers in round a bouts and anywhere else don’t come from amenity fees. That’s the section on your tax bill that is usually around 500 bucks. Can’t remember the title but there is a phone number to call if you want an explanation.

Our fees increased too!
 

We closed on a pre-owned home in January 2021 and our amenity fee just increased this month, January, too. Didn’t everyone’s go up? Won’t they always increase with the cost of living index?

The date for the increase may not be the anniversary of your closing. It is tied to either the date the house initially went on the market or the very first closing date. It was just a coincidence that you closed in that same month.

As of now, everyone's rate should be increasing on their particular date. Not so long ago the rate was capped/frozen/deferred at a certain amount, but that was removed. If I remember correctly, the AAC proposed to again cap/freeze/defer the rate for CDDs 1-4 but that ran into problems when it was determined that the AAC could not take that action without the PWAC taking a similar action.

The $179 rate discussed in the article will apply to homes with closing dates after Jan 1, 2023. If you currently pay less than that then you will always pay less than those homes. If you currently pay more than that (not sure if that's possible) then you will always pay more than those homes.

Reducing the costs changes the lifestyle, changes the environment we enjoy, changes the upkeep of those things we enjoy. Reductions have a cost and maybe you are ok with downside changes, there are many of us that are not.