[logdog]

Originally Posted by John_W

The only thing I noticed that was higher here than in Maryland was my car insurance. I'm with USAA for veterans, so it's the cheapest. I had two cars insured in Maryland for $900 a year. Here it costs just over $800 for one car.

We pay less than $400 a year for car insurance through Progressive. You might want to have Villages Insurance run some quotes for you. USAA was not the cheapest for us.

[New Englander]

Thank you all for taking the time to post. I do appreciate hearing the many different opinions.

[Allegiance]

Originally Posted by logdog

We pay less than $400 a year for car insurance through Progressive. You might want to have Villages Insurance run some quotes for you. USAA was not the cheapest for us.

$400. That's cheap! May I ask what coverages. I have geico. Perfect record and pay much more. Are you sure it's 400 a year, not 6 months?

[logdog]

Originally Posted by Allegiance

$400. That's cheap! May I ask what coverages. I have geico. Perfect record and pay much more. Are you sure it's 400 a year, not 6 months?

$191 every 6 months. 100/300/100 full coverage.

[JoelJohnson]

Just got a quote from AAA 1 car (2008) $285/ 6 mouths

[rjm1cc]

You can find less and more expensive communities. Their are a lot of older posts on costs. Review those and list every possible expense. Then decide which will apply to you now, maybe add some for 10 years from etc. Then try and update to the current costs of the home you buy in that community.

By the way the Villages is in three different counties so be sure you do your costs for the county you are in. Also make sure you use the correct utility co's.

In general I think you will find the costs less in FL with the exception of water.

[Allegiance]

Originally Posted by logdog

$191 every 6 months. 100/300/100 full coverage.

Progressive it is, will get a quote. Is that thru an agent or online?

[Toymeister]

I am the outlier. At 3k a month with a designer corner lot 30 year mortgage The Villages is not cheap. Taxes are not cheap, water is not, electric is not. Auto insurance is double in Florida. How can this be??? Well there is a state not too far away that is cheaper than Florida, much cheaper - Alabama 49th cheapest. Only problem is the Villages is not located there.

[2BNTV]

From an eternal member, Zcaveman, in the "Nuts and Bolts" section on the home page.

Living Costs

There are a number of posts out in TOTV requesting the monthly costs for living in TV. The numbers vary between full time residents and part time residents. I am a full time resident with a 3 bedroom ranch on a base lot with 1392 Sq ft of climate controlled area (added 2/13/2013). Some of the numbers are close to mine. Some are from some of the other posts. This is an attempt to try and put them in one place. Remember, as with many of the other items in this post, this is just an estimate. Actual numbers will depend on your life style and size of residence. The numbers are monthly except where noted.

Water/Sewer (depends on size of yard) $40-80
Garbage $17.90 - (changed 2/13/2013)
Electric $80-225* - annual average $142 (updated 2/13/2013)
Gas $23-80* - annual average $34 (updated 2/13/2013)
Telephone $39.95 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Cable (Premium/Digital – No HBO, etc.) $119.30 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Internet (broadband) $63.95 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Other charges, taxes and fees $22.22 (Comcast) (added 4/12/2015)
Telephone (TracFone – Cell phone) $104/year ** (updated 4/12/2015)
Amenity Fee $145.00 (updated 4/12/2015)
Property Taxes $200-400 ***
Homeowners Insurance $600 and up per year
Automobile Insurance $500 and up per year
Golf Cart Insurance $125 and up per year (added 4/12/2015)
Golf Cart Trail Fees $142 per year
Golf Tee Time Online System $8.00 (added 4/12/2015)
Lawn Care (mow and edge) $45-80 (depends on size of yard)
Shrub and tree trimming $90-$150 – three times a year (my lawn services does this for me) (updated 4/12/2015)
Pest Control ***** $200-300 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Lawn fertilization and treatment ***** $500-600 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Termite treatment $150-$175 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Daily Sun $61.42 per year (updated 4/12/2015)
Dining out (for 2 – no liquor):
Breakfast $15-30 (added 4/12/2015)
Lunch $25-35
Dinner $25-$$$


* This is an average. Electric will be higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Gas will be higher in the winter and lower in the summer.
** Cell phone costs should be about the same as you are paying now. It depends on the plan.
*** Florida resident with Homestead Exemption. No bond. This depends on the appraised value of your home. You can get the millage rate from the county appraiser. In 2013, this included the non-Ad Valorem (CDD4 ($454) / fire ($165) / water/waste ($98) charges.* If you have a bond, it will be included in your taxes. It is a 30 year bond at 6 or 7%.* You will have to calculate that number yourself.
**** Some insurance companies have monthly payment options.
***** Some homeowners prefer to do these treatments themselves.
****** You can do the termite treatment yourself but if you get termites, the expense to correct the problem might be costly.

You might want to print out the "Nuts and Bolts" section as it covers everything you would need to know.

[Chatbrat]

Thank God I never had to square root my life to that degree. My grandmother told me ,"I you have to worry about $$ after you're 40, you'll never retire

[John_W]

Originally Posted by logdog

We pay less than $400 a year for car insurance through Progressive. You might want to have Villages Insurance run some quotes for you. USAA was not the cheapest for us.

I just did an online quote and here are the six month amounts with Progressive.

• Basic is $218, that's your $400 a year (it provides very little coverage, not enough in my opinion) 10K/20K/10K
  
• Choice is $419, which is about what I'm paying now but I have more coverage with USAA 100K/300K/100K
  
• Recommended is $448 equal coverage to what I have with USAA but for more money. 100K/300K/100K

The only thing I didn't get a discount for was snap-shot, I didn't want to have that on my car.

