Sumter vs Lake County
 

I own a home in Sumter County and am looking at a home to buy in Lake County.

Does anyone know if there are any disadvantages to buy and living in Lake?

I have heard the real estate taxes are MUCH higher in Lake County.

Pine Hills and Pine Ridge are in the Fruitland Park area of Lake County, so maybe someone from those areas will respond to your post.

The houses in Pine Ridge and Pine Hills have significantly higher taxes than Sumter County. You have to pay a higher basic millage rate, which includes taxes to the City of Fruitland Park.

Thanks for the replies.

I would be living in Lady Lake so wouldn’t pay Fruitland Park.

I looked up their tax on the home in Lake County, and it did seem higher, but haven’t really studied it yet.

Thanks again!

Lake vs Sumter
 

Check Electric & Water I heard there is a difference. We live in Sumter and have SECO for electric. The taxes are higher in Lake and can rise faster than Sumter. Our taxes are almost the same as they were 13yrs ago. Len & Mary

Here is a comparison of taxes for all three counties. The Lake County taxes are higher, but there is no bond and no maintenance for The Villages inside Lady Lake.

There's also no bond in many parts of Sumter County The Villages...

Lake County has a REAL sheriff's department, they actually arrest speeders, NOT given them repeated warnings. THIS IS NOT
MAYBERRY..ANDY AND BARNEY ARE GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, arrested for speeding. Most cops only give tickets for speeding. Lake county must be a tough place to live.

If you are talking the prehistoric side of the road - the pools are open later - 11PM in a normal world

Purchase where you like it the most as long as you can afford it. Every area has pros and cons. There is no one utopia in The Villages.

That's funny, I thought the same thing...

Maybe we should
 

tar and feather them and brand an S into there forehead also

Every Villages lot in Sumter County was sold with a bond to the original buyer.

The only way you are correct is if you meant to say that many resales have had the bond paid off by the original owner.

It’s pretty simple. Live in whatever county you want a long as you can afford the house and whatever makes you happy. Some can afford a much bigger and expensive house but choose to do something else with their money and it makes them happy to help with their grandchildren’s education as an example or maybe they choose to leave their money to their church or favorite charity. “One size” doesn’t always fit all...

I had to laugh when you called it the “prehistoric side”. But didn’t know about the 11:00pm pool closing time. Like a previous post said. “Every area of The Villages has pros and cons”.

$$$
 

Higher taxes and water bills. When I decided to buy I was advised by many folks to only consider buying in Sumter county.

If you're lucky you can also get SECO electric and you'll have lower electric bills.

I live in Pine Ridge. The utility operator for this portion of TV is The City Of Leesburg (just checked). SECO, Duke are not options for this portion of Lake County.

Not true, everyone except those Villagers who live in the enclave ( the original homes that are within the boundaries of the city of Lady Lake) pay a bond. The residents of the enclave pay Lady Lake City taxes.

What Bond?
 

What is a bond? I'm looking on my Sumter County Tax bill and I cant find it. There was a Bond on the house for infrastructure. which is the same as an impact fee up North, its been paid for years.

If you look at your actual tax bill it will say "UNIT XXX- BOND $$$$$$$" unless it's been paid off.

Ed like I said its been paid off for years. It's an impact fee. So I don't think it matters if you're in Lake or Sumter. When it's paid off you're done. Len

Taxes are pretty close to the same in Lake County portion of TV as Sumter Cty. The increase in Sumter taxes last year came pretty close to making them the same

I don't think so. The higher millage rate in Lake County equates to over $1,200 more in taxes on a house assessed at $250,000.

SUMMARY OF 2020 TAX BILLS

Sumter County
Unincorporated
Ad Valorem: Millage rate 12.0498
Non-Ad Valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

In Wildwood
Ad Valorem: Millage rate 15.4478
Non-Ad Valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

Lake County
In Fruitland Park
Ad Valorem: Millage rate 17.6785
Non-Ad Valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

In Lady Lake
Ad Valorem: Millage rate 17.1613
Non-Ad Valorem: Fire district and waste
No maintenance, no bond

Marion County
Unincorporated
Ad Valorem: Millage rate 16.4967
Non-Ad Valorem: Fire district, maintenance, bond, waste and storm water

if you move to Lake County you'll most likely have a newer home than if you bought in Sumter

many of the folks living in the villages in Lake County are still 'new bees' and look to connect with others...the folks in Sumter that have been there awhile might have established their circle of friends...so it might be easier to integrate with your neighbors in Lake County

I feel that the taxes are reasonable, not 'off the chart' as some on this thread are indicating...and I look at it as another way to help the community where many of the people that we depend upon to provide the services in TV live with their families...but if $1K is a huge concern for you, then Sumter County may be your best bet. Taxes there only went up in Sumter 25% last year...

Duke Energy is not the provider in Lake County, you'll deal with Leesburg Electric...which in the 4 years that we've been here has been outstanding and reasonable rates

It's all about location, location, location....and what you can afford

Good luck figuring it all out

Your question:
My reply was (with attached photo): You replied with:
Unless my 73yr old eyes are foolin' me which is possible you asked "WHAT IS A BOND" and then wrote that YOU CAN'T FIND IT on your Sumter County tax bill so I answered the 2nd part of that question with a screen print to show you where the bond was listed so I'm not quite sure what your last response was about. Maybe I missed something ??

As for LAKE COUNTY ("Historic Section" of T.V.) there is no bond there. Not sure of the rest of Lake. As to what a BOND is there are lots of threads about that. :D

This is the first that I’ve seen it called an impact fee.
Try going to Village Community Development Districts to see what the residential bond really is.....