[Coop63]

My wife and I are looking at building a home in Village of Moultrie creek. It is nestled between the Middleton downtown and the new East Port town square. It could be 2 years of construction before the amenities move into this area. It is hard to believe it will only be 2 years given the vastness and sparsity of buildings at the present time.

We are new to the villages and I am not retired yet so getting the house we want is more desirable. Also, it's the excitement of 2 new communities right by us. It is my understanding that we will see appreciation in home value given the early stage of development. We can build a nicer home for less then some of the new builds listed in the Village of Dabney (for example). The appreciation would cover us against a potential real-estate mistake. We understand the bond.

We are bought in on the active lifestyle promise the Villages has to offer. We have taken the tour and spent a couple days exploring. My wife and I love it.

I would greatly appreciate feedback on any of the topics I mentioned. Looking for tips, advice or any other helpful hints. Thanks in advance.

[Dusty_Star]

Good luck with your new house. When will you be begining the process? One of the frequent posters on this forum recently had a new house built, I believe first he purchased the lot then selected the model he wanted. Hopefully he will see this posting & respond, he probably has lots of good insight from his recent exeriences.

[Bogie Shooter]

The future is unknown, no appreciation guaranteed.

[frayedends]

I'd be surprised if you can build for less than in Dabney. I'd agree on price appreciation, but the Villages also knows that it is a desirable area. I think it seems like a sound investment. Lake Denham and Dabney have some discounts right now, mostly interior lots with kissing lanais. The exterior view/preserve sites are all gone.

We went with an already completed home in Lake Denham and are very happy with the location and our lot is awesome. I'm sure we saved money by purchasing the home already complete. If my wife got to the Street of Dreams I'm sure upgrades would have greatly increased the price (although I guess now they aren't offering as many changes).

[Papa_lecki]

Use TOTV for research on the following:

Golf cart
Cleaning people
]Home watch (if you’re not going to be full time)
Lawn care/landscaping
Upgrades to make to the house over time
Furniture
Internet

[thelegges]

OP are you looking at build lots? If so you need to decide now on what model you need. You have more options available for Designer or Premier. That will determine the type of lot available for your build.

At this time (change is always hopeful) you can only stretch (expand base walls) front and rear of home. So you can increase entire back of house (bedroom, living area lanai) Front of house increase front bedroom along with garage. You can build a pool but only option “A or B” Strongly suggest you find larger lot than you think you need and stretch as far as possible even if you don’t think you need it.

What you can’t do.

No longer add room such as a pantry. You can’t move interior walls, add any lights, outlets, inside and out. Stretch side walls, change cabinets add cabinets, windows, or expand closets. Suggest if allowed do not buy their appliances, buy package for Costco, Best Buy, appliance store. You will save half of their cost.

If you are looking at other models you can pick color of floors, color of cabinets, interior/exterior paint.

[margaretmattson]

Visit the area you plan to build before buying. Pay attention to things like traffic, noise, amount of travel to get to grocery store and doctors, amenities etc. Moultrie Creek is located close to the high school stadium, a 24 hr cement factory, quarry, and the federal prison. The land is owned by the federal government and they may make changes. The championship golf course is the one students will use. Not trying to scare you away from your choice, simply telling you to do your research on a home before buying. Remember, the Villages purchased enough land to build for 20 years. If you decide Moultrie Creek isn't a great fit for you, a few months later another village(s) will become available. Sometimes, it may be best to wait.

Right now, prices of homes in the Villages are dropping. If you are counting on appreciation of your home, you probably should watch the Villages market. Go to VLS and MLS weekly and look at the price of the homes. As you probably know, the real estate market changes. Sometimes it is up and sometimes down.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I'd be surprised if you can build for less than in Dabney. I'd agree on price appreciation, but the Villages also knows that it is a desirable area. I think it seems like a sound investment. Lake Denham and Dabney have some discounts right now, mostly interior lots with kissing lanais. The exterior view/preserve sites are all gone.

We went with an already completed home in Lake Denham and are very happy with the location and our lot is awesome. I'm sure we saved money by purchasing the home already complete. If my wife got to the Street of Dreams I'm sure upgrades would have greatly increased the price (although I guess now they aren't offering as many changes).

You would have been fine with your wife at street of dreams. She could pick from A or B. Our budget was pretty high, but because of so little choice, we saved enough to build after market pool, buy a new golf cart, and still have healthy travel fund.

Trust me there are so little choices, at street of disappointment, your appointment 3 hours or less to “build your house” will save tons of money. But need to keep healthy budget for all the expenses of after market things you couldn’t do at build.

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by thelegges

You would have been fine with your wife at street of dreams. She could pick from A or B. Our budget was pretty high, but because of so little choice, we saved enough to build after market pool, buy a new golf cart, and still have healthy travel fund.

