[YodaMom]

I was looking at the new construction homes on The Villages' website and noticed the price of the homes have been reduced. Also, TV is reducing the homes by 5% if you buy before the end of the year. Does anyone know if the 5% if off the already reduced price listed or the original price listed?

Thanks

[jeffy]

All I know is that they did the same thing for October buyers. I looked at a new ranch home in Hadley or Hemingway the end of Sept (open house)that they wanted 148000 for . We went out of town and came back the first of October and saw the ad for I think 4% off all new homes if settled in October. Realtor took us by this home at my request because I thought it would now be 4% off the Sept price. It was only about $200 lower. I asked the realtor and she said that that house had already been discounted so the 4% didnt apply????

All things said though, they are offering REALLY good prices on new homes right now. For some reason there are particularly good deals on select homes (for no apparent reason, not closeouts, just insanely good deals). I saw a gardenia with golf cart garage in Hadley/Hemingway 2 weeks ago that was going for $230k. We just got a Wisteria II for my in-laws in bonita for 182k.

jeffy

[YodaMom]

Thanks Jeffy. Sounds like the price of the homes could be even different than listed.

We aren't looking right now because we haven't sold our house up north yet but I am watching the prices.

We had our eye on the Wisteria as well - hope your inlaws enjoy it. I thought the cottages are priced very well too.

[JohnN]

We bought in May, felt we got a great deal. However, I think they do some pricing things that can be a tad misleading at times. Still good prices but, just be careful and feel comfortable about what you're doing. Good luck.

[captain1202]

There's no question prices are off somewhat, but I wouldn't say they were plunging. We bought a year ago and I would guess our home value is down maybe 10%.

As far as the new ones go, it's hard to compare as TV has "Cheaped Up" (or down) some of the new homes to meet the market. For example, no or minimum appliances, no tile, flat doors instead of paneled, etc.. Not that this is bad, it's just the way they are working to keep new prices in line with the market and provide a nice home.

I will say that from my observations, the largest resale price drops seem to have occurred in the Premier models while the Designers have experienced less of a drop. As with everything, you need to be sure you're comparing "apples to apples".

[graciegirl]

It is a GREAT time to buy. All who are hesitating, come on down. I cannot believe how we love it here. We have just finished our first full month of really living the life here, after two trips to get the home furnished, find a golf cart, etc.

We have played Bingo, Bunko, Mahjongg, went swimming, boatriding, took the tram again, saw a Polo match and a parade, danced, and danced and ate and ate. We met the very NICEST people in the universe and hugged them all. We looked at the beautiful, beautiful landscaping and interior places of the villages, and of new friends places, and we saw some killer sunrises and sunsets, we went to the beach, found wonderful shopping places and restaurants. We walk in the neighborhood and ride around in our silly red 4 seater golf cart with a striped roof and love THAT so much. We have gotten lost, overeaten, had too much sun and too many strenuous activities. We have had our muscles and bones ache, but not our hearts, wait yes we did. We have truly lived here and I can't believe how wonderful it is!!

Please...hurry down. YOU are wasting time. We want to tell you...Welcome to Paradise.

We have returned to the north to help Santa and be with our family here this month. We feel very torn, but in a good way.

[GrayGoose]

Originally Posted by YodaMom

I was looking at the new construction homes on The Villages' website and noticed the price of the homes have been reduced. Also, TV is reducing the homes by 5% if you buy before the end of the year. Does anyone know if the 5% if off the already reduced price listed or the original price listed?

Thanks

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[Whalen]

Originally Posted by jeffy

All I know is that they did the same thing for October buyers. I looked at a new ranch home in Hadley or Hemingway the end of Sept (open house)that they wanted 148000 for . We went out of town and came back the first of October and saw the ad for I think 4% off all new homes if settled in October. Realtor took us by this home at my request because I thought it would now be 4% off the Sept price. It was only about $200 lower. I asked the realtor and she said that that house had already been discounted so the 4% didnt apply????


jeffy

I agree, the marketing is a bit misleading.
Have also been following the houses on the website since August. I have been watching a house that it is within about $500. less than when it was listed as reduced, 4.5% off, anf 5% off.
I also thought that the discount would be off the reduced price. Confusing.

Originally Posted by captain1202

There's no question prices are off somewhat, but I wouldn't say they were plunging. We bought a year ago and I would guess our home value is down maybe 10%.

