Originally Posted by Coop63 (Post 2296307)

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.

Originally Posted by thelegges (Post 2296508)

Well there it is…took awhile before what everyone already knows..Prison and Quarry..you forgot the Cement factory.:22yikes:

Years of construction vehicles, guess all 3 of our new homes were in a special village.
By the time our houses were built. Most homes were on interior finish. First year is usually lawn, landscape and lots of pool guys.

If developer is in a village for years something is really wrong.

Originally Posted by thelegges (Post 2296508)

Well there it is…took awhile before what everyone already knows..Prison and Quarry..you forgot the Cement factory.:22yikes:.

Originally Posted by Coop63 (Post 2296307)

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.

Originally Posted by Coop63 (Post 2296307)

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.

Originally Posted by P.Alexander (Post 2296830)

We too are building in Moultrie Creek. Last year was our first year here and no complaints. The only area for improvement is space. Everyone I’ve spoken with has mentioned something similar. If your budget can afford it, I suggest golf cart extension, garage extension, lanai extension, and home extensions. Think of it as an investment. Your home value will only go up and if your house offers those key extensions will pay off in more space and value.
Good luck,
Pete

Originally Posted by Ashley from UK (Post 2296583)

Your doing the right thing at the right time IMHO. Sorry this is a long read but it covers a lot of your concerns - plus some others, and may also be of interest to others in similar circumstances - especially if they aren’t US citizens.

I can’t believe that 5 years ago we were in exactly the same place as you. Marsh Bend was in early stages of construction while accross the road Linden, etc was just sand. As for Richmond, St Johns, DeLuna, Hammock etc Etc…. Pure guess what they were going to look like- certainly less developed than Eastport is now.
We came out on a lifestyle in Nov 19 and bought one of the last lots in Marsh Bend. We weren’t 100% convinced about the lot and it had a HUGE $250k premium but we relied on the speed of development by TV that we could swap out our lot for no additional charge.
Feb 20 we came back out and designed our home. I work in architecture/interior in UK so building our own home was a wonderful experience. BUT we really hated our lot, so much so we seriously considered pulling out.
Thank god we didn’t as mid week a lot became available in Chitty Chatty that ticked EVERY box, plus was $100k cheaper so we swapped out, finished with designers and flew home. Chitty Chatty had a few foundations. Bradford, St Catherines etc were on par with Moultrie Creek. Dabney that wasn’t even fully cleared.

Then came covid. Borders closed, and we weren’t able to return for close on 3 years!!! Our house got built and we used Goldwingnuts to record progress. I cannot recommend Don’s service enough. The regular updates kept our dream a reality during lockdown (my previous Floridian home never got built as the developer was a con man who stole/misappropriated 695 owners deposits without building a single home - 20 years on and the land is still undeveloped while he is in jail). The bad news for us came during closing…. Due to covid the FX crashed and although the dollar closing price was the same, the GBP equivalent resulted in us having to find an extra £70k (or a US person paying an extra $100k).

I had set up a facebook page for Chitty Chatty (suggestion for you) and through that got to virtually know my future neighbours. The one thing you’ll find is that community here is all. One of neighbours helped us close, checked the house for 2 1/2 years, mowed the lawns, and helped us find a tenant (better to rent than leave empty).

During our first year we got hit by lightening which took out half our electrics. We are with Progressive Insurance and they paid out without any hassle. Our tenants were great and arranged the various trades people who carried out the repair works.

Anyhow in Sept 22 we finally got to see our home. Delighted is an understatement. The quality of build is fantastic and we are so happy to be here.

This therefore leads to the final point you raised. Value. Our house has seen in excess of 100% rise in resale value over the 3 years we’ve owned it. Partly due to us being the 3rd people to close in our village, partly the increase in real estate values from covid and partly because Chitty Chatty was an island village on the outskirts of the main area. The opening of the CC bridge joined us to the main Villages. Also we (and you) are fast moving to being central and not an outlier.

So in summary - good luck and I hope you have more success than us, but even if you are on par its been one of our best decisions.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2296739)

Ash Grove Cement off of Central Parkway Moultrie is the second largest cement company in the entire state. It is the sixth largest in the entire country. It runs 24/7 365 days a year, lights noise and all. The 200 foot silos are never going away. So enjoy.

Fine Silica Dust- It might surprise you to know that concrete and cement dust contains silica. If you don't know much about silica, in dust form, it's deadly. Silica dust is one of the biggest killers of construction workers, second to asbestos.

Those risks could be abated by just wearing a mask while you enjoy your activities outside.

Originally Posted by P.Alexander (Post 2296830)

We too are building in Moultrie Creek. Last year was our first year here and no complaints. The only area for improvement is space. Everyone I’ve spoken with has mentioned something similar. If your budget can afford it, I suggest golf cart extension, garage extension, lanai extension, and home extensions. Think of it as an investment. Your home value will only go up and if your house offers those key extensions will pay off in more space and value.
Good luck,
Pete

Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2296877)

I don't understand the phrase "we are building". No, you are not building. The developer is building the home, just like they build all the homes in the Villages. I live south of 44. But am close to Publix, doctors, etc. Would not consider buying down near 470 because there are no stores or doctors or anything down there. Nor is there any indication when a Publix is going to open there. There was supposed to be a hospital built, but have not heard anything about that. Real estate values are based on location, this is not a desirable location IMHO.

Originally Posted by Coop63 (Post 2296897)

...will the prison really have an impact? You can't see the prison and I have not read of any recent escapes. The entire Village community would be at risk if there was a mass escape.

Originally Posted by kingofbeer (Post 2296877)

I don't understand the phrase "we are building". No, you are not building. The developer is building the home, just like they build all the homes in the Villages. I live south of 44. But am close to Publix, doctors, etc. Would not consider buying down near 470 because there are no stores or doctors or anything down there. Nor is there any indication when a Publix is going to open there. There was supposed to be a hospital built, but have not heard anything about that. Real estate values are based on location, this is not a desirable location IMHO.

Originally Posted by frayedends (Post 2296920)

The phrase “we are building” is used often when someone contracts with a builder or developer to build a house. I’m sure you knew that. Why people on this forum make a negative out of simple verbiage is beyond me.

Anyhow apart from Magnolia there is a Publix and Winn Dixie very close down 470, about 4 miles in Leesburg. Lots of other retail there also. It is possible to leave the villages for stuff.