North or South of 466...which is better, and other questions
 

Greetings folks. I haven't had anything to post since our visit in June. For those of you that remember me, again thanks for all your support for our medically interesting visit. You may recall I had double vision for the whole trip. I'm pleased to report that my vision returned to normal about a month after we got home. I will always be very grateful for all the help, sympathy and information I received here. Now, I would like to begin to ask for some more as we consider a move.

We are beginning to get an idea of what kind of house we'd want, whether new or used, etc. While many of the folks I've talked to here are very excited about the idea of a new house, our preference has always been for a house that has been lived in a bit and all the bugs have been worked out, and of course most places it would be a bit cheaper...although I'm not sure that is true here. Having the bond paid would be nice. I would like some reaction to some of our notions.

We believe we would be happiest in a villa somewhere north of 466. We would like to be somewhere close to Spanish Springs and reasonably close to Lake Sumter. Certainly not the isolated part up near Nancy Lopez. What do you think of the construction of the older homes? With my health issues, we really didn't get a chance to look at the used houses. The new and model homes we looked at were not the best built houses I've ever seen, although admitedly we were looking at the cheapest range of houses. I'm wondering if this is a function of the current break neck building speed, or it that was the case for the last 15 to 20 years. I'm not saying the homes are poor, just not carefully built. Just a brief example...brand new patio villa. There were more seams showing in the siding than I could count. Most parts of the country no one would sell a house like that. The seams make a good entrance for bugs, and in hurricanes would be a great place for the wind to take hold. (The much more expensive 3 bedroom we rented in June seemed much better built. As everywhere you get what you pay for.)

Please do give me a lecture about love it or leave it. I think we've already decided that the shortcomings of the Villages are probably outweighted by the many wonderful things we found. We really did like it a great deal. But I'm not the kind of person to pretend the shortcomings aren't there. We want to try to get the best purchase for our money. So tell me anything you have to say about those older areas.

Also, I do worry about sink holes. It seems to make sense more stable soil in older areas might be better than the new builds where they are moving all the soil. Also from what I've read the further away from water features you can get the better. Any thoughts on that?

Finally, if you would be so kind. Those who live in villas, have you found them too close to neighbors, or are the ones with walls pretty insolated. We've kind of come to the conclusion these are kind of like nice apartments that just don't quite touch each other. I'd really like to know your thoughts. Even the large house we rented was so close to the neighbors, I would probably never open a window...and of course the villas are much closer.

I'm sure as we consider further I will have more questions and thank you all in advance for your help. It is deeply appreciated.

Dave

Since you seem unsure of the area, you'll probably get a lot of suggestions to rent for a year or two. As far as preferred locations, folks love their Villages, and there is a case to be made for each segment of TV. Residents vigorously defend their choice of new versus resale. We've had a CYV and a home, not much difference if you have noisy neighbours. IMHO, most people in TV tend to be quiet, respectful and go to bed early. We back on water, have no problem getting sink hole insurance, and wouldn't trade our view for the world. It's all a matter of personal taste.

There are some very nice CYVs in the community of Villas of St. Simon which is just off Talley Ridge Drive at the Bellaire gate. Lots have golf course views and are the CBS construction. Only about a 15 minute golf cart ride to either Lake Sumter Landing or Spanish Springs from there. They were built around 2003 so the bonds would be very low.

What the deciding factor for us between a villa and a rancher was the size of the garage. Hubby could not function in the 1 1/2 size of the villas. He needed more.

I agree with Barefoot that you might want to rent for a while to be sure.
Being close to the squares loses it's appeal after a year for most people.

You might consider it more appealing to be closer to shopping, doctors and rec centers. It would save the trouble of buying something and then deciding that you need something different.

