[conn8757]

We have had our house on the market for about two weeks - had 2 people look at it this week. The first one made an offer today - low - we have countered, but the realtor says couple #2 may offer also. We have our fingers crossed it sells.
My dilemma is if it sells, the buyer wants to take possession of our house before Thanksgiving. That would put us up at the villages in December. I really don't want to pay $2500 or more a month to rent there for 3 - 6 months. I know it gets cheaper in the spring. Joe just wants to buy something right away, but I would like to take my time and not feel any pressure to get it done in a week. I keep saying this is a good problem, this is a good problem. Anyone have any ideas?

[Coconuts]

If you already know that this is where you want to live, all you have to decide is price and floorplan. You know your price and there are only so many floorplans. All the neighborhoods are wonderful. We found our home in two hours (although we kept looking for 2 days to be sure). Unless you are building a home, it's easy as pie to pick out a home. And as far as prices, could go up....could go down.....who knows?

[Bogie Shooter]

1. There are places to rent cheaper than $2500/month.
2. I would sell if I had to move next week, ask the folks with their houses on the market for 6 months.
3. A lot of happy people have bought "right away".
4. If all else fails....move in with the kids for 6 months!

[JohnN]

Be happy you sold the place,
rent anywhere, it's really not that much, you know?
find the floorplan and price you like and get it.

lucky you , enjoy

[dfn8tly]

I bought my house in under 24 hours. There are not all that many floor plans to consider. The builders keep changing names to minimize comparisons and prices. If you know your price point it's simply a matter of location. I don't think renting for a long period of time is a smart decision. Someone else gets the tax advantages. Remember too that if you are going to reside in TV full time you must qualify and apply for Homeowner's Exemption during the period Jan. to March.

Good luck!

[Indy-Guy]

Look to rent out side of The Villages try Stone Crest or Spruce Creek or Del Web I am sure that it is less. You can always rent but you can't always sell. Get the money and run!

Call The Villages and tell them your problem they may help you out with a rental.

This is a buyers market if you can become a buyer instead of a seller you will be in the drivers seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Great Fumar]

If you have a buyer , grab it quick !!! Put your furniture in temp storage and head south ...........in two weeks you can find the home of your dreams , most people take two days.....

70,000 people can't be wrong.............

Fumar took 2 days.......

[Cassie325]

Originally Posted by The Great Fumar

If you have a buyer , grab it quick !!! Put your furniture in temp storage and head south ...........in two weeks you can find the home of your dreams , most people take two days.....

70,000 people can't be wrong.............

Fumar took 2 days.......

Oh say your prayers for me tonight....I am agreeing with FUMAR...and this does not happen often...

My parents arrived (age 64) and in the car came from the new Walmart to Santiago...near Savannah center....

I was home making sure there was food and drink for them upon their arrival....

ALL they wanted to know was....what homes are for sale...who do I talk to...when can we sign....SHOOT....I should have been a Realtor!!!

SO....INSTEAD of golfing at Palmer or Lopez tomorrow....we are going to the open houses...pre-owned and new.....apparently we are going to house watch for mom and dad....

SELL YOUR HOUSE....GET DOWN here....we will all help you...it is the ONLY thing that is keeping the sanity of good people...The Villages is ALIVE and WELL!!!

[Shirleevee]

I agree, we bought ours in one day!

[Talk Host]

Our house sold in two weeks. Our new TV house was still three months from completion. We stored our furniture, rented an apartment near our old house(that smelled like a wet dog I thought) and lived there til the day we moved to Florida. If you can convince yourself that it is really a non problem, just a complication, it will be fun.

Take the money and run.

I would rent just outside of The Villages. You can find something for 2 or 3 months in the prime season at around $1700/month in Spruce Creek, for example, and probably cheaper in November/December. That will give you time to properly assess which neighborhood you'd like to live in, whether you want new or pre-owned, what model you'd like. There are other factors to consider as well - how the house sits in relation to the other homes, for example might affect your privacy. If you have a dog you might want a courtyard villa. If you want a central location you might want to consider Mallory Square, or Duval. Or if you want to be close to a particular town square, you'd pick a certain village. Many people do buy on the spur of the moment and come out okay, but there are no guarantees. Let's face it, the prices on homes aren't going to be going up for awhile, you certainly have the luxury of taking your time. Yes you'd be paying rent, but you'd be saving on amenity fees, cable tv, utilties, etc., so you wouldn't be paying that much more. And actually, you can usually find rentals in The Villages proper, cheaper in November and December. If you put your stuff in storage and stayed in a patio villa, there are bargains out there. Good luck, and pm me if you have any questions.

[conn8757]

Thanks to all who replied - we know our way around the Villages, but I have always heard rents are really steep December - March due to everyone coming down from up north. I think we will call our Village realtor if it does sell and see what she can do for us. Otherwise, we can rent a patio villa or outside TV for a couple of months to make sure we have time to negotiate the house we want. Got our fingers crossed it will happen.

[BritParrothead]

It took us 2 months to sell our house in Orlando, it took two YEARS to sell our old home here in England. Take the money & rent a while.

[meriboo]

Take the $$$$ and run. Oh, don't forget to thank the good Lord for your blessing. As a wannabe...we are still waiting for our house to sell. It has been way toooooo looooong of a wait!!

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by conn8757

We have had our house on the market for about two weeks - had 2 people look at it this week. The first one made an offer today - low - we have countered, but the realtor says couple #2 may offer also. We have our fingers crossed it sells.
My dilemma is if it sells, the buyer wants to take possession of our house before Thanksgiving. That would put us up at the villages in December. I really don't want to pay $2500 or more a month to rent there for 3 - 6 months. I know it gets cheaper in the spring. Joe just wants to buy something right away, but I would like to take my time and not feel any pressure to get it done in a week. I keep saying this is a good problem, this is a good problem. Anyone have any ideas?

Trust me on my own experience... RENT! Take your time. rent a small villa and don't rush it. if you buy a home in a hurry I promise you you'll end up finding a home later you wish you could buy. RENT for 3-6 monts and enjoy finding your dream home.