[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The bond is a totally separate fee imposed on new construction. The buyer can choose to pay it off monthly, or they can pay it off in a lump sum. If they pay it off all at once, then whoever they sell that home to, some day, will have no bond fee to pay. If they pay it off monthly, then the -next- buyer will pay whatever balance is left, or nothing, if there's no balance left.

My bond is annual, added to the tax bill. Until it's paid off. 2 more years...

But yes, you could say it is paid monthly, as it does go into the escrow.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by J1ceasar

The amenity thing is quite reasonable but it's a big butt, the home prices are at least 50% higher per square foot than many other places in Central Florida.

Prove it or it's FAKE NEWS.

Apples to apples. At least 50%higher.

Can't be proven because there is no place like The Villages.

You don't even live here. WHY DO YOU CARE?

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Prove it or it's FAKE NEWS.

Apples to apples. At least 50%higher.

Can't be proven because there is no place like The Villages.

You don't even live here. WHY DO YOU CARE?

Well, it's people like that who make documentaries bashing TV because they aren't enjoying everything we have.

I don't care. We don't care. We love our bubble...

Just jealousy...

[KYtoTV2021]

A house for $155K? No way.
We just bought a 1,500 sq ft house in TV for over $300K. Also, although you theoretically have "free golf for life" on the executive courses, you basically can only play twice a week because TV mgmt continues to build more and move houses but not enough infrastructure, such as executive golf courses, to support the growing number of residences and golfers.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It costs $159 a month for our amenity fee. We don't have any HOA fee at all. Compare with the nearest trailer park, where you own your house, you pay rent on the land, PLUS you pay an HOA of at least $200/month, and they have a single pool, no golf course at all, and you can't take a golf cart to get anywhere other than around the neighborhood.

If $159 a month is "not cheap" then you definitely can't afford to live in the Villages. Our utility bills are low, our taxes are low (compared with other states), if you choose to work there's no state income tax at all.

What's not cheap? Dining out every night, and the costs of alcoholic drinks at the bars. Shopping only at Publix and Fresh Market, and never at Winn Dixie or Aldi or Sam's or Walmart.

Oh and the price of milk everywhere -except- Aldi's and Walmart. I mean - what in the Sam Hill is up with that anyway? Are cows a rare commodity down here or something? Almost $3 for a half gallon of just normal ordinary store-brand 1% - but I can get it for $1.49 at Walmart, that's their regular price.

Anyway - it's not "cheap" but it is affordable to pretty much anyone who has a pension, or a 401k, or Social Security. You can buy a beautiful 1100-square-foot manufactured home in the Historic section for around $115k, and for another $30k you can update and make repairs, and enjoy retirement. And yes that would be a pre-owned home. But if you check every day and call a few realtors, you can probably find a clunker forclosure for under $70k, raze it to the ground, and build a small, but new home for another $120k.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It costs $159 a month for our amenity fee. We don't have any HOA fee at all. Compare with the nearest trailer park, where you own your house, you pay rent on the land, PLUS you pay an HOA of at least $200/month, and they have a single pool, no golf course at all, and you can't take a golf cart to get anywhere other than around the neighborhood.

If $159 a month is "not cheap" then you definitely can't afford to live in the Villages. Our utility bills are low, our taxes are low (compared with other states), if you choose to work there's no state income tax at all.

What's not cheap? Dining out every night, and the costs of alcoholic drinks at the bars. Shopping only at Publix and Fresh Market, and never at Winn Dixie or Aldi or Sam's or Walmart.

Oh and the price of milk everywhere -except- Aldi's and Walmart. I mean - what in the Sam Hill is up with that anyway? Are cows a rare commodity down here or something? Almost $3 for a half gallon of just normal ordinary store-brand 1% - but I can get it for $1.49 at Walmart, that's their regular price.

Anyway - it's not "cheap" but it is affordable to pretty much anyone who has a pension, or a 401k, or Social Security. You can buy a beautiful 1100-square-foot manufactured home in the Historic section for around $115k, and for another $30k you can update and make repairs, and enjoy retirement. And yes that would be a pre-owned home. But if you check every day and call a few realtors, you can probably find a clunker forclosure for under $70k, raze it to the ground, and build a small, but new home for another $120k.

I haven't seen a home in TV for under 100k in forever.

I've been searching fur foreclosures here for a year or so. There have only been a couple, and they were in bad shape at 150k and 1500 feet maybe..

So, I'd love to find those 70k homes. I'll take 5 please....

[yankygrl]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

I haven't seen a home in TV for under 100k in forever.

I've been searching fur foreclosures here for a year or so. There have only been a couple, and they were in bad shape at 150k and 1500 feet maybe..

So, I'd love to find those 70k homes. I'll take 5 please....

Also you can “buy” one of the manufactured homes on the historic side but what I’ve been told is they have to be removed as the no longer meet code requirements and then you have to build a new home, stick and vinyl or concrete and stucco. In any event it’s going to cost you. A while back TV was purchasing these homes and doing exactly that then selling them.

[tuccillo]

No, that is not correct. While you need to have some flexibility on time and courses, you can play every day if you wish. I have no problem playing 4 days a week.

