Would you buy in TV from MLS broker?
 

We will be moving to TV soon, and planning to buy our first home. Would love to hear from anyone who either bought or sold using an MLS broker rather than through TV. Why did you list through MLS vs TV? For those who already purchased through MLS broker, have you experienced any negative repercussions? Does TV keep score of those who buy from other brokers, and make it harder to obtain permit for landscaping and alterations, or even prevent buyers from getting a job at TV?
It's likely we will buy from TV broker due to the vast number of options available, but just curious in the event an MLS listing is an option for us. Thank you!

If you are buying a new home, you have to use a Village sales agent. Pre-owned is a different story. Regarding the "keeping score" and repercussions...are you serious?

Far as I know you can only buy resales for outside Brokers. IMO they don't keep track. Unless you're looking at previous owned home that contracted with outside broker you will be dealing with the villages sales department IMO. I sure former sales agents will ring in if my understanding of the system is wrong.

If I like the home it would make no difference. You will need both type of agents to see all available. Good luck!

New homes = The Villages only.

Pre owned homes = The Villages or MLS agent. They do not show/sell each other's listed homes.

For sale by owner. I believe MLS agent will represent a buyer if owner gives a buying agent fee (typically 3%). The Villages sales rep will not represent a buyer for FSBO home. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Buy the house you want!

Highly recommend you use two agents; one VLS and one MLS. That way you get exposed to everything on the market. Make sure you tell both agents that you are also working with another agent. I did this and both agents were completely agreeable to this. Be advised that there are significant differences in the sales contracts used by VLS and MLS. The developer controls what can and cannot be negotiated in the VLS contract. This may or may not matter to you depending on your particular circumstances, but now you at least know there are differences in the contracts. Also, if you only use an MLS agent you will not see all the used homes for sale because the developer does not share these listings with MLS agents. If you use only a VLS agent, you will not see all used homes because the VLS agent cannot show MLS listings. Only the VLS agent has new home listings, so if you want a new home you have to deal with a VLS agent. So use BOTH agents for best potential outcome.
One other caution; the developer is currently marketing some properties that were used as lifestyle rentals for several years. These are being marketed as new homes, when in reality they are seven/eight (approximately) years old. This is technically not illegal, but keep in mind that these homes have eight year old singles, eight year old appliances, eight year old HVACs, etc. I think you get the picture. Best to ask when a "new" home was built, just to make sure.
Good Luck!

The deed restrictions as to what is allowed and not allowed are clearly stated about landscaping and alterations. It would be hard to understand why such a huge and successful organization would care who sold anyone a home when considering them for employment.

Choose who you like to work with. Get one of each. This place is so wonderful.

OK OP is asking for some honest opinions since they have never been here and not sure if there would be repercussions if they used in MLS person. There are many people who sell their homes on their own, so have not heard any issues from them.

I do know when we built our last house up north I had three builders to pick from I chose the builder which was not in good graces with some of the permit government employees. So yes and some areas there are repercussions on who you use.

But I truly believe in the villages that has never been an issue. If I am wrong please someone give your expertise on this issue.

Th Villages sells hundreds of pre-owned homes a year...

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Here is another thread on the two entities;

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...village+agents

when we attempted to purchase a new home and we wanted a pool, the boundry lines would not accommodate the size pool we wanted.....

but....."so said the realtor who spoke with T&D", if we had T&D put our pool in, it could probably be done regardless of the boundry lines

So.....because T&D is a Villages entity, they could make the pool happen. If we used another pool company, the plans would not be approved...

take this advise as you will... we didn't buy that home....

As stated if you are looking to buy pre-owned you need two sales people, one for showing Villages listed properties and one for homes listed by other companies. They do not cooperate. We bought our home using a MLS Realtor because it was listed by a MLS Realtor. The Villages doesn't keep score as far as I know. We also looked at homes listed by The Villages using their sales person. No problems with closing or getting I'd cards and gate passes and mail box keys.

