[jojo]

We like Amelia for location and a bit of hilly terrain - hard to find anywhere in Florida. We are close to rec centers and equidistant - about 2.5 miles (less than 10 minutes by cart) from LSL and Colony Publix etc. As other posters indicated, there are many variables to consider when choosing location. Bottom line - if you're in The Villages, you'll have it all its many wonders available to you.

[kitkat1]

Thanks to all for your feedback! So helpful! I really appreciate it!

[kitkat1]

Why stay away from Pine Ridge?

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by kitkat1

Why stay away from Pine Ridge?

It is beautiful there also. Everyone who lives here thinks their Village is the best. We went there yesterday to look at new houses again. All in money wise it is a few dollars more but there is nothing like a new house. There is nothing to worry about, I worried about a whole lot before we moved here and reality is all the worry was for nothing.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by New York Transplant

Stay away from Pine Ridge and closer to the squares as the taxes are a lot higher as well as the home prices. Few miles off the cuff you will be saving about 50k-100k on your home as well as lower taxes. Love it here however the closer you are to the squares the more you'll pay. If you are all about location, and don't mind being taken to the cleaners then that is for you. If you want a beautiful home, and a few miles from the squares you can find a real good buy. Courtyard villas are popular and good resale value!

I do not agree with this post at all. Home prices here are based on view lots, size of home and have nothing to do with what Village or whether home is new or not.

There are excited and happy and smart people who have chosen Pine Ridge.

New Pine Ridge Club forming!


I don't sell real estate. I don't work. I love it here...I love every Village, but I like mine the best. We all do.

There are many incorrect statements Miss Kat, on this forum.

[kstew43]

we looked at beautiful home...the putnam model 4 bedrooms with a golf cart garage in Pine Ridge, backed to the street, perfect. $259.....we thought...what a deal....

then we did the tax estimate for lake county, fruit land park...as our villages realtor suggested we do.

with the bond $24900.....the yearly maintance fee for the local $630? and the county taxes, it added up to $7500 a year....thats $625 a month just for taxes...

Way too high for us, But it was a great home.

[bbbbbb]

[QUOTE=kitkat1;1281221]Visited The Villages last weekend for the first time and really loved the area. We particularly loved the areas around Spanish Springs,
Hi, we did this and it seemed to work well for us.
1. The Lifestyle program by the Villages, through the Village offices, will set up a Villa Rental for you, with a cart and with Bikes. Then the trolley will take you around or the sales agents will also take you around, no pressure.
2. There are three or more outside regular Realtors, REMax, Grizzard, and Executive Realty.
3. See the Sun Daily paper, they have homes by owner and a lot of info on Sales.
4. Website FSBO.com | Real Estate Homes For Sale By Owner Since 1997 shows a lot of places too.
5. Zillow: Real Estate, Apartments, Mortgages & Home Values can also show homes here.

We really liked Dan Foster at Grizzard Realty on 466.
First decide the area, then house or Villa or Cottage, then price range,,,,,,,, this place is great.

bbbbbb

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by kstew43

we looked at beautiful home...the putnam model 4 bedrooms with a golf cart garage in Pine Ridge, backed to the street, perfect. $259.....we thought...what a deal....

then we did the tax estimate for lake county, fruit land park...as our villages realtor suggested we do.

with the bond $24900.....the yearly maintance fee for the local $630? and the county taxes, it added up to $7500 a year....thats $625 a month just for taxes...

Way too high for us, But it was a great home.

I thought Lake County didn't allow a bond on the property, and thus, the overall price of the home would look higher because of the lot improvements and street/neighborhood infrastructure would be baked into the home price, not in a separate bond.

Also, a lot of people don't want a 4-bedroom home. They could get a 3-bedroom home there, without the furnishings and cart (which makes for fuzzing price of the actual home), for maybe $25k less, and have pretty much the same thing on the same land.

[big guy]

Originally Posted by New York Transplant

Stay away from Pine Ridge and closer to the squares as the taxes are a lot higher as well as the home prices. Few miles off the cuff you will be saving about 50k-100k on your home as well as lower taxes. Love it here however the closer you are to the squares the more you'll pay. If you are all about location, and don't mind being taken to the cleaners then that is for you. If you want a beautiful home, and a few miles from the squares you can find a real good buy. Courtyard villas are popular and good resale value!

We live in the geographical center of The Villages in the Village of Sunset Pointe, near Sumter Landing. We did our homework before we purchased and I don't believe this to be accurate. We got a good buy on our home and our taxes are not appreciably more than a home in Pennekamp. Like anywhere else, it depends on the time of year and comparables. It just depends if you want an older home, newer or in between age home.

[big guy]

Originally Posted by kstew43

we looked at beautiful home...the putnam model 4 bedrooms with a golf cart garage in Pine Ridge, backed to the street, perfect. $259.....we thought...what a deal....

then we did the tax estimate for lake county, fruit land park...as our villages realtor suggested we do.

with the bond $24900.....the yearly maintance fee for the local $630? and the county taxes, it added up to $7500 a year....thats $625 a month just for taxes...

Way too high for us, But it was a great home.

Yearly maintenance fee? We have no yearly maintenance fee. Are you talking about the amenity fee? That doesn't vary much between houses. We own a 23 year old villa that is a rental and we own a 10 year old designer home in which we live. The amenity fee is the same.

[perrjojo]

Everyone thinks their village is the best.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by big guy

Yearly maintenance fee? We have no yearly maintenance fee. Are you talking about the amenity fee? That doesn't vary much between houses. We own a 23 year old villa that is a rental and we own a 10 year old designer home in which we live. The amenity fee is the same.

I don't know where you live and I cannot be certain about all areas but I think if you look on the back of your tax bill you will find a maintenance fee. As I said, I don't know about all areas.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by kstew43

we looked at beautiful home...the putnam model 4 bedrooms with a golf cart garage in Pine Ridge, backed to the street, perfect. $259.....we thought...what a deal....

then we did the tax estimate for lake county, fruit land park...as our villages realtor suggested we do.

with the bond $24900.....the yearly maintance fee for the local $630? and the county taxes, it added up to $7500 a year....thats $625 a month just for taxes...

Way too high for us, But it was a great home.

That seems strange. This link estimates yearly property tax for a 250K home in Fruitland Park in the $3500 area.

Tax Calculator

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

That seems strange. This link estimates yearly property tax for a 250K home in Fruitland Park in the $3500 area.

Tax Calculator

He is calculating the bond as well as the maintenance fee into the yearly calculation.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

I don't agree if a home is closer to a square, it is more expensive. You will pay more for a view, corner lot, upgrades in home, etc.

I agree it's more important to be closer to shopping, doctors and an activity that you might do on a daily basis, After awhile, most people don't go to the squares as often.

You might want to consider something like Bonnybrook, Summerhill, area. Caroline and Virginia Trace are also beautiful. Close to doctors and shopping and a short ride to the squares. TV is very big so don't get overwhelmed.

Best to send for a map and study it, as there are many choices.

Delends.. Check CYV 3 bed 2 bath golf front homesite and you will see that location does matter. Quite a bit.