[keithgerri]

We looked at pre owned. Priced way to high trying to get back upgrades.Upgrades may make your house more saleable not worth more money. And a lot still owed 14,000 on bonds. We took a beating in Atlanta but thats the market. We bought a new spec designer in Sanibel with a 10,000 discount paid cash saved 10,000 in closing costs paid by the villages and paid 20,000 bond off still cheaper than preowned and larger house and everything new and under warrenty. No brainer and believe me the new houses already have a lot of upgrades than preowned. Most of preowned we looked at were moving to new houses south of 466A. Were happy

[Villageshooter]

Originally Posted by Quixote

This from friends who, though settled in TV for a few years, still go to open houses to see what’s out there and to get ideas. How’s this for an endorsement to buy only a resale and never new construction?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Promise me you will go down and look over the new homes which are being shown every day in the new areas. I want you to squeeze the outside siding on the new homes being built. It is like squeezing cardboard. The Villages is the only builder using this newer material in Florida. It feels like you move into a cardboard home.

We know someone who bought a new patio villa and paid $145[000] plus a bond of $20[000] in Saint James. It is a square box, The other day we went into a beautiful two-bedroom Designer home with a floor plan never seen by us. It was in Hacienda East, a charming, lushly landscaped area near Hacienda [Hills] Restaurant. The house had a load of extras, including a gorgeous new kitchen, pavers in the driveway, heavy landscaping and a bumped out lanai. Both bathrooms were big. The home was listed at $151[000] with no bond. The house was sold while we were there because a couple were going to fill out papers. The price was around $143[000] at sale.

I thought of this woman we know who bought this hideous brand new piece of **** for more money when she could have had this gorgeous Designer. For a moment, I actually thought of buying it and renting it out; it was that beautiful. The older areas in Hacienda East and nearby are beautiful streets with mostly older Designer homes. We try to look at homes now which pop up in older areas that we never saw….

There really is no answer just different points of view. I can tell you one year from now the price of homes north of 466 will dirt cheap. When that new square opens ,,,there will be no one at SS.. The revamp was to try pacify the merchants of the dying area... Flippers was trade off for them to be able to get a spot at brownwood.. The tent was admission of failure of the developer to get the job completed on time,, they babble about the weather ,, the storm was only 4-5 days,,, folks face the facts,,, they just don't care bout SS any longer,,most the non prime homes that are built are really just double wides built on site with a foundation.

[jane032657]

Ouch. This whole discussion makes my heart bleed for people who have bought this or that and are reading this and feeling devalued. Let's have some kindness. Everyone has different pocketbooks, desires for what they feel is of worth in a home, likes and dislikes. But everyone I think for the most part hangs their hat at the place they have put love into and had joy and experiences in, no matter what the palce is made of, what it is called, what the size of the yard is, where the location is, or what their neighbors age or abilities are. Sometimes these discussions get away from kindness toward others and I just do not see the purpose in doing so. There are so many ways to express opinion and not be condescending to others or make people feel badly about their choices. Opinion is great, everyone is entitled to share, but sensitivity is important too. Just sayin....

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Bonny

No one is forced to subsidize anything. They made a choice to subsidize when they moved here. Everyone knows this stuff before they move here. If they didn't want to pay for what they aren't going to use, they should have moved else where.

bonny: so you are telling me that if "after the fact" a resident, a cell phone user, a Comcast internet user, etc realizes that he/she does not have a need for that use ...well then tough. I don't think anyone should be locked into anything. So since they are here well then they are forced to subsize.

I have reconciled that mistake for me. My previous post was to offer people who have not purchased a home here yet an opportunity to be more circumspect about this choice. I wish someone had offered me that opportunity. Please allow me my right of "free expression".


Personal Best Regards:

[gerryann]

Hmmmm

[Joaniesmom]

Originally Posted by ricthemic

A couple of thoughts and I hv not read all the previous post
1. I am pretty sure, no new patio villa hv a $20,000 bond. i think they are under 12K
2. I am sure, if you want a plus 70 yr old community go for your 15 year old preowned
3.Also sure, be prepared to pay for at least a new AC system and roof in your preowned 10 to 15 yr old plus 70 community home.
4.IMO, Your new neighbors in this older village are wonderful, nice and friendly. However they hv done it all for many years and have their own network of close friends.
5.Also IMO. If your only goal is to get SO much more house for the money... then check out all the near by communities outside the villages up on 27/441.
What a deal and you can get and still drive you car to spanish springs at night. While enjoying your one golf course/pool and tennis court. Might as well check it out even though it may be plus 80 with a ton of resales.
6. Keep hearing "mature landscaping" yes you get that and a "mature neighborhood".

Someone in another thread wanted to know the bad things about The Villages. I guess this post just about covers it. I think I'm going to go eat worms. Golly how depressing!

