[villager7591]

Sorry if someone has stated this already...an MLS realtor can show you pre-owned homes listed on the MLS. A Villages realtor will only show you homes NOT on the MLS but on the Villages realtor/sales system. So get two realtors, one MLS and one VLS.

[Ptmcbriz]

Have your realtor understand what you are looking for. Realtor will do walk throughs of homes live via video. You find what you like. They put it on hold, and you wire earnest money, along with signing docs online via docu-sign. Easy peasy. It was flawless for us.

[Papa_lecki]

It’s a 6 figure investment. Here is what I would do

1) find the great realtor, come down for a few days, see lots of houses in various locations, to hone in on what you want, vs what you think you want now. Realtor will help you. It’s worth the few thousand dollars for this vacation
2) have the realtor search new listings, until you find 1/2/3 places you think you like
3) come back down, visit those last few houses
4) close the deal

You’re spending $5000 for a few trips, to save a huge head ache on a $400,000 purchase.

[Priebehouse]

Our 1100 mile long distance experience took over 2 years to complete. Rented for a month in 2018 (from Rent from a Villager). Looked at about 40 properties from both LS and put in an offer on one but we were overbid. The following year we rented for another month. We looked at likely another 40 properties and the last week, we found one we were interested in. We kept an eye on it while back in Michigan. Three more short trips back to TV to look at others and BOOM. Offer made and accepted.

Use the VLS and MLS DAILY to find your prize. Take your time and make it happen.

[Tdolecki]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

You need a realtor and I have a good one if you need. She helped us for many years and was very patient .

[coleprice]

Prior responses provide good information regarding the purchase of pre-owned homes in The Villages. Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby. Also, the Bond is usually paid off on homes in the North and Middle areas, plus you are MUCH CLOSER to Shopping & Restaurants. The Bond is real debt that a home owner is responsible to pay off, so you are wise to recognize that.

[BOWRUNNER]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

Call Patrick Shores, he will meet all your needs

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

Rented for a year, about middle way between the new construction, then around 466A, and the established part of town. Brownwood was too underwhelming then, so confined our search to areas accessible to Spanish Sprigs and to Lake Sumter Landing. We found the Marion County villages better constructed and landscaped, and while a bit further from LSL than ideal, when a deal presented we took it. Only mistake was in not getting a bigger garage, but that really has not been much of an issue.

[coconutmama]

Location is everything to us. Just as important as the home model we now have.

Our 1st home here did not have a golf cart garage and was in excess of 5 miles to a gas station to fill our cart, which we use a lot here. Not just for golf but for errands & yes, taking our dog for a ride every day.

Our second home here has a golf cart garage & is a 1/2 mile to a plaza which is a big deal to us.

Also be sure you ask your realtor about water treatment & landfills near you. There are several inside The Villages & they do emit odors especially in summer.

Just a stone’s throw outside of The Villages in the southern area is a federal prison. That may or may not be an issue to you.

And of course highway noise in some locations is something to consider

Good luck in your search. You will find the right home

[BostonTom]

The lifestyle homes in Atwood are for sale fully furnished great location directly across the street from Brownwood Square and grocery store. They have been selling quickly that would be a pretty safe purchase remotely LOCATION LOCATION

[opinionist]

I did buy a house in Florida from a long distance. I visited the community to get a sense of what houses are like. I had family in the community, including a realtor, to search for the right home. I wanted a stick-built house (not manufactured or block construction), a golf course frontage, no carpet, and an open living space. The realtor sent pictures of what could meet my needs, and I was surprised at how many options were available. I had family look over the house and give feedback on the location (e.g., road noise) and settled on a house to buy. It turned out to be perfect for my needs.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

I lived in CA when I bought my first house here. You can go online (The Villages.com and search houses). I would try to have someone you know be here as my realtor had a house inspection without my knowledge. I was not happy. I had it redone. I bought a second house here on the Historic side and I love it. No bond, individuality and close to everything. Good luck.

[jimmy o]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

Okay, let’s get some of the preliminaries out of the way. I did a Lifestyle visit, about 3-4 days, a year ago, in Newell. I spent July in an Airbnb in the northern village of Alhambra. I don’t want to move until I start my Social Security, so sometime after February. Although my wife was smitten with the idea of a new home, the LONG drive down to Eastport made her less eager, and I don’t want the big bonds of the new houses (I know, many say bonds don’t matter for various reasons, but I don’t want a new house bond.)

Maybe I should clarify my original question now:
How do you go about buying a (preowned) home in a community 1500 miles away from where you live?
Thanks to all who share their experiences.

Here’s what we did: on our very first visit to TV we knew that someday we would move here, so we started looking at open houses. We visited yearly for 3 years, each time also looking at many open houses mixed in with our fun time. After our third visit here during our 1100 mile drive home we decided “what the hell are we waiting for”! We got home, straightened ourselves out a bit, talking to bank, utilities, realtor, and family. Then within two weeks drove back to TV with sole purpose of buying our new home. Since we have spent every trip looking at open houses we had a good idea what type of house we wanted and which location.

We contracted a used home, with no bond, then we ordered our golf cart. We then drove ourselves back to Chicago burbs to sell our house. While we were getting our home ready for sale up North we closed on our TV home remotely using bridge loan. We closed on sale of our Chicago home about 6 weeks after purchase of our TV home. We hired a mover that would move us alone and not a shared van. We sold one car on Carvana before moving as we knew we would only need one car and our golf cart as transportation to suit our needs. We said good riddance to Illinois and drove ourselves back to TV while the movers hauled our stuff. Then we also bought some new stuff.

If we had it to do again we would bring less stuff and buy more new stuff for TV. Some stuff brand new and some from resale. There is some very nice resale here. That’s what we did, hope some of this info helps you out.

[DONNIEBRONX]

Best to be between 466 and 466a

[SeaCros]

You will have to do some research d try not to buy sight unseen. The bond could still be there on a pre owned home if the previous owners did not pay it off.
Get a good realtor to be your boots on the ground until you are closer to making the decision to move. Others also have mentioned to rent here until you can find what you want.
Good luck in your endeavors.