[gvsulakerfan]

Again. Sumter County does calculate this figure and in 2011 the seasonal vacancy rate was 17%.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by gvsulakerfan

Again. Sumter County does calculate this figure and in 2011 the seasonal vacancy rate was 17%.

Hi gvsulakerfan,
Are you saying that the "seasonal vacancy rate" means the same thing as part-time residency? I would have thought "seasonal vacancy rate" refers to the number of available rooms for rent that are unoccupied. BTW, do you have a source you could link. Thanks much.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by borjo

How could he? Not everyone hands in the survey. I have 2 houses, only did one survey. To me it's a statistic that never will be known. Even utilities are kept on in the summer. All I know is there are 4 snowbird homes on our street and 2 rentals out of 18 houses.

With all due respect, the number of the surveys returned is probably 5-10 times higher than necessary to get a completely reliable statistical sample.

Add the mountain of other information, such as utility records, postal records, rec center and golf course ID card scans, rental records, ID surrender files, newspaper subscriptions etc., etc,.

What you get is a number of full vs part-timers that is easily within 1% of the EXACT, ACTUAL number, for any recent year. That's what The Developer KNOWS. I'd bet my socks he's anxiously waiting to see if this year's figures show an increase in full-timers.

[Vinny]

No sense arguing about it as no matter what the numbers are it will have no effect on my life. Sometimes too much emphasis is spent on want to know versus need to know. In my neighborhood there is yet another group that I call Vacation birds. Only here for vacations in both winter and summer fora week or two and do not rent to others. Personally o not understand it financially as for as liitle time spent here they could rent. So far one couple realized this and now has their home up for sale but the others are only here when they get vacation time from work.

[ljarnold]

We are vacationers only. We bought this month with the plan to spend winters here in 2-3 years. We will spend more than 2-3 weeks tho. I will spend more time while my husband will fly back and forth for work when needed. Until he retires full time.

[jblum315]

I also had neighbors who only used their house as a weekend vacation spot. But now they've sold it and bought a bigger house near Brownwood.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Vinny

.............In my neighborhood there is yet another group that I call Vacation birds. Only here for vacations in both winter and summer fora week or two and do not rent to others. Personally o not understand it financially as for as liitle time spent here they could rent. So far one couple realized this and now has their home up for sale but the others are only here when they get vacation time from work.

I guess a lot of it depends on how much time they're able to spend in TV over the course of a year. True - if it's only a week or two over the course of the year, then it doesn't make pure financial sense to own a home in TV unless they have future plans that will change the 'week or two a year' scenario......or if they're in a position where the money implications don't really matter.

Sandy and I are able to make it to TV for about 7-8 weeks a year but we have to spread it over several trips throughout the year. The math for owning a home in TV adds up to be a bit more than what we were already spending to rent or for hotel stays........but now we get the enjoyment of home ownership in TV! It's our place, we can show up any time we like, no more fooling around with making rental/hotel reservations, renting a golf cart, etc. We're rolling the dice on what we'll see for a potential increase in the value of the property moving forward but that looks to be headed in a positive direction, at least at this point in time.

Sometimes it simply comes down to "You want what you want", even if the financials aren't completely favorable!

JMHO

Bill

[Army Guy]

Wow, looks like I really asked a good question!
As I said, I am of the camp that tends to believe that there are way more then 40% part-time, snowbirds, etc and way less then 60% of us fulltimers. Just listen to WVLG when they do the "roving mic" reports from the squares, over 90% of the time they are talking with non-fulltimers. Then I look at my villa community. There are 60 villas, in season all are filled, in summer only about 15, which is way less then 60%. Plus the wife and I like to ride in our golf cart some afternoons, when the season is over go for a ride and really look at the homes as you go by, and you will seem a large number closed up in the summer, i.e. blinds drawn, patio furniture stacked or none, and other things that signal seasonal resident.
I agree the stats should be released, cause again I do not want TV becoming a seasonal resort and very few of us.
By the way as far as snowbirds not liking paying the fees and things they have to pay all year, I do not recall anyone telling them when they bought that they could not stay all year. They knew it then, and no one twisted their hands to buy knowing that, it is and was their choice. I know it sounds cold, but that is the facts.
Army Guy

[ijusluvit]

In all my years at TV I have yet to hear a single 'snowbird' complain about the 'fees'.

