Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2302656)

It’s a buyer’s market. If you buy, look only for the very best deals. I would hold off a little longer. Inventory is already at historic highs (6 months). Wait at least till summer.

Originally Posted by Coop63 (Post 2303499)

Anecdotal observation based on looking at homes on Zillow. Tastefully decorated homes between the sixes, and just south of 466a seem to be moving. Homes north of 466 are overpriced. This is just my opinion.

I am nearing retirement, living in a northern blue state, snow birding near Orlando. I am selling my home when we get back (beginning of April) and moving to the Villages. I have never seen so much political divisiveness and my main concern is getting value out of my existing homestead before things get any worse. I know it sounds like fear, maybe age, but conditions are quickly deteriorating in suburban areas.

I am seeing more younger couples with dogs, rather than families, who vote based on emotion. They proudly display their ideological preferences on flags and banners. They seem fine paying more taxes in the face of shrinking services and more accepting of the encroaching blight.

Perhaps these are similar to the complaints of our grand parents. At this point in life, I would rather be around people who share similar values. I was super impressed with the cleanliness of the villages. Given what I have seen walking around our neighborhood at home, I developed a new found appreciation for deed restrictions. I have seen too many "brightly colored" doors that clash with the house, and yards in need of fertilizer, edging, hedging and basic home care that our generation took pride in. Yep, I am getting older, maybe wiser :-)

Originally Posted by frayedends (Post 2303331)

I have not once bashed the north. I love Brownwood.

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2303249)

Don't forget the toll plaza is nearby with a couple of fast food places and odds & ends. Came in handy very early one morning. :-)

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 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.