[angel222]

Hi everyone.....I just returned from my first visit to TV - awesome is an understatement!! I looked at the new model homes and attended a number of open houses that were advertised in The Sun. I'm really confused as to how come the previously owned homes that were the same model as I saw in Hemingway were selling for higher prices than the new ones. TheVillages real estate person said it was because of updates that were in the old ones but they were so minimal that my logical mind can't seem to say this is the reason. I'm wondering if its because the new area seems so far away from the town squares (I'm not sure if the golf cart would be a comfortable ride to Sumpter let alone Spanish Springs). They said a new square was to be built but not for three years. The new models were beautiful but I'm not sure if thats enough. Any comments or advice would be really appreciated. I'd like to rent for a month or so before I buy (if I can sell my present home in this market) and I'd like to be prepared with as much info as I can. Everyone I met on my visit last week were so nice and easy to talk to -- my worries of moving there alone just seemed to disappear.

Thanks for any help .....its rainy in NY and the traffic is horrible -- Help!!

[njgranny]

I think if you look around at the homes local realtors have for sale, you can find some bargains.

All kinds of things seem to come into play, such as the lot, the location of the house, etc.

We really liked the areas around Spanish Springs, so I think that's where we'll concentrate when we really start looking. That means we'll have to go for a pre-owned.

Can't wait to get back. Glad you enjoyed your preview, too.

Jan

[graciegirl]

We bought new n Hadley and it isn't very far from Sumter Landing. It is safe to be in a golfcart after dark and really kind of fun to drive around in one. The houses already owned probably sold for more new, the downturn in the economy has priced the new houses lower than they were a couple of years ago.

[bsliny]

Angel222 I'm also from NY (BAY SHORE) I think location is a factor in the price of the house i know it was for me I can walk to Spanish Springs in a few minutes
Good Luck in whatever you decide
:hot: :hot: :hot: :hot: :hot: :hot: :hot:

[MikeH]

Have you considered that some of the pre-owned homes you saw were just overpriced? The word that comes to mind is "Greed". There are some bargains, however. Also, could buy a new home and then add what you want that it doesn't have. As to golf carts, an electric cart will get you from anywhere you are to anywhere you want to go and back with no problems. We use ours as a primary mode of transportation---the car sits most of the time. Colony Cottage area is only about 3.5-4 miles to Lake Sumter Landing---you could walk it. Nothing is THAT far away in The Villages----unless you're used to a Convenience Store on every other corner.

[bimmertl]

On any purchase in TV you need to ask about the bond. On the new homes the bond is never "paid" so it's in essence an addition to the purchase price. On resales the bond could either be the same as new, paid off completely by the current owner, or be lower than the bond on some of the new homes.

On some new designer homes the bond is around $22,000 as we were told at a recent open house on new homes. Of course, it's never mentioned in the brochures or by the sales person unless you ask.

Only way to have any idea of trying to figure out if you are comparing apples to apples is to be sure to ask about the amount of the bond on new, and balance of bond on existing homes. That's the starting point. From there consider options, upgrades, location etc.

[Villages Kahuna]

We looked at both new and pre-owned when we came down two years ago. After visiting a half dozen pre-owned homes I asked our sales rep, "Are these people nuts?" We quickly concentrated on only new models, which we eventually bought.

I wouldn't worry too much about being too far away from things. We live in Mallory Square--2 mies from Lake Sumter Landing and about 6 miles from Spanish Springs. Even the golf cart ride to SS takes less than 20 minutes. Many of the new houses will be equidistant from both LSS and the new town square, Brownwood. And Brownwood will be up and running a lot sooner than you think. Time flies when you're having fun!

[samhass]

Greed is not always a factor. Some of us purchased homes in early 2006 at the top of the market. I then customized the home, did pavers, landscaping, high end sound system and paid off the bond. I have the home up for 30K less than I have invested in it. That is not greed. It's also why I am not pushing to sell it. I'm blessed to be in the position that I don't have to sell. The market will turn in a couple of years. I can wait.

