[splashes]

Call Beth Pope Realtor 352-552-1511 Excellent and can and will answer all of your questions

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by CoupleNCA

We visited the Brownwood TS to introduce ourselves and interest. But the realtor we were assigned on our first in-person visit has refused to answer one of our most basic of questions multiple times (she seems to keep copy/pasting the same answer to my very direct question).

My simple question is this: We've seen several really nice properties that promote the fact that they're "NO BOND". As if it was some huge savings or advantage. I just want to know: "What is the average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond?"

The sales brochures shows the monthly fees as "bond+maintenance+fire" so you can't gauge what percentage each makes up.

I totally understand the concept of the bond and I totally understand why each "Villages" bond may differ in terms of price. But we're merely trying to ascertain if a property being highly-promoted as "NO BOND" is really that significant and should be given priority in our choices.

Can anybody please answer this question honestly? My assigned realtor can't or won't.

Look up the tax bill on any property you are interested in, and if there is a bond payment required it will be displayed there.
The bonds were amortized over different periods so to get the total remaining bond obligation look up the amortization on the district government website. A fie year old house with a 30 year bond would have twenty five years left.

The further north you go, generally speaking, the lower the bond and the shorter the amortization. Bonds in Marion County, CDD4, where propert lines include the streets, were most likely in the $5000 to $10000 range, and many are paid off already.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

Not sure how you can say home prices are dropping. For the home you cited, it was sold in 2018 for $473k and was listed in 2023 for $679k. Where is the price drop?

That house would have easily sold for $100-$125K more a year ago...

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

I’ve sold 5 homes here in villages I did not pay the bond off on any of them .there are people who will try to offer you the price for the home after they deduct the bond those bids are quickly shot down . I’m not sure but I think the longest it took to sell one of my homes was about a month . it’s nice if you find a house with no bond but.I don’t think it’ll be much difference in price from one with the bond ,

I’ve bought 5, and sold 4 houses in TV and I’ve never paid off the bond. Paying off the bond does not increase the appraised value of the house. All things being equal if there were 2 houses that I had interest in I might opt for the one with no bond, but there’s not many of them out there unless you want to be far north, and I prefer the Brownwood area.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by splashes

Call Beth Pope Realtor 352-552-1511 Excellent and can and will answer all of your questions

She is a licensed real estate agent, but not a Realtor.

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by EddieUA

A bond is a lien against the house imposed by land improvements. In the Enclave the bonds are $72,000 @ 5.47% with principle and interest payments between $5,000 and $6000. With Lake county taxes you would be looking at $15,000 taxes verses $6,000 in taxes for a similar house north of 466 for a premier home. Location location location....

That’s a lot for sure, but it’s a new house in a supposed premier area. Also, a lot of new and younger people moving to TV don’t want to live in an older house north of 466 which is why new homes sell faster than preowned, and more new homes than preowned homes were sold in TV in the past 2 quarters.

[Jhrath7@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by CoupleNCA

We visited the Brownwood TS to introduce ourselves and interest. But the realtor we were assigned on our first in-person visit has refused to answer one of our most basic of questions multiple times (she seems to keep copy/pasting the same answer to my very direct question).

My simple question is this: We've seen several really nice properties that promote the fact that they're "NO BOND". As if it was some huge savings or advantage. I just want to know: "What is the average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond?"

The sales brochures shows the monthly fees as "bond+maintenance+fire" so you can't gauge what percentage each makes up.

I totally understand the concept of the bond and I totally understand why each "Villages" bond may differ in terms of price. But we're merely trying to ascertain if a property being highly-promoted as "NO BOND" is really that significant and should be given priority in our choices.

Can anybody please answer this question honestly? My assigned realtor can't or won't.

Our bond was $18,000 but understand some are over $50,000

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Pat2015

That’s a lot for sure, but it’s a new house in a supposed premier area. Also, a lot of new and younger people moving to TV don’t want to live in an older house north of 466 which is why new homes sell faster than preowned, and more new homes than preowned homes were sold in TV in the past 2 quarters.

In my opinion, new houses are a better deal than pre-owned houses, bond or no bond.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

Not sure how you can say home prices are dropping. For the home you cited, it was sold in 2018 for $473k and was listed in 2023 for $679k. Where is the price drop?

Annually the prices have decreased. Of course the Villages has also decreased many of their new construction prices and Redfin has stated prices are down 10.23 percent off of last year. The area in the southern villages is looking at 255 dollars a square foot. 32163 Housing Market: House Prices & Trends | Redfin

Don’t forget the house cited is a newer 2361 square foot custom home with a3 full baths, 3 bedrooms extended lanai with kitchen, pool and the bond paid off for 670 k or 280 a square.

4160 Deskin Ln, The Villages, FL 32163 - MLS G5075727 - Coldwell Banker

People should be shooting for 250 a square foot if the house has quartz countertops and standard upgrades in the newer areas. 220-225 for Formica and the basics in models

[BlueStarAirlines]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

That house would have easily sold for $100-$125K more a year ago...

Totally agree, but the OP "gave proof" of a price drop where there was no proof. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but instead of saying price drop I would have said slowed appreciation. Now, if the closing price is less than the listed price that would be a price drop....

[LonnyP]

Just an average Joe here but if you do not get an answer that satisfies you, send me a private message and I will give you my number. I would be happy to give you my perspective.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Laker14

when I was house hunting, I looked at the existing bond as part of the price.
House A: asking price: 350K, Bond 10K, total cost to buy= 360K

House B: Asking price: 350, Bond-0K, total cost to buy= 350.

My agent told me not to consider the price of the bond. Said it didn't matter. I asked him if he would like to pay it for me then since "it doesn't matter"...he declined to do so, which made me think "maybe it matters"...

Good post, you nailed it. It amazes me that some buyers don’t consider the bond as part of the homes price. That mentality creates a market inefficiency that can benefit the well researched and astute home buyer.

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by Normal

Homes south of 44 have bonds (between 10-20 percent do not). The trade off is, do you want an older roof, less efficient AC, poor efficiency windows, popcorn ceilings, old appliances, dated sliding doors, old carpet, and many holes in your drywall?

Ask yourself what you want for your retirement home.

Most new buyers do not want that which is why there’s been more new homes sold vs preowned homes sold in the past few quarters.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

that is not not what happens ,like I said before, you may have someone bid subtracting the bond but you don’t accept it , most buyers who want your home will pay the price with the bond. The longest I lived in any of the 5 homes I sold in villages was about 4 years so I owed most of the bond . The last home I sold was about 2 1/2 years ago so the market has changed somewhat , I’mi in my first preowned home in villages now , the house had no bond , but it sold for the same price as comparable models ,so the sellers gained nothing by paying it off and I would have bought this home with a bond anyway

But, you did, cause you don’t have to pay off bond. That’s bottom line regardless if house has bond or no bond.

[frayedends]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

She is a licensed real estate agent, but not a Realtor.

The term realtor is used by the general public to describe any real estate agent. While I do know that it has a specific meaning (Realtor is trademarked by the National Association of Realtors) I don't think splashes was trying to mislead.