[drdoug59]

Originally Posted by Guzzel

The wife and I are considering TV for retirement in 2 years; so not looking for an exact figure, but assuming no house payment, was wondering what the average cost of living might be in TV.

Understand everyone's situation and lifestyle is different, but really wanted to get ballpark figures for things like, Utilities; Internet; Insurance; Amenity Fee (still $195/month?); Entertainment; Groceries; Other monthly expenses.

Again, not looking for exact costs, just trying to work up the reasonable monthly costs based on the knowledge base and experience of present "Villagers".

TIA,

G

Median income in TV is 76K. average income which is skewed by extremes in income is 96K. If your in that ballpark as far as retirement income you should be fine, if your a snowbird, then of course your expenses as much hire

[bowlingal]

your COL depends on your lifestyle. How often do you go out to eat? travel/cruises? Your fixed expenses can be researched, but remember, if you move south of 44, your bonds are extremely high, your taxes will be paid to Sumter County and the city of Wildwood. Your travel to the stores will take more time than you may want. Also, check out all the houses for sale already in the newer section. WHY? You gotta ask yourself why are so many houses for sale south of 44? Must be a reason.

[msilagy]

The quoted figures will be high in my opinion.

[Guzzel]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Electric) - less than $200 a month
Internet - Xfinity is $50 a month
YouTube TV - $87 a month including tax
Home Insurance about $2400 a year
Auto Insurance about $1600 a year (a car, a pickup truck, and 2 golf carts)
CDD (amenity fee, water, sewer) about $250 a month
Pesticide care - $25/month (paid every other month)
Taxes on house - about $2000 a year
Groceries - about $75 a week plus $50/month for cat food and litter (she eats well)
Dining out - around $150/month
Entertainment - hubby plays golf, probably around $30/week
Gas - about $70 a month (a car, a pickup truck, two golf carts)
Travel - about $500 a year. I visit my dad, hubby visits his sister.
This doesn't include Medicare which depends on your individual income.

We have no bond, we have no mortgage. Taxes and insurance are weird because we're in a manufactured home in Lake County. We mow our own lawn and don't really travel anymore because our budget is pretty much fixed and limited. Our luxuries are mostly food related - since I make my own sauce from scratch, I can afford to buy Parmesano Reggiano and Peccorino Romano cheeses instead of the cheaper, lower quality brands. Plus we get home-made mac and meatballs and chicken parm with plenty left over for lunches, after we finish the full tray of lasagna that I make. It's 4 quarts of sauce and I portion control it. Initial cost for everything is around $50 but it's good for at least 2 dinner plates and 2 lunches per week for 6-7 weeks before I have to make another batch.

Because I save us money by making "planned-over" foods, we can afford to enjoy take-out more often.

Thank you for the cost breakdown; that helps.

[Guzzel]

Originally Posted by scubawva

You can find every cost online, which is what I did before moving here.

Grocery stores, utilities, bond, insurance, costs of gas, restaurants, personal services, is all online. You can look up everything in an hour or 2. I did, made a spreadsheet and had a good idea of all costs.

Compared to where I lived TV is just about the same - some things higher (insurance, home upkeep services) some lower (taxes, auto gas, utilities).

The videos showing COL weren’t MY costs. Will you hire lawn care or DIY? How much do you dine out v eat in? Buying new or resale home? Small 2/2 or larger 4/3? Golf cart? Party animal going to shows/events often or stay-at-home? Golfer or not?

To many variables. Look up costs for your situation.

It’s worth every penny! Fantastic community.

You're exactly right; however to get the fixed costs (e.g. Amenity fee, electric, internet, etc.) helps.

Thx,

G

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by Guzzel

The wife and I are considering TV for retirement in 2 years; so not looking for an exact figure, but assuming no house payment, was wondering what the average cost of living might be in TV.

Understand everyone's situation and lifestyle is different, but really wanted to get ballpark figures for things like, Utilities; Internet; Insurance; Amenity Fee (still $195/month?); Entertainment; Groceries; Other monthly expenses.

Again, not looking for exact costs, just trying to work up the reasonable monthly costs based on the knowledge base and experience of present "Villagers".

TIA,

G

Next month Amenity Fee 327.

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by sowilts

Next month Amenity Fee 327.

Medicare still at 525 a month since I turned 65, now 71? Hopefully it will decrease.

[MikeN]

Our monthly fee totals $342 which includes the amenities fee, trash, water and “entertainment “. TV says it covers all but there is a year end maintenance fee which could vary by district but ours looks like closer to another $8K. So many other things like every business inside TV pays 10% to TV. Obviously the business then passes that on to us via more costly gooods, prices at restaurants If you go to any entertainment you restricted from bringing in food or drink and have to pay exorbitant prices for things you want there. Just look at all these things to establish what it actually costs

[wmcgowan]

Originally Posted by Guzzel

The wife and I are considering TV for retirement in 2 years; so not looking for an exact figure, but assuming no house payment, was wondering what the average cost of living might be in TV.

