[jimbo2012]

Hi after looking at tons of videos and reading, we're visiting next week to see what the best values/locations are.

I see foreclosures and low end of asking40K and others at $60K, what's up with those homes?

I see new for $132K and others for 200K & up.

Since it would only be a winter use for us I want to spend as little as possible, (perhaps under 75K or less, we can always upgrade if we like) after all with all there's to do it looks like we only need the house to sleep in

Also I called there to ask what the typical costs of ownership is without any mortgage or taxes, they wouldn't give me a straight answer.

What's it cost from you folks who live there would be helpful.

Any difference going direct TV or an outside broker?


tks

[bonrich]

Depending on what you buy, and how much you have to mortgage if not paying cash, we figured with the help of our salesman, about $2,000 per month for all which includes mortgage.

[mac9]

Without a mortgage.
1. $200 for amenities, water and trash
2. taxes
3. utilities $100
4. bond amount, if there is a bond
5. phone, cable, and internet about $100 depending on your choices.

[dalecrenshaw]

I believe that the Village's agents only show the homes listed by them. They don't show other agents listings....so in order to see everything that is available you would need an outside broker, in addition to a Village broker to cover everything.

[jimbo2012]

Well we made an appointment for tomorrow AM to get the tour/sales pitch so we'll report back.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Well we made an appointment for tomorrow AM to get the tour/sales pitch so we'll report back.

You will be so surprised. You will get a tour but no sales pitch. They will answer your questions and show you what you want to see. They don't have to push.

You should at that time get the dvd and other information in a packet, including cost of living that most of us agree is pretty accurate.

[champion6]

To see a true cost of ownership, look at the Nuts and Bolts section at the bottom of this forum. There are some very informative messages there.

There are two listing services for homes in TV - VLS, Villages Listing Service and MLS, Multiple Listing Service which we are familiar with in other parts of the country. To get a complete view of all available preowned homes, you will need a Villages agent and an MLS agent.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You will get a tour but no sales pitch. They will answer your questions and show you what you want to see. They don't have to push

They must have changed their ways then.......

They only PUSH new not resales at all.

I had a great tour anyway, not saying we wouldn't consider new but wanted to see the rest of the market.

Met a MLS that was nice enough to show us.

The strange thing is the new home was less than any resales of the same model????????????

I think there should be a big difference in a 10 year old home v new

I think we will move forward but now it makes it tougher to shop.

The Cabot 'patio villa' caught my wifes eye, I would otp for a low end unit for like 60K to see how it goes for a while then move to what we want.

But she didn't like anything about the mfg homes or areas, she would walk into one


.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Jimbo, I think finding any Patio Villa priced around $60k would be a stretch - perhaps a foreclosure or a short sale of some sort. But even then.........

There was a foreclosed patio villa in our neighborhood that sold last year in the high one-teens. The new owner volunteered that he then put an additional $15k in it to get everything back up to snuff.........and he felt like he got a great deal. And prices have generally gone up a bit since then.

Bill

[jimbo2012]

No I was referring to a mfg home like a dbl wide etc. for 60K, not a Villa.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

They must have changed their ways then.......

They only PUSH new not resales at all.

I had a great tour anyway, not saying we wouldn't consider new but wanted to see the rest of the market.

Met a MLS that was nice enough to show us.

The strange thing is the new home was less than any resales of the same model????????????

I think there should be a big difference in a 10 year old home v new

I think we will move forward but now it makes it tougher to shop.

The Cabot 'patio villa' caught my wifes eye, I would otp for a low end unit for like 60K to see how it goes for a while then move to what we want.

But she didn't like anything about the mfg homes or areas, she would walk into one


.

Hi Jimbo2012,
When you compare the cost of two homes:

• be sure you add the bond (if any) on each to get the total price. For example, a new home selling at $150,000 with a $20,000 bond would cost more than a resale selling for $160 and no bond.
• consider any upgrades that may already have been done in a resale that you would want and have to pay for separately if you bought new. (Examples might be solar lights, attic stairs, upgraded flooring, counters, cabinets or closet organizer systems; landscaping, etc.)
• compare the lots of each home. (TV charges a premium for new homes on lots with a view, on a golf course or water, on a corner, non-kissing lanai's etc. So if a resale is on a premium lot and the same design new home is not, that could account for some of the difference.
• Remember that the price of any resale is negotiable. You are not likely to pay asking price; and at any rate, you can always make a lower offer. The price of new homes in TV is not negotiable. The asking price plus the bond is what you will pay (plus the cost of any upgrades you add).

Hope this helps. Best wishes in your search and please keep us posted.

[jimbo2012]

I agree, in the ones we looked at we didn't see that value for upgrades.

I was told the new home was 136 + 10K for the bond which is added to the taxes so you kinda don't feel it when amortized over 30 years.

No mention of interest?????

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

No I was referring to a mfg home like a dbl wide etc. for 60K, not a Villa.

Sorry - - - I misunderstood your intent with your post. My bad.

Bill

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

I agree, in the ones we looked at we didn't see that value for upgrades.

I was told the new home was 136 + 10K for the bond which is added to the taxes so you kinda don't feel it when amortized over 30 years.

No mention of interest?????

Hi Jimbo,
The amount of interest varies from district to district, depending on when the bonds in that district were sold and/or refinanced to a lower rate.

One of these days, you'll ask a question for which the answer is simple.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

I agree, in the ones we looked at we didn't see that value for upgrades.
I was told the new home was 136 + 10K for the bond which is added to the taxes so you kinda don't feel it when amortized over 30 years.

No mention of interest?????

Don't feel it when amortized over 30 years? It is the same as amortizing an additional 10k on the mortgage except at a higher interest. The TV realtors try to minimize the effect of the bond because they are selling new homes with high bonds, but the truth is the bond is problematic, at best. If you pay for it annually, you pay a high interest rate, if you pay it off, you are unlikely to rocoup the cost if and when you sell. The bond is not a great deal, but is part of the cost of doing business in the villages.