I remember reading something like that, but it wasn't 10%. The ten percent seems really high when you consider the entire US. From what I could find, there are about 650,000 to 700,000 new homes built each year, so 10% would be 65,000 built in a year, that's more homes than in the entire Villages. The best I could find was in 2011 The Villages built about 1% of all new homes. They had been averaging about 2,000 new homes a year in the Brownwood area, and 1% meant that a down year was probably only about 200,000 new homes built in the US.

Perhaps the reason that residents buy multiple homes is that their needs change.
They could lose a spouse or acquire a new partner or have more company than expected.
They could get a dog and decide they need a villa with a fenced back yard.
They could decide summers are too hot so they want to downsize in TV and buy a condo up north.
There are many reasons for moving. All the planning in the world doesn't prepare you for life's little surprises.

You are correct, common sense says that even during one of the slowest growing period for new home sales...it certainly wasn't 10% of all homes in the United States being sold here. :oops:

That's how false rumors start. :ohdear:

I'm not sure what this site uses for its statistics, but at least it's a little more believable.

82 Cool Facts About The Villages

And it's a good site for promoting a lot of good things about TV. :thumbup:

Except of course this part, which we all know...is a fairy tale. :D

Prior to visiting TV three separate times resulting in me being shoes on ground in TV about two months total time I had done some homework and had benefitted from obtaining loads of information from TOTV, including the fact that prices on new homes were not negotiable and that there were bonds over and above the stated sales prices on new homes and inevitably on most existing homes. The TV agent was steering me toward new homes no doubt because he both made higher commissions on selling new homes and spent less time and effort doing so.

I repeatedly asked him to show me existing homes. I knew which model (Lantana) I wanted and had a list of features I desired. My impression was he did not wish to put in the time and effort. He distinctly told me he would not help me find a bargain. His words, not mine. He obviously wanted to generate the highest income he could for himself in the time he worked by focusing on steering buyers to new homes.

you need to look at the last date of purchase. (ie; flipping). a friend experienced a realtor who bought his seller condo and put it back on the market the very next day for 10,000 more. very unethical as you can read into this story so many ways. this did NOT happen in the villages vicinity, but was in florida. can happen anywhere

Your Sales Rep should not have ignored your stated wishes.
I'd be surprised if he is still working for The Villages.
When we first purchased, we only wanted a pre-owned home in mid-Villages on a golf course.
And that is precisely what our Sales Rep showed us.

Apparently there are many good TV agents.........just not mine ..........my luck I guess. Anyway enjoying my home in spite of all the misinformation.

I do apologize. I am always thinking so positively about this place because it makes me so happy and it is run so well and it offers so many opportunities to enjoy life and live in a clean, pretty, well ordered community with people who are grown up and the majority having traveled the same path, born and raised in an area of law abiding working class poor, to older people who have worked very hard for a long time and have saved and sacrificed to afford to live where we all live like Millionaires.

I was really wrong about the ten percent of homes sold here as you pointed out. It hovered at one percent just as you rightfully corrected my error.... But golly think about THAT. A very small geographic area to sell even one percent of all the homes in the U.S. during the economic downturn.

Did the Realtor hold a gun to the seller's head and tell him he had to sell his condo to him, or else??? Did he even twist his arm? I think not!

So what, pray tell, is unethical about this agent buying this property and putting it back on the market for more money?

There are two schools of thought on this issue....

1....a Realtor has the knowledge of where to price a property. Hence, the Realtor should of explained to the sellers that correct market value.

2.....A seller realized the properties value, but wanted a fast easy sale and didn't mind loosing a little profit to remove the hassle of showings, keeping it clean or making necessary repairs, ect.....the Realtor didn't mind taking the time and bought the property as is...I would do the same thing

So unless you explain the whole story....either one of these scenerios can apply.

Last I checked he is still there. He sells many new homes for the developer.

I'm surprised that he is still employed there if he ignores his clients' wishes to view resale homes.
Still, I guess there are a vast number of Purchasers who prefer to buy new.
Or who can be persuaded that new is what they really want.

I have been exposed to two Villages agents who were involved with us personally. The first was scheduled for vacation the second day we were here and she was very helpful but not directing us at all. She showed us the things we said we were interested in. Golf, art, and we had to ASK her to show us homes.. The second who eventually shared the commission with the first also was very helpful, savvy, and not pushy. AT ALL. Some people like to be guided, we like to have information and make our own decisions. Jim McLaughlin has since become our friend. He and Patti helped us find two lovely homes here and were professional in every way. We asked to look at resales the second time but decided we liked a certain model and are glad we built. The first home was a newly built spec home in Hadley. We so enjoyed it too.

I have heard of many people who asked to be reassigned to another agent because they didn't click with the first. Never heard of a problem doing that at all.

In regards to being assigned a new agent....... in the outside world of real estate......being assigned a Realtor is not done, you choose your agent.

also..changing agents comes with issues....

if the buyers do purchase a home that was showed to them by the original agent and the second agent, the original agent is due a part of the second agents commission.... and who wants to do the work and not get paid 100% for it.....

But with the villages sales agents, the rules may be different... I don't know there policies....

In regards to pushing the sale of New homes.....naturally the developer wants the agents to sell new before used. Theres more profit for the developer in new homes sales.

I am sure the rules are different and very refreshing from the "outside world". And boy does the whole process work well...as anyone can see.

People can request an agent if they have had friends recommend one, but new people coming to look are assigned one and the amazing thing is that you are asked what your interests are and he/she takes you to see them here in The Villages. Unless you ask to see homes they will not suggest you see homes. I think that is what sold me and several friends, it isn't heavy breathing, drag around to homes selling by the agents. The place sells itself. They will not call you back unless you ask them to call you back. I was SO impressed. There is no difficulty selling new homes here.

possibly you didn't read the saga that unfolded by the previous posters..

Home buying is not always sunshine and roses

I have read it and read it and I still don't understand it.

I have heard of a lot of people complaining they didn't close on the day they were scheduled and had to pay a fine, but usually that means their loan people dropped the ball. I don't see any reason for anyone to lie as to where the owners went to live, to assisted living or to their daughters. I don't understand what papers were missing.

I can see that the OP is upset but I don't still understand what happened.

I have read this forum diligently for many years and have a lot of folks I care about and know over the time I have lived here and most are really happy with The Villages agents. I think there is a lot of sour grapes among the local MLS agents for not being included into The Villages business.

But I wouldn't give money away either if I were the Morses.

What you said is the real key. We need to know the rest of the story -- i.e., the entire story. There could be half a dozen explanations to this scenario and I have a feeling there is much more information that hasn't been included.

We shouldn't be so quick to crucify the Realtor or feel so sorry for the seller, based on an extrapolated piece of information that you just know is only part of what really happened.

Well. That's how it was,..... And many others have said the same. We have to believe it is under the direction of the developer to not behave in the typical manner that people are used to from real estate people.

What you may not know is this. It took two hours to sell the view lots in our Village. Bridgeport at Laurel Valley. When we were looking for our first house and found one we liked. An hour later it sold to someone else. The real estate business here is unprecedented and this is not my first rodeo. We have had several homes built and also bought several new ones in our life time. They do NOT negotiate in any way on any new home and do not allow anything but a conventional loan.