[travelguy]

once the build out is complete there should be a huge surge in the value of the homes here. since the quantity is limited and there is a pent up demand......sure hope so as i have not recovered from the nose-dive of our property in penna.

[bluedog103]

Depends on what happens if and when the developer steps out of the picture. If politicians take control, TV will be just another place to live. I doubt if enough people would pay to keep things looking the way they are if they actually had a choice. As others have said, I hope that's far enough in the future to be someone else's problem.

[asianthree]

Maybe. Maybe not

[nitehawk]

will the stock market go down in 2014 ???

[George Bieniaszek]

There are still big parcels of undeveloped land that surround The Villages, so I think as the "build out" approaches, another big piece of property will be acquired and the building will continue.

IMHO when the build out finally happens, I can conservatively see process of all Villages homes go up by 10%. I am not in the real estate business just my opinion.

[asianthree]

This is the age old question do I buy now and hope prices don't fall or do I buy later and hope they don't rise crystal ball?

[Trayderjoe]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

No crystal ball here. We aren't in the same time of life we used to be, so my take on it is to enjoy today and let the kids worry about whether our house is worth more or less than we paid for it.

Gracie: You TOTALLY hit the nail on the head. We bought here both because we have relatives here and for the lifestyle. I suppose one's concern with housing prices would be for those who plan to move "up" or "down" while staying in the Villages. When we bought we were aware that there are people who have bought and sold more than one home here. As we will be in our "forever" home, we don't plan to sell (of course I don't know what the future holds) as we like our home and location.

[JB in TV]

Originally Posted by asianthree

I wish this was all I have to worry about, besides. My kids will be the seller so why do I care

I'm not sure why you would say this. I certainly hope that property that I leave for my kids has a good value. I can tell you that my mom owns a townhouse that took a huge value hit over the last few years and is now worth less than is owed on it. Not everyone here paid cash for their homes, and I wouldn't want my kids to inherit something that hurts their financial position. So I do care about future values of my home in TV.

[cgalloway6]

If the prices go up or down it is all just paper gains or losses until you sell or perhaps try to refinance. New house prices have gone up 10% in the last 12 months for the base price, lot prices are increasing and the 4%, 3.5%, 3% etc discounts are going away also. Glad I bought when I did but there won't be any profit or loss until it is sold, either by the surviving spouse or the kids, hopefully decades from now. Unlike stocks or bonds, this is one investment you can enjoy every day no matter what the price does.

[Jim 9922]

Originally Posted by mickey100

Its hard to say what will happen. Right now, everything is shiny and new. The lifestyle is here, as many mentioned. However, a terrific amount of money is spent on advertising and luring new buyers here. After buildout, that probably won't happen. The homes will age. Things will start to look dated. There will be a finite number of homes, but other retirement communities are popping up across the country, and I'm sure some of them will try to emulate The Villages, giving us more competition. That, along with the aging of our community, may work against The Villages home prices.

I agree with you on all points, but I think that the long term trend will be a decline in values. I believe that the mortalitiy tables will effect us the most. The Villages has been selling more than 250 homes a month for many years, all to a tightly concentrated older population. In another 10 or so years, the mortality and "independent health" tables will kick in big time, and our Villages market will be flooded with homes available for resale. Hopefully the market can absorb 250 to 300 homes a month! That's going to take a lot of advertising and "keeping up the lifestyle!"

[Tweety Bird]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

No crystal ball here. We aren't in the same time of life we used to be, so my take on it is to enjoy today and let the kids worry about whether our house is worth more or less than we paid for it.

No kidding. At our ages, who cares!!! We are programmed to think from the past. I am in the present and if the house gets old...GET OLD house!

[graciegirl]

Luring? They don't have to.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by T-325

So many people want a new home. Many think a 5 year old house is "OLD". Not me I'm from New England and have not owned a house younger than 40 years old.

However a vast number of buyers only want new.

Question for the audience:

Would all you new home buyers have bought a house in the Villages if the youngest house available to you was 5 years old?

T-325

The buildout is still somewhere out there in the future. When it does happen, home prices will go up dramatically. We will still have the Golf courses, Swimming pools, Soft ball, Tennis etc., etc., People will still want the Villages' lifestyle and people will still want to live here. Only resales will be available. Once again, supply and demand rules !!

[graciegirl]

But Mickey100 is right that it could become not well kept, the homes and properties. I don't see it much here now because most everyone does do their best to take good care of things, but after a while the sun does a number and fades paint and people embellish a little too much and things do not look new and shiny.

But...as the houses age, so do we.

Why worry, be happy. I will have the strawberry please and a lotta ice.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by JB in TV

I'm not sure why you would say this. I certainly hope that property that I leave for my kids has a good value. I can tell you that my mom owns a townhouse that took a huge value hit over the last few years and is now worth less than is owed on it. Not everyone here paid cash for their homes, and I wouldn't want my kids to inherit something that hurts their financial position. So I do care about future values of my home in TV.

An heir is not required to accept an "asset". So if it hurt their financial position, they could just choose to say, "thanks, but no thanks".