[Djean1981]

I saw an article comment on the villages news site. Someone claimed that they filed a non-sale quit claim on their house from one spouse to another every year to avoid the amenities fee increase. Do you think it's legit? I can't see how it would be legal. See attached screenshot.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

First off, NOBODY IS PAYING $400/MONTH for the Amenity Fee, it is mathematically impossible.

The reference to $400 was paying $400 more a year or $33.33 a month.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Djean1981

I saw an article comment on the villages news site. Someone claimed that they filed a non-sale quit claim on their house from one spouse to another every year to avoid the amenities fee increase. Do you think it's legit? I can't see how it would be legal. See attached screenshot.

IF, and it's a big IF that is true, it only goes to prove the lengths some people will go to game the system. Plus, when they pay less, we all pay more. What's worse, they appear to be proud of it.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

First off, NOBODY IS PAYING $400/MONTH for the Amenity Fee, it is mathematically impossible.

Pretty sure they meant $400/YEAR (an extra $30+/month)...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Thank you, Don for setting the record straight (once again).

My former business partner lives in a condo in Venice overlooking the gulf. He's on the 7th floor of 2 14 floor towers. The "amenities" consist of 1 swimming pool, 2 tennis courts, and a gym the size of my living room. For that, he pays an HOA/amenity fee of $750/month. So IMHO, all those that complain about the difference between $173 and $179 or even $190 should STOP WHINING.

Does that also include HVAC/utilities/insurance/groundskeeping/security to the common areas, and several other things I'm sure I'm forgetting?

[Djean1981]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

IF, and it's a big IF that is true, it only goes to prove the lengths some people will go to game the system. Plus, when they pay less, we all pay more. What's worse, they appear to be proud of it.

That's my concern. If this is a loophole, how many others are doing it and making it so others pay more to cover the lost revenue...

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Djean1981

That's my concern. If this is a loophole, how many others are doing it and making it so others pay more to cover the lost revenue...

It works if the new homeowner rate is less than what you are currently paying. That rate is now $179. I wonder if the scheme worked to their advantage this time

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Does that also include HVAC/utilities/insurance/groundskeeping/security to the common areas, and several other things I'm sure I'm forgetting?

No utilities or insurance

[DARFAP]

Then why did mine go up this summer when my closing month is October?

[Oldragbagger]

Originally Posted by DARFAP

Then why did mine go up this summer when my closing month is October?

It goes up on the closing month of the original owner when the house was first sold is my understanding.

[rhood]

OP here--There is one home on our block who has been here only a few years and his amenity fee is the lowest on the block, $163 which is less than the oldest home on the block and less than others who have been here much longer.
The highest on the block (less than one year) is $196.
Not complaining, but just wondering why folks that have been here the longest have fees that are more than newer residents.

[Nucky]

Isn’t it true that the amenity fee is adjusted at each three year anniversary of the month you purchased?

When mine went up the first time I called headquarters to find out why and what to expect in the future. We just passed the second three year anniversary and as of this moment no increase. I am more than happy to pay my share. It’s a great big bargain!

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Nucky

Isn’t it true that the amenity fee is adjusted at each three year anniversary of the month you purchased?

When mine went up the first time I called headquarters to find out why and what to expect in the future. We just passed the second three year anniversary and as of this moment no increase. I am more than happy to pay my share. It’s a great big bargain!

That is only true in the original historic section. The rest of us get annual increases.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

First off, NOBODY IS PAYING $400/MONTH for the Amenity Fee, it is mathematically impossible. In fact, with the current prevailing rate of $179 (since January 2022) even with a 10% CPI adjustment applied it's not possible to have a monthly amenity fee at $200 yet. Yes, you may see a one-time rate higher than this due to a billing catch-up or error, otherwise it's impossible.

The CPI adjustment does not keep up with real world cost increases that have and continue to occur. The budgets prove it year after year, hence the reason the Deferral Rate (there was never a "cap" on the amenity fee contrary to what many believe) was removed; Repair and Replacement reserves were going to start to be eroded to meet the operating budget requirements.

The R&R reserves need to continue to be adjusted to compensate for future inflation. The R&R fund for the SLAD (amenities between 466 and 44) is projected to have a balance of just over $28M at the end of this fiscal year. For reference the Paradise rec center is projected to cost approximately $20M for the replacement facilities. With more than twice the amenities between 466 and 44 than north of 466 the long-term exposure is substantially greater - eventually we're going to have to start replacing amenities and we have a lot of them, we need to protect and adequately fund the R&R funds.

