[livsea2]

I was wondering if there is some sort of premium, and if so how much, for selecting your own site and having a home built in TV over selecting a spec built home? Anyone know? Thanks.

[elevatorman]

The Villages builds all the homes in TV. We looked at the models and asked how much it would cost exactly as is. We were given a price and the spec. homes were the same price. But having it built we got the exact fixtures and colors we wanted. There was a preimum on lots, ranging from $5000 to 200,000. Is this what you were asking?

[Pturner]

Hi Elevatorman,
Are you saying that the cost of a spec home including the land is equal to the cost having the same home built excluding the land?

[Army Guy]

Pturner, yes you will find that is the case. As stated the only advantage is you get what you want in one you have built for you.

Army Guy

[elevatorman]

Yes, the home is the same cost, the land is the variable. There are however closeout deals to be had. Check with your agent.

[graciegirl]

It works like clockwork, the buying of a new home down here, once you understand the process. The house model is fairly close to the same price, it is the lot and location that makes the dollar difference.

The close out deals are usually the last houses not sold as that village is built out. So some of those houses are advertised at a lesser price, so they can finish out that area.

There is a saying I am beginning to love "It is what it is.". and to my mind that is what I think of buying new homes in The Villages. You can happen on to, (if you like the adventure of searching for yourself with aid of the homes listed) or you can be shown, by your agent a home already built for THAT price. Don't think about negotiating, it is what it is, and if you don't like the refrigerator you cannot trade it out and pay more for a better one. Etc.etc.etc. We have built five homes and bought three others in our lifetime and this is just a different set of rules and when you get used to it....it is fine. If you build you have more options but not the ones you are used to. BUT there are no shenanigans, they are decent houses and they fix anything that may be overlooked, which usually isn't much. Our sink stopper was missing and the pole light didn't work and it was fixed while the building contractor was standing there during the final...walk through, or whatever they call it. It was amazing. He made a call and the people arrived immediately and the issue was solved.

We happened onto our Camellia on our search alone and the garage door was unlocked and we walked into what we thought was a delicious view at a great price and we bought it two years ago in June. We didn't think we were ready for the step to buy in TV and we have never been so impetuous, but we fell in love....and we had definitly decided we would like a block and stucco.......when we did buy, but we loved where this Camellia was located and we bought it and we still love that Camellia (which is NOT block and stucco), even though we are going to sell her and build another house when we make the permanent move.

I had notebooks on models and prices and I would look at what the price of a resale had been when they bought it and I still check prices everyday and there is some smart person on here who can give you statistics on whether prices are going up or down. I personally feel like they are going up slightly in the last four or five months.

I love watching this place grow and change and watch as the Wizard of Oz finds a new and better way, he uses it. At least that is my opinion.

Before I die, I want to hug Gary Morse, or at least see him.

There are some folks who don't share my opinion, but I am sort of a cockeyed optimist.

[laryb]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It works like clockwork, the buying of a new home down here, once you understand the process. The house model is fairly close to the same price, it is the lot and location that makes the dollar difference.

The close out deals are usually the last houses not sold as that village is built out. So some of those houses are advertised at a lesser price, so they can finish out that area.

There is a saying I am beginning to love "It is what it is.". and to my mind that is what I think of buying new homes in The Villages. You can happen on to, (if you like the adventure of searching for yourself with aid of the homes listed) or you can be shown, by your agent a home already built for THAT price. Don't think about negotiating, it is what it is, and if you don't like the refrigerator you cannot trade it out and pay more for a better one. Etc.etc.etc. We have built five homes and bought three others in our lifetime and this is just a different set of rules and when you get used to it....it is fine. If you build you have more options but not the ones you are used to. BUT there are no shenanigans, they are decent houses and they fix anything that may be overlooked, which usually isn't much. Our sink stopper was missing and the pole light didn't work and it was fixed while the building contractor was standing there during the final...walk through, or whatever they call it. It was amazing. He made a call and the people arrived immediately and the issue was solved.

We happened onto our Camellia on our search alone and the garage door was unlocked and we walked into what we thought was a delicious view at a great price and we bought it two years ago in June. We didn't think we were ready for the step to buy in TV and we have never been so impetuous, but we fell in love....and we had definitly decided we would like a block and stucco.......when we did buy, but we loved where this Camellia was located and we bought it and we still love that Camellia (which is NOT block and stucco), even though we are going to sell her and build another house when we make the permanent move.

I had notebooks on models and prices and I would look at what the price of a resale had been when they bought it and I still check prices everyday and there is some smart person on here who can give you statistics on whether prices are going up or down. I personally feel like they are going up slightly in the last four or five months.

I love watching this place grow and change and watch as the Wizard of Oz finds a new and better way, he uses it. At least that is my opinion.

Before I die, I want to hug Gary Morse, or at least see him.

There are some folks who don't share my opinion, but I am sort of a cockeyed optimist.

Gracie, you are correct, prices are going up, at least on new homes. We signed our contract for our new home on April 30th because our rep told us of a price increase May 1st. When I talked to him this morning he said that they had indeed gone up, and that mine was up almost $2k. He also said that another increase was coming on May 18th, which someone else also mentioned on TOTV.
So for those of you sitting on the fence and let the price increase go by, check with your rep to verify the one on the 18th before the prices go up again.

[swrinfla]

Gracie:

Good luck on hugging Himself! Been here over five years, now, and have never even seen him, so far as I know.

Son Mark reports annually at Villages Homeowners Association meeting at Savannah Center (this year: Wed., 05/12, at 7:00pm). Always a sell-out and often an over-flow crowd comes. He does a good job, may or may not reveal some surprise. Never, ever allows questions, escapes out the side door the minute he's done with his presentation. Last year he included his sisters, who both have a huge impact here, but that was unusual.

From what I know, the Morses are 180degrees from their grandfather and The Villages founder. Mr. Schwartz apparently knew everyone personally and often visited with them of an evening. 'Course, we're talking back in the days when The Villages was almost entirely on the "other side" of Highway 27/441!

Still, I agree with your sentiments!

SWR