But then, what do I know? I am still a wannabe. :smiley:

I agree you might want to rent for a while. As for sink holes I look at the risk like this, each part of the country has location related risk. Midwest has a higher tornado risk, California (some parts) has mudslide risk and most parts have earthquake risk. East coast and gulf has hurricane risk, other areas of country have flood risk, forest fire risk and e.t.c. All you can do is try to use insurance to reduce your risk as much as possible but there are risk to your home no matter where you live. I would say things like a house fire or lighting strike are more likely to happen to your home than sink hole damage.

Sink holes ?
 

So just how many homes have been swallowed up by sinkholes in TV ?

there are many cyv's with 2 car garages. dont let that stop you.

zero

I think sink holes tend to follow water areas so I would avoid water features. Sink holes are all over the area so if you are going to be in Central Fl you have a potential sink hole problem so I would just accept the risk.
I think the older homes might have better construction but this comes from just a couple of discussions with residences North of 466.

All good questions and points Dave! I agree with you on the seams in the siding. I was amazed at how many homes had seams in the entry area, which would not require that much length of product, and which shows more than most areas. If you are looking for a solution there are two - one of course is block and stucco, another is the vinyl siding that looks like shingles. My understanding is that the vinyl siding that looks like shingles is almost as expensive as block and stucco, but would not require painting every 7 years or so. As for CYVs there are a few with two car garages, but they are not common. If it is a fenced yard that you are desiring there are a few dozen cottage homes on Nash Loop in Hemingway that are fenced with vinyl fencing - there were two or three for sale late last winter, so you might watch for that. The perfect village or area? That is totally a matter of personal preference - we stayed in Summerhill two years ago and were ready to buy there - then we stayed in Hemingway last year and were ready to buy there! The way TV is laid out and the road system make every place convenient to something desireable. It really depends what you want to be most accessable, and what is available. After three years of snowbirding, the areas I would consider off my wish list would be the corners; NE, NW, SE, and SW. I really like the central corridor between Morse and Buena Vista and close to Canal between 466 and 466A, but there are other areas I would consider. Renting for awhile seems to be the best way to judge where you would want to be long term. Good luck - you can't go wrong! Ed

Old Dave: North or south of 466 you enjoy the same basic amenities so it becomes a matter of personal preference and if you enjoy the established neighborhood or the new homes south of 466A. The newer homes have the advantage of later technology (energy efficient Heat/Air) and new roofs, paint, updated building codes, warranty etc. and this appeals to a lot of people. Most likely you will have no need to replace anything for years in a new home. In a new neighborhood everybody is new and this also appeals to a lot of people. Bottom line---I am obvious biased toward the new home but still it's a matter of personal preference. Good luck.

There are some lovely mature Villa neighborhoods between Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter. Spanish Plains offers scads of shopping opportunities and also medical offices. I think that is a great area and a wise choice.

Thanks for the replies. Still interested to hear from anyone about the quality of the older homes, satisfaction living in villas, etc. Thanks,

Dave

Say you rent rather than buy, you spend 10K for a year, wasted money.

In addition the cost of the homes increases in cost, this year some have gone up that much.

If your not sure rent for month not long term.

It's possible you are making a mistake in some of your reasoning. It isn't the question of new versus resale which may be the most fundamental. And many veterans here would much rather live in a quiet isolated place than near a town square. Once you decide the type of house you prefer, the real question is how convenient you are located to the things you want and need. There was a recent thread here about folks in two 1200 resident villages having to share one community pool and recreation center. Those same folks have to go miles, then often stand in line, to buy a loaf of bread. The Villages is not created equal. That "isolated part up North" has just about the best access to every kind of shopping and recreation, without congestion, because of it's geography. The center of The Villages has the most traffic and competition for services. The newer areas have fewer recreational facilities per resident. The newest homes are on smaller lots and realtors tell me they are not as well constructed as those built 5-10 years ago. Finally, there was another thread here recently about "problem areas" you should avoid. Things like living downwind of a sewage treatment facility, or in the frequent path of flying golf balls. Consider everything carefully. And, Good Luck!!

