As far as bonds go, if you are earning more from interest on capital you could pay it off with, keep the bond payments. If not, pay it off.
The same if cash rich from a house sale. Take a mortgage when buying the next property, if you can earn more investing proceeds.
If you sell with no bond, it's obvious it is a great selling point, and a better deal for the buyer.
Never listen to vested interests, they are looking for their best deal, just the same as you.
It really is as simple as that.

Who said anything about profit? Most would want to recoup it when selling.

I realize most on here live and enjoy what they already own in TV. As someone who watches the market looking to purchase there is a simple way to see what the truth of the market is and that is pull up Zillow and look at what is selling and at what price. Anyone who believes their patio villa is still worth 300k is wrong. Anyone on an interior lot who believes they can still get 300 per sq ft is wrong. Anyone who believes housing at current interest rates, taxes and bonds are a good investment are wrong. Anyone who doesn't care about any of these things and is looking to live the dream is going to pay for it and most likely will be upside down in the home's value potentially for many years. Sales are slowing, listings are going up, and prices are dropping on preowned but only from levels that were unsustainable over the last three years. If you bought prior to 2021 great. If you purchased 2022 or after with improvements etc you are most likely going to struggle to recoup. This is a bad environment for flippers, investors, and value buyers but perfectly fine for existing and future residents looking to be where many of you already are.

U

pay off $48k bond, sell for $50k more......................$2k profit,

I disagree on investors, but it totally depends on how long they are willing to wait. Even 2008 investors eventually made lots of money, if they waited long enough.

Many people in this post think they are real estate experts - - - HA!

Many people in this post are gleefully thinking The Developer is experiencing a financial downturn- - - HA!

Any people who think The Villages is not Booming are Nuts!

I agree - the Developer is doing well, and good for them! We all benefit.

Most would round off a sales price. $648,000 looks like you had a recent price reduction. $650,00 looks like an original ask price.

The Villages is booming for the Developer. Currently, many preowned homes are sitting on the market for months. If yours was one of the many sitting, would you still be laughing? A boom for the Developer does not always equate to a boom for every homeowner.

I do not think I am a real estate expert. But, I have been searching for a home. This market is rough. A few sell their homes for sizeable profit but most can't even get a buyer in their door. I see price reduction after price reduction on MLS. This week there were 64. Last week, 48. The Developer was forced to reduce the price of 250+ homes in Dabney and Lake Denham. Things are MUCH DIFFERENT than in years prior.

I meant more short-term investors. I agree with you there is still value in holding property in the long term. Many on here have said 2008 had very little effect on values in the TV market because the value here was incredible. Now TV is a known commodity that many have been profiting from with an above average 6% annual return, lower taxes, lower bonds, lower insurance rates, amenity fees, and expenses on everything related to inflation. This strategy has forced many investors into the short-term rental market to make ends meet and this is also not working for many.

Only traffic in my house is on open houses. We live in what they call the most sought after village. My realtor never walked anyone through. Go figure.🤦🏻*♂️

Realtors
 

Thankfully realtors are a dying breed. Whatever your markup was for paying them, just think how much quicker your house would have sold without it. The markup is a sales killer!

Golfers Should Purchase Pre-Owned Homes in North & Central Villages
 

Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby.

It is no longer profitable for investors to sit on a home for years.Home prices, taxes, and bonds are too high. It is much better to invest money where you can get an easy 5% or higher. Carrying high monthly expenses with the hope of getting a great return at a much further date goes against common sense.

The sky is falling is absurd. Not buying because the bond is $50k, illogical. Not buying because you have a feeling you are paying more than your neighbors, illogical too.
I have friends that have been competing with 200 other people to buy in Eastport, lost out 5 times now but still trying. Every new house in Eastport will sell. If I was the developer and wanted to make money, have each new home sell to the highest bidder. You have up to 200 people wanting to buy each house/property, it would be a gold mine. Thank god the developers don’t do that.
If your house is in good shape, reasonably priced, in a good area, it will sell in weeks. I have a friend out of state that I assisted in checking out houses and he bought 1 that was on the market only a few days. I also know houses that over exaggerate their home/location and have come down hundreds of thousands or more and been on the market for many months.

As for buying a home with a $50k bond, I have friends that have moved from existing villages to Newell and they are very happy. They bought on a pond and said they saved over $150k for a pond house in the other areas. They were already paying $35k bond, so saving $150k on a lot but increasing their bond by $10k, that’s a h3ll of a deal.

Some of the areas that have a fire sale, I wouldn’t buy them at a $100k discount. But at $50k discount and you want the house, you can brag to the old neighbors you got the better deal. If you wait, somebody else might come in and buy them.

If I was looking, this would be a good time to buy mainly because I pay cash for our home, no financing. For the seller, this is great. Cash offers don’t need an appraisal, inspections, no contingencies, etc, and it can be a very short closing date. For the buyer, I can get a better deal.