Talk of The Villages Florida - Single family home vs condos

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - Single family home vs condos (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/single-family-home-vs-condos-128585/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by theorem painter (Post 946002)

My understanding of the difference between a townhouse and a condo is that in a townhouse you own the land under your unit and you are assessed and taxed like a single family home. In a condo you only own your unit, not the land. The total taxes are usually included in your association fee. We live in a townhouse in New York. The places in Spanish Springs would be considered a townhouse. We toured many of them and they are gorgeous because they were used at the time for the Life Style visit. Downside is no private outdoor lanai space.

Sorry, but your understanding is incorrect. You didn't read what I previously tried to explain. A townhouse can be a condo and it can also be a homeowner's association, as an example. If the form of ownership is registered as a condo, that's what it is. You are correct -- you do not own the land; the grounds are all "common areas" once you step outside your front door. Now, if the townhouse is documented as a homeowner's association, you do own the ground on which the townhouse sits and a survey would show you the exact area you own. However, even if your townhouse is within a homeowner's assn., you still would have common areas. That would include the pool, clubhouse, etc.

I cannot say what is done in parts of New York, but in Florida, every single type of fee simple property ownership, regardless of what it is -- a condo assn. or homeowner's assn. (townhouse, high rise, single family home, etc.) is taxed exactly the same way. It all has to do with your property's assessed value and the millage in your city or county. In a condo or homeowner's situation, the common ground areas are taxed to the association and each homeowner would pay a proportionate share in their monthly maintenance fee.

Any dwelling you own, when you are part of an association, will have spelled out in the documents (the rules & regulations and the bi-laws), exactly who is responsible for what as far as paying and maintaining. Your documents clearly define whether your association is a condo or homeowners and in Florida, the governing rules are completely different from one another. In Florida, condo associations have much more "teeth" within the law and homeowner's associations, not so much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by llaran (Post 946239)

One of the drawbacks of the townhouses in the Villages is STAIRS, very very few ranch style.

All townhouses have stairs and are at least two stories.
Those with more stories generally have elevators.

In Florida, a one-story association (condo or homeowner's) home is usually referred to as a villa.
Single story homes are not referred to as a "ranch," but simply, as a single story house.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capearc (Post 945826)

How does the cost of owning a condo compare with the cost of owning a single family home that are close to the same number of square feet? What are the positives and negatives of condos?

since there is no HOA ownership of any facilities the 'condos' have roughly the same expenses. I'm not sure about the outside maintenance but imagine it is additional, as everyone pays for their own lawncare.
Having lived in both it is totally up to the individual which is better and in fact what one looks at as a plus another might look at as negative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulligan (Post 945990)

In general I believe your statement is correct, except that there is a HUGE difference between a homeowner's association and a condominium association.

yes but here neither applies as we are governed by CDDs

Quote:

Originally Posted by looneycat (Post 947171)

yes but here neither applies as we are governed by CDDs

You might want to read through this information for clarification:
http://www.districtgov.org/images/De...478156_img.pdf
http://www.districtgov.org/images/De...478156_img.pdf
http://www.districtgov.org/images/De...a%20Sonoma.pdf
http://www.districtgov.org/images/De...sta%20Lago.pdf

Once a property is submitted to the condominium law, Condo association constitution and bylaws prevail. They will override the CDD. I would guess the reason we don't have more condos in TV is that the developer loses so much control. Also, normally, in a condo, individual ownership ends at the drywall inside the unit. The wall structures are considered common areas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJOHNS2654 (Post 946103)

We live in the Condos behind the Rialto Theatre in Spanish Springs. (Great Location) Our dues are $350 a month which covers all outside maintenance. We pay the standard amenity fees which come to approx. $180 monthly and includes water and sewer. We pay $55. quarterly for trash and recycle service. There is no Bond and the taxes are around $2700 annualy.

We have an enclosed Court Yard with a eight foot wall from the parking lot side. We can do pretty much what we want to the interior but the exterior changes must be approved by the Board for minor changes and by 51% of the owners for major changes.

John: If I may ask where are these townhouses zoned?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 947636)

John: If I may ask where are these townhouses zoned?

Lady Lake