[mgm4444]

I took the Lifestyle visit in October and like everyone else, I'm hooked ! - I can't wait to come back.

For my 2nd visit, I can only stay a long weekend, maybe 5 days. I see, from TOTV, alot of people come back time and time again. Where do most people stay if they're not coming for a month at a time? The hotel near LSL? Does the hotel rent golfcarts? Since I can't do the LSV again, can I get passes for the rec center, pools, katie belle's, etc? I'm not ready to buy yet, but I do like to go house hunting to get a feel of the neighborhoods. Are there many Open Houses on weekends? One more very important question I don't see alot about on TOTV. Jobs. I would be looking for a full-time position (possibly data analyst or exec. secy position). For the full-time professionals, where do you work? I know the jobless rate in Florida and I know it's pretty terrible - however I'm sure a good amount of people are employed full-time, as well. Is Ocala the "big city" there? Do you know many people who telecommute?

Thanks in advance ...comin' to a Village near you SOON!

Mary

[Army Guy]

On followup visits both before we bought and while making changes to our CYV after we bought, we stayed at "The Waterfront", found it very reasonable and very nice. Also you can't beat the location for ease. As far as Golf Cart, you can rent from Village Golf Cart right across the parking lot from the Waterfront.
We actually arranged to spend time with the Rep we had on our first visit and she took us around again, plus used all the Open Houses in, "The Daily Sun". There are as many if not more open houses on the weekends as the weekdays.
No, you can't get a Visitor ID when not doing LSV, but it never was a problem as there are SO many other places to go in TV. We just used the gym in The Waterfront.
As far as work, I do not know, but I would suggest google jobs in the Lady Lake, Wildwood, Leesburg areas. Even Ocala is not really that far.

Army Guy

[mulligan]

You are able to do a second (and maybe even a third) LSV. If it is really necessary to work in Florida, you are in for a rude awakening with regard to wages( about half what you are used to in NY).

[Kelsie52]

You can Stay for a second --I am coming for my third --call your salesperson

They will give you the same accomodations with the golf cart but you will only get discounts on restaurants and services not the amount you received on the first one , They give you the Free movie and golf olf

Good luck

[Army Guy]

But remember......and most forget this, wages are less in the South in general because the cost of living is also less. It is all relative.
Let's just look at property taxes and electric. Our house we are selling is 1500 sqft, two car garage, 3 bedroom, two full bath on almost 2 acres of land. It is also ALL electric, no other ulitity. Taxes $380 per year, electric $120 a month (year round, both heat & cool). Ok, lets throw in car insurance also. 2 fairly new cars and a Harley $500 a year total.
Need I say more?????

Army Guy

[sschuler1]

....and there is no state income tax! That was a nice little bonus in our pension check when the Michigan state income tax stopped coming out.

[Army Guy]

sschuler1, AMEN to that!!!!

Army Guy

[Rag Bagger]

If you are not on retrement income do your homework. Job salaries here are as low as it gets. A high paying job in TV is $12.00/hr. You will probably have to drive a considerable distance to do better if at all. My neighbor has to drive nearly to Samford.
Another thing to check out is health insurance. You sound like you may be under 65 and not eligible for medicare. If you have your own major medical coverage youu may find it impossible to get Florida coverage. The insurance companies are not required to accept everyone and they will refuse coverage on anybody with nearly any pre-existing condition. It was something we missed when we bought here. Luckily for us we maintain a residence in our old home state just becasue of that issue.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by mgm4444

I took the Lifestyle visit in October and like everyone else, I'm hooked ! - I can't wait to come back.

For my 2nd visit, I can only stay a long weekend, maybe 5 days. I see, from TOTV, alot of people come back time and time again. Where do most people stay if they're not coming for a month at a time? The hotel near LSL? Does the hotel rent golfcarts? Since I can't do the LSV again, can I get passes for the rec center, pools, katie belle's, etc? I'm not ready to buy yet, but I do like to go house hunting to get a feel of the neighborhoods. Are there many Open Houses on weekends? One more very important question I don't see alot about on TOTV. Jobs. I would be looking for a full-time position (possibly data analyst or exec. secy position). For the full-time professionals, where do you work? I know the jobless rate in Florida and I know it's pretty terrible - however I'm sure a good amount of people are employed full-time, as well. Is Ocala the "big city" there? Do you know many people who telecommute?

Thanks in advance ...comin' to a Village near you SOON!

Mary

Mary,

Orlando is the "big city".

Even if you don't get passes there is plenty to see and do and friendly people to meet and there are open houses every day...not more on the weekend, because every day is a weekend here and that in itself might make you think again about coming here until you retire.

My husband is still working and he is stuck at his computer while all around him people are playing. Not as much fun to work while most people are retired, but you will find a place and time here in Paradise.

Welcome! Either sooner or later.

[Ohiogirl]

It may be much cheaper in rural Alabama, but not everything in Florida is cheaper than other areas of the country. Coming from Ohio (Columbus, a relatively large city), we are finding car insurance to be significantly higher. I priced similar (can't do apples to apples as Florida is a PIP state and Ohio is a med pay state) coverage with the same (current) insurance company and it will be slightly more expensive to cover 1 car in Florida that it costs to cover both our cars in Ohio, plus it costs more to register a car every year, plus the initial title transfer and registration is quite a bit higher. Plus there's golf cart insurance.

I do agree that overall it's cheaper to live in The Villages than in Columbus, Ohio, just be sure to do your homework to preclude any unwelcome surprises if you are on a strict budget.

Taxes are specific and relative to the area you're coming from - I have lived in many, many states, where I owned homes, including a couple in the south (Tennessee and Texas) and $500 yearly taxes, even 20 years ago, were unheard of for a typical 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in most nice neighborhoods. There are some exceptions in rural areas, but don't expect everything to be cheaper. I would not automatically assume that real estate taxes are cheaper in The Villages, especially when you add the maintenance bond. Probably cheaper than most northern areas, but probably not all.

