[SHIBUMI]

Why do Villagers sell their homes an average of 2 1/2 times........because they got the wrong location and didn't realize it until they lived there.

Figure out what you like to do, golf, swim,shop,pickle ball, etc etc, Find a location that is nearby all you love to do and Bingo. Thats where you look.

Get a Villages Real Estate person and keep them on the hunt for what you want. A great house in a bad location means you will be selling eventually.

You have time to wait , and hunt. BUT, once that property comes up you better pay the asking price and buy immediately.

Your realtor can be your eyes but they need to know what you want to see.

I have bought several houses site unseen......... My R.E. Agent was informed my eyes and ears.

Sounds like you have time, like the OP said, it's all about location. Get some informed eyes and ears on the ground and be ready to jump all in when the property comes up.

Mine was about to hit the market the next day, I did not let that happen, it worked great, I am close to everything I like and secluded enough from highways and outside noise, Town Squares.

Get some eyes and ears on the ground, Villages Realtors don't cost money and they will be the most informed. BINGO

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The only thing that differentiates one home from another in TV, is location.

[Justputt]

I would never buy sight unseen. Before the Lifestyle visit, we were sure we had narrowed our design decisions (model) down to just a couple options but once seen, quickly realized that what looked good on paper would not work for use. We went an entirely different direction, and buying sight unseen based off floor plans and pictures would have been a disaster and we'd have been looking for a second home in TV before the 1st year was up! Looking at the model homes it wasn't apparent how narrow the garages are because the narrowness of the garage doors (which we did not appreciate at the time) made it look "normal". With my truck in the garage just close enough to not bang the left wall, my wife has to park her jeep at angle towards the golf cart garage area so we're not banging vehicle doors, etc. When building, stretch the garage to max in every direction and pick a roofline that will give you max storage above, although you'll need to insulate and maybe put a minisplit A/C to keep it just it cool enough (80s?) to not melt plastics, etc. stored there. We looked at prebuilt/used homes, but the prices were the same or more than new homes. Yes, they had more mature landscaping, more of the bond was paid off, closer to golf courses, some nice trails at the rec centers, but it seemed the walking/cart/bike pathing system was more extensive in the South, the home designs weren't as dated as far North in TV, we're <45 mins to MCO and Disney, <1.5 hrs to Busch Gardens, ~40 mins to Universal Studios, ~5 miles to Eastport, ~5 miles to Sawgrass Grove, ~2.5 miles to Winn Dixie & Publix, We built in Dabney when it first opened on a preserve lot. Yes, we have a $42k bond, but our new home is up to the most current building codes (wind/electrical surge/etc.), we don't have to replace an older roof, HVAC system, etc., which can be an issue up north when getting insurance. Add the costs of things like a new roof, HVAC, upgrades to current codes, and whatever bond may be left, as well as any remodeling (rug replacement, painting, appliances, countertops, etc.) you would want, and that takes a pretty big bite out of our new home bond amount.

Whether buying old or new, do it in person with eyes wide open.

[sallyg]

We bought our first house sight unseen. We had visited, looked at numerous houses, had two realtors (Villages and MLS)
had done our homework. Big mistake. Do NOT buy sight unseen. If at all possible, rent first and take your time. There are loads of pre-owned homes to look at and the place is huge you might find you prefer one area over another. Best of luck.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

Others also have mentioned to rent here until you can find what you want.

In my entire life, I don't know a single person who found it necessary to "rent in a neighborhood", before buying a home.

... except in The Villages.

Which leads me to believe, 1 of 2 things must be true.

Folk who buy in The Villages are overly picky.

Or specific locations become more important when you get older.

[mkjelenbaas]

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.

Google CHRIS DAY - he is excellent/honest and will do a great job for you.

[Ski Bum]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

It's much easier in The Villages, than it is anywhere else.

Their are limited models to choose from. Narrow down your preferred area and they'll be a zillion home that will meet your needs. Given the current inventory, you'll have to problem finding one that suits your needs. Given you're going to end up painting and doing a few other upgrades, one is about the same as the next.

You'll need 2 brokers, one MLS, one from The Villages. Because of the way the MLS system works in TV, that's the only way to see the entire inventory. The MLS inventory, you can view online at a number of sites.

When the time comes to actually buy, set up 8-10 homes to view ... one will be right.. A day or two is all you'll need.

Assuming you're paying cash and selling a home to generate funds, open an Equity Line on the home you're selling. The cost is usually under $500 and you'll have cash available when you're ready to make a move, independent of whether your home is sold. That said, you really need to price the home you're selling, on the money.

Eazy peezy, lemon squeezy.

Good advice. I bought two homes during COVID. Did everything remotely. The agent walked through the house using Facetime. Toured the neighborhood via Google Earth. I never saw the homes in person until after closing. A good agent has a sharper eye than me anyway. They pointed out the good and the bad (roof, drainage/water intrusion, condition of flooring, cabinets, and counters, age of appliances, etc.) But you could easily fly down beforehand after doing most of the searching online.

[Dabatts]

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 rented for 6 months furnished, this allowed me to move from one house to another before I found the house I wanted. Being here you can jump on a house, it will be spring/summer so furnished rentals should be easy. Started in Polo Ridge, hated it, then Largo, better but still not “IT”. Settled south of 44, looked at my house and bought it same day.

