I think some of the LSV homes have been bumped out, an option available to you when you build. Some of the models in Sanibel are bumped as well. One of them a Gardenia, I believe, to show you what can be done if you wish the extra space. My new lot is a fairly large one, in terms of being deep and a tad wider. It is all in what you choose. If you look at the map of the neighborhoods that shows the lot sizes, you will see they are many sizes and shapes. But I have to agree that some seem smaller than the original lots from the very beginning. I toured a pre-owned Lantana in Chattham that had a large, lovely lot. Of course, there was also mature landscaping which I will NOT have, but all in good time. Just a matter of what you want and select.

Richard B. Conroy was born in Marion, Indiana, in 1944. After earning a B.S. degree from Ball State University in 1967 and an M.A. in Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University in 1971, he had two distinguished careers in education and finance. He married Cheryl Ann Harper in 1967, the couple has two daughters and five granddaughters.

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"

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When prices go down it would seem that builders mfgs, etc would attempt to maintain the same profit margins. so we know that something has to change.
When shopping for a flat screen a few years back I learned after my six month trek that SAMSUNG had dumbed down the innards of their flat screens so that the 750 model i purchased was far superior to their 800 900 models

As to building codes I have been witness to counties that have looked the other way for political reasons...and had there not been an onslaught of homes dealing with the same prolems the counties negiligence would have never been uncovered.

So it does make sense to me that homes built prior to the downturn have a better potential of better building than......I am just saying

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Here is the author's web site. There is an email contact page where you can ask him all these burning questions. My guess is he does not live in TV. Just because he wrote a piece of fiction about TV doesn't mean he lives here any more than his living in Texas because he wrote a piece of fiction placed in Texas.
Contact R B Conroy

We originally bid for a resale but lost out on a bid but then we found a spec designer house and we love it. We are now happy we didn't win the first bid. I think one recommendation I can give is to look for built out area and check out the last few homes being built on spec. When we bought our place it was one of the three last lots that were being built. Builders want to move onto new section so they usually do a little add ons to make the house more salable. One concern I had south of 466 is that no gas will be available but it worked out well with electricity. We also enjoy walkin shower and golf cart garage which are rarer on older homes north of 466. The best part was having couple of feet extra in every room which definitely gives an airy feel. To each his own.

You must enjoy TV as it seems you keep returning for your vacations. Why then do you keep repeating these; Stepford label, speak the party line, way too hot, high humidity, too much traffic, too crowded.etc, your little hints that TV is not the place to be?

senior citizen: "The Villages Lifestyle" should be approached with great circumspect. It is the basis as you have come to realize that lures people here.

My suggestion is step back and look at where you could live other than here
and then ask yourself if that other place(s) can supply some of or all of the same things? If your answer is no well then you have answered your question. However if your answer is yes then proceed with the next step and so on until you reach the last one which is.. at this other place how much will it cost you. finally be certain that "the lifestyle" is something you will actually use. some here thrive on it while others have no use for it but are still forced to subsidize it. What is toubling are the number of folks here wo seem to take an euphorian approach to the "Lifestyle". This is not a DisneyWorld after a week or so. so i wouldn't not like to see you discover buyers remorse sometime shortly after you makesuch a huge investment
finally trust your answers when you finished because what you see is waht you are going to get and coming is easier than leaving.

I agree. These are all just buying/living decisions everyone makes when they make a move in retirement.

Most have a lot of life experience by this time in their lives and will make the best decisions for them. A few will regret their decisions but that's the way it goes sometimes.

One of the main benefits of buying a new construction here is because of the neighbors being at the same age and stage in life....newly retired or about to retire....and moving in at about the same time and being "all in the same boat", new in the community.

As for quality of construction, I've never seen homes in the midwest made of poured concrete reinforced with embedded steel rebar, as our courtyard villa here is. Can't get much stronger than that in my estimation.