Trust your REALTOR - a good one should have a complete understanding of your wants, needs, and desires and take it from there. Let you REALTOR earn that commission.

Can't agree with that statement by a realtor, they R clueless about the building code.

Everything is built better in newer homes, the code is simply more stringent in many regards.
2 quick examples are they R designed to withstand higher wind speeds in hurricanes.
The insulation and windows are better.

The AC units have seer ratings of 15+, that saves $$

Glad to see your post Old Dave, I know your visit was not the best, I have a house south of 466, and have been looking at preowned for about 6mos. I noticed that the older homes seem to have put more thought in the design and lots of high ceilings, the yards are bigger and the neighborhoods are more mature. I agree when you are ready I think you would be wise to come and rent for a month or two and take your time to look at what is for sale and if you don't find something at least you have an idea of what streets or villages near SS you want to be. We came for 5 weeks and it still was not enough time to figure it out. but now know where we do not want to be. (not close to power lines, four lane roads) but thats just what we found, however we could buy a house on line in a heartbeat with the time we spent drawing all over our map of where to live.

:agree: 100% right jimbo. See post #12 in this thread. Sounds like a Realtor "pushing" a resale. That's not to say that a resale can't be a good deal given the right price and location.

Hi Old Dave,
Welcome back. You've asked some great questions. I'll give you some moral support on your preference for pre-owned. We went that route and will again if we decide to trade for a bigger house/garage in going from snowflakes to frogs. We enjoy the mature landscaping not only for its beauty but for the increased privacy and reduced noise and dust it provides.

I've been in TV as a snowflake and as a frog. As a full-time resident, I agree unequivocally with the other posters who feel that living near shopping is more important than living near a town square. Of course, nothing says you can't do both.

We love living on the quieter, less congested north side! However, being more centrally located would have it's pluses too and most legitimately has its advocates.

Personally, I wouldn't love the dust, construction noise and construction debris that may accompany new, but that is temporary; and new homes certainly have well-reasoned advocates and couldn't-be-happier campers. This is not a question of right or wrong but pluses, minuses and preferences.

In choosing the most suitable home and location for you in this wonderful place called TV, the most important preferences... are your own!

All best wishes.

:agree: Well said.

Very helpful posts. Thanks so much for the warm welcome back. I must say the more I hear about avoiding the squares and heading more for Walmart starts to make sense to me. Of course being around Spanish Springs kind of gives you both, if you're not too close. I'm looking for more thoughts. Thanks so much to all of you.

Seams in siding? Paralysis through analysis. You are over thinking. Anywhere you live here is just fine . And for $125000 patio villa, will not get the Taj Mahal, anywhere.

First of all, we rented two different months in 2010 North of 466 and liked it so well that we had decided that was where we would buy when our house in N C sold. Well, when it did sell last year we had to move much quicker than anticipated so we had to move before having a chance to come back to TV to find a house. We knew we wanted a CYV so that narrowed it down a bit. Of course, price was our next consideration and then location. We wound up having to rent for six months which gave us ample time to decide where to buy but it also meant moving twice which is a big chore at our age. We finally chose a CYV in Largo because of the centralized location. The older cvs we saw North
Of 466 in our price range seemed to need a lot of upgrading and it would have meant spending thousands of dollars. We decided we'd rather be in a newer neighborhood that needed less work. We also knew we wanted gas heat, hot water and cooking so we were able to further narrow down the choices. We found two in Largo and liked them both. We are on an inside lot but never hear from our "over the fence" neighbors. The other CYV was a corner lot that backed up to the PO. It probably was a better buy but it had a much bigger lot with 8 palm trees and actually we chose the smaller villa because of the smaller lot as my husband did not want to be tied down to the maintenance of a larger yard. We bought a FSBO but I believe we could have gotten a new unit as cheap or cheaper. This villa does have some additions that we liked but our main reason was the location. We really like Spanish Springs and while we are only about 10 minutes from Lake Sumter we are about equal distance between SS and Brownwood. One thing that kept us from buying N of 466 is the cart paths on the major streets there. I do like that Largo is off Canal Street.