[Gettingoutofdodge]

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 moved to The Villages 3 years ago. I leased an apt in The Lofts. It was the best choice for me. The Lofts will release you from your lease after 6 months if you buy a home through The Villages. Living in the Lofts gave me the opportunity to meet new people, look at the different neighborhoods and really experience life in The Villages. 1 month in an air B&B is not enough time to learn the ins and outs, like the maintenance fee on the bond and the administrative charges. The electric, ambulance, water and sewer charges just went up and you can expect the amenities fees to go up yearly because they do! I learned all that by living here. So factor that into your budget.

After a few months, I was ready to buy. I didn’t want the hefty bonds, higher taxes and felt that south of 44 was too far for me. I knew what area I wanted and there were quite a few resales in that area. I found a beautiful Courtyard Villa in the Village of Charlotte and bought it. It was perfect for me.
Take your time and don’t settle. Good luck, this is a wonderful place to live.

[Villager24]

Did two Lifestyle visits, rented two one week airbnbs in different locations. Bought on fourth visit, preowned from VLS agent. Easy to buy remotely. Everything is electronic. Flew in one weekend to sign papers, but just because we wanted to. Taking 18 months to makes changes and furnish before we move there full time. Biggest hassle is finding service people to do maintenance. Just do it.

[Villager24]

Exactly. As a longtime corporate employee who’s moved several times for the job, I had a one week house hunting trip to find a house.

[Karmanng]

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 have one I can sell you and you will be 10 minutes from eastport, 8 minutes from sawgrass and roughly about 20 from Brownwood I am selling it mostly furnished and turnkey......My bond is tons less than what you pay for the new! House is only 5 years old and only lived in for a total of 3 years on and off.............its exactly what is shown in the pictures I can email them to you or text you the pictures........its a Courtyard Villa with a larger backyard room for a pool just under 1700 feet...........you would need to connect with a realtor but I will try to do it by owner as all we need is the title company from what I hear

[roadrnnr]

Originally Posted by BobGraves

If you look at it as just adding the bond price to the sale price I found that the comparable prices between pre-owned and new build are very close and then you're getting a warranty, brand new roof, brand new appliances, etc.. Unless you have a specific area you're in love with I wouldn't rule out a new build JUST because of the bond. I realize some pre-owned homes have upgrades but you're probably paying to them in the resale price.

No or little Bond was my Criteria also when I came looking This Summer.

Quickly found out that preowned a few years old were way more than new and also still had a bond.

I did not want to be above 44. To much traffic and everything just seems to old.

Got a new build near Eastport and even with the Bond is comparable in price to pre owned. Plus everything is new and has warranty's.

Also Taxes are based on Purchase price so in my mind Lower Sale amount and higher bond helps with the property taxes every year.

The Bond can always be paid off in full if you so chose and be done with it.

We are in a great area next to Eastport and in a year or two it will be the place to be!

[Karmanng]

I am from AZ all my stuff has been in garages there which BTW are lots hotter than the ones here,,,,,,,,,,,,NOTHING here in FL has been damaged from the heat mini split in garage is a waste of $$$$$$$$$$

[betsyboo]

Some houses are on MLS and others are with the Villages (VLS). If the house you want is listed on MLS, the MLS agent may ask you to sign an exclusive with them per new laws from August. But if the house is on The Villages website (not MLS), that realtor will not make you sign an agreement. So I would start with the inventory that is on the Villages website thereby avoiding an agreement.

Then, if you don't find what you want with the Villages inventory and you want to see the MLS inventory, ask the MLS agent to modify their agreement to either have it expire in 48 hours or make it so that they only get a commission on properties that they have shown you.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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 how we did it - some background first:

Our northern home was on the market, had gotten an offer, and that fell through 20 days before closing. So we had to put it back on the market, and it sat there for several months. we were running out of money to pay the mortgage while still being able to afford to move, but could get a loan from a relative to cover some of the cost of a new house here in The Villages. Finally, we did have a buyer, and we were down to the wire. If it didn't close, we'd be homeless and unable to afford a new home.

So while still living up north, we got in touch with the Villages Sales rep who had shown us around during our Lifestyle visit. We directed him to just a couple of properties we saw on the Villages website, because we were running out of time. I told the rep why I liked one of them - location, surroundings, proximity to "stuff to do and retail and medical", some features of the house itself. He went to it and called me up and said "I'm standing in your new home."

I flew down a few days later to see it first-hand, carrying a blank check "just in case." I put a deposit on it right away, called hubby, told him we have a home, pending inspection. The inspection part was built into the contract.

The rep handled everything for us. Turns out the home had just BEEN inspected because the homeowners were in a similar situation as us - they had a buyer, and the buyer backed out shortly before closing. So it'd been inspected around 3 weeks prior to me showing up with a downpayment. We accepted that inspection but would still need our own "just in case."

The rep kindly gave us his address for us to send a package (for ourselves) down there, so it'd be there for our new house that day. He was at the closing, even though he wasn't going to make any commission since he wasn't the listing agent. He gave us a gift of a super-sturdy thermal grocery bag too, with towels and Tervis tumblers and free hanging house sign gift certificate from one of the sign companies that serves the area.

Hubby and I each drove back down here separately, with furniture and suitcases and some boxes of dishes and utensils and a laptop. Stayed at a hotel for a day before the closing, stayed at the house the next night. The rep helped make sure we had electricity and water switched to our name so there was no interruption of service. I was able to get internet hooked up the day of closing.

Hubby returned to the northern house and I stayed in The Villages, so he could deal with the closing up there and gather the rest of the stuff to bring down. Some people buy sight unseen. I recommend not doing that. You'll end up disappointed almost every time.

The rep was amazing. He's retired now, otherwise I'd give you his name.