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Powerful endorsement for buying ONLY a resale!
This from friends who, though settled in TV for a few years, still go to open houses to see what’s out there and to get ideas. How’s this for an endorsement to buy only a resale and never new construction?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Promise me you will go down and look over the new homes which are being shown every day in the new areas. I want you to squeeze the outside siding on the new homes being built. It is like squeezing cardboard. The Villages is the only builder using this newer material in Florida. It feels like you move into a cardboard home. We know someone who bought a new patio villa and paid $145[000] plus a bond of $20[000] in Saint James. It is a square box, The other day we went into a beautiful two-bedroom Designer home with a floor plan never seen by us. It was in Hacienda East, a charming, lushly landscaped area near Hacienda [Hills] Restaurant. The house had a load of extras, including a gorgeous new kitchen, pavers in the driveway, heavy landscaping and a bumped out lanai. Both bathrooms were big. The home was listed at $151[000] with no bond. The house was sold while we were there because a couple were going to fill out papers. The price was around $143[000] at sale. I thought of this woman we know who bought this hideous brand new piece of **** for more money when she could have had this gorgeous Designer. For a moment, I actually thought of buying it and renting it out; it was that beautiful. The older areas in Hacienda East and nearby are beautiful streets with mostly older Designer homes. We try to look at homes now which pop up in older areas that we never saw…. |
Not everybody wants the same thing. Some will want to buy new for various reasons. Some will want a resale for various reasons.
If everybody wanted the same thing in cars, for example, we'd all still be driving Model Ts! Bill :) |
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If buying a resale is what you want then fine, there are MANY valid reasons for doing so; lower bond, added extras, window treatments, lovely painted interiors, sometimes a lower price and mature landscaping just to name a few. New homes and resales of the same genre are not far apart in price. Some new ones are less expensive than their previously loved counterparts. It is all up to the individual. But why snipe at the way they are built???? I love my "hideous brand new piece of ****" To make a point, any valid point, diplomacy is more useful, my friend. |
When you buy a home in TV, you are buying a lifestyle----Resale or new depends on your preference.
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I disagree in some ways
building codes have changed. |
I think to each their own.But you can get some good deals.Bonds have more then doubled in last 6 years,Maint.also has doubled.And if you find someone hungry to sell you may save 40k or more on a 230k house.In our case thought we would get new but made offer on 5 yr old hse.Did not think they would take but did.The cheapest we could have built was about 47k more.The bond was about 12 k of that. So for us it was a no brainer plus it was furnished.
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I'm not sure what siding you are talking about. We just moved into our cottage in St. James and it has vinyl siding. The same vinyl siding that was on our last house in Va. It was 10 years old and looked the same as it did when we bought it.
Could you be a little more specific about the siding? As far as buying new, let me add that when you buy new you are moving into a neighborhood where most of your neighbors are at the same point of their new life. In older areas there is a chance your neighbors may be a little too set in their ways. It could take longer to make close friends. Just a thought. Jim |
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Quixote, I think your post was meant to be your opinion. But many living in TV have chosen their homes carefully, having done due diligence, and basing their decisions on what is right for them. I came down to look last May with no preconceived notions about what I may find. I looked at spec homes, pre-owned and lots to build on. I knew the basic model I wanted after touring through many models and resales, and in the end decided to build. It was the right decision for me, but not for everyone. That is the nice thing about living there. Generally people are happy with their choices and glad to be living the lifestyle. I do however have to agree with Jimbo on part of his post. The building codes have changed since they first started building there. For example, the roofing, concrete, etc. Structurally, I think almost all the homes are sound, though. I also stayed in Creekside Landing and found my model home to be quite nice! Didn't notice the siding particularly, but it is concrete underneath which seems the important aspect to me. Just my opinion, not passing judgment...