The CPI is controlled/manipulated by Washington DC frequently to make their economic projections and political needs look better, they are far from accurate (party in power doesn't matter, they all do it). Resetting the amenity fee upon sale of a home is the only way we have to make up for lost ground caused by the CPI. The annual reset of the Prevailing Rate is outside of the Deed Restrictions CPI limitations and looks at real numbers, the real operating costs, and is adjusted to "balance the books" to reality. The developer is the one who sets the Prevailing Rate. In the grand scheme of things are a minor, if any, profit center for them, they just need to break even. They make their profits in selling homes, trying to milk a few extra dollars a month per home in amenity fees would be self-defeating in comparison to the ability to sell more homes with the lowest amenity fee possible.

No, the system isn't perfect, but it has been working well for the last 30+ years. Trying to change it would be next to impossible at this point; there are hundreds of different deed restrictions contracts (one for each unit) that would have to be altered and getting the thousands of residents to agree to the changes would prove impossible.

Some complain the system isn't fair, especially when they buy a new home and they are paying the max amount, what is quickly overlooked is that it becomes more "fair" for them as new residents move in after them and the complainers are no longer paying more, they're paying less than someone new here. How much are we really talking about, in my neighborhood (8 1/2 years old) where I'm one of 15 original residents remaining, I pay $173.12/month, my newest neighbor pays $179/month, if $6/month breaks my budget, I need to move. Yes, in some cases it may be a few dollars more, but the point of the matter doesn't change, it simply isn't that much.

The Deferral Rate was a 1-year deferral that was renewed and continued several times. It was not a lifetime "your amenity fee will never go up" promise as some would have you believe.

The Deferral Rate first went into effect on 1 August 2012.

The Deferral Rate is exactly that a deferral, and the resolutions that were past (attached below) by both VCCDD and SLCDD allows for restoration of deferred rate increase. When the Deferral Rate was terminated in 2019 these deferred rate increases were not imposed on the residents that benefited by the Deferral Rate (over 85% benefited), they could have been and legally can still be reimposed.

The idea of reinstating a Deferral Rate or cap is both foolish and dangerous, as many have pointed out, the cost will continue to rise and without an increase in the operating budget (amenity fee) the only other option is the degradation of the amenities we all enjoy. If crying about being on a "fixed income" doesn't work at Publix, McDonalds, or the gas station, it certainly won't work for paying for our amenity operating costs. No body like cost increases but they are a reality we must live with.

I've covered this topic many time here and also have made videos explaining all of this The Villages Information/Fees Videos - YouTube

I question your statement in paragraph #2 - never a top stop. Possibly a case of semantics. Indeed it is not written in my deed however in practice my amenity bill for 2019 2020 and 2021 was $155 and no cents. Two points to note 1. no change for 3 years and 2. exactly $155 even. This is exactly the amount my TV sales agent told me would be the top stop when I purchased my pre owned home many moons ago north of 466. FYI the CPI-U for those years was 2017 - 2.1%, 2018 - 2.4%, 2019 - 1.8%, 2020 - 1.2%, 2021 - 4.7%. I believe your statement of no top stop maybe correct in practice for the PWAC not the AAC. The significance of this is the recent announcement by the AAC to review the merit of "reinstituting" a top stop. In fact did not the AAC drag their feet about removing the top stop? At first the AAC said no then buckled a significant amount of time later after the PWAC affirmative vote and finally reversed their position.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by rhood

OP here--There is one home on our block who has been here only a few years and his amenity fee is the lowest on the block, $163 which is less than the oldest home on the block and less than others who have been here much longer.
The highest on the block (less than one year) is $196.
Not complaining, but just wondering why folks that have been here the longest have fees that are more than newer residents.

It appears that the New Homeowner rate does not get increased every year. I believe the current rate is $179 so any home purchased this year will be set to $179. If it is not increased then any home purchased next year will also be set at $179. At the same time, the home purchased this year will have increase by about 10% and will be at about $196. The new home will be paying less than the one or two year old home.

Not a theory, that is exactly what happened when I purchased my home.

The $196 for the home less than one year may be due to adding a partial month for when the home changed hands. My first bill was quite high but then settled back to the New Homeowner rate in place at the time.