[Luggage]

When we bought an older home meaning 12 years old we also realized that we saved a good deal over a new home. And we budgeted a good amount of money to get marble surfaces and new wood floors as well as painting the entire house inside and out the colors we wanted. We've lived here 12 years now and the roof is only 20 years old still good, and we are just getting around to repainting the outside again for a few thousand dollars It will look like new. So keep in mind to look at the dollar per square foot to make sure you get in a good discount versus new and then hopefully you'll have some extra money that the wife wants to spend

[pbkmaine]

We live in Santiago off El Camino Real and can avoid Morse entirely. There are lovely golf cart paths along El Camino Real to Spanish Springs and along Buena Vista to Lake Sumter Landing. The one along Buena Vista that takes a detour next to Saddlebrook golf course and has arching trees overhead is one of the prettiest rides in The Villages.

As far as the house goes, make sure your inspector checks the roof, the HVAC and for cracks in the stucco walls (if you get a cement block house) and the concrete floor. Our 1999 cement block house has been as solid as a rock - we actually slept right through the category 1 hurricane that came through a few years back. We have replaced the roof, the HVAC, the screening on the birdcage and the hinges on the kitchen doors in the 7 years we’ve lived here. We got rid of the carpet and now have laminate floors. None of these things were surprises and seemed to be factored into the lower price we paid for an older house.

[thevillages2013]

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.

In most of the Villages off of Morse north of 466 you don’t have to get on Morse to get to Spanish springs or to 441

[mellincf]

I live near the Polo Fields, just north of 466. My home was updated when I purchased and I am near over 20 restaurants, 8 or so banks, a Walmart, grocery, dentists, the vet, the library, my doctor, shopping of all kinds that I can reach via my golf cart. Convenience is not a problem!!

[DaleDivine]

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.

"HORRIBLE" ? You must have never lived in an area where traffic was bumper to bumper daily. Seriously, There are very little traffic problems here in TV...

[La lamy]

There's a lot that ages in old affordable manufactured homes in the north section. Things to look for other than roof, AC and grey pipes: windows (very costly to replace), testing all electrical outlets (about $175 to replace each) because ants and other insects can get in there and destroy them, skirt and underbelly of home (mine needs to be replaced, expensive), squishy floor due to water damage (yes, once again expensive), water damage in general (people generally wait until they see water seeping through roof before replacing), old water pipes, old inefficient AC/furnace ducts, clogged up bathroom and/or kitchen drains, replacing/updating kitchen and bathrooms, water heater and lawn irrigation system are what I can think of right now. Even though it can be very costly to renovate all this stuff, I felt being where I wanted to be was worth it. I recommend you get an inspection if possible and budget the replacements. Good luck with your search and purchase!

[Bay Kid]

Around Sumter Landing, within 3 miles, is a really cool area. Great golf. Great shopping. Mature lawn, neighborhoods.

[Sskip]

I purchased my home, near Nancy Lopez Golf Course, 3 years ago and I love it up here. Its incredibly easy to get to 301, 441/27, Ocala and Mulberry Grove Shopping Center. The landscaping is beautiful and their is far less traffic. No bond, upgrades were made and I just needed to add my personal touch ! Oh and I have a gas stove, which many down south dont have.

[rrb48310]

Originally Posted by ldj1938

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.

We also live in Santo Domingo and it's easy to avoid "busy" Morse Blvd by car and golf cart. Great area can get to both Spanish Springs & Lake Sumter, tons of stores, gas stations restaurants, over the bridge to Lowe's, Walmart and more all by golf cart.

Just be wise and have your inspector check the big items, roof, HV/AC and the like.

[KRMACK55]

Originally Posted by 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.

Being a Michigander myself I didn’t worry about my HVAC as they lasted 15-20 years much like the roofs. Here everything has a shorter wear span.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

Around Sumter Landing, within 3 miles, is a really cool area. Great golf. Great shopping. Mature lawn, neighborhoods.

That's where we are looking, south of 466 and north of 466A though.

[LateBoomer]

some great neighborhoods up there. Mature trees and such too. I too would be looking closely at the age of the roof, age of the AC, how dated the interior was. if entire flooring or carpet needed to be replaced. Kitchens. That's what drove us to purchase just above 466A - no issues with a 5 year old house. Only needed some gutters and interior painting. everything else was pretty new, not dated and mostly pristine. renovations can be costly.

We seriously considered one older house. When i inquired with Lowes about ripping up all the old carpet and adding even a basic laminate floor, plus the cost of renovating each of the bathrooms and kitchen, it was approaching $60K.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by 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

My home was built in 1998. It looks pretty much like new. I think it’s perverse for people (not you!) to see these thousands of homes as used up and old. The Villages is in wonderful condition. I’m amazed by how well-kept neighborhoods are. Even the Historic Section looks really nice. When I bought, selling points that made me interested included the bond being paid, a new roof, and a new HVAC system. I’ll probably need to replace the water heater in a few years. But can you ask for a price reduction because the roof isn’t new or the bond isn’t paid off? You can ask, but by then the house may have been sold. Just take these things into account when you figure out what you can afford and what your upcoming expenses are likely to be and start saving for them. My carpet doesn’t look great, but it will be a few years before I can afford to replace it.

As for Morse, I live two blocks from the intersection of 466 and Morse, just north of 466. I haven’t noticed much noise. Yes, the traffic is worse on Morse in the winter when the snowbirds are here, but not all that much worse. What people who complain aren’t realizing is that the traffic is never as bad as it is many times in many cities, and also that there are rush hours. Just don’t expect 100 yards clear in both directions. Learn to make quick decisions and step on it when there is a break in traffic. There are always periods of several hours a day when making a left turn isn’t hard on Morse, and after about 6 pm it’s easy. The result of the lights at San Marino and Rio Grande is that traffic comes in spurts of twenty or thirty cars, followed by a break during rush hour. If you have your wits about you and are used to city traffic and have fast reaction time, you can often make a left between cars. If your reaction time is slower, that can be harder. It would be nice to have some left turn lanes here and there so traffic can keep flowing, but I know that is expensive.

There are also some scheduling possibilities. If, say, I need to go to Home Depot or Sam’s during a Morse rush hour when left turns are difficult, I’ll turn right on Morse, then take 466 to Rolling Acres Road. If I also need to go to, say, WalMart, I will arrange my route so I don’t need to make a left turn except at a light with a turn lane. First Home Depot, and then WalMart on 441. If I need to pick up my mail from my mail station on Morse during rush hour, at the end of my errands I head south on Morse so getting the mail is a right turn. If, say, I have an appointment near the hospital, instead of turning left on Morse during rush hour I might take 466 to Buena Vista, then Avenida Central to the office. It’s a little farther, but it’s a pretty drive.

In short, Morse is busy like a busy suburban street, not like a busy urban street, and it is annoying at times but manageable with some thought. I wouldn’t avoid neighborhoods that flow into Morse because they do. Once you are off Morse, those neighborhood streets are quiet, with hardly any traffic.

[airstreamingypsy]

When I was growing up, our summer house was built before the Revolutionary War..... these houses aren't "old" the neighborhoods many consider old are the most beautiful neighborhoods in The Villages. Don't discount north of 466. Unless you enjoy weaving through neighborhood, buy close to one of the main arteries, like Buena Vista or Morse.

[Rzepecki]

Originally Posted by DaleDivine

"HORRIBLE" ? You must have never lived in an area where traffic was bumper to bumper daily. Seriously, There are very little traffic problems here in TV...

Ditto!!!