[wlou]

We are PT in TV with a new designer home that we let TV prop mgmt rent out for the Lifestyle Preview plans. Recently, we have heard rumors from neighbors in Amelia that the new construction near the old Buffalo pasture was for rentals that prop mgmt would use strictly for Lifestyles previews and get rid of all of us homeowners in the rental program...Anyone know if this is fact??? The neighbor said he heard that was why the construction was going very fast..They were trying to get all of the homes ready for snowbird rental season...Bad news for all of us Ptimers if this is true..Buyer Beware if anyone out there is thinking they will buy now and rent until retirement comes...Any info would be appreciated!

[Russ_Boston]

There are other threads on this issue and my read is that what you said is partially true. But that doesn't mean that you can't rent your place. It just won't be part of the preview program rental. I don't think this has any bearing on renting out your place for months at a time during snowbird season. That's my take from afar.

[SteveFromNY]

Don't you have a contract with property management that runs from July 1 to June 30th?
I was in the property management program until this June 30 - we withdrew from the program so we could occupy the house. They never indicated a reluctance to keep us on, and in fact they seemed upset that we left. Our house was 3 years old, but it was well south of 466 and in perfect condition. So I think they still wanted us as it was close to the newer areas where sales of new houses happen!
When we were in the program, we had heard there were 1400 houses also in the program. Someone said in a recent thread that there were only 400 now. I personally can't imagine why they would reduce unless demand for winter rentals (the bread and butter of the property management program) was way down. It's lucrative for them to have you buy the house, have you eat all the expenses, and have them collect 20% for making the reservations. It wouldn't make great financial sense for them not to maintain this program.
However, they may want to use a more enclosed space for the life-stylers so they can attend to them easier. Keep'em all in the Buffalo pen! If they do this, it could impact your rental income in the program. The snowbirds will still do the monthly rentals Jan, Feb and March, so you'll get three months rental, but you will not get the few-day and week- long rentals. These amounted to another 4 weeks on average per year for me.
Bottom line, if you're under contract, I think you'll be OK with the monthly rentals, with the risk of losing some days for the lifestyle program folks.
But it could also be demand that is driving the building, and perhaps that's why they are building them!
And keep in mind, when the developer puts their mind to doing something, they do it fast. When we bought in '05 the entire area was a beehive of frenetic activity. There were crews everywhere. Houses were being built and sold at a pace of 400 per month. So this high level of activity isn't that new.
Anyway, good luck to you!

[Muncle]

If, as rumored, the old buffalo pen is to be used as a site for Lifestyle Preview Program, I hope and pray that we as residents have learned our lesson. Once constructuion is completed and the site is in use, DO NOT attempt to feed carrots or other delicacies to the Lifestyle visitors. Yes, the fences will appear stable and the inmates will seem quite docile, but they remain feral and are very unpredictable eespecially at feeding time. And critically, DO NOT attempt to cross the fences so you can get that picture of your precious grandchild mingling with the Lifestylers. There have been some very serious injuries happen in similar situations, especially when a child has stepped between a Lifeastyle mother and a bingo game or a father and his clubs.

So, by alll means, drive by the enclosure and enjoy seeing these glorious creatures. Take pictures to share with your friends up north. But use common sense! The Lifestyle participants are not pets.

[Peachie]

Wuh, ok... stay away from the wildebeasts Lifestylers...


You are a riot Muncle!

[swrinfla]

The whole notion that the new area (dubbed "Creekside Landing" in pictures I've seen) is for rental property only, or for Lifestyle Preview short-term rentals only, quite frankly blows my mind. That's what I've always understood the Lakeside Cottages have been/are for (I stayed there during my Street of Dreams experience in October 2004). There's a whole bunch of space over there, and now they're, perhaps, doubling it?

The way the economy is going, I seriously question whether they'll be able to fill even one of the two complexes on a perpetual basis, let alone both of them.

Oh, well. It isn't my money, so I guess I shouldn't care! And, TV has been known to expend a lot of money "on spec!"

On renting privately owned properties by way of TV, I was once told that seasonal rentals were limited to a month, only. If a renter wanted longer, he had to make arrangements some other way. Is this correct, or did I have bad information?

SWR

[villages07]

Muncle,



That's worth 4 ROFLMAO (which out-ranks 3 "I Agree" --- hey, this new system limits the number of smilies per message to 4)

Question, though......if the poor, deprived lifestylers appear thirsty....is it OK to give them the Kool-Aid? You know what that does to them....

[beady]

Muncle:


I had to give you four more. The captain and I were both ROTFL after reading your post.

[Russ_Boston]

Muncle - That's one MORE adult beverage I owe you when I come down next year. That was priceless!