The Lifestyle? What protects its future?
 

Aaaaaaauuuuugh!!!! That title was supposed to say Along with buying “The Lifestyle” comes buying “The Future of the Lifestyle.” How is that future protected?

But that did not fit and then I tried to shorten it and then the phone rang and then I accidentally hit submit and then I got a lame title that says nothing and you can't change a title once it posts and where is Mr. Tony when you need him? And, oh well, I need help, so much help. Lots and lots of help....so please help me with these questions so I can get into the sunshine and out of miserable winters.

(But hey at least the accidental title was succinct. But I do not know how to do succinct. That title really was an accident....I try to make titles kind of specific...Oh well, I digress. Geez.)

This is the year when we could end up making the decision about whether or not to buy a snowbird place in TV. The decision to buy a second home is much easier to put off than the decision to buy a primary residence. And in my case, I need to make darned sure I want to deal with what it takes to own two homes – especially considering that we do not want to use the second one as a rental. We just want to have it there whenever we want to be there.

It is looking like 2010 could be the year to decide, but first there are some things I need to understand clearly. (I have always asked a lot of questions. When I was a little kid, my mom used to tell me that I asked more questions than a Philadelphia lawyer, and then I would ask her why the lawyer was always from Philadelphia.)

I have also had people say to me, “Boomer, you really think about stuff.”

And so it is. And there are many times when I consider all this thinking and asking questions to be a real curse. But I am not likely to change now, and I hope you will bear with me and help me out. So here goes….

The main thing I need to understand before buying is how the Lifestyle is protected when the developer is finished marketing TV.

When we visited the first time in 2007, we attended one of those meetings about how the governance works. But I did not understand all of it. And after I asked our TV rep a lot of questions, I still was not clear on how it all works. And so I backed up to breathe. We were in no hurry anyway.

But now, as I sit here looking out on this wretched winter here in gray, gray, gray Ohio, I know it is time to tie up these loose ends on these questions and move forward with the decision.

There is a wealth of knowledge here on TOTV and many of you are happy owners there. And I know that you must have asked the same questions and that you feel comfortable with the answers you found.

So please help me out. I need to understand, too. And I don’t. Not that I think there is anything wrong. But because I just do not get it because it is so different from anything in my frame of reference.

How is the future of TV’s Lifestyle protected by the governance that will be in place when the developer is finished marketing?

When the developer is finished, is there a plan for the music to continue in the squares every night? For the landscaping to still be so beautifully maintained? Will the Lifelong Learning College go on? And all that other great stuff you have there? TV is about so much more than just the golf courses and swimming pools. Those are wonderful, but it is the other stuff that makes TV so special.

And how is all that money from the amenities fees handled? Are the amenities fees invested? If so, under what guidelines? And who makes any investment decisions?

Do I understand correctly that the transition of governance is already taking place in some areas of TV? If so, how is that working out? Is there something in place in the law that prevents the emergence of little fiefdoms?

I understand buying the Lifestyle. It is unique and quite wonderful. If somebody cannot have a good time in TV then somebody is not trying. That part I get completely. But I need to understand the bigger picture. And I think there are those among us here who can help me to do that. I am asking that you educate me.

Thank you.

Boomer

Sorry Boomer
 

No answers here but I do have many of the same questions and here is another.

As I understand it the Developer still owns the town squares. Is that right?...and if it is ....doesn't that mean The Developer will always want to see it succeed?

Love your posts Boomer and will be watching this one with interest. I get confused whenever it gets explained to me and all those initials so I hope people speak plainly and slowly when they answer.:girlneener:

SSmith

well Boomer, we bought in 2008. had some of the same concerns, still do, but $$$$$ talks and somebody is making a pile of it here and they'd be foolish to screw it up.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I don't want to know.
 

Well. I am the most conservative person with money I have ever met. There are times....especially when we get to a "certain age" that it is time to make some decisions that are just plain for selfishly being happy right now. Most of us have planned for the future carefully all of our lives.