Trust me there are so little choices, at street of disappointment, your appointment 3 hours or less to “build your house” will save tons of money. But need to keep healthy budget for all the expenses of after market things you couldn’t do at build.

Yeah it does seem choices are limited. In any case we got a floorplan that works for us. We have room for a pool when we are ready and we can update everything else as needed and probably for less than if we'd done it through the builder. We are part time now, but we did splurge on a nice new golf cart. Hoping to get the pool in before we move full time.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Coop63

We are bought in on the _____ promise the Villages has to offer.

First mistake, but a big one.

[mrf0151]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Visit the area you plan to build before buying. Pay attention to things like traffic, noise, amount of travel to get to grocery store and doctors, amenities etc. Moultrie Creek is located close to the high school stadium, a 24 hr cement factory, quarry, and the federal prison. The land is owned by the federal government and they may make changes. The championship golf course is the one students will use. Not trying to scare you away from your choice, simply telling you to do your research on a home before buying. Remember, the Villages purchased enough land to build for 20 years. If you decide Moultrie Creek isn't a great fit for you, a few months later another village(s) will become available. Sometimes, it may be best to wait.

Right now, prices of homes in the Villages are dropping. If you are counting on appreciation of your home, you probably should watch the Villages market. Go to VLS and MLS weekly and look at the price of the homes. As you probably know, the real estate market changes. Sometimes it is up and sometimes down.

Great points here that are mentioned. Since there are many unknowns in the new build areas, might it be smarter to buy in the developed areas of TV where you already know the unknowns?
Between 466 and 466A is absolutely prime with golf courses, pickleball, recreation centers, town squares, shopping, etc. Not to mention you will not have a crazy high bond, if any bond at all.

[villagetinker]

A lot has changed since 2013 when we bought a lot and built, designer Gardenia, 3 stretches, lots of changes to interior items as well as picking outside color, etc. At that time once you bought the lot, construction had to start in 6 months, no idea of current requirements.
Some things to think about:
South facing lanai greatly limits direct sunlight, especially avoid west facing.
While we did get tile and rugs, we did eventually remove the rugs, consider your flooring very carefully, we also did not do the diagonal tile, which in hindsight was a minor mistake.
These houses have very little storage, build as big as possible.
Think about the future pool, access to this from the lanai, and make considerations for this traffic if possible. We did not want a pool, but did want a future birdcage, so one of the stretches was to enlarge the lanai.
If you can make decisions on windows, get the ones that stop around 18 inches from the floor, the ones that go lower seem to be more intrusive to furniture location, IMHO.
We had lots of additional low voltage wiring installed at construction, this saved a ton of money later, but it sounds like this may not be an option.
Speaking of wiring, if possible, I would definitely get additional outlets in every room, and the floor outlet in the living room.
Please feel free to send me a PM if you would like to discuss further.

[Altavia]

Historically, The Villages generally tends to start construction in the relatively less desirable locations.

Unless you are in a hurry, I'd hang on until they start building east of Marshbend trail.

View lots tend to be better investment and appreciate faster, there will be several large retention areas that look like rivers. A drive down Corbin Trail is an early example where the chain of lakes resemble a river.

[Coop63]

Originally Posted by frayedends

I'd be surprised if you can build for less than in Dabney. I'd agree on price appreciation, but the Villages also knows that it is a desirable area. I think it seems like a sound investment. Lake Denham and Dabney have some discounts right now, mostly interior lots with kissing lanais. The exterior view/preserve sites are all gone.

We went with an already completed home in Lake Denham and are very happy with the location and our lot is awesome. I'm sure we saved money by purchasing the home already complete. If my wife got to the Street of Dreams I'm sure upgrades would have greatly increased the price (although I guess now they aren't offering as many changes).

Thank you for you response. This is the quote for a base Dove model with 2 car garage, with the following extras: Golf car garage with 2' stretch. 2' stretch on entry, foyer and living room. 8' stretch on Lanai. Composite plank thru-out house. $492k.

We wanted a water lot, which as not available in Lake Denham and Dabney. The lot is not included in the quote above. We still have to go through the design process to get our final cost. Hoping that does not change much.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Coop63

Thank you for you response. This is the quote for a base Dove model with 2 car garage, with the following extras: Golf car garage with 2' stretch. 2' stretch on entry, foyer and living room. 8' stretch on Lanai. Composite plank thru-out house. $492k.

We wanted a water lot, which as not available in Lake Denham and Dabney. The lot is not included in the quote above. We still have to go through the design process to get our final cost. Hoping that does not change much.

Wow. 492 doesn't include lot or bond and no water lot. Not sure why you're so sold on a new home. You could get everything you want and more and save over $100k but your choice.