What makes The Villages homes worth 150K more?
 

Edited: Like the title says. I wonder what makes the relatively same house across an imaginary line worth 50-150K more (depends on inner lot vs woods/lake lot). If you do a side by side comparison of homes in The Villages to comparable homes just across the street in Middleton, there seems to be a substantial price difference. Is it the amenities? The perceived status?

Whatever it is, I'm crossing my fingers "it" drags up the Middleton home prices with it.

The amenities made a difference for us.

Can you provide the two addresses you’re comparing?

Willing and able buyers, just like out in the case of houses across the street from one another but in different school districts, one top notch, the other middling.

I'll see if I can't scratch some up. It mostly appears to be lake lots. Maybe it will be comparable when all the Middleton lake lots are bought up. Inner neighborhood street homes seem to be relatively similar. I think that's what I'm noticing.

It’s only the price you give them, just saying.

When we were searching for a home, we too noticed Middleton prices are cheaper than the Villages. Same models as those in the Villages but $10 to $50 k less. I asked our VLS agent for an explanation. I didn't get much of a response.
Ask your VLS agent. Maybe you will receive a knowledgeable response. (We bought a preowned and never followed up.)

In 2015 we built a Liberty (Premier) model in TV. In Oxford Oaks (family neighborhood) there was a Liberty under construction. The base house price was 100 lower than our build.

You are buying a lifestyle!

Friends bought in Middleton, because TV amenities weren’t anything they were interested in. (Clubs, executive golf, Recreation centers). They can acquire an Enhanced Membership, if they choose. The Maintenance fees were much higher than expected. But same house elsewhere would have been $80,000 more.

After 2 years very happy to be in a mixed neighborhood instead of “only old people” neighborhood. They love the neighborhood, the area, and yes the sound from the sports fields, and laughter from kids. Which is far less during busy school schedules, compared to summers.

Their thoughts some Old people really don’t tolerate young children, of their own family, they definitely won’t enjoy an active family neighborhood.

Worth or Charged For
 

I see it as what the market will bear.

It’s simply the market.

Real Estate in The Villages, in many ways, is different than any place we have lived and we have lived and purchased several houses in Florida and different states. The very same model of house on a golf course lot, water lot or view lot may sell 50% to 100% more than the same model house sitting on an interior lot. I’ve seen this happen over and over in The Villages the last several years. We have been on both sides of these type of real estate transactions.

Because of the “amenities” the same model house in The Villages may be more expensive than one just outside of The Villages like in Middleton or another subdivision close to The Villages. As always, any house only sells for what somebody is willing to pay for it. Markets change and recently it has moved a bit toward a buyers real estate market.

That's a lot of money (to me at least) for "the lifestyle". Especially when you have monthly fees on top of it. To each their own I guess.

On the flip side it makes my house in Middleton more desirable and raises it's value (to a point) as well. Especially once The Villages expands and surrounds Middleton and Middleton is fully developed.

Yes, it seems we have a lot of Ex-Villagers living in Middleton. A fair number of my immediate neighbors are from The Villages.

The market saturated with new and resale housing right now it should be buyer market? especially on resales due to time being on the market. IMO those days of selling majority resale and slowed new houses in villages in month or two turned into 8 plus months. Some even more.

Well good for them…