Joaniesmon

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by jane032657

Ouch. This whole discussion makes my heart bleed for people who have bought this or that and are reading this and feeling devalued. Let's have some kindness. Everyone has different pocketbooks, desires for what they feel is of worth in a home, likes and dislikes. But everyone I think for the most part hangs their hat at the place they have put love into and had joy and experiences in, no matter what the palce is made of, what it is called, what the size of the yard is, where the location is, or what their neighbors age or abilities are. Sometimes these discussions get away from kindness toward others and I just do not see the purpose in doing so. There are so many ways to express opinion and not be condescending to others or make people feel badly about their choices. Opinion is great, everyone is entitled to share, but sensitivity is important too. Just sayin....

An intelligent thoughtful post.

Agree to disagree respectfully.

[CarGuys]

Not if you get the better siding or block. I'm glad you noticed. Many don't. But the standard siding is still adequate. Can also be changed out later if the home and site appeal to the buyer.

[fromct]

The best part of this thread is that in a couple of years it will be a moot point and everyone can concentrate on making the most of the decisions they made..........and there'll be one less thing for the nabobs to B***h about...

[gerryann]

There are certainly a few unhappy folks who post here and evidently take pleasure in making other folks as miserable as they are.....you know who you are, and I feel sorry for you that you are just not happy. Unfortunately, you'll continue to find negatives in most everything.

[Villageshooter]

Originally Posted by jane032657

Ouch. This whole discussion makes my heart bleed for people who have bought this or that and are reading this and feeling devalued. Let's have some kindness. Everyone has different pocketbooks, desires for what they feel is of worth in a home, likes and dislikes. But everyone I think for the most part hangs their hat at the place they have put love into and had joy and experiences in, no matter what the palce is made of, what it is called, what the size of the yard is, where the location is, or what their neighbors age or abilities are. Sometimes these discussions get away from kindness toward others and I just do not see the purpose in doing so. There are so many ways to express opinion and not be condescending to others or make people feel badly about their choices. Opinion is great, everyone is entitled to share, but sensitivity is important too. Just sayin....

Just as the developers want ,,,,keep us in the dark and feed us BS.....
NOT any more,,, tell ur story and help others,,,,they have made billions off of unsepecting folks!
Just because I see the facts and disagree does not make me an unhappy person.... I don't try to suppress those who disagree by trying attack there beliefs and trying to analyze there mental state!

[gerryann]

I don't think anyone is anylyzing anyone's mental state....only reading that some folks (probably only a few) have had a bad experience for one reason or another and are disappointed that others are finding happiness where they did not. They have every right to post their beliefs, but rather than just posting negative comments, why not share what happened? Maybe their comments would be more meaningful if we know the reason for them being made.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

Originally Posted by Ashton

When we went through the new construction, it seemed like a prefab or mobile home. No hardware on the cabinets, cheap screens and doors, it looked like everything was purchased at Menaards. The realtor said "don't pay attention to the construction, your buying the lifestyle"

I love Prefab and mobiles..can't beat them for the price, and I found the one we bought in 1980 when we were first married was energy efficient, very low maintenance, and absolutely perfect for us.

[Trish Crocker]

Are you serious??? I can't believe the way this thread is going. For pete's sake, it's a place that many people have decided to live...if you don't like it or the "developers" then you don't have to live there!!!! This isn't choosing a place to spend eternity, it's just a really neat place to live. Of course the people that designed it are making money...they're supposed to!! If you don't like new construction..don't buy it! If you don't want to pay maintainance fees...move somewhere else. If you prefer pre-owned...buy it! I really think this is one of the silliest threads I have read. I can't wait to get down there, buying pre-owned or new will be decided when we look at what is available and which will fulfill our wish list. There is NO reason to call somones' home a POS.Theposter that declared that all of the construction on new build is inferior is incorrect. I checked out a lot of the homes while I was down there and found it to be very nice. Not only were the models nice, the fact is IF you decide to build you can choose to upgrade. This is no different than any new construction that I have looked at anywhere. You have no idea how offended I am by people that CHOOSE to move into any particular area then criticize it.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Trish Crocker

Are you serious??? I can't believe the way this thread is going. For pete's sake, it's a place that many people have decided to live...if you don't like it or the "developers" then you don't have to live there!!!! This isn't choosing a place to spend eternity, it's just a really neat place to live. Of course the people that designed it are making money...they're supposed to!! If you don't like new construction..don't buy it! If you don't want to pay maintainance fees...move somewhere else. If you prefer pre-owned...buy it! I really think this is one of the silliest threads I have read. I can't wait to get down there, buying pre-owned or new will be decided when we look at what is available and which will fulfill our wish list. There is NO reason to call somones' home a POS.Theposter that declared that all of the construction on new build is inferior is incorrect. I checked out a lot of the homes while I was down there and found it to be very nice. Not only were the models nice, the fact is IF you decide to build you can choose to upgrade. This is no different than any new construction that I have looked at anywhere. You have no idea how offended I am by people that CHOOSE to move into any particular area then criticize it.

OH. I am SO glad I know you Trish Crocker...and YOU Too Jane and looking forward to meeting Gerryann and all ther rest of you new folks who I have worried about reading all this dumb stuff. Oh I am so glad you see the real picture .