[jimkerr]

Originally Posted by Normal

The Villages has dropped more new home prices this week in the poorly selling Village of Lake Denham. Check out 7026 Baysinger Path.

A definite warning for Villages retirement considerations.

If you are cinsbuying, the writing isn’t just on a YouTube wall. The rubber has met the road.

Another dumb post.

[Remembergoldenrule]

In most real estate markets, PRICE IS TIED TO LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
They are lowering the price of new homes down there because the location is poor and taxes and fees are high. Flood insurance is required on a lot of the homes.
If I were looking, I would look in the Dunedin area. Houses there sell quickly because it is convenient and bond and taxes are lower. Houses sell in weeks.

[GoRedSox!]

I chuckle at the notion that we have just drank the Kool-Aid. That is so funny to me. I don't think that the eagerness to begin a new life in retirement should ever be confused with Kool-Aid. It's one of the milestone moments in everyone's life. First of all, we are grateful we made it this far, not everyone does! Also, we worked our whole lives for this. If entering into this with enthusiasm and optimism is drinking the Kool-Aid, pour me another glass.

When we were in our home search, we were open to new and pre-owned homes. At that time, which was just this year, the place that The Villages was selling new homes was Newell, Lake Denham and Dabney. We were very aware that these Villages were in Lake County and had Leesburg taxes and it was higher than Sumter. We were very aware of that the bonds were higher. We were aware of the proximity to the turnpike, the power lines, the area amenities and how long it took to get places by golf car. But it was very nice down there, and the people who were buying new homes that we met were great. We ended up buying a pre-owned home near Brownwood, but if we didn't find this one it could have just as easily been a new one down there. And it would not have been that we didn't know all the factors, but because pragmatically, that's where The Villages was selling new homes. We didn't know where or when new homes would be available in other locations or whether those locations would have been more preferable.

I am quite sure all of those homes will sell. Some may call it Kool-Aid, but I have never been to place of this size that is so beautiful almost everywhere. I still marvel at how there is almost no litter. There is pride of ownership evident in the homes here in every single village we have been in from top to bottom. I have also never lived anywhere where almost everyone has positive things to say. When you come here for lifestyle visit, the Villages encourages you to interact with plenty of Villagers, not just the ones who work for them. I think they know that it's average Villagers, including those who have been here a long time, that do the best job of selling this place.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by wsachs

And it's miles away from stores, restaurants, gas stations, real golf courses and too few pools/rec centers. Like living in a different town entirely.

And where do you live?

[Boilerman]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

I chuckle at the notion that we have just drank the Kool-Aid. That is so funny to me. I don't think that the eagerness to begin a new life in retirement should ever be confused with Kool-Aid. It's one of the milestone moments in everyone's life. First of all, we are grateful we made it this far, not everyone does! Also, we worked our whole lives for this. If entering into this with enthusiasm and optimism is drinking the Kool-Aid, pour me another glass.

When we were in our home search, we were open to new and pre-owned homes. At that time, which was just this year, the place that The Villages was selling new homes was Newell, Lake Denham and Dabney. We were very aware that these Villages were in Lake County and had Leesburg taxes and it was higher than Sumter. We were very aware of that the bonds were higher. We were aware of the proximity to the turnpike, the power lines, the area amenities and how long it took to get places by golf car. But it was very nice down there, and the people who were buying new homes that we met were great. We ended up buying a pre-owned home near Brownwood, but if we didn't find this one it could have just as easily been a new one down there. And it would not have been that we didn't know all the factors, but because pragmatically, that's where The Villages was selling new homes. We didn't know where or when new homes would be available in other locations or whether those locations would have been more preferable.

I am quite sure all of those homes will sell. Some may call it Kool-Aid, but I have never been to place of this size that is so beautiful almost everywhere. I still marvel at how there is almost no litter. There is pride of ownership evident in the homes here in every single village we have been in from top to bottom. I have also never lived anywhere where almost everyone has positive things to say. When you come here for lifestyle visit, the Villages encourages you to interact with plenty of Villagers, not just the ones who work for them. I think they know that it's average Villagers, including those who have been here a long time, that do the best job of selling this place.

Ignore the cynical naysayers and enjoy your new life here - Congratulations!

[Blackbird45]

It really doesn't matter what the price is, either want to live here or you don't, that's the only thing that should matter.
If you're looking for a profit that is a different thing entirely, and your profit will depend on when you bought and when you want to sell.
I bought my house 12 years ago; it matches the pictures in the initial posting.
We paid under $300K, if as the posting states that this type of home is selling for $400K+, you're talking over $100K profit.
Even in a downturn market that's not bad.
No one can predict for certain where the market is going to be a year from now, that house that is selling for $400K could go down to $200K or up to $600K.
Alan Greenspan was fed chair from 1987 until 2006, during that time he assured us the housing market was safe.
In 2007 the housing market crashed.

