I would buy a patio or ranch home. I love the historic side with the winding roads, mature trees etc, but been checking into some open houses recently and learned a few things. It is hard to get an answer from a realtor about questions I've had. Talked to one just recently about mobile (manufactured) home purchase and insurance. Only a couple insurance companies will insure older 80's homes? What about if you're there a few years it would be like a 70's home now, probably won't be able to get insurance on them then. Also, replacement value will cover your home. What would it cost to replace a 1987 or some manufactured home? Certainly not even close to what you probably will have to pay for it in the Villages. The value mainly is in the lot the home is setting on (the lifestyle). As long as no major damage occurs to your home you're ok as insurance will cover it for a few more years. If your in your early 60's or younger, what will that home be worth in 15 - 20 years? It would be like buying a 1970 trailer today, even though it is in the villages. I would guess that the value compared to a patio villa or a ranch when considering growth in value would be a lot less. Something to think about and checking into. If you are not concerned about your home being some sort of an investment, then it may not matter. These are my thoughts and my reasoning. Not happy about it, cause I really like the historic side of the Villages. One other thing you also have a wood floor and only the newer ones (maybe 1988 and up I think) have good plywood floors. With the high humidity in Florida I would think that may create a problem, versus a concrete floor in villas and ranches.

Eliminate bond
 

Would you mind explaining how I can eliminate the bond fee?

Buy a resale patio villa that has the bond paid off. The realtor should know how much of the bond is left or if the bond is paid off.

Valid points.
That being said I did purchase a mfg home and found insurance with no problems. I'm not too worried about resale value; I just wanted a home with a nice view (and a grapefruit tree) and no other houses 20 feet away from my backyard deck. I'm willing to take a chance that insurance will still be there in 20 years.

if you got your info from a villages sales rep - i suggest you discuss the same with an mls agent - or better yet - discuss insurance matters with an insurance professional.

you'll be much better able to make a judgement after getting facts from the folks who represent the individual insurance companies.

If you did have a total loss though I wonder how much they would give you for an old mobile or manufactured home? Lots of them for sale in the area outside of the villages for cheap, so would that be what they would give you and not for what they are selling them for in the villages? That's a question I had. If that is true may not hardly worth insuring if you only get 20 -30K or less replacement value. It's not like a house where they have to rebuild it for you. That's what has steered me clear of them, just my opinion. I would want something in writing from the insurance company saying exactly what and how they determine the value of my home.
That do seem to be a good investment for investors. There is one now for sale by the Villages Realtors for 149,900. It was sold in Feb 2013 for 80K, then sold again in June 2013 for 110K according to Trulia and Zillow. I'm sure some extras have been added but that's pretty good profit for an investor. It seems investors were a big cause of the real estate crash that happened. Talked to one guy back then that was investing in condo projects. He purchased one at the beginning when they were just starting the project of the complex, by the time the project was completed and his condo was done and he would have to come up with the money, he would do a quick sell and make 100k. Lots of people got rich that way in certain parts of the country like Las Vegas etc.