[chelsea24]

Sorry Cassie, I don't quite understand your post. We are not only homeowners, but we have invested in a Lifestyle. When people rent here, they are renting the "Lifestyle as well" They should pay appropriately for that.

[Peachie]

Cassie, I don't think you took advantage... that averages out to $117.98 per day with no additional "room tax". So by the time you have it cleaned, pay the taxes on your earnings, cover you butt with insurance for the exposure, wear and tear, pay the utilities and perhaps you are providing a cart... your renters are getting a terrific deal. There is no advantage taken here of the renter...

What is the rack rate for a room at the Hampton Inn with none of The Villages amenities and you're right, Chels, this should be a separate forum. But it does line up with the bond issues, there ain't no free ride. The developer is not creating The Villages for his entertainment, he wants to make a profit. The only thing new I learned from lauren ritches post today is that she doesn't want her father to live here. I'm ok with that.

[Cassie325]

Originally Posted by chelsea24

Sorry Cassie, I don't quite understand your post. We are not only homeowners, but we have invested in a Lifestyle. When people rent here, they are renting the "Lifestyle as well" They should pay nicely for that.

Chels...I was just saying that we can let others keep it low....then when there is nothing left to rent....and if you try for Feb-April you can't find anything....YOU and other smart people will get top dollar!! It is really hard to find rentals for Feb-April....although I do know of one more place if anyone needs it...

Peachie...you are right...perhaps I should up the price....thankfully we have a second place to stay...so we can maintain our "life" here....love this!!!

[benj]

How about this.

Lets let the free market decide what rents should be.
You know where a willing buyer and a willing seller, both acting on whats the best for each of them, decide they what to offer/receive. Raise your rent all you want and see if there are any takers, if not adjust accordingly. Thats how it works in America. Benj

[Peachie]

Sure, Benj, people just need to put their heads together and figure this one out. Quite often the renters entertain and house their friends during the stay also, increasing the utilites costs for the rental period. And while they are partying, the owner is also paying the lawn maintenance, pest maintenance, real estate taxes and the amenity fees. Hubby and I were prepared to pay $1,000. more per month 4 years ago when we rented during the month of March. We were pleasantly surprised by the cheap rents in TV.

[Betty Mary]

It appears Lauren has generated more discussion about rentals than the issue. Maybe someone should ask Lauren which she would prefer: 1. Paying the monthly amenity fee, which we committed to when we bought here, to a government entity responsible for being, as she said, subject to public records, sunshine law, state requirements or 2. Paying to a private entity not subject to public records, sunshine law, state requirements, oh, and yes, would take that 17 million as profit. I purposely bought in here because government will control and maintain the future of this community and not a developer. Nothing against the developer who created this great community...but long after the developer is gone this community will continue because of the government structure and legal requirements. She fails to recognize that when the bonds are paid off...the government will own the infrastructure and amenity fee revenues...if it stayed with developer...he/she would still own it forever...Seems Lauren is so fixated on the negatives of the developer being a good business person that she fails to see the long term benefit for us! I don't know about you, but people I know in other communities pay more for amenity fees and get a WHOLE lot less! So, maybe Lauren's dad should move to one of those communities...and Lauren can move in with him!

[jadebox]

Originally Posted by Midge

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/commu...1600764.column

Laura Ritchie gets her jollies downing The Villages and The Morse's. I would not pay attention to her. Can't figure out what her problem is BUT it is sick.

[ijusluvit]

I'M REALLY CONFUSED!!!!

What's all this about three kinds of bonds? In my simple mind 'the bond' which accompanies the sale price of most houses was the individual's share of the infrastructure cost and that the amenity fees pay for ongoing maintenance. What is the third type of bond and how am I paying for it now or in the future?

[gemorc]

Before I jump to any conclusions either way, I am following L. Ritchie's advise. I will be making a request to Ms. Tutt for all the information available concerning TV bond structure. I will then send it to an economist friend up north. I will ask for an impartial appraisal of TV future bond debt and possible options available.