In Texas and Tennessee, it seemed to me that the no state income tax savings was made up in other taxes - including higher real estate taxes. Tennessee, as I recall, also taxed groceries at about 6.5% if I'm remembering correctly.

If you end up commuting to Orlando (a fairly long commute), depending on your work location, you could also end up paying significant toll road fees. My daughter and her husband, to live conveniently between both their work places, paid about $3,000 in toll road fees last year. Just to visit her will cost me about $6-8 each way if I go the fastest way (Florida turnpike to Beeline via another toll road, I think).

Before buying in The Villages, if you expect to work full-time somewhere, I'd pin down the job (maybe rent for a while in The Villages) and buy according to where your job is. From the southernmost Villages, it's probably about 20-30 minutes further to Ocala than from the northernmost villages (like Calumet Grove) and similary, if you are working east of The Villages, you probably wouldn't want to be in a western Village. Takes time to get out of the Bubble.

[Niels]

I agree with Ohiogirl. Everyone talks about things being much cheaper in Florida that in Northern states. Well, my experience has been that many things are not cheaper. In fact, I am estimating that expenses will probably be about equal to Albany but even that may be optimistic.

I came from Albany, New York. New York is known as a high tax, high cost of living state. Well, I just got my auto insurance bill and it's only slightly less than what I paid in New York (although like Ohiogirl said apples to apples comparison is difficult due to slightly different insurance requirements). House insurance is more than I paid in New York even after my wind insurance discount. With the maintenance fees, my taxes are estimated to be almost as much as I was paying in New York. If you include my bond assessment itself, I'll be paying much more than in New York. Even lawn care is more expensive than what I paid in Albany. And then there's the pesticide expense. Unless you want to do it yourself, this can be a significant expense.

So what is less? Yes, electric rates may be less but in Albany I used gas for heating and hot water which was very economical. And my gas furnace needed less maintenance than my heat pump probably will.

And then we get to getting a Florida car title and registering my car. Are you sitting down for this one? $483.55. That's several times what I ever paid in Albany. That does include about $90+ dollars in title fees and $225 which is charged as a one time fee if you have never registered a car in Florida before.

Yes, your wages will be much less but you may not see a big difference in cost of living.

[bluedog103]

Niels, everything you say is correct.
I'm from downstate NY, Orange County to be exact.
I haven't found any bargains in Florida yet, with the exception of the state income tax.
Food is the same or more, property taxes, if all is included are higher than NY, one of the most expensive states in the union. Restaurant meals are sometimes the same but often more expensive. Even housing costs are probably less in NY due to the collapse of the housing market. Automoble registration is insane in Florida and auto insurance is only a few bucks less in FL.
The two things TV has going for it are a better climate and a fantastic lifestyle. Don't move to TV expecting to save money. Unless you're coming from a severely depressed area, it ain't gonna happen.
I'd also advise that you try for another Lifestyle Visit. We had two LS visits and have heard of others being there for 3 visits. That's probably the most economical way of spending time in TV.
The Waterfront Inn is probably one of the most expensive hotels in TV. It's a nice place with a great location, but it is pricey. The Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn and Hampton are all considerably less expensive than the Waterfront.
Take your time, enjoy your time in TV but come in with your eyes wide open. This is not an inexpensive area by any means.

[kit9240]

I have been on two Lifestyle previews and will be back in May for a week. I have found that renting a house from an owner is definitely the better way to go. You can find rentals on Villages4rent (advertised on this site). Off season rates are fantastic and much less than what you would pay on a Lifestyle preview. Most rentals include a golf cart. Not all owners will rent for short periods, but many do. If you want to look at houses, pick up the Village Sun each morning and go to the Open Houses. Also, the owner can get guest passes for you which you will need for pools, rec centers, Katie Bell's, etc. Going off-season gives you a good opportunity to experience The Villages without all the crowds! Go and have a wonderful time and remember, moving to The Villages will bring such joy and happiness and probably extend your life, and it will all balance out and be worth it in the end!!! (Don't sweat the small stuff....it's all small stuff)!! That's my philosophy and I'm stickin with it!!!!

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

Niels, everything you say is correct.
I'm from downstate NY, Orange County to be exact.
I haven't found any bargains in Florida yet, with the exception of the state income tax.
Food is the same or more, property taxes, if all is included are higher than NY, one of the most expensive states in the union. Restaurant meals are sometimes the same but often more expensive. Even housing costs are probably less in NY due to the collapse of the housing market. Automoble registration is insane in Florida and auto insurance is only a few bucks less in FL.
The two things TV has going for it are a better climate and a fantastic lifestyle. Don't move to TV expecting to save money. Unless you're coming from a severely depressed area, it ain't gonna happen.
I'd also advise that you try for another Lifestyle Visit. We had two LS visits and have heard of others being there for 3 visits. That's probably the most economical way of spending time in TV.
The Waterfront Inn is probably one of the most expensive hotels in TV. It's a nice place with a great location, but it is pricey. The Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn and Hampton are all considerably less expensive than the Waterfront.
Take your time, enjoy your time in TV but come in with your eyes wide open. This is not an inexpensive area by any means.

Just curious because I live in Rockland County just south of Orange, what are your real estate taxes compared with your home in TV. Mine in Rockland is about over $700/month or about $8,500 a year, about twice that of what I pay in TV.

[ssmith]

Check out the websight villages 4 rent and or we posted that we needed a rental on TOTV and rented a really nice place for a week. There are private placed to rent a golf cart from...do a search on TOTV. Just a couple more ideas for you.