[mgm4444]

What is the liability renting with a golf cart? Is is the same as putting your child on your car insurance and pray they don't get into an accident? Would I be sued if thr renter bad an accident in the cart that came with the rental home? Which brings another question to mind. Home insurance,, if someone gets hurt on the property. Questions! Questions!

[l2ridehd]

The golf cart issue is discussed in a couple other threads here. The main issue is that if the person using your cart is involved in an accident, the injured party can sue you as the cart owner who allowed/rented them the cart. So insurance companies are dropping coverage on carts used for rental homes.

[carol805]

Do owners have written contracts with property watchers? If so, what is included?

[Bryant]

My brother & sister-in-law visited us in 2005 or 2006. They liked the Villages but because the Villages couldn't guarantee them substantial renters (they hadn't retired yet), they bought a furnished condo in Orlando for $225K. Apparently they were told there would be no problem renting it. They also thought it would be nicer to have a place near Disney that the kids could visit. Fastforward to 2011, only 1 child visited the condo for 1 night. They themselves have visited it for less than a week each year. It has been rented out probably no more than a dozen times by mgmt. Comparable units in their complex are now selling for about $75K now (and their monthly fees are approx. $300). I wish they had bought here because even if they hadn't rented it much, they would not have seen their money go down the drain. The Villages is a good investment (IMHO).

[jgbama]

Originally Posted by Bryant

My brother & sister-in-law visited us in 2005 or 2006. They liked the Villages but because the Villages couldn't guarantee them substantial renters (they hadn't retired yet), they bought a furnished condo in Orlando for $225K. Apparently they were told there would be no problem renting it. They also thought it would be nicer to have a place near Disney that the kids could visit. Fastforward to 2011, only 1 child visited the condo for 1 night. They themselves have visited it for less than a week each year. It has been rented out probably no more than a dozen times by mgmt. Comparable units in their complex are now selling for about $75K now (and their monthly fees are approx. $300). I wish they had bought here because even if they hadn't rented it much, they would not have seen their money go down the drain. The Villages is a good investment (IMHO).

I feel their pain. We sold our place in Panama City in March and got pocket change over what we owed, not what we paid in 2002. But, we didn't know about TV until 2005. But you can't look back. Hope to be in TV within a year!!

[allus70]

Just came back from our second visit. Looked at several homes but it was a new 3 bedroom Courtyard Villa that caught our eye. It's located in Hacienda Hills, still under construction, close to Sumter Landing, at the end of the block and because of that, there is additional space.

We like the lifestyle, but are weighing the pros and cons of buying now,renting and then moving down later.

I understand the Villages Management office will take you on at a fee of 22% if you follow their guidelines as to how the home is equipped. That seems a bit high.

As for costs other than the mortgage and taxes, I am still not sure as to what the amenity fee, water, utilities, pest control, landscaping etc. etc. will cost every month.

If we were to rent out the home as an investment, I believe there would be an additional fee and add another point to the mortgage..... and if it was rented out for less than a specified term, a 'hotel' tax would kick in.

We were told that the home would rent out at 3-4K a month, but that could only be assured for a total of 3 months. Is that a realistic rent, and is the possibility of renting it out year around remote?

Trying to get our facts and figures straight before we pull the trigger....one way or another. Any help would be appreciated.

[asianthree]

Many people want Feb and March. If you hold out you might get JAN FEB MAR
Most renters are return so many do not need to worry. After high months its a crap shoot there are so many available you need to choose if you just want someone living there or just leave it empty