Originally Posted by barrym823

A house for $155K? No way.
We just bought a 1,500 sq ft house in TV for over $300K. Also, although you theoretically have "free golf for life" on the executive courses, you basically can only play twice a week because TV mgmt continues to build more and move houses but not enough infrastructure, such as executive golf courses, to support the growing number of residences and golfers.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

I haven't seen a home in TV for under 100k in forever.

I've been searching fur foreclosures here for a year or so. There have only been a couple, and they were in bad shape at 150k and 1500 feet maybe..

So, I'd love to find those 70k homes. I'll take 5 please....

I guess that just shows what the market is here in The Villages.
Many will argue that they can buy a home a lot cheaper in other communities, and this is undoubtedly a factual truth that cannot be argued. The other fact with real estate is that location is the key factor in real estate value. The better the location the greater the value. For a retirement home in central Florida, THE LOCATION, is The Villages, yes we pay more because the value is greater.

[rogerk]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

While we're at it, here's the video about the Maintenance Assessment since that will probably be asked about next

Maintenance Assessment and The Villages 6-19-19 Construction Update - YouTube

Thanks for the real facts. There is so much misinformation out there it is nice to see the real facts presented. https://d32rzbb554tqz0.cloudfront.ne...milies/bow.gif

[joelfmi]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It costs $159 a month for our amenity fee. We don't have any HOA fee at all. Compare with the nearest trailer park, where you own your house, you pay rent on the land, PLUS you pay an HOA of at least $200/month, and they have a single pool, no golf course at all, and you can't take a golf cart to get anywhere other than around the neighborhood.

If $159 a month is "not cheap" then you definitely can't afford to live in the Villages. Our utility bills are low, our taxes are low (compared with other states), if you choose to work there's no state income tax at all.

What's not cheap? Dining out every night, and the costs of alcoholic drinks at the bars. Shopping only at Publix and Fresh Market, and never at Winn Dixie or Aldi or Sam's or Walmart.

Oh and the price of milk everywhere -except- Aldi's and Walmart. I mean - what in the Sam Hill is up with that anyway? Are cows a rare commodity down here or something? Almost $3 for a half gallon of just normal ordinary store-brand 1% - but I can get it for $1.49 at Walmart, that's their regular price.

Anyway - it's not "cheap" but it is affordable to pretty much anyone who has a pension, or a 401k, or Social Security. You can buy a beautiful 1100-square-foot manufactured home in the Historic section for around $115k, and for another $30k you can update and make repairs, and enjoy retirement. And yes that would be a pre-owned home. But if you check every day and call a few realtors, you can probably find a clunker forclosure for under $70k, raze it to the ground, and build a small, but new home for another $120k.

To built a decent livable new home 3 bedrooms to baths, 3 car garage can start at of cost $250K to $400K. The cost of the fees is very high, but you get what you pay for and want.

[davem4616]

we don't play gold either....and we don't have any children in the school system

yet, we'd like to see more money for the school system and are happy that those of our neighbors that like to play golf at this advanced age are able to do so inexpensively

sounds like you're not really a good fit for The Villages....hope you find a place that you like and you don't feel like you're
being asked to pay money for other people.

Sad that you neve learned to share...

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by yankygrl

Also you can “buy” one of the manufactured homes on the historic side but what I’ve been told is they have to be removed as the no longer meet code requirements and then you have to build a new home, stick and vinyl or concrete and stucco. In any event it’s going to cost you. A while back TV was purchasing these homes and doing exactly that then selling them.

I had seen where TV was buying and rebuilding, They've stopped that now.

You do not have to remove them. You can purchase and live in them just like anywhere else in TV. Code requirements do not apply to pre-existing construction or manufactured homes of that age.

There were a couple for sale on TV website last month. It is a great way for people to get into TV and the area is nice as well.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I guess that just shows what the market is here in The Villages.
Many will argue that they can buy a home a lot cheaper in other communities, and this is undoubtedly a factual truth that cannot be argued. The other fact with real estate is that location is the key factor in real estate value. The better the location the greater the value. For a retirement home in central Florida, THE LOCATION, is The Villages, yes we pay more because the value is greater.

And it is very telling that many homes for sale within a reasonable distance actually quote how far TV is from the home, the same way some homes further south state how far they are from Disney.

TV is not just a collection of small villages, it is a location - and environment - yes, a bubble. A bubble where we feel safe, secure, and for most of us, quite happy to be here.

From personal experience, and this is very easy for anyone to do - in preparation for my move to TV, I rented a small apartment right in Oxford, barely outside of TV and transferred my cars down. When I changed my address to 1/4 mile away or so - my TV home - my auto insurance dropped by $1000 yearly. When I asked why, the agent said historically TV is the safest place in Florida. For anyone who cares, with was AAA insurance - ACG group South Florida.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by Maineguides

I see everyone talking about a monthly amenity feeand that there’s no hoa fee. Where does the “bond” figure in

The Bond has nothing to do with amenity fees . The Bond is part of the "total consideration" paid for the home.
.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Tmarkwald

I haven't seen a home in TV for under 100k in forever.

I've been searching fur foreclosures here for a year or so. There have only been a couple, and they were in bad shape at 150k and 1500 feet maybe..

So, I'd love to find those 70k homes. I'll take 5 please....

There were three, a year ago. I was looking on my sister's behalf. They were all manufactured homes, two of them were single-wides near Silver Lake. One was a blind auction listing. All three were definitely tear-downs.