However, I've heard countless negative comments from 'frogs' about 'snowbirds'; mostly about how crowded we make things in the winter. But I've even heard complaints about why it's the 'snowbirds' fault that businesses struggle during the summer, that they are so 'privileged' not to have to endure the summer heat, etc. This bias and prejudice is the single worst feature of TV, in my opinion.

[Shimpy]

Based on my very scientific observations it seems to me to that snowbirds are 47.86 % of the population, + or - 30%. These figures are about as accurate as a long range weather forcast.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

In all my years at TV I have yet to hear a single 'snowbird' complain about the 'fees'.

However, I've heard countless negative comments from 'frogs' about 'snowbirds'; mostly about how crowded we make things in the winter. But I've even heard complaints about why it's the 'snowbirds' fault that businesses struggle during the summer, that they are so 'privileged' not to have to endure the summer heat, etc. This bias and prejudice is the single worst feature of TV, in my opinion.

I couldn't have said it better.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

In all my years at TV I have yet to hear a single 'snowbird' complain about the 'fees'.

However, I've heard countless negative comments from 'frogs' about 'snowbirds'; mostly about how crowded we make things in the winter. But I've even heard complaints about why it's the 'snowbirds' fault that businesses struggle during the summer, that they are so 'privileged' not to have to endure the summer heat, etc. This bias and prejudice is the single worst feature of TV, in my opinion.

I have to admit that when I hear fulltime residents complain about seasonal residents, it makes me sad. And when they blame us for clogging up the roads and taking their tee times and causing accidents and making them wait in restaurants, I feel sad and unwanted. We love The Villages just as much as you do. And we gladly pay taxes and amenities all year long. Please be nice to seasonal residents.

[Army Guy]

Yes, many snowbirds do complain about the fees, especially the amenity fee cause as they put it, they are not using the things so they should not have to pay for them.
Let me say and before I start let me say it is just my and my friends feelings, all snowbirds are not bad, BUT by and large a large portion of them are, in that they are rude and feel they should have priority over all because they are only here for half the year but pay for all. Several of my friends and my wife and I included have been told that point blank by snowbirds. I can also say as a fact that believe it or not even the Businesses are ready by the end to see them go because of their rudeness. My wife and I go out to eat almost every night and have gotten to know many of the servers and owners of eating places and they have a hard time with them.
I could go on sometime on how we have been treated by Snowbirds, but once again it is NOT ALL, but most of them.
And as far as businesses having it tough in the summer, we have never seen it! They are busy as ever, just no one-two hour waits!
Let me add this question, if most of TV is fulltimers, why do most of the clubs and groups stop or as they put it "take vacation" of meetings when the snowbirds leave? Do we deserve not to have clubs as fulltimers or do we need seperate fulltimers only clubs, etc? Just a thought!
Army Guy

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by Army Guy

Yes, many snowbirds do complain about the fees, especially the amenity fee cause as they put it, they are not using the things so they should not have to pay for them.
Let me say and before I start let me say it is just my and my friends feelings, all snowbirds are not bad, BUT by and large a large portion of them are, in that they are rude and feel they should have priority over all because they are only here for half the year but pay for all. Several of my friends and my wife and I included have been told that point blank by snowbirds. I can also say as a fact that believe it or not even the Businesses are ready by the end to see them go because of their rudeness. My wife and I go out to eat almost every night and have gotten to know many of the servers and owners of eating places and they have a hard time with them.
I could go on sometime on how we have been treated by Snowbirds, but once again it is NOT ALL, but most of them.
And as far as businesses having it tough in the summer, we have never seen it! They are busy as ever, just no one-two hour waits!
Let me add this question, if most of TV is fulltimers, why do most of the clubs and groups stop or as they put it "take vacation" of meetings when the snowbirds leave? Do we deserve not to have clubs as fulltimers or do we need seperate fulltimers only clubs, etc? Just a thought!
Army Guy

1) I've never spoken to anyone in your world

2) "all snowbirds are not bad, BUT by and large a large portion of them are." This is the 21st century. As a nation and a world we have all seen the ugliness and insanity of racial, religious, ethnic and 'othe'r group prejudice. If you were in the service, you saw it everywhere you were. You, sir have not learned anything from that. You should be ashamed of your irrational negative categorizing of thousands of people you've never met. Were you to leave TV forever, it would be a better place.

[BobKat1]

If a snowbird becomes a full time resident, do they automatically go from bad to good??