What’s the story of these houses?
 

I took this picture last year and then was going to ask about these four abandoned houses located north of 466 and south of the Polo fields. I don’t believe anything has changed since the picture was taken. What’s the story?

Dropbox - IMG_5667.JPG

According to Google earth pro, these houses were not there 12/2008 and were there 12/2010.

I suspect some developer or contractor bought the area and then built these 4 spec houses only to go bankrupt or something.

Sometimes there is an advantage in being the first buyers because they choose the lots they want. yet there is also the risk that the developer may go bankrupt, and those first buyers are left isolated in the area.

This was supposed to be a development called VILLAGE PARK ESTATE HOMES but except for those 3 partially built homes and the water system in the NW corner of that section, it never made it.

What a shame.
It has all the ingredients for being a very nice area and the infrastructure is already there.
I'm surprised Morse hasn't tried to buy it or if he has (my guess is he has tried), he probably wanted to steal it!

A google search isn’t helping me much about what took place between 2008 through 2010 on this Village Park Center housing development. I did find “GetMoreOffers.com - Flat Fee MLS Listings › Homes For Sale › Florida › Sumter county
Browse through The Villages MLS Listings and Sumter county homes for sale. ... The following MLS-Listed properties are located in The Villages, Florida. .... VILLAGE PARK CENTER at Hwy 466 & NE 62nd Terrace, The Villages, Fl.INDEPENDENT OF THE VILLAGES yet right in the heart of it's main Commercial Corridor ...

and a link to this dead end->Homes for sale in the VILLAGE PARK ESTATE subdivision | the villages, FL Real Estate

It’s about like a Chernobyl happened with everything remaining as it was after the event happened. It does look to be prime land to build on. I wonder what event took place and why nothing has changed?

Those living in The Villages during that time, do you remember what happened?

Very interesting. I’d imagine that land would be quite valuable. Can’t believe it’s just sitting there.

Please don't say Chernobyl. It will set people off.

My guess is that the property is available for sale and those who would be interested are not interested in paying what it is priced at. So the sellers are waiting and the buyers are moving on.....................

That is how I shop. How about you?

Checked out Tradition in Port St Lucie in 2008. A developer had a large piece of land designated to be a 55 and over community. Four or five structures were built to represent the models to choose from. They looked like a home from the outside but were totally unfinished on the inside. They sat there all alone as the developer went bankrupt. The plan originally was to tear them down as the project advanced. Later that year saw the same thing at a WCI development in Sun City Center.

Could be the same story in twoplanes' photo. Anyhow, 2008 was a bad time for homebuilders in Florida, because the euphoria was still fresh when the crash hit. That's what is and still is amazing about The Villages; the developer has a visioned long term plan that that takes the risk out of buying and provides a future with little worry.




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After breaking the lock on the chain across the road and ignoring the “No Trespassing Signs”, I was able to take the pictures of these houses per you request.
The houses have brick driveways, tile roofs and the insides are complete.

Actually, you can drive the roads with ease as there are no gates and didn’t see any “Private Property or No Trespassing “signs. And, no "For Sale Signs"

Outside of houses
Dropbox - IMG_0039.JPG

Dropbox - IMG_0040.JPG

Dropbox - IMG_0046.JPG

Dropbox - IMG_0047.JPG

Dropbox - IMG_0049.JPG

inside ->
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d0hbk395ow..._0044.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kj54353kgq..._0045.JPG?dl=0

Not sure my new Canon T7i picture is that much better than my old T2i that is going to my grandson. Oh well.

If there is a foreclosure or a bankruptcy, it can take forever and forever to cut through the red tape before releasing the property for sale. We once tried to buy a foreclosed property but after six months, we gave up and bought elsewhere. If you want to know who currently holds title, check land records. But if there is no address, then you will need to check the plat map book.

0047 used to be a sales office. You can tell from the doors on what would be a garage door when sold.

Maybe this is where the next several weeks of The Blacklist will be filmed. Nice job TPK. Sooner or later that will be part of The Villages.

Reminds me of that entire development in Southern Florida called Lehigh Acres. A whole lot of broken hearts and sad stories for sure, I hate when that happens to anyone. I was begged to go into several deals in Punta Gorda after the storm wiped the place clean. I declined because it just didn't feel like a good thing to do. The people who did snag some deals made a small fortune but like they say money isn't everything. Bad luck came at them all in ways that couldn't be imagined. Sad. Some people make money on others misfortune on a regular basis, some choose not to.

