Ask your friend
 

Probably the best bet is to ask your friend these questions. Better yet, get on the phone with the people selling the houses and property. I have been on them a few dozen times about making a booklet of some sort with all the questions you ask so people won't have to ask these same questions over and over and over ad nauseum. The little DVD and such are okay but they do not go into detail especially regarding $$$$$$.

Jerry

Getting oriented here is not done quickly.
 

I am pretty good getting around places usually, but The Villages were/was challenging at first, especially when I was looking at houses for sale on The Villages site. I was most baffled by which villages were the newer ones and which were older. There is a thread or posting on here somewhere where someone gave the approximate age of each village. It may matter if you are looking for a newer or older house or you want to know if they are north or south of 466 or 441/27.

I couldn't conceptualize where the stores were, because initially I was thinking that 441/27 ran east and west across almost the top of TV and actually it is a diagonal. 466 does run east and west through the center and so does 466A across what is NOW the bottom. It doesn't help those two sound alike too.

I was using that map all of the time and can anyone figure out why The Villages maps are printed on paper that fall apart at the creases so easily???

There are toooooo many questions to keep calling someone to ask. If you don't do maps, it really is very difficult at first.

It's actually www.lylesellsfla.com

Gracie:

I've decided that the falling apart maps are an obvious conspiracy! :jester:

Of course, since they're out of date as soon as you buy one, it's probably a money thing! Even my newest version (published Jan 2010) isn't completely current with Buttonwood, St. Charles, etc.

SWR
:beer3:

Amenities fees for renters
 

We thought we might rent when first coming to tv at least until we found what we are looking for. How is the amenities fee handled when you are not an owner? Thanks

maps
 

We hooked up with a realtor so we could have someone show us the area and we WILL buy from her.... she was kind and sent us a map.... I offered to pay but she would not accept it.... $5 is well worth the price but a Realtor really can get you around.... so much to see....make sure you take the Trolly ride.. maybe a couple of times... the first time to "hear" what they have to say... the 2nd time to "look" at what they talked about.... you can rent a golf cart and take your map and go.... what could be more fun than that??!!!!!! Enjoy... we will be down this week-end to pick our future home... we just can't wait... talk to everyone you can.... people that work in TV and people sitting around the town centers.... you will learn a lot.... we had people drawing maps for us..the golf cart store was the best.... they explained to us what is going on with the building.... where the best buys "seem" to be.... talk to people in the restaurants.... so much fun...

owner pays
 

Owners pay the amenity fees monthly, whether there's anyone in their unit or not. It costs $50 for up to 2 adults to get a "resident guest pass" for the length of their lease as opposed to a free regular guest pass. Almost all monthly or longer tenants opt for this. Not worth it if you are not golfers and are only renting for a week, IMO. The regular guest pass still gives access to pools and rec centers and golf at the guest rates.

Most landlords offer this ($50 resident passes) as an optional fee but from time to time some owners include this perk in the rent. Same for cleaning and hotel tax. The owner files and pays the hotel tax, either including the cost in the rent or adding it on. Either way, it is communicated to the prospective tenants - if not, ask.