Golf Front Homesites vs. Premier Interior Homesite
 

My wife and I visited the Villages last week and can not decide whether to build a Designer home on a golf course lot or a Premier home on an interior lot. The cost of each would be in the same ballpark. Can anyone provide your thought as to which we should go with?

My hubby and I are building currently on the golf course in Fernandina because it has been my husband's dream since forever. Good luck, I am sure you'll be happy with either.

We went through the same analysis a couple years ago. We really liked the premier home, but were just not sure about the interior lots. At the time, the premier lot looked rather large and we thought that the home behind would be a good distance away. Most lots were empty at the time we were looking to build.

We also looked at 2 designer homes on golf course lots. Both homes (Lantana & Bridgeport) were very nice and there was no chance of anyone building behind us.

We purchased the Bridgeport on the golf course and love it. No obstruction of views and we have gorgeous sunsets almost every day.

We have since driven by the premier lot and there are now houses on all lots. The lot we were planning to build on is very close to the home behind it. I don't think we would have been happy with that arrangement.

My advise....If the premium for the golf course lot fits into your budget, go for it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

We love our Designer gilf front
 

Just make sure the golf path is on the other side of the course from your house. We watch the sunset from our birdcage. The view is so beautiful. We are on a short cul de sac with all golf front homes on Palmer. Championship course gets fewer and better golfers.

We have a good friend in a Premier and hates having a neighbor behind him. Plus many Premiers are for sale.
No one has even sold on this street and it going on 7 years since built. Our kids want these when we pass!!
Everyone who has been in my home comments on the beautiful view. So that's my opinion. We love our location. :thumbup:

You'll be happy no matter what...but we faced that decision ourselves just a few months ago. We were trying to decide between a premier Avalon on an interior lot and a designer Ivy on the golf course. We went, hands down with the designer on the golf course. Way better view and a lower bond.

My wife and I would recommend the golf course lot, without a doubt. You can upgrade Designer homes to Premier status, and have plenty of privacy.
We are doing that with an Ivy; closing mid September.
Best of luck.

Premier homes offer some great things; bigger garages and more storage and some nice interior and exterior finishes (finished concrete on lanai) that are not upgrades, also more space overall and taller ceilings and crown molding and five inch base molding etc. etc. Also the landscaping plants are larger and there is more of it and the homes are spaced wider apart. Most do not have "kissing lanais" but offer a view out the back between neighbors homes.

The upgraded price for a view lot for a Premier or a Designer seems to me to be the same. I know of a person who built a Premier in the last nine months on an interior lot and paid $333k for it.

So..go for what you want.

Designer on a golf course lot hands down. Just get a lot that allows a golf cart garage and a pool as well.

Designer with upgrades
 

golf4me,
We have everything you mentioned in your Premier and it was built in as a model. We also have less bond( as of now no bond), less money for watering and less heart ache for keeping up yard. We have 3 big bedrooms and a bigger garage than most Premiers. Added a birdcage with built in spa with the beautiful view.( taken care of by the Villages.) Every night we see sand cranes, herons etc walking the middle of the course. We have tall trees which give us shade and every kind of beautiful bird, rabbits. squirrels, and a distance pond so we see ducks and other water birds.
I have the same house as many Premiers and a whole lot more than an interior home site.
But I'm sure most will stick up for what they buy and most are happy. I had a home before this one with hedges on a road for a back yard. Can't compare...to the quiet and to the sunset over a golf course.
You're right, everyone has a right to their opinion.

If you go for the golf course lot just don't complain in the future............about golf balls hitting your house.

Placement of the house on golf course is important.
 

That's why we bought where the golf path is far away on the other side and we are parallel with the women's tee. Plus it a Championship which has better golfers.(most of the time!) Also, there are Evergreen trees between our birdcage and the golf course.

Just have to add how nice a Designer can be. It was build with Boise surround sound (we love)in every room which you can turn off or on room by room. Also has a dimmer switch on every light and when it is dark you can see a flicking light in the switch so you can find it in the dark. It was built with double pane windows. It was build with all the stretches and upgrades. As I said it was a model and I think back then, you could chose your upgrades so they were showing them all off in this house.

Oops! Had to add tray ceilings and posted this twice. Sorry

Placement of the house on golf course is important.
 

That's why we bought where the golf path is far away on the other side and we are parallel with the women's tee. Plus it a Championship which has better golfers.(most of the time!) Also, there are Evergreen trees between our birdcage and the golf course.

Just have to add how nice a Designer can be. It was build with Boise surround sound (we love)in every room which you can turn off or on room by room. Also has a dimmer switch on every light and when it is dark you can see a flicking light in the switch so you can find it in the dark. It was built with double pane windows, tray ceilings etc. It was build with all the stretches and upgrades. As I said it was a model and I think back then, you could chose your upgrades so they were showing them all off in this house.

Oops-posted twice...sorry!

Recently at Mira Mesa
 

Premier home sold ON the golf course with swimming pool and if you can believe this, asking price was $274,000.....I thought that was a GREAT price!...2 weeks later, SOLD

Which golf course, FSBO or listing?

we have been looking at preowned, lots of homes above $250,000....not so much below $205,000, not looking for golf course cause i am not a fan of drop in guests (lost your ball in my yard :1rotfl:) goal is a 2 car garage and no kissing lanai

No matter what you choose, it is your home and it is just right for you.

Everyone does the best they can to make their home comfortable and welcoming.

People who live in premiers love their homes exactly the way people love their villas and cottages and designers.

So...choose the one that makes YOUR heart happy.