The future is now.

Who cares if it goes under? (I don't think it will...but..a lot of what happens here that is fun is the interaction with others and that is fun because of the young mind set of the Villagers.)

We lived in a golf course community where the golf course went under and houses were built on it and most of the fun associated with the golf course went out the door. BUT we still lived in a nice house in a good community and had a lot of friends there. We went down the road to play golf instead of just down the street. We still had dinner parties and played bridge and had book club and garden club and walked our dog and chatted over the back fence.

I think TV will survive intact for the next ten years and I hope I do as well.

Boomer,

I too have these nagging thoughts. I have been there for LSP and am hooked, line and sinker all the way. I guess we all want to hear reassuring words. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

Thanks Boomer for starting this thread.

...Which only tells me that Boomer loves TV and belongs here. Also, TV loves her and Mr. Boomer and Baby Boomer (oh, no wait, she has another cute name for her daughter, but it escapes me at the moment).

Anyway, Boomer, you've invested a great deal of your time and your heart in TV and while, yes, there are uncertainties, I think that's the best answer to your question about whether you should buy the lifestyle.

I have a couple more thoughts about the future of the lifestyle but am suffering a nasty, nasty cold virus and my head is too mushed to write about it now. See you back here in a few days.

Boomer,

I always enjoy your posts and hope you and Mr. Boomer make the decision that is best for you. While I have no inside information, my comments are based on five years as a villager and a lifetime of watching the phrase "follow the money" hold true in almost all decisions.

The Villages commercial property totals more than 2.7 million square ft. of commercial and retail space. Citizens First Bank and The Citizens First Wholesale Mortgage are family owned and very profitable. I say all this to make a point that long term success and the continuation of the lifestyle we enjoy makes financial sense to the owners. The owners want to rent buildings and make more money. And rightly they should!!

I understand that many developers buy a track of land, build houses, keep the pool clean until all the houses are sold and then walk away. I really don't think that is our fate. The CDD's will keep the pools open, the flowers planted and the residential portion of the Villages going for ever. It is the profit motive that will drive the town squares, nightly entertainment and the vast medical and commercial ventures.

I remember a professor years ago saying to an economics class I was in,
"It is not the benevolence of the butcher or the baker that we have bread and meat, it is their desire to make a profit."

Hi John,

You make a good point.

The first time we rented in 2007, in the fall, we got really close to making an offer on a patio villa in Sunset Pointe. It was in the villa neighborhood that is very close to Cane. A great location. But because it was a second home decision and because we had responsibilities elsewhere, we decided to not be in a hurry.

But I have continued to be interested.

When we were there recently, we seriously considered a very nice courtyard villa in a great location.

I also think sometimes about buying on the historic side because the pace there is lovely. And buying there can work really well for snowbirds. So that is on my radar, too.

And then I even think sometimes about buying a ranch or a designer. But for owning two -- that could get pretty expensive. And I really do not think anybody is ever going to hire Mr. Boomer and me again for good jobs. (And besides when somebody hires you they always expect you to show up on certain days and at certain times and oh, your know how that goes...or went.) So I am pretty cognizant of cash and cashflow.

And then I think....ohwhattheheck, just rent for a year and figure it all out.

But whatever, I am getting closer to a decision. It is time to do SOMETHING! Ohio is ugly stuff in winter.

Anyway, I really do value the thoughts of those here on TOTV. And I know that so many of you have sought the same answers as I am seeking with this thread I started. And you bought and you are glad you bought. I just would like to understand a little more about the specifics of governance.

Boomer

PS: Hi Gracie, when I started to hit send I looked and saw your post just now. I know what you mean. And I have thought that, too.

And PPS: Oh my goodness! I just looked again and saw more kind and helpful comments coming in. Thank you coach and Pturner and Donna2 and ssmith. Thank you. Thank you. And please keep them coming.

