[Ski Bum]

Don't forget, those two months you want to be here are high season. Talking round numbers, you can get $4000 a month. If you are occupying the home, you give up that income. Summer rents are 1/3rd of that, if you are lucky enough to get a tenant.

Numbers are easy to check on ****, VH4R, or even Trulia. Pick the size home you want, in the area you want, and do the math.

We decided to buy in March 2020 and bought another home March of this year. We will rent them in high season. 4-5 months rent pays for all expenses. We will simply vacation in Mexico in the winter and when we are ready to retire and move to TV full-time, the homes will be there for us.

Sounds like renting is right for you.

[virtue51]

If you are only here one or two months, it makes no sense to buy.

[KRMACK55]

Originally Posted by Sam1961

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.

Stay away from any service that has the villages in it as it’s very expensive and lousy management. I used the villages rental company the plumbing exploded and they tried to steal my $500- deposit.

Don’t buy if you’re looking to sein and do things for a few months. Rent north of 44 and remember that if you think of buying keep in mind the weather from April to October is insufferable the hest humidity the bugs and the mediocre food. Also look at other places that are cheaper around the area it is very expensive to rent here the costs and fees. I bought and regret it everyday.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by amexsbow

Does anyone have any financial data on the costs associated with owning in TV and renting the home out for 6 months of the year? We love TV but my wife does not want to move away from the kids. I want to be in TV from Jan to April and two months in the Summer or Fall. I can afford a down payment and some monthly expense but not a full year of mortgage payments. Any ideas?

We do a few winter months and then rent out the balance...with an occasional short visit between renters...this year has been great, no sooner does one leave, another goes in...which covers expenses. Tough part is you and the renter wants winter, but that's your high rent months, like triple, and sometimes that is hard to give up.

[JMintzer]

We rented for two months over the past Winter. SWMBO pent most of the time in the rental, while I shuttled back and forth to work.

While we were here, we found a place to buy. Settled in February.

We plan to come down 2-3 weeks every quarter, with the boss spending more time here over the Winter...

Eventually, we'll come full time. We have no plans to rent our home...

[slpierce21@gmail.com]

We rented for 3 years and it was not a great financial decision...we finally bought. I suggest you buy a small place and rent it out when you are not there, which will pretty much pay for itself...and now you will have a nest egg

[La lamy]

Renting seems to be the best financial way to go for you, but if you can afford it, it's nice to have your own place and not have to worry about finding/keeping the rental you like.

[Carolynp4]

I don’t think you would have access to the lap pools.

[boothechihuahua]

I would not rent because the prices are just going to go up with no signs of letting up for the foreseeable future. You can rent then buy in a year or two but you're just going to pay more. You can always rent the house to someone else when you're not there to cover the carrying costs for the year.

[coralway]

Originally Posted by Sam1961

Would it be better to rent than buy if I'm only planning on being at TV one or two months at the most?

Most sound advises said rent for a year after the move to a new place before you buy. But I'm only interested in getting away from the cold for month or two. I was looking into buying but want but occupying more than two months out of the year. If lap swim pool is accessible to renter, I wouldn't want the hassle of owning a home at TV since I don't want the hassle of renting out when I'm not there.

I was able to get to travel abroad during winter months but due to COVID, I wasn't able to travel in winter 2020. Then I started searching and found TV. I like that TV has lap swim pool, road bike path, and jogging path. It would be good place to continue the training during the winter months without traveling abroad. Also, I could drive down there from NYC.

You thought and suggestion is appreciated from both renters and landlords. Also, what's the best sites to rent in TV for a month or two months? Thank you.

Definitely rent - you may, or may not, decide you want to live here full time. Contrary to what a RE agent may tell you to push you to buy, this place is hardly very friendly.

I started to rent here in 2004. Soon after decided I did not wish to live here full time, so I rent out my home and visit 2 months a year, which is quite enough.

As others have observed, without knowing your finances, it is really not possible to give a clear answer, only what works for each of us individually.

[Papa_lecki]

If you can afford to buy - its a good investment - prices will rise.

[SIRE1]

We have been in The Villages for 10 years now and I have kept track of ALL the expenses related to our home. That includes insurance, taxes, yard work, maintenance issues, cable, etc, etc, etc. And my average annual cost has been around $13,000. So based on that fixed annual cost (whether I'm here or not) I've compared the home ownership cost to the number of months I could rent @ $3000 per month. Based on that, I would have to rent 4 months or more to come close to my annual ownership cost. So if I were here only 3 months or less, it is far more economical to rent. Plus, renting avoids those really big ticket cost like a new roof or a new furnace & AC. Even a new house will eventually need those costs. Now I know that when I sell, there will hopefully be a profit from appreciation, but that is a potential future gain and will probably go to my kids anyway.

[ronda]

Lots of good comments from many people. Something I haven't heard people discuss is state income tax. Not sure if your home state has a state income tax? If you buy a house, and can declare domicile in FL, and live there for 6 Mo + 1 day you can avoid State Income Tax. We are from NJ that has 6% Income tax. The tax savings are significant.

[ronda]

Originally Posted by SIRE1

We have been in The Villages for 10 years now and I have kept track of ALL the expenses related to our home. That includes insurance, taxes, yard work, maintenance issues, cable, etc, etc, etc. And my average annual cost has been around $13,000. So based on that fixed annual cost (whether I'm here or not) I've compared the home ownership cost to the number of months I could rent @ $3000 per month. Based on that, I would have to rent 4 months or more to come close to my annual ownership cost. So if I were here only 3 months or less, it is far more economical to rent. Plus, renting avoids those really big ticket cost like a new roof or a new furnace & AC. Even a new house will eventually need those costs. Now I know that when I sell, there will hopefully be a profit from appreciation, but that is a potential future gain and will probably go to my kids anyway.

Great post. Most people underestimate the cost of owning a house. We are also programed that renting is bad and buying is good. Not necessarily the case. Yes, the house is likely to appreciate, but so will investing the money in a good stock. The stock costs nothing to own and can be liquidated for almost nothing at any time. 6% to sell a house. My advise, take the money you would spend on the house, put it in a good dividend paying stock and use the dividend to rent a house in TV. You will come out way ahead.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by ronda

Great post. Most people underestimate the cost of owning a house. We are also programed that renting is bad and buying is good. Not necessarily the case. Yes, the house is likely to appreciate, but so will investing the money in a good stock. The stock costs nothing to own and can be liquidated for almost nothing at any time. 6% to sell a house. My advise, take the money you would spend on the house, put it in a good dividend paying stock and use the dividend to rent a house in TV. You will come out way ahead.

All true, but you there's something to be said about returning to your own place, whenever you want...

We rented last Winter (while shopping for a home) and I always felt like I was staying in a slightly larger hotel room, without the maid service or a coffee shop...

We bought, knowing that for the next few years, we would only be using our place sporadically. And that's fine with us... It already feels like home...