50 Things To Know Before Moving to the Villages.
 

50 Things to Think About Before Buying a Home in The Villages

This showed up on my Facebook page so I thought it might be useful for people who have not seen it yet and are using TOTV to scout out moving here.

And it would be good for others to look at in case they see biases, mistakes and the like.

The list is by Mr. Parker Sykes.

all true. good read

This is the best and most complete summary of The Villages both good or bad that I have ever read. If everyone would know these things before committing to this lifestyle, most of the negativism on this forum would be gone.


I am very impressed with the knowledge, and the presentation of this author.


A very big thumbs up.

This is an article that should be read by Villagers and potential Villagers. Thanks Tal for sharing it with us!

Thanks should go out to Mr. Parker Sykes.

I cannot seem to forward to anyone.

Can you copy this link 50 Things to Think About Before Buying a Home in The Villages

and then paste it in an e-mail???

So I read the 50 THings...very good read. But, we have been to the Villages 3 times and with the CDD, lawn care, trash etc...can anyone tell me the true cost of living there? House would be paid for...but on a pretty tight fixed income a couple of hundred $$ makes a difference. The Villages advertises, 1066. per month on average? TRue or False.
Excuse the typing, a injured hand...thanks.

R4boat

You shouldn't listen to ME, because I am a huge fan of the Developer family, but I think most people agree that the cost that is advertised by them is fairly accurate. Booze and eating out several times a week would change things for more expensive.


It is wise of you to check and recheck. I admire that kind of thinking.

You asked for the true cost of living and $1066/month won't cut it. These are rough numbers and will need to be adjusted for size of house, lot and lifestyle.


Amenities, Water, Trash $240
Taxes $150
Lawn Mowing $30
Lawn Chemicals $50
Termite Protection $10
Gas $40
Electric $110
Cable, internet $170
Car Insurance $65
Golf Cart Ins $10

$875


Add to that, food, entertainment, medical, home repairs, auto repairs, clothing, fuel for car, and you're probably looking at between $2500 and $3000. I spend more than that but it depends on how you live.

I'm sure others will add things I missed.

We printed this off and read through it several times on our drive from KC back in 2014 for our Lifestyle Tour; the wife decided that we were retiring here 20 minutes after we got here. :):):)

TRUE cost of living for a couple multiply the above figure times 5. House, automobile, recreational, medical, insurance, food, taxes and incidental expenses will quickly mount up so if your not prepared, your life will consist of mounting debt, worry & stress.
The developer calls this " cost of living ", should be " cost of house ". Very, very misleading. Please do your math very carefully. I am not being negative, simply practical. Nobody, anywhere in this country can honestly claim cost of living at 13K per year.

Also, see below as advertised by The Villages

*Community Development District Assessments vary by unit, currently ranging
from approximately $97 to $448 per month. Lake County millage rates
vary slightly from these shown. For specific details on millage rates for your
Lake County home please call the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office at
352-343-9602.

It was a good read, but in this day I don't think there are that many who do not research how much the cost is here. The letter from the villages gives you a good idea of the. Cost to live here. I would bet 95% of people who move here know how to handle money and to budget, and have very little surprise.

Thanks for the info...trying to decide on OTOW or the Villages...you can only have so much "lifestyle"...seems to me you get more house for the money in OtOW, but you just don't have a ton of things. Guess it's a case of, different strokes for different folks. We have several friends in both places so it is hard to decide! Be there in June so we will see..

thanks.

R4boat

Thanks for you honest input. I am a spreadsheet guy..I have all the things I can think of accounted for, i.e., essentials, food, insurance, cable, phones, meds...etc. Plan on paying cash for a house, just seems to me that the "fees" add up, cdd, trash, water, electric, lawn care etc are all unknowns to me at this time. We were there 6 years ago and decided against the move at that time. I cant believe how much the houses went up! (supply and demand!) I guess the rich get richer. And I know take it or leave it applies here.