[Velvet]

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative

Ok, so common areas. That’s normal. I suppose if one wants to travel around TV to swim in other pools or use other rec centers, more power to you.

What about your personal landscaping? That is a monthly cost of TV residency and it’s never mentioned when I have conversations with people about actual monthly costs of living there. I always get the $200;per month, 3000 clubs, and/or “I bought the lifestyle” answer. Again, fine if that’s what one wants, but it’s still misleading.

The MMP issue has been beaten to a nice thick paste. There are those who think only villagers should be able to use them, attend entertainment at the squares, or use any businesses within the bubble. I’m positing that the reason your management doesn’t bother with such tatctics, in addition to the logistical nightmare of enforcement, along with public streets, is that a lot of non villagers patronize businesses and spend money.

As mentioned, I like the Villages. It’s the reason we came to this part of the state. We found something that was more suited to our needs while allowing us to take advantage of the free aspects of the Villages. I understand folks who defend TV on issues worth defending, but I don’t understand the residents who seem to take personal offense anytime someone says anything that can be considered even remotely a constructive criticism. Your mileage may vary.

Well, I can see that other people than Villagers come to the squares as businesses pay for entertainment. As long as Villagers don’t pay for the squares I can’t see why it should be reserves strictly for them. But MMP’s ? I don’t know who pays for them and their upkeep?

[fdpaq0580]

It is what it is! Doesn't mean that it is right or fair. Imagine the "sliding scale" at a gas station. Different price per gallon depend on what car you drive, what time of day it is and which pump you choose. Figures don't lie. But liers can figure. Just saying...

[westernrider75]

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative

Ok, so common areas. That’s normal. I suppose if one wants to travel around TV to swim in other pools or use other rec centers, more power to you.

What about your personal landscaping? That is a monthly cost of TV residency and it’s never mentioned when I have conversations with people about actual monthly costs of living there. I always get the $200;per month, 3000 clubs, and/or “I bought the lifestyle” answer. Again, fine if that’s what one wants, but it’s still misleading.

The MMP issue has been beaten to a nice thick paste. There are those who think only villagers should be able to use them, attend entertainment at the squares, or use any businesses within the bubble. I’m positing that the reason your management doesn’t bother with such tatctics, in addition to the logistical nightmare of enforcement, along with public streets, is that a lot of non villagers patronize businesses and spend money.

As mentioned, I like the Villages. It’s the reason we came to this part of the state. We found something that was more suited to our needs while allowing us to take advantage of the free aspects of the Villages. I understand folks who defend TV on issues worth defending, but I don’t understand the residents who seem to take personal offense anytime someone says anything that can be considered even remotely a constructive criticism. Your mileage may vary.

I’m confused about your comments regarding personal landscaping. Wouldn’t you have costs associated with “personal landscaping “ if you lived somewhere else? Many people here have landscapers take care of their tiny yards, we prefer to do our own as we have no matter where we have lived, so we don’t have any added costs for that unless we change something. But if you don’t take care of your own, yes you will have costs. No different than anywhere else.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I wonder what percent of golf carts on the MMO are not residents - I would say less than 5%.

Okay, not a big deal, they re coming over and spending money in the restaurants.

I'd be more concerned over a non-resident sneaking into the amenities than riding on a MMP. That's the choke point and that's where we should be monitoring more closely----pools, rec centers, and after-hours golf course trespassers.

[golfing eagles]

Here's another question: Why do some people get their undies in a bunch over chump change? OMG---I pay $6 more than the neighbor on my left but $4 less than the one on my right. Chicken Little----oh well, everyone knows the rest.

[Goldwingnut]

Bill14564’s answers here have been spot on.

Concerning the Prevailing rate adjustments, they usually happen in January, right after the developer closes out their books for the previous tax year. Unlike the clowns in Washington who use the CPI as a political football and tinker with the calculations each year to try to make themselves look good, the developer has to live in the real world of real cost increases. The amenities for the developer are simply another business unit (applies only to the ones they own - those south of SR44) and have to calculate exactly what it costs them to run and maintain the amenities they own and adjust the Prevailing rate each year to ensure they operate a sustainable business unit. Once they know the number then a new prevailing rate for new homes is established.

The deed restrictions define how the amenity fee can be adjusted. Annually the CPI is used to make this adjustment in what each home pays (it’s calculated every month for the past 12 months which is what homes next to each other may get different adjustments). The CPI is however a looser from a financial prospective as it doesn’t ever keep up with the real cost increases, so each year the boards have to work hard to try to contain costs with the effectively decreasing budget (due to inflation). The only relief to this losing battle comes with the reset that occurs when a home is sold and the new owner pays the current prevailing rate.

Many falsely believe that as the villages grows and more homes pay amenity fees that that should cover the cost increased due to inflation. What they fail to understand is that these new homes are paying for the organic growth in the budget and not the inflationary budget increases. Organic growth being the increase in budget costs caused by adding new amenity facilities (and their O&M costs) as the community and number of homes grow. The CPI adjustment tries to address the inflationary budget increased, but as said earlier, it does a poor job at keeping up with inflation.

[ChicagoNative]

Originally Posted by westernrider75

I’m confused about your comments regarding personal landscaping. Wouldn’t you have costs associated with “personal landscaping “ if you lived somewhere else? Many people here have landscapers take care of their tiny yards, we prefer to do our own as we have no matter where we have lived, so we don’t have any added costs for that unless we change something. But if you don’t take care of your own, yes you will have costs. No different than anywhere else.

