[kp11364]

I've been seeing some nice homes for sale in my price range and square footage, but not necessarily in the area I want (I prefer between 466 and 466a, closer to 466a). I believe that homes above or near 466 are considered "older". Some of the ones I've seen listed were built around 2000-2003.

Are there any specific "gotchas" for that area that I should be aware of besides age of roof and age of HVAC? Is the "grey plastic pipe" issue something I need to specifically check for? Are there specific repair permits I or the home inspector should be checking for?

Thanks all!

Kevin

[Kahuna32162]

One big advantage of buying an “older” home is that the bond will most likely be paid. Also many upgrades will have already been done. The landscaping is also mature with lots of shade from larger trees. We like to call it….living up north.

[VApeople]

From my experience, the traffic along Morse Road between 466 and Spanish Springs is horrible during the winter months.

It may be better to buy a house on a road that connects to Buena Vista.

[vintageogauge]

No matter which area you buy in, you will only get what you pay for. Lots of beautiful homes up there, good luck with your search.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by VApeople

From my experience, the traffic along Morse Road between 466 and Spanish Springs is horrible during the winter months.

It may be better to buy a house on a road that connects to Buena Vista.

Agree with this. If you ever plan to turn left on Morse exiting from one of those neighborhoods, you'd better be at a traffic light. Morse is the main way to get to the hospital, doctors' offices, and 441/27 from the middle Villages. Thankfully, more practices are opening offices near Brownwood.

[ldj1938]

Originally Posted by Carla B

Agree with this. If you ever plan to turn left on Morse exiting from one of those neighborhoods, you'd better be at a traffic light. Morse is the main way to get to the hospital, doctors' offices, and 441/27 from the middle Villages. Thankfully, more practices are opening offices near Brownwood.

Actually we just use our golf cart from Santo Domingo and it's, at the most, ten minutes away. Love our home on the golf course and lake. All updated, new roof, appliances, big Oak trees, just painted, etc., ... Morse is very avoidable.

[jdulej]

One of the biggest expenses that we all face is replacing the roof. Make sure you are fully aware of the age of the roof - I have heard that you start to see them getting replaced at about 15 years.

[Stu from NYC]

Before you buy would strongly suggest renting for a month or two and seeing what you want and do not want before purchasing.

[kathyspear]

Originally Posted by jdulej

One of the biggest expenses that we all face is replacing the roof. Make sure you are fully aware of the age of the roof - I have heard that you start to see them getting replaced at about 15 years.

It's not necessarily that a roof ***needs*** to be replaced at 15 years. It's just that the insurance companies won't write a new policy on a house if the roof is x number of years old (used to be 20, of late it might be 15).

Good luck with your home search.

kathy

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Carla B

Agree with this. If you ever plan to turn left on Morse exiting from one of those neighborhoods, you'd better be at a traffic light. Morse is the main way to get to the hospital, doctors' offices, and 441/27 from the middle Villages. Thankfully, more practices are opening offices near Brownwood.

I used to work in Sumter Landing. I live on the other side of 441 in the "historic" section. By car, there are several ways to get from the first to the second and back. It's a 10-minute car ride, a 15-18 minute golf cart drive.

Even during rush hour in the height of snowbird season it wasn't a big deal. You might experience an extra 5 minutes total if you go by car, because people going way too slowly through the intersection, resulting in you missing that traffic light cycle and having to wait for the next one.

If you live north of 466, you're already that much closer to the hospital. There are also a few traffic lights to stagger traffic even on the worst days. If you live in Rio Ponderosa or other points east of Morse Blvd, you just need to look both ways before taking a left. If you live on the west side of Morse (de la Vista and similar), you need to look both ways before taking a right. These are things you should be doing anyway, so it shouldn't be difficult.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

As for the roof and grey pipes situation - homes stopped being built with polybutylene pipes in 1996. So if you're looking at homes built after 1997, you won't be dealing with them at all. Many of the homes north of 466 have already had their roofs replaced by now, so the odds of you finding a pre-owned home with a roof less than 10 years old is pretty high.

[billethkid]

"Older" homes?

Remember most homes in TV have 2 or less people living in them.

We built ours 17 years ago.....still looks like new.

So like people, houses cannot be judged accurately when being deemed....older.

I would take a like new "older" home than starting all new everything again.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by VApeople

From my experience, the traffic along Morse Road between 466 and Spanish Springs is horrible during the winter months.

It may be better to buy a house on a road that connects to Buena Vista.

A very good point.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Carla B

If you ever plan to turn left on Morse exiting from one of those neighborhoods, you'd better be at a traffic light.

We were surprised when they introduced traffic lights at the San Marino / Morse Boulevard junction just after we moved into the area. Now we are so glad that they did.

[Penglobal]

[QUOTE=kp11364;1993649]I've been seeing some nice homes for sale in my price range and square footage, but not necessarily in the area I want (I prefer between 466 and 466a, closer to 466a). I believe that homes above or near 466 are considered "older". Some of the ones I've seen listed were built around 2000-2003.

Are there any specific "gotchas" for that area that I should be aware of besides age of roof and age of HVAC? Is the "grey plastic pipe" issue something I need to specifically check for? Are there specific repair permits I or the home inspector should be checking for?

Thanks all!

Hello and in my humble opinion, many homes over 20 years old are going to require major work renovations such as a new roof, new a/c, new carpets, new floors, new kitchen cabinets, new doors and hopefully a new husband. The list can go on for many dollars. Good Luck.