Historic Side Questions
 

I have been perusing TV web site for homes on the historic side and questions come to my mind.

1. Are the lots a lot bigger than a patio villa type home and does it cost more in landscaping fees if one were to hire a service?

2. Some have a metal roof. Is this a better option or will it cost more in utility bills to cool one's home? What are the pro's and cons?

3. Does one have to be concerned with being able to get wind/hurricane/sinkhole insurance?

Any thoughts will be appreciated,

Historic side
 

Insurance depends on the age of the home. Some companies won't insure if older than 1986-87. Check with The Villages Insurances Offices or AAA.

Utilities vary on construction, insulation, roof overs. I had a roof over of metal when I lived over there. Utilities were approximately $225. including amenities.

Lawn service is approximately $40-50. a month depending on company.

Some of the lots are bigger than villas.

Thanks for the info.

"Lawn service is approximately $40-50. a month depending on company."

Plus - Cinch bug treatments, other pest treatments, fertilizer, aeration, weed treatments, trees, bushes, and plant care, etc, etc. Best make that about $100 or so per month.

"Utilities were approximately $225. including amenities"
Amenities are about $135/mo which leaves $90 for utilities - can be done IF you are a snowbird and it's a warm winter.

I believe most of the lots are much larger than patio villa lots.


(the above comments are my opinion ONLY and not necessarily factual)

.

I was told by a sales person that the homes in te Villages built in that county (Lake ?) are under a different form of government and that they do not have to follow the covenants the rest of the Villages follows. Anybody else hear this ? Kind of explains why you see a new 2000+ sq ft home built next to a manufactured home in the historic section. Was also told by some others that there is quite a termite problem over there as well. Is that true ?

we live in tin cans [manufactured homes] - why would there be termite problems?

The covenents are less restrictive on the historic side, If there is a termite problem it is probably more related to age of the homes or poor maintenance but I've only heard of a couple cases and both were due to poor maintenance. The metal roofs last much longer than shingles but I know of many people who have had to repair/replace the metal roofs after 20 plus years. Many of the manufactured homes are 20 or more years old with some nearer 40.

I'm looking on the historic side too
 

I was thinking that I'd need about $225.00 per month without the amenity fee for utilities and have always wondered about the metal roof as well. It sounds like they hold up well but I wonder about insulation. Being from the north, if you don't insulate properly all your heat/AC goes through the roof.

I also am curious about hurricane tie-downs. Do sellers have to update to current code before they put their home on the market? I would think that would satisfy insurers. I have heard that banks won't mortgage a manufactured home built before 1976 which makes a lot of sense but I would think insurance companies would want to see homes hurricane-protected.

Any insight from historic home-owners will be appreciated.

We have covenants and deed restrictions on the historic side. We are governed by the town of Lady Lake for everything except the amenities fees. We are governed by the Amenity Authority Committe like everyone else in TV in regards to our amenity fees.

There are termites in Florida. I don't know of any problems or why the historic side would be any more prone to termites than any place else in Florida.

How 'bout "candominimum"? :)

If the manufactured home is wood framed (beneath the skin and roof), it would still be subject to termites, wouldn't it?

Bill :)

"candominimum" - cute! ;)

dunno about the wood framing - was told i live in a tin can so we don't need termite protection! got it anyway - came with the hole "bug" prevention thing.

Termites can't get over the golf cart bridge to the historic side.

The original Declaration of Restrictions for Orange Blossom Hills is posted in the Nuts and Bolts section of this forum.

Here’s a link to it.

oh, that's the best! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[swimdawg - where are ya? deserves quote of the day!]