Understand everyone's situation and lifestyle is different, but really wanted to get ballpark figures for things like, Utilities; Internet; Insurance; Amenity Fee (still $195/month?); Entertainment; Groceries; Other monthly expenses.

Again, not looking for exact costs, just trying to work up the reasonable monthly costs based on the knowledge base and experience of present "Villagers".

TIA,

G

Watch Jerry and Linda (The Village Newcomers) they vlog about the villages to include the information you desire

[TNKYGAL]

When we visited The Villages we were curious. We went from curious to happily stunned! Were we really interested in buying in Florida - land of beaches (which we didn't care for)? Then we discovered central INLAND Florida, and specifically The Villages! And YES! We were interested and did buy. Our only regret is that we didn't find this place 10 years earlier when we first retired! However, We did plan to be seasonal, so our look at the numbers revolved around whether we should rent or buy. At the time, rentals (for a 3/2 designer home) were around $3800/month. We did exactly what you are doing to determine the annual cost to own here, and it was roughly $15,000 at that time. So renting may be a better option if we planned to stay 3 months. But we planned to stay 4, and I wanted to be able to come and go during the summer as well, so we bought. Our biggest flaw in that assessment is that even if we just stayed 3 months, buying would have been better for us! Of course, that would have been hindsight, but the reason was, once you get here, you WANT to stay more! We now spend at least 5 months here, often more. And we are very close to shifting from seasonal to Florida residents!
Of course, knowing the dollars for the musts is important and everyone here has shared great numbers that are very close to ours (for the absolutes), but I agree with the others that it's a place like no other, you will almost instantly have a neighborhood of great friends (ours is the best, but in TV, most folks say that), and you will never be bored except by choice! There's an excellent chance you will love it here and not regret it!

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Guzzel

The wife and I are considering TV for retirement in 2 years; so not looking for an exact figure, but assuming no house payment, was wondering what the average cost of living might be in TV.

Understand everyone's situation and lifestyle is different, but really wanted to get ballpark figures for things like, Utilities; Internet; Insurance; Amenity Fee (still $195/month?); Entertainment; Groceries; Other monthly expenses.

Again, not looking for exact costs, just trying to work up the reasonable monthly costs based on the knowledge base and experience of present "Villagers".

TIA,

G

You’re probably talking about $200,000. to a million plus!

[Shelbyh]

Originally Posted by Guzzel

The wife and I are considering TV for retirement in 2 years; so not looking for an exact figure, but assuming no house payment, was wondering what the average cost of living might be in TV.

Understand everyone's situation and lifestyle is different, but really wanted to get ballpark figures for things like, Utilities; Internet; Insurance; Amenity Fee (still $195/month?); Entertainment; Groceries; Other monthly expenses.

Again, not looking for exact costs, just trying to work up the reasonable monthly costs based on the knowledge base and experience of present "Villagers".

TIA,

G

There are a few videos on YouTube that breakdown monthly expenses quite well, Rusty Nelson, Jerry and Linda, and Michael and Tiffany.
Hope it works out for ya!!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

your COL depends on your lifestyle. How often do you go out to eat? travel/cruises? Your fixed expenses can be researched, but remember, if you move south of 44, your bonds are extremely high, your taxes will be paid to Sumter County and the city of Wildwood. Your travel to the stores will take more time than you may want. Also, check out all the houses for sale already in the newer section. WHY? You gotta ask yourself why are so many houses for sale south of 44? Must be a reason.

That was good advice about the South of 44 problems. I would also suggest that they take the possibility of Hurricanes into consideration. In two years the Gulf waters could be even warmer than this summer.

[MplsPete]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

...One more thing about bonds, you will never pay off the full amount. My bond is $34,000, and if I pay it off, I would still have to pay $600 each year until I die or sell the house....

How does that work? $600 is not much but still?
What is the fee called after the bond is satisfied?

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

How does that work? $600 is not much but still?
What is the fee called after the bond is satisfied?

There are 2 components to the fee. Both are billed to you with your property tax and paid to the county.

1. The bond. You have the option to pay this annually or to pay it off. Many pay it annually until you have decided that this is your forever home. If you move, you just get a new bond with the new home. The bond pays for building the infrastructure of the area where your home is located.

2. The maintenance fee. Each district creates an annual budget to maintain the infrastructure that the bond paid for. This is an annual expense and never goes away. Each district is different, depending on the amount of infrastructure and the number of homes sharing the cost. Mine is about $600. Some districts are more.