Some of my Village friends talk about how expensive it is to live in my community compared to TV. We pay $975 quarterly in fees, or $325 monthly. Thay always talk about how they pay only $200 monthly and they get all the clubs and the lifestyle. Our fees cover the usual and customary things like our pools, hot tubs, fitness center, and clubhouse. Our fees also cover all landscape charges: edging, cutting, trimming, weeding, fertilization, mulch, and irrigation. Events that involve food and entertainment usually have a small additional charge.

My point was that looking at dollars only without considering what one gets for those dollars is the misleading part. Sure, we’re paying for landscaping in our fees, and villagers have the option of doing their own yard maintenance which can be a savings, but for those of us who hate yard work, especially in the hellfire heat of Florida, it’s nice not to worry about it. We also do not have any bonds or ongoing CDD fees. We don’t have free golf here, which for a golfer is likely the main selling point, but as said, your mileage and comfort level may vary.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative

...
The MMP issue has been beaten to a nice thick paste. There are those who think only villagers should be able to use them, attend entertainment at the squares, or use any businesses within the bubble. I’m positing that the reason your management doesn’t bother with such tatctics, in addition to the logistical nightmare of enforcement, along with public streets, is that a lot of non villagers patronize businesses and spend money.

...

Since you live in Lakeside Landing, it seems that you want residents of TV to stop thinking about who uses the MMP's.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'd be more concerned over a non-resident sneaking into the amenities than riding on a MMP. That's the choke point and that's where we should be monitoring more closely----pools, rec centers, and after-hours golf course trespassers.

That does seem to be happening. My wife played tennis with a group at Rohan last week and two people from the center came out to check IDs. Smart idea to have two folks do it instead of one. I've also heard (haven't yet experienced it) that such checks are being implemented at the tennis and pickleball courts at El Santiago.

It seems to be an unfortunate fact of life that the things that go wrong get center stage while all the things that are going right are all too often ignored.

[ChicagoNative]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Since you live in Lakeside Landing, it seems that you want residents of TV to stop thinking about who uses the MMP's.

I’m not the thought police. You are free to think and express whatever thoughts you want. If the management of TV thinks non-villagers using the MMPs is a priority problem, I imagine they’d put a stop to it.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative

Some of my Village friends talk about how expensive it is to live in my community compared to TV. We pay $975 quarterly in fees, or $325 monthly. Thay always talk about how they pay only $200 monthly and they get all the clubs and the lifestyle. Our fees cover the usual and customary things like our pools, hot tubs, fitness center, and clubhouse. Our fees also cover all landscape charges: edging, cutting, trimming, weeding, fertilization, mulch, and irrigation. Events that involve food and entertainment usually have a small additional charge.

My point was that looking at dollars only without considering what one gets for those dollars is the misleading part. Sure, we’re paying for landscaping in our fees, and villagers have the option of doing their own yard maintenance which can be a savings, but for those of us who hate yard work, especially in the hellfire heat of Florida, it’s nice not to worry about it. We also do not have any bonds or ongoing CDD fees. We don’t have free golf here, which for a golfer is likely the main selling point, but as said, your mileage and comfort level may vary.

OK, let's see if we all got this straight: You do not live in TV. You live in a vastly inferior community. You have 100+ less pools, about 80-100 less rec centers, no free entertainment in 4 locations 365 days/year, 50+ less golf courses, none of which are "free", BUT.....you get your lawn mowed???? And you pay double our average amenity fee and your criticizing the Villages???? Is anyone green with envy when they look in the mirror????

[ChicagoNative]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

OK, let's see if we all got this straight: You do not live in TV. You live in a vastly inferior community. You have 100+ less pools, about 80-100 less rec centers, no free entertainment in 4 locations 365 days/year, 50+ less golf courses, none of which are "free", BUT.....you get your lawn mowed???? And you pay double our average amenity fee and your criticizing the Villages???? Is anyone green with envy when they look in the mirror????

You do you!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

OK, let's see if we all got this straight: You do not live in TV. You live in a vastly inferior community. You have 100+ less pools, about 80-100 less rec centers, no free entertainment in 4 locations 365 days/year, 50+ less golf courses, none of which are "free", BUT.....you get your lawn mowed???? And you pay double our average amenity fee and your criticizing the Villages???? Is anyone green with envy when they look in the mirror????

Sounds like a great place.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Here's another question: Why do some people get their undies in a bunch over chump change? OMG---I pay $6 more than the neighbor on my left but $4 less than the one on my right. Chicken Little----oh well, everyone knows the rest.

Has nothing to do with the sky falling. It is a question of, fairness, equality. Since we all have equal access to everything the "lifestyle" has to offer, shouldn't we all pay an equal access fee? The "chump change" amount seems like a cheap shot at folks who worked hard for every dollar they earned. Others are just naturally thrifty and want full, fair value for what they spend. A simple question that seems to have a not so simple answer.🫠🫠🫠

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

OK, let's see if we all got this straight: You do not live in TV. You live in a vastly inferior community. You have 100+ less pools, about 80-100 less rec centers, no free entertainment in 4 locations 365 days/year, 50+ less golf courses, none of which are "free", BUT.....you get your lawn mowed???? And you pay double our average amenity fee and your criticizing the Villages???? Is anyone green with envy when they look in the mirror????

Very well said. Drop the mic.