[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by justjim

You are spot on Boomers and the silent generation could pass on a huge amount of wealth to the Millennials generation.

Good point, didn’t even consider the generational transfer of wealth.

[thelegges]

We have always had the family home, the lake house, an investment in TV, plus our home. Our kids have their main residence, an investment home on barrier island in NC, and SC. Eventually they will all have the lake house. Difference between us and kids they had multiple homes by 30s, we were in our late 40s. Plus two are DINKs, middle child, has 2 in med school, and one coder nerd

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by justjim

With the cost of living in The Villages continuing to climb is it sustainable? We moved and purchased here 17 plus years ago. Some years prior, we met and shook hands with Harold Schwartz during our first visit. We have seen and experienced some “things” in The Villages.

My wife and I grew up in a coal mining town. I can remember going to “the company store.” The town was prosperous and growing until it wasn’t. The mines closed, many moved and the owners left town with most of the money. Population is half what it was. You could buy a house for a “song and dance.”

Will the next generation of retirees be able to afford The Villages? With insurance, taxes, amenities and maintenance costs continuing to climb will those on fixed income be able to stay in The Villages? What could happen to real estate values? In 15-20 years will the Developer close up shop, sell and leave? Is The Villages, as we know it, sustainable for the long haul? I can think of other scenarios but you see my point.

The Villages isn’t for everyone, and I don’t say that to be elitist. It’s not the cheapest alternative, and it’s always been somewhat difficult for people who have only Social Security, never earned much, and didn’t have much equity in a home before moving here. However, there are many areas of the country where average housing is more than here. Many “fixed incomes” like Social Security have cost of living allowances that help a lot. Many people sell their homes elsewhere and have enough equity to move here and pay cash. The amenities fees are very reasonable indeed. I know people who live in trailer parks within twenty minutes of here who are paying $450 to $850 for a tiny lot for their trailer. People who retire today with only Social Security may have been earning a lot more than you earned before retiring and so may receive much higher Social Security. I think there will continue to be a market for both used and new homes in The Villages so long as it is kept immaculate the way it is now. There are plenty of small towns across the country where a three bedroom ranch house that is just fine sells for around $100,000, and those people will have a tough time buying here unless they have another source of income, but there will still be plenty of people. I think the biggest problem is home insurance rates. The state needs to solve that, perhaps by limiting lawsuits. But not everyone needs to move to Florida. And if you worry about there not being enough people to keep buying homes here, don’t complain about there being too many people.

[nmgirardot]

Originally Posted by Laker14

Sustains for how long, and in what form? The Villages I see when I drive to Orange Blossom is nothing like the model I see being built down by Franklin Rec Center. Where I live, in Poinciana, is different from either of those.
Nothing sustains forever, and to sustain as long as it has, it has been necessary for The Developers to adapt their product to the changing market, presented by subsequent generations of retirees, or near-retirees.

What the OP may see as evidence of a lack of sustainability is, IMHO, the required ingredient for sustainability: the ability to adapt.

I do not believe the rate of growth of TV, as experienced in the last decade, is sustainable, but the general model of shared amenities, and current level of population density, with maybe some minor tweaks here and there, will be sustainable through my, and if they desire it, my kids' retirement years.

An easy solution would be to lower the age requirement from 55 to say 53, etc. That way you will attract those still in the workforce and/or younger retirees.

[crash]

Originally Posted by justjim

With the cost of living in The Villages continuing to climb is it sustainable? We moved and purchased here 17 plus years ago. Some years prior, we met and shook hands with Harold Schwartz during our first visit. We have seen and experienced some “things” in The Villages.

My wife and I grew up in a coal mining town. I can remember going to “the company store.” The town was prosperous and growing until it wasn’t. The mines closed, many moved and the owners left town with most of the money. Population is half what it was. You could buy a house for a “song and dance.”

Will the next generation of retirees be able to afford The Villages? With insurance, taxes, amenities and maintenance costs continuing to climb will those on fixed income be able to stay in The Villages? What could happen to real estate values? In 15-20 years will the Developer close up shop, sell and leave? Is The Villages, as we know it, sustainable for the long haul? I can think of other scenarios but you see my point.

I see the breaking point as medical care not enough hospitals or doctors for the large elderly population. They were going to add a hospital but cancelled because they couldn’t get enough doctors to staff the ones we have so why build another.

[Dilligas]

The sustainability depends on the developers and the residents. As long as the developers can make a profit, changes are they will continue. As long as the residents stay as residents and not want to “change” things like they had back home, or want to “control the greedy developer” TV can continue for many years. Should the developers STOP developing and making a profit, they’ll leave everything to the residents (after sell properties to them) and TV will slowly decay like your mining town.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Dilligas

The sustainability depends on the developers and the residents. As long as the developers can make a profit, changes are they will continue. As long as the residents stay as residents and not want to “change” things like they had back home, or want to “control the greedy developer” TV can continue for many years. Should the developers STOP developing and making a profit, they’ll leave everything to the residents (after sell properties to them) and TV will slowly decay like your mining town.

I sure hope the Developer never decides to abandon the community and turn over its governance to the residents. If you look historically at Sun City and a Sun City West Arizona, that is exactly what the developer (Del Webb) did after those communities were “built out” - Though still nice communities, deeds and restrictions became less restrictive, giving more control to the residents, which have created an “inconsistent” feel in their respective communities. The pristine and beautiful community we live in, is because of the control the Developer has over The Villages, and why many of us chose to retire here.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by crash

I see the breaking point as medical care not enough hospitals or doctors for the large elderly population. They were going to add a hospital but cancelled because they couldn’t get enough doctors to staff the ones we have so why build another.