You will find that the older neighborhoods are inhabited by "more seasoned" residents and may not be as active as the newer neighborhoods that are full of "less seasoned" residents who are all new to TV and a lot more active with block parties and get togethers on a regular basis. At our age we are thankful for our settled neighbors even though we may only get together once a month or less!

There are only one set of cyvs in Largo and they are just steps from the post office, family and adult pools and rec center. As others have said, you will be glad to be near shopping. The squares are wonderful to have but you won't go every night after you become a frog (at least we don't)!

I'm sorry this is so lengthy but I want to help. We were walking in your same shoes last year. No matter where you wind up I'm sure you'll be happy you made the move!

BTW, there are two or three villas in Largo for sale at this time! We'd love to have you!

Wendy, thank you for the wonderfully detailed response. That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for and brought up the condition of older units which I really hadn't given much thought to. I have noticed in looking at pictures of units on line, the kitchens look pretty dated in the older ones. Thanks again for such a great response.

The OP didn't say that seams were a disqualifier, just that he noticed them. I too notice them, and they are often unsightly - seems like they should be avoided on the front and especially the entry area. Wouldn't keep me from buying but it is a cost cutter that should be avoided IMO.

If you come from the midwest you automatically look at construction differences. Remember you are buying a "lifestyle" ilo a home. All areas are somewhat convenient to stores, squares, and medical facilities. We just recently purchased a CYV in Springdale and love it. We did however, rent for 5 years prior to purchasing.

OK, I wasn't going to rise to the bait, but since Ed did, I will too. I am always amazed on this site by people who think that because TV is paradise you should stop using the function of your brain. "Paralysis through analysis." Amazing. As Ed pointed out it may not be a deal breaker, but no quality builder would leave visable seams. At the least they would put the seams in the back where they aren't so noticeable. At best there would be no seams. That kind of workmanship won't save much money, BUT it is an indication of sloppy work that many times is an indicator of sloppy work in more important areas you cannot see.

I simply don't understand why I should stop thinking when making a major purchase just because TV is a lovely fun place. Maybe others have $150,000 to $200,000 in the cushions of their couches, but I don't. I want to make a good, informed decision. And at least two people posting did indicate better building methods in the older homes, which is one of the things I asked about.

So, please allow me and others to use our heads and not just our hearts to consider the last major purchase we're likely to make.

And as to buying a lifestyle not a home, I disagree. Between the bond, the association fees and the increased housing prices I'm paying for that lifestyle quite well already thank you. Home prices in Kansas are much lower. One of the 1,200 sq. foot CVY there at $150K would be $90,000 here. Of course they are higher in Florida, but if you look at other developments near TV you find them $10-$20K cheaper than TV and with better construction.

Yes, we will probably buy in TV and I think we will enjoy the lifestyle very much, but I, and I believe at least a few others, want to do it with our eyes open.

Again thanks for all the helpful responses. I'd love to hear from others.

Dave

Of course one must their head when making a major purchase. Renting for a while will give you time to make a more informed decision. I for one, want to buy a pre-owned home and would like my decision based on not having to move again because i overlooked something in the decision process.

I was thinking halfway between SS and LSL is right for me. Others say to be close to shopping as the squares lose their appeal after a year. There are those who prefer new vs pre-owned. Some prefer the quite neighborhoods. There are many homes to coose from.

You can also search for new vs pre-owned threads as this subject has been discussed before. I would make a list of what you want as oppossed of things you can live without. As Pturner has said, your preference are the only one's that count.

Thanks 2B. But I must correct one thing. In the end my opinion counts for nothing. There is opinionated woman who will want her say. lol.

Thanks again.

