New model park
 

I received this email from the Village representative that we purchased our home from.

"Be one of the first to see our New Model and Design Center. Stunning Homes, Impeccable Decorating and Out of This World Outdoor Spaces. Call TODAY for your private tour!"

A video with pictures of the homes that were beautifully decorated and had outstanding outdoor space was included in the email. Just thought it was interesting that The Villages would do this so close to build out.

New Models
 

Where is this home park? Was the video attached to the email? If so, can you provide a link? We're redecorating and would benefit from seeing how the models are appointed.

link
 

I don't know the location of the model park but I'd guess it is in one of the new areas that are being developed south of 466A. But I don't know.

This is the link that was in my email.

https://animoto.com/play/Eac8hS0SRltRhV8scyCIFA

love those firepits and the views..... I would love to see them in person....let us know when you discover the location...

This is simply a Villages sales rep (on their own) using the existing stock of furnished houses and calling it The New Model and Design Center. They want to sell you another house.

"This is simply a Villages sales rep using the existing stock of furnished houses and calling it The New Model and Design Center. They want to sell you a house."

WRONG! The new model home center opened yesterday (Friday 01/29) in the Village of Pine Ridge.

The way this was done in the past, you had to go with a sales rep to visit these models.

Duly noted, they will need everything in their arsenal to sell houses in Lake county where the real estate taxes are double Sumter County.

I watched the video, and now have a lot of questions. Are you sure that's an official video from The Villages? No where in it did I see "The Villages" logo. And, I've never before seen any Villages video from Animoto, whatever that is. It does appear to me that maybe a sales rep put it together from existing stock of furnished homes. Why? I don't know. The Villages does a pretty good job of promoting new homes. Why would the sales rep have to do this amateurish video herself?

When we bought here, over three years ago, our sales rep explained that in each new village there is a street of homes that are built and furnished as the "Design Center." So, it's no surprise that there is one in Pine Ridge. Are these homes in the video from Pine Ridge or from some other group of new homes? There are probably also "design centers" in Labelle and Osceola Hills.

If you notice each of the homes shown has a sign with the model name in front of the house.
Go to The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Retirement Hometown - New Home Sales, Home Resales, Build Your Dream Home, Brownwood Paddock Square and click on Model Home Gallery. This will bring up different model's that can be viewed in a slide show. They look like the homes in the link that was provided.
These model centers are nothing new to The Villages. Usually, there is not one for every new village but an area of villages.
You cannot just stroll thru these models to get decorating idea (why not look at the photos), previously you had to be accompanied by a sales rep.

The taxes are double and they also have a bond?

The models are in Pine Ridge off of Moyer loop, yoder lane

Bonds and real estate taxes are not the same. A bond is really the cost of the subdivision's (a Village) infrastructure financed for you by the developer. Florida is only one of a very few states that allow this practice. And in Florida it can be prohibited by a local taxing authority, such as did the City of Lady Lake. Thus, prior to the Fruitland Park development, homes in Lake County never had bonds attached because all of the early Lake County development was within Lady Lake.

Normally infrastructure and development costs are included in the advertised "purchase price". The bond is not a tax, but rather is just collected in conjunction with the annual tax bill. This scheme was originally introduced years ago by Disney in development of their properties to disguise by $20,000 or $30,000, or more the real purchase price of properties they were selling. The Bond should be considered part of your purchase price when determining the real price commitment you are making. Further, it is not a legitimate income tax deduction, except maybe for the amount of interest included in that year's payment.

In reply to the comment above, the real answer is yes, Lake County taxes are higher than other surrounding counties. Taxes are also influenced by a local city in which the property may exist. I believe most of Marion and Sumter properties exist outside of any significant town, except for Wildwood, Thus for the most part Villages properties do not have to carry the double burden of a local city's bloated tax burden. And now Fruitland Park covers the new Lake County development area. Who knows how those cities will milk the Villages cash cow as time develops.

The bond interest is not deductible.

That slideshow linked was done, I think, by somebody other than The Villages.

I can't believe somebody shot and used the outdoor photos, in the rain with dark, rainy skies. Looks amateurish and not appealing.

Yes, there also is a bond. The reason the taxes are double is twofold. Pine Hills is within the border of the city of Fruitland Park which imposes it's own tax as well as the higher mil rate of Lake County. New homeowners will be in for sticker shock once they receive their full tax bill, roughly an additional $300 per month for a $300,000 home as compared to Sumter County.

I thought the pics looked pretty nice, and was presented professionally.

Kept spectators out of the area.

Absolutly they do......bond and higher taxes......

I thought they moved a little fast.....i wanted to see more details..but whoops..gone....

slow it down...i'm old.... but its a ploy to get me to see it in person....so good job....?

Use the link in post #10, you can set your own pace.........................

thanks for the information..

Build out? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I would surmise that within the next couple of years it will be announced by the developers that land has been purchased across 44 for development.

Could this be the Next Phase? Providing reliable remodeling and decorating services for of all of those resales would be a great strategy! I hope so! I know I will be updating/remodeling my "older" house in The Villages in the next few years.

Just a question but does the above-mentioned website contain the older/existing models while the OP's Model home Center display new models specific to Pine Ridge?

Saw these new home yesterday. Beautifully decorated and yes you do need an agent to view them. You go thru the Pine Ridge gate, turn left on Incorvaia Way and then first left on Yoder Dr. Each home has a sign in front of it telling what model it is.

I hit the pause button when I saw something I liked.

I agree. If they had not planned to develop the land south of 44, I doubt they would have put Brownwood and two Regional Rec Centers so near to 44.

I moved into a new CYV in June 2011 in Tamarind Grove. In August our salesman Tony Trussler called and said would you be interested in seeing the new model homes south of 466A. We said yes, he said be at Bacall Rec Center at 3pm tomorrow and we'll leave as group on two buses.

The next day two trolley buses loaded up and we went down to The Village of Sanibel. We made a right turn off 466A onto Morse, in every direction all you saw was sand and the driving range to our left was open but you hit balls from the opposite side of the lake. We turned at the first street onto Pinellas and made a another right turn and ended up on Braddy Ct.

We went to the end of the cul-de-sac and there were six masonry designer homes, two with swimming pools and all beautifully furnished by Southern Lifestyles. We spent about 45 minutes touring the homes, free wine and cheese was provided at the last home. That was less than five years ago, and how many thousands of homes are now south of 466A?