[casita37]

The figure the sales people gave you has absolutely nothing to do with your "lifestyle". The figures they gave you are probably just about right for what they are talking about. The sheet of paper actually lists each item and estimated monthly cost. You can save some on utilities, or you can go overboard with A/C, etc., same as you could do living anywhere. What IS different here are the amenities fee and the bond. You can get those figures from the sales agent. Actually.....if I remember correctly, they may have been included on that hand out they gave us.

I do think they are off on their lawn care estimates. Weeds, weeds, weeds will have you upgrading your landscaping and monthly services. You'll probably go with some of the extra services, like winterizing your lawn or fertilizers, lawn pest control, etc. The lawn care has really been the only expense which was more than we figures, which wasn't really "optional". You pretty much have to take extra steps with the lawn. Of course, you can do it yourself, if so inclined.

[murray607]

Originally Posted by JMEZARIC3

My figures are based on a 1150 sq ft Patio Villa with vaulted ceilings.

Bond,taxes,insurance $250
Electric 100
Gas 40
TV 60
Internet 45
Ammenity,water
sewage,trash 225
Termite bond,pest and
lawn treatments 40
Mowing 35
Homewatch 45

Total $750
The above estimates are based upon actual costs for the past 6 months with the house occupied in Sept and Oct and empty May,June July and Aug.

We are snowbirds ,when up north the TV and internet goes down to $8 but we pay $45 for home watch.The TV is on a promotional offer so it will go up in time.If we were full time in TV I estimate the total to be $800 to $850.We were in the house in Sept and Oct and the electric bill for Sept was $95 and the water and sewage bill only went up a few dollars. This past summer the home watch folks set the AC
at 80 degrees and the bill never exceeded $80.
When we are in the house,we do not pay $45 a month for home watch service,so I estimate the $750 figure will be our monthly costs when we occupy the house.
The below figures are monthly costs for out of pocket expenses base upon our stay in TV for Sept and Oct.This is our like style.Plug in figures for your life style.

Budget $400 a month for dinning out,$200 for golf at a country club(3 or 4 times a month),$50 for drinks at the square happy hour(5 times a month),$500 for food and $600 for misc.TOTAL $1750
That is a grand total of $2500.Add in your car expenses,medical expenses, insurance and mortgage(if any).
If the patio villa is paid off and you have good health insurance a couple can live nicely in TV on a monthly income of $4,000.

In a few years, we hope to be full time in TV and plan to upsize to a 3 bedroom ranch or designer home.So we are interested in the monthly costs for a larger home.

My estimates are pretty much the same as yours for the monthly expenses at $750 plus about $4000 for other expenses which would include paying electric, gas, insurances and taxes on our northern property while we are at the Villages.