[Linda Spille]

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.

Just go to the county website and pull up the Tax bill. Look at the Non-Ad Volorem assessment.
If the bond is paid it will be $0. If they still have a bond on them, you can see the amount still owed.

[Robnlaura]

its really a hoa fee in disguise.. o plus you expected to pay a fee to use the facilities you actually, paid to build.. So bond cost plus $189.. + $165 you get nothing for free is the real answer..

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

its really a hoa fee in disguise.. o plus you expected to pay a fee to use the facilities you actually, paid to build.. So bond cost plus $189.. + $165 you get nothing for free is the real answer..

Are you saying the bond is an HOA fee in disguise?

I don’t think anything could be further from the truth.
Stop trying to say there’s an HOA fee in the Villages - there’s not

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Are you saying the bond is an HOA fee in disguise?

I don’t think anything could be further from the truth.
Stop trying to say there’s an HOA fee in the Villages - there’s not

Fee is fee no matter what you call it.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

its really a hoa fee in disguise.. o plus you expected to pay a fee to use the facilities you actually, paid to build.. So bond cost plus $189.. + $165 you get nothing for free is the real answer..

That's ridiculous.

If you didn't have a Bond to pay, because the Developer paid for the infrastructure out of pocket, he just would have added it to the home cost.


Building roads, drainage, water supplies, etc., aren't free.

[Twindham]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Note that you don't have to work with an "assigned" agent. You can fire the agent and select whatever agent you want to work with. Do a little research and find an experienced agent who you like and ask them to show you some houses.

Chris Hallmark is one of the most experienced and best agents who works for The Villages. If you call him, I am sure that he will show you any of The Villages houses and answer any questions you have.

Just a small caution about firing the first assigned agent. We fired our first Villages agent and found another Villages agent. When he found the house we liked and purchased, the commission was split between the two Villages agents. So, it's possible the first agent could still get some commission even though they didn't close the deal.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Twindham

Just a small caution about firing the first assigned agent. We fired our first Villages agent and found another Villages agent. When he found the house we liked and purchased, the commission was split between the two Villages agents. So, it's possible the first agent could still get some commission even though they didn't close the deal.

Who cares? As a buyer, you don't pay any commission. "The Properties of the Villages" is the broker, and they can pay their agents whatever they want.

[DrMack]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Who cares? As a buyer, you don't pay any commission. "The Properties of the Villages" is the broker, and they can pay their agents whatever they want.

Doesn’t the buyer always pay the cost of the real estate sale. The price is jacked to cover the costs. If a seller wants 500k, they ask 525 k to pay the realtor. Who paid the 525k? Where do you think that extra 5% goes?

On the flip side. We have a bond we intend to pay off once all the paperwork is done. The bond insures the latest in building techniques, amenities, updates and new everything.

[biker1]

A friendly reminder. There is a cutoff date on paying the bond off in order to avoid a bond payment on your November taxes. I believe it is in the summer some time. Details can be found at districtgov.org.

Originally Posted by DrMack

Doesn’t the buyer always pay the cost of the real estate sale. The price is jacked to cover the costs. If a seller wants 500k, they ask 525 k to pay the realtor. Who paid the 525k? Where do you think that extra 5% goes?

On the flip side. We have a bond we intend to pay off once all the paperwork is done. The bond insures the latest in building techniques, amenities, updates and new everything.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

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.

Why wouldn't you understand that? You don't want to have to pay a $10 K 20K 30K 40K bond. why is that difficult for you to understand? New homes have high bonds, older homes have no bonds duh.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by CoupleNCA

"What is the average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond?"

OK, I will answer your question.

There is no "average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond".

The savings depends on the amount of the bond and the interest rate for the bond. You can figure it out for yourself.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by VApeople

OK, I will answer your question.

There is no "average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond".

The best analogy I can think of, is owning a home on land encumbered with a CDD Bond, is similar to "owning" a home in trailer park, where you pay a monthly or annual fee for the land on which the trailer is situated.

Common sense would say that's "real world savings" to most folks.

Unfortunately, when dealing with many buyers/sellers in TV (or other CDD communities), common sense is in short supply.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by VApeople

OK, I will answer your question.

There is no "average real-world saving on a property with a bond vs. no-bond".

The savings depends on the amount of the bond and the interest rate for the bond. You can figure it out for yourself.

Of course there is an average, it is just prohibitively difficult to calculate and not a terribly useful number. What really matters is the savings on the particular home you are interested in... which you state in the 2nd paragraph above.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The best analogy I can think of, is owning a home on land encumbered with a CDD Bond, is similar to "owning" a home in trailer park, where you pay a monthly or annual fee for the land on which the trailer is situated.

Common sense would say that's "real world savings" to most folks.

Unfortunately, when dealing with many buyers/sellers in TV (or other CDD communities), common sense is in short supply.

CDD stands for Community Development District, an entity that develops the land, provides infrastructure and amenities, maintains the community and its amenities, and works to provide a higher standard of living for homeowners.

Not all communities have CDD fees; most typically, you will find them in communities with amenities. CDD fees are a way to offset the cost of community amenities and infrastructure development or improvement required when building new communities. CDDs help to keep the purchase price of new homes lower because of the deferred infrastructure cost.


Home Buying 101: What are CDD Fees?

[Jayhawk]

Bond payments from the Developer's Point of view

Read the post from GoldWingNut and you will understand.