You live in a free society. Most Villages “realtors” are no more than sales associates - like the ones that come up to you in furniture stores. They have a quota and a pipeline to fill. If not you it’s next in line.

You are a good person for wanting to be honorable to the Villages realtor. Just remember they work with dozens of prospects and will.sell the house you are looking for to the first person that will buy it. It's just business. We did the same thing 2 years ago and found our perfect pre owned home with everything we wanted and more by using a MLS realtor, she was amazing. We looked at 8 homes in 2 days and signed a contract just before driving home to Ohio.

I would just point out the "Properties of The Villages" could put all of their pre-owned houses on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). That would allow any MLS agent with a State license to show and sell any house listed by any agent. But, they don't do that because they want The Villages agents to have the exclusive right to sell the company's pre-owned house listings. It is a business decision to exclude outside real estate agents from their pre-owned house listings. So, that is why you need two agents to have access to all of the pre-owned listings. And, it is also why you shouldn't feel any obligation to buy from a Villages agent.

Use one of both. They expect it and I have never had a problem. If you’d don’t you will have missed so many properties. If you are golfers or love the squares or easy golf cart access, definitely buy north of 44. Remember when you see the beautiful pre-owned, they have probably put another 10-50K in it. Plus consider the size of the bond on both.

Mls vs vls
 

In Florida new homes can be sold by a salesperson, employee of the seller. While MLS homes are sold by a real estate agent that is licensed by the State of Florida and operates under very strict rules. The VLS works for the builder/developer while the MLS works for either the seller or the buyer. Most are sellers agents but a few will be buyer agents if you contract that way.

Contact Mark at Black Tie Realty. Great guy, very knowledgable.

Please bring toilet paper!!!

Use one with the villages and one outside since a new house cannot be sold with anyone other than a villages sales rep. The outside realtor will give you a better view of what is available with resales. I believe, but have no proof, that the villages sales want to sell new more than resales. Just my opinion. Look at every place and everything you can. You may have a preconceived notion about what you may want to do but change your mind after shopping around. Many times you come full circle but you owe it to yourself to examine everything.

You should hook up with a Realtor and work with both sides, there are currently more than 300+ Homes a Villages Salesperson cannot show or sell. am a realtor and would be glad to help or at least be available to answer questions. Keep in mind as to the New section it is really far from the nearest Town Square and there is limited shopping, Restaurant and Grocery options.

We had two realtors and ended up buying with the MLS realtor. I have friends who want to move here and they quickly decided they wanted location between 466 and 466a. Obviously if you want new you need to be south. We like being closer to Lake Sumter Landing which is our favorite square. The choice of the options of nearby recreation centers and golf courses work for us.

I agree. I had both. Let the best home win. One caution: the MLS realtor kept feeding me listings that were not actually within the boundaries of TV. But I wanted “the keys to the Kingdom” so I could join clubs, play sports, access cart paths and feel like I really belong. Location and pre-loved or new is personal taste and might vary a lot based on inventory of homes in your price range at the time. A friend advised me to first choose an area since there are great homes everywhere. If I looked at that area & didn’t find anything, then I’d change to another area. It seemed overwhelming and confusing to look all over because the lifestyles were as different As the homes were. Come on in! The lifestyle is even better than it looks.

Green fees and where to buy
 

Green fees are rising and will rise more. Simple supply and demand. As expansion continues to the south fewer championship courses have been added. So if you are a golfer you need to locate close to the championship courses. I live in Santo Domingo and am within 20 minutes by golf cart from seven championship courses. Look at the map, there are no courses south of 44.

:eek:

When I was going through the purchase process, I had both a VLS and an MLS agent. I did not hide that from either one. They understand. I looked at both, but ended up purchasing new.

It's all good in the Villages !
 

Wait till the stock market and the real estate market crashes. Then come here and get a smoking hot deal.:welcome:

Stay north of 44 to avoid feral hogs, Zika deaths, skeeters, lack of restaurants, contaminated food trucks, long commute for services, tiny lots, nearby penitentiary, Turnpike hum and fumes, quarry blasting, loudspeaker announcements from Coleman, constant construction and commotion and disillusioned neighbors hoping to resell their homes to move north of 44 where all the action is. Recommend between 466 and 466A. Avoid houses with large oak trees and defoliating magnolia trees. Avoid the drunkards too.

Regardless of the Agent you use, you must do your own due diligence on matters such as:

Is the house near a busy street or cart path, noise can be a factor

Is the house near one of the sewage processing plants, obvious concern

Which County is the house located within, different taxes & ordinances

Neighborhood & neighbors, knock on some doors

North, south, east & west facing rooms, can be a very annoying sunrise or sunset

Privacy, yours & the neighbors, sight & sound

Landscaping & trees, both can take a lot of work you may not want to do but you will come to appreciate shade

Age of the HVAC, roof, plumbing, hot water tank, etc, things don’t last as long in Florida as in some other areas

Agents can’t, or more often won’t, tell you about these things.

Although all the village square's are great, if you are looking for a resale, Brownwood is becoming the center.
Great location!
Good Luck...

Good points. I am always suspicious about noise when I attend an open house and the agent has music playing. Also, a pool pump located near the master bedroom will be noisy. Also, they are now building a lot of new houses that are very close to the Florida Turnpike.

Some houses are located in Fruitland Park (Lake County) or in Wildwood (Sumter County). If so, your taxes will be higher.

