[wlasowicz]

Hi I have owned a villa for over 5 year now. So for the most part I have a general idea what the monthly amenity fee pays for. My wife and I will be looking at new home to buy possibility in the future in Fl. There's no guarantee it will be in the villages. Its not cheap to live in the villages even though they provide a lot . My wife doesn't play golf and I do very occasionally. She feels the monthly amenity goes a lot toward golfing . So I was curious if the CDD a general percent breakdown of the monthly amenity fee of how much goes to support golf, how much to the pools , rec. centers, community watch, etc.
Thanks

[Garywt]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Hi I have owned a villa for over 5 year now. So for the most part I have a general idea what the monthly amenity fee pays for. My wife and I will be looking at new home to buy possibility in the future in Fl. There's no guarantee it will be in the villages. Its not cheap to live in the villages even though they provide a lot . My wife doesn't play golf and I do very occasionally. She feels the monthly amenity goes a lot toward golfing . So I was curious if the CDD a general percent breakdown of the monthly amenity fee of how much goes to support golf, how much to the pools , rec. centers, community watch, etc.
Thanks

I am sure there is a budget somewhere, no sure if it is online. We do not golf either but the fee is not bad and covers the pools and everything you mentioned. Some say it goes to a lot of the landscaping flowers etc but not sure. Sorry it is not working out for you.

[bandsdavis]

I don't know that there is an accurate breakdown anywhere. I suppose if you dig into the details of the district gov budget, and allocate parts of the income toward specific expenditures, you could come up with some ratio that would probably be inaccurate by some margin. But I do know that the only golf for which the amenity fees used are the executive courses. The championship courses (aka country clubs) are owned and operated by the developer and receive no support from amenity fees. Another major use of the fees is for the staffing, support, and maintenance of the recreation centers and Recreation Dept, which enable the existence of the thousands of clubs and organizations in The Villages. So even if you don't golf on the Execs, if you take advantage of any clubs, I believe you are getting your money's worth, in my opinion. I'm sure there are other things the amenity fees are used for (Community watch?) and perhaps others can clarify that point.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Hi I have owned a villa for over 5 year now. So for the most part I have a general idea what the monthly amenity fee pays for. My wife and I will be looking at new home to buy possibility in the future in Fl. There's no guarantee it will be in the villages. Its not cheap to live in the villages even though they provide a lot . My wife doesn't play golf and I do very occasionally. She feels the monthly amenity goes a lot toward golfing . So I was curious if the CDD a general percent breakdown of the monthly amenity fee of how much goes to support golf, how much to the pools , rec. centers, community watch, etc.
Thanks

It costs $159 a month for our amenity fee. We don't have any HOA fee at all. Compare with the nearest trailer park, where you own your house, you pay rent on the land, PLUS you pay an HOA of at least $200/month, and they have a single pool, no golf course at all, and you can't take a golf cart to get anywhere other than around the neighborhood.

If $159 a month is "not cheap" then you definitely can't afford to live in the Villages. Our utility bills are low, our taxes are low (compared with other states), if you choose to work there's no state income tax at all.

What's not cheap? Dining out every night, and the costs of alcoholic drinks at the bars. Shopping only at Publix and Fresh Market, and never at Winn Dixie or Aldi or Sam's or Walmart.

Oh and the price of milk everywhere -except- Aldi's and Walmart. I mean - what in the Sam Hill is up with that anyway? Are cows a rare commodity down here or something? Almost $3 for a half gallon of just normal ordinary store-brand 1% - but I can get it for $1.49 at Walmart, that's their regular price.

Anyway - it's not "cheap" but it is affordable to pretty much anyone who has a pension, or a 401k, or Social Security. You can buy a beautiful 1100-square-foot manufactured home in the Historic section for around $115k, and for another $30k you can update and make repairs, and enjoy retirement. And yes that would be a pre-owned home. But if you check every day and call a few realtors, you can probably find a clunker forclosure for under $70k, raze it to the ground, and build a small, but new home for another $120k.

[tophcfa]

I suspect anyone would be very hard pressed to find a retirement community anyplace in the world where one gets more for the very reasonable amenity fees charged in the Villages.

[Two Bills]

For all the things that are available, The Villages is as cheap as chips (Aldis not Publix!)

[Catalina36]

Pools, Golf Courses, Clubs, Beautiful Landscape, etc. etc. etc.

I Pay 162.00 per month, look around. Most Condo Communities collect $300 to $500 per month. You get a pool and some grass cut.

TV is a bargain if you are using some club activities.
Up north, my wife pays $80 to $90 a month for YOGA. In TV if you are a owner you pay Zero dollars for a 1 day a week Intermediate YOGA Class. In addition there are other YOGA classes available during the week for ZERO DOLLARS. A bargain. Look at the walking trails and the outdoor exercise equipment at the REC centers. A bargain.

[Dilligas]

The breakdown of TV amenity fees is not your answer…….you have to compare TV amenity fees (& amenities) to those other places ( include HOA & utilities). There is no place where you can pay fees for only what you’ll use.

[Maineguides]

I see everyone talking about a monthly amenity feeand that there’s no hoa fee. Where does the “bond” figure in

[Goldwingnut]

Here's information on the Amenity Fee

The Amenity Fee (part 1) and The Villages 7-26-2020 Construction Update - YouTube
The Amenity Fee (part 2) and The Villages 8/17/20 Construction Update - YouTube

Your wife's perception about golf's budget cost is very common, but wrong. Golf accounts for about 3% of the total expenditures of the combined amenity districts budgets.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Maineguides

I see everyone talking about a monthly amenity feeand that there’s no hoa fee. Where does the “bond” figure in

Bonds are explained in this video

Bond Information and The Villages 5-30-19 Construction update - YouTube

[Goldwingnut]

While we're at it, here's the video about the Maintenance Assessment since that will probably be asked about next

Maintenance Assessment and The Villages 6-19-19 Construction Update - YouTube

[NoMo50]

As always, Don (GoldWingNut) does an excellent job of explaining things in his videos. And yes...for all you receive in return, the amenity fee is a bargain.

[kidnerkim]

I think you will find the amenity fee is less than HOA fees in many other communities

[Yvetteperry]

I am always amazed at how much you know and how clearly you explain things. Thank you