[John_W]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

...Bonds for CYVs and patio villas, in the same development district, are the same...

A year ago, during April 2011 we looked at patio villas, CYV's and cottages and bought a new CYV in Tamarind Grove with a bond of $14,000. The patio villas had a bond of $10,000 and the cottages had a bond of $21,000.

A quick way I can tell a new cottage from a designer home besides vinyl siding is the landscaping package on a designer home usually goes around the sides and the back whereas a cottage is only landscaped in the front with maybe a small tree in the backyard.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

The lot size and home density in the neighborhoods in different, too. The cottages are much closer together.

[frannieb]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

The Amarillo and the Sunkissed are the same floorplan. If the guest bedroom side is bumped back it allows for the 3rd bedroom to have a door into the side of the lanai. The "B bath option" has the hers and hers closets and the double vanity. I have seen a few with the single walk in closet and a double vanity as well. The Bougnavillia is the designer version of the Amarillo with slight upgrades in the finish, and inclusion in a designer neighborhood. They used to offer the bouganvillia with a Florida room, but now the Alamanda is the "amarillo with Fla. Room option and it is poured concrete (the only plan that currently is constructed that way). You may also see some azaleas on the pre owned market which is a block and stucco designer Amarillo. Some older homes with the Amarillo floorplan are called Stetson III. I have looked a lot!

Interesting, we are renting in Amelia a ranch with apparently almost 2400 sq ft...never heard of a ranch that large. It could be a typo...anyone else heard of an Amarillo that big?

[festusrules]

They are described on TV website......"Cottage" vs "Designer" models.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

One thing to consider when choosing between a designer or a cottage/ranch home is the neighborhood. Neighborhoods within a village will usually be either all patio villa - all cyv - all ranch - or all designer. If you choose a lower end designer, you will be surrounded by designer homes. If you choose an upper end cottage/ranch, you will be surrounded by cottage/ranch homes, etc. As you drive through various neighborhoods it will become obvious that, for the most part, designer neighborhoods have not only somewhat nicer homes, but often, nicer landscaping. There are two reasons in my opinion; 1. The designers are by and large more expensive, meaning a slightly more affluent demographic with more money to spend on landscaping. 2. As the price of homes increase, the proportion that are full-time, non-rental tend to increase, so a somewhat greater proportional pride of ownership. This is my theory from observation, and certainly would not be 100% true of all neighborhoods, but as a general rule, I would stand by it. We stayed this year in a designer neighborhood in Hemingway, and last year in a ranch neighborhood in Summerhill - while we enjoyed both, and could live in either neighborhood, the contrast was clear, with the Hemingway neighborhood appearing miles ahead of the Summerhill neighborhood in overall appearance. Just another thing to keep in mind.

Again, I emphasize, one of the biggest differences is the neighborhood. You can puchase a nice ranch home for $200,000 in a ranch home neighborhood, or a comparable designer for $200,000 in a designer home neighborhood. The homes may be similar, but pay attention to the neighborhood folks.

[frannieb]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

The Amarillo and the Sunkissed are the same floorplan. If the guest bedroom side is bumped back it allows for the 3rd bedroom to have a door into the side of the lanai. The "B bath option" has the hers and hers closets and the double vanity. I have seen a few with the single walk in closet and a double vanity as well. The Bougnavillia is the designer version of the Amarillo with slight upgrades in the finish, and inclusion in a designer neighborhood. They used to offer the bouganvillia with a Florida room, but now the Alamanda is the "amarillo with Fla. Room option and it is poured concrete (the only plan that currently is constructed that way). You may also see some azaleas on the pre owned market which is a block and stucco designer Amarillo. Some older homes with the Amarillo floorplan are called Stetson III. I have looked a lot!

We are renting an amarillo 3/2 with golf cart bay, florida room and lanai built in 2007 I think...the sq footage is said to be almost 2400??? Any idea how this could be. I was in one Amarillo but it wasn't all that big I didn't think but 3/2 and fl room also. I am confused. Help?

[BobandSandy]

Originally Posted by frannieb

We are renting an amarillo 3/2 with golf cart bay, florida room and lanai built in 2007 I think...the sq footage is said to be almost 2400??? Any idea how this could be. I was in one Amarillo but it wasn't all that big I didn't think but 3/2 and fl room also. I am confused. Help?

The 2400 sqft that was given is probably the square footage under the roof including garage, lanai, front porch overhang.

This differs considerably from the living area that is air conditioned.

Originally Posted by Golfer in Sanibel

The lot size and home density in the neighborhoods in different, too. The cottages are much closer together.

On our street there are cottages on one side of the street and designer homes on the other side of the street. The lot sizes are the same. The designer homes, in this case, are very closer together, but the cottages have more space side to side. Our lanai is on the side of the house and is 14' wide and we still have plenty of room. Lot size varies in each neighborhood.

[philnpat]

Originally Posted by frannieb

We are renting an amarillo 3/2 with golf cart bay, florida room and lanai built in 2007 I think...the sq footage is said to be almost 2400??? Any idea how this could be. I was in one Amarillo but it wasn't all that big I didn't think but 3/2 and fl room also. I am confused. Help?

The current Sunkissed (Amarillo) is 1392 sq ft under air...1527 sq ft under air with a florida room.

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Again, I emphasize, one of the biggest differences is the neighborhood. You can puchase a nice ranch home for $200,000 in a ranch home neighborhood, or a comparable designer for $200,000 in a designer home neighborhood. The homes may be similar, but pay attention to the neighborhood folks.

I disagree with the neighborhood thing.I live in a neighborhood in Amelia where on one side of the street there's designers while on the other there's cottages.Drive down buttonwood run and you'll see the 2 types side by side!!

SORRY I see my wife posted a similar response using my screen name!!

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan

I disagree with the neighborhood thing.I live in a neighborhood in Amelia where on one side of the street there's designers while on the other there's cottages.Drive down buttonwood run and you'll see the 2 types side by side!!

SORRY I see my wife posted a similar response using my screen name!!

As with most things, there are exceptions to the rule.