[Just Susan]

Hi we are future Villagers, hopefully spring or summer of 08. We've visited and fallen in love with what looks to us like a retirement paradise, friendly people, fun activities, nice houses.
What I am wondering is does it matter in any way...such as property taxes, restrictions of any sort, benefits... which county you live in, Marion, Lake, Sumter?
Thanks

Originally Posted by SusanTom

Hi we are future Villagers, hopefully spring or summer of 08. We've visited and fallen in love with what looks to us like a retirement paradise, friendly people, fun activities, nice houses.
What I am wondering is does it matter in any way...such as property taxes, restrictions of any sort, benefits... which county you live in, Marion, Lake, Sumter?
Thanks

You have to purchase a library card for Lake County if you live in Sumter. They are $40 a year the last time I checked for Sumter County residents. Well worth it. A Sumter County library card does allow you to borrow stuff from a lot of counties (with some restrictions) to the west and south of Sumter County like from libraries in Hillsborough (Tampa) and Pinellas (St. Pete) Counties.

Watch out for the noisy train in parts of Marion County in TV. It is not so bad in Sumter and as far as I can tell not much of an issue in Lake County.

You may want to keep in mind looking for something central to the Villages if you want to reach a lot of areas by golf cart too.

[chuckinca]

I believe all new housing in TV is in Sumter

[jjdees]

Chuck, Have you had a bad day?

[golfnut]

Chuck, don't look now but you've go someting growing out of your forehead.

[chuckinca]

Any issues with my appearance Earthmen?

[Just Susan]

Thanks for the quick reply.
We are not sure if we will buy resale or new. We were hoping to be somewhat near Lake Sumter Landing keeping us central as you have suggested to both the older and newest parts of TV. I'm not sure which county that is but if the difference in counties is a $40 library card..."which county" will no longer be a concern. We get more $40 a year worth of use out of the library.

Another question I have is healthcare is it good in TV?

[vitacr]

Re taxes - the 3 counties are almost equal.
Re deed restrictions - Lake County is the most lenient e.g. you may put lawn art on your front lawn - the other counties restrict that.
Other differences include the impact fees and huge bond you will pay south of 466 (in the newer parts of TV). In many cases it is 3 & 4 times larger than those originally charged north of 466. Versus buying a used home north of 466 - either Sumter or Marion counties. In many cases the bond has already been paid and there are no impact fees. Could mean a difference of $15 - 35,000. I strongly urge you to check out the "used" homes before you decide.

This is an excellent time to buy either way - prices have dropped in this slow market. The one thing alot of people usually regret is buying too small a house the first time. Also, buying a home with less than a 2-car garage. Being centrally located, with good access to both squares is recommended. Good luck.

Originally Posted by SusanTom

Thanks for the quick reply.
We are not sure if we will buy resale or new. We were hoping to be somewhat near Lake Sumter Landing keeping us central as you have suggested to both the older and newest parts of TV. I'm not sure which county that is but if the difference in counties is a $40 library card..."which county" will no longer be a concern. We get more $40 a year worth of use out of the library.

Another question I have is healthcare is it good in TV?

That's Sumter County near Lake Sumter Landing.

Doctors vary here and it seems a bit of a throw of the dice. As I bet you could guess it is also kind of hard to find one that is taking patients. Have to call around.

[vitacr]

Re Library Card - I live in Marion County and have a FREE library card for the new library near the high school on 466 and I use the FREE library (Mark Twain Library) on the historic side of TV.

Originally Posted by vitacr

Re Library Card - I live in Marion County and have a FREE library card for the new library near the high school on 466 and I use the FREE library (Mark Twain Library) on the historic side of TV.

That's true. You have access to the Villages library if you live in the Villages. The library near CR466 is part of the Sumter County Library system and the Mark Twain Library is a private Villages library.

The Lake County Library system has a very wide selection of books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles and other stuff.