Your right. Happy wife, happy life. :smiley:

SWMBO

She Who Must Be Obeyed

My opinion only....
 

After visiting my brother several times, we had decided we wanted a CYV in the LSL area. Then we rented a CYV, and we decided that was not for us. When sitting on our lanai, we could hear every word spoken by the neighbors on their lanai. Our initial search for houses lead to the development of a list of what we did not want!
One thing that has not been mentioned but we found important was to think in terms of what activities you most enjoy, and where they are located. Not all rec centers offer the same activities, or maybe the times are more to your liking. We found that we spent much of our time in the Laurel Manor/Saddlebrook area, in addition to Katie Belles and the Polo grounds so we chose a house North of 466. I know I can go to any rec center, but having to drive 20 minutes to get to a class 45 minutes before it starts at 8 or 9 am is difficult for me!
Where ever you land will be good. We found a wonderful house that we made perfect, and neighbors that were perfect already!!

We just bought at the end of Oct., and like you we rented and tried to figure it out. We decided an older home was for us, we liked the older area because of the trees, we rented in the north section and I agree it is somewhat removed from the town squares but had other nice features. We like being close to Spanish Springs because you can get to town, shopping, eating and entertainment easily, we bought in the Mira Mesa area, which is older but we got our house (a designer model) at a good price and we are in the process of updating it, most of our neighbors are older than we are and have started moving back toward kids etc. I think the house you pick is personal and what other people think may not be for you. I am a young 60 year old and like being close to both town squares and when we have company we can go to either one on a cart. I can run up to Target, get groceries etc. really quick from where we live, so we have the best of both worlds for our needs, close to town and shopping. I know what you are going through we were afraid to commit, but we walked into this house and decided it was the one, I hope you have the same luck. We rented a villa and decided for year round living we may need more storage, that was our determing factor, but I really liked the villa we rented. We lived in CA for 10 years and close living does not bother us, so it depends on what you are use to, before that we lived in MI on 2 1/2 acres...it's a mind set as much as anything else, I like being around people. Good luck, make a list of what is important to you, don't worry you will figure it out...

You are correct in using your head and not your heart! That's important in all long term matters! As I said, we bought FSBO. New cyvs were being offered at about the same price we paid for 5 year old construction. We insisted on an appraisal and the owners, fearing the property would not "appraise out", kept telling us he would not be willing to lower the price and we were "buying a lifestyle"! BULL, I love the "lifestyle" but my real estate experience would not allow me to pay more than appraisal for anything! Especially in this market! There's plenty out there for sale and you will find something that suits you. Don't settle! Properties are going on the market every day and will continue to do so!

My very favorite location would probably be Edgewater Bungalows at Lake Sumter but, alas, they were over our price point!

BTW, our villa appraised for $3,000 over sales price!

Hey Wendy, how long ago was this?

We closed July 2011

Seems to me you might get more space and a nice 2-car garage by choosing a house instead of a CYV for the same price point. Our dog, who rules our household, preferred the CYV! We also like the compact "cosyness" and low upkeep of the villas. We were lucky to get good, quiet neighbors! Guess it could "go the other way"! Heaven forbid!

Yes, I think you have a good point. But we rented a pretty large 3 bedroom this summer with a pool and big garage. But even that had neighbors so close it was uncomfortable. So I don't know if we could live with a villa. But I am unable to do any kind of yard work and my wife hates it, so she really likes the idea of no yard at all. We almost rented a villa this summer and I wish we had of, but I was worried it would be too small. Also we really wanted a pool. I've given up on that idea. We've rented 3 houses in the last few years: here, Sanibel and Marco and they've all been disappointing. Wrong temp, not clean and on and on. I really don't like to swim with anyone. I have a body made for radio. But I think I would just have to force myself to use the neighborhood pools. They don't look very busy, but of course we were there in the winter.

So we need to look at the villas. I don't understand why the houses are actually cheaper than many of the villas. I don't know what's missing.