[TrudyM]

MY QUESTION is how late is too late to book a rental for Dec through May? I would like to wait a bit but don't want to miss the boat.

We are thinking of retireing this summer and coming down to the villages for about 6 months to see how we like it. Hubby keeps saying well if the house doesn't sell we will just wait a year and he'll keep working.

I have been looking on Thevillages4rent but it is obvious that people don't update their listings to show availability in the lower list section (or update them at all) so the search function doesn't work.


I am trying hard to convince hubby that the villages may be a good alternative to moving back and living poor in Hawaii. But it is a long way from Seattle to the villages and he is sceptical about living in the south as we have had some bad expieriences in the past. So we must give it a few trials first.

OH wise TOVers what do you think?

[cchase]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

MY QUESTION is how late is too late to book a rental for Dec through May? I would like to wait a bit but don't want to miss the boat.

We are thinking of retireing this summer and coming down to the villages for about 6 months to see how we like it. Hubby keeps saying well if the house doesn't sell we will just wait a year and he'll keep working.

I have been looking on Thevillages4rent but it is obvious that people don't update their listings to show availability in the lower list section (or update them at all) so the search function doesn't work.


I am trying hard to convince hubby that the villages may be a good alternative to moving back and living poor in Hawaii. But it is a long way from Seattle to the villages and he is sceptical about living in the south as we have had some bad expieriences in the past. So we must give it a few trials first.

OH wise TOVers what do you think?

Trudy,
I sent you a private message.

[l2ridehd]

My guess would be that about 80% of the rentals for next January through March 2014 are already committed.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

I am trying hard to convince hubby that the villages may be a good alternative to moving back and living poor in Hawaii. But it is a long way from Seattle to the villages and he is sceptical about living in the south as we have had some bad expieriences in the past. OH wise TOVers what do you think?

Retiring in Hawaii or Florida? Aloha, I vote Hawaii!

[graciegirl]

Have you been here yet Trudy? If not why not come and rent for two weeks?

That is enough time for most of us to really to get the "feel" of the place.

This forum was very instrumental in our decision too.

[asianthree]

Sent pm

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Have you been here yet Trudy? If not why not come and rent for two weeks?

That is enough time for most of us to really to get the "feel" of the place.

This forum was very instrumental in our decision too.

Boy you guys get up early responses started a 6 am your time.

We stayed for a couple of weeks in 2006. At that time they had just broken ground on the Barnes and Nobel and my husband had just been laid off from Lockheed Martin in Atlanta. I was lookin at a mangement position with the new Barnes and Nobel. But as it turned out my husband got hired back at Boeing so we returned to Seattle and I went back to work in the buying offices at Macys. It seemed very friendly then which is why I have been checking in on this site over the years. But it has gotten alot bigger than when we visited.

Thanks for the thoughts

[2BNTV]

Everyone must dcide for themslves but I would rather live in TV as opposed to living poor in Hawaii. I could never see myself as being comfortable, if I had to check my wallet everytime I wanted to do something. Hawaii is very beautiful but very expensive.

I also could never go to a vacation spot and then not have any money to do anything but stay in my hotel room but that's me. I think you owe to yourselves to visit TV again and make an informed decision. It would be a wise investment with so much hanging in the balance.

[TrudyM]

Here is how my choices come out by the numbers if anyone wants to do a similar comparison here is the site, bestplaces.net/cost_of_living--
Sorry can't get link to paste.

Cost of Living----The Villages Fla--- Bellevue WA--- Ewa Hawaii --- USA mean
Overall ------------- 101-105--------- 175 ---------- 179---------- 100
Food---------------- 105---------------- 110---------- 156---------- 100
Utilities-------------- 95----------------- 93---------- 168*--------- 100
*Must include airconditioning which locals don't use-can't afford.
Miscellaneous------- 97-------------- 111------------ 121---------- 100

Now you see why I am looking to move in retirement.

