[laryb]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have THIS to say about the pesky bond. If you just kinda think of it as part of the price of the house it is easier to swallow. For instance, I think you can buy a Camellia for about 230K and add about 20K for the bond. You can either pay it off when you buy or pay it yearly. We were advised to pay it yearly because YES, you will sell that house and buy again because you will know a little better about wanting A. A bigger house, B A smaller house, C on water, D, not on water etc. etc. It is easier to move in TV, people do it all of the time.

Now Just think that your new, or used Camellia costs 250K and get on with it. Add more money for a view, or privacy, subtract if you want a smaller house and add if you want a bigger house. It doesn't matter a whole lot or not at all in price if the house is north or south of 466. The older houses have things added to them that you may or may not like.

If you are a nice person who likes to sit and have a glass of wine and laugh until your sides ache, please move close to us G's. We live in Hadley with a lot, but not all, of wonderful people.

Well, as usual, you hit the nail on the head Gracie!! When we signed for our house last month, we used your reasoning. If we decide to move one day, we sell it with the remaining bond. I'm sure there will be someone who will be willing to take on the balance and use the same justification we did. If we stay in the same house, (probably will, there for the lifestyle first, house second) then we'll probably pay it off. And although we're not close to you, we'll be in Buttonwood, and we are wonderful people the majority of the time who would love to meet you when we hopefully move down full time next year. I'll try to avoid you on the days I'm not being wonderful!!

[kfierle]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have THIS to say about the pesky bond. If you just kinda think of it as part of the price of the house it is easier to swallow. For instance, I think you can buy a Camellia for about 230K and add about 20K for the bond. You can either pay it off when you buy or pay it yearly. We were advised to pay it yearly because YES, you will sell that house and buy again because you will know a little better about wanting A. A bigger house, B A smaller house, C on water, D, not on water etc. etc. It is easier to move in TV, people do it all of the time.

Now Just think that your new, or used Camellia costs 250K and get on with it. Add more money for a view, or privacy, subtract if you want a smaller house and add if you want a bigger house. It doesn't matter a whole lot or not at all in price if the house is north or south of 466. The older houses have things added to them that you may or may not like.

If you are a nice person who likes to sit and have a glass of wine and laugh until your sides ache, please move close to us G's. We live in Hadley with a lot, but not all, of wonderful people.

Gracie, that is the thought process I had when I bought my place. I wasn't sure what type of home I wanted so I looked at every type. I also was told that the bond was tied to the density of the neighborhood. I ended up buying a courtyard villa and the bond was about $10,000 less than the smaller designer home I was considering.

If I decide to sell and purchase something else in The Villages, the new owner of my villa will have to worry about the remaining bond balance.

I would never let the bond keep me from the lifestyle The Villages has to offer.

Right now I get to visit my villa about once a year to enjoy the place. I am heading down the beginning of August and can't wait!

I would love to have a glass of wine with you, Gracie, since I consider myself a very pleasant person. I know you will not be in The Villages in August but I hope to meet you at some point.

[cats12470]

Gracie,
WOW... how can we pass this up???!!!!!! I understand about the bond... just don't like it.... we are going to come back down June 19, 20 and 21st and look "again".... I feel like I drive my Realtor crazy.....but we just can't make a quick decision... (by the way, I am a Realtor in SC).... I am sure we will make a decision soon.... just a BIG decision for us.....a 2 car garage is a MUST for us as my husband builds dollhouses.... BEAUTIFUL dollhouses.... I do hear people move around in the Villages.... we went to see Chubby Checker and people were talking to others about moving around the corner to a bigger house and another moved to get closer to 466A.... lots of reasons.... thanks again for all your comments.... I know we will LOVE living near you all...

[swrinfla]

May I throw in a little more to puzzle over?

If you buy in Harbor Hills (which is a beautiful place, by the way), you'll have to do all of your shopping, doctor visits, movie-going, etc., by automobile!!!!! Over time the 5-6 miles from HH to the shops along US27/441 and back will add up. Buy in TV and you can probably get to anything you want and need just using a few minutes of your golf carts electricity!

Same would be true of Del Webb, Spruce Creek South, Stonecrest, etc.

Just a thought!

SWR

[Indy-Guy]

I would estimate that if I had a dollar for eveytime the word bond has shown up on Talk of The Villages I could pay my bond off and take a nice cruise.

I also would like to add that with the over 30,000 homes that have been sold in The Villages with a bond I don't know of anyone who has said they purchased in The Villages because they liked the idea of the bond.

That being said over 30,000 people have gotten past the bond and purchased. We can't all be crazy.

[mulligan]

Unless i'm missing something , which seems to happen more and more as time goes by, the bond is simply a way for the developer to finance infrastructure without using his own money up front. In most developments this money would be factored into the cost of the lots. The system seems to wok pretty well at TV. IMHO