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Oh my, we have built 2 hideous pieces of **** since we moved here. LOL Back in the day of high prices, we looked at buying a bigger house in Santiago. Couldn't touch a Lantana resale for under $350,000 and that didn't include what we would have paid to redecorate, plus they had many things we didn't like. When the prices dropped, we built a new home in BonnyBrook with lots of upgrades, pool, landscape etc. for $250,000. Great deal. I love my hideous piece of **** !! :pepper2:
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It is all personal opinion, in my humble opinion! We have owned 8 houses and the last 3 have been new construction. We find it easier, and sometimes less expensive, to start from new to improve, than to recreate. I mentioned resales of DH but he is the handyman and he says new ... Therefore new it is. Sure hope it is soon!
I also agree with the quality of some of the improvements .... I always learn from you guys ... Thanks |
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I think some of the LSV homes have been bumped out, an option available to you when you build. Some of the models in Sanibel are bumped as well. One of them a Gardenia, I believe, to show you what can be done if you wish the extra space. My new lot is a fairly large one, in terms of being deep and a tad wider. It is all in what you choose. If you look at the map of the neighborhoods that shows the lot sizes, you will see they are many sizes and shapes. But I have to agree that some seem smaller than the original lots from the very beginning. I toured a pre-owned Lantana in Chattham that had a large, lovely lot. Of course, there was also mature landscaping which I will NOT have, but all in good time. Just a matter of what you want and select.
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When we went through the new construction, it seemed like a prefab or mobile home. No hardware on the cabinets, cheap screens and doors, it looked like everything was purchased at Menaards. The realtor said "don't pay attention to the construction, your buying the lifestyle"
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When prices go down it would seem that builders mfgs, etc would attempt to maintain the same profit margins. so we know that something has to change.
When shopping for a flat screen a few years back I learned after my six month trek that SAMSUNG had dumbed down the innards of their flat screens so that the 750 model i purchased was far superior to their 800 900 models As to building codes I have been witness to counties that have looked the other way for political reasons...and had there not been an onslaught of homes dealing with the same prolems the counties negiligence would have never been uncovered. So it does make sense to me that homes built prior to the downturn have a better potential of better building than......I am just saying |
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Contact R B Conroy |
We originally bid for a resale but lost out on a bid but then we found a spec designer house and we love it. We are now happy we didn't win the first bid. I think one recommendation I can give is to look for built out area and check out the last few homes being built on spec. When we bought our place it was one of the three last lots that were being built. Builders want to move onto new section so they usually do a little add ons to make the house more salable. One concern I had south of 466 is that no gas will be available but it worked out well with electricity. We also enjoy walkin shower and golf cart garage which are rarer on older homes north of 466. The best part was having couple of feet extra in every room which definitely gives an airy feel. To each his own.
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I do have a hard time believing that a sales rep actually said "don't pay any attention to the construction." My step son is a realtor here. I would think a statement like that would get someone fired. Just sayin'. |
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senior citizen: "The Villages Lifestyle" should be approached with great circumspect. It is the basis as you have come to realize that lures people here. My suggestion is step back and look at where you could live other than here and then ask yourself if that other place(s) can supply some of or all of the same things? If your answer is no well then you have answered your question. However if your answer is yes then proceed with the next step and so on until you reach the last one which is.. at this other place how much will it cost you. finally be certain that "the lifestyle" is something you will actually use. some here thrive on it while others have no use for it but are still forced to subsidize it. What is toubling are the number of folks here wo seem to take an euphorian approach to the "Lifestyle". This is not a DisneyWorld after a week or so. so i wouldn't not like to see you discover buyers remorse sometime shortly after you makesuch a huge investment finally trust your answers when you finished because what you see is waht you are going to get and coming is easier than leaving. |
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Most have a lot of life experience by this time in their lives and will make the best decisions for them. A few will regret their decisions but that's the way it goes sometimes. |
One of the main benefits of buying a new construction here is because of the neighbors being at the same age and stage in life....newly retired or about to retire....and moving in at about the same time and being "all in the same boat", new in the community.
