Qualty vs price of house
 

Hello, Joe here from Shreveport, LA. My wife and I are exploring retirement locations in about 3 years. We have 8 kids between us and also 10 siblings. Thinking of central Florida so they will be enticed to visit us instead of mostly us traveling all over the country.

We are going to do a Lifestyle visit for the first time in May for 4 days. We are very interested in all the positives we have been reading about.

Our only concern so far is that the price per square foot and quality of homes via pictures are more expensive and lower quality than we are used to.

We have a $350k home near Bossier City, LA with 2700 sq fr, a huge kitchen with granite, 3 bedrooms, a large bonus room, 3.5 baths with granite in every one, a kitchen in backyard with granite, crown moldings everywhere. Seems like a similar home would be like $600-800K in The Villages.

For those already there, can you comment on quality and price of homes?

Thanks! Joe

Soon this thread will be filled with pro villages posters who only report the best of The Villages or those who compare TV to high prices in New Jersey or similar.

I agree on a per square foot price basis the prices are high, probably 35% premium for this market. This is the price of admission to this community. For those of us here it is worth it.

This is what I would do to understand the difference in what you get. Go to Realtor.Com Put into the filters what you are looking for such as square footage, price range, pool or no pool, etc. Then compare what you get in The Villages vs Lady Lake which is just out the boundaries of The Villages. You will be astounded at the differences in what you get for a house. But of course you do not get the amenities of The Villages, you are paying for what The Villages has.

$150 to $225/sf.


I would say, 20% premium compared to other golf communities with 1/10th the amenities.


There are a couple other communities within an hour.......a quick discovery day-trip.



Come experience and you decide.


I watched The Villages for 15 years prior to purchasing (was still working), moved here six years ago (sub-55) and love it.


The premium was worth it.


:coolsmiley:

Thanks for the responses. Just gathering input. I understand it is supply and demand. All the amenities, activities, etc look great, that is why we are looking there. I agree with the comment others only have 10% of the amenities. It seems the premium is built into the price of homes, and the bond payment and the amenity fee, which is a bargain. The higher home prices and bond are substantial. Once understood it becomes a choice.

I can understand why the developer is a billionaire!

We visited in 07, at the free for all buying stage, houses selling the minute they were done. Came again in 09, and bought first house in 2010, then in 12, again in 14.
Bigger garage, even bigger garage, that’s your basement. We sold house #1 in 3 days with only a email to say it was for sale, with a gain.
Even if you buy here and don’t love it, it’s easier to sell here than anywhere else we have lived.

The other thing to consider is NEW versus resale, you may get more bang for the buck on a resale as it may very well have significant upgrades. Occasionally you will find deals where you can buy a lot and build, we did this. The advantage is you get everything you want upfront, the only major upgrade we had to do was the addition of a birdcage, we were not sure what we wanted when we built.
You pay major premiums for a water or golf course view. We chose neither, but got great privacy (by accident). Look a Google Earth, and you will see the typical layout, with "kissing lanais". these work well if you and your neighbor get along, they do not work well if you do not. Corner lots, larger lots, etc., also get premiums.
IMHO, list what is important to you, and take a look a Zillow and other sites to see what might be available, keep checking, houses become availalbe all the time, there are 2 right near me, one for $519k and one for $720k, bot have pools and improvements.
While I have NO direct experience, there appears to be some differences in the Fenney area, versus the area North of 466A, and i have no opinion if this si good or bad. There is an active quarry and a federal prison south of 44, so ask questions when you are looking.
The villages has (and is currently) growing so much that 6 years ago when we built, we were is the southern end of the villages, we are now almost in the CENTER of the villages.
Search Lyle Grant on this site, he is a realtor has has a website with a lot of info, we did not use him, as we bought new through the villages.
NOTE: new homes can only be purchased directly from the villages through their agents, resales area available from both the villages and MLS, but as far as I know NOT listed by BOTH, so if you are looking for a resale, you need to check both sources.
Hope this helps.
Send me a PM with your contact info if yopu would like to discuss further.