So really now, what you're saying that if you were trying to buy it, you would throw copious amounts of money after land, a home, a business, a vehicle, etc., etc. and try not to steal it? I thought so. Quit throwing shade at the developers.

Believe they were started by a developer who died in an accident. Guess his business folded up and nothing further has been done.

I saw this happen to a lot of developments in 2008 in Myrtle Beach. Only now are some being built again. Could be a bankruptcy which has caused a foreclosure on the development, could be the development is in an estate battle etc. These things take forever.

Here is what I found on the Sumter County GIS:
The 4 houses are the first 3 items, one of the larger sections of undeveloped land is the last item. I did not bother to look at all of the individual sections.
Looks like multiple owners(?) which is probably why it sits undeveloped. (just my uninformed guess.)

Owner / Mailing Address:
FLORIDA CITIZENS BANK
11714 NE 62ND TERRACE, SUITE 400
THE VILLAGES, FL 32162
Street Address:
Sec/Twp/Rng: 15/18/23
Brief Description: TRACTS B H I J K L AND LOT 1 BLK A VILLAGE PARK CENTER PB 10 PGS 23A-23B LESS THAT PORTION OF TRACT H DESC AS: COMM AT SE COR OF
Land Use: VACANT COMMERCIAL (01000)
Neighborhood Code: 6480
Tax District: County (1001)
Sales:
8/30/2017 3307/679
Improved $100.00
12/1/2013 2773/115
Vacant $100.00


Owner / Mailing Address:
VILLAGE PARK ESTATE HOMES LLC
1100 S SR 7 STE 202
MARGATE, FL 33068
Street Address: 11810 NE 63RD DR
Sec/Twp/Rng: 15/18/23
Brief Description: LOT 11 A PORT OF TRACT H VILLAGE PARK CENTER PB 10 PGS 25-25A DESC AS COMM AT SE COR OF NE1/4 OF NW1/4 RUN S 69 DEG55'20 W 577.9
Land Use: VACANT RESIDENTIAL (00000)
Neighborhood Code: 6480
Tax District: County (1001)
Sales:
1/1/2009 2025/214
Vacant $100.00
10/1/2008 2008/537
Vacant $450,000.00


Owner / Mailing Address:
CITIMORTGAGE INC
1000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
O'FALLON, MO 63368
Street Address:
Sec/Twp/Rng: 15/18/23
Brief Description: LOT 9 A PORT OF TRACT H PB 10 PG 23 DESC AS COMM AT SE COROF NE 1/4 OF NW 1/4 RUN S 89 DEG 55 MIN 20 SEC W 577.99 FT N 00 DEG 04
Land Use: VACANT RESIDENTIAL (00000)
Neighborhood Code: 6480
Tax District: County (1001)
Sales:
12/3/2010 2261/81
Improved $0.00
10/1/2010 2239/507
Vacant $100.00


Owner / Mailing Address:
L & N LAND INVESTMENTS INC
PO BOX 250
LADY LAKE, FL 32158
Street Address:
Sec/Twp/Rng: 15/18/23
Brief Description: TRACTS G & P VILLAGE PARK CENTER PB 10 PG 23-23A LESS THAT PORT OF TRACT P DESC AS: COMM AT SE COR OF NE-+ OF NW-+ RUN S 89 DEG
Land Use: VACANT/ MISC BLDG (00700)
Neighborhood Code: 6480
Tax District: County (1001)
Sales:
1/1/2013 2558/476
Vacant $100.00
3/1/2008 1927/327
Vacant $7,125,000.00

Wouldn"t you?

From the airial photo it does not look like there would be an easy connection to the existing streets. Cart access could be gained via Shady Lane, but vehicle access would at the Hampton Inn on 466. I think this area would be somewhat “isolated” from the rest of The Villages. Maybe the Morse’s just passed on this property.

A lot of land not being used in the heart of TV with easy access to 466, next to baseball & Polo fields. I thank everyone for their help in trying to fill in parts of this story. I hope this land is able to be used sometime in the near future as it now looks forlorn and out of character for TV.

You could be on the right track here. I clearly remember the owner of the Hampton Inn on 466 having a terrible fatal accident in a fall from a crane. He was a young man and it could be that his wife put everything on hold.

This link will give more information: Fall Kills Developer At Villages Hotel Site - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

I recall that there was ROW issues with this property so the developer gave up and finally went bankrupt. I don't remember where that info came from, but it happened after we first bought here in 2008. So 2009 to 2010 would have been the timeframe.

It may have been that when the owner of the Hampton Inn died the ROW issues began.