Originally Posted by Mike H

Have you considered that some of the pre-owned homes you saw were just overpriced? The word that comes to mind is "Greed". There are some bargains, however. Also, could buy a new home and then add what you want that it doesn't have. As to golf carts, an electric cart will get you from anywhere you are to anywhere you want to go and back with no problems. We use ours as a primary mode of transportation---the car sits most of the time. Colony Cottage area is only about 3.5-4 miles to Lake Sumter Landing---you could walk it. Nothing is THAT far away in The Villages----unless you're used to a Convenience Store on every other corner.

[JohnN]

we bought new and couldn't be happier.
The resales are generally overpriced, in my humble opinion. best wishes

[angel222]

Thanks so much for the info - especially the golf cart distance/times to town squares. Does anyone know the average cost for the electricity used by the golf carts? The bond on the new homes was not mentioned by the real estate person so I really appreciate the "heads up"....the real estate person did mention the bond on the resales though and said that you would never really want to pay the bond off early - the reasons given were very cloudy. Also, has anyone ever bought a new house furnished??

Thanks again,
Angel
(NY - Coram, Long Island)

[villages07]

Angel,

Golf cart electricity usage is minimal...we had heard maybe $9/month; we use our golf cart all the time and our elec bill is right in line with our neighbors.

Bonds on new designers are about $22K..yes, you need to factor this into your buying decision. The most common advice I've heard is to wait a couple of years before paying it off...to make sure TV is for you and you intend to stay in the house you bought rather than trading up/down/around. You rarely recoup the cost of the bond with a resale. On the other hand, if you want to be debt free, don't want to pay the approx 6% interest on the bond for 30 years, and expect to live in your TV house for 20+ years, and can afford the lump sum, then maybe paying off the bond is the way to go. It lessens your annual property tax bill (the collection method for bond) by $1,000-$1,500/year (depending on the amount of your bond).

Can't help you on the 'furnished' question.

[xNYer]

There are many extras in resales you may not have noticed.

In addition to upgrades the original purchaser may have paid, there may have been changes which can be costly which were added on later.

Resales come with washer dryers, often have enhanced landscaping,stones added to the landscaping, bonds may have been paid, blinds have been installed, screens may have been added, solar tubes installed, driveways painted, etc.

It's not an easy comparison to make. You can search by address or owner name.

Hope this heps





You can go to the county website appraiser's office and find out what the original homeowner paid. Y

[JohnN]

bonds on new patio villas are $10K-12K

[carlent]

just me humble opinion here:
To me it is a no-brainer! Re-sale is the most effective way to go for so many reasons.

1. mature neiborhood
2. added landscaping
3. added window treatments
4. painted drive
5. enhanced color's - ie interior painting
6. solar tubes
7. lania upgrades
8. birdcage ad on's
9. enhanced baths ie; tile shower stalls etc.,
10.enhanced kitchen's...huge!!!! big bucks in upgrade appliances, flooring, countertops etc.,
11. landscaping upgrades
12. upgraded flooring in all rooms
13. screened garage doors
14 upgraded garage storage....racks, pegboards etc.,
14. washer/dryer and upgrades to basic units
15. upgraded A/C...HUGE....new units are often sized correctly from new undersized units thus reducing your energy costs.

all of this and more....in a developed araea with nice trees and grass and a neiborhood that looks super nice....instead of bronw grass and weeds and a feeling that you are moving into the desert in some of the new home area's

16. Did i mention the close in feeling to the squares....you are not out in the hinterlands in the burbs where you could be living anywhere.....why not get into the flow, the action, the "hot" spots and be in a developed mature area near "stuff"

Again....just my 2 cents worth...for what it is worth!!! LOL


Carlent

[jadebox]

Location--Location--Location!!!! This was our first priority when buying. We are the ones who took The Villages map and put a circle out around a mile or a mile and a half from the place we most wanted to hangout at and showed our realtor the map so he could show us homes in that area. ( new or used)