The Amenity Fee
 

There have been some good discussions recently about the amenities in TV and what we pay for them. General consensus is we get a good bang for our buck.

However, will we still feel that way in 5, 10, 15 years? Each year our amenity fee is raised according to the consumer price index average. For the sake of discussion, let's say it goes up 2% per year (the average for the past 10 years has been 2.53%). Here's what will happen to my ammenity fee which is currently at $138.63 through September 2012.

$141.40 in 2013, $144.23 in 2014, $147.16 in 2015, $150.06 in 2016, $153.06 in 2017, $156.12 in 2018, and continuing on to the year 2022 when I'll be paying $168.99 per month for my ammenity fee. And in 15 years, in the year 2027, it will be $186.58 per month.

I'm curious if people look at the $135 and think "wow look at all we get for that" or do they realize that this will become a much larger line item in the yearly budget as time goes on. I'm not saying it still won't be a great deal for what we get but I'm just wondering if people realize how it will continue to go up. Actually doing the math is an interesting exercise when you're doing long-term budget projections. Just thought I'd share my findings and let's all hope the CPI stays real low every year!

That will still be a lot of bang for the buck.

I am not trying to put you down, but check out the annual fees, plus the clubhouse minimums and the initiation or stock investment/fees at any decent country club. The amenity fee is a huge bargain in my opinion, and would be at $186 per mo. By the way, if inflation stays at that pace for the next 15 years I will be delighted -- and amazed.

I for one am not going to worry about it. I'd be happy to just be alive in 2027!http://www.nublive.com/forum/images/...man_smiley.gif

I agree. Try $400 per month in dues, minimum spending of $60, 20% service charge on all food and beverage, cart rental at $10 per nine holes, annual assesment for a thousand bucks or more for capital improvement funds......

The amenities fee here would be a great buy at $180 even now before those CPI raises.

Fees
 

Ditto - I think we get a lot for our money here. And, if 15 years it's $186 per month, who cares...that is still a good deal. I'm more worried if I'll be able to use the amenities in 15 years! I'd pay $186 per month just to belong to a health club up north...look what you're all getting for the money!

Imho
 

I think what is the concern here is that the cost of ammenities will keep going higher so the fixed income of peope can't afford it. The same holds true of all increases in services, insurances, etc.

I think whatever the fee for ammenities are justified by what you receive for whatever years you are able to enjoy them. Im not going to worry about it either.

As they say at the gym, "any day above grass is a good day". :jester:

I sincerely hope everyone stays healthy to enjoy everything TV has to offer. :)

The CPI cap on amenity-fee increases
 

We had also better hope that the costs of providing the amenities do not increase faster than the CPI, or we will have issues.

I read the paper today and didn't see my name, or my wife's, in the obituary section.

Today is a good day :)

I see a house for sale in Stonecrest, listing states HAF $201.00 monthly.

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/ho...1_G4671534.htm

If i make it to 2027 I'll gladly pay the $186.58

Increase in fees
 

Today I turned in my resignation to my private country club & golf club in my area since I am moving to the Villages shortly. My equity initiation fee was $15,000 back in 2001 when I joined. I was suppose to get 2/3 of that back when I resigned. Due to the decrease in membership numbers, etc, etc. the club had to stop giving these equity fees back to the departing members about 4-5 years ago. So I turned in my certificate today with my resignation effective March 1, and received $0.00 for it.

My country club situation was even worse,alot worse!!!!.TV is a STEAL!!!!!!!

Were you a member of Idle Hour C. C. ?

The great thing about the amenities fee is that like the ads for TV say, one can live like a millionaire without actually being one.

This place makes us feel like we're millionaires even though we're not millionaires in the monetary sense.

We're "millionaires" in terms of clean and beautiful communities and neighborhoods, smaller but classy homes, personal safety, neighbors, opportunities/facilities to take care of our fitness and health, golf, sunshine, and happiness.

My house is right next to Idle Hour C.C.,can't believe there are many C.C.that are more expensive.Are you from Lexington?