Boomer:

coach has it pretty right, I think. I've also been here five years and everything just keeps on growing! The Developer may have a reputation for being greedy, but he also knows on which side his bread is buttered!

When he tires of TV, the existing quasi-governmental organization that runs the Lifestyle will remain, as will all the fun and games.

SWR
:beer3:

Not to be picky but do you think it is accurate or fair to "say" that he is "greedy" on a message board? Seems that he had a vision and alot of people bought into it.

Visited Sun City Center outside of Tampa for two days last year. It is a built out Del Webb Sun City that has had other builders since Del Webb left. WCI was the latest one and was developing villas and premier style homes. They also built a new country club and and were running it along with three or so other clubs. WCI went bankrupt and is trying to finish off selling their inventory of lots and homes. It is also getting out of the management business as far as anything in Sun City Center goes.

What a mess. If this happened in The Villages you would have to join Havana or Glenview or Nancy Lopez, etc. and pay each a steep membership and dues. The neighborhoods have become factionized, half is now an historic section (I don't like that term), everything closes at 8:00, and there are no town squares, only a fairly run down business district.

Could this happen at The Villages? I think not. The infrastructure is much stronger and the clientele is much more in touch and demanding (in a good way). One thing though, an aggressive POA is a necessity during the transition. That should be no problem. I would not have bought in The Villages had I thought otherwise. Boomer, come on down!

The future is one of the reasons we've decided to buy LESS home in TV than we were originally thinking about. We're not loaded and I'll still be working in TV for 10 years or so.

If TV goes under (my guess would be no) then at least we're not out the 400 or 500K we were originally thinking about. Now we are thinking around the 250K area for a home. If we lose some value then so be it. At least we'll be happy until then!

The search continues!

Boomer...good question. I have read everything I could find on the Villages and asked anyone who I thought had some inside knowledge. With all that, I was very comfortable making the decision to buy here (even when we hit the peak of the housing market in Summer '06). My only concern then and it is still lingering just a bit..... is this lifestyle and this beautiful community sustainable over the long term at costs comparable to today's very affordable fees? I bought at age 51 so, the Good Lord willin', I'm looking at a potential of 30+ years here.

I believe that final buildout is at least 5 years away. As long as new homes are being built and sold, the lifestyle, the amenities, the developer-supported stuff (entertainment, polo, etc) goes on as well as always, if not better. Buildout could be 5 years, or 8 or 10..who knows?

Governance: The residential (aka numbered) Central Development Districts (CDD's) are in place and grow as new building grows. In older districts, the elected board is all homeowners, in newer districts a mix of elected homeowners and supervisors appointed by the developer. TV is much more like a mini-city than an HOA. We have professional city planner types and a robust organization in place to negotiate contracts, formulate budgets, invest funds, etc. The supervisors provide direction but the guidance and execution is done by professionals. This includes common area landscaping, recreational trails, common lighting, maintenance of the common infrastructure.

There are two central CDDs, comprised of supervisors appointed by the Developer from among the commercial landowners. The central CDDs oversee the amenity budget, purchase of amenities from the Developer, prioritization of amenity maintenance and enhancement projects, etc. Just within the past year, there is now an elected resident Amenity Authority Committe (for north of 466) that provides recommendations to the central CDDs on policies and projects. This, to me, is the stickier issue as far as the future. After buildout, will the amenity fees be sufficient to sustain, operate, and enhance the amenities while also paying down the debt to purchase them from the Developer? We know the fees will continue to creep up as inflation/cost of living rises. Will the Developer still be around or will he sell out to ResortQuest or some other management company? There are some unknowns here and perhaps some risk. Janet Tutt, the general manager for residential and numbered CDDs, has said many times that this CDD form of government is the best solution for future sustainability. Time will tell.

Much of our future fortunes do lie with the fate of the Developer. I've called him/it a benevolent dictator before. Yes, the Morse family are business people first and foremost and quite frankly, very good at what they do. TV took a lot of vision and a lot of guts and I don't begrudge them reaping the rewards. Gary Morse, now 70+ is the visionary in the family. Fortunately, his 3 children seemed to have adopted his work ethic and vision and run 3 of the major departments...construction, sales, and design. Their children are also now starting into the various related businesses. One of my hopes is the family has great pride in their legacy and will do what's best to sustain the uniqueness and positive reputation of the villages (while still making money). Just as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet discovered, there's only so much money one can make before you start looking for other ways to leave a legacy.

I personally hope the family does stay as the overall developer and continues to exert influence over TV and Sumter County.

Music in the squares sustains local businesses...so, it will probably continue is some way, shape or form.

Supposedly, the lifelong learning college takes in enough revenue to cover its expenses.

Amenity fees are not so much invested as spent (maybe there is a reserve fund, but, I don't recall seeing that). Spent to operate, pay salaries, spent to pay down the bond debt used to purchase them, spent to do upgrades and repairs (e.g. refurbishing of La Hacienda, Paradise rec center, buying new chairs for Belvedere pool, etc).

My, my...an almost Boomeresque lengthy reply.

In short, like Gracie said, time's a wasting....buy what you can afford, get here sooner than later, and enjoy what life has to offer you. And, you know, this is still a pretty fun place to be in the middle of August. You'd be surprised how much 'off season' time you might spend here. I think the investment is pretty darn safe for at least 10 years and then who knows? So many other natural, global, financial, personal things can happen between now and then to screw it all up anyway. Seize the day!!!

I agree with Villages07's post. While I'm a relative newbie here, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Resident Academy which is a 6-week course going into the details of the operation of the CDD (http://www.districtgov.org/ResidentAcademy.aspx) . A similar question about the future of TV after build-out came up in the thread about the performing arts center. This is how I responded to that one:
The CDD operates under the sunshine laws that apply to any governmental agency. Hence all meetings and account books are open to public scrutiny. If you want to put on your green eye shades and look at the financials as well as the auditor's views for the various districts, they can be found under the "Your Districts" link at the top of this page:http://www.districtgov.org/yourdistr...px?district=sl
From a quick look at the auditor's statement, it looks like the two central districts are improving year over year, so this is positive from a sustainability perspective.


As we were going through the various line items in our class, the only thing that stuck out to me was cash flow for the fitness centers. It turns out that the revenue that they are taking in for these centers greatly exceeds the operational costs. They have set up a special account for this so the capital buildup will not be commingled with the general budget. I'm not sure what the plans are for these funds but to the untrained eye, it looks like they could easily reduce what they charge for the membership and still break even (there seems to be more than enough for equipment replacement). However, from a sustainability perspective, this is good news.

Boomer, I certainly understand all of your concerns. I too had many of your questions to ask. I am the worry-wart in our family. I think the replys to your post are very accurate, however no one can give you a guarantee. I have learned you can't worry about "what if's".
I feel the lifestyle in TV is worth any risk. I also live in cold snowy Ohio . We purchased a CYV in Pennecamp in December. We have no regrets and thats all we talk about every day. The only regret is I won't retire for two years plus and we can't move today.
You have legitimate concerns but I feel the "what if" risk is worth it. Good luck on making your decision.

I just spent quite a while typing a big long post here, part of which was about how much I appreciate all the answers. I am learning a lot. Thank you for the time and the thoughts and the clarification of some things. This really does help.

And I wrote some more stuff.

And then I hit submit.

And then I found out that this :censored::censored::censored: computer of mine had logged me out when I was not paying attention.

And you should see the snow coming down here in Ohio right now.

Do you remember Jack Nicholson when he hacked through that door with an ax, in that cold, icy scene in that movie "The Shining"? Well, I am starting to understand exactly how he felt.

But you have been great. My computer and my weather have not.

Boomer

Boomer,
Your issues seem to be the same as I had even before I retired. I still have them.

I am in TV now. If all goes to hell in 5 years, I will have had a great 5 years. If not, I will continue to enjoy TV and still have the same concerns.