Most people consider a west facing lanai to be a bad thing.

Some buyers seem to think that the agent is working for them, so they ask for opinions and advice. But, the agent is working for the seller, not the buyer. Almost anything they tell you is designed to sell the house.

Home purchase
 

I would stay north of 44. Nice homes south of 44 but close to prison , not very close to lots of amenities and also close to blasting area. Just my opinion . Might worth just what it cost you to get it.

Hi,
I believe the Village sales agent can only show you New Homes and (PLH) that are listed with the Villages real estate office.
You can use any of the MLS agents for (PLH). doubt you will find many of the (PBL) south of Rt 44. But worth a try. The new area Chitty Chitty is about to open shortly. good luck with you search

Go to TOP OF THE WORLD in Ocala..........Better homes for the money

And you pay more, not everybody can or wants to pay way above what the get.

With little/ few amenities

One man’s rainbow 🌈 could be another man’s He$$ hole.

That is your opinion. We are on our 3rd newly built home and wouldn't do it any other way. We pick the lot we want then design it to our liking. We've never been disappointed and don't have to worry about replacing the roof the air conditioner etc..
Oh and by the way the 2 homes we've sold...one sold in 24 hours and the second during our first open house 6 days after putting it on the market.

Been south of 44 for the past 1 1/2 years and love it.

We moved from California about 18 months ago. Went with an MLS agent, and she was wonderful. Open to many more options.

My understanding ( and I could be wrong) is that VLS are not real estate agents-they are salespeople working for the builder.
I found that out also- use both to find the perfect home

We worked with a realtor (Steve Andleman) from Century21. They took care of everything. Still had to go to The Villages Realty after closing to take care of their paperwork. No problems at all. We enjoyed a previously owned home with Bond Paid especially since new homes are coming with over $25000 Bonds.

We have bought and sold two homes here in TV. Bought one through VLS and two through Dottie Wise who works for Fox Fire. We sold one with Dottie and I sold one by owner. Your choice but I liked the results going through the MLD agent best.

Or home for sell by owner. Gorgeous 4 year old EXPANDED GARDINIA salt water pool on golf course

And when you have it all figured out on your slide rule, make a contemplated, rational,wise decision, your quiet neighbor sells out to landlord who rents out to a helicopter couple named “Murphy”with their 50 yo unemployed thrice divorced druggie son who has part time custody of his confused sons and a lot of similar friends. Yikes!

I would encourage a pre-owned home, preferably between 466A and SR-44, especially if golf is in your blood. There are also many available homes for sale by owner. Most are viewable on Zillow or other internet sites.

When looking to purchase a home in TV you must work with a Village Realtor and a MLS realtor. You can get new and pre-owned homes with the Village realtor and only pre-owned with MLS realtor. The reason is some people are listing their home only with the Villages and it doesnt go out into the multiple listing. So thats why you need both. Also, make sure you really research the areas in the Villages. I have bought several homes in TV over the course of 8 years. I am not retired yet so I come down to TV whenever I can. I usually rented from various people because my homes are rented long term. I know TV like the back of my hand and knew exactly the areas where I wanted to buy MY home that I will live in when I retire in 2 years. The first 2 homes were new builds. Better priced for the most part.
We just bought our PRE_OWNED house last month. I knew exactly the model I wanted and location. I knew I wanted to be between 466 and 466A on the Buena Vista side and not too far from Sumter. It took some time till I found the home. Would of liked being slightly closer to Sumter, but my dream home was priced right. I was working with my Villages realtor who I know for the past 8 years, and a MLS who happens to be one of my tenants. They both knew I was working with both. It just so happens that my Village realtor called me before the house came out and we grabbed it before the listing came out. If you need names I would be very happy to give you their names. If you have any questions please feel free to message me.

In a word, 'YES!' You don't have to say 'goodbye.' The MLS listing may not work out, and the agents are used to potential buyers looking at both new construction or resales. See what appeals to you and go from there.

Not accurate.

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As stated in post #78 Villages (VLS) agents are indeed real estate agents licensed by the State of Florida.

VLS agents are the only folks who can show and sell developer built new homes within The Villages.

VLS agents are NOT Realtors and therefore not members of the MLS. Hence if one wants to see all existing homes for sale one needs an MLS Realtor. One can look for FSBOs on one's own.

Some MLS Realtors are amenable to acting as buyers agents. I do not know if VLS agents are allowed to act as buyers agents on existing homes. Of course they are seller's agents on new homes.

Real estate agents work on commission as almost everyone knows. Experienced agents know they will win some; lose some. Of course it hurts to spend a lot of time with a potential buyer who ends up buying through another agent but I imagine both VLS agents and MLS Realtors know this is how it works here and accept the situation which of course can go either way..

One caveat: If one is possibly interested in buying a VLS listed existing home from a previous owner be sure your VLS agent is willing to show existing homes. My first agent evaded showing me even one existing home even after I requested he do so several times.

Pick home best for YOU!
 

Yes, same thing happened to us 3 years ago...felt bad but location, location, location...

All tv sales associates hold real estate licenses through the state of florida, all have the same credentials as an mls agent. The difference: Tv sales associates work under owner/developer and mls sales associates work under a broker. The advantage of working with tv sales associates, is that they have all of the latest information about our wonderful communities and it's growth.