If you like that neighborhood, about a 1/4 mile east on the same side of the street there is a home for sale for $3 million. It must be by the Morse family, it appears to be within their compound. It states the home was built in 1999 and includes 41 acres. It faces 466 directly across from Laurel Valley. I noticed it about 3 months ago and then forgot about it, and decided to see if it's still on the market, yes it is. Here's what you get.

11262 NE 72nd Blvd, Lady Lake, FL 32162

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_h/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...1000000000.jpg

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...74_rect/15_zm/

Maybe because he later said, “Actually, you can drive the roads with ease as there are no gates and didn’t see any “Private Property or No Trespassing “signs. And, no "For Sale Signs".

Who are the
BUESCHER'S?

I think the Morses are very good business negotiators and are excellent at assessing what is a "fair price" for their margins and also skillful at not buying property that doesn't fit their price criteria.

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Don't Make Me Laugh!
 

Perhaps I don't understand your meaning of "fair price".

I would expect them to drive hard bargains. It isn't a baby game and it isn't the government wasting money. It is free market negotiating.

Gary Morse lived for years just north of 466 in the Morse compound where his second wife Renee still owns the property and it can be found on sumterpa.com. When his first wife became very sick with cancer they lived in the Cottages near Lake Sumter Landing since it was all on one floor. Gary Morse died in Europe where he sought treatment for his cancer about three years ago. Harold Schwartz, Gary Morse's father lived in Hickory Head Hammock near Spanish Springs. Gary Morse's sister still lives and runs the old family business in Brownwood, Michigan still making and selling home made donuts and running the little store there. She has visited The Villages often but still prefers rural Michigan. This from a guest in our home who knew the Morse family in Michigan when she was young.(And speaks highly of them)

The people who are listed as owning the property shown in the pictures above are named Beucher. That is who the owners are in sumterpa.com. I have never heard that name before.

Gary Morse did live in the area north of 466 and between Morse and Buena Vista. He lived in The Villages, just as his children and many grandchildren do.

LOL Any real estate transaction has a buyer and a seller. As long as neither has a gun in their hand, the price they agree on is a "fair price"

There is another side to the story, many big time developers use surrogates when buying property because if their name leaks out suddenly the price gets jacked up.

As far as I know, the Morse family buys their land the old fashioned way, by making an offer. If seller does not agree, they don't sell.

I did not post that it was formally Gary Morse's home, what I posted was, it is probably part of the Morse Compound. I believe they own 2700 acres in the center of TV, north of 466 and east of Saddlebrook softball fields and the polo field.

When Gary Morse was alive, his name was on 893 Southshore Lane in the Lake Shore Cottages, I believe there are 53 homes in that section. I stayed for a week there on our Lifestyle Visit in 2011, it's secluded, quiet but very close to the square. It's due east of the LSL Sales Office, they're the homes you see to your right as you cross the Morse Bridge southbound. 893 is now listed as being owned by Renee Morse. It was orginally sold in 2010 for $750K to H. Gary Morse, that's it circled in red on the map below.

http://sumterpa.com/gis_tmp/SumterPA151345930127528.jpg

Sumter County Property Appraiser

ALL,
In post #17 I posted the info from the Sumter County GIS, this indicates different owners for at least 4 of the plats that I checked, I did not check beyond that. So IMHO, it might be difficult to get all of the owners to agree to a buy out. This area does appear to have direct access of 466, and I am sure GC access could be arranged. Guessing, but from Google maps, it looks like some if not all of the necessary infrastructure was put in place.
I think it was mentioned before, this was around the time of the bubble bursting in the housing market, so I am guessing that is what caused the initial problems, and the current owners got the properties by default.

Many years ago we noticed these homes and went and peered in the windows. At that time there were price stickers in the windows. I remember thinking that it was no surprise they could not sell these homes. They are really not very big and the price was the same as they wanted in TV for similar size. Why live there when you can live in TV?
There currently is a sign up on 466 that gives the impression they are going to build there

I missed the sign. Is it near the hotel? Or is it in the space where they sell strawberries and stuff in between the hotel and the real estate building? A sign has been there for ages.

Explain his actions? I think he already did. Took photo from his plane of 4 houses. Got curious and drove to see them in person. No gate, open road, took some more photos of empty houses and left.

Exactly. :oops:

It's strange seeing folks, who actually think there's something wrong with that. :ohdear:

The first part of his post seemed tongue in cheek. He went on to explain there were no barriers. No need to get so excited. Haven't you checked out a house under constuction? No harm, no foul. BTW, he has a hobby, flying.

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