Good luck

Yoda

Geez.

Sometimes it happens at 6:00 AM and sometimes it is at 7:00 AM. -- Every morning my dog Annie wakes me up to let her outside. She is kind of like a hairy, four-legged alarm clock, with floppy ears.

Annie is an old lady, almost 16, and she definitely has a morning routine and I am a part of that routine. She goes outside and sniffs around while I flip on the computer and wait for the coffee to be ready and for Annie to knock on the door to be let back inside.

And that is how I got hooked on TOTV, first thing in the morning, most mornings, a really long time ago. It is all my dog's fault. (Yes. There are times when I resist and do not turn on the computer until later in the day or maybe even not at all. But most mornings, early, I do. And I would like to take this opportunity to officially blame it on the dog.)

Well, considering this longtime routine, imagine my dismay when I could not find this thread this morning. I thought -- OH MY! Did they finally kick me and all my posts out???? What did I do???? Where is my thread with the short little title of just one word????

After I messed up the title for this thread yesterday morning and could not change it, it started to kind of grow on me and I had decided I liked it. It was a whole new world for me. A world of brevity. No stream of consciousness anywhere in sight. No digressing. Fate had created that one-word title "Buying" when I accidentally hit submit while blabbing on the phone while working on the first post in this thread.

This morning though, I could not find this thread. Really. I glanced through the opening page a couple of times. (It was early.) And then I actually went to my own profile page and looked under my own posts. (I was pretty sleepy.)

Obviously I finally found it because here I am in it babbling away.

Obviously an admin changed it, trying to be helpful. I know......But.......I am not sure I like it much this way. For one thing, I would not have used that exclamation point after the word 'Lifestyle' -- maybe a question mark would be OK there. The exclamation point just is not workin' for me.

And then it seems like there should be something in the title that says, "The thread formerly known as Buying" -- but I guess that would not fit.

(Sigh) I miss my short title. Oh well, tis early. There is blowing snow outside my window now.

(Please Mr. Tony, Will you please change the exclamation point to a question mark? That exclamation point is making me look a little overwrought.)

I do want to talk more about the topic in this thread. I plan to be back later. I hope I can find myself.

Boomer

Mr. Tony! Thank you! I love the new title! (And you did not anywhere accuse me of being an English major.) Thank you. -- uh oh...I just used a whole bunch of exclamation points.....

Boomer

Why . . . it never even crossed my mind.

Geez. Three posts in a row from me. Can you tell it is snowing here in Ohio?

But for this one I am at least back to topic.

About that commercial property....(and coach, I love what that econ prof said about the butcher and the baker. Yep. That's the way it works.)...Anyway, about that commercial property.....

I had not really thought about the extent of the developer's interest in the commercial property there. And considering that TV is a unique market because of its location and demographics, that commercial property should have a decent chance of remaining profitable.

Outside the bubble -- where I do a lot of thinking -- I see commercial property in serious distress. Malls all around Cincinnati are suffering. Little strip malls and great big malls -- both kinds are suffering. Some are suffering from their own stupid financing, under a house of cards. But all are suffering from this economy.

But in TV, commercial property should do better than other places.

Villagers might think about how when they shop with local merchants, they are actually kind of making an investment in TV's future.

Online shopping, for anybody still shopping, has to be taking a huge hit on stores everywhere. But rather than shopping online, Villagers might be more likely to take a little ride over to the stores that are there. (I did my part while we were renting in TV. You have a great Coldwater Creek at LSL. And I love that Barnes and Noble. And don't forget the little franchised stores that are there, too. And the small business owners. You have a nice Merle Norman in Colony Plaza, along with lots of other places around TV where people have invested in TV's future by opening businesses. -- And we always go to Bruster's Ice Cream when we are there.)

The point is that if the developer is getting a piece of the action from all the commercial property, and the commercial property thrives. that should help TV's future after build-out.

Actually, what do I know. Nothing really. But what some of you have said about the commercial property keeping the developer's interest in his interest makes sense.

