[Russ_Boston]

Not sure how to ask this but we are considering a golf front villa or home when we purchase. I know all the concerns about cart path noise, being in the line of fire, early morning maintenance etc. but...

One thing I don't know about: Are there ANY guarantees in writing that the golf course will remain a golf course for X number of years? Or is it just one of those risks that you have to take. I guess I could ask my sales rep if anything is on paper about this issue but I'd like to hear from those that have a golf front. If they rip up the golf course and plant homes then the value of my property would drop 150K or more!

thanks,
Russ

[graciegirl]

I would say the golf course would die if The Villages die. I hope that NEVER happens.

[villages07]

Russ,

I certainly don't know for sure, but, here are some thoughts and opinions.

I agree with Gracie....If golf courses start going away, something catastrophic would be happening with the whole Villages concept and we're all in deep doo-doo.

As I recall, the master plan from the developer, approved by Sumter County, includes stipulations about # of holes of golf to be built for x number of houses; same thing with pickleball and tennis courts, etc. So, there is some existing 'requirement' for the recreation facilities that are built to be proportional to the number of new homes.

Lastly, your 'risk' might be different for a home on a championship course vs an executive course. The champ courses are privately owned and operated. The execs are part of our overall amenity package and are funded by our amenity fees.

I consider it a minimal risk. But, I'm sure those folks who bought Naples beach condos for $800K in 2005 thought they were making a good investment.

[SteveFromNY]

Russ, why not buy an interior lot and get your butt down here that much sooner?

[Russ_Boston]

You have a point Steve! It won't be 09 but perhaps 2010.

[Hawkwind]

Russ, another thing to consider is where on the course will the home be located and what are the chances of it being hit by golf balls. I watched a few groups tee off and 2 of 8 hit a home on their drive.

I have a friend here in Ohio the once lived in a condo located on a course and her siding was replaced twice in about 8 years because of the marks left by miss hit drives.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

One thing I don't know about: Are there ANY guarantees in writing that the golf course will remain a golf course for X number of years? Or is it just one of those risks that you have to take. Russ

That is such an interesting question! And one that we never thought about when we bought on a golf course.

We purposely avoided houses that backed on privately-owned horse farms and other private properties. And on wild life reserves. But we just assumed golf courses will stay as is.

By the way, golf course views can cost from $40,000 to $200,000 according to our Sales Rep. Apparently it depends on the type of golf course, (more expensive to back on a championship golf course), proximity to Restaurants and Shopping, whether there is a water view (which was a negative to us because of gators), etc.

[ijusluvit]

I don't have my deed handy, but those who do might find the deed specifies that the property has a golf frontage. If so, that's your guarantee. In recent years, a large pond in the Walnut Grove executive course area lost it's water into a sinkhole. My understanding is the developer has been required to spend lots of money to reline the pond to retain water - at least twice!
The reason is that the homeowners living adjacent to the pond have deeds which describe "waterfront" lots. After this experience, the developer has omitted the term from deeds and there are places where ponds have gone dry and there are no plans to restore them artificially.

[samhass]

Bare, Are you dissing my gators?
Russ, I don't think this is an issue you have to worry about.
BTW, my homes are golf front and have yet to be hit.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

That is such an interesting question! And one that we never thought about when we bought on a golf course.

We purposely avoided houses that backed on privately-owned horse farms and other private properties. And on wild life reserves. But we just assumed golf courses will stay as is.

By the way, golf course views can cost from $40,000 to $200,000 according to our Sales Rep. Apparently it depends on the type of golf course, (more expensive to back on a championship golf course), proximity to Restaurants and Shopping, whether there is a water view (which was a negative to us because of gators), etc.

[kyblue]

Russ:

We have a courtyard villa on a championship course. Love it.

There are other things to consider - if you have a dog (courtyard villa is great), do you like to see yard and don't have to mow it (golf course), do you not want to see your neighbor outside your lanai.

Things that can go wrong - golf balls.

Other things - the mowing in the morning is not going to disturb you, seeing people play is fun.

Whatever you decide - it is in the villages - have a good time.

[macgolfnut]

Russ,

IMHO, I doubt if they would close down a course with the amount of play they get. I can see sometime in the future where they would charge to play the executive courses, but probably not for a long time. TV spent a lot of time and money making the courses nice and not just flat. As long as they sell both new and pre-owned homes and continue to make a profit, the golf courses will be one of the main selling points.

We did a lot of homework and looked at a lot of houses before we chose our house on the Hemingway 9 of the Havanna Golf Course. We are far enough away from the tee that we cannot be hit on a drive and it would take a major shank to get us on a second shot. Even though we are paying for the view, it is well worth it to not be right on top of our neighbors.

[The Great Fumar]

THE RATIO IS ONE HOLE OF GOLF FOR EVERY 50 HOMES, DEED REEDS GOLF FRONT PROPERTY , HAVEN'T HAD A BALL IN MY YARD YET , HOWEVER WE FOLKS UP HERE IN THE NORTH END OF THE VILLAGES ARE A LITTLE BETTER THAN AVERAGE GOLFERS ,......NO OFFENSE ,,,,

FUMAR .....

[graciegirl]

Why do they call them golf course FRONT when the golf course is in the BACK of the house?

I have wanted to ask that question for 30 years.




Yes. I am blonde. ...........kinda.

[Russ_Boston]

Gracie - My guess is that the terminology refers to the LOT being a golf front or preserve front or view site etc. Of course those of us that have been looking at home in TV (for way too long I might add) take it as second nature what they mean.

The same goes for East (north, south west) facing.

Another thing they do is say 'landscape privacy' which means that your lanai is no more than 20 feet from another lanai.

[vtcyclist]

Check if there are any golf course "peek" lots availble. You'll have a nice view of the course but will be out of the "line of fire". We opted for one in Hemingway and feel it was worth the extra $.