[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

No utilities or insurance

So who pays for insurance on the common areas? Who pays for the lights in the common areas?

If someone slips and falls in the lobby or gym, the condo has no protection? I highly doubt it...

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

So who pays for insurance on the common areas? Who pays for the lights in the common areas?

If someone slips and falls in the lobby or gym, the condo has no protection? I highly doubt it...

I should clarify: No insurance or utilities for each condo. Of course the common areas are covered by the HOA fee. My point is simply we get 100x the amenities for 1/4 of the cost, so the whiners should stop complaining over 6 or 20 dollars/month

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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

Yea. I think they may be in for a surprise. If the story is even true.

[Villagevip]

I bought my house the first day, five years ago....No real research ...Told the amount of the amenity fee you pay at time of purchase, is written in stone...Included in amenity fee, neighborhoods without fences receive lawn cutting service weekly, both sides of street, same day, time.....This, so that you don't hear lawn mowers each morning....Drank the kool-aid, but, not the end of the world...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I should clarify: No insurance or utilities for each condo. Of course the common areas are covered by the HOA fee. My point is simply we get 100x the amenities for 1/4 of the cost, so the whiners should stop complaining over 6 or 20 dollars/month

Agreed...

I have a friend who lives in a country club community in Palm Beach Gardens. He pays over $50K/year in HOA and Country Club fees. 2 pools, 2 golf courses, 1 clubhouse and gym, and a handful of tennis and pickleball courts. Also a monthly food minimum.

Granted, the clubhouse is gorgeous and the golf courses are pristine... But still...

[pauld315]

Originally Posted by rustyp

The Amenity Authority Committee is considering putting a cap back on amenity fees paid by residents north of County Road 466.

That will only happen if the developer approves since the really are in control of everything here. Very slim chance they let the PWAC and AAC ger out of synch.

[pauld315]

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.

I have owned multiple condos like this. Typically, the HOA fee includes electric, cable TV, water, insurance on the building, all landscaping, upkeep to the building exterior as well as amenities. I have paid more than this before as well as less in some of them.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Worked well for who? Considering the number of threads trying to explain and justify why it costs some homeowners up to $400 more per year to use the same amenities, it seems it isn't working all that well.

Rotary phones, cash-only, paper tax returns, asbestos insulation, and the USPS all worked well for a very long time.... until there was a better idea.

[Dusty_Star]

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

The difference noted in the first post was $397.20 per year, not monthly.

[Dusty_Star]

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.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

The difference noted in the first post was $397.20 per year, not monthly.

True. But I think that may have already been pointed out (post #17 and #19)

[Laker14]

I closed on a pre-owned in Feb. 2021. My previous owner's amenity fee increased in Dec. 2020 from 158 to 160 (plus change).
My first amenity fee was 164, so there was some increase at the time of sale. I'm confused by this.
In December of 2021, my amenity fee increased to 175.
So, I understand the increase in December. That must be the anniversary of the original closing, by the original owner.
Can someone explain to me why it went up just as a result of the sale to me?

I am in District 5.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Laker14

I closed on a pre-owned in Feb. 2021. My previous owner's amenity fee increased in Dec. 2020 from 158 to 160 (plus change).
My first amenity fee was 164, so there was some increase at the time of sale. I'm confused by this.
In December of 2021, my amenity fee increased to 175.
So, I understand the increase in December. That must be the anniversary of the original closing, by the original owner.
Can someone explain to me why it went up just as a result of the sale to me?

I am in District 5.

When a home is sold the amenity rate is set to the "prevalent Contractual Amenities fee" that is in effect. It would seem that the rate was $164 in Feb 2021. It has since been changed to $179.

In December your rate adjusted by about 7% which is similar to the increase I saw in March 2022.

[La lamy]

We have access to ALL THE SAME AMENITIES, we should ALL PAY THE SAME AMOUNT. Any other story is absurd in my book.

[TrapX]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

When a home is sold the amenity rate is set to the "prevalent Contractual Amenities fee" that is in effect. It would seem that the rate was $164 in Feb 2021. It has since been changed to $179.

In December your rate adjusted by about 7% which is similar to the increase I saw in March 2022.

I have payed $194 since it went up in May. For the exact same identical amenities others pay less for. How is that "working for years" ?