Why? You could have used T&D and had the house you wanted and a mighty fine pool too....And maybe that is true and maybe it's not, but they know how to fit a pool into a lot for sure. Wonderful folks T&D.

But then I shop at Sam's even though they don't pay their help as much as Costco. Sometimes you just have to be unethical and corrupt.

And Deplorable ;)

T&D was $18k more in the pricing quotes that we got from other pool contractors...... for the exact same thing..... we felt they were charging us to bend the rules and we thought thats just not right.....

Wise decision. Unless the agent was willing to guarantee in writing that T&D could deliver, that statement was worth zero.

[QUOTE=Jazzcat;1296172]We will be moving to TV soon, and planning to buy our first home. Would love to hear from anyone who either bought or sold using an MLS broker rather than through TV. Why did you list through MLS vs TV? For those who already purchased through MLS broker, have you experienced any negative

Some thoughts and they seem to agree with many prior comments.
Have an inside and an outside agent, one of each, the Villages Sales, take the trolley tour, and a regular realtor, REmax, grizzard, Executive homes or by owner in the paper and also see signs while driving around.
1.............. Decide on a location, close to a center or out a ways, with some driving.
2. Decide on a home new or used and or a Villa, mostly Villas have a fenced yards and very few regular homes have fences.
3. Take your time and be cautious for sure, there is a lot to see here, a lot of possibilities, and you need to be careful to not overspend for the area chosen.
You will find, both the Village Agents and the outside regular Realtors agents are generally very open about having two or more agents working for you.
But,,,,,,,,, be careful of IMPULSE buying it can really bite you in the wallet.
Note also if you see or want something different, upgrade or install item a, b or c, then any deviation from the normal, get EVERYTHING defined in writing. take your time there are some good buys here and in general, it is all mostly good, but be patient!!!!!

bbbbbb :welcome:

Great advice from a former realtor and I totally agree!!!

I used an MLS buyers agent, Linda Sears, 352.205.0713

Very knowledgeable and thorough. Most of all, you must feel comfortable with the agent that you are dealing with.

Showing ethics and integrity?


Good for you. :BigApplause:

We just bought a few days ago. We had both, TV agent as well as MLS agent. Loved the TV agent. She was so great but just happened we loved the house listed with the outside agent and TV agent couldn't sell it to us, so we bought from the MLS agent. Both were good We are just happy to finally become permanent village residents.

Our Villages agent was a great agent overall. We put in a offer on a Courtyard Villa and when it wasn't accepted she said that the average sale price of a Villages property is about 97% of the asking price. I didn't challenge that statement at all but I didn't like that information one bit. Anyway we were scheduled to look at homes the next day with a MLS agent who I had been speaking to from Jersey for over a year. The second house we looked at is where we live now. I didn't hide from The Villages agent as it would not be good business. She was shocked when I told her I had completed the mission with another agent from the MLS system. To say she was shocked is putting it lightly. I just simply added that I didn't make the rules of the game that I was just a participant and that life was hopefully long and we would definitely give her a shot on the next house.

The Villages does not treat you any differently because of who you buy from. Directly from closing to The Villages Office on Main St in Spanish Spring to pick up ID cards, gate passes and a generalized break in of how things work. Totally professional all the way. Don't worry at all. We had the same concern. The 97% rule was not accurate in our case, the deal was much better than that.

Wow, never imagined we would get so many responses. We are so thankful for each and every one of you for taking the time to give us your advice. I have a spreadsheet of many, many homes that we are interested in seeing, and we will enlist both MLS and TV sales agents to make sure we see them all before making our decision.

That's a nice post Jazzcat.
We are a wordy bunch with lots of comments!
(We don't always agree, but that makes life interesting.)

:welcome: Congratulations on becoming permanent Villages residents.

Congrats. Best wishes as you start living the dream. :smiley: