[frayedends]

Originally Posted by Dilligas

That is dependent on the current bond value. If the home is 15 years old, at least half or more of the bond will be paid off. If the homes are new....then the bond value is the difference.

Bond is not half paid off at 15 years. Just like a mortgage, you are paying more interest in the earlier years and less later. Example here...

https://www.districtgov.org/departme...Unit%2065V.pdf

[MrChip72]

We bought our home new in the spring of 2022, south of 44. Ballpark figure for the bond is under $150/month for 30 years. Our annual total expenses (utilities, taxes, bond, insurance, and amenity fees) are around $17k, so it's about 10% of our expenses. Not really a big deal to me. Surely with inflation, in 10-15 years the bond will end up being 5% of our total expenses, or less.

[DavidK]

Here is a snip from our bill. Once you are interested in a property, you can search the county's property site for tax information.
NON-AD VALOREM TAXES
F111 Fruitland Pk Villages, Res Fire $212.00
C087 VCDD 11 Debt (see note below) $1,828.72
C088 VCDD 11 Maintenance $721.20
TOTAL $2,761.92

[DavidK]

Here is a snip from our bill. Once you are interested in a property, you can search the county's property site for tax information.

NON-AD VALOREM TAXES

F111 Fruitland Pk Villages, Res Fire $212.00
C087 VCDD 11 Debt (see note below) $1,828.72
C088 VCDD 11 Maintenance $721.20
TOTAL $2,761.92

[augustnotes]

Bonds on a new home can be 30 to 40 thousand dollars can be paid over 30 years. That's one reason to tell people they are selling their house that has no bond. Say you are looking at a house with a sales price of $450,000 and you know your max that you can afford to pay for a mortgage will max out at $450,000 well then you need to shrink your home sales price down let's say $40,000 to cover the bond that you will have to pay. That's in addition to the monthly HOA fee that can run a few hundred dollars a month forever and will go up with the CPI.

[motherflippinpicker]

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.

You might want to research what CDDs are to better understand a bond requirement. When I first moved to Florida and bought a home (not in TV) my home had a bond and I was extremely confused. You also can pay off a bond in a lump sum payment. If you are buying a home with a $30k bond, you might want to pay that off in one payment by splitting your down payment. Bonds will significantly increase your property taxes, they will be under the non ad valorem category. I would look at some nearby properties with similar bonds and see what the taxes are so you have an idea.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by augustnotes

Bonds on a new home can be 30 to 40 thousand dollars can be paid over 30 years. That's one reason to tell people they are selling their house that has no bond. Say you are looking at a house with a sales price of $450,000 and you know your max that you can afford to pay for a mortgage will max out at $450,000 well then you need to shrink your home sales price down let's say $40,000 to cover the bond that you will have to pay. That's in addition to the monthly HOA fee that can run a few hundred dollars a month forever and will go up with the CPI.

No HOA in The Villages,

[kansasr]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

No HOA in The Villages,

You may not call it an HOA but with a monthly amenity fee in addition to your annual district tax I say potato potato

[Travelhunter123]

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.

In theory the price of the home where the bond is paid off should be higher than a home still has a bond. In actuality my realtor advised me not to pay off the bond as the resale values seldom reflect the full value of the bond payoff

[4$ALE]

Originally Posted by kansasr

You may not call it an HOA but with a monthly amenity fee in addition to your annual district tax I say potato potato

Also NO "annual district tax"

[merrymini]

I call everyone who sells real estate a realtor. Come get me.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by kansasr

You may not call it an HOA but with a monthly amenity fee in addition to your annual district tax I say potato potato

It’s called the amenity fee not a home owners fee.
The HOA gives people a different prospective, not usually good.

[zuidemab]

For a highly qualified independent agent contact: Kerry Hanson, Realtor, Kerrysellsthevillages@gmail.com

[BlueStarAirlines]

Risking beating this dead horse any farther.......

A few of the posts in this thread talk about high bond interest rates, but mine its only 3.18% (District 13). My credit union has CDs paying 5.01%. Until those CD rates drop it wouldn't make much sense to use those funds to pay off the bond.
Looking at District 15 their rates are 5.19% for the units listed with their total bonds $50k and up.

When considering a home, it shouldn't just be bond vs no-bond, but also interest rate on the bond.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Popcorn ceilings been out for at least 40 years.
I would guess only district 1 and maybe 2 has pop corn ceilings? 50 to 100 grand savings lot money for some and for some it’s not. You always pay full price buying new not so much for pre-owned anything.

my brand new home in 2007 had popcorn in Virginia trace after the tornado came through and recked it there was no more popcorn