Originally Posted by Lovey2 (Post 1181801)

Thanks, Kazmi and birdawg! It will be a few years before they are here full time. I've been in Florida without my siblings since 1989! Although I go up north frequently and they visit me, it will be nice to have a sib in the same state, and especially in this fabulous place!!

Originally Posted by RickeyD (Post 1180711)

Look up the mil rate for both Lake County and the City of Fruitland Park.

Originally Posted by VApeople (Post 1182169)

Easier said than done. I tried doing a web search on "mil rate fruitland park" and I could not make any sense out of the results.

On a $400K house, how much property would a person pay in Labelle versus Pine Ridge?

Originally Posted by RickeyD (Post 1182193)

The mil rate for Pine Ridge is 19.5, Sumter 12.25
Labelle $ 4,900
Pine Ridge 7,800

https://www.lakecopropappr.com/pdfs/...ison_Sheet.pdf

Originally Posted by Lovey2 (Post 1181760)

We have done a lot of research these past few days and spoken to quite a few people in the area of Labelle, and the new Pine Ridge Villas. We also went up the hill and spoke with the people working at the "dump" and had a peek at what's around there. The people at the dump were very welcoming and had nothing to hide. They were happy we came and asked them and said they are tired of the complaints about the smell. Remember, they butt right up to the golf courses there and they confirmed a lot of the smell comes from the courses. It's what they spray to fertilize and even the water. I've smelled it myself from the golf courses and retention ponds near where I live in Gilchrist...nowhere near the "dump". I have friends that live in Sanibel on the golf course, and they get the same smell...from the golf course. The gentleman we spoke with at the dump said he had been there for 10 years working in the trailer there. Our thoughts were, he had nothing to gain by being truthful with us. He does not own the dump, simply works there. Anyway, the villa is lovely, the tax rate is NOT double, albeit it IS more than ours, everyone I have met in the area is very kind and nice, and my brother has decided to go ahead with the deal. Prospective buyers: keep in mind...you get a lot of "opinion" here. Come down and do your own research, talk to the neighbors where you're looking, and make your own decisions. While it's good to gather info here, be careful the source.

Originally Posted by Happinow (Post 1182300)

No Lovey.....we don't get any smell on this golf course if it was us you were talking about. In our almost 4 years here I have never smelled anything on this course.....Fort Walton. I guess we are lucky because when drive down Pinellas towards Braydenton, I smell some pretty foul stuff in the summer. I guess it may be the fertilizer....I don't know. Glad your brother found a home he loves!! It will be nice to have him here. [emoji3]

Originally Posted by VApeople (Post 1182261)

Thanks for the info. I looked at the link you gave and I still did not see a 19.5 mil rate for Pine Ridge, which I guess is part of the Fruitland Park district. Did you actually add up all of the individual mil rates to get the 19.5 figure? Very impressive.

Anyway, the taxes for Lake County seem very high to me. They are almost double of the amount we would pay for a $400K house in the Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C.

Originally Posted by Happinow (Post 1182300)

No Lovey.....we don't get any smell on this golf course if it was us you were talking about. In our almost 4 years here I have never smelled anything on this course.....Fort Walton. I guess we are lucky because when drive down Pinellas towards Braydenton, I smell some pretty foul stuff in the summer. I guess it may be the fertilizer....I don't know. Glad your brother found a home he loves!! It will be nice to have him here. ��

Originally Posted by RickeyD (Post 1182332)

The odor comes from the dump that has been disguised and looks like a weird looking plateau. The developer has admitted the odor comes from the dump. Do a TOTV search on this subject.

Originally Posted by RickeyD (Post 1182344)

I simply added the general fund, water, school & Fruitland Park. You can extrapolate the rest. Not sure which fire district, hospital etc. A call to the county assessor would be helpful if someone were considering a move. Me, I'd stay out of this area for several financial reasons. It won't be long before it will become common knowledge that the taxes are much higher which will affect resale value as well as ongoing monthly expenses. After all, most of us will be living on a fixed income. The power lines are the demarcation line and as such people being people will form opinions and attitudes which eventually will affect values. This is my opinion based on several conversations I've had with sales reps and people looking in both LaBelle & Pine Hills.