I've been driving since 1965 and have not had any accidents and no tickets since the 80's.

I just got my six month bill today from USAA, it was $428.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by John_W

I just did an online quote and here are the six month amounts with Progressive.

• Basic is $218, that's your $400 a year (it provides very little coverage, not enough in my opinion) 10K/20K/10K
  
• Choice is $419, which is about what I'm paying now but I have more coverage with USAA 100K/300K/100K
  
• Recommended is $448 equal coverage to what I have with USAA but for more money. 100K/300K/100K

The only thing I didn't get a discount for was snap-shot, I didn't want to have that on my car.

I've been driving since 1965 and have not had any accidents and no tickets since the 80's.

I just got my six month bill today from USAA, it was $428.

I'm a Veteran myself, so I'll definitely check them out if I relocate.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

From an eternal member, Zcaveman, in the "Nuts and Bolts" section on the home page.

Living Costs

There are a number of posts out in TOTV requesting the monthly costs for living in TV. The numbers vary between full time residents and part time residents. I am a full time resident with a 3 bedroom ranch on a base lot with 1392 Sq ft of climate controlled area (added 2/13/2013). Some of the numbers are close to mine. Some are from some of the other posts. This is an attempt to try and put them in one place. Remember, as with many of the other items in this post, this is just an estimate. Actual numbers will depend on your life style and size of residence. The numbers are monthly except where noted.

Water/Sewer (depends on size of yard) $40-80
Garbage $17.90 - (changed 2/13/2013)
Electric $80-225* - annual average $142 (updated 2/13/2013)
Gas $23-80* - annual average $34 (updated 2/13/2013)
Telephone $39.95 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Cable (Premium/Digital – No HBO, etc.) $119.30 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Internet (broadband) $63.95 (Comcast) (updated 4/12/2015)
Other charges, taxes and fees $22.22 (Comcast) (added 4/12/2015)
Telephone (TracFone – Cell phone) $104/year ** (updated 4/12/2015)
Amenity Fee $145.00 (updated 4/12/2015)
Property Taxes $200-400 ***
Homeowners Insurance $600 and up per year
Automobile Insurance $500 and up per year
Golf Cart Insurance $125 and up per year (added 4/12/2015)
Golf Cart Trail Fees $142 per year
Golf Tee Time Online System $8.00 (added 4/12/2015)
Lawn Care (mow and edge) $45-80 (depends on size of yard)
Shrub and tree trimming $90-$150 – three times a year (my lawn services does this for me) (updated 4/12/2015)
Pest Control ***** $200-300 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Lawn fertilization and treatment ***** $500-600 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Termite treatment $150-$175 per year (added 4/12/2015)
Daily Sun $61.42 per year (updated 4/12/2015)
Dining out (for 2 – no liquor):
Breakfast $15-30 (added 4/12/2015)
Lunch $25-35
Dinner $25-$$$


* This is an average. Electric will be higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Gas will be higher in the winter and lower in the summer.
** Cell phone costs should be about the same as you are paying now. It depends on the plan.
*** Florida resident with Homestead Exemption. No bond. This depends on the appraised value of your home. You can get the millage rate from the county appraiser. In 2013, this included the non-Ad Valorem (CDD4 ($454) / fire ($165) / water/waste ($98) charges.* If you have a bond, it will be included in your taxes. It is a 30 year bond at 6 or 7%.* You will have to calculate that number yourself.
**** Some insurance companies have monthly payment options.
***** Some homeowners prefer to do these treatments themselves.
****** You can do the termite treatment yourself but if you get termites, the expense to correct the problem might be costly.

You might want to print out the "Nuts and Bolts" section as it covers everything you would need to know.

2BNTV - Thank you for posting this information. I had saved on my computer, but it is good information for TV wannabees, even if it is a couple of years old.

[logdog]

Originally Posted by John_W

I just did an online quote and here are the six month amounts with Progressive.

• Basic is $218, that's your $400 a year (it provides very little coverage, not enough in my opinion) 10K/20K/10K
  
• Choice is $419, which is about what I'm paying now but I have more coverage with USAA 100K/300K/100K
  
• Recommended is $448 equal coverage to what I have with USAA but for more money. 100K/300K/100K

The only thing I didn't get a discount for was snap-shot, I didn't want to have that on my car.

I've been driving since 1965 and have not had any accidents and no tickets since the 80's.

I just got my six month bill today from USAA, it was $428.

Like I posted earlier, my coverage is 100K/300K/100K for $191 every 6 months (just renewed this week). I did use snap-shot when I first signed up and it was only on the car for a couple of months before the discount kicked in. My initial premiums were closer to $250 every 6 months but the rates have been going down just about every renewal over the past 5 years. There's also a pretty good discount for paying in full every 6 months.

Whether or not you decide to change, it's always a good idea to shop around every couple of years. I called Villages Insurance and asked for several quotes. It's a free service and they gave me 4 or 5 options for car, home and golf cart insurance.

[golfing eagles]

Quite a wide variation in the previous posts----from "9-10K/year" to "4K/month". I must be doing something wrong. At least 4K/mo. is in the ballpark. I can't do 9-10K/yr, considering my taxes and bond are $7400/year and the amenity fee/water/sewer is $2900. Cable/internet, cell phones, electric, insurance, auto expense and food push it right up into the 4K/mo range. And then there's golf.........