[Mudder]

TrudyM, I remember you from a while ago. I have a daughter who lives on MI and I can tell you from what we have observed when we visit there, it is much less expensive here. I remember you were going to do some renovations to your house and we talked about the schools on MI....you were right, they are wonderful !!!
There are several people from Seattle here in The Villages, they'll probably weigh in on this subject, but definitely come for a month or so and rent so hubby can feel comfortable.

[TrudyM]

Ok I am getting answers back from a few that have units available that want a third or half non-refundable at time of signing. Isn't that a bit nuts? I mean on a six month rental thats alot. I mean do people really lay out six grand for a deposit?
Some say it is refundable if rerented so if that is so I should maybe look for only booking the high months so I can be sure to get my money back?
How can I be sure the person really owns the place? I hate to send off a huge check only to find out it is a scam. I am sure I read how somewhere here in the past but can't find it in my notes or under search.

Thanks to all the PMs with help. l2ridehd your idea of renting a few months in three areas is probably a good one. I was thinking six months in one to avoid the tax and make my application to rent desireable but you have a good point that multiple locations would give a better overview.

[rjm1cc]

[QUOTE=TrudyM;634871]
How can I be sure the person really owns the place? I hate to send off a huge check only to find out it is a scam. I am sure I read how somewhere here in the past but can't find it in my notes or under search.

This is a good question. I would try the county tax assessor and the county tax collector to see who is listed as the owner of the house.

There is also a software program that can be used to find the names of your neighbors (I do not recall the program) but once you know the name of someone in the neighborhood you could call then and see if they can verify the owner and if he normal rents. Just found this from searching. Don't know how good it is. Click on Resident. Try your own address to test. Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

I also would check to see if they are listed on standard rental sites.

[TrudyM]

Thanks
I tried that link and it listed every place I lived since 1980 when I put in my name. Including places I rented. Married to areospace engineer we move alot.
It gave everyone who has ever lived in my house when I went by address so that might help. I will try the county tax roll that should work I hope. I still hate to shell out 6 grand 10 months in advance that I might never get back. Actually it would be a loss of $250 after tax interest as an alternative investment cost. I think I am overthinking this.

[quote=rjm1cc;634986]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

How can I be sure the person really owns the place? I hate to send off a huge check only to find out it is a scam. I am sure I read how somewhere here in the past but can't find it in my notes or under search.

This is a good question. I would try the county tax assessor and the county tax collector to see who is listed as the owner of the house.

There is also a software program that can be used to find the names of your neighbors (I do not recall the program) but once you know the name of someone in the neighborhood you could call then and see if they can verify the owner and if he normal rents. Just found this from searching. Don't know how good it is. Click on Resident. Try your own address to test. Spokeo People Search | White Pages | Find People

I also would check to see if they are listed on standard rental sites.

[asianthree]

we take a deposit on the house at signing ..... 60 days out 1/2 off balance 30 days out the other half of balanceyou Will find that most people when you're renting for 6 months will ask for January February and March upfront to make sure that you are going to stay for the full 6 months instead of leaving after 3 months that way they guarantee their winter rate....and yes there have been renters who have taken 6month rental at a lower rate and then moved out at the end of March has not happened to us but to a couple of good friends

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by asianthree

we take a deposit on the house at signing ..... 60 days out 1/2 off balance 30 days out the other half of balanceyou Will find that most people when you're renting for 6 months will ask for January February and March upfront to make sure that you are going to stay for the full 6 months instead of leaving after 3 months that way they guarantee their winter rate....and yes there have been renters who have taken 6month rental at a lower rate and then moved out at the end of March has not happened to us but to a couple of good friends

Thanks that policy would be fine with me I would be glad to pay 60 or even 90 days before I come and also I would expect the discount for all 6 months to come out of the last month not be spread out. What is making me nervious is shelling out a big wad now for a rental that starts next January. The same people might not even own it by then. I am just warn out from my serch going to take a break and read TOV some more.