[harleysville]

We bought in Villages of Parkwood last summer and are very happy. The clubhouse opened this past weekend and is beautiful ($1.5 million property). Parkwood HOA fees are $50/mth. Please PM me if you have any questions.

[784caroline]

Glad to hear you are happy with your purchase. Im sure you welcome the opening of the new pool/rec center.

How did your closing go...any surprises ie unexpected costs?? How did the contractor handle any issues that came up during the first year of ownership??

[graciegirl]

[QUOTE=eremite06;258500]Our in-laws bought in Parkwood. Talk about the "unexpected" at closing, how about 27K?!! I told my BIL over and over again to get a lawyer to sit at closing. You know when that developer is lying?....when you see his mouth open! There are innumeral buyers who are very disgruntled. One guy got arrested because he tried to drive his car thru the sales office. We talked to former sales people who never got paid. He stiffs his subs, too! I've bought new construction in the past, but the in-laws' punch-out list was the longest I've ever seen! I've got a RE broker's license and was a General appraiser for years, I would steer clear of Parkwood!!!!

By the way, I'm NOT active in real estate. Retired.[/QUOTE

Correct me if I am wrong, I am always defensive of the developer, since I have not encountered any problems so far of any merit.

Closing costs are usually involved with the borrowed amount, the kind of loan, filing fees, title insurance etc. We have purchased many homes over the years and had a pretty good idea of the closing costs. How did it happen that an amount of 27 thousand dollars was a surprise?

The person who drove his car through the sales office? His right to be angry stopped where his car met the building.

That is just my opinion.

BUT I am old and have never been a Realtor.

[784caroline]

Gracie

I agree when we went to closing on the few house purchase/sales we made, we knew fairly well what closing costs would be before we reached the closing table. In fact, we closed via mail for the Villages Property and it went as easy as it could be. Each developer. every closing is different. People we have encountered in Parkwood who have gone through closing have been surprised at the closing table in regards to monies owed..and $10,000-$20,000 have been figures I heard about. Closing is difficult enough with all the papers to sign (and the check to pay for the house). Maybe the buyers brought it on themselves for not paying attention to details, but a word of caution to potential buyers, is to be VERY viliginat of closing costs and what they include when dealing with this developer.

[GMONEY]

I had talked to some people that also had problems with Parkwood at closing. They wanted to buy in Bison, but could not qaulify for the mortgage and wanted to use FHA, so they went to Parkwood. Now they wish they would have come up with the 20% down.

Each developer is different, and The Villages is unique in how they handle all closings. Even ours for Bison Valley at Mclins was quick and to the point. The lady that did ours from Mclins would not take any BS when it came to the numbers on the paper. We used an outside bank and they had to change things alot before it went thru correctly.

[Jess0175]

I live in Parkwood and I can tell you the people are very friendly and many have children. They recently opened the Club House and Pool which we have enjoyed very much. As far as the builder being controlling, I personally am in favor of that. I have invested in Parkwood and like the fact the builder actually cares about the quality of his community, it keeps the value of my home up. I had no problems at closing as the builder went over everything with me and went above my expectations when it came my relocating. Parkwood is close to everything and it is a great place to live and I would recommended it to anyone looking to relocate to central Florida.

[scs1224]

Where is Parkwood? Can you give me directions on how to get there? Thanks

[784caroline]

From 466 go north on 101 (Road between crispers and Ocala Eye) approx 1-2 miles --- Bison Valley will be on your left...next development on the left.
They have ads in The Village Sun at least every other day.

[scs1224]

Thank you so much...

[GMONEY]

Cant miss it, once you go past Bison, the next big gate on the left. Or when you see the giant BLUE house. And I mean BLUE..

[graciegirl]

bumping this thread since it is kinda about the same issues that Jim Joe is talking about now.