Lots of questions about choosing our lot
 

Hello Everyone,

I'm very excited to hopefully be making our 2nd visit to TV in Dec. If we can find a lot that we love, we're ready to buy it. I have so many questions about lot location...

1)I love a sunny house...but I realize that the Florida sun is far more intense than the sun I'm used to up north. Any suggestions for chosing a lot would be most appreciated.

2) Is the house placement on a lot predetermined...or do you have any option as to where it's placed? For example - if you buy a wider than average corner lot, are you able to have the house built so that it's centered on the lot, rather than off to one side? (We've seen many corner homes that have a large side piece of land ...but we'd prefer for the house to be centered.)

3) Does anyone have any info as to where the next Village will be located and when lots in it might open up for sale? (We figure it will be in the Brownwood vacinity... but has anyone heard exactly where?)

4) Are there any concerns about buying adjacent to the designated "prairie area" (a lot more bugs? wildlife? marshland? wild fires?) ...or am I totally over thinking this?

Thanks so much for any info!!!

We prefer the Back of the house to face east in the morning that allows you to use the lanai in the afternoon without being baked. We bought a corner lot just in case we wanted to add on. 2 years later and sure enough, swimming pool.

I would stay as far north as possible giving you access to more of The Villages Square areas. You may not want to be so close to Brownwood that the others squares are so far away. They are building all over the area south of 466A.

Not sure about location and bugs as we are central in DUVAL and do not have an issue with bugs or critters. You do need to be screened in here in Florida be it a screened lanai or Bird Cage.

Great question about lot and house placement, I would check with sales on that.

There are setbacks on each side of each lot but if the house is smaller than the setback footprint you can move it around. Helps when trying to move the house away from a utility box so it isn't right outside the door. Your sales rep can show you the lot lines and setback on any property you choose. The area just north of section 209 will probably be the next to open for designer homes as that is where they are building the new model homes.

My guess is one or more of these will open all the deed approvals are in place 212, 210, 211, 224 & 225.
That being said there R about 500 lots open now, they reserve a few every day and sometime around the latter part of November the new design center will open and more sites should open.

The base lot is 60x90, on that lot or as already said there will be a designated area to build on a larger lot you have more play in location but some of those can cost upwards of $150K. But there R many at a few thousand more that offer different attributes.

If you want a view lot you should line up a rep now to get a early pick they go first and fast on a golf course or preserve.

As far as solar orientation, I study that a bit and to get get early heat & light along with afternoon warmth in the winter a lanai facing south is perfect. (do a search on solar here 4 more info). When we selected our lot I had first pick in new section ours is just slightly east of south to block just some of the west sun in late afternoon.

But if you intend to be here year round look for a lanai where the west side has structure to block some of the west sun. Having the garage facing north will keep it cooler as well.

I tend to agree with most of the above. My lanai (I am currently building) will face ESE so that I will have morning and early afternoon sun on the lanai and thru the sliders, blocking direct sun in the late afternoon. However, the builder does have final say regarding the placement on the lot. I had wanted a left hand driveway as I just prefer that orientation. But the builder determined I had to have a right side drive, so there I had no choice. Should you wish to make any changes to your home as far as bumps or stretches, the builder also has the final placement determination. It is a fine tuned machine! I did ask to have a bit more southern exposure and they did as much as they could within the parameters of the lot line. If you keep checking the link I will provide, you can see the new neighborhoods open up. And the current lots available in green.But as Jimbo stated above, should you want a golf course or view lot, you should likely secure an agent sooner rather than later! All the new lots are south of 466A so if you are building that is where you will find your placement.
The Villages Vmail - September 2012 - Build Your Dream Home
Good hunting and welcome!

Cannot stress enough what the others have said about solar orientation. ESE location of the lanai is ideal. A large open roof area (not the house front) facing South if you think you want a pool now or in the future. That roof area will be perfect for solar heating panels.

As far as locating next to a wide open area, it's not the bugs and critters you have to be concerned about. It's The Developer. Find out, if at all possible, what'd going to be built there - a wall? the back side of a shopping center? A number a Villagers have been disappointed by what ended up being built on an edge of their property.

Good luck!!!

A small word of caution, from this long-time resident:

Please don't over-think the situation!

I definitely agree that a west-facing lanai is not comfortable here, no matter the season. But, folks find ways around being baked, there!

Most lots are designed to accommodate the category of homes in the immediate vicinity. Thus, an area designed for Designers will, for the most part, have lots suitable to accommodate any Designer model, BUT with little flexibility as to how your home is oriented.

My bottom line is that you'll find the lifestyle so attractive and engrossing that you won't really care all that much about your pad, because it'll become only a place to crash for the night! :a040:

SWR
:beer3:

Where you can place the home on a large lot can also be limited by easements. Corner lots often have easements. You are not allowed to place any permanent structure inside the easement lines.

However U can put concrete patios into that space 2.5' if it helps, for example if you have a rear setback of 10' you can pave to 7.5', if you have a tight lot that may help.

bump

WHAT A GREAT POST. Steve you are one of my favorite people!!

Thank you to everyone - for sharing your wonderful insight! It's so greatly appreciated!:wave:

Think about water run off from the rain.