Boomer

PS: Now, back to Mr. Tony and the title of this thread.

Dear Mr. Tony,

As much as I grew to love my accidental one-word title, and as much as I truly love the new one that you just changed it to -- "The thread formerly known as Buying," welllll, I know that the title will not work for future reference, when this thread gets all long in the tooth and is buried in the archives. So maybe we should work a little more on the title. Maybe it should say. "The Lifestyle? What protects its future?" -- Will that fit? And oh how lovely it would be if there could be a subtitle that says, "The thread formerly known as Buying," but that probably will not fit at all. So I will just have to sacrifice for future reference.

.....Unless, Mr. Tony, you could maybe cross-reference all these titles and enter them into the card catalogue as such....

But maybe I should just shut up about the title. Somebody might think I am some kind of librarian, trying to make things all organized and shelved in the proper place, under the correct subject-headings, Dewey number, cross-referenced, all that. Easy to find. Easy to access. In case anybody wants to read on down the road about this topic. -- toldya I think too much...and when it is snowing....it gets a little out of control.

So please see what you think works, Mr. Tony, Mr. Admin, Sir. Just please leave out any exclamation points. I just cannot appear to be oh so overwrought. Oh my. Besides, I am starting to get this future of the Lifestyle thing kind of figured out -- thanks to the help of TOTVers.

to Boomer and Tony
 

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: You 2 always crack me up

:sigh:

English majors . . . .

Hey Mr. Tony, I saw that. I hope you are working on the cross-referencing of all these different titles.

Boomer

I am so confused. Where am I?

Who's on first?

What's on second?

This may be the first time that somebody has hijacked their own thread.

Hi 7,

Thank you. And I appreciate the "Boomeresque" reply. This thread has lots of good information in it. (Of course, I guess I started kind of a play within the play and maybe got some people lost with all those title changes. I hope they get found again. This is a good topic. And I will try hard to stay on it now....I'll try.)

Anyway, I think I am starting to understand how the elected residents serve as a part of the governance, as the areas begin to turn over to elections. If I am understanding it right, the elected residents serve in an advisory capacity only and the decisions about the big stuff remain in the hands of professionals who look at the big picture, for TV as a whole. If I have my understanding correct, then that makes sense to me. I could not imagine how TV could run on resident governance alone. It's just too big. There has to be an ongoing government structure in place or I would think that the place could not run. I was confused by the elections and the word 'turnover' that I was hearing. Advisory capacity? That I understand. -- if I have that right.

The fog is starting to clear a little. And I think I need to acknowledge just how old I am. Not as old as Gary Morse. But not as young as you. (sigh)

Boomer

Future of TV
 

I have lived in a housing development governed by a Community Association for over 30 years. When the developer was the majority voting interest for several years until build out. At that point, the residents were in total control of the Community Association. The transition was smooth as the developer also owned the shopping center and commercial office building in the development (no golf course, only bike/walking trails, city owns the parks). Over time, the developer sold the commercial property but the occupancy and types of vendors did not change significantly. The new owners did cut down a lot of the nice trees on their property due to the liability and trimming cost. Over the years the maintenance of the common areas has degraded significantly. This is primarily due to the Community Associations reluctance to raise the monthly fee. We only pay $300 per year. I would rather raise the fee and maintain the common areas to the level they were when we purchased our home. The truth is that a lot of residents do not agree (either do not care or can not afford). In the end, the appearance of the common areas does affect the value of your home and the prestiege of the community. This is one of my fears about TV after build out. Will the residents agree to raise the maintenance fees the level necessary to fund proper maintenance? Again, some may not be able to afford the increase in fees. Will some villages be better maintained than others? One of the large expenses our Community Association has is repair of damage and vandalism to sprinkler systems, trees, walls, etc. Most all of that is caused by kids (some of whom do not live in our development but just like TV have access because the streets are city owned) so it should not be as large of an expense in TV. One of the things we lost when the developer stepped away was the deep pocket for legal fees to enforce the rules (for those homeowners who think they are exempt). That all said, I still think TV is the place to retire but we must all work to ensure that the very standards that attracted us to TV are maintained and funded.