I thought they cancelled the hospital because of the possible impact fees on the construction.

Young doctors want new facilities, what young doctor wouldn’t want a brand new hospital, in a warm, no tax state, with literally hundreds of thousands of aging patients?
If I ran an orthopedics practice, I would open 10 offices around TV.

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by justjim

With the cost of living in The Villages continuing to climb is it sustainable? We moved and purchased here 17 plus years ago. Some years prior, we met and shook hands with Harold Schwartz during our first visit. We have seen and experienced some “things” in The Villages.

My wife and I grew up in a coal mining town. I can remember going to “the company store.” The town was prosperous and growing until it wasn’t. The mines closed, many moved and the owners left town with most of the money. Population is half what it was. You could buy a house for a “song and dance.”

Will the next generation of retirees be able to afford The Villages? With insurance, taxes, amenities and maintenance costs continuing to climb will those on fixed income be able to stay in The Villages? What could happen to real estate values? In 15-20 years will the Developer close up shop, sell and leave? Is The Villages, as we know it, sustainable for the long haul? I can think of other scenarios but you see my point.

After WW2, my dad graduated college & law school, and joined the FBI when a friend applied and found out it paid $5500/year!!! Later in the 50s, dad opened a law practice in our hometown, bought a 3-story home on a hill in town for $18k. When my parents passed, it sold for much more and lawyers made much more than $5500/year. Times change and wages, income, retirement, housing, etc. all go up. I bought my house 9 years ago for $121/sq ft, my neighbor just sold their house for $265/sq ft, and I hope I can do as well this year selling mine. For reference, my neighbor's house is 20 years old, not updated (but well kept), and it sold for more per sq ft than my new designer home in TV!!!

IMO, What TV REALLY NEEDS is to attract more physicians and open up TV medical facilities to all payors (e.g. government Medicare). Healthcare availability in TV is what I see as biggest issue. Access to healthcare will drive decisions of retirees.

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by nmgirardot

An easy solution would be to lower the age requirement from 55 to say 53, etc. That way you will attract those still in the workforce and/or younger retirees.

20% of TV is available to those under 55 provided they don’t have kids under 18. Quite a few “younger” people now living in TV.

[drdoug59]

Originally Posted by justjim

With the cost of living in The Villages continuing to climb is it sustainable? We moved and purchased here 17 plus years ago. Some years prior, we met and shook hands with Harold Schwartz during our first visit. We have seen and experienced some “things” in The Villages.

My wife and I grew up in a coal mining town. I can remember going to “the company store.” The town was prosperous and growing until it wasn’t. The mines closed, many moved and the owners left town with most of the money. Population is half what it was. You could buy a house for a “song and dance.”

Will the next generation of retirees be able to afford The Villages? With insurance, taxes, amenities and maintenance costs continuing to climb will those on fixed income be able to stay in The Villages? What could happen to real estate values? In 15-20 years will the Developer close up shop, sell and leave? Is The Villages, as we know it, sustainable for the long haul? I can think of other scenarios but you see my point.

TV. Is still a cheap place to retire, especially if you live here year round and sold your more valuable home from the northeast or west coast, you’re ahead by hundreds of thousands of dollars
If your retiring now, you’ve never been richer when you count the value of your house and your retirement portfolio
Demographics favor retirement places like TV as oldsters favor a warmer climate with lots of activities. Greed could be their undoing, if that happens I’ll just move

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I thought they cancelled the hospital because of the possible impact fees on the construction.

Young doctors want new facilities, what young doctor wouldn’t want a brand new hospital, in a warm, no tax state, with literally hundreds of thousands of aging patients?
If I ran an orthopedics practice, I would open 10 offices around TV.

Good thing you don’t run a practice, 10 offices, staff, equipment, rent, would eat you alive. Plus not only wouldn’t you not have a life, burn out would be eventual. Plus can you imagine that many physicians getting along.

Average practice (to make profits) one main office, then one or two shared office used on that drs day off, or use half day.

One physician wouldn’t spend hours traveling when they can make money in one place. If you are good at what you do, patient will travel hours to get that appointment.

We had a practice with 4 orthopedic surgeons, one PA, and CFA. 3 office staff, 1 X-ray tech, and shared PT. 1 main office, and 2 satellite 1/2 day offices. Even then some days it was a stretch if trauma hit ED.

Plus young newly board physicians don’t care if hospitals are new, they just want a place to land, make some money, then move on with experience. Have been involved with 3 new hospitals, takes awhile for the dance to become fluid

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by nmgirardot

An easy solution would be to lower the age requirement from 55 to say 53, etc. That way you will attract those still in the workforce and/or younger retirees.

Requires an Act of Congress.

Unlikely

[rockyhyder]

IMHO The Villages has a proven business plan that adapts as needed therefore sustainability within TV proper is not an issue. The threat to our lifestyle here is external.
Current rate increases for both home and auto insurance in this state are unsustainable.
Thousands upon thousands of apartments surrounding TV with little or no amenities. Overcrowding in the squares, pools and courts are not because of The Village's building fewer amenities. Last but not least healthcare, it’s difficult to sustain quality healthcare on a Medicare budget. Quality healthcare is a national problem, exacerbated in Florida and even more so in TV due to the median age.

[TerryCamlin]

I would not worry about it with everything else going on in the World. We are in the age where the Baby Boomers are all retiring at once thus the reason housing is going crazy. It will eventually settle down but the demand is a lot greater than the supply. Most of us moving here have made enough $$ to last our lifetimes hopefully. If invested properly the new retirees have way more $$ than those who retired years ago because we were paid more and had 401k's to invest in. I am not worried and I retired 6 years ago at 56. Just thank God you woke up today and enjoy youself.