I will report back later.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by gemorc

Before I jump to any conclusions either way, I am following L. Ritchie's advise. I will be making a request to Ms. Tutt for all the information available concerning TV bond structure. I will then send it to an economist friend up north. I will ask for an impartial appraisal of TV future bond debt and possible options available.

I will report back later.

FANTASTIC>>> an educated and informed response is what we need!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Peachie

Cassie, I don't think you took advantage... that averages out to $117.98 per day with no additional "room tax". So by the time you have it cleaned, pay the taxes on your earnings, cover you butt with insurance for the exposure, wear and tear, pay the utilities and perhaps you are providing a cart... your renters are getting a terrific deal. There is no advantage taken here of the renter...

What is the rack rate for a room at the Hampton Inn with none of The Villages amenities and you're right, Chels, this should be a separate forum. But it does line up with the bond issues, there ain't no free ride. The developer is not creating The Villages for his entertainment, he wants to make a profit. The only thing new I learned from lauren ritches post today is that she doesn't want her father to live here. I'm ok with that.

Peachie, have I told you yet today that I love you?

[nitehawk]

What is the problem with the post of Lauren Ritchie, not being in journalistic form? - talk about finding "fault" with something or someone. Or is it what she wrote that you do not like. She said "what i do, however, is not news. i write opinion." She is entitled to here opinion and we do not have to read it. We can continue to drink the kool-aid. It was very well written (journalistic form or not) and not in the form of a William Buckley admirer. It is nice to have some definitions of the different kinds of bonds out there, and what they are used for. It was good to hear that a source was given, "if you would care to read the same information for yourself (as one poster remarked), simply email janet.tutt@districtgov.org. I did not see any " I heard", "Someone told me", "We should" (which means someone else should), "I wish" .

[Peachie]

perhaps we felt nitehawk that ritchies attitude toward totv is dismissive is using a very low form of communication vs the journalistic form which ritchie would normally use

in her words

"what i do, however, is not news. i write opinion. it is my job to look at an issue, take a stand and write it in a persuasive way. my column is not "balanced." it is not designed to be. that is why it is labeled commentary, as one perceptive reader noted."


"but to claim (from a standpoint of ignorance) that the sentinel is simply "against" the villages or wants the developer to fail for some weird vague reason is just a way of trying to escape a serious examination of the real issue, which is the amount of long term debt you're in hock for and how it affects your personal finances."

this is her opinion spin in her own words and not the type of report for which you are looking you want facts not someone sitting in the orlando area telling us what she thinks is wrong with tv as i stated in a response to her give us the details and no more we will weigh the facts and make our own decisions that koolaid phrase is used by the villagers in jest as to how much they love this community her inference that we re oblivious is not appreciated its an amusing fact that when the villagers scrutinize her motives and offer a reason why she may not have our best interests at heart, we are ignorant guess it just depends who's ox is being gored

i am delighted to see that gemorc has a great connection whom will read and evaluate the bond issues thank you for that gemorc i also state you don't get this lifestyle for free or a token contribution one has to maintain the features of the villages or the villages will be dismantled the developer is not the "big daddy" people want him to be, he is a businessman

by the way i appreciated the journalistic form you used nitehawk this is just an example of how punctuation and capitalization affects the message.

[rdmills]

I had dealt with the print media for many years. They all enjoy trying to discredit everything and anybody. They all wish that their reporting wins them a Pulitzer Prize. Don't believe all you read. Their editor also puts his/her slant on most articles. That why I like our happy paper where I can find meal deals within TV.

[Alex]

Knowledge is power. I am glad people are reading Lauren Ritchie. I hope people keep reading and understand all this before they buy in the Villages. They can chose to agree or disagree. I thank Lauren Ritchie and am waiting for the IRS to finish their investigation.