Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2303560)

The above quote makes me laugh. Here’s your sign. When someone references a place that is about a 45 minute golf cart ride due south from your home as “the north”, you know the Villages is getting really big! It makes one wonder how many different broadcast frequencies WVLG will be airing ten years from now?

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2303525)

Welcome!

I couldn’t agree more. They shall reap what they sew in 30 years when their children (few and far between) will have to support the tax system, SS (if it’s around) and everything else. Their puppies won’t cut it.

If you are choosing the Villages, there are a few considerations to reduce financial losses.

Look for unincorporated areas. Avoid Wildwood, Fruitland Park, Leesburg and Lady Lake. Buying Villages property in those areas guarantees 10 to 15 percent add ons to your tax bill. Also Lake county charges more than Sumter for taxes for now.

Look for stucco mason structures, those reduce some insurance costs.

Look for paid bonds, that will reduce your fees aggregated with taxes and file for exemptions like homestead or military.

Also, buy that fixer upper if you can. Property taxes are based on what you pay for your home, not future values.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2303525)

Welcome!

I couldn’t agree more. They shall reap what they sew in 30 years when their children (few and far between) will have to support the tax system, SS (if it’s around) and everything else. Their puppies won’t cut it.

If you are choosing the Villages, there are a few considerations to reduce financial losses.

Look for unincorporated areas. Avoid Wildwood, Fruitland Park, Leesburg and Lady Lake. Buying Villages property in those areas guarantees 10 to 15 percent add ons to your tax bill. Also Lake county charges more than Sumter for taxes for now.

Look for stucco mason structures, those reduce some insurance costs.

Look for paid bonds, that will reduce your fees aggregated with taxes and file for exemptions like homestead or military.

Also, buy that fixer upper if you can. Property taxes are based on what you pay for your home, not future values.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star (Post 2303637)

I agree with most, but would advise caution about looking for paid bonds. A paid bond on a house you love, in a neighborhood / Village you want, should be considered a bonus. Not getting a house you love in a neighborhood you want because it has a bond might be a mistake. For some of the houses north of 44 the bond can be quite small & the interest rate pretty reasonable. For example on a 10 year old house north of 44 the bond is $12,000 & the interest rate is 2.43% For a slightly older house the bond numbers are probably much less, due to the initial bond being less & the payoff over the years. Some people spend more on a golf cart. The bond should just be one of many considerations when buying a house.

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star (Post 2303637)

I agree with most, but would advise caution about looking for paid bonds. A paid bond on a house you love, in a neighborhood / Village you want, should be considered a bonus. Not getting a house you love in a neighborhood you want because it has a bond might be a mistake. For some of the houses north of 44 the bond can be quite small & the interest rate pretty reasonable. For example on a 10 year old house north of 44 the bond is $12,000 & the interest rate is 2.43% For a slightly older house the bond numbers are probably much less, due to the initial bond being less & the payoff over the years. Some people spend more on a golf cart. The bond should just be one of many considerations when buying a house.

Originally Posted by margaretmattson (Post 2303419)

This is getting old! A poster stated he does not need brick and mortar stores. Another poster then asked, "so, where do you buy a quart of milk?" Proving that we ALL need brick and mortar stores.

Originally Posted by Rainger99 (Post 2303394)

I have never complained about Southern Oaks being too close to the Turnpike. In fact, I think it is a great location for a golf course.

And I didn’t complain about Laurel Oaks being next to the Turnpike. I mentioned Laurel Oaks because, according to the maps, it appears to take up very little space so I think there was room for it on the other side of the Turnpike.

I would much prefer that the developer build golf courses right next to the Turnpike instead of putting houses next to the Turnpike. Houses would have a golf course view and be farther from the Turnpike. The Turnpike noise doesn’t bother me when I play golf but I have seen a lot of comments from people who live near the Turnpike and it does appear to be a problem for some of them.

Originally Posted by Pat2015 (Post 2303417)

Guess you don’t know that there’s all kinds of shopping 10 mins or less away by car to Publix, Winn Dixie, gas stations, restaurants, etc., right at 470 and 29.