I am still watching...looking ... and doing a lot of comparisons. Just had a major life change moment this past week (my mother passed away at the age of 97).... making the move time frame more variable (sooner?).

Meeting with my financial planner next week to go thru about 4 hours of "What If's" and updating our (me and my beautiful bride of 25 years) future planning.

For a well outfitted home (2.5+ garage, ~2500 SF, Pool, Privacy/view), looking at the range of $240-260 /SF. That would include any bond remaining - ALWAYS ASK about that.

Sorry for the loss of your Mom. We wish you Peace. :pray:

Thanks for the info!

The internet is a great source nowadays. I can sit in my recliner with my iPad and research anything! LOL.

I agree about resale. I have seen several with significant upgrades at better pricing than new. We need to experience the Lifestyle now and we will in May. Have about 3 years to go so no rush, but I like to plan ahead.

Not sure I can convince wifey to go there when for same price I can get a much nicer home with a screened in pool within an hour of Orlando. From the internet, the Lifestyle and amenities look great, plus everyone I have asked that has visitied someone there or knows someone says they love it.

PS - I lived in Allentown, PA in the early 80’s when I worked for the chemicals division of Air Products.

So much does depend on where you are coming from. My house up north is a 4 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1800 sq feet and is worth $500,000. Just bought a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1450 sq feet Villa for 215,000. For us it was a great price and exactly what we wanted. Block construction and all looks good. Just sent a list of items for them to take care of but nothing major.

Not sure what you are thinking
 

We cannot possibly answer your question. You state you are retiring in three years. The world is your oyster. You need to make a choice. Actually assuming you can stay in your home in Bossier City

The lifestyle visit is a great idea-we did it three times before buying. Retiring, is a major step. You mention your wife. Might be productive for each of you to write down what you want.
I would, we did, write it down. That way neither of you are leading the other. Might be a surprise for both of you.

Price per square foot? There is what it costs in the area. If, you are not aware you would be shocked to compare cost per square foot in Bossier City, the Villages or most places to NYC or LA.

It is what it is. You have to decide is it worth it to you and what your budget is. Moving-you likely will not see old friends, favorite, restaurants, favorite fishing spots etc etc etc.

Gary, you are absolutely right. I was born and raised on Long Island where prices and taxes are high. My career in the chemical industry took me all over mostly the Gulf Coast where house prices and taxes were much lower.

So for you it is a bargain! For me, I cant get nearly the same house I am in without paying 30-40% more. We will downsize some.

Thanks TT!

There is no right or perfect answer. I was looking for dialogue and input. You make good points.

What I am finding out by everyone’s answers is that I am on the right track with the exploring process.

Not yet Joe. You haven't been here yet. Prepare to be absolutely impressed.

Remember there could be a bond that you have to pay off that goes with the house in some parts of the village.
I think you will find a big attraction of the Villages is the Villages and that is what you pay for.

Already been covered in some detail but I add mine. My home in FL cost at least 75% more than same home here in Fayetteville, TN. The Villages sales pitch says it all; you are buying the lifestyle.

Price is concrete, quality is in the eyes of the home buyer. For some it is living space, for others it is privacy, for others it is the lifestyle surrounding the home, etc..... Quality is so subjective.

Joe, Someone posted that there are other 55 Plus communities within a short drive On Top of the World is one worth checking out. We were there today visiting a friend. They are building some beautiful homes and you get more bang for your buck there. The gotcha is the lifestyle here is much better. We looked at some places in ON Top of The World and thought WOW, sure more house for the dollar but the activities just don’t match what’s here in TV.

By the way have you ever had dinner at Ernest’s ? Good friend of mine Don Mason is an entertainer there.

JoeBoroden- you are not from Merrick are you?

No I’m from Rhode Island but Mason and I are a group of musicians who originally became friends via a musicians forum.

The world is your oyster
 

I recall a option to buy an island. I read about an island in North Carolina. The island was, if I recall ten acres, came with a herd of wild horses and a nice home.

Price was only a million. Waterfront view on all sides. We didn't even look. Hum, if you own the island do you pay taxes? Can you declare yourself king?

With the last hurricane, is it underwater? Is it now available at a sale price?

No shortage of choices.

I would never move to Florida yet, we are here and we are happy.

Yes, and you? Myself and my 3 brothers and 4 sisters.

I own a twenty year old courtyard villa near Spanish Springs and always thought the quality of construction was acceptable. I recently decided to replace the builder grade fiberglass shower stall in the bathroom off the master bedroom with a new tile shower. What I found are serious problems with framing behind the shower, as well as drain location and quality problems. Not only was the framing not 16 inches on center, there was no framing at all on two walls. Apparently the fiberglass tabs were all that were holding two sides of the shower up. And the drains are improperly placed, plus not plumb (I'd say the main drain is 10 degrees off plumb). So I suggest you look carefully that the new construction. I love The Villages, but am highly disappointed in what I've found behind the walls.

Quality and Price
 

My house in the Villages was built 16 years ago and at that time I would rate quality average, price slightly above average. As of now because of the lifestyle the Villages has to offer the price of a house is much higher than any other retirement community within 10-15 miles or so.
wfp113.

So for 20 years you've had absolutely no problem with your shower, yet you found "serious problems with framing" and the drain location?

Interesting.

My husband and I just moved to the Villages six months ago. We had a new home built east of Rt.441. It is on the original side of the villages. There is no bond on that side. We looked at used site built homes and decided we could build a brand new home for less money than buying used. We went new so we would not have to worry about replacing anything for hopefully quite a few years. As far as price per sq. foot I think it depends on where you are living. I'm from NH and I actually paid less here for more square footage, and the property taxes are a lot lower and they don't have snow LOL!! We are so happy we moved here. We love it!!!

And that's why the home prices are higher. You're not just buying a house, you're buying a lifestyle.

As so many have stated the "lifestyle" is built into the price of the homes. But what is the "lifestyle"? That means different things to different people - to some it is going to the squares to enjoy live entertainment regularly - to others it is joining one or many groups or clubs, of which there are an endless supply - to others it is a huge variety of reasonable dining option or shopping. The big draw for me, and thousands of others, is golf. You have not indicated whether golf is important to you, so I don't know if you care, but this is pretty much the Vallhalla of golf. You can play every day here, far more reasonably, and with greater variety, than anywhere else I am aware of. Can you buy a cheaper home elsewhere? Yes, without a doubt, but not with these opportunities. Also, the beauty of the community is absolutely unrivaled in any other city anywhere. When you drive inside the confines of TV you will be constantly amazed by the landscaping, buildings and homes and all the infrastructure. What I fing rather amazing is that not only has the developer built and maintained an amazingly gorgeous environment, but somehow they have managed to attract residents who consistently outdo each other in beautifying their personal landscaping. The result is driving through a stunningly breathtaking community that is hard to explain to someone who has never seen it. I know people who have opted for other retirement communities after spending time in the Villages, and even owning a home here, and are happy with the decision. Their general reasoning is they didn't really take part in many activities, and weren't "into the lifestyle". One even has said there was too much traffic, which I find hilarious. So if golf and/or an active lifestyle in a gorgeous environment with mostly happy and content seniors is enticing - this might just be the place for you - it works for me.

JoeBoroden- are you Carolyn's brother? I went to Cure of Ars with her. Moved to TV in May 2017. Love it here.

Again, thanks to everyone for your incites. I am a newbie checking out The Villages. In fact it took me awhile to figure out why everyone was talking about their TV’s! LOL

For the most part, I think we need to be more in the $400K region to get what we are used to and decide if we can pay that much or go more in the $250 to 300k range. Or move elsewhere. My wife is not as interested in the lifestyle but she hasnt tried it yet. I think I would enjoy it and I think she will too once she tries it. Either that or buy a house outside TV with a nice pool in the backyard.

Thanks for your input that you probably all have answered 1000 times from newbies like me.