[mizerkeith]

Who would live down there no par threes and your in the middle of nowhere

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by mizerkeith

Who would live down there no par threes and your in the middle of nowhere

Thousands of people.

Jus like "who would live South of 466".

Jus like "who would live South of 466a".

All those crazy people.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by mizerkeith

Who would live down there no par threes and your in the middle of nowhere

Post #4 of 4 negative posts………

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Normal

The Villages has dropped more new home prices this week in the poorly selling Village of Lake Denham. Check out 7026 Baysinger Path.

A definite warning for Villages retirement considerations.

If you are cinsbuying, the writing isn’t just on a YouTube wall. The rubber has met the road.

Probably getting harder to sell their home to move. Majority can’t afford to own 2 homes at once especially in high tax areas.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

I chuckle at the notion that we have just drank the Kool-Aid. That is so funny to me. I don't think that the eagerness to begin a new life in retirement should ever be confused with Kool-Aid. It's one of the milestone moments in everyone's life. First of all, we are grateful we made it this far, not everyone does! Also, we worked our whole lives for this. If entering into this with enthusiasm and optimism is drinking the Kool-Aid, pour me another glass.

When we were in our home search, we were open to new and pre-owned homes. At that time, which was just this year, the place that The Villages was selling new homes was Newell, Lake Denham and Dabney. We were very aware that these Villages were in Lake County and had Leesburg taxes and it was higher than Sumter. We were very aware of that the bonds were higher. We were aware of the proximity to the turnpike, the power lines, the area amenities and how long it took to get places by golf car. But it was very nice down there, and the people who were buying new homes that we met were great. We ended up buying a pre-owned home near Brownwood, but if we didn't find this one it could have just as easily been a new one down there. And it would not have been that we didn't know all the factors, but because pragmatically, that's where The Villages was selling new homes. We didn't know where or when new homes would be available in other locations or whether those locations would have been more preferable.

I am quite sure all of those homes will sell. Some may call it Kool-Aid, but I have never been to place of this size that is so beautiful almost everywhere. I still marvel at how there is almost no litter. There is pride of ownership evident in the homes here in every single village we have been in from top to bottom. I have also never lived anywhere where almost everyone has positive things to say. When you come here for lifestyle visit, the Villages encourages you to interact with plenty of Villagers, not just the ones who work for them. I think they know that it's average Villagers, including those who have been here a long time, that do the best job of selling this place.

Very well said. We feel very much they way you do. We love drinking the Kool Aid!

[Burnie]

I've read all the above posts (I'm old and retired with plenty of time on my hands, so it's entertaining).

My wife and I came here on a lifestyle visit in September, 2003. After taking a tour bus ride, talking to our assigned real estate agent and drinking the KoolAid, we were shown a lot of neighborhoods. There were no villages south of 466. We decided to purrchase a new home rather than pre-owned, so the agent took us to what looked like a desert.

The area was prepped for new homes south of 466, but none had yet been built. At the time, The Villages didn't sell "spec homes" as we called them. We were shown a map of what was proposed with the roads, etc. and taken to the area now called the Village of Bonny Brook.

According to the Villages rep, we had our choice of any lot in the area because we were the first to purchase in the area. One was chosen and we then were taken to several model home sites (Ranch style, Designer and Premier). After some time, we decided on a Designer Home called The Camelia, paid the deposit and went back to Massachusetts.

We were given a date to return (in November) to choose all the options for our new home and did so during another sort of lifestyle visit where the Villages put us up for a week in a 2-story villa style home at Spanish Springs. Options to be chosen included how many electric outlets in each room and their location ... very detailed.

Four months later, in March 2004 we came back and closed on our house, moved in during June and have been here ever since. Not only no regrets, but we love The Villages.

For the newer folks here, back then we were chauffeured for both visits, to and from Orlando airport in a long, white Lincoln limousine.

Just a short narrative about how purchasing here took place back when The Villages had a population of about 33,000.

[roadrnnr]

[QUOTE=Normal;2268700]That’s Sumter County too.

Arn't all the New homes in Lake county?

[dewilson58]

[QUOTE=roadrnnr;2269083]

Originally Posted by Normal

That’s Sumter County too.

Arn't all the New homes in Lake county?

[Normal]

[QUOTE=roadrnnr;2269083]

Originally Posted by Normal

That’s Sumter County too.

Arn't all the New homes in Lake county?

No, Middleton and Eastport are in Sumter. It’s easy to get confused about the issue though. My original post was just presenting the facts, I’m pro retirement in the Villages but I don’t endorse the all Sunshine Villages Sun paper either…lol. Bargains will be had soon enough for many, and that’s just fine with me. Some may be even in Sumter County, another great place to live.
All kickbacks, bonds and impact fees aside