[Reefer]

We have been following TOTV for about 5 1/2 years now and have found this all very helpful. Now that we are turning 55 we are beginning to look at listings and with interest rates as low as they are we are serious about looking.
We mostly look at the homes and villas for sale on The Villages web site. I guess I'd like to know if there are listings anywhere else (real estate agents) or are most of them through TV?
Also, once we find something we may be interested in, do we just call the number available and work with whoever we get or do you have any recommendations?
Thanks,
Joe & Ann

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Reefer

We have been following TOTV for about 5 1/2 years now and have found this all very helpful. Now that we are turning 55 we are beginning to look at listings and with interest rates as low as they are we are serious about looking.
We mostly look at the homes and villas for sale on The Villages web site. I guess I'd like to know if there are listings anywhere else (real estate agents) or are most of them through TV?
Also, once we find something we may be interested in, do we just call the number available and work with whoever we get or do you have any recommendations?
Thanks,
Joe & Ann

Reefer, If you want to look at preowned homes, it is my understanding that you need to work with both a TV agent and an MLS agent as they don't share listings. If you google Lyle Gant, he has a lot of MLS listing on his web site. Also check out realtor.com, and for the town put in The Villages. That would also show MLS listings. I have gone to quite a few open houses for preowned homes listed by both MLS and TV agents. There are a lot of MLS agents that work in The Villages. Tom Heller is another name that comes to mind. I'm sure TV veterans can give you other names of both MLS agents and TV agents. If you want new construction, then you have to deal with TV agent.
One nice thing about TV is that open houses are held 7 days a week, not just on Saturdays and Sundays like up north. Good luck in your search

[liere]

When I was looking for a house in TV I went to the sales office by Lake Sumter Landing and was assigned an agent. He worked for TV and was very helpful. My ex-wife just bought a house a month ago and she searched houses on the internet (not through TV site) and worked with an agent from Realty Executives and the agent was very helpful, showed her houses exactly according to what she desired in her house and helped with the "remote" closing. And the houses through the MLS tended to be slightly lower in price. Good Luck!

[Pturner]

Hi Reefer,
If you are interested in resales, I strongly recommend you get both an MLS Realtor and Villages sales agent. As Schaumburger mentioned, they do not share listings. Get a written Buyers Agent agreement with your MLS Realtor.

If you want to look at only new homes, only a Villages sales agent can show you these.

Best wishes in your search!

[asianthree]

another vote for lyle gant

[Dirigo]

Originally Posted by asianthree

another vote for lyle gant

We used Lyle Gant. Great website. Great fellow.

[buggyone]

Yes, definitely use BOTH a Villages Properties agent and a MLS agent. They cannot show each other's listings.

With a pre-owned home, you can negotiate price with the owner, the bond is either low or even all paid (saves at least $20K), mature landscaping, no construction going on for several months around you, and features in the home you would pay extra for in a new home.

[jebartle]

If you are looking for a pre-own, start your search in Lake County....NO bond!

[alemorkam]

for MLS houses you can search on Focus on The Villages. We use that and Villages Sales agents cannot show you or sell you these homes.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by alemorkam

for MLS houses you can search on Focus on The Villages. We use that and Villages Sales agents cannot show you or sell you these homes.

I prefer this website for MLS listings, some nice search features.

[Dayzee]

Unless you are set on a 'new build', you will definitely want to work with two agents - one from The Villages Sales Office and one from an outside listing agency. We were told last year during our home search that 50% of the pre-owned homes on the market are listed through outside agencies - we found that to be true. While our agents did do searches for us, we found that the best way to view homes that met our criteria was do give them a list comprised from our own research. In addition to the web sites already mentioned, we found that zillow.com was also very helpful. The Daily Sun prints open houses daily - also a good way to view homes without appointments with an agent. Don't dismiss 'homes for sale by owner' - some of the best deals can be found by direct dealings with home owners - no commissions to be paid.

This will be a very exciting time for you - best of luck. Keep us posted.

[Biker Dog]

The Villages Homes For Sale By Owner FSBO, For Sale By Owner Homes in The Villages

For Sale by Owner

[Reefer]

Originally Posted by Dayzee

best of luck. Keep us posted.

Thanks,
Will update as we go along...
Joe & Ann