Oh dear! Oh my! Please forgive me for being so rude. I truly thought that we had met. Please allow me to introduce myself. Hello, TH, my name is Boomer.


(Oh dear! Oh my! I sure hope TH does not throw me out. I have another post coming that is on the topic. -- sort of. Oh dear! Oh my! -- Actually, I think a little hijacking is somewhat Shakespearean in nature. I sure hope nobody tells Mr. Tony that.)

Hi Batman,

The kind of thing that you have been dealing with is the kind of thing that happens way too often. I have spent some time lately trying to steer someone away from buying in a community where I think I can see a mess coming, like the one you are talking about in your post. (They asked me.)

- - - - - - -

TV is the only retirement community that we are considering. The size and momentum of TV and the business savvy and the awareness of the big picture that residents have should serve TV's future well. I sure hope so anyway. Whether we end up there or not, I want TV to continue to be good for the residents.

I have watched TV's market for many years. Since long before I retired. I am fascinated by the concept. And I am seeing more pros than cons.

The Lifestyle. TV's niche.

Buying near the ocean means you've still got the ocean if things do not work out. But buying near the ocean means that you have a house by the ocean -- and all those associated costs and risks. I think that it might be kind of nice to have the best of both worlds. We could buy in TV and easily visit the ocean. It's not that far away.

With me it is not really analysis-paralysis, although it might look that way. It is more of a sometimes seemingly cursed ability to not let emotion enter into real estate decisions. And though that has helped me in the past, this go-round, it might be in the way.

(Well, actually this miserable Ohio winter is starting to come through to me, talking to me loud and clear. And I think it is telling me that I am an idiot and I just think I can figure stuff out, and I spend way too much time thinking.)

Also -- and this might sound a little strange -- I find it encouraging to read here that others have felt the same way, looked into the issues closely, weighed the possibility for things to maybe not work out, and decided to go ahead. I am not the Lone Ranger.

Boomer

The Lone Ranger with a degree in English, maybe.

Build out
 

I agree with Boomer. The size of the develop will affect the ultimate success or failure (bigger is better). Election of competent association officers and participation by residents will improve the odds of success significantly. A little free labor from the residents to invest in their community also helps. We are looking forward to enjoying TV and all the good things in the community. From the post I read on TOTV, there appears to be no shortage of concerned residents who will support their community and give back a little to keep it as it was when they were attracted to it. Sure recipe for success.

Does anyone have a feel for how many TV residents had lived in an organized development prior to moving to TV?

34 posts, 4 pages talking about,

“When the developer is finished, is there a plan for the music to continue in the squares every night? For the landscaping to still be so beautifully maintained? Will the Lifelong Learning College go on? And all that other great stuff you have there? TV is about so much more than just the golf courses and swimming pools. Those are wonderful, but it is the other stuff that makes TV so special.”

And not one word about the CDD’s being in deep do do with the IRS over the tax free bonds. Remember the developer is not in the wrong with the IRS it is the CDD’s the owners of the golf courses and swimming pools.

Will the golf courses and swimming pools be taken my the IRS?

The problem (IMHO) is that the residents will continue to age, and will probably become less enamored with parting with dollars from their fixed and limited incomes for amenities that they use less frequently.
I hope The Villages continues forever to be the wonderful place that it was designed to be. But........

You will continue to pay you amenity fees just like you will pay your property tax.

Irs
 

Shadow, any recent news on the IRS issue?

The youngest baby boomers are still in their 40's. A long time to get fresh blood. About 16 years before the youngest boomer hit 62.

To my knowledge the last thing to come out of the IRS was an offer to settle, if the CDD did not except the offer the investigation would be expanded. It was expanded. I think that was about last May. I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop for months, still nothing.