As far as the new ones go, it's hard to compare as TV has "Cheaped Up" (or down) some of the new homes to meet the market. For example, no or minimum appliances, no tile, flat doors instead of paneled, etc.. Not that this is bad, it's just the way they are working to keep new prices in line with the market and provide a nice home.

I agree. Also to consider, is the price of the bond. The pre-owneds have much less or sometimes no bond, while the bonds in the new neighborhoods are pretty steep, IMHO. We bought a gardenia a couple years ago, and paid more than they're listed for now, but our bond is around $4-$5 thousand less than what you'd pay for a new home today. We also have gas and electric. Its my understanding some of the new neighborhoods only have electric. That may cost you in the long run.

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by YodaMom

Thanks Jeffy. Sounds like the price of the homes could be even different than listed.

We aren't looking right now because we haven't sold our house up north yet but I am watching the prices.

We had our eye on the Wisteria as well - hope your inlaws enjoy it. I thought the cottages are priced very well too.

Yodamom, Yes we looked at the "cottages" the day they opened up that area of Amelia. Realtor claimed that they were a trial area with cheaper construction materials. We really were not able to see much of a difference of materials. Most still had vaulted ceilings, six panel doors, etc. The things we did see were no washer/dryer , no garage door opener, vinyl floor instead of tile. Nothing really of consequence. The reason we opted out of the cottages area is that the in-laws thought the lots were a little to hilly. If you dont plan on cutting your own yard, the cottages are very reasonably priced and in a very nice area.

There are great deals out there right now if you take the time to find them.

jeffy

[YodaMom]

Originally Posted by jeffy

Yodamom, Yes we looked at the "cottages" the day they opened up that area of Amelia. Realtor claimed that they were a trial area with cheaper construction materials. We really were not able to see much of a difference of materials. Most still had vaulted ceilings, six panel doors, etc. The things we did see were no washer/dryer , no garage door opener, vinyl floor instead of tile. Nothing really of consequence. The reason we opted out of the cottages area is that the in-laws thought the lots were a little to hilly. If you dont plan on cutting your own yard, the cottages are very reasonably priced and in a very nice area.

There are great deals out there right now if you take the time to find them.

jeffy

jeffy, thanks for the heads up on the cottages. I thought the lots looked a little too hilly too but do agree with you they are reasonably priced. Hope your in-laws make friends in their new neighborhood.

[YodaMom]

Although we are not in a position to buy right now, I do have a question about 2005 prices of the Wisteria design home and also an amarillo ranch home. I am just curious as to how much the value of these homes have dropped. We bought our condo in Florida in 2005 and we know how much this has dropped which is why I am asking about the Villages.

Thanks.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by YodaMom

Although we are not in a position to buy right now, I do have a question about 2005 prices of the Wisteria design home and also an amarillo ranch home. I am just curious as to how much the value of these homes have dropped. We bought our condo in Florida in 2005 and we know how much this has dropped which is why I am asking about the Villages.

Thanks.

I bought a Gardenia in 2005 (closed in June) and the value of the house today seems to be approximately equal to what I paid in 2005 as far as I can tell from looking at the similarly equipped new homes. Perhaps they've dropped some since 05, but it's tough to tell,

Here is a chart form Zillow.com that shows the market in TV over time. Looks from the chart that Jan 05 & Jan 0-9 are about the same. 09 does show a downward trend though. TV certainly appreciated more than Florida on average so the folks who bought at the peak are down a lot.

http://www.zillow.com/local-info/FL-...es-home-value/

We bought a Gardenia in mid-2007. No doubt, the market price today is less than we paid then. But, since our plans are to live in it for many years (hopefully) and we don't plan to re-finanace (cash purchase), we are not bothered by short-term market price fluctuations. I suspect the value at some point in the future will be greater than our purchase price. If not, our heirs will get whatever the value is at that time. Markets go through cycles, and this one will too. We paid what we were comfortable with at the time to get what we wanted in terms of location, directional facing, features, size, etc. We are happy with the product and will not worry about the market price as long as we plan to live there.

I speculate that, once the build-out is complete in 2012-2014 time frame, and, if the retiring baby boomers still want in, the market prices will only go up. That will likely make whatever today's prices are seem like a bargin (sort of like today's stock prices).

[YodaMom]

Thanks to Snok and StevefromNY. I will look at the zillow website later. The reason I ask is that we will take a loss when we sell our condo to buy at The Villages. For example, if we take a $40,000 loss here, would the house price there be about $40,000 less than it was had we bought at the villages in 2005?