Oh please let me be around & healthy and still having fun, in 15 years

Yes, for 52 years until I retired and came to Cape Coral. I had previously viewed some of your postings and saw you lived in Fairway. I even PMed you several months back but never heard back. I backed up to IHCC'S 17th hole on one of the houses I owned back in the 70's. Moved over to a house in the 300 block of Chinioe (I grew up in the 600 block of Chinioe until off to college) and finally 200 block of Culpepper until my move south., So, yep, we were neighbors.

I am leaving this morning to come up to the Villages with check book in hand. Have a 1:00 apt with outside realtor today and meeting with in-house realtor tomorrow.

GO KATS

No matter where one lives, prices will go up if the CPI goes up. We consider this amenity fee a bargain We've lived in a place where our HOA fees were just a few dollars less than our amenity fee here and all we got was 1 pool, 2 tennis courts, a gate and common area insurance and upkeep. You can bet those fees will also rise over the next 15 years

And did you notice that everyone yesterday passed away in alphabetical order??

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I entertain easily!

My amenity fees in 2007 when I moved to the Villages was $133.07. This year (5 years later) it is $144.32 or an increase of $11.25 in that 5 year period. An average increase of $2.25 per year----a real baragain in my opinion.

I thought everyone paid the same amenity amount. Does anyone know why there is such a discrepancy? When we bought in 2010, our AF was $135/mo. It then went up to $138/mo in June, I believe. When we bought this house it is now back to $135/mo. I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone knows if there is any rhyme or reason.

They made it easier for the editor :)

Boy http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...EmoteHowdy.gif, did they plan it that way or did it just happen to happen? http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../EmoteLOL2.gif

I'm not yet a Villager. In my currant neighborhood we pay $1100. per year for 1 tennis court and a neighborhood pool. The grounds are also kept up in common areas. This is a 110 home community.

So TV fees look really fine to me.:spoken:

Time to change your name to Zumba or ZZtop?

Every new homeowner starts off with $135/yr and then it increases to the tune of whatever the rate of inflation is. This can be a couple of dollars increase per year. You are a new homeowner twice. So you started all over again on your second home.

I think we should be able to use the exercise equipment in the recreational centers for free with our amenity fee.

:agree:

Obit's
 

My wife's Grandfather called the Obit's the 'Irish Sports Page". He looked and if He found a name of someone He knew He would say " Beat Him"!

I talked about this in another thread on the same subject, but will do it again for those that didn't see it or don't remember.

When we moved here in 2004, our amenity fee was $115. When we did our LSV in 2002, it was $108. It stayed at $115 for a couple or so years and then gradually climbed to $135-something by 2008. In 2009, it actually went down to $133.36. Then it went to $136.33 in 2010 and in Sept. 2011, it went to $141.28 where it is now. The next calculation will be determined by whatever the index is....up or down. (Recalculations are done whichever month in the year you bought, so not everyone's will recalculate at the same time. Ours occurs in the month of September since we bought our lot then in 2003.) There is a cap on how much it can rise regardless of how high the index goes. Hope this helps.

You really do get a lot of bang for the buck....trust me. We had property another place.....more money, less amenities, and you had to tote your golf cart on a trailer for 5 courses or store it at the one country club (for a fee, of course) and you had to join the country club to do that. Even the golf wasn't free on any of the courses, either. They were always "cart path only", too.

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

PLEASE NOTE Thantincludes lawn mowering, landscapinng and fertilizing and scrub car and lawn watering

What is scrub car? For our house in Hadley we paid about fifty dollars a month for lawn mowing, weeding and shrub trimming.

Yes, but not to put your place down, we have a LOT more here in The Villages.

I plan on becoming a super centenarian in the year 2052. What do you estimate the amenities fee to be by then? Will I need to save more money?

:)

I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. When I was a kid, one of the local AM radio stations used to announce the obituaries of Dubuquers who had passed away. My sisters and I were not allowed to speak during the time the obituaries were announced on the radio as my mom did not want to miss hearing the names and funeral arrangements. If I was home for lunch when the obits. were announced, I would ask my mom if we knew any of those people. I wonder how many smaller town radio stations still announce obituaries.

I cant believe what is done in The Villages for the small fees we pay. I would be happy at $500 dollars per month. We are all stealing at 138 dollars a month.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh :laugh: