[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jimdecastro

1. Why would only CDD find this out?
2. The W in PWAC stands for "wide". They do not really operate CDD to CDD.
3. We have Duke here.

I don't know if I completely understand what you are asking but here's my guess.

1. The CDD is new, the supervisors are new, and the budget is new. While good people made good guesses it is possible they found out through the year that they guessed low. Now they have more information and have created a more accurate budget.

2. The PWAC is involved with a project-wide agreement between CDD5-CDD13. The agreement provides for maintenance of certain items and areas common to those CDDs. For example, rather than each CDD having its own contract to mow the grass along the roadway within its boundaries, one single contract is used to cover grass mowing along all roadways within the project-wide area. The PWAC (CDD5-CDD13) performs work within each of the member CDDs.

The EMAC covers this common work in CDD14, CDD15, and Eastport. Apparently, a decision was made not to continue to expand the PWAC but to set up a new project-wide maintenance function for work beyond CDD13.

3. Yes, that was pointed out above. I was not aware of that. Since you have Duke, the SECO increase does not affect you.

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

In July of 2023 an agreement was made for CDD14, CDD15, and the Eastport CDD to join a project-wide effort to provide certain common services such as landscape work. Prior to this the same work should have been being performed but each of the three members were either funding it individually or it had not yet been turned over by the Developer.

In theory, sharing common efforts across the project area (CDD14, CDD15, and Eastport) should have some efficiencies that save money. In theory, budget lines that previously supported this work should decrease while the budget line for contribution to the project-wide group increases. That does not appear to have happened.

Taking landscaping only, the budget line increased $40K. Since some of this work should now be provided by the project-wide effort (EMAC) and since the EMAC budget line significantly increased to cover landscaping, it isn't clear why CDD14 landscaping costs increased rather than decreased. This would be a good question for the CDD14 board.

It is possible that some of the new cost is due to the Developer transitioning some of these services to the CDD.

It is possible that some of the new cost is due to new areas being completed and added to the land to be maintained. (it cost nothing to maintain fields of dirt but costs more now that the grass and flowers have been put in).

It is possible that the cost to individual homeowners could decrease as more homes are built. However, more homes would also come with more area to be maintained by the EMAC and the funds from the additional homes might only cover the additional work.

These are all good questions for the CDD14 board during their budget sessions. There will be another chance to raise these questions during the upcoming public hearing on the maintenance fee increase.

Just a note: The adult pool would be an amenity covered by the amenity fee. Amenities such as pools are not part of the maintenance fee, the CDD14 budget, or the EMAC budget.

Thank you for this post. It definitely helps my understanding.

And wow you guys are active in the morning. So many posts in just the last hour.

[BubblesandPat]

I really don't commenting on these kinds of discussions...buuuuttt...
Before we moved here we did 2 years of research. Several really good youtubers who talk about the cost of living here. About all the "hidden " fees including use of spreadsheets etc. We talked to MLS agents not just the VLS. Remember the VLS are mainly salespeople who want that commission!
EVERYONE talked about interest on bonds. EVERYONE talked about fees. So we bought pre-owned in our budget...we didn't add a fancy driveway and elevators in our garage and professional landscaping and swimming pools and crown molding...Yada Yada Yada. 100k to look at a pond? Crazy. Yet people complain about the cost here. It's the SALESPERSON fault? Are you kidding me?
You should have done your research. Budget in these increases. Maybe bought a no or lower bond house...
We absolutely LOVE the villages..we are having a blast here. It's so beautiful and everyone is incredibly nice. It's worth every penny...

[Desiderata]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I'm there enough to know how well it's run. But my warning to people buying new, first check out the bond and the payment and the interest, that they do not mention. They tell you there is a bond paid over 30 years. They never mention the interest and you have to go onto the CDD website to find payment info.

Second, the maintenance fee that they never mentioned at all. I'm sure it's buried in the closing docs somewhere. Even then, I'm perfectly fine with the fee that I signed up for because I did my research. I also expect increases because maintenance costs obviously increase. But to raise the fee by $330 (56%) after only 1 year seems absurd to me.

I agree with you that the maintenance fee was hidden and never mentioned to me when I purchased a home here, not that it would have stopped me from buying. The Realtor didn’t even mention the bond until we were doing paperwork to purchase the home.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I'm there enough to know how well it's run. But my warning to people buying new, first check out the bond and the payment and the interest, that they do not mention. They tell you there is a bond paid over 30 years. They never mention the interest and you have to go onto the CDD website to find payment info.

Second, the maintenance fee that they never mentioned at all. I'm sure it's buried in the closing docs somewhere. Even then, I'm perfectly fine with the fee that I signed up for because I did my research. I also expect increases because maintenance costs obviously increase. But to raise the fee by $330 (56%) after only 1 year seems absurd to me.

I’m curious to know how closely the buyer studied the closing costs estimate that is required to be issued to the buyer. Ours 20 years ago had the information on it. When we’ve had family members purchase here, my spouse went over the paperwork with them.

[asianthree]

Maybe things have changed, but when we first came to TV in 2007, we received a sheet of basic costs to run a home, including maintenance fees, ballpark taxes, cable, electricity, lawn, insurance, water, amenity fee. Below was the mention of bond, plus other items.

2010, same sheet, but obviously different, amounts.

2012, different VLS person, because ours got bumped up to management, not a fan, but did answer questions on bond, but had to press harder for interest.

We choose to find a different VLS agent for third, house, who was very up front on balance of bond, maintenance fees, taxes and all things, even though we had experience owning houses for 4 years.

Even on this site many threads have mentioned maintenance fees, fire, schools, bonds, and %. Plus the complaints of how high the bond is from years ago, or no bond in certain areas, and the difference in maintenance and taxes in different counties

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by G.R.I.T.S.

I’m curious to know how closely the buyer studied the closing costs estimate that is required to be issued to the buyer. Ours 20 years ago had the information on it. When we’ve had family members purchase here, my spouse went over the paperwork with them.

If this is directed to me (I assume) then you really really should read the thread. I've only said like 6 times now that I knew the costs when I bought. I just found this increase excessive. The only thing I mentioned is they aren't very forthcoming about it when selling the home. Yes, of course everyone should study the docs up front.

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Maybe things have changed, but when we first came to TV in 2007, we received a sheet of basic costs to run a home, including maintenance fees, ballpark taxes, cable, electricity, lawn, insurance, water, amenity fee. Below was the mention of bond, plus other items.

2010, same sheet, but obviously different, amounts.

2012, different VLS person, because ours got bumped up to management, not a fan, but did answer questions on bond, but had to press harder for interest.

We choose to find a different VLS agent for third, house, who was very up front on balance of bond, maintenance fees, taxes and all things, even though we had experience owning houses for 4 years.

Even on this site many threads have mentioned maintenance fees, fire, schools, bonds, and %.

The thread is about the excessive increase in maintenance. I should not have mentioned the costs associated with buying.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by frayedends

The thread is about the excessive increase in maintenance. I should not have mentioned the costs associated with buying.

Ya since your original post was copied in multiple post, that never get removed, you will still get responses from original thread.

[frayedends]

I've requested the moderators delete this thread. My mistake for mentioning how fees are disclosed when purchasing. But no matter how much I clarify people seem to want to tell me that I didn't do my due diligence when buying.

I edited my post to clarify and repeatedly posted that it was only about the fee increase. But people won't let it go. Good grief. I don't know if they'll delete it. Sorry I even posted it.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I've requested the moderators delete this thread. My mistake for mentioning how fees are disclosed when purchasing. But no matter how much I clarify people seem to want to tell me that I didn't do my due diligence when buying.

I edited my post to clarify and repeatedly posted that it was only about the fee increase. But people won't let it go. Good grief. I don't know if they'll delete it. Sorry I even posted it.

I don’t think most posters are pointing out you didn’t due diligence. But they experienced pretty much full disclosures in early years from their VLS.
I have found not all VLS, along with MLS, can and will skip the idea that Maintenance fees exist, or that along with amenity fees can and probably will change each year. It’s still a good thread, that’s how new potential residents learn.