Ahh yes, Cure of Ars! I am the oldest and one year older than Carolyn. Then there is John, Paul, Dorothy, Mary, Michael, Teresa.

You can check Carolyn’s website www.fibinacciqueen.com or something close to that. She is on Jim Cramer’s show on MSNBC regularly as a stock charting technician. She wrote a book, does seminars, has an online advisory service, etc. I simply run an oil refinery. LOL

Good luck

It's a difficult thing to get used to. If you;re looking for something larger than 2100 sq ft, or more than a 3/2, the pickings are slim until you get in the premier category.. and that will cost you substantially more than the 400's. You may get lucky and find a "stretched" designer that has bigger rooms or a bigger lanai, but most homes in the 400s and early 500s will be designers with a "premium" lot. Frankly, with the exception of some "gingerbread", I haven't found the finishings of premier homes to be that much better than late model designers. You will probably have a much nicer lanai area, possibly a pool/ spa there (if you consider that a plus), and some crown molding. We would prefer something in the 2800-3500 sf size, but the price / sf in that platform is significantly more than the already pricey designers. And, if you;re truly looking for a gourmet kitchen with high end appliances .. best of luck. And remember, gas is limited to non existent in most of the Villages. These arent complaints, just facts. If it weren;t for the amenities, we would not have made the purchase. It's a pretty binary decision. We sampled the Villages and like the lifestyles and amenities. The home prices are at least $ 50-60 /ft more than Atlanta and many Southeast cities.. but cheaper than many in Northeast. The amenity costs are a bargain, whether you golf or not. My pool cost alone in Atlanta is more than twice the amenity fee. So you make the tradeoffs and decided whether its worthwhile.

In all honesty, the majority of people who chose to live here downsized in order to do so, most of them happy to divest. If having a spacious, well appointed house is an important consideration, you will need to pay a premium price.

If you go to Realtor.com and put in filters there are lots of homes for sale under $400K over 2100 square feet. Most stretched designers fall into that category. There are most likely even more choices if you look at homes sold by the villages, but I don’t know how to search by size there.

I admit you usually can’t find a premier in that price ranges, but then again the smallest unstretched premiers are around 2600 sq ft. The larger ones are 3800 sq ft before they start stretching and customizing them. I’ve been in a few well over 4000, but those are very pricey.

We moved in a little under 2 months ago in DeSoto. We looked at numerous retirement places all over the state and kept coming back to The Villages. There is truly nothing like it in the places we explored. We decided to build because we fell in love with the lot which has a great view from the front. Otherwise we probably would have waited and bought a spec home when the prices reduced or a preowned. 4 days will not be enough to get a true feel for the place and you may come back several times over the next few years. Come back at different times of the year to get a feel for the community. One thing that always amazed us is how much the place grew in the time we were gone. Good luck on your journey.

“You are not buying a house, you are buying a Lifestyle.”

Before we decided to move to The Villages from up north, we rented for an entire month in The Villages in the month of May. We picked May because rentals were much less than in the winter months and were much easier to find; we also knew if the heat of May was too much, summer would be worse. We had lived in Georgia and Alabama during military assignments, so we had experienced southern summers. We rented for a month rather than do the "Lifestyle Visit" because we wanted time to explore, time to go to open houses and observe various floorpans, time to acquire all the information we needed to make a well informed decision, time to learn about the requirements of the financial aspects of buying such as time to closing, amount of down payment, mortgages, etc. We wanted to learn everything positive and anything that might be a negative deal breaker. We planned to downsize from our northern home, but still wanted the square footage of a designer (1900 to 2000 sq ft) with two bedrooms and a den or three bedrooms, two baths, a golf cart garage, a Roman shower, an extended lanai, and a slightly extended garage. Our planned budget did not allow a premium lot nor did we want one.

We are very satisfied with our choice of location, lot size, home design, and the multitude of activities we "could" choose to participate in. We do not run ourselves ragged with activities and actually have more time to ourselves than time obligated to "doing something". I now need to go get ready to go to a concert. Good luck on experiencing The Villages and hope you gather the right information to make a decision that will make you both happy.