As for quality of construction, I've never seen homes in the midwest made of poured concrete reinforced with embedded steel rebar, as our courtyard villa here is. Can't get much stronger than that in my estimation. |
Leaving is much easier than you think. Resale houses are selling very quickly. We had and offer in 2 days and a contract the next day. The buyer had a contingency for selling his house in TV which he listed the next day. He sold his immediately, had to close in 2 weeks because his buyers wanted to move in so our closing moved up too. In 3 weeks both houses sold, were closed and we were all moved. We had to contract the packing and moving because we couldn't get down in time to do it all. Closings by mail. If you don't like it in TV, don't think it is hard to leave.
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One of the things I love about the villages is that homes are available at resale starting at about seventy thousand dollars clear through over a million dollars. The new homes are available at prices of about $140K and can be built that cost more than a million dollars. The amenity fee is around 135 dollars a month and based on cost of living. Bonds are higher or lower based on the size of the home and the area. Taxes are based on size of lot and size of home and price. So homes here are available to fit a lot of people's budgets. So the folks living in the lower priced home are getting the exact same lifestyle as the folks living in the highest priced home. How nice is that? Plus all this building is giving employment to a lot of families and has taken Sumter county from one of the poorest counties to one of the most employed areas in Florida. Now. I am from Ohio. I do not know the Morse family. I don't work for them or for anyone anymore. I just absolutely love it here. |
Boy Howdy Graciegirl! TV may not be for everyone but if its the lifestyle you want in your retirement years you do have many options available to you and you can, as you say, spend as little or as much as you want on your home. We looked at several retirement communities including places in Arizona, Texas, Arkansas and Florida. And we did it in person----not on the Internet. No other retirement community even came close to TV in our opinion.
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I always find it interesting that in any group you will find mostly very nice people, with a few picky people, rich people, some just scraping by, exaggerators, rumor mongers, and complainers thrown in. I would not expect TV to be any different. And each person has to find what fits them the best. I would think a single person who is not interested in home repairs would probably like a new home best, and a couple like us who love to tinker and remodel would like a resale. But you never know. It is easy to fall in love with a particular house for no apparent reason except because.
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Boy Howdie again! The thing that I place above ALL else at TV is the fact that no matter what type of home you have, no matter what neighborhood you call home, no matter your retirement income, no matter your political affiliation, religion, or race, each person has the same amenities and resources available to them. Does it get any better than that? I don't base my friendships on where someone is from, or who someone knows, or how much money someone has. I base my my friendships on compassion, ideals, human interaction, a sense of humor,and kindness to others. Most in TV have the same aspirations for retirement and that includes a good quality of life which is so easily attainable there. I cannot wait to meet people, get involved in activities and enjoy each and every day!:spoken:
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As with everything else their are pro's and con's to both new and re-sale. I have bought a few different homes in the Villages and I stay on top of the market. In my experience you can always do better on a re-sale over new. Part of that is what has been completed by someone else, part is being able to negotiate on price, and part is lower or no bond. However the difference is usually less then 10% house for house. So new you may pay a little less in visible price, but once all the hidden costs are identified, re-sale is almost always a better buy. There will be some exceptions to that, but very few.
So buy what you want and as always in real estate, location, location, location is all that matters. |
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One of the main reasons we decided to buy new. I was enticed looking at resales but kept reminding myself we weren't ready to buy yet. Also, I suppose you have to put your furniture in storage and rent while you house hunt ( but for how long?) Not that there is anything wrong with it but my wife and I strongly believe you're buying into a lifestyle in a new neighborhood. We've met several TOTVers building in Fernandina and we can't wait to meet them all. :pepper2: |
When we sold our first home in the villages we where disappointed. With our 6 month real estate contract with the villages,our real estate agent never once had a showing of our home.We would stay outside of the home when there was a showing, and 90% of the time it was a quick look and off they would go to the new homes.We would follow and observe. Greater time showing of the new homes. We believe they put more in new home selling than trying to sell a used home. Contract expired in 6 months. 2 lowball offers. We put the house on the market ourselves. Sold in 7 days. 53 showings and calls.
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I bought new.
I like the one year warranty on everything. I like the new roof, new HVAC, new paint, etc. The new neighborhoods are wider, better laid out. Enjoy the traffic on the north end. Different strokes for different folks |
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