Designer on a golf course was our choice ---make sure the lot can fit the MODEL you want ---may I suggest to stretch the home as far as your lot allows --you will not be sorry ---the Bond price will be much lower --most of the premiers we have seen --bonds started at around 48 thousand

I agree with most that you may get some visitors looking for the ball --but at least they are DRESSED and even if you dont like them --they are gone in about 3 minutes !!!!

Good Luck :welcome:

My choice would be Designer on the Golf Course. This is a very personal decision and everyone will have their own perspective.

The golf course can be a great place to be but there are some things you may want to take into account when making a location decision.

1. The Tee Box - the Tee Box usually gets cut early every day, so be prepared to be woken up. Also this is where the 'colorful' jokes and language is heard while the groups are waiting to hit and all the congratulations after a good shot. This location can be a problem if you want to sit quietly on the lanai - it can be a noisy area.

2. The Fairway - the right hand side (the slicers side for the majority) means your house may get hit, windows may get broken and you'll have golfers tramping around looking for and retrieving golf balls. The left hand side is usually not too bad for stray balls. A close cart path means a lot of traffic and maybe no peace.

3. The *Green - like the Tee, the Green gets cut everyday early and there is often a lot of noise as the groups putt out. Again this is not a good location if you want a peaceful lanai.

These issues will not bother some people in the slightest - *it all depends on your tolerance level and what you are looking for.

If the house is far enough back from the course then these issues are mitigated. It just depends on how much privacy and quiet you want. There is no doubt a golf course view can be very rewarding.

When we were looking for a house our agent showed us properties on the golf course but seemed to have no appreciation of these issues, however we found exactly what we were looking for - a peaceful "water to golf" location, we have an elevated lot, get the advantage of wildlife on the ponds, get to watch but not really hear the golfers and we do not get golf balls near the house.

You asked for personal opinions, so here is mine. I'd rather live in a hovel on a golf course than a mansion on an interior lot. As long as the hovel has a big birdcage. OK, that is exaggerating, but location is everything. And you can always upgrade the house with extras, and even build an addition.

Decisions, decisions...
 

Great question, poromo! The answer lies in what is important to YOU. There are a whole host of questions that could be developed based on the two alternatives you've outlined.

What is most important to you?...location or house?
How important is "privacy" to you?, i.e., proximity to your neighbors?
How important is the possibility of golf ball strikes on your home?...or golf balls in your back yard?
What has been your past experience at dealing with neighbors whose homes are very close to yours?....Do you get along well with everyone?
Can you find an affordable premier, golf-front home? If you look you might find it!

Whenever confronted with a decision like this I always try to write down, as specifically as possible, what I'm trying to accomplish and what is important to me. It's easier to make a good decision if you have specifically identified (in writing) your decision-making criteria.

Best wishes on your new purchase!

i would suggest that you get a sales rep to show you several examples of each configuration on a variety of lot configurations so that you will have a good idea of the ramifications of what can happen AFTER you AND your potential neighbors have built AND landscaped! there's apparently nothing worse than thinking you bought a certain view only to find out what can happen to that view later!

Picked the Designer
 

We did the same thing. Trying to decide between size and view. We ended up buying a Lantana on the golf course in Fernandina. We cannot wait to be sitting here in winter without my snow blower.
The bond was lower and the view was better.
I dont play golf but I think i may start once I get down here full time just because of the view.
We hope this helped
Rona and Bill

When you visited The Villages last week, it sounds as though you only were considering new homes. Personally, I feel the re-sale homes are a whole lot better deal.

With a re-sale home, you see exactly what you are buying. The homes around you are up so you know exactly how they look and how close they may be to you. You can negotiate price with the seller. Bond will be lower or no bond at all (savings up to $50,000). If you want a golf course front house, you can see where the tee boxes are and judge whether or not it is a good location for getting balls hitting the house. (I live on a Glenview course and due to the location, do not get balls in my yard). Established neighborhood and no construction mess around you for next 6 months.

Before you decide, check out re-sales with BOTH Villages Properties and an outside Realtor. Neither can show each other's listings.

On Mira Mesa and it was FSBO
 

Estate sale....real nice, stucco....New owners are really enjoying that pool, it is on #7 on Mira Mesa...

Or you could consider a resale, and that way you know exactly what you're getting. No nasty surprises, and a lower bond!

We live on a golf course and the best part is the view - not backing up to another house. Just choose the site carefully - cart path heading away from your lot, not towards it!

Golf Course view is worth the money IMHO. Also, prefer a lot on a championship course over the executive courses. Designer home can be enlarged to fit your needs----but how large a home do two people need? Resale value better on a golf course lot (in the right location on the course) than a premier on an interior lot. However, with that said its still a matter of personal preference.

Love our golf front
 

:)Agree with everything being said. We looked for over two years when we found the perfect golf front designer home with a hugh garage. We moved in Oct. and people who have visited have loved the house and the view.

The golf path is on the other side of the golf course(Palmer). That's a big plus. We have never been bothered by any noise. We are in heaven as are all our neighbors on this cul-de-sac. No one ever moves ( unless they die):ohdear: because everyone loves their homes and their views. This was a row of models so every house is different.

The sunsets and the wildlife is to die for...I could go on and on.

Definitely Golf Course Lot
 

If one is available, and that is a big IF, go for a home on a Championship Golf Course. Only one home in the past 8 yrs has sold in my area and that was due to the death of a spouse, and house sold in three days! Great investment.

Oh, and by the way, never been hit by a golf ball and never had one in my back yard! :)

Having a privacy view is really a joyful thing. IMHO, you don't need to worry about golf balls on either executive or championship courses, as long as you make sure your home is well away from "the action". In five years, we've never had a golf ball come close to our home. We also make sure the golf cart path is on the opposite side of the golf course from our home.