[Just Susan]

Thank you all for the great input. Wish we were already there. Got to sign off now to play a computer game with my grandson.
Good night.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by SusanTom

What I am wondering is does it matter in any way...such as property taxes, restrictions of any sort, benefits... which county you live in, Marion, Lake, Sumter?
Thanks

Taxes in Lake and Marion counties tend to creep up each year. Lake county taxes depend on if you live inside the Lady Lake town limits or not. Since 2003, taxes in Sumter county (for homesteaded owners) have been going DOWN about 5-8% per year. Sounds hard to believe but because all of the new construction is in Sumter county (a less populous and poor county by Florida standards) the tax base is growing fast. Plus homesteaded owners get a ("Save Our Homes") cap of 3% increase on the assessed valuation creep. Also no new homes in TV have school age kids, so the new residents won't add to the number or size of schools needed in Sumter. Thus the "mill rate" has been going down. The decline in taxes will probably stop when TV is built out.

On a $200,000 residence in TV, not including "non-ad-valorem" assessments (bond, bond maintenance & fire district charges),
Lake Cty. taxes with Lady Lake would be $2628* or $3052^ per year...
Marion Cty. taxes would be $2585* or $2955^ per year...
but Sumter Cty. would be only $1970* or $2309^ per year.
* means with $25K homestead exemption and
^ means without homestead.

Here's the millage rates:
Lake: $16.9546
Marion: $14.7728
Sumter: $13.5843
So taxes are NOT the same across county lines!


When you buy a new home in TV, be sure to add the full BOND to the selling price when comparing it to the "negatiated" sale price of the resale plus the REMAINING bond (which might be zero!). That's why new homes look cheaper - buyers forget to add the high full bond to the cost.

TV sales agents always quote "about 2% of the selling price" for taxes and bond for BOTH new and resale properties. But figure it out for yourself for an accurate number. It's MUCH LESS than 2% for resales.

Skip

[chuckinca]

Lake County Millage by area:

City/Millage Code Total Millage City Millage
Astatula (000A) 19.2329 4.5000
Clermont (000C & 00C1) 17.7415 3.1420
Eustis (000E & 00E1) 19.4412 4.7083
Fruitland Park (000F & 00F1 & 00F2) 18.8729 4.1400
Groveland (00GR & 0GR1) 18.5675 3.9680
Howey in the Hills (000H) 20.1779 5.4450
Lady Lake (00LL, VCCD, F0LL & FVCD) 16.9329 2.2000
Leesburg (000L & 00L1 & 00L2) 18.9829 4.2500
Mascotte (00MA & 0MA1) 20.2525 5.6530
Minneola (00MI) 18.3365 3.7370
Montverde (00MV) 17.4295 2.8300
Mount Dora (00MD & 0MD1 & 0MD2) 19.7519 5.0190
Tavares (000T & 00T1 & 00T2) 20.1529 5.4200
Umatilla (000U & 00U1 & 0U-6) 20.4922 5.7593

Lady Lake is the lowest!

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Lake County Millage by area:

City/Millage Code Total Millage City Millage
Astatula (000A) 19.2329 4.5000
Clermont (000C & 00C1) 17.7415 3.1420
Eustis (000E & 00E1) 19.4412 4.7083
Fruitland Park (000F & 00F1 & 00F2) 18.8729 4.1400
Groveland (00GR & 0GR1) 18.5675 3.9680
Howey in the Hills (000H) 20.1779 5.4450
Lady Lake (00LL, VCCD, F0LL & FVCD) 16.9329 2.2000
Leesburg (000L & 00L1 & 00L2) 18.9829 4.2500
Mascotte (00MA & 0MA1) 20.2525 5.6530
Minneola (00MI) 18.3365 3.7370
Montverde (00MV) 17.4295 2.8300
Mount Dora (00MD & 0MD1 & 0MD2) 19.7519 5.0190
Tavares (000T & 00T1 & 00T2) 20.1529 5.4200
Umatilla (000U & 00U1 & 0U-6) 20.4922 5.7593

Lady Lake is the lowest!

Chuckinca. Nice haircut. :joke: