[frayedends]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

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?

It is a bit silly but they refer to Dabney/Denham as the south. It’s actually only a 30 minute cart ride and quite enjoyable.

[Coop63]

Originally Posted by Normal

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!

Thank you for the great advice. Very helpful

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Normal

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!

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.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

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.

Very smart advise.

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

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.

Bond rates range from a low of 2.32% in parts of Marion County to a high of 5.97% in parts of district 12 in Sumter County. The average bond rate is 3.916%.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

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.

Only if one needs pasteurize milk, then again live anywhere in US and that wonderful person hops out of their truck, opens the refrigerated and freezer compartment rings your doorbell and deposits on your porch or inside your door, well packed groceries plus milk and IceCream.

Age could be a common factor of need for grocery store. The occasional stop at most retailers I find some who seem to be there for human contact.

That would be mom in law, she went to grocery everyday picked up the needs of the day. I think it was the human contact, because it wasn’t like there was a need for food budget. Truthfully I can’t stand the small aisles , stuff in places that makes no sense, and people grumbling at staff for no reason. Don’t get me started on the multitude of fire Lane parking, because they are special.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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.

My bad... It was someone else with #s in his name who continually trashes Southern Oaks...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Pat2015

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.

Many would rather stay inside the bubble to shop...

But if you want to shop there, more power to you...