New lot availability in Sumter?
 

Taking a look at the property tax rates in Lake County it looks like it makes more sense to wait until new lots are available in Sumter County to build my new Villages Home. I'm not is a rush as I currently live in Chitty Chatty. In speaking to a Villages agent they continue to try to steer me back to what's available now in Lake Denham/Dabney areas (Lake County). For those that have been here for some time and watched the Villages grow I'm wondering your thoughts on which areas we will see new lots in Sumter County first, around the new Shallow Creek golf course or south of Monarch Grove near the new square at Eastport? Also, 2023 or 2024?

The following Gold Wingnut link may be helpful.



Villages Maps

Be sure to consider Wildwood taxes when making the comparison. I don't know if you pay them in Chitty Chatty but you must likely will in any new Sumter location.

It makes great sense for a retiree to know what their tax future holds. Sumter is much lower than Lake or Marion. In fact, taxes were cut last year in Sumter county.

Plenty of nice resales available in Sumter Co.

When you add on the Wildwood taxes the difference is minimal when comparing apples with apples.

Won’t those new lots in Lake County be paying tax to the City of Leesburg? That balances out the tax City of Wildwood collects.

Lake County's assessment is LESS than Sumter....5.0364 vs 5.59
Leesburg's assessment is HIGHER than Wildwood...4.0192 vs 3.000
Lake County's school assessment is HIGHER than Sumter...6.248 vs 4.584
Lake County's water district assessments are HIGHER than Sumter 0.5057 vs 0.226

In my opinion, property tax is not a valid reason to decide on where to live in The Villages.

You are very fortunate that you don't have to be concerned about an extra $1000 or $2000 per year, every year. Good for you.

Perhaps other people are in a different situation.

I believe that property tax is one of several considerations when selecting a home.

Taxes matter. Government needs to work efficiently. Far too easy and lazy for them to raise taxes. It’s why I fled up north

I agree with you 100% but not referring to @RETIREDGUY123's post specifically and "knowing" him (only) from here on TOTV I doubt it was meant as a generalization applicable to everyone but a lot of that does goes on around here. Especially from the "if you don't like it, move" crowd when someone complains that restaurants are too expensive.

I think people simply assume we are all in the same situation. There are posters here who in virtually every post make sure they mention they have 3 homes here. :D There definitely is a lot of money around here but sadly it's not equally allocated! :D :D

I know for US it absolutely mattered when we bought here. When we bought our 1st home 55 years ago in NJ we had to pass up on 2 homes because the taxes were so much higher even though the home cost was much lower. Here it all depended on exactly what we got for our NJ home when we sold it. I'd love to have lived in South FL in civilization but simply couldn't afford it and couldn't afford to stay in NJ after my wife retired with the NJ taxes well over $10,000/yr vs $3000 (inc bond) here. Some of us live month to month and some can afford 3 homes. Sure wish I was in the latter group. :D

You only know what the current tax rate is, not what it will be 5 or 10 years later.

. Yea, for sure, but if the initial rate is costing you $10K a year you might not be able to afford the house. If the initial rate is $2K a year you might say to your self: "Self, if it doubles in 10 years and everything else remains the same will I still be able afford to live there?" So the INITIAL taxes can easily price one out of buying a specific home. Same as having a paid off bond vs not. Or needing a new roof or not. For many folks it does not matter, but for many it does. Some of us got it and some of us just don't! :D

You couldn't afford the taxes 55 years ago and you can't afford them now 55 years later. What does that tell you?