[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by Foxske

Hi all,

We are thinking about bying a property in TV, but we have got some questions.
Since we are europeans and we can only spend a maximum time of 6 months in the usa, our idea is to come in winter for a copple of months.

As we have already guessed, summer period is hard to rent out , so our question is :

1. if the property is NOT occupied , is there a possibilty to switch off CABLE Television / SATELITE DISH ? So you dont pay for the months that the property is empty ?
2. Is there a possibility to switch off INTERNET ? So you dont pay for the months that the property is empty ?
3. Do you have to pay for sewer and trash collection when the property is not occupied ?
4. How about the water and electricity ?

Can anyone , maybe in the same situation give us a answer to tese questions, based on their experience please ?

Thank you so much .

Fox & Tania ( Belgium )

Try The Villages 4 Rent, Rentals in The Villages to get an idea about rentals. I think I would try and rent for the first year. You could also look for a resale while you were renting.

[kissmelatr]

I thought time Europeans could spend here was changed to 3 months not 6 months.

[asianthree]

we rented 4 time in different areas before we bought, are renting this year, we picked a house that we could afford with all costs and if we rented then it was a bonus..cancel comcast tv/internet when we leave water/amenity/trash about 190 to 200 a month with no one at the house. lawn $45 and elect is $40 with no one there, add a homewatch person for peace of mind $40 to $50 a month. we still have three years to go to retire but we wanted to get the house paid off before we sold our home base..hope this helps

[EdV]

Originally Posted by TV Tom

Harleyman,

I understand your problems with renting, which are very unfortunate, but buying does cost much more than renting for a part-timer. Your post does not address the fact that since you paid cash, you have taken away the earning power of all of the money you have spent on your home, furniture, etc. Even in a bad market, you should be able to earn at least least 4%, on average, with conservative investments (for example, $8,000 on $200,000 that you may have invested in a property). In addition, you are paying utilities, lawn maintenance, amenities fees, bond, insurance, taxes, etc. for the time you are not there.

I understand the convenience and comfort of being able to go to TV whenever you would like to a place that you love, but there is a fairly steep cost to do it.

I plan to buy in TV in the future, but even with rising home prices, I am choosing to keep my money invested and wait until I can be there full-time. Ultimately, you can afford a nicer home. I have run the numbers many times and a part-time home costs a significant amount of money vs. renting. In TV situation where you cannot rent it in the summer, it is more expensive than other locations, e.g., near the beach. There has been some appreciation in the value of homes, depending on when you bought and this obviously can't be ignored, but all things being equal, your other home has likely appreciated as well. So, if you sell it later and then buy at a higher price at TV later, this is a wash.

As I said in my previous post, if you have the money to spend and want to do it as a lifestyle decision, great. I wish I could do it. But if you are an average guy like me and want to make a decision purely based on finances, you are better off renting.

Great informative post TV Tom. Don't be a stranger to TOTV. You have the financial experience as a professional and just as important, know how to explain it clearly. A tip of the hat to you.

[old moe]

Originally Posted by Villageshooter

Your looking at all the angles,, and not letting the taste of the koolade cloud your judgement. If you think of the amount of money you have to tie up to have a place here for part time use it makes NO SENSE at all, unless you have more money than you can spend, or need a tax write off to make it quasi rental property. If you find the correct rental unit you can come here many many years before you even come close to making a dent in the amount of funds to make a prudent investment. You must figure maintenance on the home (due to the rain folks are learning they must paint brand new homes so they dont leak), golf cart expenses (cart maintenance is worse then keeping a car running). The utilities with tenants is like giving them a blank check they set the thermostats at times so cold you can hang meat in the house (it is not there money). Take good hard look before you buy if your not full time here. You say there are many that to do it? Just go to a casino to see this many other delusional folks who ignore the facts

i don't think this was at all bitter. just being honest and realistic. If you are just using a home a very limited time each year, u are much better off renting!!!

[gomoho]

For what it's worth I have to agree with the rental scenario. We have rented 3 times and have not been disappointed at all. Were they perfect? no, but certainly very comfortable and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We are now here fulltime and have purchased a home, but originally had intentions of renting until we learned how EXPENSIVE it is to rent a home in TV fulltime. Good luck with your decision.

[Barefoot]

Like The OP from Belgium, we are only allowed to stay in the US for 182 days in a calendar year. We divide our time between Canada and our Villages home. We bought a home in TV in 2007 and have never regretted it. We've never rented our home out.

Sure it's expensive to run two homes, but it's a great idea if you can swing it. There is an emotional component to consider as well as a financial one. We feel part of our TV community, and that we're "true villagers". We have the peace of mind to know exactly what we're returning to each year. We love our neighbors. We had invisible fencing installed for our dogs. We return each year to our king-size bed, our Columbia Par Car, furniture we chose, and our birdcage with a wonderful view. We love the fact that we can leave clothes, golf clubs, etc. in TV.

We're really happy to be Seasonal residents. I've heard that around 40% of Villagers own two homes.

[hotrodgirl]

Sorry about the negativity, and no you did not start anything! We are glad to have you come to The Villages and would like to say a big Welcome to you both! I think if you were to rent a place for at least the first time, you would be able to judge for yourselves if this is a good investment for you! For just 2 months per year, maybe not unless you could rent it out yourselves. But if you decide you can stay 4-6 months, then YES! I hope you will enjoy your time in Florida, most especially in TV as we say! There are lovely people and so much to do! Velkommen, og ha det bra! OK-so that was Norwegian, but it's all I know other than English!